Via Capitol Confidential, comes this video of a news conference that Governor David Paterson held yesterday with Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi and various taxpayer activists.

The Suozzi Commission recently concluded that, among other things, a property/school tax cap is necessary to help ease New Yorkers’ local tax burden, which is significantly higher than the national average. Although opposed vehemently by exactly whom you’d expect, the vast majority of New Yorkers support it. Suozzi reminded Paterson of that fact in a humorous fashion as the two of them essentially declared political war on opponents.

A Denver-based blog has a new feature - a field guide to different states’ Dem conventioneers, as well as a travel guide to Denver.

The convention isn’t until August, but here’s the entry for New York’s delegation. A taste:

Total Number of Delegates: 282
Pledged: 232
Unpledged: 50

How to Recognize a New York Delegate:

After arguing about food and their governor’s taste in call girls, New Yorkers spend a lot of time arguing about the personality split that divides upstate from downstate. The constant bickering and knocking of heads has even caused new governor David Paterson to call the state legislature the “least deliberative and most dysfunctional in the nation”! Well, after watching decades of New York-based television shows, from Facts of Life to Sex and the City, every other American is painfully aware of every personality trait of every character type of every Empire State resident. We know that downstaters live in deluxe apartments in the sky, that hot dogs make them lose control, and that for upstaters, the world never seems to be livin’ up to their dreams. And we also know that downstaters dress like they live in London and wear a lot of black, while upstaters dress like they live in Wisconsin and wear a lot of plaid and gingham.

I take umbrage with that. Ever upstate community has its own stereotypical uniform. Buffalo’s involves Sabres and Bills gear. Possibly Zubaz.

This, however, is pretty spot-on:

To spot a New Yorker, look for someone who is arguing. They love to argue, not because they are always right, but because everyone else is always wrong. About everything. All of the time. They are the original multi-taskers and will be the delegates who are trying to “hail cabs” and “get some service over here” while telling all within earshot about how much better everything is back in New York. They will also be the most curious delegates in Denver and won’t be shy to ask questions. Their most frequent queries will be, “Where’s the manager?” and “Do you expect me to eat this?”

What should New Yorkers do in Denver?

For New York delegates, the state of Colorado will only seem like a lot of dirt piles and thin, dry air. And in truth, all the scenic wonders of the Rocky Mountains combined aren’t as spectacular as Niagara Falls (which can be enjoyed both before and after with a plate of America’s best hot wings at the Anchor Bar in the nearby city of Buffalo). The city of Denver, on the other hand, will not disappoint. The favorable impression starts at the airport. After arrival at the spectacularly spacious Denver International Airport, it will be impossible for a New Yorker to ever refer to La Guardia or J.F.K. as anything other than “a freakin’ nightmare.” Downtown Denver will seem remarkably quaint and insufferably clean. The homeless are absolutely unnecessary here but choose their vocation to provide cosmopolitan photo-ops for high-school art students and European visitors. The new Hamilton wing of the Denver Art Museum will make even the most uncultured upstater “dizzy” with delight. Hang on to that handrail in Daniel Libeskind’s vestibule of vertigo! Savvy downstaters might think that it’s all a cover up for some glaring civic inadequacy, but in truth, it only gets better. Denver is home to what is arguably America’s best mall. Just get in a cab at the front door of the Adam’s Mark Hotel and say, “Take me to Cherry Creek!” The lavishly appointed shopping center is in the heart of Denver. It’s anchored by Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Macy’s and Nordstrom and features a total of 160 renowned shops that range from Urban Outfitters to Burberry and Tiffany & Co. The surrounding neighborhood is packed with upscale shops (don’t miss Filson Denver) and food that only seems to taste better in the thin dry air. Gulp it down, New Yorkers: You’ll need your strength for that trip back through LaGuardia.

So, buck up New York delegates. Seems like there’s civilized life west of the Mississippi after all.

One question that isn’t answered, however: where can you get good (read: New York style) pizza?

Photo courtesy Kaptain Krispy Kreme @ Flickr

Yes, it’s true that New York is one state; geographically and to a degree politically.

Economically, though, there’s a distinct difference between upstate and downstate; between east and west. The upstate economy is saddled with fail. Whether it’s taxes higher than that of neighboring states, regulations that are too onerous, or a general business unfriendliness, there’s really no compelling reason why a company might locate in Utica or Rochester or Buffalo when Erie and Toledo and Columbus are also available.

I’ve said before many times that, to compete, all of upstate should be a massive empire zone. That hasn’t happened. But under former governor Spitzer, at least upstate had a dedicated upstate economic “czar” named Dan Gundersen. Not only that, but his office was going to be based in Buffalo.

Governor Paterson is considering scrapping the downstate/upstate economic czars. Upstate business leaders and the heads of Unshackle Upstate aren’t happy, and they hope that - if this does happen - that Gundersen become the head of the united Empire State Development Corp.

I think that it’s a given that, when forced into competition, downstate interests will prevail over upstate interests, and losing a dedicated advocate for upstate business development is a massive step backwards.

Upstate New York of the 2000s is not unlike the eastern Europe of the 1990s. It needs Sachsian shock therapy. It needs people to fight for it. It needs fundamental change in the way government works.

All I know is that, Albania and Slovakia have more robust economies than Western New York.

UPDATE: Read what In Java, Literally has to say. NYCO notes this Rochester D&C article alleging that Gundersen is very loosey-goosey with his state plastic.

I found NYCO’s postmortem on the aborted Spitzer governorship to be directly on-point for pretty much all of beleaguered upstate New York. Particularly:

I remember attending a Spitzer speech on saving cities, before the election. I was trying to get a feel for his ideas and rhetoric, what sort of inspiring inaugural speech he might give us, what grasp of imagery he had, what fresh ideas for Syracuse he might have. It felt like a very wonky speech, without much new in it. I thought this was just a style we would have to get used to, and wait and watch harder for the breaks of light in the rhetorical clouds. But those breaks of light never really came.

Spitzer, as governor, made the rounds of Upstate cities and to Syracuse. What ideas would he bring with him beyond the usual promises of aid and gifts? What was our role in his master plan? But nothing new was unveiled; he just met with local movers and shakers, proclaimed their pre-existing plans good — plans that didn’t always completely enthuse local alternative thinkers. “Right… carry on.” He also hired an “Upstate Czar,” something which seemed like a good idea, and still does I suppose (I wonder what will become of Dan Gundersen now?). But I couldn’t help feeling that whenever Spitzer came here, he was not really paying attention. Of course he couldn’t; this is a huge state; but…

And of course, the little disappointments unfolded against a constant state of war.

Hope after hope, continued waiting and hoping, and little disappointments here and there. And questions floating in, vague wonderings if Spitzer really “got it.” Of course he did. How could he not? All one needed to do was wait just a little while longer.

We had an understanding, Eliot and I.

And now we trade a headstrong, combative downstate executive for a more conciliatory, likeable downstate executive. There is very little that an Albany pol can learn about upstate’s problems by doing a weekly run up and down the Taconic. Spitzer leaves mass quantities of unfinished business - both macro and micro. Paterson may be a nice guy, but I get the sense that he’ll be more of a caretaker, keeping the heat on while waiting for the next superhero to be elected savior in 2010.

Oh, and don’t for a second believe all of Mayor Brown’s talk about how close he is with David Paterson, and how this bodes well for Brown’s clout in Albany, and for Buffalo.

Steve Casey didn’t get his job with then-minority leader Paterson by dint of his resume alone, and there was a lot more going on during Brown’s senate tenure than just the re-naming of street signs. Brown was the vote that swung the minority post Paterson’s way, and it didn’t come without some major dealmaking. Dealmaking that Paterson may not remember as fondly as does Brown.

As the Spitzer scandal continues to explode, I have felt a variety of emotions - from shock to incredulity to amusement to fury.

Right now, I’m stuck on fury.

Regardless of whether Spitzer resigns or not - and I think he will - his political career is probably over. It’s not over just because he hired a hooker. It’s over because he got caught doing it on tape, because he paid for her to cross state lines (a federal crime), and because he was supposed to be Mr. Clean the crime fighter.

The steamroller got steamrolled by the FBI.

“Kristen” will get rich off of this, probably getting a million from the Enquirer or Star to tell her story. Maybe she’ll do a Playboy spread, and parlay it all into a daytime talk show. From her description as a 5′ 5″ brunette at 105 pounds, maybe Anne Hathaway can play her in the movie. The FBI tapes of Spitzer making intricate arrangements to hire and pay for “Kristen’s” services will make their way to air, which will only make matters worse.

Kristen will also make some serious money explaining what it is that Spitzer likes to do that isn’t “safe”.

But amidst all of this tabloid fodder, we’ve lost a guy who promised us to do better. That on Day one, everything would change. That he would bring “passion” back to Albany (looks like he brought it to the Mayflower Hotel, instead). He promised reform - he promised a renewed focus on upstate - he promised to make the state more attractive.

By giving “Kristen” Acela tickets, cash, and two hours’ worth of God-knows-what, has he also screwed us all?

My guess is that Spitzer’s resignation is tendered the moment he is indicted for violation of the Mann Act. In that case, his lieutenant, David Paterson, becomes governor. There is no provision for anyone else to ascend to the post of lieutenant governor; Joe Bruno automatically becomes second-in-line.

Any movement for change and reform in Albany is on hold, but perhaps we’ve crossed some sort of threshold. Maybe with this shock to the system - where just about everybody checks and double-checks to make sure they’re not reading the “Onion” - we’ve laid a foundation for a true reformer to come in and shake up Albany. Because ultimately, Spitzer’s legal troubles, and his betrayal of his family are personal issues that affect us not at all.

What I care about is the state getting back on track. I care about lower, smarter spending and a moderation of taxation. I care about attracting, not repelling, residents and business. I care about getting a state government that doesn’t just talk about reform, but implements it.

Spitzer has dragged his heels on replacing Pataki appointees with his own. Very little tangible help has come to upstate. Spitzer instead became embroiled in a war with State Senate President Joe Bruno. There’s more to leadership than just being an arrogant know-it-all.

So, time will tell whether Governor Client-9 messed it all up. But the sooner he resigns, the better off the state will be. He can fight the charges all he wants, but not on my dime.

UPDATE: Commenters suggest it’s the money, not the Mann Act, that will be Spitzer’s ultimate undoing. I had only heard some vague reports about this, but the Times has more detail:

The rendezvous that established Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s involvement with high-priced prostitutes occurred last month in one of Washington’s grandest hotels, but the criminal investigation that discovered the tryst began last year in a nondescript office building opposite a Dunkin’ Donuts on Long Island, according to law enforcement officials.

There, in the Hauppauge offices of the Internal Revenue Service, investigators conducting a routine examination of suspicious financial transactions reported to them by banks found several unusual movements of cash involving the governor of New York, several officials said.

The investigators working out of the three-story office building, which faces Veterans Highway, typically review such reports, the officials said. But this was not typical: transactions by a governor who appeared to be trying to conceal the source, destination or purpose of the movement of thousands of dollars in cash, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Not really, but close enough.

His “State of Upstate” speech is reprinted here in its entirety.

It starts out beautifully:

The vision I will outline today is one we all share: to make Upstate New York the best place in the world to live, work, raise a family and run a business.

We all know it’s that last bit that’s difficult upstate.

You may recall last year Oswego County got battered by a storm that dumped 10 feet of snow. Spitzer remarked on the kindness, helpfulness, and neighborliness that he experienced there after that storm. He likens upstate’s economic woes to that storm, and argues that, if we

put that same strength, that same resiliency, and that same community-mindedness to work-if we summon the will to work together to achieve the reforms and make the investments I will lay out today-we can overcome this storm and return growth and prosperity to Upstate New York.

Spitzer argues that he laid a foundation for upstate’s rejuvenation last year through:

First, broad-based reforms to make Upstate more competitive by lowering the cost of doing business and lowering taxes;

Second, breaking gridlock on regionally- and locally-specific projects to build the infrastructure for economic growth;

Third, retooling State government so it is built to zero in on Upstate’s unique economic challenges; and,

Fourth, changing the way we approach economic development by incorporating local and regional stakeholders into everything we do.

He touts the work that the Empire State Development Corporation, and its upstate chair Dan Gundersen, have accomplished throughout upstate, adding:

Everywhere Dan stopped, he sat down for an audience with the best economic development consultants of all: local business leaders, who know their economies best, but whose views were rarely engaged in the past.

Of everything we did last year, I believe this was the most important.

Why? Because government money and government programs alone cannot turn our economy around. There must be a true partnership between government and the private sector. That’s because, in the end, it’s the people on the ground who must translate this funding and these programs into economic growth.

In the next breath, however, Spitzer proposes helping upstate through what he calls the “$1 Billion Upstate Revitalization Fund.”

Let’s break that down: Read the rest of this entry »

Courtesy of Marquil

Governor Spitzer is in town to deliver that address at Buff State today at 10am. WGRZ will be streaming it. I’ll be in a deposition, so come back and tell me how he did.

Has Spitzer overreached? His pissing match with Senate President Joe Bruno, and his almost universally disliked licenses-for-illegals plan have sent his poll numbers plummeting to a 48% job disapproval rating. Remember the guy won with a Collinsesque mandate for change.

The Buffalo News yesterday lauded the baby-steps to reform that Spitzer has accomplished, but there is more to do. Will he become a shadow of his former self over the upcoming months, and falling into the Pataki trap of going along to get along? Or will he instead redouble his efforts to lurch the state towards fundamental reform by re-examining just how confrontational he needs to be?

Piecemeal signature projects in upstate cities - Peace Bridge and Canal Side in Buffalo - are all well and good, but as we constantly harp on here, until and unless the economy of Western New York is rendered more attractive to prospective and current residents, immigrants, and businesses, it will all be for naught.

We’re still shrinking. We’ll just have a nice waterfront or a new bridge for our shrinking population.

As the News says,

That kind of change would become much more likely if each legislative chamber would first reform its internal, topdown rules that discourage the free flow of ideas. That’s hardly the point of a democracy.

Upstaters can be pleased with Spitzer’s infrastructure projects. But as useful and expensive as they stand to be, they are the easy part. It is urgent that he not let up on the state reforms needed to make upstate an economically competitive place to live and do business. Until that is done, this state will continue to bleed.

New York is the second most expensive state in which to do business, behind only Hawaii.

Hawaii has an excuse. New York is running out of them.

What can we do to cajole our state legislators to take seriously the problems that face Western New York and upstate, and enact the sorts of political changes that might help spur economic and population growth? What can we do to get Spitzer to be less of a broken-down steamroller and more like a persuasive consensus-builder?

Via NYCO. You go read.