This quote is just for fun.
“When they call roll in the Senate, senators don’t know whether to answer present or not guilty”
Teddy Roosevelt
3
Albany is a mess, and Cuomo is a big part of the problem. Got it. So, why did you endorse him yesterday? Seems there is establishment bias and lack of clear vision at the NYT editorial board. Saving power because it's powerful, even though it's going in the wrong direction. Not smart.
4
Will this happen before or after the Second Coming?
1
Help me understand: doing all this would fix the subways ... how?
The NYT helped seal the fate of the subways when it endorsed both Cuomo and De Blasio instead of pushing for change. The subway gridlock (pun intended) will persist as long as those two are in office.
4
NYTimes complains about corruption in the state's administration, and just a few days ago endorsed Cuomo. How ironic.
5
All this dirty laundry and you still endorse Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary? Politician, heal thyself.
5
The NYT, in their fine teadition of endorsing incumbents like Rudy Guiliani, endorsed Cuomo yesterday. Where is the broom to sweep away the hypocrisy of this editorial?
Elect that which should be removed is an intellectually indefensible position. How anyone should take this editorial page seriously is beyond reason.
5
So what the NYTimes is saying is that New York is a mess, both financially and corruption-wise, eh? Yet you endorse Andrew Cuomo! Wow! Jeesh, I am only simpleton way out here on the West Coast but that seems kinda insane. You say this mess has not been resolved under Cuomo's leadership, in fact reports in the Times seem to indicate that it has gotten worse, yet you endorse him. Us simpletons think that is nuts.
2
I’ve been reading the New York Times for 47 years. I think the editorial page is beginning to lose it’s marbles. This editorial has some nice ideas. It also reminds us of the convicted felons in the corruption saga in Albany...all closely linked to the current governor. You tell the voter to grab a broom to sweep out the corruption. And yet your own editorial board endorses the very same person who is at the very center of corruption, Mario Cuomo. This is complete Looney Tunes thinking. It says more about the New York Times wanting to be part of the establishment power, instead of taking a risk and endorsing a reformer. After eight years in power, Como is not going to change the very culture of corruption he has protected. There’s enough smoke and actual fire to strongly suggest that the governor is a felon... i’m not saying this. It is the New York Times own reporting and your actual endorsement yesterday. So go buy a screwdriver New York Times editorial page, and go tighten the screws you have loose.
4
Wow! Corruption galore, under the tutelage of the current governor. Short of an independent body of honest 'brokers', where ethics and decency are in full display, things will remain the same, as shown by Cuomo's conflicts of interest in the past. This paper recommended Cuomo to keep managing the powers to be, but to what ill- effect? No capable, and honest, folks out there, wiling to lead the way, and take New York out of this morass?
2
Take "Albany" and insert any city or state in our nation. The corruption of money in politics has all but destroyed our country. Virtually every intractable problem that we face can be traced to the corruption of money. The failed philosophy of operating government as a business is killing us. Milton Friedman had it right, albeit in a sick way. The flow of money in an economic system is the information that drives that system. That fact is unavoidable. The only way to dislodge the parasitic effect of big corporate money is to do away with it. Fund elections with public money.
Money corrupts everything. EVERYTHING.
Until we, the voters, force our legislators to confront and resolve this then we are going down and down.
Would someone be able to sort out the known crooks from the potential crooks? I have been voting since 1972 and look at what has been accomplished in that time. I obviously don't have the talent or eye for spotting potential crooks.
Does anybody really have any expectation things might change?
1
Some of these comments, especially the out of staters.... Albany is a mess, so elect a someone aligned with socialists and no governmental experience. What could possibly go wrong?
Thanks, but I’m still not sold on Nixon
1
What, and you think NJ is better? It may actually be worse. Why do you think more people are leaving NY and NJ than are moving in. If it weren't for the kids and grand-kids living in NJ we'd be long gone.
2
Nixon (ironic, no) YES, Cuomo (a cliche) NO. I understand The Times desire for status quo in the era of Trump, I feel that tug at times, too. However, Nixon is smart enough and ethical enough to employ an experienced staff to help her achieve laudable goals.
The NYT editorial staff was wrong on Clinton over Sanders. Wrong on ignoring the deleterious effect the vestigial leftover known as the Electoral College, failing its basis, Federalist 68, and actual democracy. Wrong on keeping Cuomo in office. Step up to the plate and do the right thing. Stasis is death in a dynamic universe.
2
The Times can't have it both ways. Either you're for reform or you're for continuing the Coumo dynasty. Haven't you guys figured this one out yet?
3
Heh! NY Times endorses Cuomo and virtually at the same time bemoans the cesspool that is Albany. Your credibility just took a big hit with god knows how many readers.
Following hard upon this, you publish strong piece that is anti Trump and it’s “byline” is anonymous! Well, your timing could not have been better because after the Cuomo business a lot of readers are gonna wonder about the veracity of the Trump Whitehouse Anonymous piece.
Great going NYT. Where am I now to go for objective reporting? You are destroying the confidence people have (had) in the NYT!
4
Silver. Skelos. Percocco. Cuomo. Queens.
Albany is not the mess. The real steaming mess is the New York City representation in New York State government which simply dumps itself here.
By the way, why would the New York Times editorial board endorse Governor Cuomo one day and editorialize on all the corruption the next? That makes no sense. The Governor grew up in that ooze in which he now bathes.
2
Vote in real servants that are competent to do their jobs especially the Governor. Here in Tn we have at least one that we could loan you if he would put up with your politics. And he is a Republican so he would have no chance. Corruption when accepted grows, incompetence when accepted grows, arrogance when accepted grows. Your current Mayor and Governor have those three in massive amounts, yet you continue to elect them and don't rid yourself of them.
2
The potential solutions are many; getting them done nationwide at the national, regional, state and local levels is an almost insurmountable challenge. Think about who actually has the power to:
- Require strict term limits at all levels of elected public service so it remains a SERVICE, and not a sinecure for life.
- Severely restrict private campaign donations to elected officials, overturn Citizens United, and increase equal public financing of election campaigns that meet specific thresholds.
- Shorten the election cycles to a few weeks, period. We have the media platforms to get to voters immediately and more effectively than ever before.
- Make it easier to vote so participation increases -- expand early voting uniformly nationwide, fund more polling places and keep them open longer, and accelerate and improve voter registration and impartial oversight of voter identification processes.
- Reform gerrymandering.
What's wrong will all this (and more) is that those who are in position to make these changes won't because it interrupts their gravy train.
And we voters -- now so polarized and partisan -- won't do what we should do: vote against all incumbents at all levels regardless of party and start anew.
1
Yes corporations have too strong an influence on NY State and City politicians but why is there no mention of the Unions' influence on our politicians and how they are bought with legal donations. I feel that many members of our government are strangled by the union influence and that the average person has no say.
1
Places that are historically corrupt generally remain corrupt. Historically speaking. Does anyone really believe that historically corrupt places like Chicago, NJ, and Albany/NY state are going to change. It seems far fetched. In some sense this is like the dilemma that the GOP is having with Trump. How do they change without first doing some very painful things? They can't, so they continue on, as is, despite the clear dangers. It is nice that some at least feign interest in reform, but it takes massive shifts that will be fought against by the majority in power who are invested in the status quo. Additionally, most people will be against making a personal sacrifice to achieve lawfulness, so corruption will persist.
2
As an Albany resident, I would like to note that the greater NYC area sends 75% of these people to us. Also, many state offices are actually NYC based; such as the attorney general.
Please call it state government and leave our name out of it.
6
The manner in which government office holders in America are elected is corrupt top to bottom. From local elections to the White House it is pay to play and that will never allow for the will of the people to prevail. That's it folks. Until money is taken out of the process we will continue to get bad policy.
On an individual level there are bad characters from both sides of the political spectrum but if you think the GOP would like to take graft out of the system you are demonstrably wrong. It is progressive ideology that embraces the cleansing of our campaign machinery. If equal TV time, vetted for facts, were the only public exposure candidates had, republicans would never win another election.
2
No group of lawmakers will voluntary give up any benefits currently enjoyed. They love things just the way they are, now. It's up to the voters to fight this one out by forcing change (insist on the creation of laws that we can vote on). And, I believe none of those who currently serve in Washington and throughout the country deserve the very very very generous health care coverage. They should have what we have.
1
Didn't you guys just endorse Gov. Cuomo yesterday? As they say, the fish rots from the head down.
16
$80,000 a year is a "part time job"?
Wow, you folks really ARE clueless and 100% out of touch with economic reality for the 99%.
15
On the one hand "Albany Is a Mess. Grab a Broom."
On the other "Andrew Cuomo is the Democrats' Best Choice for Governor".
Huh?
Which is it?
Please do let us know.
9
I understand that only so much can go into one column, but do include election reform on the list. If, say, Republicans in North Carolina proposed to institute New York's laws on early voting, absentee voting, etc., the Times would be screaming to high heaven about "voter suppression".
6
This editorial page endorsed Cuomo for governor the other day. Please don't lecture your readers about cleaning up Albany.
8
Albany. Nothing on the level except the water in the toilet bowl. Albany ruined my career for political gain. Nothing will fix that cesspool, nothing and no one. Ask Bruno, et al.
2
We'll need more than a broom. Maybe nitrile gloves, a mop and strong disinfectant. Consider a hazmat suit.
5
This very same editorial board just got finished endorsing Cuomo, and now it complains how corrupt he is and admonishes the voters for not somehow “changing Albany” despite him and his crooked administration. If the Times Editorial Board thinks licking the boots of its filthy rich executives is best way to safeguard their paychecks, they should consider instead being brave and standing for New Yorkers, and against Cuomo.
11
To be honest, I don't hear anybody talking about local elections, about local senators, councils, etc. Most of us are ignorant in that area. People do not engage some much in local politics and that is a big problem. The local news talk a little about this and that particular candidate but otherwise we do not know anything. I guess that is why some new candidates are winning, because they are going to the people directly, meeting them, getting others to know them. I have never heard of Ocacio until she won! Nothing will change in this state and country if we do not engage the people to vote and to get to know the candidates. Also, the whole thing is very confusing, too many positions to vote that you don't even know what they do and you never see them doing anything. Probably that is why so many people care less about these local elections. We need more education in the election process and the positions we are supposed to vote for.
3
And we are admonished by the times to vote for the guy who oversaw all of this? Of course as what doe Ms. Nixon know about corruption? It will probably take her one full term to be able to steal with both hands.
3
Good luck with a broom.
I was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago aka the home of the Disciples, the Machine, the Outtfit and the Stones. I now live in Cook County aka Crook County.
Every Chicago public elementary school student makes a trek to the Illinois state capital in Springfield where every word and story begins and ends with Abraham Lincoln. Instead of our governors of both parties who take turns going to prison for their corrupt criminality. Our state and local officials of both parties in every branch of government aka legislative, executive and judicial take turns going to prisons while building up their pensions.
Based upon my Springfield Illinois experience, bringing brooms to Albany, New York will only give them another mode of transportation and escape. Lock them up!
5
Dear Editorial Board.
This is not my fight, but didn't you just endorse the reelection of Governor Cuomo, the man who is ultimately responsible for all the mess you outline here?
Once again, you have gone with the safe choice, not someone like a Bernie Sanders whom you also dismissed in your coverage or, in this case, like a Cynthia Nixon.
I would advise you to take a good look what is happening in this country. Hooray for women like Ayanna Pressley and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez who are (finally) offering the electorate new options. And I have my hopes up for Cynthia Nixon.
The New York Times and the Democratic party should not ignore what is happening all around them. Or we could end up with another four years of Trump.
12
I'll take that $79,500 part-time job, please and thank you.
9
The buck never stops, is that it. The NYT had no trouble endorsing Cuomo over Teachout back when, why, because she lacked experience at governing.
"Governing experience" translates to knowing who you can push around, lie to, cheat, and, in general, being skilled at the art of corruption.
Here we go again. Cuomo's administration, and Cuomo, have all this "experience", but others that lack it -- they're unproven -- are unworthy of a Times endorsement, so let's go with the known corrupter.
12
I notice that all the Reader Picks comments are about how hypocritical and unhelpful this Editorial is, given the Cuomo endorsement, yet all the NYT Picks are from out-of-staters weighing in. And those are the default comments that are visible. Something is not right here.
4
If only there was a gubernatorial candidate who hadn't presided over Albany's corruption and impotence for 8 years, I'm sure the editorial board would certainly endorse her....
5
Per the Times: "Albany is a mess, re-elect the two-term governor who is knee deep in the mess".
Per my doctor: "You are 75 lbs. overweight. I prescribe a doughnut and fries diet",
10
First the NYT endorses Cuomo. Them the NYT says “Albany Is a Mess. Grab a Broom”. The editorial staff appears to have walked right by the broom closet without even opening the door. The NYT at one time was one of the most respected news journals around but now at least it is good for a few laughs once in a while.
11
Albany politics have always been corrupt as have been those of NYC with both parties involved. It's sort of a historical truth from the bagmen to the attache case fillled with neatly wrapped bills.
5
Hmm. Albany's a mess, but didn't you just endorse Cuomo for the Democratic primary?
8
The Times Editorial Board has endorsed Cuomo while at the same time listing the rampant corruption in the state...and Cuomo is the beneficiary of that corruption even as he is the governor who's elected to root out that corruption.
Cynthia Nixon (the real reform candidate) is right to point out the corruption under Cuomo's look-the-other-way approach. The inconsistency of the Times' endorsement of Cuomo is breathtaking...and embarrassing.
11
And yet you endorse Cuomo. Sadly, I've lost so much respect for the NYT.
9
Great article.....but you still endorse Cuomo for governor? Do you really think that he is interested in cleaning up Albany and the continuing policy of graft.
6
As a way to jolt Andrew Cuomo into instituting real political and electoral reform, the Times should have used its endorsement power to favor Marcus Molinaro, the Republican candidate, strictly noting that it is a demand for change in Albany, ticking off some of the many problems Governor Cuomo has caused or refuses to solve: the upstate economic disaster, using the MTA as a cudgel against Mayor DeBlasio instead of looking out for the customers, high taxes that are causing businesses and individuals to flee the state, and endemic corruption sanctioned by him as evidenced by the conviction of his common law brother, Joseph Percocco.
5
I am not from NY but I have heard of the "three men in a room" who decided everything in NY... And in a notoriously corrupt way.
My understanding is that two of those men will now be in different sort of rooms at some "Club Fed" for the next few years.
So that leaves Cuomo...
Why is the NY Times supporting his re-election?
11
I think the steady hand of a successful former mayor of Syracuse can do the job - Stephanie Miner. She would be in the Democratic Primary if she had enough money. She is running as an independent. Vote for her in the general election. She's honest AND progressive.
Cuomo has been in office long enough. Nixon has no credentials. Stephanie Miner has the credentials.
Stephanie MINER in the general November election!!
5
@jeanisobel1
I could not agree more. Ms Miner is the correct vote and I will vote for her.
Can you please stop using Albany as a synonym for state government? Albany is a lovely, if flawed, little city the center of a thriving mid-sized metro area. It is consistently rated among the best, and lowest-stress places to live in the US. We have our issues, but the city that approximately 100,000 of us call home is certainly not broken to anywhere near the extent of state government. It pains me every time I see this lazy, inaccurate shorthand used by the media.
Here’s an alternative. Why not say, New York is broken?” Wouldn’t that be more accurate? I’ll tell you why you don’t use that phrase; it’s because you don’t want to see the name of your home city disparaged. Well, those of us in the Albany and across the Capital District feel the same.
7
There's a snake in Albany! Vote for the head of the snake.
3
We've been beating the same drum for far too long. All governments -- local, state and federal -- should do the following to squash corruption:
• Term limits. We need to limit how long corrupt politicians can stay in office.
• No outside monies. No lobbyist money. No murky campaign contributions.
• No lobbying jobs after you leave political office.
• No pensions and other fringe benefits for a handful of years of work.
That should do it.
24
@Sarah
It won't do it, because "it" is hard to grasp and slippery.
1) Term limits, unfortunately, put power into faceless manipulative cabals that put up and 'manage' malleable personalities while proven tough statesmen with integrity get term limited out. I've seen it over and over in California where we have term limits.
2) No outside monies is an excellent goal and I say go for it! but always realize that money is the slipperiest thing of all and you will not be able to stop it with mere laws and regulations.
3) Yes! Outlaw the revolving doors is a workable and good plan.
4) Getting rid of pensions etc., will only deter the honest poor reformers -- the corrupt dudes will shrug, laugh, bill their paymasters a little more $$ and so owe the interests all the more.
The ONLY thing that works is what we are finally seeing -- aroused citizens pushing for (recruiting!) independent reformist honest candidates.
So "John Friendly" shuts down the Moreland Commission...….do you need more of a tell!!! shame on the N.Y.Times ...you should of picked a contender...…….Cynthia Nixon!!!!!
5
You suggest that Sheldon Silver was driven to corruption because his salary wasn't high enough. Pathetic.
You are shocked that when 3 men in a room, Cuomo, Silver and Skelos, one of whom has since been convicted of kickbacks, set up a commision to study the corruption problem it doesn't succeed. But then you turn around and endorse Cuomo for governor. Where is logic? Where is common sense?
5
So why have you endorsed Cuomo for reelection?
3
There is something desperately wrong with an editorial board that wrote this scathing assessment of pervasively corrupt Albany only two days after endorsing the chief swamp creature, Andrew Cuomo, for reelection to a third term. His complete failure to do anything about any corruption is, to the Times, completely notwithstanding.
This makes the Times’ Editorial Board just as irredeemable as the Albany status quo, of which Cuomo has been an integral part for twelve years now.
8
This is the same editorial board that yesterday recommended voting for Cuomo in next week's primary. Apparently, the NY Times trusts the foxes to repair the chicken coop. The reforms suggested are quite worthwhile and a ten-year-old could tell you they will never happen while the present executive is in office.
Wake-up and smell not just the coffee but the stench. It emanates from the governor's mansion.
5
"Mr. Cuomo created a Moreland Commission in 2013 to investigate public corruption — and then shut it down less than a year later." - NYT
In other news, the New York Times yesterday endorsed Andy for governor. Go figure.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/04/opinion/cuomo-governor-endorsement-ne...
2
Is there any part of US government - state or federal - that is not in need of root and branch reform? I sometimes despair of the dystopian appearance of Australian politics. However, since subscribing to NYT (due to our failing media) I have been increasingly exposed to the nitty gritty of your politics.
Setting aside the individuals involved and the current POTUS it seems there are fundamental issues about your voting processes, gerrymanders, influence peddling and more. It is a frightening picture whereas I had always envisioned a beacon of truth, commonsense and genuine democracy.
Trumpism has exposed the reality of the venality, corruption and dysfunction that appears to permeate your voting processes.
At least in Australia we have an Australian Electoral Commission completely independent from the political process. America should be so lucky to have a similar model - it could restore trust in voting in time. You can bet such simple reform will thus never happen.
We have our problems in this country but we can at least trust in our electoral process. Look up aec dot gov dot au and be amazed at home simple it is to have elections you can trust.
25
@jack zubrick My state does not need or want that, we have decent people who generally serve the public, except in Memphis city government.
You're kidding, right? And yet you want Cuomo to have 4 more years!?! He's the first that needs to go!
6
It takes some gall to encourage readers to “vote to fix state politics” a day after endorsing the incumbent governor!
34
OK, and the NY Times endorsed Cuomo, why again?
9
“Albany is a mess, and we, the New York Times urge you to vote to re-elect Cuomo.”
Perhaps the NYT should shut up about corruption, given the degree to which it admires corrupt political leaders.
11
Grab a broom, and start by voting for Cynthia Nixon!
8
@APS
That may be OK- but vote for Stephanie Miner, formerly the mayor of Syracuse, for governor in November.
Note that the Times, tearing at Cuomo, calling for reformists, can't quite bring itself to throw its bulk behind amateurish Progressive Cynthia Nixon. So I guess there is hope for some survival of rationality.
2
It does strike me as not making much sense that this same editorial board decided to endorse Cuomo given how he seems to surround himself with some really corrupt people, benefits from loopholes encouraging corruption, and yet writes today an editorial denouncing the corruption of state politics.
Maybe this editorial would have a little more impact if this endorsement was retracted?
13
Got it. So why then are you endorsing Andrew
4
I had to slap my head several times while reading this. If things are so corrupt, why hasn't there been a revolt? Is our democracy so weakened that we basically have no democracy anymore? If things are this bad and voting isn't working, then it suggest that we have to revamp the system or just resign ourselves that we have no true democracy. Second, how can $148,000 be sufficient for living in New York City given the extremely high prices there? I guess a single person could do it, living in a tiny walk up. But why? There are plenty of other cities in the US with far lower costs. The Times has many articles about how the subways don't work and the traffic is snarled, and people are paying massive sums to live in tiny holes. If it is that bad, just move! Granted, there are few places today worth moving to, but at least costs would be much lower. Try this: Move the Times to a different city, making the point that NY is corrupt and NYC too expensive. Instead of writing articles that point out the problem, actually do something about it.
2
Cynthia Nixon is, or has, a broom. The Times fears that this broom would be overwhelmed by the collected crud of generations. So the recommendation is to reelect somebody with a proven ability to swim in it without drowning.
5
After the fake news nyt editorial endorsement of cuomo was ridiculed you attempt a come back with this?
There’s no saving cuomo.
There is no fixing Albany without getting rid of cuomo
It’s clear that the nyt isn’t evaluating cuomo based on what he does for ny citizens
I suspect that the nyt loves cuomo because of his Israel friendly politics and nothing more. His track record as governor is poor and there’s no other reason doing for him to be governor.
the bottom line is that the crooks can’t run the prison. Cuomo has got to go! Most of the long term Albany politicians need got to go. Voters are fed up.
7
A big step is to wipe out the IDC. I hope the Times is endorsing the No-IDC candidates in the primary.
4
@Thomas Zaslavsky
The NYT has already endorsed 3 of the anit-IDC candidates, last month. Methinks there will be more state senate endorsements to follow in the next few days.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/28/opinion/new-york-senate-primary-endor...
The fish rots from the head down. Gee tell me
again NYT why you want Cuomo? How do we train him
not to lie and and take bribes? Are you going to have
reporters watching him night and day? Can the FBI tap his phones and trail him with your reporters? Maybe we little people could pony up enough money to bribe him not to take bribes. You know a fun go fund thing.
Too bad you have bought into the propaganda against progressives. What frightens you so about progressives who actually have well thought out financial plans for Medicare for all and a livable minimum wage and free college and saving our safety nets and decent housing for all? Again you were against Bernie because of what? What a pity, you do not seem to trust politicians who will not take large donor money and will not do what corporations or rich people want. And now that scoundrel Bernie is after Amazon for paying employees so little that they have to get food stamps and government hand outs to survive, and didn't you run something on how Disney employees cannot afford housing and one in ten is living in their car? Oh boy, that rascal Bernie was after Disney too. What a pain he is, but hey the important thing, is that Amazon has made trillions right! And we the people are supporting Amazon and Walmart with our tax dollars so they can make trillions. What gall for progressives trying to stop corporate welfare, what gall! And we certainly do not want an honest actor for governor do we?
3
This editorial is a joke. New York City has the population and wealth to be a state. Separate from the rest of New York State, Name your new state New Amsterdam. Stop blaming your problems on the Legislature and Governor in Albany. Then you can have your own Governor and Legislature and take care of your own problems. The rest of New York State would probably be glad to watch the show.
The Republicans and Democrats are both corrupt. It's time to get third parties involved!
10
@Nick The old 'both parties do it'. Please educate yourself and look at which party is trying to stop the corruption money brings and which one is totally opposed to stopping it.
The Republicans (up to and including the Republicans on the Supreme Court - 'Citizens United' Koch Brothers United) are 100% in favor of increasing - forever - the amount of money corrupting our system. Some Democrats but nothing even remotely at the level of the GOP.
1
@Nick
Yes. 3rd parties are needed, but the 2 major parties have such a strangle hold on the political system that 3rd parties are hard to form or their candidates can't get on ballots. If they do manage to get on ballots, the major parties make sure 3rd party candidates get locked out of debates and ignored by media.
As an alternative to 3rd parties, we can join groups that are not political parties but want to push the major parties -- especially the Democrats -- in responsible directions: Justice Democrats, Our Revolution, Democratic Socialists of America. You can bet that if the Democratic Socialists of American had a few million members, instead of the few 10s of thousands it has now, the Democratic Party would be listening and become more responsive to working people's needs, instead of the "needs" of big money.
@Nick Third parties are fine, but please no Greens. Remember what Nader and Stein did to the Democrats.
1
If I were from the South, I'd say, "What gall!!" Endorsing Cuomo, then giving us a lecture about Albany's corruption. You've been drinking too much Kool aid. Short term memory loss? Better not to have endorsed anyone and then print this article, then to sound like a bunch of clueless hypocrites. The talent in the newsroom and quality in the boardroom has significantly diminished over these 20 years. Might as well sell the paper to Trump's buddy who owns the National Enquirer, for the quality and talent won't change much. You treat your readers like we're some bunch of country rednecks who can't read, nevermind remembering what was printed yesterday.
6
Sorry to interrupt, but is there some way you can fix your page from jumping to the bottom and having to scroll up every time we open an article? Please go back to your non-moving format. Thank you.
3
If the premise of this article is accurate (and it is), then why on Earth did you guys endorse Andrew Cuomo?!!??!
3
If things are this bad, why on earth did the NYT editors endorse Cuomo? Cuomo is not part of any possible solution.
6
H. Ajmal points out in this comments section that "We need to elect Democrats but make sure they’re willing to speak on these issues."
We have a voice who is speaking directly to these issues (and to much more). We are pushing hard to elect Joyce St. George, who is running against 32-year Republican incumbent Jim Seward in the NYS 51st senate district, a mostly rural upstate district that covers nine counties.
Joyce is running on an assertive platform that challenges corruption and egregious conflicts of interest in Albany politics. Her experience as the first female investigator to serve in the New York State Attorney General’s Special Prosecutor’s Office on Anti-Corruption helped to root out corruption within the criminal justice system in NYC, investigating police officers, judges and district attorneys.
She directs her criticism at legislators who benefit from corporate largesse, special interests, and pay-for-play practices. St, George will work strenuously to slay the dragon of corruption and unethical practices in government.
Many of the topics covered in this editorial are targeted in her campaign. See more here.
http://stgeorgeforsenate.com/
3
Vote Nixon....never thought I’d say that!
6
And you endorse Cuomo?
2
True, dat. So please help me with this: how is it that the NYT's could so oddly - some might say, so torturously - endorse Andrew Cuomo to remain at the helm of this political garbage barge of a state government? Exactly what do you expect he is actually willing and capable of doing to make it a worthy ship of state? As a letter writer of this date aptly states, "New York deserves better from both our governor and our paper of record."
4
it makes no sense that NYT should call for cleaning up the Albany "mess" while at the same time endorsing Andrew Cuomo who in 8 years has done nothing to fix it and who is arguably one of its major beneficiaries.
6
"Fixing this perverse political culture demands that people show up to the polls on Sept. 13 and remind Albany that it works for them."
By voting for Cuomo, who perpetrated at least have of these issues, as NYT suggested roughly 24 hours ago? You know what, maybe it's better if the NYT oped board wrote nothing at all on the matter. They don't seem to have a coherent idea on the matter (or the memory of a housefly), and we wouldn't want anyone to get the wrong idea from one of your conflicting instructions.
4
And yet the Times endorses Cuomo???!!!??? I can’t even.
5
With progressive moves to fight for a living wage of $15 an hour we have to pay off NYC pols and NY state pols to the tune of $82 an hour in order to reduce the level of corruption? What evidence is there that this has had an impact in NYC let alone Albany where the cost of living is significantly less. I'm pretty sure at $5k an individual (and proposed corporation) these pols will have enough money to run their campaigns when they are not running the government during equal if not less time during the year. I couldn't believe the Times had the nerve to call these $80k jobs subsidized by large contributions of their overall campaign "part-time" employment. This is civil service - the Board should be advocating for all the working parts of the NY and NYC machine first and foremost not politicians that may or may not support their editorializing. I'm thinking the only purpose this article serves is to make politicians lives more comfortably, whether it be less need or concern for campaign money and/or fatter salaries on the public's dime. The Times proves here once again they are working for big name politicians (such as their obvious support for Bloomberg and Giuliani through the years) and not the people that make their city and State work - the public workers, not the admittedly corruptible politicians.
1
Albany is not a mess nor is it broken. It is a fine city with hard working people represented by a talented and progressive mayor, assembly member, state senator, and congressman. Why isn't that news fit to print?
The crisis in democratic governance that the Times refers emanates from Republican and Democratic politicians who come from areas south, west, and north of Albany and have blocked ethics, electoral, and campaign finance reforms. They will continue to do so unless they are voted out of office.
2
So, why did the Times endorse Andrew Cuomo yesterday if he's been surrounded by allies who have been accused or convicted of corruption?
4
If Albany is such a mess, why is the NY Times endorsing the corrupt status-quo?
4
80k is only a “part time job”?
What percentage of New York State residents make 80k a year?
27
Good to see this on the front page/home page of the NYT, but let's face it --most NYers are so focused on the corruption in the White House that they don't have time to tend to their own affairs up in Albany. Where do you think DJT learned his thuggish ways? Yep, right there in the Empire State.
Not to cast aspersions...Urban Californians are exactly the same -- totally focused on national politics while leaving the foxes to guard the henhouse in Sacramento. Plenty of people in my state don't even know where the capitol is or who their state Senators and Assemblymembers are.
10
Vote for ms Nixon We need real democrats who Care about all New Yorkers. Enough with corrupt Democrats and a do nothing governor
Time for a change or past time for one. A vote for Ms. Nixon is a vote for Change and change is what we need
7
What hypocrisy from The Times. They publish this editorial after just endorsing Andrew Cuomo for another term as Governor the individual who deserves more blame for the mess in Albany than anyone else. So lets reward him with a 3rd term ????
REALLY NYTimes editorial board ???
6
But Cuomo gets your endorsement?
11
A nice unendorsement endorsement.
2
What are you actually recommending we do -- as voters? There are no endorsements in this editorial, just general statements of past transgressions. You couldn't just go ahead and endorse Cynthia Nixon? Are you trying to subliminally suggest her? What did I miss here?
9
So, why did you endorse Andrew Cuomo? Asking for a friend.
4
Dead on about giving the legislature a raise. Can you imagine another sector of the economy that has gone 20 years without a raise?? It essentially forces members to look to special interests to supplement their income. As far as I know, the only non wealthy member of the assembly to try to live of her salary is the honorable Linda Rosenthal (upper west side). We need more like her and that woman needs a raise!
1
You're absolutely right, Ed Board. This is disgusting. Vote for Andy to get us out of this mess. Oh, wait...
7
“Albany Is a Mess. Grab a Broom.”
“Re-elect Cuomo”
NY Times
6
@Alan Chaprack
Cognitive dissonance so strong that it points to cognitive impairment.
1
Given this editorial, why did the NYT endorse Cuomo?
8
Given all that you say about New York's corrupt systems (as well as the corrupt players surrounding the governor), why on earth do you then endorse Cuomo for re-election? The fact that he shut down the Moreland Commission when it got too close for comfort seems reason enough to reject him for another term. Yes, let's grab a broom and clean house. Let's put another democrat in the seat--an outsider whose not invested in the system as it stands. Though I write this recognizing the great sense of historical irony, Nixon's the one!
5
If you want to clean up Albany, how in the world could you endorse Cuomo? Are you that unaware of all the corruption scandals? Have you seen the many articles in the Times Union about the millions given to the health care center after receiving tens of thousands in donations from them.
I get that you dont see the horrible mismanagement of state agencies, although the debacle of centralized IT services known as OITS should be easy enough to see, but to overlook his crooked cronies and likely involvement is unconscionable.
7
LOL, so Albany is a mess but you want to give the guy in charge another term?
8
Has there been a coup at the Editorial Board? Only yesterday they endorsed the leader of the corruption in Albany and received almost a 100% negative reaction by their subscribers in the comments section for doing so. Today they hammer home their reporters' exposure of the corruption but cannot bring themselves to endorse anyone not tainted by their previous support.
7
And yet you endorse Cuomo.
7
re "Albany Is a Mess. Get a Broom.":
And you endorse, for a third term, the governor who has been in charge of that mess (and supervising the top-level subordinates now convicted of felonies) for eight years? The very same micromanaging governor, by the way, who suddenly pulled the plug on the anti-corruption Moreland Commission just when its investigation was beginning to gain traction.
The Times' editorial board apparently needs to be reminded that the fish rots from the head.
17
How about kicking Andrew Cuomo, who promised to fix this and then shut down his own commission before it could do anything?
How can you write this editorial and endorse Cuomo?
Dan Kravitz
25
Here's another headline from the NYT:
"Cuomo Ordered an Investigation of Racial Bias in Prisons. Nearly 2 Years Later, It’s Not Done."
You just endorsed him.
Hello?
Dan Kravitz
3
So why did you endorse Cuomo, who’s shown no appetite for cleaning up Albany?
5
And so the message from the NYT is to vote for change, but do so by voting for the same old Democratic incumbents. Do you ever listen to yourself to hear the dissonance?
4
Why on earth did you endorse Cuomo when he is corrupt as they come? It seems that you are speaking out of both sides of your mouth and hoping that no one will notice. The least you could do is take a closer look at the corruption in state government and realize that the head must be cut off first...Cuomo must go.
5
So give this, why endorse business as usual, i.e. Cuomo? Nothing will change unless and until the chief characters change. You know that. So what are you going to do about it? Cuomo has virtues, but ethics aren’t among them. You don’t get to whine about the swamp in Albany and endorse an alligator.
3
Yep, Albany is broken, and this newspaper just endorsed Gov. Cuomo, who sits at the vortex of the corruption described here. How's that going to work?
3
This is a democratic State. Run by liberal elites for liberal elites. Bottom line don't be Black in the NY school system. Your kids are toast
1
Assemblyman Fred Thiele and State Senator Ken LaValle haven't had any credible opponents for the 30 years I have lived on the East End. The Dems won't put anyone credible up against them. What do voters expect to happen?
3
Having only lived for a short time while stationed in the U.S. Army in upstate New York many years ago my only knowledge of the state and it’s politics come from media various sources including The NY Times. I have very little to add to the comments already posted.
However I do have an observation and a question. It seems to me that no one really wants to solve the problems in Albany and in NY state in general. The NY Times endorses the incumbent two term governor one week then turns around and trashes him the next. Why would anyone outside of NY state believe the voting electorate in the state want change when the same people and party keeps getting re-elected time after time after time? Isn’t that the definition of insanity?
5
The grifting we've seen at the national level (Pruitt, DeVos, Zinke, Ross) is just a magnified version of what has become routine in New York State. Percocco was the tip of the iceberg. Kaloyeros and Ciminelli were worse in that they became the agents that connected the levers of power with the contractors, the subcontractors and the consultants that paid into the system in order to collect their fees. "Getting a broom" might apply to journalists asking hard questions: who knew what and when. It's not like the lucrative contracts for construction that were distributed to those convicted aren't a matter of the public record ready to be investigated.
There is a word in Italian for a culture that has grown inured to corruption so commonplace: mafiosita'. And yet, strangely, these editorial pages endorsed Andrew Cuomo just days ago on account of his "experience". First and foremost, fixing this perverse political culture demands people offer a categorical no to each of the figures that have shaped and supported it.
5
$79,500 a part-time job? No wonder people think the Times is a newspaper by and for elites. According to the American Community Survey, $79,500 is approximately $13,500 more than median HOUSEHOLD income in the Albany metropolitan region, which itself is $3000 more than the median household income in New York and $8000 greater than that of the country as a whole.
7
What's next? Is The Times going to paint Andy Como as a reformer? This whole article is way beyond comical. Where has the Editorial Board of The Times been on any topic impacting the lives of New Yorkers? When has it taken DeBlasio to task on anything? He permitted the rezoning of multiple neighborhoods in the city to benefit his real estate buddies, forever changing them. The Editorial Board and its publisher would rather inundate the readership with its daily Trump bashing then report on real issues affecting New Yorkers! These problems across the state did not happen overnight. What a joke of article!
6
Clean up the Albany cesspool!
So says the Times.
Re-elect the ringleader!
So says the Times.
I can’t be the only reader having trouble following this line of thinking.
9
Your editorial cannot possibly be taken seriously, given your recent endorsement of Corruption Chief Cuomo (https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/04/opinion/cuomo-governor-endorsement-ne....
You endorsed Cuomo! How could you possibly then pen this faux screed against corruption? Cuomo is the guy who helped steal the MTA's money (then vetoed the bill that would prevent it from happening again), dismantled the Moreland Commission (but claimed he was all for investigating corruption), talked a lot about protecting women and children (but made sure the bill died that would have allowed prosecutions of sex offenders after the current fifteen year statute of limitations), and took loads of corporate cash (but blathered endlessly about fixing the broken campaign finance system)...
Say, NOW I get it! No wonder you love Cuomo. He's just as hypocritical as you.
16
Is this the Editorial equivalent of a rapid back peddle? Buyer's regret? An "I'm sorry you felt that way?" apology?
How on earth does the Editorial Board publish an endorsement of Andrew Cuomo - an obscenely corrupt governor who has fostered a disgraceful pay-to-play state government - on Tuesday, only to follow up with a "we need to clean up Albany!" war cry on Wednesday?
Who, pray tell, needs to be held account for the corruption? Hint: it's the guy at the center of all of these other scandals and convictions. The Editorial Board rightfully doesn't buy Donald Trump's innocence when everyone in his orbit - Manafort, Cohen, Gates - are hauled off in handcuffs. So why do they with Andrew Cuomo?
The recommendations in this editorial are honorable, but they needed to have been presented as a "we endorse Cuomo IF AND ONLY IF the following things happen" piece yesterday. Or better yet, they could have withheld their support altogether for this entitled member of a political dynasty who has never lived up to his last name.
The readers of the Times rely on the Editorial sections for interesting and insightful opinions. I do not always agree with the Editorial Board, but I can almost always at least follow its logic. Not today. Not by a long shot.
25
@Solaris I so agree, thanks for making it clearer to me, my mind felt muddied.
3
Quite the editorial indeed. I have to believe this group of editors must collectively suffer from multiple personality disorder because just a few days ago they endorsed Andrew Cuomo!
President Truman had a sign on his desk reading “The buck stops here!” It applies to governors too! Lots of corruption going on in Albany on Cuomo’s watch but Cuomo won’t take any responsibility and the all mouth Governor just passes the buck!
Clean up Albany the Times says and in virtually the same breath the Times endorses Cuomo!
I’ll retire to Bedlam!!
5
"Mr. Cuomo created a Moreland Commission in 2013 to investigate public corruption — and then shut it down less than a year later."
This should disqualify Mr. Cuomo from the endorsement he just received from the NY Times, shouldn't it? Come on now.
4
And yet you endorsed Cuomo. Your credibility is shot and your hypocrisy is on full display. Vote Nixon!
7
On one day the editorial board endorses the corrupt mediocre incumbent Cuomo and then today it tells us to vote for change in the legislature. The dissonance is really astounding. For shame!
3
It is staggering that a couple days after endorsing Cuomo for another term as governor of Swamp Albany, this column is published with the first 2 paragraphs clear indictments of our cynically ambitious governor.
That said, this particular column is refreshing with its clear statement about the corrupting but legal influence of virtually unlimited political contributions. Influence means sacrificing what is best for the people to serve the greed of the donors.
In this perpetual motion machine of corruption, the political contributions pay off in profits, usually at the expense of the public, a portion of which gets recycled to the politicians who made the fleecing possible. This helps them stay in office by allowing them to broadcast expensive propaganda about their wonderful service to their voters.
Which, of course, insures that these politicians will have no incentive to sincerely seek campaign finance reform. Greed tends to trump virtue without the intervention of public shame.
4
When will this paper start writing about our outrageous taxes in this state? Outside nyc, we are being killed by county, local and the much dreaded school tax bill. The single family homeowners are being forced to sell and move out of state and most are seniors. I’m sick of reading about nyc subways and housing crisis. What about those of us the live outside nyc.
4
Funny too that NJ get far more mention nation wide as corrupt. I agree our politics are often corrupt but NY is at least as bad.
So who paid you guys to promote Cuomo?
5
Andrew Cuomo is a dynamic, progressive and effective leader. Because of him and others like him in the State, I’m glad we live here in spite of the choking taxes. We have strong gun control, gay marriage, women’s reproductive rights, civil rights, etc., etc. Andrew Cuomo is also a corrupt bully who somehow manages to stay a step ahead despite his close association with convicted criminals in or near his administration. What to do?
A broom? Try a haz mat suit and an acid wash. Filth and corruption is the bedrock of the place; it is its very foundation. The leaders and even some of their children have been indicted and convicted over multiple generations. Albany is like a Cosa Nostra of politics.
I have no idea what the answer is, other than bulldozing the New York State Senate and Assembly and starting from scratch. Completely rewriting the laws relating to municipal authorities like the MTA and TBTA, which are a bastion of ineptitude and feather bedding, would also be a good start.
1
I am trying to figure out how after endorsing Governor Cuomo the NYT editorial board decides to write about Albany's corruption. Uh, what?
Anyone who has turned on the news in the last 5 years knows that New York's governor and his inner circle is as corrupt as our current President and his inner circle. He is responsible for the ailments the NYT editorial board discusses here in this article. Read the articles together. Seriously, it's troubling. True doublespeak.
Let's hope future NY Governor Cynthia Nixon can sweep up the mess that was made during two terms by the candidate the NYT editorial board has endorsed for a third.
8
Hello NYT Editorial Board,
I don’t get it. You suggest, “Create a Truly Independent Ethics Body.”
A few years ago, when there was an ethics body, you reported that Cuomo wasn’t cooperating with its investigation, and when it started investigating his office he shut it down. But despite this, you endorsed Cuomo for re-election.
Please explain why you endorse creating an ethics body just after you endorsed Cuomo, who would shut that one down too.
9
Corruption pervades all forms of government. There are currently over 15,000 registered lobbyists in DC. They would be extinct if they were not effective, i.e. who would pay their salaries for nothing in return.....Who lobbies for the public good?
Every investigation reveals that most political operatives are self serving thieves. The public good is lost in a sea of special interests.
Term limits amd referendums are part of the cure. For example, if sensible gun regulation were in a referendum, it would pass....
How to move a leviathan with a feather duster? The machine is well lubricated and does not take kindly to tinkering with its gears. There is a whole ecosystem at stake and the alpha predators will fight tooth $ nail to retain influence. Glenwood Management lost Shelly $ Skelos, however there are others in their pocket.
Times are ripe to rattle the apple tree and dumping Cuomo is low hanging fruit.
FACT: Albany was not a mess when the Senate, Assembly, and Governors were all Democrats.
As long as Republicans have controlled at least one of these branches, things have deteriorated.
3
Makes me glad to live in Vermont, where our politicians are basically honest, but are only guilty of poor judgement. (Except for one, since resigned, who forced a woman into prostitution).
The bigger any state's economy, and the bigger the state budget, the greater the opportunity to corrupt, and the incentive to corrupt the easily corruptible. Its been that way in New York, and other large states such as Illinois, for generations. Just read the history of the Robber Baron era, where the corruption spread to the New York judiciary as well.
I agree that legislators should be paid more. Where government pay is unrealistically low, those who seek office are more likely to be there for the corruption opportunities than to do a good job for the people.
8
I’ve been reading the New York Times every day for over 42 years. I’ve been listening to Democrats for the entirety of my political awareness claim that they can create an American utopia if only they were allowed to tax away all earnings and dedicate them to whatever whimsical programmatic boondoggle some liberal elite-of-the-moment hatched out of whole cloth – for over half a century. I’ve studied the claims of Marxists for more than a century that they could do the same despite the manifest failure of everyone else who has ever attempted such a thing employing their approaches.
And through all of that the New York Times has never wavered: Albany is a cesspool and must be fundamentally reformed. In fairness, Albany sleaze has been going on since George Clinton (first and still longest-serving NY governor, and former U.S. vice-president – under Jefferson replacing Aaron Burr, and Madison, as well).
That’s a lot of sleaze over a very long time.
But it wouldn’t be a normal year if the editors of the NYT didn’t inveigh against that sleaze at LEAST a couple of times. How’s that workin’ out for ya’?
You want to jump-start a fix to the city’s and the state’s transportation? Housing? Even something like voting protocols? Figure out a way to BRIBE Albany to do intelligent things. On the clear evidence over CENTURIES, you’re not going to get them to do it by OTHER means.
24
@Richard Luettgen: Return to Tammany Hall? (Serious question.)
I ignore the usual diatribe against the less corrupt party.
1
@Richard Luettgen
Albany needs reform. Maybe we should send Chris Collens and Duncan Hunter in to clean things up.
2
@Richard Luettgen
Yet again, Mr. Luettgen vents his ire against Democrats while failing to mention Republicans. He implies that the Democrats are Marxists while giving Republicans a pass although members of both parties have been corrupt.
Please go back to mumbling into your long gray beard, Mr. Luettgen. You should be ashamed of being a Republican, but, alas, that will never happen.
4
As I understand it, the same editorial space was given
over just a few days ago to an endorsement
of A. Cuomo to remain governor of this obscenely
corrupt state.
Unfortunately I fail to detect any coherence between these two editorials.
What is clearly needed to be serious about draining the swamp that is Albany's political culture is a citizens party dedicated principally to a complete overhaul of business as usual. To succeed
such a party would need to explain to ordinary citizens the price
they pay for corruption in very down to earth and daily terms, and then emphasize and explain how reform would benefit them in concrete terms.
A good first step, though not sufficient by itself, would be to elect Teachout as AG. That editorial endorsement was at least
consistent with today's.
A fundamental problem, which has been around for
decades, is the general apathy and indifference of the
average state voter, the lack of Albany news in local reporting,
and the enormous influence New York City has on Albany's
political culture.
Were a citizen reformist party to emerge
from within NYC alone, this would be quite helpful in
draining the swamp. However, that seems completely
unrealistic given the amount of campaign money
the city generates.
Perhaps the most effective way would be by ballot initiative
which would at least sample the level of citizen outrage and
interest in reform. One cannot really expect the swamp's
inhabitants to reform all by themselves.
78
What about introducing a "community board" akin to New York City's community district but for the state level to encourage more engagement with state governance?
The sad reality is that the vast majority of New Yorkers don't even know they're electing representatives to a state legislature. Ask 10 New Yorkers who their State Senator is or their Assemblyman and you'll get 4 huh's, 2 Schumers or Gillibrands, 3 may say their local representative to the House of Representatives and maybe 2 actually know.
The NYC community boards certainly have their flaws, an absence of term limits for board members being one, but they do encourage more participation, transparency and accountability among the borough presidents and council members.
10
@GPC
It is a good idea, except NYC community boards, as they exist today, are very flawed and inherently undemocratic. The community board members are appointed by politicians who generally choose people to do their bidding. Some community boards lack diversity, both in terms of race, religion, culture, age and gender. They may be advisory, but zoning and variances often get pushed through quietly and without much notice, even when it's to the detriment of the community. One community in Brooklyn doesn't even have a web site to let people know when and where the meetings will be held. I concur though, that people do need to be encouraged to participate locally , and be informed about their representatives at all levels.
3
Very good Editorial. Funding of politicians by individuals and companies is a big loophole in all parts of the globe. There is no control of any sorts whatsoever. This loophole needs to be fixed on urgent basis to stem the rot.
Elections of all kind can be made very simple provided there is a will to undertake it. Huge expenditure is practically not needed for canvassing at all. There should be televised debates of the candidates wherein they can express their views in a given period of time. Instead of indulging on person and party abuse, they should be asked to talk only on what good works they would be doing for the betterment of the society if elected, that’s all and nothing beyond that.
@Sivaram Pochiraju
It’s only “very good” if one is willing to overlook the fact that this same Editorial Board only two days ago endorsed two term governor, and one térm Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.
Cuomo’s fixer, Joseph Percoco whom Cuomo described as”like a brother” is now a felon, as are the other two of the “three men in a room” who comfortably cogoverned with that same Cuomo.
1
"Across the state, the needs of New Yorkers, from subways to affordable housing, "
I continue to marvel how the Board of the NY Times confuses the needs of New York City, with the needs of the State of New York
There is plenty of affordable housing in Utica, Buffalo, Binghamton, Syracuse, cities in NY State that have roughly half of the population they had in 1950. And no MTA is needed to go to work
The most urgent problem of the State of NY is to fix the economic down spiral of Upstate NY, that is getting poorer and less populated, with increasing property taxes to support more need social services
To quote from a recent column of Edsall in the NY Times
"Conversely, in the struggling Syracuse metropolitan area (Clinton 53.9 percent, Trump 40.1 percent), families moving in between 2005 and 2016 had median household incomes of $35,219 — $7,229 less than the median income of the families moving out of the region, $42,448.
That, not the MTA, that NYC can afford to fix, is what ails NY State
50
@Woof, you've confounded two separate problems that both desperately need fixing. If we save a few billion in corrupt spending, such as the "economic zones", we can easily pay for action both. But the subways are much easier to fix; we know exactly what has to be done, while how to solve the problem of upstate (which I do think is very important for New York) is much less clear.
Agreed. And the author's comment that pay of over $79,000/ year is "part time" displays more myopia and place-centric thinking. You must consider how an observation like that strikes the hundreds of thousands of New York state residents working full-time, year in and year out, for less than that. And living. Believe it or not.
@Woof -- Fair points about the problems of upstate, but you overlook that it's New York City that is keeping the state afloat financially. If the City's economy isn't good -- and over time the MTA's problems will sap that City economy -- there will be no money to address what ails other parts of the state. We're in this together.
2
Non-partisan redistricting is essential, but New York citizens should also demand a unicameral legislature. Since all legislative districts must have equal populations, there is no rationale for the state legislature to have two houses, the Assembly and the Senate; our bicameral legislature is essentially a full-employment scheme for legislators, and has the corrosive effect of diffusing accountability.
— Brian
23
I agree with Brian. About 100 full-time, fairly paid legislators following strict rules about outside income could accomplish far more than we get out of the current disfunction in Albany.
The NYT editorial board should also ask what New Yorkers across the state are getting for the unusually high taxes we pay. How does Vermont, Connecticut and Pennsylvania govern for much less per capita?
21
Brian, you should have advocated for a constitutional convention!
@Peter, better roads than Vermont or Pennsylvania, for one. Still, it's a good question to raise.
Voting in "blue" New York is harder than in many other states, including places like Ohio which have had secretaries of state hostile to voting reforms.
New York has obstacles to absentee voting, no early voting, separate primaries for federal and state offices, and opaque rules about candidates appearing for candidacy as minor parties. These are measures used to reduce turnout and increase confusion.
Oregon moved to a vote-by-mail system mainly to save money because they are remarkably cheap there, and then once they did it, they realized it was great and asked themselves why they hadn't done it years ago. Washington and Colorado do this and New York should as well- voting done entirely by mail, no cost to voters and no inconvenience.
Maine has instant-runoff voting which is also a very sensible reform that New York should consider.
55
re: voting by mail, the New Jersey law seems like a more sensible law for East Coast states than across the board all-mail voting. in NJ, voting by mail is an option for towns with less than 500 people.
Exactly who would accomplish these reforms: the governor, state legislators? The Times has already endorsed Andrew Cuomo, who closed down the Moreland Commission.
The primary for the Democratic nomination for Attorney-General. an office which might have the power to take on corruption, takes place next week. Of the frontrunners, one is an outsider, an academic with expertise on ethics: Zephyr Teachout. If the Times were serious about ending the sleaze, it would make an endorsement, which favored such a candidate.
97
@Arthur you make a powerful point about the NYT and Cuomo but please note that the NYT did endorse Ms. Teachout.
3
@Arthur
The NYT endorsed Ms. Teachout for AG on Aug 19.
@Arthur
The Times gave an enthusiastic endorsement of Ms Teachout several days ago, SHE WILL WIN. And so will Ms Nixon.
So why recommend Mr. C.?
Ill qualified as you see,
Lots of smoke if no fire,
And his reign has been dire
Rife with corruption it's free.
36
Because, Mr. Eisenberg, for the NY Times, better the devil you know, as long as s/he is a Democrat, than the devil you don't, who may be a Republican. Certainly, if the newspaper put the same resources into fighting Albany corruption that it has put into damning the Trump Administration, something might change in New York State governance which is an abomiaiton.
1
I agree 100%. We need to elect Democrats but make sure they’re willing to speak on these issues.
2
Cuomo IS a Democrat he shut down the Moreland Commission. He’s done nothing concerning corruption in Albany.
3
@H. Ajmal you live in Boston and so does Larry. Why are you platformed here? Neither of you lived or are impacted by NY state politics
1
@OK Josef
I wish we non-New Yorkers weren't impacted by NY politics, but the 2016 NY presidential primary shows we are. That Democratic primary was a closed one; independents couldn't vote in it. In order to be eligible to vote in that Democratic primary, you not only had to be a registered Democrat, but you had to registered as a Democrat 6 months before the primary.
That system disadvantaged Bernie Sanders in that primary, who was heavily favored by independents (per Michigan) and heavily favored by young, new voters, who very well might not have been registered 6 months before the primary and thus ineligible to vote. If Sanders had won the New York primary, he may well have won the Democratic candidacy, and Trump would not be president. So, yes, unfairness in NY's political system does affect the rest of us.
NY state and city from a political standpoint have been a cess pool for generations. From Tammany hall to current day state and city politicians, it's a system of corruptions, payoffs capped off with zero accountability. Taxes are unreasonably high, real estate is unreasonably expensive and it's not sustainable. Unfortunately, we'll all learn about it in the next collapse. Who will hold state and city leadership accountable for corruption? Maybe the citizens should....
24
1. An independent, non-partisan commission to do redistricting.
2. Ranked voting, in both primaries and general elections.
3. State and local primaries before the summer, not in September.
4. Early voting provisions.
39
A better expression of opinion than last time but not by much. Read this:
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/04/opinion/cuomo-governor-endorsement-ne...
The argument still sounds like a wolf among the fold. Corruption is bad when our corruption isn't winning. I'll agree with most of the points expressed here but not the intention.
7