Local support of Gov. Paterson wanes

New York Governor David Paterson, CC ’77, has seen his approval ratings drop precipitously since last year—a plight with which politicians nationwide are familiar during this historic recession.

But in the case of Paterson—who represented parts of Morningside Heights and West Harlem in the State Senate before he was elected lieutenant governor in 2006—neither the economy nor what he cites as racial prejudice in the media are entirely to blame. A stream of gaffes, a persistent fiscal crisis, and a barely functional state legislature granted the state’s first African-American governor with a 19 percent approval rating last spring and a 32 percent rating in August. Paterson will have a hard climb to reelection even in heavily Democratic areas like Morningside Heights and Harlem that had been his home turf.

“Paterson’s not doing what’s right for the state,” Ellen Goodman said, who lives on Riverside Drive near Columbia’s campus. “I don’t think he’s strong enough. I don’t think he was ready for the job, especially not in these times.”

Bunny Meltzer, a resident of 112th Street between Riverside Drive and Broadway, said she thought Paterson “comes off as less competent than he really is.” Nonetheless, she added, “I’m not quite sure he’s really up to being governor.”

Despite the rampant criticism, Paterson can count on the support of at least one prominent Democrat—State Assemblyman Danny O’Donnell, who represents Morningside Heights.

“He became governor at a very inopportune time, and was dealt a very difficult hand financially,” O’Donnell said. “If he chooses to run, I will support him.”

Even critics acknowledge that he entered office at a very difficult time.

“He came in and immediately faced up to problems that the state was facing,” Bob Liff said, a consultant for Malkin and Ross, an Albany-based government relations firm. “Sometimes you’re only as good as the hand you’re dealt.”

But some insiders go as far as to call him a liability to the state Democratic Party, noting that he may not run for reelection in 2010.

“I don’t think he will ultimately run,” said a longtime Democratic consultant who spoke on condition of anonymity because he did not want to be quoted criticizing Paterson, a self-described friend. “I don’t think he can overcome the range of problems that he’s facing politically.”

Perhaps the biggest problem Paterson faces in terms of reelection is that much of his natural base—African-Americans and constituents in organized labor, who overwhelmingly vote Democratic—have turned on him, criticizing him especially for making cuts to social programs in response to a multibillion-dollar state deficit.

“What the governor didn’t quite do is give a rationale why he should continue to be governor,” said a union leader active in state politics, who requested anonymity because he works closely with the governor and did not want to jeopardize future negotiations. “The rationale has to be what you do in office, what you want to do in times of economic distress. He’s a different person than he was as a state senator. We don’t know where he stands on basic benefits.”

There have been widespread rumors that state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo intends to challenge Paterson in the Democratic primaries. But O’Donnell said he knew of no such plans for Cuomo or any other Democratic leader.

“If anyone is doing that,” he said, “no one’s invited me to the party.”

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