A majority of New Yorkers, based upon a recent poll, want Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver to resign. This has been echoed on the editorial pages of The New York Times, New York Post, New York Daily News, Buffalo News, Staten Island Advance and other daily newspapers. Yet this is easier said than done.
This is because Speaker Sheldon Silver rules the state Assembly with an iron hand as did Don Corleone. Like the Godfather, Silver has all the politicians (members of the Democratic Assembly caucus) in his pocket, keeping him in power. He controls whose bills come out of committee to a full vote, lulus for chairing committees and subcommittees, funding for member item pork barrel projects, staffing, mailings and district office budgets.
Mr. Silver also controls the Democratic State Assembly campaign committee, which provides funding to the handful of members who, despite gerrymandered districts, have competitive races against Republicans.
Larry Penner
Great Neck