CityRoom reports that Governor David Paterson said that there's a "$1.2 billion hole in this year's state budget," due to the faltering economy. Paterson will now work to submit a budget in December, instead of next March, and he said, "There’s no way to sugarcoat it. It has become clear over the last 24 hours, according to Warren Buffett, that the United States economy can be compared to a great athlete who suffered a stroke.”......

Governor David Paterson, who has been sounding the alarms over the state's budget, has created a commission to study leasing state assets to private contractors. The AP says that the state's "golf courses, the toll highway network, parks, beaches and bridges" would be fair game. And the state lottery is attractive enough to apparently garner, per the Post, "$4 billion up front to the state and $200 million a year after that for higher education."......

In what the state labor department calls the "largest month-to-month increase in more than 30 years," New York City's unemployment grew 0.8% to 5.8% for August. Not surprisingly, the NY Times finds, "Many of the layoffs came in the tumbling financial sector, which is one of the city’s biggest employers and the provider of nearly one-fourth of its annual wages and salaries." Keep in mind, layoffs for Lehman and the resulting Bank of America-Merrill Lynch......

Empire State residents are feeling the pinch of the slowing economy as a Siena Research Institute poll finds 34% of respondents have either taken a second job or seek overtime. Two thirds are worrying more about money and 74% say rising food prices are affecting their budgets ("67% of shoppers are buying less expensive items, 60% have cut back on treats like cookies or candy in favor of needed items, and 60% are choosing store......

The lawsuit against Governor Paterson's gay marriage stance--that state agencies should recognize out-of-state same-sex marraiges--was thrown out of a state court yesterday. State Court Judge Lucy Billings wrote, "The Governor's directive is an incremental but important step toward equality long denied, even if, according to the New York Court of Appeals, full equality is not constitutionally mandated." The Alliance Defense Fund, a Christian legal group, plans to appeal, which Billings predicted weeks ago.......

Governor Paterson's warnings about the dire state of NY's budget (the deficit grew $1.4 billion since March) means the Legislature is coming back to Albany for an emergency session (during this time, lawmakers are usually in their district offices). The AP says with Paterson's desire for deep cuts and opposition from both unions and Assembly Democrats, the pols--Democrats and Republicans alike--could be making "some of the hardest decisions of their political lives, together. Or, nothing......

After repeated warnings about the state's economy and financial status, today Governor Paterson proposed another $1 billion in state spending cuts this year, and another $1.6 billion in cuts next year. Per The Politicker, "the cuts include $505 million to Medicaid, and $132 million that would be saved by postponing the implementation of legislators' programs" and cutting member items by 50% (for a savings of $100 million). Paterson wants to reduce the looming budget deficit......

Governor David Paterson's unusual televised Tuesday afternoon speech detailing the state budget's deficit and imploring lawmakers to head back to work* has been followed up with some specifics today. He says a 7% cut to state agency spending would save $630 million. Paterson also suggests an "immediate hard hiring freeze," and wants the Legislature to help find $1.2 billion in savings. During his speech yesterday, Paterson implied the state would need to think about selling......

Governor Paterson signed a law that will restrict violent video games, as well as create "an advisory council to study the effects of violent games" and "to help families better monitor" the games. While bill sponsor State Senator Andrew Lanza said, "Technology advances have allowed video games to become increasingly more realistic and interactive, and unfortunately more violent. Some games simply aren't appropriate for nine and ten year old children for example," Americans for Tax......

The Post says former mayor Rudy Giuliani is "launching a new fund-raising committee to dole out cash to New York GOP candidates." Which might open the door for him to run for governor in 2010. Sure, there have been Governor Giuliani rumors since Spitzer's resignation and the main purpose of the new committee is raise money to retain Republican control of the Senate. However, some also believe the committee could help "rebuild his political clout......

While Mayor Bloomberg has denied any interest in running for Governor, the Post finds his desire to steer the NY State GOP...suggestive. Apparently Bloomberg's political adviser Kevin Sheekey, who hinted about the mayor's presidential aspirations, met with a former State Senator, Ray Meier, abou taking over the state GOP. Of course, there may be some other jockeying over power of the state GOP--coming from former mayor Rudy Giuliani who might want to get back into......

Yesterday, the Post ran a cover story suggesting that Governor Paterson bitterly criticized Mayor Bloomberg. Not to Bloomberg's face or anything, but a source provided the Post's Albany bureau chief Fred Dicker with alleged Paterson quotes like "He has the same kind of anger that reminds you of Spitzer" and "It's obvious that Bloomberg has little use for the kind of people who come from Queens and Staten Island." But in an afternoon press......

The NY Times conducted a poll amongst over a 1,000 New York residents--931 of them registered voters--to gauge their feelings on New York issues and found most people are worrying about the their economic conditions. The issues showing an increase in people's concerns were taxes, gas prices and the economy, while issues like education, unemployment and crime were less of a worry. Also "Nearly 60 percent of those polled said the state was on the......

After rumors of Mayor Bloomberg eying the Governor's Mansion in Albany in 2010, a Quinnipiac poll reveals that NY State voters wouldn't mind a billionaire governor. Out of 1,388 NY voters, 30% said they like the idea of Governor Bloomberg. Current Governor David Paterson was in third place, with 23%--former mayor Rudy Giuliani was in second with 26% (15% of respondents picked Attorney General Andrew Cuomo)! Given that the margin of error is +/- 2.6......

Photograph by Unlisted Sightings on Flickr But it might make them poor! Today, NY State has introduced an additional $1.25 tax--for a total $2.75 NY State tax--on cigarettes, which means a pack of smokes is likely to cost between $8.00 to $8.50 in NYC (NYC has a $1.25 tax). NY1 got some comments from smokers on the streets:"Wow, it's a lot of money," said one smoker. "Probably not enough to make me quit. I......

Photograph of Governor Paterson and Senator Schumer during an agricultural town hall upstate by David Duprey/AP With all the horror stories about sexual predators trolling the Internet for young victims, Governor Paterson signed legislation requiring convicted sexual offenders to register their screen names with the state. Paterson said, "New York State will do everything possible to try to protect young people from the actions of convicted sexual offenders." Called the e-STOP law, the sexual......

The NY State Senate may have passed legislation eliminating the NY State gas tax between Memorial Day and Labor Day, but it's unlikely Assembly or Governor will support the plan. New Yorkers would save 32 cents per gallon, and State Senator Andrew Lanza (R-Staten Island) said, "Look at New Jersey, where you'll find a lower tax for gasoline, and you know what you'll find? A lower price for gasoline. Gas costs more here, because we......

Last week Governor Paterson signed off on a new tax law requiring out-of-state retailers to collect sales tax from consumers in New York State. Like other states, New York requires residents to pay tax on out-of-state purchases for which sales tax wasn’t collected. The big argument is over who’s responsible for collecting; the new law puts that onus vendors like Amazon, which is now fighting the bill in State Supreme Court. What’s interesting is that......

Add another high-profile politician to the list of people who don't want to run for governor: Senator Hillary Clinton's spokesman Howard Wolfson tells the NY Times rumors of a gubernatorial future are "ridiculous...There are no circumstances under which Senator Clinton will run for governor." Last month, Newsweek reported some Democrats were "floating a consolation prize"--being Governor of NY--to Clinton. Add to that the possibility of Rudy Giuliani running and you've got grade-A wishful thinking! While......

New Yorkers are supposed to be honest at tax time and indicate how much they've purchased from online retailers--like Amazon.com--that don't charge NY State sales tax. Now the NY State tax department wants online retailers to charge sales tax, or else be subject to audits going "back as far" as tax officials want. Currently, retailers who have a physical presence in New York are required to pay state and local taxes, not ones who just......

Smokers, you'll need to save up or shell out or simply quit, as state officials have agreed to increase the tax on cigarettes by $1.25, which would give NY State the highest per-pack tax of $2.75. And in NYC, there's that $1.50 tax, so Big Apple residents will have to pay $4.25 in cigarette taxes. The Center for a Tobacco Free New York believes the tax will encourage 6% of the state's smokers to quit......

Photograph of Governor Paterson by Mike Groll/AP Let's review Governor David Paterson's first week: Last SATURDAY As lieutenant governor/ governor-to-be, he speaks at the site of the fatal Turtle Bay crane collapse. MONDAY Morning: He is sworn in as the 55th governor and receives standing ovation and good will from all. Evening: He and his wife each admit to having extramarital affairs to the Daily News; Paterson only mentions a relationship with one woman.......

The Saga of Love Gov, Part 2 continues with Governor Paterson's admission he may have used a campaign credit card to pay for a hotel room, but charged it as "constituent services." Say it all together now: "That's some 'constituent services'!" Paterson told the Daily News, "I do remember that there was a time I might have had to use the [campaign] card because my other [personal] card didn't work," but the News found "a......

Governor David Paterson hoped his and his wife's admission that they had extramarital affairs meant that everyone could move on. Other politicians certainly want to move on and constituents generally don't think it's a big deal (Hookergate fatigue?), but now that the tabloids have license to run with it, it means details (and long cover headlines) galore! One of the women Paterson had an affair with worked for under Governor Spitzer, when Spitzer was......

Photograph of Paterson being sworn in by Chief Judge Judith Kaye by Mary Altaffer/AP David Paterson was sworn in at NY State's 55th governor today, in the standing-room State Assembly chambers and those gathered gave him a two-minute standing ovation, "David! David! David!" In his speech, Paterson said, "In so many ways we woke this morning to a not so ordinary day. Today like we always do, in spite of the obstacles or circumstances.........

Lieutenant Governor David Paterson spent the weekend working on the speech he will give after his swearing-in as Governor. According to the NY Times, he had been "rehearsing it and committing it to memory," and since he is blind and cannot rely on a teleprompter, "his remarks will be partly memorized and partly improvised." The speech is also be "conciliatory," versus his predecessor's aggressive approach (Spitzer implied Governor Pataki turned NY State into Rip Van......

The Friends of Moynihan Station shared a rendering of what Moynihan Station will look like, according to NY State. According to FMS, the Empire State Development Corporation has been "reluctant" to share them, but FMS thinks "looks great," though there's a lot that needs to be explained. The Observer broke down what's in the rendering:In the bottom of the picture is the Farley Post Office with a new Madison Square Garden in the rear.......

After his $500,000 donation to NY State Republicans was revealed, Mayor Bloomberg explained why he did it to reporters while attending a Mayors Against Illegal Guns conference, "I've said repeatedly, I will help those who help us. They have stood up for the city a number of times — when we needed to have a voice in Albany and we didn't have that voice from the Assembly or from the governor, whether it was the......

Just because Mayor Bloomberg has denied running for governor in 2010 doesn't mean it has to be true! The Sun's Davidson Goldin thinks that for Bloomberg, "Running for governor is likely, and becoming more so." Why? Well, though the mayor and Governor Spitzer have tried to be cooperative, Albany is involved in many plans the Mayor has a stake in, such as congestion pricing, OTB, and the Javits Center, not to mention Moynihan Station and......

Thank you, NY Times, for updating us on the activities of George Elmer Pataki. Although Pataki has been out of politics, he still spent $1.4 million from his political action committee on "Broadway theater tickets, gatherings at the Yale Club and payments to political loyalists and advisers." Now, Pataki's PAC was formed in Virginia, which has, according to the NY Times, "no limits on contributions" and a "light regulatory touch in terms of spending." A......