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Major issues loom for Paterson

By David Freedlander, amNewYork Staff Writer
More stories | dfreedlander@am-ny.com

March 13, 2008

New York Lt. Gov. David Paterson attends the opening night of "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof," in this March 6, 2008 photo, in New York. Attention turned to Paterson immediately after word surfaced, Monday, March 10, 2008, that Gov. Eliot Spitzer had been linked to a high-priced prostitution ring. If Spitzer quits, Paterson automatically becomes governor and would complete Spitzer's term, which ends Dec. 31, 2010. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini, file)

Soon after being sworn in as New York's 57th governor, David Paterson will have to address a number of issues important to New York City.

- State budget. The most pressing need is to pass a budget before the start of the Fiscal Year on April 1. Paterson will have to bring together Assembly Democrats, who want to raise taxes on the wealthy to plug a yawning budget gap, and Senate Republicans, who are averse to any tax increase. Gov. Eliot Spitzer's most recently proposed budget would slash state funds for the city.
- Congestion pricing. The state has until the end of the month to approve a plan to charge motorists entering parts of Manhattan or it will lose out on $354 million in federal mass transit funding.
- Moynihan Station. Spitzer had big plans to restore the grandeur of the city's train hub, but if things don't get moving soon, the feds could yank $800 million for the project.

- Javits Center. The Spitzer administration scuttled a long-stalled expansion plan in January and announced it was selling parcels to the north and south of the convention center. Figuring out what comes next will go a long way to deciding what happens with the 7 train extension and the development of the West Side.
- Balance of power in the Senate. Getting beyond the partisan gridlock that has earned the state government a reputation of being among the most anemic in the country will be a key challenge. The entire Senate is up for re-election in November. Republicans currently hold a slight majority with 32 seats, compared to the Democrats' 30.

Newsday contributed to this article.