NY Gov. Paterson’s support erodes as NYC black leaders debate his fate, spokesman quits

Paterson’s stature erodes even in stomping grounds

NEW YORK — David Paterson, New York’s first black governor and a product of the Harlem political machine, faced rapidly waning support Thursday as many of the influential black leaders who have worked with him for decades gathered and began to discuss whether to craft a message to persuade him to resign.

The Rev. Al Sharpton convened a meeting of black New York City politicians at a soul food restaurant in Harlem to consider asking Paterson to leave office, according to a senior state Democrat briefed on the meeting. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the topic.

About 30 leaders attended, including former state Comptroller and 2002 gubernatorial candidate Carl McCall; Hazel Dukes, former president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks of Queens; Manhattan Democratic Chairman Keith Wright; and several state senators and Assembly members.

Former Mayor David Dinkins, who had lunch with Paterson on Thursday and also attended the meeting, was emphatic when asked if the governor should resign: “No, absolutely no.”

Sharpton was going into the meeting with an open mind, wanting to do what is best for New Yorkers, said spokeswoman Rachel Noerdlinger.

“There is no pre-arranged crafting of any message going into the leadership meeting,” she said.

A state panel accused Paterson on Wednesday of illegally obtaining World Series tickets, then lying about it. That charge came on top of an investigation of whether the governor or staff members had inappropriate contact with a woman who made — but later dropped — an abuse complaint against an aide.

Testimony by communications director Peter Kauffmann was key to the decision by the Public Integrity Commission to charge Paterson with an ethics violation. Kauffmann resigned Thursday, saying he “could not in good conscience continue in my current position.”

The governor insists he did nothing wrong, won’t quit and will fight the ethics charges. His office didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment Thursday.

State Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr. issued a statement Thursday urging black leaders to delay any action to push Paterson toward resignation.

“I am urging Rev. Sharpton and the leaders of the African-American Community to not abandon Governor Paterson and to give him an opportunity to present his side of the story,” Diaz said.

“We Hispanic legislators, we are united,” Diaz said, noting the historic strength of the black-Latino coalition. “We wanted to make sure they know our position.”

One of the people attending Thursday’s meeting, Sen. Bill Perkins of Harlem, said Diaz’s comments and the surprise resignation by Paterson’s communications director is making the sentiment of the black leaders’ group “fluid.” The longtime friend of the governor said a proposal to seek Paterson’s resignation is still possible, but he wants to hear more discussion.

“I would not want to predict that” the group would call for Paterson’s resignation, “but, obviously, that it’s out there at all is meaningful …

“The governor knows what he did,” Perkins said. If the allegations are true, Perkins said Paterson should “cut bait now and spare the public, the people of this state, the torturous resignation.”

The senior state Democrat who spoke on condition of anonymity told The Associated Press that party leaders in Harlem, the historically black strip of Manhattan north of Central Park, would meet Thursday night at Sylvia’s restaurant, a neighborhood institution, in hopes of crafting a “message calling for the governor to resign.”

Thursday’s meeting could play a large role in Paterson’s fate, the Democrat said. Harlem has been the base of power for black New York Democrats for decades, and its politicians still hold sway in the state.

A black Democratic adviser, who also spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the discussions, said Sharpton is expected to say he’s rethinking his support for Paterson. Later, the adviser said Kauffmann’s resignation “rattled” the group and would be a topic of Thursday night’s discussion.

At issue at the meeting are legislative proposals critical to the black and Latino communities and Paterson’s ability to advocate for them, the adviser said.

Congressman Charles B. Rangel, who relinquished his House Ways and Means Committee chairmanship Wednesday because of ethics inquiries, didn’t attend.

The New York branch of the National Organization for Women and some elected Democrats have been calling for Paterson’s resignation. But Paterson found some support Thursday from an organization of black police officers, 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care, that urged an end to what it called a “rush to judgment.”

Kauffmann is the third top staffer to leave the administration over the scandals and, as he resigned, said in a statement: “As a former officer in the United States Navy, integrity and commitment to public service are values I take seriously.”

Deputy Public Safety Secretary Denise O’Donnell abruptly quit Feb. 25, saying State Police Superintendent Harry Corbitt had assured her his agency was not involved in the confrontation involving Paterson aide David Johnson. State Police later acknowledged contacting the woman.

Corbitt denied misleading O’Donnell; he said that he told her state police weren’t involved in the investigation, not that they hadn’t contacted the woman. He unexpectedly announced his retirement Tuesday, saying he was tired of the media attention.

A Paterson administration official previously told the AP that the governor directed Press Secretary Marissa Shorenstein to contact the woman who accused the aide of abuse — but only to seek her public statement. Kauffmann was Shorenstein’s boss.

“Peter was loyal, hardworking and dedicated,” said Paterson’s chief of staff, Lawrence Schwartz. “He was smart and we respect his dedication to service. … Everyone in the chamber that’s worked with him wishes him the best of luck.”

Kauffmann’s testimony on the Yankees tickets was taken Tuesday, and the full report was issued two days later.

The governor’s seeking and using the tickets for Johnson, another aide, his son and his son’s friend was a violation of the state’s ban on gifts to officials by organizations doing business with the state, according to the commission.

Paterson represented Harlem for 20 years in the state Senate before becoming lieutenant governor in 2006, then governor in 2008, when Eliot Spitzer stepped down during a prostitution scandal.

Gormley reported from Albany. Contributing to this report were Associated Press writers Ula Ilnytzky and Colleen Long in New York and Valerie Bauman in Albany.