With Chaos Reigning in Albany, Local Lawmaker Remains True to Her Principles

With a political storm swirling around Speaker Sheldon Silver, rebuffed today by fellow New York State Democratic Assembly Members in an attempt to maintain his considerable influence while fighting an indictment brought last Thursday by United States Attorney Preet Bharara, Jo Anne Simon has resisted the maelstrom that has engulfed Albany.

Ms. Simon, a freshman Assembly member sworn in this past Sunday to represent the 52nd Assembly District, which includes Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Gowanus, DUMBO and part of Park Slope, suggested in her first official pronouncements that Mr. Silver should step away from his post and clear his name.

“As the legislative session moves into full-swing with budget negotiation, the Assembly needs a leader who can commit his full attention and energy to those crucial negotiations,” Ms. Simon said in a statement posted Monday on her website. “If Speaker Silver cannot make that commitment, I hope he will do what is best for the people of the State and the Assembly to step aside and allow the Assembly to elect an interim speaker.”

Ms. Simon’s supporters are fully behind her on this issue.

“Even though I respect and support the ‘innocent till proven guilty’ mandate,” said Maria Pagano, President of the Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association, “I read Simon’s remarks and agree with them.”

“Her stand is consistent with why she was elected: she’s up-to-date on the issues, available for comment, reasoned rather than opinionated.”

“Her position on this is consistent with what I like about Jo Anne and why I voted for her,” said Claude Scales, a regular contributor to the Brooklyn Heights Blog. “I agree with Jo Anne’s position and think Silver’s stepping aside is appropriate.”

Mr. Silver did not agree with calls for his resignation. On Monday the New York Times quoted Michael Whyland, a spokesman for the embattled Speaker, as saying that “The speaker is not stepping down.”

Based on updates late Tuesday afternoon from Albany, Mr. Silver has indeed resigned his post and Joseph D. Morelle, an assemblyman from the Rochester area, will be speaker on an interim basis. A permanent replacement for Mr. Silver will be elected on February 10.

In a statement posted last night, Ms. Simon said: ”I am proud to have worked with my Assembly Democratic colleagues to bring about a new direction and leadership. As of this coming Monday there will be a vacancy in the position of Speaker. A new Speaker will be elected on February 10th. It is important that we continue moving forward to address the issues vital to all New Yorkers, especially those in the Governor’s proposed budget.”

The indictment Mr. Silver faces for “using the power and influence of his official position to obtain for himself millions of dollars of bribes and kickbacks,” has ramifications far beyond the curtailment of his influence— along with Governor Andrew Cuomo and State Senate majority leader Dean Skelos—as one of New York State’s three most powerful politicians.

This turn of events regarding Mr. Silver has thrown the Assembly into chaos, allowing junior legislators such as Ms. Simon, to hold unusual sway in negotiations regarding the speaker’s future.

In contrast to her relative inexperience in Albany, Ms. Simon has extensive experience in opposing entrenched political interests. As female Democratic District Leader and State Committeewoman for the 52nd Assembly District from 2004, Ms. Simon was one of a handful of Brooklyn politicians who for years stood up to Vito Lopez, the former chairman of the Democratic Party of Kings County and representative for the 53rd Assembly District.

In May 2013 Mr. Lopez resigned from office due to a scandal related to a sexual harassment claim filed by two female former employees that was hushed up by a secret $103,000 payment approved by the New York State comptroller, attorney general and the Assembly Speaker, none other than Mr. Silver.

PHOTO CAPTION: Jo Anne Simon with Comptroller Scott Stringer at City Hall last December