Assemblyman David Gantt Makes The Big Time — NY Daily News Wrote The Editorial Jim Lawrence And Tom Tobin Wouldn’t!
Our old pal, Assemblyman David Gantt has made the big time. The New York Daily News has made him the poster child for all that is wrong with Albany. In a Sunday editorial, they wrote a piece that one would think should be written by those who know him best — our own editorial writers at the D&C. But wait, that would fly in the face of the D&C’s only Republicans do bad things policy. From the Daily News:
The sleaze that is the New York State Legislature continues to reveal itself in new and astonishing ways.
The latest specimen is Democratic Assemblyman David Gantt of Rochester, Transportation Committee chairman. He pulled a maneuver so lousy, his Albany cohorts are running away from him as fast as they can.
This is the Mr. Ganttwho has for the last seven years singlehandedly blocked plans by numerous cities, including New York, to use cameras to enforce traffic rules.
(snip)
He explained his opposition as a matter of high principle. He said cameras would violate privacy. “It’s the old Big Brother watching,” he said.
But all of a sudden, Gantt has begun to love Big Brother. He introduced a bill that endorsed red-light cameras, writing that his measure was “aimed at helping reduce a major safety problem at urban and rural intersections.”
But Gantt wasn’t interested in letting cities like New York and Buffalo buy the red-light cameras of their choice. His bill mandates cameras that use a technology marketed by just a single upstate company.
And that firm happens to employ Gantt’s former Transportation Committee counsel Robert Gaddyas an $80,000 lobbyist. The fix was in. Caught in flagrante, Gantt admitted to Newsday that he had introduced the bill as a “favor” to Gaddy, adding:
“He’s like a son to me. I don’t know the company, never talked to them.”
(snip)
When Bloomberg pleaded for the authority to expand traffic cameras, Silver gave Gantt veto power - no hearings, no debates. Posturing as a champion of privacy rights, Gantt told Bloomberg to stuff it - until, that is, Gantt’s pal got paid to help things move in Albany.
How’s that for not getting it. At least Gantt is honest — about doing things for favored lobbyists. Jim Lawrence and Tom Tobim really ought to hang their heads in shame. Remember what they had to say about Gantt’s action? If you don’t, take a look:
Gantt says he doesn’t know any of Gaddy’s clients. He says his introduction of the bill was procedural and he hasn’t decided if he favors it.
The way out of this one is for Gantt to step aside when the bill comes up, if it ever does. And the way out for the future is for the assemblyman to know Gaddy’s clients and to establish distance early on, before problems arise.
Unbelievable. Gantt admits to lying about knowing who Robert Gaddy represents to Newsday. And the D&C says Gantt should work to avoid the appearance of impropriety.
And some people think their is a media bias in this town!