Al Sharpton Declares David Paterson 'Should Continue' as Governor After Harlem Summit

March 5, 2010 7:31am Updated March 7, 2010 1:51pm2commentsprint

Al Sharpton, Other Electeds Say Paterson Should Stay Put for Now

Rev. Al Sharpton was joined at Sylvia's in Harlem by other prominent black officials including former Mayor David Dinkins, former State Comptroller Carl McCall, Rep. Gregory Meeks and Hazel Dukes. March 4, 2010 (Heather Grossmann/DNAinfo)

By Heather Grossmann

DNAinfo News Editor

HARLEM — An emergency meeting convened by Rev. Al Sharpton at Sylvia's to discuss Gov. David Paterson drew a firestorm of media attention but resulted in few answers when all was said and done late Thursday night.

The gathered elected officials and community advocates, including former Mayor David Dinkins, former Comptroller Carl McCall, Rep. Gregory Meeks and City Comptroller John Liu, appeared to agree to disagree — for the time being — on what do about the flailing governor.

AssemblymanKeith Wright speaking in front of Sylvia's before Thursday night's meeting. March 4, 2010 (Shayna Jacobs/DNAinfo)

Paterson's involvement in a top aide's domestic scandal has caused some to call for his resignation, but Sharpton made it clear that, while there were differences of opinion in the room, the majority of attendees felt they should allow for "due process" and wait for the results of the investigation into the matter before making a decision.

"Most of those in the room tonight strongly felt that the governor should continue," Sharpton said. "There are others with varying views."

Assemblyman and Manhattan Democratic Party Chair Keith Wright affirmed his support for the governor to the hordes of press before entering the two hour meeting.

"As far as I know, everyone is saying support the governor," Wright said. "We have to let the investigation run its course."

Sharpton said the group planned to call a meeting with Paterson and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver to ensure that the business of the state would continue during Albany's political upheaval.

"It seems that there are many that are more concerned with feeding frenzies of scandals, ignoring what is going on with job creation and health care and what is going on with education and other issues in our state," Sharpton said.

"Our concern first and foremost is that government can function to serve the people."

By Heather Grossmann, DNAinfo.com
Follow Heather on Twitter @hgrossmann

Comments 2comments

David Paterson needs to RESIGN NOW. David Paterson was never up to the job of governing. Paterson has managed to bungle every position he has had his adult life. David Paterson and his crew’s incompetence and wanton ways is evident in the “The Democratic Conference: Organizational and Operational Structure Report”, a report detailing how Paterson’s Senate Minority Office was managed, or more precisely mismanaged, when he was Senate Minority Leader. http://www.politico.com/static/PPM110_demreportfinal.html The report indicates that the office, headed by the highly inept and unqualified Mr. Michael Jones-Bey was dysfunctional and a complete zoo. The incompetent Mr. Jones-Bey, whom was more interested in partying than working, did not seem much interested in the job – doesn’t that sound like David Paterson himself. Incredulously, but not surprisingly Mr. Jones-Bey, a childhood friend of David Paterson, got promoted to head the Division of Minority
cleanupnynow | March 5, 2010

David Paterson simply needs to RESIGN David Paterson needs to LEAVE NOW. Not next year, not in November, not next month, not next week, not tomorrow, but LEAVE NOW. For too long, David Paterson has used the state as an employment agency for his incompetent and unqualified friends, gal-pals and associates – Dave Johnson, Michael Jones-Bey, Clemmie Harris, Gabrielle Turner, Indira Noel, Harry Corbitt - this practice needs to stop. David Paterson’s lackeys are an embarrassment to the fine men and woman who work in state service. DAVID PATERSON NEEDS TO LEAVE NOW AND BRING HIS CREW WITH HIM
cleanupnynow | March 5, 2010

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