Newspapers unite for Newell
It's really rare that the three major metropolitan dailies agree on anything, but in the Newell-Henry-Silver race in the 64th, they're unanimous: Dump Sheldon Silver. Yesterday, the Daily News rounded out the trifecta of The New York Times and The New York Post.
The time has come for the voters of lower Manhattan to turn Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver out of office.
After 32 years in his seat, including 14 years as the Assembly's maximum leader, Silver embodies the insider's game that has captured the state Legislature, to the detriment of 19 million New Yorkers.
Silver's constituents would serve the cause of open, responsive government - and rock Albany to its foundations - by pulling the lever in Tuesday's Democratic primary for challenger Paul Newell.
Across America in this election year, people are demanding change. Let's have it in Albany, too.
Such a vote could mark the start of a revolution. For dumping Silver would send the unmistakable message that the people of this state want a responsible, deliberative Legislature rather than a boss-run fiefdom....
When they go to the polls Tuesday, Democratic voters of the 64th Assembly District - perhaps 15,000 strong - have the opportunity to bring desperately needed change to all New York. And they have a solid choice in Newell, who displays impressive passion about the quality of life in neighborhoods across lower Manhattan.
Elect Newell. Dump Silver.
The editorial boards of the Times, Post and News probably would have a hard time agreeing that hot and cold running water are a good thing. That they all came out and endorsed a challenger - one of two challengers, to be precise - is noteworthy. At a minimum, the issue of Albany reform has now been raised in the only language Albany incumbents understand, in a challenge at the ballot box to their cushy tenures.
2008 Elections | Manhattan | Paul Newell | Shelly Silver




