David Paterson. (Photo: Getty)

Former Governor David Paterson, who took the state's top executive post after Eliot Spitzer suddenly resigned amid a prostitution scandal, says he might not be done with politics just yet.

"I love public service. I love the people who do it," Mr. Paterson answered this morning when asked whether he'd run for veteran Congressman Charlie Rangel's seat if the incumbent retired. "I would listen to people."

Specifically, Mr. Paterson, a Democrat, cited a lack of leadership in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives as a possible motivation for running. He further complained that important issues, like student loan debt and housing foreclosures, were not getting the attention they deserved.

"Nobody seems willing to get up and take on any issue unless they're in the majority," Mr. Paterson, speaking in a talk radio interview with New York Post columnist Fred Dicker, explained. “And when that happens, it means that they're deal-makers rather than leaders. And that compromise that people make--just that little compromise--inevitably leads to corruption. Every time."

At the same time, the former governor also expressed reservations about making such a bid. First of all, he predicted that Mr. Rangel, an octogenarian who has done almost no fund-raising since his narrow re-election victory last year, would nevertheless seek another term. Additionally, Mr. Paterson said he felt very comfortable in private life and he might be too old for such a bid anyway.

"I wake up in the morning, everything is not my fault--it's really a great feeling," he said. "I'd be 60 years old at the time I took the seat, ... so I can almost put it to bed and say 'no.' But then I watch the political landscape these days and I just feel that people are not talking about some of the issues that are really affecting people."

For his part, Mr. Rangel has not announced his intentions. Other potential candidates include Mr. Rangel's 2010 challenger, State Senator Adriano Espaillat, former Assemblyman Adam Clayton Powell IV and Assemblyman Keith Wright.

(Photo: Getty)

Former Governor David Paterson's time hosting his two-hour daily radio show has officially come to an abrupt end.

Earlier today, FishbowlNY reported a "bloodbath" of layoffs at WOR News Talk Radio, one of which was New York's accidental governor, who surprisingly assumed office in 2008 after Governor Eliot Spitzer's infamous hooker-induced resignation.

“As someone who had to do significant housecleaning when he took over as chief executive, these moves by the new management come as no surprise,” Mr. Paterson's spokesperson, Sean Darcy, told NY1, confirming the report. “In anticipation of this eventuality, Governor Paterson has been exploring a number of different options both in and out of the media and will be working towards finalizing some of those options after the New Year. He has greatly enjoyed being part of the rich, proud history of WOR radio and would like to thank the Buckley family, Jerry Crowley and the entire WOR team for the opportunity.”

Mr. Paterson, who is legally blind, described the radio as a natural landing place for him when he was initially hired, telling FishbowlNY that blind people “particularly listen to a lot of radio."

"I don’t know a blind person that didn’t know all the radio stations," he explained.

Mr. Paterson's show regularly featured many of New York's top politicos including Governor Andrew Cuomo.

David Paterson

CHARLOTTE, NC -- Politicker ran into former Governor David Paterson while he was working the room inside the CNN Grill at the DNC Wednesday and we asked him about all of the drama that surrounded the New York delegation at the convention. Mr. Paterson heaped praise upon Mr. Cuomo and the delegation's leader, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, and he had harsh words for one of their critics,bat-wielding 2010 Republican gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino.

"Carl Paladino should take that bat and hit himself in the head with it, it would do us all a favor," said Mr. Paterson.

Governor Andrew Cuomo arrived at the DNC yesterday after some confusion and speculation surrounding when and if he would make a convention appearance. Mr. Paterson said the Governor's decision not to reveal his convention plans earlier and to keep a low-profile at the DNC was part of a "brilliant strategy" of media avoidance that could propel Mr. Cuomo to higher office.

"I think that Governor Cuomo has learned a lesson from Governor Spitzer and myself, who showed up everywhere and were so transparent that it was self-destructive at times," Mr. Paterson said. "I think Governor Cuomo tries to be open, transparent and give out information, but he doesn't try to be part of the daily blog, 24 hour news cycle. And I think it's a brilliant strategy that might land him in the White House one day."

Mr. Paterson added that he doubted the recent drama in Albany, where Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver is facing an investigation by a federal special prosecutor because he authorized $103,000 in public funds to be used for a settlement with one of the women who accused Assemblyman Vito Lopez of sexual harassment.

"There's an investigation and the Governor knew about that. ... He's got nothing to do with that, he's made his feelings felt on the issue and he, unlike a lot of others who rush to judgement, very responsibly said, "Let's let the investigation tell us," said Mr. Paterson.

Since Mr. Paterson brought up the investigation, we asked him about an email regarding the settlement scandal that was sent out by the man who unsuccessfully ran to replace him in 2010, Carl Paladino. In his email, which was sent Wednesday morning, Mr. Paladino accused the press of being "spineless cowards" and said a special prosecutor was appointed because Albany politicians want "to bury" the issue.

"The press should be asking if it was quiet money to keep Vito's mouth shut about other topics? We'll probably never know the answer to that because the press will let the good old Albany establishment boys bury the issue with a Special Prosecutor investigation that will go on forever and result in nothing. Whenever politicians want to bury an issue they appoint a Special Committee or Prosecutor," Mr. Paladino wrote.

Mr. Paterson angrily dismissed Mr. Paladino's theory about the special prosecutor's investigation.

"Carl Paladino should take that bat and hit himself in the head with it. It would do us all a favor, because the federal prosecutor was because the King's County D.A. had a relationship with Vito Lopez," Mr. Paterson said. "If he had tried to prosecute that case, Carl Paladino would be the first to say, 'This is corruption.' So, Carl, shut up."

We also asked Mr. Paterson his take on the situation with Mr. Silver. He said the Assembly Speaker had earned his admiration by admitting he shouldn't have authorized the settlement without making it public.

"I did think he did something wrong. He should have publicized the settlement and he has admitted such, which gains a lot of my respect," said Mr. Paterson.

Reverend Al Sharpton eulogizing Sylvia Woods at Grace Baptist Church in Mount Vernon. (Photo: Getty)

Harlem restaurateur Sylvia Woods was a legendary chef, but she was also a key figure in the Uptown political scene. At her funeral service at Grace Baptist Church in Mount Vernon today, many of the high-powered regulars from Woods' eponymous restaurant showed up to share their remembrances and pay tribute to Woods as a pioneering African-American businesswoman, an ally in the civil rights struggle and, of course, a superb chef.

"Every protest, every movement, every plan, every law started with a breakfast, or lunch or a dinner at Sylvia's," former Governor David Paterson explained.

Today's service was one of three memorials for Woods. On Saturday, her family is holding a "homegoing celebration" in her native Hemingway, South Carolina. Yesterday evening, Bill Clinton and Mayor Michael Bloomberg were among the luminaries who gathered for a "salute" to Woods at Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem. Woods' granddaughter, Tren'ness Woods-Black, spoke to reporters prior to today's service and said the turnout at yesterday's event showed her grandmother was beloved by average citizens as well as the boldface clientele.

"From presidents on down to 70-year-old people who have been eating at the restaurant every day, that's what showed up yesterday and that was a true representation of what Sylvia's is all about," Ms. Woods-Black said.

Before the service got started, Woods lay in state in an open casket as the mourners packed into their pews. As the ceremony began, Grace Baptist's associate pastor, Reverend William Franklyn Richardson III, plead for brevity from the scheduled speakers, who included Mount Vernon Mayor Ernest Davis, Abyssinia Baptist Senior Pastor Dr. Calvin Butts, Hazel Dukes, president of the NAACP's New York State Conference and former New York City Mayor David Dinkins.

"We would like you to keep your remarks to two minutes," Reverend Richardson said. "Do that out of respect for this family, who has already had one service and will go to South Carolina for another, so I ask that you would not labor them or any of us by going over two minutes."

None of the speakers managed to stick to the time limit.

Woods' eulogy was delivered by Reverend Al Sharpton who reminisced about watching "Sylvia's grow from a counter to a global sightseeing place." He said he was introduced to Woods and her restaurant while he worked as a tour manager for legendary soul music singer James Brown.

"The first time I met her was in the late 70's when James Brown brought me to Sylvia's. He used to go there when it was just a counter, but he loved the food there," said Reverend  Sharpton. "When he was in town...I would be with him and he would look at everybody and say, 'Let's go by Sylvia's.' And I would go, one, because I lived in New York and, two, because I was one of the few that understood what he was saying when he was talking."

Reverend Sharpton also shared stories of visiting Sylvia's with two other famous dining companions.

"I remember one night Bill O'Reilly from Fox News--that Bill O'Reilly--he wanted to go to dinner," the Reverend said. "He goes, 'I want to go to Sylvia's.' We went to Sylvia's and he got out of the car waiting for everybody to recognize him, but when you're going to Sylvia's, you're just somebody else going to Sylvia's."

Reverend Sharpton noted Mr. O'Reilly got into a bit of a controversy following their meal at Sylvia's when he went on his syndicated radio show and expressed surprise that "all the people up there are tremendously respectful" despite the fact "it's run by blacks" and has "primarily black patronship."

"I was amazed he was amazed," Reverend Sharpton said.

The Reverend also described eating at Sylvia's with President Barack Obama.

"There's a picture as you come into Sylvia's of then-Senator Barack Obama and I eating at Sylvia's. And that night he was on his way to the Apollo to have a fundraiser in his quest for the presidency, but you look at the picture and he's eating fried chicken and cornbread. I was on a diet, I just had coffee in front of me," said Reverend Sharpton, who recently became a vegetarian.

Reverend Sharpton also gave his explanation for Sylvia's appeal among Harlem's power lunch set.

"She built that restaurant as a family business and all of Harlem became her family....Sylvia was connected to the community. Today, we have others in business, but they see the community as something to go through on their way somewhere else," said the Reverend. "Sylvia wasn't trying to go somewhere else, she was connected to us. Wasn't no accident we had our meetings in Sylvia's. Other folks had chicken, wasn't no accident that every political figure went to Sylvia's, every major cultural actor went to Sylvia's, every major minister went to Sylvia's. She was connected to us."

After the ceremony, Reverend Sharpton accompanied several of Woods' crying family members to a private gathering in the back of the church as the guests walked out into the street. The Politicker spotted Mr. Paterson and asked him what he generally ordered at Sylvia's. He answered without the slightest hesitation.

"Fried chicken, collard greens and potato salad. Sylvia's problem with me was that I would always eat it. She was like, 'Why do I even put a menu in front of you, because you just want to eat the same thing.'" Mr. Paterson said. "I always say I'm going to have something else, but rarely did I."

A group of pallbearers placed Woods' casket onto a hearse were it made the journey from Mount Vernon to Owens Funeral Home in Harlem, taking the restaurateur's body on a final trip down 125th Street.

David Paterson (Photo: Getty)

Ron Kim, a former staffer for two governors of New York and candidate for the State Assembly in Queens, has just been endorsed by one of his former bosses: Governor David Paterson. The endorsement is somewhat unique as Mr. Paterson doesn't normally give them  out. Indeed, after a press conference in April, he told us that his current status as a radio show host precluded him from weighing in on political races like the one between Congressman Charlie Rangel and State Senator Adriano Espaillat.

“Ron Kim represents all that is possible in this great country," Mr. Paterson said in a release this afternoon. "After excelling as a student here in New York City, Ron went on to work at the highest levels of New York City, and New York State government. Ron’s experience in New York government puts him in a strong position to best represent his district in the Assembly. I am endorsing him today because he understands what it will take to deliver jobs and opportunities for Queens.”

Mr. Kim, a Democrat, has two declared opponentd for the September 13th primary: comic book store owner John Scandalios, previously a candidate for the City Council, and newspaper publisher Myungsuk Lee.  Possibly waiting in the wings is Isaac Sasson, who might be a particular threat as he’d have the ability to self-fund his campaign and performed well in a state senate campaign in the past.

Mr. Kim has been endorsed by the Queens County Democratic Party and is considered the frontrunner for the seat. However, the district's current occupant, Assemblywoman Grace Meng, has not ruled out running for reelection if she loses her congressional bid in two weeks, an action made possible by a loophole in the election calendar this year.

A whole host of Republican candidates are in contention for the Democratic-leaning seat as well, including Sunny Hahn, Phil Gim and Hank Yeh.

Update: Jerry Skurnik writes in to note another race Mr. Paterson has weighed in on, and it's a local one: Acting Supreme Court Justice Barbara Jaffe for her campaign for Manhattan Surrogate.

Adriano Espaillat (Photo: Facebook)

Former Governor David Paterson, who comes from the same Harlem political machine as Congressman Charlie Rangel, may think Mr. Rangel will fend off State Senator Adriano Espaillat's challenge this year, but he told The Politicker today that Mr. Espaillat will eventually make it to Washington D.C.

"Even with the huge population, we do not have a Dominican member of the House of Representatives, and one day I think Senator Espaillat will be that person," he said when asked about the campaign after his press conference on taxi payment accessibility. "In this particular race, we'll have to let the voters decide."

Mr. Paterson also lamented the redistricting process, which at one point was moving towards creating a Latino-majority Congressional District separate from Mr. Rangel's but ultimately just increased the Latino population of Mr. Rangel's district instead.

"I think that is very unfortunate, that that area that could accommodate a Hispanic Congressional District and an African-American Congressional District based on population alone, that those communities were thrown together," Mr. Paterson said. "Which could have caused strife but thankfully has not."

Also in contention for the race are a number of challengers, notably the former political director at the Democratic National Committee, Clyde Williams. Voters head to the polls June 26th.

Andrew Cuomo and David Paterson (Photo: Getty)

BuzzFeed recently reported on the existence of a file prepared by Governor Cuomo's staff on Capital Tonight blogger Liz Benjamin, which generated much discussion and amusement among New York's political reporters. While Mr. Cuomo's staff has insisted there is nothing unusual about the report, which was created to discuss with senior executives at Capital Tonight's parent company, Mr. Cuomo's predecessor, former Governor David Paterson, told The Politicker he didn't keep such files on reporters.

"No I didn't have any files," Mr. Paterson said when asked about BuzzFeed's report after his press conference on taxi accessibility earlier today. "They had them on me!"

Mr. Paterson, of course, had an occasionally tenuous relationship with the press, with plenty of lot of drama surrounding one report from The New York Times in particular.

For their part, various members of Mr. Cuomo's press team have dismissed criticism of the 35-page report, which highlighted extremely innocuous criticism with labels like "GENERALLY SNARKY."

"Since the beginning of media, since the beginning of the printing press, the government has discussed and at times raised objections to coverage by the media," his spokesman, Josh Vlasto, said in a radio interview yesterday.

Daniel O'Donnell (Photo: NYS Assembly)

Openly gay Assemblyman Daniel O'Donnell, who introduced five bills to legalize same sex marriage over the past four years, is marrying his partner of more than three decades now that the state passed the marriage equality law in June.

Assemblyman O'Donnell announced his impending nuptials on former Governor David Paterson's talk radio show yesterday. "I'm here on your radio show today to announce that I'm getting married. John and I have decided to get married, we've been together for 31 years and our wedding will be on January 29th at Guastavino's on the East Side of Manhattan, which is a beautiful, beautiful  locale," said Assemblyman O'Donnell.Invitations have been mailed out and the guest list for Assemblyman O'Donnell's wedding sounds like it's set to include a who's who of Albany politics. Assemblyman O'Donnell told Governor Paterson that he was going to be invited along with several Albany lawmakers.

"It's going to be a large wedding. I made the commitment to a variety of my colleagues who were willing to take the political courage to vote 'Yes,' sometimes under difficult political circumstances, that--when I got there, that I would welcome them to the party," Assemblyman O'Donnell said. "Governor [Paterson], you of course, and the current governor, Governor Cuomo, and the Lieutenant Governor are all included on the guest list. It's going to be a large party."

Assemblyman O'Donnell said he and his intended planned to celebrate their union and New York's legalization of same sex marriage.

"What has happened in the six months since it's been enacted in New York? The sky hasn't fallen," said Assemblyman O'Donnell. "We're going to celebrate our relationship, we're going to celebrate the right of gays and lesbian couples to get married."

David Paterson (Getty)

Former New York Governor David Paterson appeared on "Real Time With Bill Maher" last night and he explained why he doesn't think Occupy Wall Street should be easily dismissed.

Mr. Paterson made his comments about Occupy Wall Street when the show's panelists discussed issues with the movement including its lack of a spokesperson and an incident where Occupy LA prevented a local farmer's market from doing business. Mr. Paterson acknowledged problems with Occupy protests in various cities, but explained why he thinks the movement may still be able to make a difference:

"There are a lot of criticisms of Occupy LA, Occupy Wall Street. They may not really have leaders, they may not really understand the relationship they have to have with the same community that they're trying to represent, the reason that I think this is happening is that nobody has protested anything in this country for 30 years, so the problem is … that we forgot how to do it. Let's just remember there was a ragtag protest that started at my alma mater, Columbia university, in the mid-60's, within a year it forced the President of the united states not to run for re-election because of the opposition nationally to the Vietnam War. So, the style may not be perfected, but the substance is there, the complaints are real and I wouldn't be surprised if it isn't the beginning of a new movement."

Mr. Paterson has clearly become more bullish about the movement since he visited the Occupy Wall Street protests in late September. At the time, he expressed some optimism about the fact "young people are organizing themselves ," but also said, "they're still at a point where they are conferencing and organizing exactly what their point of view is, so it's hard for me to talk about that."

"Very well-organized," he told amNewYork's Marc Beja.  "And they said they balanced their budget, which is more than I could do in three years."

Paterson also defended the protesters against charges that they were ill-informed, and he possessed a surprising fluency with social media.

"This whole image of young people as being self-indulged, Tweeing back and forth, 'I'm taking a shower, now I'm going to school, now I'm at school,'  this is totally a lot different," he said. "They obviously care about the society they live in, they care about other people like the vendors who met with them and also the postal workers who were afraid that the Post Office was shutting down."