With that push stalled (and with the Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment, which is tasked with drawing the new lines, set to meet today) former Mayor Ed Koch and Citizens Union head Dick Dadey are out with a statement today calling on the governor legislature to call a special session to deal with the issue.

"We urge the New York State Legislature to return to the State Capitol this month to meet in a special session and pass legislation creating an independent redistricting commission to draw the new lines for the 2012 election cycle," they write.  "It is an affront to all those New Yorkers who trusted that their elected officials would arrive in Albany this year and end the practice of partisan gerrymandering as they had promised, and enact redistricting reform legislation. We and they are still waiting."

Koch made redistricting reform a centerpiece of his New York Uprising push last year, and Gov. Cuomo has pledged that he would veto any plan that doesn't include a nonpartisan redistricting commission.

But redistricting reform wasn't include in any of the package deals that brought the session to a close, and some wonder how much stomach the governor has for another major fight--or even how much legislators, despite their pledges to Mayor Koch, really want to give up one of their most powerful tools.

Full letter below:

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On the day the Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment (LATFOR) holds in Albany its first public meeting, we urge the New York State Legislature to return to the State Capitol this month to meet in a special session and pass legislation creating an independent redistricting commission to draw the new lines for the 2012 election cycle. Barring the establishment of a new independent commission, the legislature-drawn lines will no doubt be vetoed by Governor Cuomo, who has pledged to do so.

Had the state legislature done what 184 of its 212 members pledged or co-sponsored to do - create a new impartial process for drawing state legislative and congressional lines - this meeting today of LATFOR would not have been necessary. It is an affront to all those New Yorkers who trusted that their elected officials would arrive in Albany this year and end the practice of partisan gerrymandering as they had promised, and enact redistricting reform legislation. We and they are still waiting.

A total of 96 members of the Assembly, both Democrats and Republicans, have co-sponsored legislation introduced by Governor Andrew Cuomo and Speaker Sheldon Silver creating a new and more independent process. Prevented from signing onto Governor Cuomo's legislation in the Senate because of the use of an arcane rule, 27 State Senators have indicated their support for two pieces of redistricting reform legislation carried by Senators Mike Gianaris D-Queens or David Valesky, D-Oneida. An additional 31 other Senators said they support redistricting reform during the 2010 campaign but have not cosponsored enacting legislation for 2012.

The rearing of LATFOR's public head today represents a continuation of the old-school partisan gerrymandering that has existed for over three decades and prioritizes the re-election of incumbents above all else in drawing new districts. This rigged practice has resulted in a 96% re-election rate among incumbents that has divided communities, underrepresented minority groups in the legislature and resulted in few truly competitive elections.

We request legislators honor the commitments they made to their voters and return to Albany pronto to remove the self-interested conflict that exists when they draw the lines for themselves and essentially choose their voters before the voters choose them.

Though it was one of the most productive legislative sessions in recent memory, the legislature so far deserves only a grade of "I" for "Incomplete" which can be improved if they return and enact redistricting reform as they had promised New Yorkers they would

Staying or Going? Either way, Anthony Weiner isn't making it easy for New York. (photo credit: azi paybarah / observer)

After a nationally watched campaign in upstate New York, Kathy Hochul made her New York City debut Monday morning at the stately University Club on West 54th Street.Hundreds of guests attending the Eleanor Roosevelt Legacy Breakfast milled around a breakfast buffet of muffins and fruit salad, while their host, Nora Brenes, introduced Mrs. Hochul as the winner of a special election "that came about as a result of our male New York congress members who keep taking their shirts off," according to one attendee.

The crowd laughed, because an Anthony Weiner joke at a Democratic political function is one that needs no explanation. He is, much to the chagrin of his New York colleagues, everywhere: overshadowing their message, imperiling a safe congressional seat, and affecting their redistricting plans.

This won't change anytime soon. Unlike Ms. Hochul’s predecessor Chris Lee, who quickly resigned after shirtless picture that he had posted on Craigslist surfaced in the media, Mr. Weiner has reacted to his unwanted exposure by digging in his heels. And even if he resigns -- as many Democrats seem to expect he will -- his colleagues are likely to be dealing with the after-effects until the next election.

Just before 9 a.m., Mrs. Hochul exited the University Club with one male aide, and headed north on 5th Avenue. When asked about Mr. Weiner, an aide said simply: "We're running to another event." Mrs. Hochul stared ahead, kept walking and never looked back.

"Her rock-star status may have been cut short, briefly, by this other item in the news," Assemblyman Sam Hoyt of Buffalo, a supporter of Mrs. Hochul, said dryly.

Ms. Hochul isn’t the only one feeling muzzled.

Hours after Mr. Weiner's remarkable June 6 press conference, when he admitted sending lewd images of himself to "about" six women over the

last three years, Nancy Pelosi attended a Democratic Congressional

Campaign Committee fundraiser, hosted by wealthy gay and lesbian supporters on Crosby Street, in Soho. Although the House Minority Leader had already called for an ethics investigation into Mr. Weiner's behavior, she made no reference to him in her remarks at the event, according to attendees. Outside, she waved to a well-wisher across the street, but ignored a reporter's shouted question, before climbing into a large black SUV.

Two days later, Mr. Weiner was still consuming all the oxygen in New York.

"I know there must be somebody collapsed out in the hallway because the media have walked out on what I think is probably the most important issues of the day," complained Queens Congressman Joe Crowley, after reporters bolted from a press conference inside Queens Borough Hall to ask one of the attendees, City Comptroller John Liu, about Mr. Weiner's fate.

(Asked whether he had ever sent indecent messages, Mr. Liu said, "I think social media is like every other form of communication and elected officials should maximize communications with constituents and with the general public as much as possible," before humorously jabbing his questioner.)

The press conference had gathered dozens of elected officials for the intended purpose of pushing for same-sex marriage.

"I'd like to focus back the attention, if we can on the issue at hand," Mr. Crowley said.

He wasn’t exactly successful. At the end of the hour-long press conference, Mr. Crowley expressed his displeasure.

"To make a statement like we're making today, and instead of talking about being able to further the rights of all New Yorkers, we're talking about a colleague of ours," Mr. Crowley said, was disappointing. Mr. Weiner, who supports the issue, was not invited.

Mr. Weiner’s implosion has put Mr. Crowley, the Queens county leader, in a particularly difficult position--both personally and politically. He and Mr. Weiner were elected in the same year, from neighboring districts, making for a closer relationship than Mr. Weiner enjoyed with almost anyone else in the delegation.

"This has been a distraction for all of us," Mr. Crowley told reporters. "I had a conversation with Anthony, and he certainly was very disappointed in himself and I think he expressed it. And I think he's a friend of mine, and I'm very friendly with Huma," he said, referring to Mr. Weiner's wife. "I wish the best for both of them."

As the local county leader, Mr. Crowley also has to worry about the slew of potential successors should Mr. Weiner resign. Reporters were eager to know who might be in line for such a special election.

"May I answer that question?" said Rep. Nydia Velazquez, whose district includes portions of Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan.

"Thank you," said Mr. Crowley.

"The Democratic Leader, Nancy Pelosi, has requested the Ethics Committee conduct an investigation. So, let’s allow for that process to move forward and see what it yields," Ms. Velazquez said. "We don't know if he broke the laws and the rules. Let’s wait and then, if anything, he will have to answer to the voters. This decision is between him and the voters."

A few days later, a triumvirate of top Democratic leaders—including Ms. Pelosi—began  calling for his resignation, leaving in doubt whether Mr. Weiner could hang on to face the voters in 2012.

His resignation would trigger a special election in what is not entirely friendly territory for Democrats.

"If the stars were aligned a Republican could win the district," said Democratic consultant and statistician, Jerry Skurnik. He called Mr. Weiner's two-borough district "the most Republican district in the city,” outside of Staten Island, and said it could be appealing despite the threat of re-districting.

"If you have a chance to be elected to Congress, and you're young, and ambitious, you might want to take it, even if there's a possibility that the district will be wiped out," Mr. Skurnik said.

Already Republican City Councilman Eric Ulrich is considering a run for the seat. The 27-year-old is, almost comically, similar to Mr. Weiner, in youthful zest and oratory skills.

Two Democrats whose names have been floated are Assemblyman Rory Lancman (who attended the Eleanor Roosevelt Legacy Breakfast that featured Mrs. Hochul), and City Councilman Mark Weprin, who maintains close ties to Mr. Crowley.

Mr. Lancman declined to speak about Mr. Weiner's seat, and Mr. Weprin was decidedly deferential. "Anthony has been a great Congressman and if he and his wife want to, I think he will ride this out and go back to trying to be a great Congressman," said Mr. Weprin.

With Democrats slated to lose one congressional seat, Mr. Weiner would seem to present them with an ideal opportunity to cut out an incumbent.

The Jewish and white ethnic neighborhoods that were so delicately slipped into his 9th Congressional District suddenly are likely to be absorbed by Mr. Weiner's colleagues.

Independent redistricting advocates, like former Mayor Ed Koch, acknowledge that political factors -- like Mr. Weiner's toxicity -- will play a role in how lines are redrawn.

"It doesn't bother me at all," said Mr. Koch, about Democrats carving up Mr. Weiner's now vulnerable district. In an interview, he said, "If you have someone who is under attack for a host of reasons, similar to that of Weiner, and the Democratic Party believes it would lose that seat if Weiner ran, there's nothing wrong with if they have to give up the seat, to say that's the seat we will give up. I don't see anything wrong with that."

Dick Dadey, executive Citizens Union, a government watchdog group, agreed.

"Before this revelation, he was assured of having a safe seat," said Mr. Dadey, in an interview. "He's given them the opportunity to consider his seat now, given his actions."

Decisions about redrawing legislative lines "are based more on merit but they're not apolitical," said Mr. Dadey. "You can never take the politics out of redistricting, whether it's non-partisan or not."

"There's always going to be decisions made who to place up against each other," said Mr. Dadey. "Those who are not on strong ground are more vulnerable, no matter who draws the line."

Eliminating Mr. Weiner could allow Mr. Crowley to cut the Bronx portion of his own district, and Gary Ackerman, who mostly represents Long Island, could potentially shift westward into friendlier Queens territory.

But all of that is secondary to the overriding concern of Mr. Weiner.

"They just want him fucking gone," said a delegation source.

But there's also the chance that Mr. Weiner will simply not quit.

Despite his obvious short-comings, Mr. Weiner's electability one year from now is hard to dismiss entirely.

"He's unstoppable," warned Democratic consultant Hank Sheinkopf, who has a complicated relationship with the Congressman.

Mr. Sheinkopf worked on Mayor Bloomberg's 2009 re-election campaign, which fed unflattering stories about Mr. Weiner to the media. The resulting coverage, and Mr. Bloomberg's blank check, drove Mr. Weiner to drop out of the race in May.

But earlier this year, Mr. Sheinkopf leapt to the Congressman's defense when he was attacked by a millionaire reformer unhappy with Mr. Weiner's opposition to independent redistricting.

Now, Mr. Sheinkopf is cautiously observing the scene.

"Nobody wants a primary with Weiner, because Weiner is indefatigable,” said Mr. Sheinkopf. “He raises money. He works hard."

"Not only can he come back, he can completely rehabilitate himself in about a year," said one Democratic lawmaker. "He can't be as funny, but can be self-deprecating…I can see it going away.”

Even his old adversary, Mr. Bloomberg, seemed to agree. Perhaps revealing more than he intended to in a conversation with gossip columnist Cindy Adams, the mayor said "the public quickly forgets. Half don't even remember Monica Lewinsky. In Sao Paolo recently, they'd forgotten Goldman Sachs' chairman Lloyd Blankfein", who contributed to our financial crisis. [Update: An earlier version attributed a slightly longer quote to the mayor.]

"I think some of these people do things like that just because they're bored," Mr. Bloomberg was quoted saying.

Many, though, doubt Mr. Weiner has much left to hang onto, after the release of so many damaging pictures made him a national punchline.

Bob Shrum, a Democratic consultant, echoed the David Broder sentiment that "the worst thing that can happen in politics is if they laugh at you.”

"There is a very high quotient of him looking ridiculous." Mr. Shrum said.

The congressman "lost his capacity to be a credible, persuasive public spokesman."

And that, ultimately, may be the longest lasting scar from Mr. Weiner's implosion.

Governor Cuomo said his plan to have an independent panel draw legislative lines in New York would replace "a process that has been widely criticized for placing political considerations that protect incumbent office-holders and partisan objectives above the people's interest in fair and equal representation."

But the proposal's biggest supporter, former New York City Mayor Ed Koch said he woudn't have a problem if Weiner's seat was drawn out of existence.

"It would be stupid to think there are no political considerations," Koch told me in an interview.  "If you have someone who is under attack for a host of reasons, similar to that of Weiner, and the Democratic Party believes it would lose that seat if Weiner ran, there's nothing wrong with if they have to give up the seat, to say that's the seat we will give up. I don't see anything wrong with that."

Koch, though, did say Weiner could be protected, if redrawing following empirical census information.

"The city hasn't lost population," said Koch. "It's upstate that lost population. So, it may be that they have to look upstate to eliminate two seats; one Democrat and one Republican."

Another supporter of non-partisan redistricting, Citizens Union executive director Dick Dadey, said there's always politics in the way legislative lines are drawn.

"Before this revelation, he was assured of having a safe seat. I would imagine that he is now in a position like [Kathy] Hochul, who just got elected" said Dadey, referring to the congresswoman who recently won a surprising victory in New York's 26th congressional district, near Buffalo.

Dadey said the process of drawing lines under the new plans are "based more on merit but they're not apolitical. You can never take the politics out of redistricting, whether it's non-partisan or not. There's always going to be decisions made who to place up against each other. Those who are not on strong ground are more vulnerable, no matter who draws the line."

He added, "Non-partisan redistricting is not apolitical."

For what it's worth: Weiner doesn't support non-partisan redistricting.