Duffy Promoted - Smugtown to Become A Bit Less Smuggier

Duffy Promoted - Smugtown to Become A Bit Less Smuggier
By: Aaron E. Wicks

Posted: Wednesday, May 26, 2010 11:29 pm

http://www.smugtownbeacon.com/news.php?viewStory=508

Rochester, NY (May 27, 2010) -- Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has named his running mate in his quest to become New York's gubernator: Rochester Mayor Robert Duffy. What does this mean for Cuomo's campaign? What does it mean for Rochester? And what will become of Rochester's Democrats? The Smugtown Beacon has the answers.

Politically, a good move for Cuomo
Cuomo has made a sound move, politically. Duffy will not outshine or embarrass him (the two primary requirements to be an effective running mate -- is Sara Palin taking notes?). But much more than that, Duffy provides some balance for the ticket. Cuomo is strongly attached to downstate political circles -- and while he does not particularly need Upstate support to win, he will need it if he wants to hold a majority in the State Senate. Duffy also provides Cuomo with credibility on local issues -- something that might resonate with the many New Yorkers familiar with state mandates (and let's be honest, state mismanagement that has made local governments struggle). So, in the classic political calculus, Duffy is not merely a reasonable, sound pick for Cuomo, he is close to perfect.

Personally, a good fit for Duffy (no, this is not a compliment)
For Duffy, Albany will be a pleasant change. He thrives on media attention and acting like a dragonslayer. Albany will afford ample opportunity for both. It will also provide him with statewide coverage, including New York City's major media outlets. Duffy will thrive on this, particularly since he will be able to do so from the relatively safe and large shadow cast by Cuomo. Duffy will have time to up his game to a higher level and gradually emerge from Cuomo's shadow.

Sadly, Duffy will fit in well in another, less complimentary way: his political style in Rochester has shown a deference to elite opinion. While he pays lip service to the mandated role of elections and the voices of voters in democracy, Duffy is much more comfortable soliciting the admiration of wonks and opinion leaders and cultivating it into what he believes to be a popular mandate to govern. This has been clearly on display as the mayor tactically avoided virtually any role for public debate around mayoral control, instead basking in the adoring glow of university professors, analysts, business leaders and others who proclaim him "right" on the mayoral control issue. The environment in Albany will suit him well: there, it is common to treat democracy like a barrier to governance. The Center for Governmental Research has an Albany bureau -- Duffy will feel right at home.

Duffy will be able to champion Upstate issues. Not.
Many Upstaters -- particularly Rochesterians -- might view Duffy's appointment as an opportunity for Upstate to finally have a voice in Albany. This excitement is misplaced, because just as Duffy has worked no particular magic in Rochester (his optimism has been a plus, but his policies have essentially been a "stone soup" recipe building on things people already supported), he will not be able to change many realities in Albany. Consider the daunting challenges he will face:

Cuomo will dominate cabinet appointments -- many of who will be from his cadre of long-time supporters from downstate.
Sheldon Silver will continue to be Assembly Speaker
Cuomo's near-certain victory in November will likely require not a single Upstate vote. Not requiring Upstate votes is no bagatelle: politicians favor the people who hire them; in this case, Cuomo will owe his "base", not the voters of Schenectady or Watertown or Rochester.
And who can forget the dominant Lieutenant Governors of the past: David Paterson, Mary Donohue, Betsy McCaughey Ross (remember her?), Stan Lundine, Alfred DelBello... None of these officeholders held much sway in their administration. Despite whatever promises Cuomo may make, it is unlikely to change.

Let the insider machinating begin!
On January 2, 2011, a new mayor will assume power on a provisional basis, having been duly elected to the post by ... nine members of City Council. The winner will need only five votes. Here are some possible 5-vote winners:

Deputy Mayor Patty Malgieri
Although the logical choice by dint of her job title, Malgieri suffers from a serious political weakness: it is unclear what electoral strength she has. She has not been elected to her current post and has not developed a popular constituency distinct from Duffy. Even with Duffy's full-throated endorsement, Malgieri would also need potential challengers to stand aside. An unlikely event given how long many people have been waiting their "turn."

City Council President Lovely Warren
Warren has already won five votes -- she was elected City Council President by her colleagues. The question is this: will those same colleagues support her for mayor -- particularly if some of them harbor aspirations to the same office? Given Warren's meteoric rise to power, her strong support by a local newspaper and her "local girl done good" story, Warren could be the early frontrunner.

City Councilmember Carolee Conklin
Rochester's dowager pol, Conklin might emerge as a steady-handed interim choice -- if she commits to not seek the office herself. As a placeholder, Conklin would permit Democrats to keep their infighting out of city hall. This may appeal to Democrats if several emerge as candidates: seeking to permit no one the upper hand, it might make more sense to keep the mayor's office relatively neutral on an interim basis. Of course, this all depends on the insiders' ability to balance their own short-term and long-term interests.

Some reports claim state law prevents a sitting council member from being appointed, however this is not clearly established. While state law may prevent someone who is presently an elected official from being appointed, the law would be on shaky ground to prevent someone who was recently an elected official (but is no longer one) from such an appointment.

The Duffy legacy: Democratic Party tactics exposed
If there is one major legacy one can already identify -- even before Duffy's departure -- it is that Duffy has, somewhat inadvertently, exposed the heavy-handed, bad behavior of local elites.

During the Duffy era, the Monroe County Democratic Committee has selected a person convicted of petition fraud to lead the party, patronage has flowed to political allies (notably the Clifford appointment to the fire department) and the usual attempts have been made to squelch dissent and favor the chosen loyalists.

All of this has happened in deep background, though -- the Duffy polish has provided cover for insider machinations. But with Duffy gone, one can be sure that pols will continue to act the same way. The only difference will be that they will not have Duffy's clean image to hide behind.

Casualty number one may well be the uneasy peace that has been made between party regulars like Joe Morelle and the David Gantt machine. With Duffy around, both camps saw a reason to play together. Without Duffy, each feels it is their time to be ascendant -- the bargain no longer holds any currency.

But such an open fight is long overdue. The 2005 election was actually a behind-the-scenes battle for political dominance of the local party. Duffy and his faction won, Morelle fell in line and Gantt trimmed his sails slightly, biding his time. Most voters remained oblivious to this battle, but it has shaped elections ever since. One benefit of Duffy's departure might be that the fissures will re-emerge -- but this time, voters might be able to see them more clearly. Why does this matter? Because Rochester's voters deserve to have a clear view of who seeks to lead the party, and by consequence, who will lead the city. Should it be Joe Morelle and his Albany apparatchicks? Should it be David Gantt and his cronies? Or some other set of would-be illuminati?

Good riddance to Duffyism and its shallow, disingenuous politics of public schmoozing and private machinating. Perhaps now Rochester can have a more honest and real debate about who wields power, who has real access to power and how this little town can begin to actually resolve some of its long-standing, but seldom discussed, problems around race, class and poverty. Duffy can "dust off the gem" that is the office of Lieutenant Governor; here in Rochester, perhaps residents can finally be about the business of building a more decent, genuine community.

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Member Opinions:

By: vote4harry on 5/27/10
Mayor Duffy, when I heard you talk about "the hill I will die on," I assumed it would be in Rochester, not Albany, or, New York City!

I congratulate Mayor Duffy in his nomination by Andrew Cuomo and I wish him success in Albany.

Implementing the concept of high-speed rail and inter modality of transit connections makes much more sense, in a statewide perspective, than having one of the cities on the statewide railroad system construct a $52 million bus barn that will subsequently be given as the reason why Rochester cannot have an inter modal transportation center. Let's hope that the statewide perspective alters the Mayor's analysis of this issue.

If people support mayoral control of the school system because they trust Bob Duffy to do well with it, then they should realize that no one really knows WHO would be implementing it when Bob Duffy leaves Rochester for Albany. They would just be buying a pig in a poke. Policies like that are only as good as the people implementing them, which leaves a great unknown.

Mayor Duffy’s nomination can be a positive thing for Rochester in 2010, as it gives a yardstick to measure the true value of his projects, both from a statewide perspective and from the perspective of knowing that he himself would not be implementing the programs. It begs the question, can we trust programs when we do not know WHO will implement them?

As far as downtown development goes, Mayor Duffy ran in 2005 to “dust off the jewel that is Rochester.” However, he has yet to fulfill that promise. Kids riot in downtown. There is no plan for the future of downtown. The future of the Amtrak station and the old post office remains unknown. Mayor Duffy has not followed sensible plans of experts who know how to develop a city, people like Roger Brown of the Rochester Regional Community Design Center. Mr. Anthony Dimarzo has invested millions of dollars in downtown. The City enticed him to invest millions for downtown residential and he did just that. Then the City Council voted to allow RGRTA to take away most of that residence's parking for the bus barn which will park dozens of buses next door to the Warner Building blowing fumes into the homes.

I ask: Why should any developer invest in downtown housing when the City will turn around and stab them in the back?

The City piously says they want downtown housing, and simultaneously acts to undercut their ostensible goal. I believe that it is all the downtown financial interests, the same people who have run downtown into the ground.

Duffy's "plans" to dust off the jewel will now have to succeed or fail without it's cheerleader. Can his "plans" succeed? Is there anything to Duffy's "plans" to develop Rochester?

Apparently Aaron Wicks doesn't think so.

Now the hard work begins.

Harry Davis
Rochester, New York
www.HarryDavis2010.com

By: tfb on 5/27/10
This position is a perfect fit for Bob Duffy. I can not think of another public office more worthy of his talents.
He has the soul of a Lt. governor. Rochester rejoices as one in this affirmation of our Mayor. Today we are all windbags.

Tom Brennan
Rochester, NY