Among Democrats, a Growing Call for Speaker Silver's Resignation

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who has represented a large swath of Lower Manhattan since 1976, was charged with corruption in a five-count federal complaint. Photo: Carl Glassman/Tribeca Trib

UPDATE: According to press reports Tuesday night, Sheldon Silver will give up his powerful position as speaker of the New York Assembly.

On Sunday, according to press reports, Silver announced that he would retain his title as Speaker, but temporarily turn over important duties to five other assembly members: Herman (Denny) Farrell of Harlem and Joe Morelle of Rochester––who would handle budget negotiations––as well as Joseph Lentol of Brooklyn, Cathy Nolan of Queens and Carl Heastie of The Bronx.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said it would be a "good thing" if the Assembly replaced its leader, the New York Times reported Monday night.

"It's not time to step aside," City Comptroller Scott Stringer, a former assemblyman, told reporters on Monday after a breakfast speech hosted by the Association for a Better New York. "It's actually time to step down. We need one leader in the Assembly, someone who can guide these budget negotiations."

Assemblyman Keith Wright, leader of the Manhattan Democratic Party, who has often been mentioned as a potential candidate to replace Silver, strongly pushed for him to step down, The New York Observer reported.

"Without a complete separation of Sheldon Silver from the Speakership and its powers, and a real reform of our conference, we will as a body remain mired in the swamp of dysfunction and chaos which is being brought to light by the United States Department of Justice," Wright was quoted as saying.

In a resolution passed at a special meeting on Sunday, The Downtown Independent Democrats also called on Silver to give up his powerful post.

"Given the serious charges against Sheldon Silver and the important business for the people of the State of New York that needs to be attended to, the Downtown Independent Democrats call for Sheldon Silver to immediately step down as Speaker of the New York State Assembly," the resolution stated.

Several Downtown leaders, including Community Board 1 chair Catherine McVay Hughes, State Sen. Daniel Squadron, Assemblywoman Deborah Glick and Downtown Alliance president Jessica Lappin, either declined requests from the Trib to comment on Silver’s arrest or did not return calls for comment.

Councilwoman Margaret Chin issued a statement on Friday, calling the charges against Silver "deeply serious and deeply concerning."

"The Speaker has been a strong advocate for the Lower Manhattan community, and he has especially been a champion for local schools and affordable housing," she said. "I am personally very troubled by these allegations against the Speaker, but I will refrain from passing judgment on his current legal situation until the judicial process is complete. This must not deter or distract our community from continuing to fight for the renewal of strong rent regulation in Albany and the construction of new public schools in Lower Manhattan."

Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer told the Trib on Thursday, "I happen to like the Speaker personally and I hope that he remains the speaker because he's been really good to New York City and really good to Manhattan."

"The charges are serious," Brewer added, "but there hasn't been a conviction yet."

Jenifer Rajkumar, the Democratic district leader representing Battery Park City, part of Silver's district, called it "a sad day for New York if the allegations are true."

"It means that we're going to go through some major changes," Rajkumar said. "What they are, I think, remains to be seen."

For Paul Hovitz, co-chair of CB1's Youth and Education Committee, Silver's downfall would be a "body blow" to Lower Manhattan's efforts to build more schools in Lower Manhattan. He cited the successes of Silver and his School Overcrowding Task Force to help create new Downtown schools.

"If this should play out and, God forbid, Shelly is no longer able to work on behalf of our community as he has been," Hovitz said, "then it will be a significant step backwards for our school efforts."

According to the indictment, Silver received millions of dollars from two law firms that he did no legal work for, in exchange for using his influence to steer business to those firms.

Silver's office told the Trib on Monday that the speaker's Manhattan district office, which routinely receives calls for assistance from constituents, remains "open and functioning."