"Gov. Paterson scandal gives lawmakers chance to push bills on state police and domestic violence," - NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Three state lawmakers seized on Gov. Paterson's problems Sunday to push bills seemingly ripped from the scandal headlines.

Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries and Sen. Eric Adams, both Brooklyn Democrats, said their new bill would crack down on mismanagement of the State Police.

Assemblyman Felix Ortiz (D-Brooklyn) held a press conference to draw new attention to a domestic violence bill he first introduced in 2007.

Both bills play on the scandalous allegations that Paterson and the State Police abused their power by intervening in a domestic violence case after a woman obtained an order of protection against a top gubernatorial aide.

Jeffries said the bill he'll introduce this week would create a temporary commission "to investigate systematic misconduct, abuse of power and political interference with respect to the New York State Police."

Modeled after the Knapp Commission, which probed police corruption in the 1970s, the commission would have subpoena power and would report to the Legislature.

State troopers "have engaged in acts that undermine the very fabric of our democracy," Jeffries charged, referring to allegations in the Paterson, Spitzer and Pataki administrations.

In a press conference outside the state Supreme Court building in Lower Manhattan, Adams said the bill was not specifically intended to censure Paterson. But he said last week's news, which led the governor to abandon his election bid and prompted calls for his resignation, "was the straw that broke the camel's back."

"From Buffalo to Bedford-Stuyvesant, our state troopers have the responsibility to don gray uniforms, but they enforce laws that are black and white," Adams said.

Ortiz said his Sunday press conference on the City Hall steps had been scheduled for weeks and had nothing to do with Paterson.

Still, he said the latest scandal "will give us a better opportunity, a better shot to now get the bill the consensus that is needed in order to get it done in both houses and send it to the governor for a signature."

The Ortiz bill - called Erika's Law after Erika Delia, a woman murdered by an abusive ex-boyfriend - would force abusers slapped with protection orders to wear electronic monitoring devices.

The bill, sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Andrew Lanza (R-Staten Island), has twice passed the Senate but has been stalled in the Assembly.

"I don't believe that the bill is aiming at any particular individual," Ortiz said, adding: "We hope that in this session, with everything that's been happening throughout the state and with everything that's been happening in Albany, that we can take a moment ... to honor this particular bill for Erika."

MEALY MISSING WHEN SHE'S NEEDED MOST

By Keith L. Forest

So I wrote this long glowing article in support of Council Woman Darlene Mealy winning the 41st Council seat the other day and was about to post it to my blog (mybedstuy.blogspot.com) when reality smacked me in the face.

My outrage originated from the fact that voters in our community would rather waist their vote re-electing Tracy Boyland, who in the 8 years she held office, did very little for us and continues to run on her family legacy.

My argument was that Ms. Mealy deserved another chance.

In the past month alone our community has been under siege by gang violence which has claimed the lives of 4 young men, killed in 2 separate gang related shootings. Both tragedies took place in broad daylight with the last young man 18 year old Jahlil Lee, life cut short only 4 days after the 81st Precinct removed the watch tower.

In the midst of these grave tragedies one significant voice has been missing – Council Woman Darlene Mealy. For the last few weeks concerned citizens, civic and community leaders have been working feverishly arranging a meeting with residents, shop owners and elected official with Deputy Inspector, Steven M. Mauriello of the 81st Precinct. All area elected officials were sent updates and agendas requesting their presence including Ms. Mealy whose office forward a response stating that she is on vacation and will be sending a representative in her absence.

During the primaries, candidates seeking the 41st Council seat common complaint was that Darlene Mealy lacked visibility in the community. Her flip flop on term limit; constant hiring and firing of chiefs of staff; and awarding her sister $25,000 were also key points. Needless to say these recent tragic killings were a golden opportunity for Mealy to seize the moment and show true leadership. Yet, she opts to send a representative and take vacation.

After a long election, I am sure Ms. Mealy deserve a much needed rest. However, she owes the families forced to cancel their plans, tap into their savings and life insurance plans to bury a child to put her personal life on hold and do the job she was elected and that our tax dollars pay her to do. She owes it to the traumatized children in our area to negotiate strong, skilled police presence in our community and provide them and their parents with a safe environment to call home.

Ms. Mealy we’re watching.

Keith L. Forest is a freelance publicist, writer and proud Bedford-Stuyvesant home owner who lives and works in the beloved community. His current blog space mybedstuy.blogspot.com seeks to celebrate the people and places that make up this great community while addressing issues such as gentrification, predatory lending and other ill norms that seek to exploit, discredit and harm the area and its people.