Metrosectional

New York state parks are facing funding cuts likely to result in the first budget-related closures in the system's 125-year history. State officials said that popular parks like Jones Beach and Niagara Falls could be closed due to staff cutbacks. The Parks Department will be operating in 2010 with a 40 percent budget deficit.

“If you don't have the people, the police, and operating funds to operate safe, clean, well-maintained facilities, you've got to close them," Peter Humphrey, a member of the State Council of Parks, told the Associated Press.

MTA Hikes Predicted

According to a report published by the Drum Major Institute for Public Policy, a non-profit think tank, the MTA might be forced to raise the price of its base fair MetroCards to $2.60, if lawmakers cannot find ways to fund the transit agency. If the base fair is increased, monthly MetroCards will cost over $100.

The report also revealed that middle class families depending on public transit “would pay $2,300 more a year in transit fares, and receive far less service in return.”

The MTA has not commented on the report officially, said Aaron Donovan, a representative of the MTA. "We would like to confirm that we are not raising the fare in 2010, and we are using every dollar we get.”

Paterson Drops Election Bid

Dogged by allegations of misconduct, Governor David Paterson announced on February 26 that he would not seek reelection, less than a week after he launched his gubernatorial campaign.

Paterson said that an "accumulation of obstacles" led to the decision. The move came after revelations that his administration intervened in a domestic violence incident involving a top aide, David Johnson. A February 16 New York Times article described how a woman believed to be Johnson’s ex-girlfriend was the victim of a violent dispute with Johnson. The woman claimed that the state police intervened in the matter, even though they had no jurisdiction.

On the day before her final hearing on Feburary 7, the governor telephoned her, and reportedly asked if he could assist her in any way. When the woman did not turn up for the scheduled hearing, the judge dropped the case.

"I have never abused my office—not now, not ever,” Paterson said during his February 26 press conference.

Congressman Found Unethical

The House Ethics Committee found that Representative Charles Rangel (D-NY) had violated congressional ethics rules by accepting reimbursements from major corporations for trips he took to the Carribean in 2007 and 2008.
The report on the decision, released on February 26, reported that Rangel was unaware he was taking corporate money and that people in his office had orchestrated the deal. Critics say Rangel received little more than a light reprimand for a heinous violation.

House rules prohibit gifts in excess of $50.

Rangel represents Upper Manhattan, including Harlem, and parts of Queens.

Rangel is the chair of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, which oversees all federal taxation. He still refuses to resign his chairmanship, despite calls for him to do so following the Ethics Committee report.