Too close for comfort
Let’s play the “six degrees of separation” game, shall we? Assembly Democrats chose the law firm of Davis Polk & Wardwell to lead their chamber’s investigation of sexual harassment allegations against Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Know who worked at Davis Polk for more than 30 years and was head of their litigation practice? Dennis Glazer. Know whom Mr. Glazer is married to? Janet Difiore, chief judge of the New York state Court of Appeals and a longtime ally of … Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Yes, all roads lead to Mr. Cuomo, and he likes it that way. But in a state as big as New York — with over 182,000 lawyers, according to the American Bar Association — couldn’t they find a law firm with more than two degrees of separation from the governor — the subject of their probe?
There are more threads to follow. Mr. Cuomo, you’ll remember, tried early on in this scandal to rope Judge Difiore into playing a role in the investigation. (And, to her discredit, she did not immediately and firmly reject that suggestion.) And Mr. Glazer has his own link to the governor: Mr. Cuomo appointed him to SUNY Purit chase’s College Council.
This Assembly investigation is no small thing: It’s a process that could lead to the impeachment of the governor. If the chamber’s Democratic leadership is looking to inspire confidence that its handling of this probe will be independent and fair, this is not how you go about it. At all.
You use, you cruise, you lose
State lawmakers are closing in on a deal to legalize recreational marijuana. One of the last sticking points is whether to classify stoned driving as a misdemeanor, like drunken driving, or as a traffic infraction, like speeding.
New York should take the cautious road here. While it’s true that studies have suggested drivers who’ve used cannabis are not as dangerous as drivers who drank alcohol, the lesser charge sends the wrong message. The state should not give people the impression it’s OK to use and drive.
We need a lot more research into how cannabis affects a person’s driving ability. And we need better technology for detecting whether a cannabis user is actively high, since the drug lingers in the body after its psychoactive effects have faded.
It took too many years, and too many terrible consequences, before authorities got tough on drunken driving. New York must start out strong and smart on this one.
A caring response
Add Schenectady to the list of communities rethinking how police engage with people in the throes of a mental health crisis.
A draft report on police reforms suggests the Schenectady Police Department expand a team of community engagement officers, trained in responding to issues of mental health, homelessness and substance use, and let them take the lead on appropriate calls. Team members would wear a collared shirt instead of a cop’s uniform.
This approach acknowledges two realities: first, that a traditional police response is often not the best approach to de-escalating a person in crisis; and second, that police are often the first to arrive on a scene. So although they’re not counselors or health professionals, it’s good to have more members who know how to help vulnerable people regain their footing, and to connect them to the assistance they need to stay there.