Jonathan Adams

Spitzer Resigns, New York Will Have a Black Governor

Editor’s note: Sorry about the delay. We will have limited internet access for the rest of the week, and we may be slow to post.

After news of Eliot Spitzer’s involvement in a prostitution ring and his subsequent resignation rocked New York, many are wondering how Lt. Governor David Paterson will do in the post.

Paterson, 53, a legally blind Black man, represented Harlem in the state Senate for more than twenty years before becoming lieutenant governor. He will be the first Black governor of New York and the nation’s first blind governor.

With Paterson’s seemingly progressive record following him to the new role, how will he make good on Spitzer’s promises for racially equitable policies that address immigrant’s rights, health care, and education?

Posted at 12:02 PM, Mar 11, 2008 in Politics | Permalink | View Comments