In all this hubbub around the now resigned Eliot Spitzer and his heir apparent David Paterson, it’s important to know that Paterson did not just appear out of the woodwork. He comes from a background of considerable political influence. Paterson’s dad is the legendary Basil Paterson (centered above), former deputy mayor of New York City and a member of the equally legendary Gang of Four - the powerful group of political power brokers that includes Paterson (Basil), former mayor David Dinkins, Harlem Rep. Charlie Rangel and broadcasting magnate Percy Sutton. You know that song by 50 Cent that goes “I run New York”? That could be their theme song.
After the excitement dies down about Spitzer, expect it to slowly and gradually start back up for Paterson. He’s quiet, unassuming and has a high-pitched Brooklyn accent but that masks the decades of training he’s had literally at the foot of the masters. My prediction is that not only will he deftly engineer a repair of New York’s $8 billion budget shortfall, but he’ll be the first to unite Democrats and Republicans and move the kind of legislation that will respond to the needs of New York City as well as the upstate area.
One indication that Paterson’s star is on the rise - his Wikipedia entry has already been changed.