A Price To Pay For Opposing Silver

SILVER’S REVENGE: There was a price to pay for opposing Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver in last year’s showdown led by upstate Assemblymember Michael Bragman and supported by Queens Democratic leader Thomas Manton and Queens Assemblymembers Anthony Seminerio (Ozone Park) and Nettie Mayersohn (Flushing), among others.

Seminerio was bumped from his post of Assistant Majority Leader, thereby losing the $19,500 a year that went with the title. Mayersohn lost her House Operations Committee chair post and the $9,000 a year that went with it, in addition to her regular salary.

Assemblymember Ivan Lafayette (Jackson Heights) remained loyal to Silver of Manhattan and was rewarded with the post of Speaker Pro Tempore, which places him in a high-ranking spot on the Democrats’ leadership team.

Two other potentially significant appointments to the Dem hierarchy in the Assembly involved Brooklyn lawmakers. Assemblymember Rhoda Jacobs was named Assistant Speaker Pro Tempore and Assemblymember Clarence Norman Jr. moved up to Assistant Speaker. Norman also serves as Brooklyn Democratic leader.

The appointments seem to indicate a strong relationship with the Brooklyn delegation.

Some time in the future, New York City may be losing a congressional seat. It may come down to a choice of Queens Congressmember Joseph Crowley or Brooklyn Congressmember Anthony Weiner being the unlucky one to be cut because both rank lowest on the seniority list.

Silver will play a central role in shaping the new district lines, along with Governor George Pataki and Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, both Republicans.

Will Silver’s coziness with Brooklyn, as evidenced by the Norman and Jacobs appointments, cause him to favor Weiner in drawing the new lines? Or can Lafayette, as Queens’ highest ranking Assemblymember, keep the playing field level by supporting Crowley’s interests?

Meanwhile, Lafayette, dean of the Queens delegation, says his new post places him in a better position to address the concerns of the people in his district and, along with his Queens colleagues, address the needs of the borough.

Lafayette has always had a very good relationship with Silver, as reflected in the major gains he’s been able to achieve for various education initiatives, such as pre-Kindergarten and after-school programs.

MALONEY SPEAKS: Congressmember Carolyn Maloney (D-Manhattan/Queens) is the featured speaker this morning, Jan. 17th, at the Long Island City Business Development Corporation breakfast at the Kaufman Astoria Studios at which it is almost certain that the recent rezoning in Long Island City will come up for discussions.

McCALL TO SPEAK: Three regular Democratic clubs will hold a joint meeting tomorrow night to hear a talk from state Comptroller H. Carl McCall on state and local matters and on his gubernatorial aspirations.

The state’s chief fiscal officer, the only black to hold statewide office, will also install Corey Bearak for another term as president of the Queens County Line Democratic Association, one of the clubs sponsoring the meeting.

The other two clubs involved are the Eastern Queens Democratic Club (24th AD) and the United for Progress Democratic Club, covering the Hollis/Cambria Heights area of the 33rd AD, Part B). The meeting starts at 8 p.m. at QCLDA clubroom in Temple Sholom, 263-10 Union Turnpike, Glen Oaks.

DEM DINNER: Democratic County Chairman Thomas Manton announced that the organization’s annual winter cocktail party will be held on Thursday, Feb. 15th at Antun’s of Queens Village, the party’s favorite gathering place for the past 30 years. The tab for this bash is $200 a ticket and Astoria leader Gloria Aloise and colleague Robert Simmons are co-chairs.