An Open Letter to New Yorkers

The victory of Carl Paladino in the Republican Primary was a disappointing

day for all New Yorkers. This state has a long history of electing highly
qualified, forward-looking statewide candidates - both Democrats and
Republicans. Yesterday, however, anger overcame reason and enabled a
fringe element to choose the Republican nominee. The end result was the
selection of Mr. Paladino, a divisive figure simply not fit to lead this great
state.

At a time when we need leaders who can bring New Yorkers together, Mr.
Paladino practices a destructive brand of politics that will divide our state.
He first came to the attention of most New Yorkers when it was revealed
that, for years, he has shared racially offensive emails with associates.
Including videos popular with white supremacists, these emails are beneath
the dignity of a candidate for high office.

This, however, was merely a preview of what we have seen along the
campaign trail. Mr. Paladino was justifiably condemned by the Anti-
Defamation League and editorial boards alike for referring to Assembly
Speaker Sheldon Silver - a prominent Jewish leader - as the closest
thing New York has to an anti-Christ or a Hitler. Most recently, Mr.
Paladino offended basic New York values when he suggested that low
income New Yorkers should be sent to prison work camps for lessons
in "personal hygiene." That type of hateful comment has no place in our
discourse, dehumanizing the poor and playing off of despicable racist ideas.

Mr. Paladino is also running a disingenuous campaign. He has portrayed

himself as an anti-government crusader, while embodying the very worst of
Albany's pay-to-play culture. To quote his own slogan, he is the reason that
New Yorkers are "Mad as Hell."

He has personally distributed close to a half a million dollars to federal

and state candidates, bankrolling the campaigns of numerous allies. This
has allowed him to pocket millions of dollars in tax incentives, sweetheart
deals, and scores of government contracts. Paladino's real estate
empire takes in over $10 million each year in government rents alone.

There's a reason why even the chairmen of the Republican and Conservative
parties disavowed Mr. Paladino's candidacy, noting that he "stands in
stark contrast to what the Republican party stands for," that Paladino
is a "dangerous candidate," and that he "tries to appeal to the mean
spiritedness" of people.

We need a governor who can take on the special interests, not one who
is a special interest. We also need a governor who will bring New Yorkers
together to take on our common challenges, not drive us apart. Through
his own words and actions Carl Paladino has proven himself unfit to
serve as Governor - he is exactly the wrong person to lead our state.

ALFONSE D'AMATO

EDWARD I. KOCH

H.CARL MCCALL