Gothamist

A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.

Gothamist

WNYC Listen Live

Donate

News

Florida Billionaire Tom Golisano Takes Over Albany

Jen Chung

Published Jun 10, 2009

Modified Jun 10, 2009

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail

Never miss a story

Email address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .

Jen Chung

Published Jun 10, 2009

Modified Jun 10, 2009

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail

We rely on your support to make local news available to all

Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

Billionaire Tom Golisano, who made a big show of moving to Florida because NY State had raised taxes for the wealthy, is credited as the (really rich) man who helped 30 Republicans and two Democrats recapture the State Senate majority and oust the Democrats from power. And Golisano, who had supported a number of Democrats last election, was happy to tell reporters how former Democratic majority leader Malcolm Smith's Blackberry obsession during a meeting was perhaps the straw that broke the camel's back:

Of course I was upset, I thought it was very rude. When I travel 250 miles to make the case on how to save the state a lot of money and increase the quality of life for residents with developmental disabilities and a guy comes into his office and starts playing with his BlackBerry, I was miffed. It's not so much that he was rude, he just wasn't paying any attention to what we had to say.

The Daily Politics' Liz Benjamin points out, "You would think that when one meets with a billionaire who has run three times for governor and demonstrated his willingness to spend millions of dollars on legislative races - including several that were key to the Democrats' effort to flip the Senate - one might might remember to mind one's manners." The NY Times describes how Golisano and his aide Steve Pigeon planned the coup: "Secrecy was imperative, so they decided to meet at a small Albany rock club, Red Square, an unlikely locale for lawmakers."

PolitickerNY reports that when asked about defected Democrats Hiram Monserrate's and Pedro Espada Jr.'s ethical backgrounds (Monserrate is indicted for slashing his girlfriend; Epada is under investigation for campaign fund misuse and not living in the district he represents), the billionaire retorted with, "Don't talk to me about ethical background in Albany, New York. We have a governor that stood on a podium on national television and said he had extramarital affairs and used cocaine. So, you know, these guys have got some personal issues? I don't think I want--that's just part of the picture."

Tagged

Albany

coup

dysfunctional

mess

Politics

state senate

tom golisano

Jen Chung

Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

MORE news

Peepapalooza: NYC is heading to the Hudson Valley to watch the leaves

Don't be surprised if you run into someone from your building in Beacon.

Elizabeth Shwe

and

Sean Carlson

Published Oct 24, 2026 at 10:46 a.m. ET

NYPD: Officer shot, injured knife-wielding woman during ‘chaotic’ night at Queens home

The woman is in stable condition, police said, but several people were stabbed.

Ryan Kost

News

NYPD: Officer shot, injured knife-wielding woman during ‘chaotic’ night at Queens home

The woman is in stable condition, police said, but several people were stabbed.

Ryan Kost

3 slates vying to run Jersey City school board as city stares down major tax hikes

Michael Sol Warren

5 men charged with trespassing in 2 Manhattan manhole cases

Charles Lane

6-year-old girl breaks leg after getting hit by falling bricks in Queens

Charles Lane

Never miss a story

Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.

Sign upEmail address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .