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Threatening April Fools Day Email Freaks Out Albany Lawmakers
By
Ben Yakas
Published Apr 1, 2011
Modified Apr 1, 2011
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By
Ben Yakas
Published Apr 1, 2011
Modified Apr 1, 2011
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April Fools Day can be a stressful day for many, between the Improv Everywhere faux-attack videos and the actually-not-so-ridiculous dog highchairs. It must be especially tough for politicians, who are used to receiving lots of strange mail on a good day. Assembly Democratic Speaker Sheldon Silver was one of a handful of politicians to receive one such rambling, threatening email today, and as with everything today, police weren't sure how seriously to take it.
The email, which had the subject line "Time to Kill," was sent to Silver, Brooklyn Assemblyman William Colton, Senate GOP Majority Leader Dean Skelos, and several other NY Assembly members by a man who identified himself as a state worker. He complained about the state budget and labor union battles among other things in the email:
At this point, I don't care what happens with the New York State budget. My group is going to do everything possible to provoke terrorist attacks on New York by al-Qaida, and by Tea Party nut cases.
...
At first I thought I might pull out a gun at my State office and kill a bunch of these dummies that I work with. But I doubt that would provide me with the satisfaction I am looking for," it continues. "Understand with whom you are dealing. I am not crazy. I am a terrorist. I stand for all of the people who don't have a voice. Truly, I hope the Governor harms and enrages a great many people. They will supply soldiers for my war.
Police officials said they were "treating it seriously", but added that there was no indication of any real, credible threat. It seems like it's been that kind of day for everyone, filled with empty reports about Ann Coulter getting her own PBS program and whatever Google Motion is supposed to be. And now we can't tell real kidnappings from fake kidnappings, and we're hungry, and we're grumbly! We need a serious break from the agita of this "humorous" day...we need something to calm us down...
Tagged
april fools day
assembly
puppy porn
sheldon silver
threats
video
william colton
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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