Paterson support, Sing Sing tour part of Cuomo transition

Governor-elect Andrew Cuomo will launch a tour of New York State facilities Wednesday as part of his transition planning - starting with Sing Sing prison, the scene of his father's first crisis in office, and the Manhattan Psychiatric Center.

Cuomo and Gov. David A. Paterson emerged all smiles Tuesday at Paterson's New York City offices after their first face-to-face sit-down meeting since the election. They discussed the transition process, staff evaluations and the state's budget shortfall for about 45 minutes. They had spoken at length previously by phone, but Cuomo said that in coming days the two will be discussing "existing personnel" and setting up a transition committee.

"No new taxes, no new taxes, no new taxes," Cuomo vowed of his budget planning, repeating his campaign mantra that "you have no economic future if New York is the tax capital of the nation."

Nor did Cuomo spell out any new details on the cuts to come, repeating his argument that wholesale reorganization of government is in order. "I think this is a moment in time where this is a recalibration," he said. "A lot of these programs need to be redesigned and revisited anyway, so there's almost an opportunity in this crisis."

Forgotten by the two, for now, was the intense pressure of a year ago by Cuomo partisans to get Paterson to drop his own effort to win election. Paterson brushed that experience off. "These are just things that happen in the day-to-day course of life," he said. "I don't think about them any period of time."

And Cuomo sidestepped an invitation to revisit the unpleasant revelations unearthed by his special counsel, Judith Kaye, who probed Paterson's use of prime Yankees World Series tickets and his handling of domestic violence allegations against a top aide, and found the governor's candor wanting.

Instead, Paterson praised Cuomo for his "honest and pragmatic campaign" that addressed "the real truth" of the state's fiscal peril. He jokingly recalled a water-gun fight with Cuomo during a rafting trip in the Adirondacks six years ago. Cuomo said Paterson won that duel, and said it's a "long story we'll share with you some other time."

And Cuomo saluted Paterson's graciousness in budget planning. "He not only made sure the current shortfall is covered, but he would also identify another $9 billion and set it aside for the deficit next year, and I really thought that was thoughtful," Cuomo said, chalking it up to "more than just a friendship."

Sing Sing provided a baptism of fire for Cuomo's father, when a riot broke out there on Jan. 8, 1983, just days after Mario Cuomo took office as governor. Inmates at the prison took 17 correctional officers hostage; a peaceful end to the standoff was negotiated after 53 hours and some reforms were implemented.