Dawidziak: Albany cooperation is no fable

Michael Dawidziak is a political consultant and pollster.

A fable for our time:

Once upon a time in a land called New York, there lived a governor who was a Democrat. He was honest and ethical and was elected with the overwhelming support of the people. But he didn't always get along with the members of his own party. They lived in a large city, belonged to an organization called Tammany Hall, and opposed the good governor's efforts at reform.

At the same time and in the same land, there lived a Republican legislator who was his party's leader. He was also forthright and ethical.

One day, the Democratic governor and the Republican legislative leader decided to form an alliance and work for reform, environmental conservation and the good of the people they represented. Together, they passed measures that reformed business and government and helped the people of the state of New York live better lives.

As a reward for their efforts and for caring more about the people than they did about politics, both men went on to become president of the United States.

In today's polarized political climate, this may sound like a fairy tale. But it's all true. The governor was Grover Cleveland. Often cited by presidential historians as the most honest of presidents, he went on to serve two nonsuccessive terms as president and won the popular vote three times in a row.

The legislative leader was Theodore Roosevelt. It should be unnecessary to itemize for any Long Islander the long list of his accomplishments. Suffice to say, the man who would call Long Island home won the Nobel Peace Prize and ended up on Mount Rushmore. He never fails to make the roster of the greatest presidents.

Now that our current lawmakers have returned to Albany, it's good to remember the rewards that cooperating for the good of the state can bring.

The parallels between then and now can hardly be missed. We have a popular Democratic governor and a Republican Senate majority leader who calls Long Island home -- not to mention a group of New York City-focused Democrats in the Assembly.

Could Andrew Cuomo and Dean Skelos end up being a modern day Grover Cleveland and Theodore Roosevelt? They both have the potential to deliver big for the state. These are times of great challenge, the kind of times that make great leaders.

Getting the state's financial house in order was job one. Even the most optimistic of Albany observers had to be amazed at the on-time budget agreement that eliminated a $10-billion deficit without new taxes or substantial borrowing. But if Cuomo and Skelos truly aspire to the masterly heights of New York's past leaders, they need to commit themselves to working together on a much wider range of issues.

Economic development has to be high on the priority list. For years, we've seen jobs flee the region. New York's well-known reputation for hostility toward business has to be reversed. Attracting businesses that provide good-paying jobs is key to reversing the housing slump by attracting young families who want to settle here.

Keeping our schools among the best in the nation -- but without bankrupting homeowners through property tax increases -- also needs critical attention. It will require a wide array of new thinking. Money is a necessary ingredient, but no assurance of high educational standards. Consolidating resources among the districts has to be part of the solution, as does lowering administrative costs. Albany can and should address mandates immediately.

Finally, after years of declining confidence in the way Albany does business, New Yorkers need to see ethical reform from their leaders. Cleveland and Roosevelt worked together for reform, and they were rewarded for their efforts. Our current leaders should take a page out of New York's history.