Here is an expanded version of the third item from my “Albany Insider” column from Monday’s editions:
The state prison guards union is hardly shedding tears that Assemblyman Daniel O’Donnell moved this year from chairman of his chamber’s corrections committee to head of the tourism and arts committee.
The New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association had a contentious relationship with O’Donnell during his four years as corrections committee chairman, union and legislative sources say.
A source close to the union said while the Assembly traditionally sides more with inmates than corrections officers, “historically (the previous corrections committee chairmen) were always willing to give you a fair shake. We felt Danny was confrontational from the beginning.”
A spokesman for Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, who makes the committee appointments in his chamber, said any union hostility toward O’Donnell (D-Manhattan) had nothing to do with the change in committee chairs. The union source concurred.
O’Donnell, whose sister is comedian Rosie O’Donnell, said he’s wanted to chair the tourism and arts committee for years and requested it after previous head Margaret Markey (D-Queens) lost her primary last year.
He admits the union didn’t like him “because I would sometimes tell the truth about problems with what their work rules were and problems with how they worked.”
He also said he doesn’t believe individuals should chair individual committees for too many years in a row.
“I’m thrilled with my new committee,” he said. “I’m proud of the work I did as corrections chair. But arts and tourism is a big part of my district. I’ve been on arts and tourism for 14 years and when Marge didn’t get re-elected, this is what I asked for.”
Assemblyman David Weprin (D-Queens) is the new corrections committee chairman.
