Andrew Cuomo's campaign
The New York State Constitution spells out a variety of duties for the attorney general. But when you come right down to it, the attorney general acts as the state's lawyer.
Apart from that, it's pretty much the prerogative of each attorney general to define how he or she wants to run the office.
For Robert Abrams, consumer affairs topped his agenda. Dennis C. Vacco brought his experience as a U.S. attorney to the office and emphasized criminal matters. And Eliot L. Spitzer carved out a reputation as the "sheriff of Wall Street."
Now along comes Andrew M. Cuomo, who has already established a penchant for opening up secret aspects of state government and advocating consolidation of unnecessary government levels.
But he also seems to be seizing on the opportunity to clean up the debt collection industry, which has a heavy concentration in Buffalo. On Tuesday his investigators and Erie County sheriff's deputies swept into a Harvard Place residence and took out in handcuffs Tobias Boyland, 43, a convicted felon who had been operating a debt collection business in Buffalo.
Cuomo called Boyland's tactics "some of the most egregious we have seen." They involved impersonating police officers to scare those with delinquent bills into paying up.
In one instance, the debt collector identifying himself as a policeman told a woman to get care for her kids.
"Get some clean clothes because you're not coming home any time soon," the debt collector
threatened.
It appears that Cuomo is carving out his own niche as attorney general, picking and choosing spots that will, in all probability, resonate with New York voters.
All of this becomes particularly relevant in light of the current stalemate surrounding the State Senate. As Republicans and Democrats bicker over who controls their chamber, and as Gov. David A. Paterson struggles to impose some semblance of order, Cuomo emerges as one of the few state officials actually in charge.
And of course, speculation continues to mount over whether the attorney general will be the Democratic candidate for governor in 2010 — especially if Paterson's approval ratings continue to dwell at record low levels.
How do you rate Cuomo's performance as attorney general? And do you believe he will be New
York's next governor?
— Robert J. McCarthy
"speculation continues to mount " Oh please, everyone knows that the gov ticked off the Kennedy-Cuomo political machine by not picking Princess Caroline. Paterson is a dead gov walking. I fully expect to see further shoutouts about Cuomo's political future and the NYS MSM touting his actions. The Democratic primary will be a lost cause for the gov although....... I might just change my voter registration from independant to democrat just so I can vote for the gov and ticl off "the machine".
Posted by: gravedancer | June 24, 2009 at 10:58 AM
Gov Patterson's polling numbers will not carry him to an election. Thus, Mr. Cuomo will run and win. If Cuomo
will help us overhaul our overlapping layers of government, good for him.
But I would not rule out Eliot Spitzer in a Dem primary. I think he has enough residual support to win. He made a mistake, showed remorse and paid the price.
The only question should be, who'd make the best governor. I'd vote for the dark horse, Spitzer.
Posted by: BobbyCat | June 24, 2009 at 11:13 AM
GO ANDREW GO...no need to worry about david,,,,,he is wimp and loser...fears sheldon silver and NYC democRATS,,,,,bet andrew doesnt fear sheldon silver...it will be interesting,,,,1st and foremost remove career politicians and term limits...
Posted by: frquarter | June 24, 2009 at 11:45 AM
This is just terrible! I am happy to see that after all this time the attorney general has stepped in to try and put a stop to these deceptive practices. It makes no sense the way some of the employees at these collection agencies are allowed to behave. To harass and simply abuse the consumers, and 9 times out of 10 they have the blessings of the managers and directors to behave this way. The motto is "okay get the money in here but just don't get caught." The problem is there are a lot of collection agencies that follow the law but the vast majority do not and it is a disgrace to the collectors that love their job and good at it. It does not take abuse to threatnen someone to pay their bill, if that person sincerely want so pay they will and if they don't why harass them, move on to the next one. I sincerly hope that this is a wake up call to all the collectors that think bullying is going to give you a fat bonus check. It only shows that you are not as good at your job as you think you are.
Posted by: Carolyn Caldwell | June 24, 2009 at 12:38 PM
Andrew is for the people. It's great to see this punk afro debt collector in jail. I hope he becomes Governor. The Italian's will clean up this crime ridden state.
Posted by: ZAK | June 24, 2009 at 12:46 PM
Yeah... 'cause the Italians did such a kick butt job in Chicago...
Posted by: Dave | June 24, 2009 at 01:15 PM
His allegiance to big banks is on display with the controversial HVCC and its allowance of Lendes to own and operate 80%+ of the appraisal management companies out there turning appraisals into a commodity rather than the protection for homeowners that they are supposed to be.
Posted by: Peter | June 24, 2009 at 01:38 PM
IT IS A SAD COMMENTARY THAT A MAN THEY POSTED ON THE NEWS REGULARLY FOR HIS COMMUNITY EFFORTS, GIVING TURKEYS TO THE HOMELESS AND POOR, AND HAILED AS AN INSPIRATION TO THE "THUGS" WHO SHOULD TURN THEIR LIVES TO GREATER PURSUITS, IS NOW PUBLIC ENEMY NUMBER 1 JUST BECAUSE OF THE POLITICAL ASPIRATIONS OF A CAREER CRIMINAL HIMSELF, THAT JUST BECAUSE HIS FAMILY HAS POLITICAL TIES WILL NEVER SEE PROSECUTION. AND THE ITALIANS CLEANING STUFF UP- IS THAT A JOKE?- LIKE GAMBINO FORD? LIKE MARIO CUOMO "THE NUCLEAR STOOGE" DID IN THE 80'S? TOBIAS BOYLAND WAS DOING NOTHING DIFFERENT THAN 99.9% OF THE COLLECTION INDUSTRY DOES- HE WAS JUST AN EASY TARGET FOR THE GOOD OLE BOYS...THATS ALL! IF YOU WANT TO CHARGE HIM, I HOPE CHRIS HANSEN IS IMPLICATED AS WELL- BECAUSE AFTER THAT DATELINE SMEAR CAMPAIGN HE WAGED, I WOULD WANT PROTECTION TOO IF I WERE MR BOYLAND! PEOPLE IN THIS AREA SERIOUSLY NEED TO STOP THE PROFESSIONAL VICTIM ROUTINE AND ACTUALLY ENCOURAGE SOME TYPE OF LOCAL BUSINESS LIFE, OTHERWISE THERE WILL BE "BUFFALO, POPULATION 3 " BY THE TIME WE ARE ALL IN THE NURSING HOMES THAT ABUSE PEOPLE AROUND HERE! SUCH A JOKE...
Posted by: rio rellaux | June 24, 2009 at 06:17 PM
there are very different types of debt collectors, the ones that follow the FDCPA rules, and the pure greedy criminals like Toby Boyland. Shaking down old ladies and single mothers for money is sick and deplorable, he should rot in jail because its people like him that give Buffalo a bad name. If he was so honest, why did he have to hide the real location of his businesses by using phone numbers and addresses from all over the country to throw people off? Businessman? no. Street thug punk? you got it.
Posted by: reality check | June 24, 2009 at 10:01 PM
Cuomo's father was a disaster and paved the way to where we are today' re unions. This guy Andrew makes a little bust in Buffalo and he's a hero. What a state, the son of a failed govenor and he's the front runner, Hillary Clinton promised everything but did nothing for our state or WNY and now she's Sec. Of State''how does this happen ? What am I missing here ?
Posted by: jd | June 25, 2009 at 12:20 AM