timster
06-20-2003, 07:47 AM
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Hip Hop pioneer Russell Simmons went to Albany to push politicians to reform drug laws, but instead got blamed for taking up too much of the legislature's time.
Time matters because the legislature starts its summer recess on Thursday.
Wednesday night's decision to let Simmons attend a leaders' meeting was highly unusual because traditionally only the governor, Senate Leader and Assembly Speaker attend such meetings.
Republican State Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, commenting on the marathon seven-hour meeting with Simmons, told Albany reporters: "We took too much time doing that."
The meeting started after 5:30 p.m., according to Dr. Benjamin Chavis, co-founder the Hip Hop Summit Action Network with Simmons, who also attended the meeting. Simmons is a native of the New York City borough of Queens, but now lives in northern New Jersey.
The Republican governor, however, applauded Simmons, who founded Def Jam records and Phat Farm Clothing. "I think we made enormous progress last night, we have never been as close."
Chavis agreed progress was made, saying that, for example, an agreement was reached on how to reduce sentences for people now serving time mandated by the Rockefeller-era drug laws.
Those laws often result in jail time for first offenses and give judges almost no discretion.
Though last-minute deals are not unheard of in Albany, Democratic Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver held out little hope for reforming the drug laws by Thursday night.
The list of outstanding issues includes rent stabilization laws for New York City dwellers and a plan to help a Syracuse mall owner pay for a 3.2 million square foot addition by refunding property taxes. And cash-starved New York City is hoping the state finalizes a proposal for it to refinance $2.5 billion of the city's debt.
Time matters because the legislature starts its summer recess on Thursday.
Wednesday night's decision to let Simmons attend a leaders' meeting was highly unusual because traditionally only the governor, Senate Leader and Assembly Speaker attend such meetings.
Republican State Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, commenting on the marathon seven-hour meeting with Simmons, told Albany reporters: "We took too much time doing that."
The meeting started after 5:30 p.m., according to Dr. Benjamin Chavis, co-founder the Hip Hop Summit Action Network with Simmons, who also attended the meeting. Simmons is a native of the New York City borough of Queens, but now lives in northern New Jersey.
The Republican governor, however, applauded Simmons, who founded Def Jam records and Phat Farm Clothing. "I think we made enormous progress last night, we have never been as close."
Chavis agreed progress was made, saying that, for example, an agreement was reached on how to reduce sentences for people now serving time mandated by the Rockefeller-era drug laws.
Those laws often result in jail time for first offenses and give judges almost no discretion.
Though last-minute deals are not unheard of in Albany, Democratic Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver held out little hope for reforming the drug laws by Thursday night.
The list of outstanding issues includes rent stabilization laws for New York City dwellers and a plan to help a Syracuse mall owner pay for a 3.2 million square foot addition by refunding property taxes. And cash-starved New York City is hoping the state finalizes a proposal for it to refinance $2.5 billion of the city's debt.