It was back to business as usual for Governor Paterson on Monday.
The embattled head of state fielded questions on the budget and New York fiscal policy at a relatively calm town hall meeting on the budget today in Brooklyn.
"Recently, I've been the target of rumors and innuendo, but it hasn't stopped me,'' he said in his opening remarks, one of the few references to the situation swirling around him.
The assembly at Brooklyn Borough Hall Ceremonial Courtroom Monday was peppered with the typical personal concerns of open public forums, like a Harlem woman who was interested in selling the state her low-cost "Queen Mother" coffee.
Another man, Julius, who said he wanted to run for mayor and only had a long list of statements rather than any questions prompted the jovial governor to interrupt, "Julius, before your town hall meeting starts can I finish mine?"
Some useful suggestions were made such as a woman who said that "Kinship care" -- a version of foster care which places children with relatives -- could save the state millions of dollars. The governor said he would look into it.
Also, when asked if the proposed "soda tax" was a regressive tax on the poor the governor said that the state spends $7.5 billion on health care for people affected by heart disease, diabetes and other obesity related disorders which could be prevented and paid for by the levy.
And despite have been calls for Paterson to resign amid two scandals, general members of the audience as well as politicians on hand such as council members Leticia James and Charles Barron, all expressed support for the governor.
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The governor said he met with his personal attorney Saturday amid two scandals that threaten his job, but wouldn't comment further. He said "my lawyer has advised me no to discuss the facts of the case....if a witness discusses the facts of the case publicly then other witnesses hear what one witness said."
Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is investigating whether the governor, his staff and his security detail illegally contacted a woman who accused a Paterson aide of domestic violence.
The state's Public Integrity Commission has accused him of lying to investigators about his intention to pay for 2009 World Series tickets.
