COLUMN BY DON GLYNN —
Many people were quick to write the political obituary of Eliot Spitzer, especially with his fall from grace directly linked to a high-priced prostitution ring.
It’s now more than two years since that ill-fated afternoon he left Shorty’s Ultimate Sports Bar and Grill, Pine Avenue, Niagara Falls, to make that infamous phone call to Washington, D.C., to arrange a date.
Just a short time later, a federal probe into governor’s extra curricular activities revealed enough evidence to warrant his immediate resignation.
No one at the time would have bet a wooden nickel on Spitzer’s chances to re-enter the public arena.
Maybe it’s just how jaded New Yorkers are about their public officials — even those who abandon the high moral ground — but a poll conducted in June showed that 45 percent of Empire State residents thought the ex-governor should run for office again. In the same poll, 48 percent said his political career was finished.
In addition to frequent TV appearances, Spitzer contributes a column to slate.com and teaches a course at The City College of New York.
Does that sound like someone trying to keep a low profile?
•••
TOUGH TALK: Carl Paladino, a GOP hopeful in the gubernatorial race, told reporters Sunday on “New York Now” (WNED-TV) that he intends to carry his message to voters across the state, especially how he views Andrew Cuomo, the endorsed Democrat for the post. “We’re going to tell the people what a phony this guy (Cuomo) really is,” Paladino said.
In an earlier attack on the campaign trail, Paladino said: “I’m going a shine a light on these rodents (the people in Albany responsible for the current corruption), and when you shine a light on rodents, they tend to run away.”
Paladino, 63, a Buffalo businessman who said he will spend upwards of $10 million on his campaign, also owns the restored Giacomo (the former United Office Building), a boutique hotel in downtown Niagara Falls.
•••
OFF THE PRESS: “Frank Lloyd Wright: In Buffalo and Western New York,” by Jan Booth Sheridan, text and photography (Western New York Wares, 96 pages, paperback, $12.95).
A moderately priced book that showcases some of the renowned architect’s buildings in this area: The Darwin Martin House, the Blue Sky Mausoleum in Forest Lawn Cemetery and the only boathouse he ever designed, at the foot of Porter Avenue and Niagara Street. The iconic Larkin Building in downtown Buffalo, once threatened for demolition, also is featured.
•••
THE WELCOME MAT: The Niagara Tourism and Convention Corp. will officially open its new information center, 10 Rainbow Blvd., at 10 a.m. July 30. It’s across the street from the closed Hotel Niagara.
•••
Only One Rocks: A new “Niagara Falls” guidebook compares — in its long list of restaurants — the Hard Rock Cafes on both sides of the river.
Dirk Vanderbilt, the author, contends that while they generally offer the same food choices, the one at 5875 Falls St., Niagara Falls, Ontario, is far better.
Meanwhile, he notes, while the Hard Rock here is close to the state park entrance, it serves up greasy burgers and chicken fingers.
•••
ACROSS THE BORDER: Dave Sarkany, the Ontario correspondent for this column, relays this warning for anyone headed to Cottage Country these days. They need to take extra precaution.
He’s right. In the past five months, some 205 people have drowned in Canada, 25 more than in the same period last year.
A major factor is the failure to wear life jackets.
Columns
Related Photos
GLYNN: Many voters think Spitzer should run again
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