FOR THE RECORD

If Mark Twain were alive and living in New York, he might have updated one of his famous aphorisms along the lines of, "Everybody talks about the State Senate but nobody does anything about it."

Lord knows countless gallons of ink have been spilled to decry the deadlock in Albany that prevented most meaningful legislation from going anywhere during the session that would have concluded last week except that Governor Paterson, determined to subject the battling State Senators and those paying attention to the conflict to a form of water torture, has continued ordering them on a daily basis to meet to resolve their differences.

On July 1, after pressing matters affecting the city like renewal of mayoral control of the public schools and a sales-tax hike that is designed to provide budget relief had perished on the vine—at least for now—Correction Officers Benevolent Association President Norman Seabrook called on his fellow labor leaders to apply some pressure on members of the Legislature's upper house.

"We must do whatever it takes to let those whom we have helped elect, year after year, know that our support cannot be taken for granted," he said in a statement.

But a more-ominous message on that score arguably was delivered a day earlier by State AFL-CIO President Denis Hughes, even as he took pains to understate what he called a "unique" legislative session.

While noting that the session could be with us for a while, he stated, "It is safe to say that in terms of enacting labor-oriented bills to help working families in New York State, the Legislature and the Governor have fallen well short of reasonable expectations."

He went on to cite the lack of an increase in unemployment insurance benefits, "an attack on pensions of working men and women" and the failure to take long-term steps to solve a structural problem in the state's finances.

"Make no mistake about it," Mr. Hughes said. "The Legislature and the Governor have consistently and willfully ignored the needs of working men and women."

He went on to say, "With control of the Senate in limbo and individual legislators sometimes breaking with leaders' positions, we now must look at who stands up for workers in difficult economic times. Individual lawmakers who take anti-union positions or who play to the masses by scapegoating hard-working men and women as the cause of Albany dysfunction will have to answer for their statements."

That last remark sounded as if it might have been aimed more at the Governor than individual legislators, none of whom is known to have been taking a hard line in favor of reduced pensions for future employees.

Mr. Hughes concluded by saying, "Let me make this clear: the labor movement in this state will not tolerate another legislative session as the one we have just been through."

Ed Ott, the veteran labor official who did much to shore up the credibility of the AFL-CIO New York City Central Labor Council after its former leader, Brian McLaughlin, stepped down one shoe ahead of his Federal indictment three years ago, is leaving his position as CLC executive director.

No reasons were given for the departure by Mr. Ott or CLC officials, although the group's president, Jack Ahearn, said that he would continue to assist the umbrella group for the city's AFL-CIO-affiliated unions as a consultant.

That arrangement, Mr. Ahearn said in a statement, "allows Ed the flexibility to pursue his many varied interests. Ed's insights, contributions and commitment to the labor movement are highly regarded, and we look forward to continuing our work together to advance the issues and concerns of the working men and women of New York City."

Mr. Ott is both a labor historian and a passionate trade-unionist who previously held positions at organizations including District Council 37 and the Communications Workers of America.

Mayor Bloomberg July 6 was endorsed for re-election by the 10-13 Association, which represents more than 11,000 retired members of the NYPD.

The organization's head, Gene Loewy, a retired officer of the Lieutenants Benevolent Association, said in a statement that he was convinced that on matters of public safety and security, "We will be in good hands with Mayor Bloomberg in office for another four years."