Reporters abandon Capitol

New York State government was left virtually without oversight this afternoon as a pack of Capitol reporters made a "social call'' to a home in Delmar, almost seven miles from their work stations at the Capitol in Albany.

The reporters, as is their wont, gathered to complain about the state of the floundering news business, dithered over who will be interested in next week's fraud trial of the former Senate majority leader, made snide comments about some elected officials and looked forward to knocking off work early Friday afternoon.

Although the trip was ostensibly to cheer up an ailing colleague, the reporters made great sport of a blurb the cover of the book he wrote (which just happened to be lying around) from Eliot Spitzer ("This book should be required reading for all New Yorkers''). Some of a tabloid persuasion for some reason remember Spitzer more for his personal failings than his stint as the great hope of reformers.

The lack of a correspondents' association show until next spring to make light of the state's current extraordinary problems was another source of whining in the group, some of whom actually think they have musical talent, proof to the contrary via DVDs notwithstanding.

Some left saying they had to go back to "work,'' although they were seen heading away from the Capitol.

Although most of them are more likely to talk than to listen (another occupational hazard) they were all told sternly to start asking more questions about property taxes - s subject which seems to have gotten short shrift at the Capitol for the last several months.