By Jonathan Walters

 
elations between New York politicians and the press have always been dicey. The Empire State press corps is considerably more cranky than the lamb-like herd down in D.C., whether they’re covering the mayor of New York City, a county executive in Long Island or the governor. They have to be, I suppose: They’re up against real pros.

Too many high-profile New York politicians seem to consider it part of their sworn duty to hide as much about the inner workings of government from the press corps as possible. I was reminded of this attitude last week while I was in New York City making a presentation to state officials from all over the country on how to improve press relations. During the question-and-answer portion of my talk, I was solemnly informed by an upper-level career New York State staff person that it was “illegal” for her to talk to reporters.

I was impressed. Press relations weren’t all that good under former Governor Mario Cuomo, but to somehow convince state staffers that they checked their constitutional rights when they signed their State of New York W2 form is a real credit to the current governor, George Pataki, and his penchant for opacity. While not all of Pataki’s staff are similarly bamboozled, there is a clear inclination on the part of career staff in the state to leave it to designated information gatekeepers to spread the gospel or quash the scuttlebutt.

It was the same with pre-9/11 Rudy Giuliani, who was as controlling a press-control freak as the city has ever seen. It’s no wonder that the press so gleefully covered his romantic dalliances and his deteriorating marriage; after all, there was real information out there on that whole sordid subject.

That’s why Michael Bloomberg has proved to be such a breath of fresh air. The new mayor has brought a much more open style to running the city and to dealing with reporters. The funny part of it is that he has, at the same time, ruffled press feathers by being very secretive about his personal life, sometimes disappearing for entire weekends without the press being tuned in to his whereabouts.

I don’t know about other New York reporters, but to me it’s a worthwhile tradeoff. I’m happy to indulge the mayor in his two-day disappearances as long as he’s willing to be held accountable for what happens on the other five. That’s a lot more than some other high-profile elected officials in the Empire State are willing to do.

Jonathan Walters, a resident of Ghent in upstate New York, is a staff correspondent for Governing.

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