Politics on the Hudson

Gov. David Paterson just announced he is hiring Joseph Fisch as New York’s inspector general, a permanent replacement for Kristine Hamann, an appointee of former Gov. Eliot Spitzer who unceremoniously left early this month. (Her last news release and report were issued April 3, and the next release was issued by Acting Inspector General Dennis Martin on April 11.)

Fisch, who is from Larchmont, Westchester County, starts May 12 and will earn $155,200 a year. His appointment does not require Senate confirmation.

Fisch is a state Supreme Court justice in the Bronx, a position he was appointed to in 2003. He was a Court of Claims justice from 1990 until 2003. 

“Judge Fisch is one of New York’s top jurists and I couldn’t be more pleased that a leader of his caliber has decided to take on such a critical watchdog role,” Paterson said in a statement. Read more of this entry »