Politics on the Hudson

   Lawmakers and Gov. David Paterson may have failed to take any action yesterday on the state budget, but outside the Capitol today, East Park was bustling with activity. About 10 workers are putting up a Christmas tree and tethering it to the ground.

   Paterson called the Assembly and Senate into emergency legislative session yesterday, with the intention of convincing members to cut $2 billion out of this year’s budget to take care of the state’s deficit. They couldn’t agree on anything, and a public meeting held by Paterson and legislative leaders was contentious. The governor plans to release his 2009-10 budget proposal in a month.

   The East Park tree is a 30-foot blue spruce donated by Arlene Blazin of Latham, an Albany suburb, according to the state Office of General Services. A 35-foot blue spruce tree that will be erected in nearby Empire State Plaza (across from the Capitol) arrives tomorrow. It is being donated by Frank and Marie Riberdy of Waterford, Saratoga County.

LED lights will be put on the trees in the next week or so, and the spruces will be formally lit Dec. 7, a spokesman for the Office of General Services said.