Politics on the Hudson

    Gov. David Paterson’s press secretary, Marissa Shorenstein, just announced that she has resigned from the position. She said she can no longer perform the duties of the post effectively based on recent news reports about her involvement in a possible attempted cover-up of an alleged domestic-violence incident involving Paterson aide David Johnson.

   At the governor’s request, Shorenstein called the victim to see whether she would describe the incident as non-violent. According to media reports, Shorenstein wasn’t awareness of the seriousness of the alleged incident at the time.

   “It has been a privilege to serve New York State for the past two years and I thank the Governor for giving me the opportunity to do so,” Shorenstein said in a statement.

   “Due to the circumstances that have led to my unwitting involvement in recent news stories, I can no longer do my job effectively. Throughout my career I have performed my duties professionally and with integrity, basing my actions on what I believed to be true at the time.”

   Morgan Hook, upstate press secretary for the governor, has been promoted to Shorenstein’s position. He has worked for the administration since January 2008 and has managed the governor’s Albany press office since May 2008. He will earn $154,000 a year in the job, which is what Shorenstein earned.

   “Morgan Hook has been a key member of my staff for the last two years, contributing extensive media expertise with a strong commitment to public service,” Paterson said in a statement. “I look forward to working with Morgan on behalf of the people of New York. I know he will continue to serve the State well in his new role.”

   Shorenstein’s exit follows that of Peter Kauffmann, who resigned a few weeks ago in the midst of scandals involving Paterson and his administration’s possible interference in the domestic-violence case and a state Commission on Public Integrity report that accused the governor of soliciting tickets from the Yankees, which public officials are not permitted to do, and lying about it to the commission. Kauffmann said he couldn’t in good conscience continue to serve in the administration.

   Shorenstein was deputy director of communications from June 2008 until last summer, which she was promoted to deputy director of communications and press secretary. Before working for Paterson, she was senior manager for strategic planning and corporate communications for the Jets and spokeswoman for the controversial stadium development project on Manhattan’s West Side. She had previous experience in corporate communications and in Democratic political campaigns on the state and national level. 

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