Guv flying straight and narrow
With the success Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has had thus far, we don't need to worry that he's using state aircraft too much. We just need to pray for safe landings.
A story this week by The Associated Press found Cuomo used the state's aircraft a total of 23 times, 16 of them flights to or from his Westchester home. The AP also said the governor never conducted any partisan political business or fundraising related to these trips and used the aircraft far less than his predecessors.
State aircraft use by governors was a hot issue in past decades, and rightfully so. Hugh Carey was bashed for using them to fly his family to Shelter Island; Mario Cuomo took heat for using the planes to fly his wife on more than 100 occasions; and George Pataki got hammered for using the aircraft 150 times in eight months.
But New York is a big state, and its governor must go to every region. If he's not using the planes for private gain or for campaign and fundraising events, Cuomo should fly whenever that is the safest and most efficient way to travel.
It doesn't further state interests to have Cuomo sitting in traffic. We have plenty of challenges to keep him busy.
At the same time, it's important that attention be paid to these travel logs, because New York politicians have a history of abusing the people's assets, aircraft in particular. Staying on top of such issues to prevent or catch abuses is important, but so far, it's smooth flying for Cuomo.