Silver guilty on all counts

A federal jury found former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver guilty on seven counts of corruption on Monday. He now faces a maximum sentence of about 130 years for four counts of honest-services fraud, two counts of extortion and one count of money laundering, although he is expected to serve closer to 20 years behind bars. 

Since Mr. Silver’s arrest in January, the influence of corruption within the fabric of Albany politics has been the focus of much public discourse. Former state Sen. Majority Leader Dean Skelos and his son Adam are currently facing their own corruption trials as well.

Monday’s conviction prompted good government groups to renew calls for reform. Northwest Bronx Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz issued a statement saying the best way to restore faith in the legislature is by “getting rid of the corrupting influences that outside money brings in.”

“Making state legislators full-time employees of the state would ensure that the people’s representatives in Albany are there for one reason, and one reason only, to represent the best interests of New York State,” said Mr. Dinowitz, who declined an interview request. 

“I am hopeful that the conclusion of this trial will result in meaningful ethics and campaign finance reforms this coming legislative session,” he continued.

He also noted, “I am very saddened by the events surrounding the trial of Sheldon Silver. His conviction and too many other instances of corruption among elected officials are a black mark on politics.”

Council plans AIDS funding

The City Council plans to allocate $6.6 million in funding for pre-exposure and post-exposure treatment initiatives as part of its Plan to End AIDS.

Since summer 2014, prescriptions for the HIV-prevention drug Truvada have tripled among Medicaid participants in the state, according to city data cited by Gay City News. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) treatments keep users uninfected by using anti-HIV drugs. Post-exposure drugs provide the same aid for those recently exposed to the virus.