NY TIMES: New York Says Health Chief Abused Power

ALBANY — Gov. George E. Pataki’s appointment of Antonia C. Novello, a former surgeon general, as state health commissioner in 1999 was seen as something of a coup for New York.

An appointee of President George H. W. Bush who was the first woman and first Hispanic to serve as surgeon general, Dr. Novello was praised even by the Clinton administration for her “vigor and talent” and promised to bring new attention to pediatric health.

But the New York State inspector general’s office says that she turned her staff at the Health Department into her personal chauffeurs, porters and shopping assistants during her seven-year tenure, and has referred a criminal case, including potential felony charges, to the Albany County district attorney.

UTICA OBSERVER-DISPATCH: State disaster center making progress

WHITESTOWN —After $6 million spent and years of delays, the state Disaster Preparedness Training Center managed to double its activity last year.

Now, it’s poised for a $2.5 million expansion project that would allow the newly accredited center to train thousands more emergency personnel each year on anti-terrorism techniques.

Still, the state’s sole preparedness center, whose proposed $5.6 million 2009-10 budget is increasing nearly 81 percent, has fallen far short of its hiring and training goals since opening three years ago.

URGENT COMMUNICATIONS: Spanos out as New York SWN program director

Less than two weeks after the state of New York terminated its $2 billion contract with Tyco Electronics M/A-COM to build and maintain a statewide wireless network (SWN) for public safety, SWN program director Jonathan Spanos no longer is working for the state.

“We have started restructuring the SWN program office, and [Spanos] no longer being with us is a result of that,” said Angela Liotta, spokeswoman for the New York’s office for technology (OFT), who said the state would not comment on the details of personnel matters.

NEWSDAY: NY criminal justice boss to lead homeland security

ALBANY, N.Y. - The commissioner of New York's Division of Criminal Justice Services will also take responsibility for homeland security issues, Gov. David Paterson said Monday.

Denise O'Donnell will replace current Deputy Secretary for Public Safety Michael Balboni, whose resignation becomes official Feb. 2. She will remain New York's criminal justice commissioner.

O'Donnell will oversee all homeland security and criminal justice agencies including criminal justice, the Office of Homeland Security, the Division of State Police, the Department of Corrections, the Division of Parole, and the State Emergency Management Office, among others.

NY TIMES: Public Safety Leader Expected to Resign

ALBANY (AP) — Michael A. L. Balboni, New York State’s deputy secretary for public safety, is expected to leave his post to work in the private sector.

Mr. Balboni, a Republican who served two Democratic governors, will finish his time in state government next week and take a job based in Washington.

His resignation is expected to be announced soon.

NY TIMES: All 155 Escape Jet’s Plunge Into Hudson

A US Airways jetliner with 155 people aboard lost power in both engines, possibly from striking birds, after taking off from La Guardia Airport on Thursday afternoon. The pilot ditched in the icy Hudson River and all on board were rescued by a flotilla of converging ferries and emergency boats, the authorities said.

GOV TECH/EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT: New York State Cancels Wireless Network Contract

Chalk up another defeat for interoperable communications networks. The New York state Office for Technology (OFT) announced Thursday it has terminated its contract with M/A-COM, the vendor building the statewide wireless public safety network.