By Heather Grossmann
DNAinfo News Editor
HARLEM — An emergency meeting convened by Rev. Al Sharpton at Sylvia's to discuss Gov. David Paterson drew a firestorm of media attention but resulted in few answers when all was said and done late Thursday night.
The gathered elected officials and community advocates, including former Mayor David Dinkins, former Comptroller Carl McCall, Rep. Gregory Meeks and City Comptroller John Liu, appeared to agree to disagree — for the time being — on what do about the flailing governor.
Paterson's involvement in a top aide's domestic scandal has caused some to call for his resignation, but Sharpton made it clear that, while there were differences of opinion in the room, the majority of attendees felt they should allow for "due process" and wait for the results of the investigation into the matter before making a decision.
"Most of those in the room tonight strongly felt that the governor should continue," Sharpton said. "There are others with varying views."
Assemblyman and Manhattan Democratic Party Chair Keith Wright affirmed his support for the governor to the hordes of press before entering the two hour meeting.
"As far as I know, everyone is saying support the governor," Wright said. "We have to let the investigation run its course."
Sharpton said the group planned to call a meeting with Paterson and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver to ensure that the business of the state would continue during Albany's political upheaval.
"It seems that there are many that are more concerned with feeding frenzies of scandals, ignoring what is going on with job creation and health care and what is going on with education and other issues in our state," Sharpton said.
"Our concern first and foremost is that government can function to serve the people."
