By Michael P. Ventura
DNAinfo Senior Editor
MANHATTAN — Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver joined the growing chorus of city and state politicians calling on Gov. David Paterson to step aside and let Lt. Gov. Richard Ravitch lead as Albany confronts the state's looming budget crisis.
Paterson announced on Friday that he was abandoning his bid for a full term. Many elected officials in Manhattan and the state capital said the governor didn't go far enough, and should step down. His poll numbers have been in the tank for months and his announcement leaves him as a lame duck.
Silver told the Daily News that he believed involving Ravitch in the budget process would be a big boost for the state
"I think it would be good," Silver said. "I think he might have some, I'll call it, out-of-the-box thinking that may move us toward resolution. Obviously, everything he does would be at the behest of the governor."
State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli also said Paterson should step aside during the budget talks, the News reported.
Paterson is scheduled to speak to reporters in Midtown Monday morning.
Meanwhile, the scandal surrounding Paterson about a domestic violence case involving a close aide showed no signs of going away.
The New York Post reported on the 911 calls made after the alleged incident which occurred on Halloween last year. According to the report, the victim said her boyfriend, Paterson aide David Johnson, tore off her Halloween costume, threw her against a mirror and choked her.
After the incident, the State Police began pressuring the woman to drop the charges, according to several news reports. The NYPD has jurisdiction in the case.
The New York Times on Monday reported on alleged improper uses of the State Police going back to the Pataki Administration.
Paterson also allegedly spoke to the woman, and the day after that supposedly happened, the woman didn't show up in court for a hearing in the case, and the judge dropped the charges.
Paterson has asked Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, who's widely assumed to be planning a gubernatorial run, to look into the matter.
At his press conference Friday, Paterson said he was "looking forward to a full investigation" of the incident. "I have never abused my office, not now, not ever, and I believe that when the facts are reviewed, the truth will prevail."
