Matthew Hamilton in Capitol Confidential reports Bronx Democrat Carl Heastie was elected speaker of the state Assembly Tue., Feb. 3. Heastie replaces Sheldon Silver, who served as speaker for 21 years. Silver resigned Mon., Feb. 2, following his arrest last month for taking $4 million in bribes and kickbacks. Heastie becomes the first African-American speaker in the history of the New York State Assembly. “We gather here today during a turbulent time for this institution,” he said in a speech after the election. “The resignation of the previous speaker has brought about change in the leadership of this house. And this change in leadership will bring about much needed reform.” Steve McLaughlin of Rensselaer County and Claudia Tenney of the Mohawk Valley voted for U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, whose investigated Silver. Silver, like most Democrats, voted for Heastie, still holding office, though now in the back row in the Assembly. Read the full story in Capitol Confidential.

PLAY Heastie's first news conference as speaker. It comes in two parts: a two-minute press conference that abruptly ends when it is shut down by Heastie's press aide, prompting loud grousing by members of the media, followed by the press aide's promise to bring the speaker back. The video ends with Heastie's six-minute Q&A (11:04).

Courtesy Kyle Hughes of NYSNYS.com.