The Times Union's Capitol Confidential has a spooky piece about the various gaps starting to show up in state government this week, with a focus on Acting Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Peter Iwanowicz’s resignation, which has left leaderless the state agency responsible for setting environmental regulations in New York. Now, the agency's recent decision to not prosecute air pollution cases against small businesses statewide becomes clearer... it's all about staffing and trying to get by with the least amount of cost, instead of doing all we can to do the best jobs possible. According to data provided by the comptroller’s office provided in the story, several agencies have lost their counsels and executive deputy commissioners. and almost all are moving ahead with extremely limited staffs. Gov. David Paterson demanded the undated resignations of 2,500 administration and agency staffers; this list also includes retirements and terminations from the Assembly and Senate.

Among names being bandied about for new DEC Commissioner is that of Open Space Institute director Joe Martens, although word has it he won't take the job unless he can get new Governor Andrew Cuomo to give him a definitive no to gas drilling, popularly known as fracking, on a statewide basis.

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