ALBANY — He's riding off into the political sunset.
Sheldon Silver ended his 21-year reign as Assembly speaker at 11:59 p,.m. Monday, forced by colleagues to give up the powerful post while facing federal corruption charges. Silver, 70, said he had a "a great run" and described his soon-to-be-successor, Bronx Assemblyman Carl Heastie, as "a good man."
But it was a sad and humbling day for the Lower East Side Democrat, who was elected to the Assembly in 1976 and elevated to speaker in 1994, making him one of the most influential officials in the state.
In his heyday, Silver frequently traveled to Albany in a chauffeur-driven state vehicle.
On Monday — the day of his official demotion — he took an Amtrak train.
For one final time, Silver walked from his spacious office on the ninth floor of the Legislative Office Building through the concourse connecting to the state Capitol building.
He was accompanied by his press secretary, Michael Whyland, and his chief of staff, Judy Rapfogel, whose husband was convicted last year of stealing from the charity he ran.
Also joining him were an Assembly security officer and a horde of media.
Silver spent some time in the Assembly lounge chatting with colleagues who have known him for decades, but who last week demanded his resignation.
Sheldon Silver walks to a Democratic conference meeting Monday.Photo: Shannon DeCelle
Some lawmakers described Silver's downfall as tragic.
"Sadness, I think, is the best word to describe this. He's been our leader for so long. He has done so much for us that it's hard to forget the good times, even though the bad seems to have overpowered whatever good that he did," said Brooklyn Assemblyman Joe Lentol, a fellow Democrat.
"That's the way it is in life when you get in trouble. It doesn't matter what you've done. You're remembered by whatever bad that lingers on at the end."
Lentol said it was "painful" for Silver to drop from leader to back-bencher.
Silver is continuing to serve as an assemblyman while fighting charges of steering $500,000 in state grants in return for referrals that netted him millions of dollars in fees from a law firm.
Assemblyman Michael Benedetto (D-Bronx) said the decision to depose Silver was "gut-wrenching" because many legislators are personally fond of him.
Another colleague, David Weprin (D-Queens), said Silver would remain an "invaluable resource," given his knowledge of the the legislative process.
Additional reporting by Carl Campanile in New York
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