Carey

NEW YORK – Former Governor Hugh Carey died Sunday at his summer home on Shelter Island. He was 92.

Carey, a liberal Democrat, took over the state reins in 1975 when Albany and New York City faced major financial problems.

Former State Assemblyman Lawrence Bennett of the Town of Newburgh was a town councilman when Carey was elected and he attended a dinner where the governor was the keynote speaker.

“Noting the fiscal problems of both the city and the state, he said, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, remember, the days of wine and roses are over’.”

Governor Andrew Cuomo said Carey, “led our state during a time of great financial turmoil and pulled us back from the brink of bankruptcy and economic ruin.”

US Senator Charles Schumer said Carey “assembled a courageous team to come up with an ambitious, but difficult, plan that saved New York for future decades of prosperity.”

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said he led New York “through an economic crisis and recuse New York City from the brink of financial collapse.”