Alan Gerson

POLS PUNK'D IN 'UZBEK' PRANK

NY Post, By JEREMY OLSHAN, October 18, 2008

A handful of city and state officials jumped at the chance to meet with Uzbekistan President Islam Karimov, a dictator so brutal that he reportedly boils his detractors to death.

Fortunately for Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and a host of others who neglected to do their homework, the invitation was a prank.

Unfortunately for them, the Cityfile blog, which perpetrated the prank, posted the voicemails of staffers itching to set up the one-on-ones.

"The president has personally requested an opportunity to meet," read the invitation set on phony letterhead from the nation's New York consulate. The missive said that Karimov has $1 billion to invest in the United States.

According to Cityfile, of the 15 letters sent out, seven officials wanted a meeting, including City Council members John Liu, Alan Gerson, Daniel Garodnick, David Yassky, Assemblyman Dov Hikind and Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum.

A spokesman for Silver said he declined the invite, but the blog claims the lawmaker initially expressed interest