"Good afternoon. Before we begin an announcement about the kind of progress we can make when different branches of government work together, I have to share some sad news about a legendary public servant who dedicated his life to just that kind of excellence in government.

"If you haven't heard, I am sorry to tell you that Bill Murphy - who served as Staten Island's District Attorney for more than 20 years before retiring in 2003 - died in his home in West Brighton about 90 minutes ago.

"Bill graduated from Harvard Law School in 1969, went to work for the legendary District Attorney Frank Hogan, and spent virtually every day of the next 34 years serving the people of Staten Island and all of New York.

"Bill leaves Staten Island with more than just a legacy of lowering crime - which of course he did. In 1982, Bill Murphy prosecuted a corrupt landfill supervisor 'Johnny Cash' Cassiliano - who was found guilty of taking bribes to let toxic waste be dumped at the old Brookfield landfill on Staten Island.

"And after he won the case, Bill led the fight to get New York State to put real teeth behind its environmental laws. And I am proud to say that, at long last, our Administration is turning the Brookfield landfill into one of the largest public parks in New York City.

"Bill was a great lawyer and a truly great person, and I know I speak for everyone - our thoughts and prayers are with his family."