Can A Rash of New York Retirements Be Far Behind?

In today's New York Times, Ronald Smothers has an interesting take on a dramatic changing of the guard in New Jersey's legislature. 11 of the State's 40 Senators are about to step down, including the "longest-serving legislator in the State's history." Smothers writes that state senators attribute the high number of retirements this year in part to age and burnout," and notes that the retiring lawmakers have "an average of nearly 26 years of service." (italics ours).

26 years? Is that a long time? We can't be so sure here in New York. For the record, below are the numbers on New York Legislators who have been around for a while:

Assembly
23 Assemblymembers serving 20 years or longer
16 Assemblymembers serving 25 years or longer
6 Assemblymembers serving 30 years or longer

Senate
14 senators serving 20 years or longer
9 senators serving 25 years or longer
7 senators serving 30 years or longer

Longest serving member: Assemblyman Richard Gottfried at 36 years (elected in 1970).