Why We Need Non-Partisan Elections
February 4, 2010
Our city, state and nation are at an historic political crossroads. Citizen resentment and cynicism about partisanship and our elected leaders is at an all-time high.
In Albany, our legislators have become synonymous with dysfunction. Scandals have taken down a governor and comptroller, and a dramatic State Senate coup last summer brought government to a standstill for weeks. At the federal level, Congress has been divided into two gangs, the Dems vs. the GOP. It’s a divisive and corrosive mix that even a once-popular president has been unable to tame. In our great city, apathy, cynicism and a flawed voting system have resulted in primaries where less than 10 percent of the eligible populace votes, and general elections that merely rubber stamp the results of Democratic primaries (with the notable exception of mayoral elections, but that’s a story for another day). [Read more]
Run, Andrew, Run—Run, Harold, Run
January 21, 2010
Last time we checked, we live in a democracy. In fact, our country prides itself on being the progenitor and exporter of democratic ideals. But you wouldn’t suspect this based on how the national (and New York) Democratic Party has been behaving lately.
Democracy, by our definition, offers citizens strong choices and vibrant debates on ideas and policies, not uncontested primaries or people appointed to high office by one unelected leader. [Read more]
The Right Reforms
January 13, 2010
Say what you will about Gov. David Paterson’s political missteps, the man has some good ideas for government reform. And the Legislature needs to stop proffering straw man arguments opposing them.
In his Jan. 6 State of the State speech, Paterson laid out an ambitious plan of long overdue regulations to whip Albany back into shape. Some highlights: [Read more]
The Dangers of Drilling
December 16, 2009
The state is currently collecting public comments on a proposal that would allow a certain type of natural gas drilling upstate, where the city gets its water supply. Now is the time for all New Yorkers—and especially Mayor Michael Bloomberg—to make their voices heard so this plan gets a much more in-depth evaluation before moving forward. Millions of dollars, and the purity of the city’s drinking water, may be on the line. [Read more]
General Election Picks
October 29, 2009
Mayor: Michael Bloomberg
As we mentioned back in September, the key to governing the city at this critical juncture is nursing a more diverse economy back to health while maintaining and building on the gains of recent years in education, business, public safety and the vibrant culture that defines New York City. We think Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who is running as a Republican and Independent, is best qualified for this job.
Throughout the past eight years, Bloomberg has advanced ambitious plans to overhaul the largest public school system in the country, mitigate traffic and congestion, increase and improve green space, foster arts and culture and rezone the city to fit the residential and business needs of tomorrow—all while driving crime to record lows and keeping a vigilant eye on a terrorist threat that still lingers. [Read more]
An East Side Adventurer
October 7, 2009
Not many people can say they’ve completed a marathon, let alone 20. And even fewer can say they’ve accomplished such a feat after the age of 50. But Clifton Maloney, husband of our local Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, wasn’t just anyone.
To the Maloney family, he was a beloved husband to Carolyn Jane Bosher Maloney and a father to Christina Paul Maloney and Virginia Marshall Maloney. He left behind a mother, Virginia Wells Maloney, and a sister, Virginia Maloney Lawrence, along with eight nieces and nephews. [Read more]
Carriage Horse Oversight
October 1, 2009
Recently, the City Comptroller’s office issued a follow up audit on the licensing and oversight of the carriage horse industry, which critics have long complained is inhumane and unsafe.
Auditors found that the city’s Department of Consumer Affairs and Department of Health and Mental Hygiene could do a better job overseeing inspections and licensing requirements. Among other things, the report alleges that these agencies do not maintain an updated listing of horse-licensing numbers, which means that inspectors and outside organizations cannot properly conduct field visits to make sure the animals are being treated humanely and maintained in a healthy manner. [Read more]
Our Run-off Picks
September 23, 2009
New York City’s Democratic voters will probably pick the city’s next C.F.O. and ombudsman in a run-off election on Tuesday, Sept. 29. Since no candidate in the four-way primary races for comptroller and public advocate reached the 40 percent threshold needed to avoid a run-off, the top two vote-getters are now facing off. And because registered Democrats outnumber Republicans in this city by such a large margin, whoever gets the majority in this upcoming contest will likely emerge victorious in the November general election as well. [Read more]
Our Election Picks
September 9, 2009
Lest the daily overflow of campaign mailings didn’t tip you off, there is a primary election in New York City on Sept. 15, with several key offices up for grabs. We hope that voter turnout will be high to reflect this particularly important juncture in city history.
Readers should note that for two of these offices (comptroller and public advocate), the winner from a field of four candidates needs to get 40 percent of the vote. That means that if no one broaches the 40 percent mark—a very likely occurrence—there will be a Sept. 29 run-off election between the top two contenders, prolonging the politicking. [Read more]
A Frank Memoir
July 22, 2009
“When I look back on our teaching days I wonder how we managed to survive at all. It was of course, a miserable career: the happy career is hardly worth your while. Worse than the ordinary miserable teaching career is the miserable high school teaching career, and worse yet is the miserable New York public high school teaching career.”
This is how I’d imagine a Frank McCourt memoir about our teaching days together at Stuyvesant High School might begin. [Read more]
