Here are Scott Turner's endorsements for Mayor, City Council and Public Advocate. These are strictly Scott Turner's views and not the views of OTBKB. Keep that in mind, folks. I haven't decided whether I am endorsing. though I probably will. Good to hear Turner's thoughts, of course.
Greetings, Pub Quiz Voter's Guide Perusers…
Because New York is so unlike anywhere else — doing all it can to ignore the vast majority of New York that's exactly like everywhere else. The big election day is a week from today, September 15th. The Primaries. With republicans numbering in the very tiny numbers, it's the Dems' primaries that are often the final say.
With that in mind, we present the Rocky Sullivan's Pub Quiz 2009 Voter's Guide.
It's different from most Voter's Guides:
- It's the opposite of "comprehensive."
- There's little spelling out of our reasons for endorsing a certain candidate — though, our myopic one-track-mind view of Brooklyn (rhymes with Fat Tantric Bards) would have something very large to do with it.
- Sometimes more than one candidate get the nod, as in "one of these would rock."
- Only races we have the vaguest idea about are included — i.e., it's a short list
- This is only about the Dems. There are fabulous Green Party
candidates gearing up for the general election in the fall. Keep an
eye on them, since, really, a two-party-only system isn't that much
more democratic than a one-party system.
Brooklyn's 33rd City Council District: Ken Diamondstone, Ken Baer, or anyone else named Ken. Diamondstone and Baer are straightshooters, excellent AY stance, and environmentally sound
Ken Diamondstone, Ken Baer
Brooklyn's 35th City Council District: Letitia James.
The bravest politician in NYC these past five years, speaking the truth
to power. Her chief opponent is bankrolled by Forest City Ratner.
Letitia James
Brooklyn's 39th City Council District: Josh Skaller. Hands down. When you say "why can't we ever get somebody good
into office?", it's Josh that you're wishing for. Smart, brash,
compassionate and uncompromisingly principled, Josh is it. Also, an
elected official whose name sounds like a scrubbing pad is nothing to
sneeze at.
Josh Skaller
Public Advocate: Norman Siegel. Also hands down.
Siegel is a fighter, and won't let the office atrophy like Betsy
Gotbaum, the current PA. Bill de Blasio is a leaning tower of
Bloombergian accommodation and Mark Green bundles the worst aspects of
"liberalism." Eric Gioia ripped Con Ed a new one for the Queens
blackout a few years ago.
Norman Siegel
Comptroller: who knows? Here's the one not to
vote for: David Yassky. Brooklyn has gotten soaked from Yassky's
Schumeresque fence-sitting. All of the candidates in this race are
part and parcel careerists, blandishments, exaggerators,
moustache-wearers, maybe-child-sweatshop workers and
money-from-real-estate-developers takers.
Mayor: Tony Avella. Tony Avella. Tony Avella. Tony Avella. Tony Avella.
How many times can we say it? Avella's the one. You hear all the
candidates say "I'll stand up to special interests." Avella has, with
no regard for his political career. Avella surfs on The Right Thing To
Do wave, constantly coming to Brooklyn from Queens to support Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn's
fight against the Atlantic Yards projects. There a politicians blocks
away who won't do that. Forget about "electability." Choose the one
you believe in. If you love New York City and wanna stop it's
out-of-control careen down the Bloomberg Road to Ruin, vote Avella.
Tony Avella
Of course, in the general election, a
three-way tilt between Avella, the Rev. Billy Talen and Bloomberg would
be a death-cage match for the ages. In that race, we'll go with the
Two out of Three Ain't Bad option, with the Moneyed Mayor no longer
mayor