The Democratic primary is on September 15th. While many of us were off on summer vacation, the campaigns for Mayor, Comptroller, Public Advocate and City Council have been raging.
There were debates and forums. Many were in the spring when the Democratic clubs were deciding who to endorse and few citizens were paying attention.
During the summer, there was another set of debates/forums while the newspapers decided who to endorse.
In June and July, the campaigns canvassed the neighborhoods in order to get Democrats to sign their petitions so that they could get on the ballots. Maybe you met the candidates then.
Maybe not.
At street fairs, parades, events in Prospect Park, JJ Byrne Park and on Seventh and Fifth Avenues maybe you saw the candidates there.
But maybe you didn't.
In recent weeks your mailbox has probably been full of campaign advertising from City Council candidates like Gary Reilly, Brad Lander, Josh Skaller, John Heyer and Bob Zuckerman in the 39th.
Maybe you read them. Maybe you threw them away.
Because the primary is on September 15th much of the campaigning goes on while citizens are in summer vactation mode. For those of you that think, hey, the 15th doesn't matter because it's just a primary think again.
–This is a Democratic district and the Republicans don't have a chance in the general election.
–That means, the winner of the primary election IS the de facto winner!
(That said, we have a marvelous Green candidate, David Pechefsky, running in the general election. Still, the Green Party has very little chance of winning).
In the next week and a half while citizens return from summer vacation, the kids go back to school and real life starts up again, there is still time to catch up and decide who you want to choose for these important city positions.
For City Council in the 39th district (the seat currently held by Bill di Blasio) there is a great group of candidates. You can read about them here.
For City Council in the 33rd district (the seat currently held by David Yassky, there is a complex and interesting group of candidates. You can read about them here.
I plan this week to do a follow up to my Breakfast-of-Candidates series. I am interested to see where they're at now just a week away from Decision Day. Certainly, they are much more seasoned than they were back in the spring when the campaigns were just heating up.
Certainly, they have matured, focused their positions, become better campaigners. Certainly, they are more sure of themselves and seasoned. They have also sharpened their tallons and have spent much time attacking one another.
In this the last week before the election all is fair in politics and war: the attacks are coming fast and furious. It is important to pay close attention and find out what is just gratuitous attack politics and what might be meaningful. I will try to keep you informed on this.
My job now is to remind you that the City Council election is still wide open and it's up to YOU to decide who is the right person for the job.
Here are the working links:
http://www.realreformbrooklyn.wordpress.com
http://www.atlanticyardsreport.blogspot.com
Real Reform Brooklyn
We think that the endorsement is, at best, lukewarm. We also think that the real back story is Atlantic Yards and Simon towing the line for the Times’s development partner – Forest City Ratner.
Check out our view of the matter http://www.realreformbrooklyn.wordpress.com
You should also see Norman Oder’s spin at http://www.atlanticyardsreport.blogspot.com
Keeping It Real