Last Wednesday night the Ben Franklin Club (81 A.D.) held a democratic candidate's forum for candidates running for citywide office. The room was packed not only with all of the candidates running, but voters eager to hear what the candidates had to say.
Both mayoral candidates Comptroller Bill Thompson and Queens Councilman Tony Avila were on hand, with Avila saying that he was not the most familiar candidate running for mayor. Avila added that Bloomberg could be beaten – a statement that was repeated by mayoral candidate Bill Thompson also. Thompson went on to say as city comptroller that he had fought Mayor Bloomberg and won when the mayor wanted to cut sanitation pick ups in half.
Thompson added that working and middle class New Yorkers need someone (like himself) to fight for them, unlike Mike Bloomberg who is fighting for the rich. He added that after eight years New Yorkers know who Mike Bloomberg is and don't like Mike Bloomberg or his policies.
All four candidates for Public Advocate were on hand and Norman Siegel was first up. In 2005 Norman Siegel ran for Public Advocate, loosing to incumbent Betsy Gotbaum. Mr. Siegel said that he loves fighting for people and that he has a big mouth to speak up for people.
Queens Councilman Eric Gioia (D-District 26) was up next, who said that many people in New York City felt they are left out, and feel that they are invisible to the system. He added that parents have no voice in the education system, and that he had worked in the White House for former President Bill Clinton.
Former Public Advocate Mark Green was next, who said that the best people are needed to watch the city and mayor especially now that the economy is bad. Mr. Green said that he had the experience of the office for eight years, having been the city's first Public Advocate. He added that his record as Public Advocate stands for itself.
Brooklyn Councilman Bill De Blasio (D-District 39) said that voices are not being heard, and the Public Advocate must be the voice of the people and a check on the mayor. He added that mayoral control of the school system needs to be changed to give the control back to the parents and community. He ended by saying that there was a lack of accountability in City Hall.
Queens Councilwoman Melinda Katz (D-District 29) was the first of the comptroller candidates, and spoke about her experience in the city council. She said that she was the chair of the land use committee, and then went over what the job of comptroller was, and why she was the best candidate for the office.
Councilman David Weprin (D-District 23) of Queens said that his entire adult career has been geared up for the comptroller position – from Deputy Superintendent of Banking for New York State to his current City Council position of Chair of the Finance Committee. He added that he wanted offices in all five boroughs, and that he led the fights against congestion pricing, tolls on the free bridges, the 14 percent water hike, and the changing of the term limit law.
Councilman John Liu (D-District 20) also of Queens was next up, who said that he came to New York as an immigrant who went through the public school system graduating form Bronx Science High School. He added that he has achieved the American dream, and that he too opposed the changing of the term limit law.
Councilman David Yassky (D-District 33) of Brooklyn said that the office of comptroller is a check on the mayor. He said that he had worked for U.S Senator Schumer (D-NY), and that he helped draft the Brady Bill for the senator.
There was no official club vote on whom to endorse, and those in attendance had differing opinions on many of the candidates. The officials' club endorsement vote will take place on Wednesday night May 27th.
We have learned that the Bronx Democratic County Committee has voted on their endorsements for the upcoming elections. The BBCC has endorsed for Mayor Bill Thompson, for Public Advocate Bill De Blasio, and for Comptroller Melinda Katz, as well as for Bronx Borough President the incumbent Ruben Diaz Jr. All Bronx City Council incumbents were endorsed for re-election with the exception of Councilwoman Maria Baez in the 14th Council district, where there was a no endorsement vote. That has to be very good news to her opponents.
The Bloomberg campaign has released the fact that Mayor Mike Bloomberg has spent over $18 million so far this campaign, and we are only in the middle of the month of May. At this rate Mayor Moneybags may spend $200 million to get his name out. Bloomberg political consultant Howard Wolfson said that the mayor should be able to spend whatever he wants on his campaign. It makes you wonder if Mr. Wolfson is working on a commission basis.
