Citywide race results - we'll have 2 runoffs!

Vallone family's dynasty likened to the Kennedys

From the Daily Politics:

A reader forwarded over this full-page ad for Queens Council candidate Paul Vallone that features a quote from Mark Green that links the Vallone family to another (rather more prominent) dynastic Democratic family: The Kennedys.

"It's a good thing...the Kennedys in America and the Vallones in NYC - both are dedicated to helping working families," Green is quoted as saying. (He's identified as "Public Advocate Mark Green, even though he doesn't currently hold that title - although he is trying to get it back).

Actually, the full quote, which Green made when he and Vallone endorsed one another in June, was:

"And to cynics, I regard it as a good thing that he comes from a family dedicated to the well-being of our City. I have no problem with the Kennedys in America or the Vallones in NYC - both are dedicated to helping working families survive and thrive."

An interesting quote to employ, considering all the press surrounding the recent death of Sen. Ted Kennedy. The ad is from yesterday's Times Ledger, but I'm told it's also appearing in the Queens Tribune.

I got the screenshot from the Queens Times.

I wonder why he thinks a comparison to the Kennedys, an endorsement from Bloomberg and a lame quote of his own will get him votes. I also wonder how Mark Green has the cojones to put Vallone's lame lobbying lawyering tweeding family in the same league with a president and two senators. Sadly, Green is the front-runner in the public advocate race.

Watch the public advocate debate

From NY1:

Watch the 2009 Democratic Public Advocate debate between Mark Green, Bill de Blasio, Eric Gioia, and Norman Siegel, held September 9th in Manhattan. [1 hour]

On August 28th, the candidates debated on ABC. You can watch that debate here:

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

3 out of 4 public advocate candidates support eminent domain abuse

From the Times Ledger:

The most heated rhetoric came when the candidates differed on the issue of the massive Willets Point redevelopment and the use of eminent domain, the process by which a government can seize privately owned land for the public good.

De Blasio said he supported eminent domain in “very certain circumstances,” including the Queens project.

“I think it is valid if it creates a substantial number of new jobs and affordable housing, and I think Willets Point does that,” he said.

Gioia called the practice “absolutely wrong.”

“The very presence of it changes the terms of the bargain,” he said, comparing a municipality with eminent domain power to a gun-wielding Al Capone.

Green openly supported the Willets Point redevelopment.

“If it comes to eminent domain, the city should go out of its way to relocate those small businesses within the community, to the extent it can,” he said.

Siegel decried eminent domain abuse and called Willets Point “unconstitutional.”

“The city did not provide services to the businesses out there,” he said.

Sparks flew as the candidates spent some time squabbling over the finer points of the Supreme Court decision that enabled public-private redevelopments via eminent domain.

DeBlasio: How is this a "certain circumstance"? The entire project is uncertain - no developer, no plan, no approval for the highway ramps, the number of jobs keeps shrinking and the affordable housing certainly will too (it always does) and the city is broke.

Gioia: If it is so wrong, why did you vote in favor of it? Not only did the mayor put the gun on the table, but you loaded it for him. Asshole.

Green: "To the extent that it can?" What the hell does that mean? The city can just say, "Well, we tried, I guess we'll just have to send you packing now... As a consolation prize, here's 1/4 of what your property's worth, now get out."

These three want to advocate for us with attitudes like this? Doesn't sound like they'll stand up for private citizens if they stand in the way of despotic development plans.

Looks like there's only one choice.

VOTE FOR NORMAN SIEGEL.

Public advocate jokers

Bill DeBlasio


Eric Gioia


Mark Green


Norman Siegel

(If the videos don't work, click each link.)

Doorman still dead last

From the Times Ledger:

A poll released last week by Marist College showed Gioia in for a tough fight after he received only 4 percent in a survey of likely Democratic voters — the lowest of the four Democrats in the race — despite his leading the field in fund−raising.

Green was followed by civil rights attorney Norman Siegel, who also ran for public advocate four years ago, at 15 percent; City Councilman Bill de Blasio (D−Brooklyn) at 9 percent; and Gioia at 4 percent.

Being a native son did not help Gioia in Queens, where he was the choice of 6 percent of respondents, according to the poll. Green received 43 percent in the borough and both de Blasio and Siegel received 10 percent.

Bloomie chickens out

From the Daily News:

Mayor Bloomberg ruffled feathers by bowing out of the forum sponsored by Teamsters Local 237, citing a scheduling conflict.

Union stalwarts said they suspected he was avoiding an awkward appearance before Housing Authority workers who've been without a contract since December.

Union president Gregory Floyd said he was surprised to learn Bloomberg had time Saturday for a campaign event in the Bronx.

"Maybe he thought that was more important than coming here," Floyd said. "Our membership ... wanted to hear from him and it's a missed opportunity on his part to not speak to our members."

Funniest part of the article:

[Gioia] told the mostly blue-collar workers for the Housing Authority and other agencies that Green's comments reminded him of "politicians who have given us so much BS it's hard to believe."

Sorry, Doorman, but it sounds like the pot's calling the kettle black here.