Gracie Mansion. The official residence of the mayor of the City of New York.
Built in 1799,
Gracie Mansion has been the official residence of New York City mayors since 1942 when Fiorello H. La Guardia moved in. Currently not the home of
Emperor Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who wanted to
end the tradition, the upcoming Nov. 5, 2013 NYC mayoral election will more than likely see it once again with a tenant.
The odds are that the tenant will be a Democrat. Just which Democrat will be decided by the crowded Sept. 10 primary, which may end up with a runoff on Sept. 24.
The NYC mayoral race garners attention across the U.S. and in the international press. As The Guardian pointed out:
[T]he mayor of New York is in charge of a city that has a greater population than 39 states. Mayors have taxation powers, rule over a small army (that is, the New York Police Department), preside over planning and development in what is, arguably, the business capital of the world, host many social functions, and act as the default spokesman for the country's mayors in general.
As a NYC homegirl, currently living outside of the city, I have no vote, but plenty interest. I read the opinions of pundits and pollsters, but am going to put my faith this year on the efficacy of boots on the ground, changing demographics, and the call for an independent monitor for the NYPD. Do I have a horse in the race? Yup. I'll stand on the sidelines (and also do some GOTV) rooting for
Bill de Blasio, in solidarity with my friends and fellow grassroots and union organizers.
Why de Blasio?
Follow me below the fold.
Currently listed as "declared" Democrats for the primary, there are nine people running (listed in the poll), though only five have raised the kind of money that it takes to mount effective campaigns—Quinn, Weiner, de Blasio, Liu and Thompson.
Christine Quinn has an impressive war chest, with double the bucks of any of her opponents, and currently leads in polling (though slipping). The entrance into the race of Weiner has caused a media and polling flutter as of last week, and he has name recognition, but the question with Weiner's candidacy is that he currently has recognition for reasons that are likely to turn off many voters.
New York City is no longer "The Big Apple." The Big Mango might be more apt as a descriptor, since NYC is now what is known as "majority minority," which is a convoluted way of stating that NYC is not majority white, non-Spanish speaking. As more people of color, particularly Dominicans, get registered and vote, it will have an effect on elections. Puerto Ricans are the largest Spanish-speaking group in the city but Dominicans are catching up. The Caribbean population as a whole is growing. As is the "Asian" category which encompasses Chinese and Korean Americans as well as a growing block of South Asians. The question will be how many members of these groups will vote, who will they vote for and why, and will they change the NYC political landscape?
My guess is they won't be voting for Quinn or Weiner. The Clintons, who are also a factor in NY politics, have announced they aren't endorsing. And though Quinn in the past was considered to be the candidate with the backing of a group able to raise large moneyed support for her—the NYC LBGT community—there is trouble in paradise. Groups have formed like Quinn sold out, and Queers Against Quinn. Cynthia Nixon, a high profile marriage equality advocate has also come out for de Blasio specifically because of his support for paid sick leave. Quinn also opposed HASA For All legislation while on the City Council, which would have extended benefits for people living with HIV/AIDS.
Thompson, the only African American in the race, though close to winning in the last election, now has as his biggest financial backer Republican Alfonse M. D'Amato, known in the past for his racism and ethnic slurs.
On the other hand de Blasio has just received the unanimous endorsement of SEIU 1199, NYC's largest union with over 250,000 members.
At a Monday press conference on the steps of New York City Hall, 1199SEIU President George Gresham announced the Union’s support for New York City Public Advocate Bill de Blasio in the New York City mayoral race. “We need leaders who have a love for New York. It’s not just about buildings and architecture and it’s not just a playground for the wealthy,” said Gresham. “All we want is someone who is going to stand up for all of us.”
Gresham said the Union’s Executive Council voted unanimously on May 17 to endorse de Blasio and cited the candidate’s long history with 1199SEIU and unwavering dedication to New York City’s working class, noting in particular his tireless advocacy on behalf of 1199SEIU’s homecare workers.“We need someone who will stand up for working people and who hasn’t forgotten where they came from – who has a history of standing up for working people,” said Gresham after Friday’s vote...
The decision to endorse de Blasio came after extensive interviews with of all of the candidates and is seen as a pivotal moment in the race. 1199 SEIU’s endorsement brings with it an unmatched election operation that includes thousands of volunteers on the ground, a massive phone banking operation, direct mail and other get-out-the-vote activities.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with SEIU 1199, allow me a brief digression into their history and why I think they can make a difference. This video, made for their 50th anniversary tells the tale.
Along with the 1199 backing he got the endorsement of the Communications Workers. I realize that many people discount endorsements, but in the case of SEIU 1199 this isn't lip service. I've organized alongside of 1199ers since the late 60s. A largely black and latino union, they are already in place, on the ground with solid broad-based community support and an ability to GOTV in multiple communities.
Allied with coalitions angry about NY's stop and frisk enforcement, as well as groups of domestic and household workers who are primarily black, Caribbean and Asian women, they will be firing up lower and middle income NY'ers to vote. Quinn has been getting jeered at recent forums. De Blasio also has the backing of progressive groups like NY Communities for Change which has 45,000 members.
The NY Times reported some of de Blasio's pointed critiques:
Before Ms. Quinn arrived, Mr. de Blasio responded to a question about the Police Department’s stop-and-frisk policy: “I know Speaker Quinn has chosen not to be with us yet,” then criticized her support of the current police commissioner, Raymond W. Kelly. “Unlike Speaker Quinn, I think we need a new police commissioner,” said Mr. de Blasio, the public advocate. Later, he said that “we have Speaker Quinn to thank” for Mr. Bloomberg’s third term and twice accused her of being the preferred candidate of the real estate industry – a damning aspersion in a crowd of public housing tenants.
In the closing statements, after Ms. Quinn had noted her past as a tenant organizer, Mr. de Blasio said: “I’ve got to have a moment of truth here. Maybe 20 years ago, Speaker Quinn, you were a tenant organizer. But here, in 2013, you are the real estate community’s best friend.”
Ms. Quinn has received about $1.3 million from real estate industry donors, significantly more than any other candidate.
Though Bloomberg hasn't endorsed anyone as yet, it's clear who he favors.
Bloomberg has dismissed all of the candidates except Quinn.
The perception of Quinn as simply an extension of Bloomberg on policy, and as his chum from the city council, may not play well in the primary.
De Blasio's family is actively working alongside him in his outreach efforts to multiple communities.
Bill, Chirlane, Dante and Chiara de Blasio (right to left)
His wife,
Chirlane McCray, has recently picked up media attention. She is black, with family roots in the Caribbean and Ghana.
The mainstream media's primary attention is still mostly about Quinn and now is shifting to speculation about Weiner—who is not a progressive candidate.
While they natter on, endorsements continue to come in for de Blasio from groups like the Upper Manhattan and Lower Manhattan Democratic clubs.
It doesn't hurt to have some high profile celebs doing it too. Hollis Queens native and hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons is on board, stressing the importance of public education.
As a Brooklyn native, I'm elated to see a progressive candidate who is from my home borough, though like Simmons, my parents moved us to Hollis, Queens when it began to be integrated in the late 50s.
As this NY Times feature reported it, "To de Blasio, City Hall Shouldn’t Be All About Manhattan."
I agree.
But no matter the borough, the mayoral race should really be about who can best represent New York's diverse population, not just in terms of ethnicity, but most important is the candidate who can best serve low and middle income workers, who are the majority, rather than the just the moneyed elite.
I pick de Blasio.
Who is your choice?