Mayor
Kathryn Garcia has now been on the cover of the May and June issues of the Star-Revue. Last month I endorsed her and Paperboy Prince, who we interview elsewhere in this issue.
While I’m sure there are things I will disagree with in a Garcia administration, I know that she will at least keep an ear open to different ideas. I also think that she will be beholden to no special interests, except for the interests of all of us. Her background is public service.
I know that she takes the environment very seriously. Much as I will hate to get rid of my 2000 Taurus, sooner or later cities and gasoline cars will not be a viable mix. She will get us to the future that we need to have.
As I’ve said more than once, she is best suited to improve the culture of our city agencies. Very often, government will have good intentions, but the same government gets in the way of good actions.
While she’s worked in the system, she’s not part of it.
While the other candidates fulminate over crime and policing, she has a simple and common sense policy idea—raise the minimum age to be a cop to 25, and make sure they live somewhere in the city.
I also think that she will become a popular mayor that we will all be proud of. It’s not easy having a loudmouth in your face every day, and she’s definitely not that.
Make Kathryn your number one pick and include Paperboy Prince as one of your ranked choices. If there is somebody else I would rank, it is Art Chang. I never heard of him before, but he was quite impressive in a Zoom debate that I saw. He has some impressive credentials – this from his website:
- I built Queens West—the LIC waterfront—under Empire State Development. And because I built it with climate change in mind, it was one of only 2 waterfront developments to not lose power during Hurricane Sandy.
- I started 12 small businesses in New York City.
- I launched NYC’s tech startup industry, then diversified its workforce by creating the largest onramp for CUNY students to the NYC tech community.
- I built Casebook, the first web-based software platform for child welfare.
- I’ve worked at the City Law Department, the Brooklyn Public Library, and was the first Asian-American appointed to the Campaign Finance Board.
- I know this city: I’ve served under 4 Mayors and 2 Governors.
- You know our famous “I Voted” stickers? I co-created NYC Votes to improve transparency in our democracy.
It all sounds good and deserving of a place on your ballot. As far as the other candidates, only list them if you wouldn’t mind them to be your mayor Your number 5 choice could be the vote that puts them over the top. You don’t have to fill out the ballot – you can pick just one or two or three.
Since all the candidates are Democrats, all their policies have a certain similarity. Nobody will enact anything too miserable (meaning like in Texas).The winners of the June primary will for the most part be the winners in November, which is why we are more interested in qualifications than policy.
Unfortunately, that’s not how political elections work. I used to subscribe to Texas Monthly magazine. In 1998, they put George W. Bush on the cover, explaining that he had a good shot to run for president. Why? Because of his name he was already raising more money than any other candidate, and also that in polling, many people who claimed to be a supporter were unaware that this George Bush was a different person that the other George Bush.
I like to say we deserve the government that we get, but I wish that we could be better.
City Council
As far as the local City Council races, I am only going to make an endorsement in the 38th District, the race to replace Carlos Menchaca.
Jacqui Painter has done a very good job at getting people excited about politics. She had a nice turnout at her office opening at the end of May, and after a year of zooming in, it was great to turn out in person.
Rodrigo Camarena has a well thought out plan as written elsewhere in this paper. Alexa Aviles has the endorsement of the Democratic Socialists, a number of unions and Nydia Velazquez. But we are endorsing Cesar Zuniga this time.
Zuniga first came to the attention of Red Hook when he ran for the Assembly against Felix Ortiz. He had the backing of Carlos Menchaca. We went with Felix because of his greater institutional knowledge due to his years in the Assembly.
Since that election, which was in 2014, Cesar has been gaining more and more experience. He has been a member of Community Board 7, which represents Sunset Park, since 2010, and in 2017 was made Chairperson.
He has presided over land use and safety issues, which has given him knowledge of the workings of the Council. In his position he knows all the players in the district, and hopefully will be the type of councilman that uses his position for the good of the district and not only to take ideological positions meant mostly for the good of his career.
We’re banking on it.
Also: The Model Block
As previously written in these pages, a local real estate developer has made an application with the Board of Estimate seeking permission to build a mixed use development which includes 15 stories of residential apartments. This would be Red Hook’s first skyscraper in 50 years.
Our position is that this exception to current zoning rules would lead to many more exceptions and probably a neighborhood rezoning, which would turn Red Hook into Dumbo or worse (if you feel that Red Hook is lacking large buildings than you will disagree with this).
The application is pending, with the hearing date not yet set.
We know that the applicant will be represented with the best lawyers money can buy.
So should we.
