I sense that most of us who are active in New York City’s political arena have ambiguous feelings about the need for a public advocate, and I base that on years and years of conversations on this topic with fellow activists. Even people who aren’t very “political” have waded in on the longstanding debate over the utility of this office, and its role and function in city government. In fact, there have been times when the generic conversation(s) appeared to be abolition of this office, and the saving of millions in staff salaries and OTP. Even Mayor Bloomberg has had choice words for the office, and he has at times joined the debate to give his most afforded opinion -negative of course.
And then there are those who see the office as much needed, and they always talk about its potential more than its shortcomings or glaring inadequacies. On this issue I am an in-betweener. I look at the potential for a lot of good things from this office -in the lives of poor people especially- and I always hope that the advocate will see his or her role as more than just mayoral-prep. When I remove my idealist cap and put on my pragmatic hat instead, I see this office as potentially replicating services that many other agencies can and should provide for New Yorkers; so count me as one of those who could go either way on this. The problem for public advocates in today’s incarnation is that the media -and near everyone else- thinks it is only a pit stop on the road to city hall. And this is why I have decided to come out early with my endorsement for September’s public advocate primary; the person I am endorsing today, isn’t running for mayor in the future, he is simply running for public advocate: period.
Within the current field of runners are NYC council members Bill deBlasio (Brooklyn) and Eric Gioia (Queens); a former public advocate from 1992-2001: Mark Green of Manhattan; and the popular Brooklyn-born civil rights attorney: Norman Siegel. They are all strong contenders in their own right.
If ever there were an opportunity for a female politician we have it here; and for a moment one female city council member flirted with the idea. In the end she lacked the gonads to pursue the position. She should have run. I love contentious races. It’s where I get off my proverbial “political nuts”. Look, there is still time for a late entrant of the female variety/lol. Did you hear me Yvonne Graham?
It seems like only one contender here was always serious about this position: Norman Siegel. Of the others, this appears to be a last minute calculation only after certain ducks never lined up right.
We all know that Eric Gioia is ambitious -nothing wrong with that once you keep it in check- and as such we all know that he is looking way beyond this race; and always has. Fine. Bill deBlasio is just as ambitious, and he too was (and is) looking way beyond this race. That too is fine. But Bill made a big splash about replacing Marty Markowitz as Brooklyn’s Boro Prez; he trotted out scores of people -including elected officials- when he did that very public announcement. This is just a fall back race for Bill. And when I asked him on Thursday night (Central Brooklyn Independent Democratic Club/CBID), whether he is in this for the long haul -if the extension is reversed by the appeals court- his answer didn’t feel genuine at all. Sorry Charlie: Starfish only likes genuine tuna.
Then there is Mark Green, the most liberal member of the NY1 “Wise Guys” triumvirate (or is that really “white guys”/as Charles Barron often wants to say): for the past few weeks I have been trying to figure out Mark’s rationale for running here -and I must admit that I have been stumped. Then at the forum held by Brooklyn’s Progressive Association for Political Action (PAPA), Mark gave us a “doo-zee”.
The moderator was the 57th AD’s District Leader Walter Mosley (the tall and handsome son of the venerable Marilyn Mosley), he is one of the rising young stars in Brooklyn’s politics today. I thought Walter should have been tougher on these candidates on many levels, but he left that job for his mom/lol. (Come out from behind your mom’s skirts Walter/lmao). Anyway; Mark Green proffered in both the abstract and the obvious, that since he was once elected to this job then he should be (re)elected again. Given that reasoning we should elect George W. Bush in eight years time. Gimme a break!
Today, I am endorsing Norman Siegel for this race. And you have my campaign manager (Mariya Yudkevich) to thank for this one. You see, a few weeks ago I was leaning towards Bill diBlasio in order to do a very trite “Brooklyn thing”. My manager made me walk back on that one. It gave me time to think this race through. And I have come up with the person who has really been our public advocate all his adult life; the one candidate in this race who focuses ONLY on this job: Norman Siegel.
I don’t have to explain Norman to you guys out in blogland; go to his website. If you don’t know this guy by now, then you haven’t been in politics long enough. Norman is clearly the best person for this job. Put aside your borough-loyalties (like I have) and think this through. Who has been demonstrating throughout his life’s work that he is fit and ready for this job? Think about it: the answer shouldn’t take you ten seconds. It’s Norman Siegel -the civil rights attorney.
Look, I know that Mark Green has done a lot of good things in the past; but that’s just the point: Mark Green is yesterday’s news. We divorced him many years ago: why are we going back to re-chew gum we have already spit out of our mouths. Arrrgh!
It’s time for Norman Siegel. He has paid big dues. It’s his turn now. It’s his chance now. It’s his time now. Let’s reward determination and loyalty. Let’s reward commitment. Let’s reward tenacity and longevity in activism. Norman has been a political activist all his adult life: he is bona-fide.
I have one word of advice for Norman -and it is the same advice I have for my buddy Anthony Wiener- get some solid people around you: people who aren’t “yes-men”. Get the type of people who would look you in the eye and tell you when your opinion is stupid, without blinking an eye or fearing your reprisal. Get people who are honest and straight forward; people who can stop you from making large political mistakes (you both know what I am talking about). Find the males and females of diverse races, ethnicities, ages, religions, nationalities and the like; those whom you have known long enough to respect their intellectual development. Stop being one-man bands. If you haven’t identified by now, the kind of friendships that can cuss you out today over a political issue, and yet go to the Knicks game with you tomorrow and share a laugh or two without bitterness and rancor, then it’s hardly worth it.
Stay tuned-in folks. And let’s give Norman his due; do the right thing.