Many black political activists, some black nationalists and even a sprinkling of black moderates, will celebrate Black Solidarity Day on November 5th, 2007; and in keeping with the theme, a large group of blacks intend to endorse Barack Obama for president on that day. Included in that group is NYC councilmember Charles Barron and his wife (and fellow-activist) Inez Barron. The fiery council member from East New York, Brooklyn, intends to put together a group of progressives of all races, nationalities and ethnicities, behind this endorsement effort. He also intends to line up many anti-Iraq-War activists, some veterans, many church and community leaders, and hopefully also a few elected officials of all races, nationalities and ethnicities.

For the next year or so, I will from time to time, give my thoughts on what’s unfolding in the upcoming race(s) for the US presidency. I will try to keep it real, in hope of generating some debate on the threads (something that seems to be waning in recent times). Lately, I have started to wonder if the “blogs” are losing their novelty status; or is it that people are just getting back to their usual spaces of political-disenchantment? In these here parts, there appear to be few lively threads anymore.

As the presidential primaries approach, I am getting the sense that Democrats think they have a lock on the “win” next November; I don’t share that view. Despite the ineptitude of the Bush administration (in too many areas to enumerate here), next November would be a dogfight no matter who the Republicans nominate. Not withstanding the Iraq debacle- which will be still going on then- Democrats need to be very careful that complacency doesn’t set in. Because they are out-raising the Republicans by barrels full of “mullah”, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t lots of landmines between here and the White House. As important as it is, money isn’t everything in politics folks. Just a personal observation, that’s all.

In Wednesday’s NY Post, Fred Dicker has a front page story charging Governor Spitzer with refusing to fund projects in the district of Assembly Republican Leader Jim Tedisco.

Gov. Spitzer yesterday played vicious hardball with his chief opponent in the battle over driver's licenses for illegal aliens – canceling $300,000 in state-funded health-care and education projects in Assembly Minority Leader James Tedisco's district, The Post has learned. "It's governance by vengeance. He doesn't care who he hurts," a furious Tedisco (R-Schenectady) told The Post. "You disagree with him and he tries to steamroller you," said Tedisco, a Republican.

My question to Fred and others is how this is different from what Fred reported on Monday, without a hint of criticism – Joe Bruno cut off cell phone service to Democratic Senators and stopped construction on a Democratic staffer’s office because the Dems made Joe angry?

The New York City Board of Elections has certified the results of last month’s Primary elections.

Here are the results (with a little commentary).

BROOKLYN

The only contests n Brooklyn were Democratic Primaries for judicial posts. These are the only contests that received anything close to significant media coverage.

Opponents of congestion pricing, based in Queens, released a report with an alternative to the proposal last week. Proponents of congestion pricing, who would probably otherwise support many the alternative’s ideas, immediately blasted it for being what it probably is – a red herring designed to ensure that nothing happens, existing privileges are maintained, and problems are not solved, but the public is confused about who is to blame and thus just shrugs its shoulders. The typical Albany win over the public, in other words. Still, there is enough of interest in the proposal that it deserves a thoughtful review, and such a review finds that it is essentially an extension of current policies, and has the same hole as those policies. The opponents’ proposal, more over, gores even more oxen that congestion pricing, and may thus be designed to stir up even more opposition. Still, it is worth considering as the basis for a more complete alternative, if only to test the opponent’s sincerity. Filling that hole, however, could make the proposal as viable as congestion pricing, if not as flexible.

Monday’s New York Post reported on some of the fallout over the latest alleged “dirty trick” by Governor Spitzer and some Senate Democrats.

Senate Republicans, meanwhile, quietly retaliated against Smith late last week by canceling service on six of the cellphones used by his top aides.

They also halted a construction project designed to enlarge the office of his press secretary, Curtis Taylor.

"I think they'll get the message that trying to damage Sen. Bruno isn't a smart thing to do," said a Senate source.

As part of the latest round of fare increases, the MTA is introducing two new, and good, ideas: peak period pricing with off-peak discounts, and small regular fare increases instead of years of “save the fare” grandstanding with deferred maintenance followed by a whopper. Those who have read my prior posts here know that I am in favor of both, but would go further, as described below. I had considered writing in with my comments to the MTA website, even actually showing up at a public hearing. But I decided instead to put my comments here, so others can respond as well.

If anybody reading this is interested or knows someone interested in voting for or against Hillary, Rudy, Obama, Edwards, Romney, McCain or any of the Presidential candidates in the February Primary, Friday October 12 may be the last chance to qualify to do so.

Only enrolled Democrats will be eligible to vote in the Democratic Primary and only enrolled Republicans can vote in the GOP Primary.

So for any voter not presently enrolled, Friday is the absolute last day to switch and become a Democrat or Republican.

You can go the NYC Board of Elections website for details on how to switch.

The U.S. Census Bureau released state and local government public employee pension data for 2006 last month. I’ll discuss this information next May, when more detailed information is released along with all public finance data for the year. Nonetheless, the data provides a few interesting tidbits. Benefit payments equaled 6.6% of the assets of New York City’s public employee pension systems in 2006, more than for the New York State pension systems, which include New York State government and local governments outside the city, at 4.5%, or the national average for state and local pension systems, at 5.2%. Employees accounted for just 7.3% of all contributions to New York City’s pension systems, even though in most titles new NYC employees are required to kick in 5.85% of their pay, because those hired in prior generations (and those in certain titles such as police and fire) are not paying in at all. The national average is 20.6% and the figure for the New York State pension systems is 4.5%. And New York City’s pension fund earnings equaled just 7.5% of its investment holdings in 2006, compared with a national average of 10.3% and 12.0% for the New York State systems. Despite last year’s return, however, New York City’s investment choices, if they didn’t change and if the city isn’t taxed to make up for losses by the rest of the state, may leave us better off in 2007.