On Tuesday, September 15, New Yorkers will go to the polls to cast their votes in the primary elections. We urge all our readers to exercise their democratic franchise.
This year sees some pivotal races in The Villager’s coverage area. In Council District 1 — which covers Lower Manhattan, the Lower East Side, Chinatown, Soho/Noho and the South Village — last week we endorsed Margaret Chin. Again, in our view, Chin is the most qualified to lead among the field of five candidates, including the incumbent, Alan Gerson. Gerson should have been term-limited out of office, but instead cast a key vote in favor of extending term limits for himself and his Council colleagues. One’s stance on term limits, however, is not the ultimate litmus test. But we do feel the district needs fresh leadership and new commitment — and Chin will bring that.
Gerson has had eight years in office, but many feel he has not been effective enough in getting things done during all those years. Chin would bring new energy and, without a doubt, much better organization. Simply put, it’s high time for a real change in District 1, and we back Chin to bring about that change.
Another race that is drawing interest is in District 3 — covering Greenwich Village, Hudson Square, Chelsea, Clinton, Flatiron District, West Midtown and Murray Hill — where Christine Quinn is up for re-election. As City Council speaker, Quinn pushed the term-limits extension through the Council, allowing herself — and her ally Mayor Bloomberg — a chance at a third term. Once more, though, the term-limits issue is not the final deciding factor in our endorsement. To be clear: In no uncertain terms, we opposed the legislative overturning of term limits; though we do support extending them to three terms — since we think it would result in more effective government — but only if done so by a voter referendum.
As for Quinn’s relationship with the mayor, while it certainly can benefit her district, at times it admittedly has been too close. Should she be re-elected, we hope to see her stake out more independent positions, so that the Council is a bona fide check in city government’s system of checks and balances. Again, we support a full investigation of the City Council’s “slush gate,” and are eager to see the results as soon as possible.
But, despite her flaws, Quinn remains the best candidate by far in her race. Maria Passannante-Derr and Yetta Kurland, for all their strengths, simply don’t have anywhere near the experience or political skills and savvy that Quinn brings to the table. Quinn is a champion on tenant issues, L.G.B.T. issues, senior issues, parks. Even one of her fiercest critics flat-out admits Quinn is “the best politician in the race.”
Yes, Quinn can definitely improve, such as, for starters, by ensuring that the Department of Sanitation garage planned at the west end of Spring St. is only built to house two Sanitation districts’ garages — not three. The Sanitation garage is an issue, for example, where she shouldn’t merely be an enabler of the mayor, but should take a more forceful role in the negotiations — and in finding a true, workable solution. And one can be found.
In District 2 — the East Village, Union Square and East Side up to the mid-30s, excluding Stuyvesant Town/Peter Cooper Village — we endorse Rosie Mendez for re-election. She’s done a good job, knows her district and cares about it and her constituents. Her challenger, Juan Pagan, has deep roots in the neighborhood, but lacks the political know-how and ability of Mendez.
The Villager again urges our readers to go to the polls and vote Tues., Sept. 15. For those wishing to view our more detailed, complete endorsements from last week for the City Council races in the First, Second and Third Districts, as well as the full videos of the candidates debates we organized in the First and Third Districts, visit www.thevillager.com and www.downtownexpress.com .
