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38th City Council District: David Galarza's in
Word is that David Galarza is throwing his hat in the ring for the 38th City Council District against Sara Gonzalez, one of the Bloomberg 29 who voted to overturn the term limits New York voters twice approved.
Sara Gonzalez is one of Bloomberg's 29 Trained Surrender Monkeys on the City Council who jump when Bloomberg tells them to. She also is caught up in the City Council scandal where millions of dollars of our tax money has been "misdirected" into fake non-profits. Gonzalez has refused to account for some $269,000 of our tax money. Generally I expect that kind of behavior from a Republican!
I know David Galarza somewhat from local politics and consider him a good, honest candidate. Formerly a journalist, David Galarza, has been a member of community board 7 and was a communications specialist for the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA), Local 1000. Galarza worked in the public affairs departments of Manhattan Borough President Ruth Messinger, NYC Comptroller Alan Hevesi, the NYC Board of Education, and the Children's Aid Society. In 2005, listed as his organizational affilations:
Justice Committee, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, Greater NY Labor Religion Coalition, International Labor Communications Association, endorsed by Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats, Lambda Independent Democrats, Independent Neighborhood Democrats
I am glad Galarza is running. We need to challenge the city council members who have shown such disregard for the voters and for accountability. Gonzalez is among the worst and Galarza strikes me as a genuinely good guy.
I am looking at several races this year. More on that later. So far I think Josh Skaller (Council District 39) and David Galarza (Council District 38) are top of my list. I am leaning towards Jo Anne Simon for Council District 33, but I personally know three of the candidates in that race and consider all three good people. And I'm hoping Rocky Chin makes a run for Council District 1. More to come on races I am considering and races WFP seem to be considering.
While I was disappointed with Council Member Gonzalez vote
on extending term limits for Mr. Bloomberg, I would be very wary of repeating the charge which you link to The Real Estate Law Blog and which post seems to have first appeared in a one-time-only post by "El Grito" at Room 8 in early May. ("El Grito" is Spanish for "the cry" and often refers to an event in the history of the Mexican independence struggle)
The origin of the report appears to have been a Daily News round up of a few days earlier.
There has been no followup whatsoever on this, so far as I can tell.
On the merits, mostly, Council Member Gonzalez has been fairly good, in my view.
Not my only basis for judgement
I base my judgement not just on her vote to reject the will of the voters and her possible/probable involvement in a widespread scandal that involves many City Council members and the mayor. I discussed this race (and others) with several people. At least three people consider Gonzalez one of the people they most want to target. I just posted the most public reasons for opposing her. There is more behind my decision that just that.
David Vs. Goliasarah
Sarah Gonzales is not a particularly formidable character in her own right. The political machine that hand picked her, placed her in office and has kept her in the New York City Council, is. As the chosen successor to a corrupt hack of the Brooklyn machine her greatest accomplishment and just reward is probably a lavish residence, a piece of real estate, such as was given to her predecessor Angel Rodriguez; in a Penitentiary. Being a perfect fit as a replacement aside, Sarah's has achieved greatness in doing nothing but tanning the tip of her nose with the rays that woose from that part of Bloomberg anatomy where the sun don't shine.
Never the less, Sarah has established benchmarks during her political career. For more than a quick minute she held on to the most prestigious title of having the worst attendance record in the City Council. However, like with every challenge she's faced recently she might have been overshadowed by someone with more talent in that particular area of expertise.
Not all aspects of political careers can be defined by numbers, percentages and statistics. Sarah's level of clueless ness cannot be measured in degrees. She is oblivious to the needs of her community much less the needs of the whole of New York City for which she gets gets paid to legislate; if and when she gets around to it. Clueless ness is where her abilities are immeasurable because it is her infinite talent. Sarah Gonzales is well rounded in talent. Why should you have a clue when you're never there?
What about Eddie?
Eddie Rodriguez seems like the much stronger candidate that actually has the skill set to be a decent legislator.
http://www.gothamgazette.com/campaign2005/38