Tomorrow NYC votes in a primary election that will determine, in many ways, the political landscape for NYC for the next 4 years. Sadly, it will be a low voter turnout primary which means it is desperately hard to predict.

Public Advocate is one of the positions up for grabs tomorrow. It is one race that could go into a runoff if the few polls I have seen are any indication.

There are four candidates running: civil rights attorney and former head of the New York Civil Liberties Union Norman Siegel, former Public Advocate and mayoral candidate Mark Green, and City Council candidates Eric Gioia and Bill de Blasio. All polls show Mark Green in the lead but without the necessary votes to avoid a runoff. So it is likely to come down to Mark Green vs. one of the other candidates.  read more »

Rachel Robinson, widow of baseball legend Jackie Robinson, has released this video endorsing Norman Siegel for Public Advocate:

Jackie Robinson's debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers marked the end of 60 years of segregation in major league baseball. He also helped found the Freedom National Bank, and the Jackie Robinson Foundation.

Norman Siegel, born in Brooklyn and currently living in Manhattan, has been a champion of civil liberties since 1968 when he worked with the American Civil Liberties Union’s Southern Justice & Voting Law Project. Norman Siegel was Executive Director of the New York Civil Liberties Union from 1985-2000. He has also advocated and represented 9/11 Families, the Skyscraper Safety Campaign and Firefighters Families, the Transit Workers Union and the United Federation of Teachers in first amendment lawsuits, African American and Latino Police Officers in a racial discrimination lawsuit against NYC, New Yorkers against the extension of term limits and many other groups and individuals. Norman Siegel has been endorsed by Americans for Democratic Action, Democracy for NYC, the Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats, Park River Independent Democrats (Upper West Side), the Village Reform Democratic Club, the Grand Council of Guardians (an organization of African-American law enforcement officials), the New York Metro Area Postal Union (APWU, AFL-CIO), Audubon Reform Democratic Club (Hamilton Heights and Washington Heights), and Brooklyn Democrats for Change (Bay Ridge, Bensonhurst, Dyker Heights, Fort Hamilton, Bath Beach and Gravesend), and the New York Community Council.

In looking over what I have written about the Public Advocate's race, it strikes me that what I originally wrote about Public Advocate candidate Norman Siegel back in 2005 still applies now and is worth reviewing why I think there is only one candidate in the race worth considering. Since 2005 I have watched Norman defend the rights of bloggers, firefighters and so many othres and to stand up during each and every major civil liberties battle in the city that to me it is inconceivable that anyone else should be our Public Advocate. But my best piece on him was back in 2005 and best expresses why I still think he is the ideal Public Advocate for NYC. So I want to update a piece I wrote back in 2005 when my son first went out campaignig with me:

Public Advocate: this office is, as far as I am aware, unique to NYC. In a city where the mayor has so much (almost dictatorial) power, the Public Advocate is the counterbalance to the mayor--the person who stands up to the mayor on behalf of the people. At least that is the ideal. Our current PA is Betsy Gautbaum. I voted for her when she first ran. For the life of me I have no idea what she has done for the past 8 years. When Bloomberg refused to give people permits to protest the invasion of Iraq, Betsy wasn't there for us. When Bloomberg arrested and illegally held hundreds of protestors during the Republican Convention, Betsy wasn't there. When Bloomberg wanted to use eminent domain to take private property to give it to developers, Betsy wasn't there. When Bloomberg started routinely arresting the Critical Mass bicyclists, Betsy wasn't there. Many New Yorkers have felt helpless as financial scandals eat away at our pension funds, slush fund scandals run rampant, the school admissions process becomes increasingly insane and divorced from the actual needs of children (as opposed to the needs of companies Bloomberg outsources the process to), ground zero remains an empty hole in the ground, the subway system gets cut back more and more while fees climb...all under the watchful eyes of Michael Bloomberg, Betsy Gotbaum and Christine Quinn.

You know who WAS there at each of those violations of civil rights that Bloomberg was responsible for? Norm Siegel. He was out there defending protestors when Betsy was nowhere to be seen. Norm Siegel has helped communities fight to keep firehouses open from Williamsburg to Staten Island. Norm Siegel has helped communities from Prospect Heights to Harlem try to stop the government from using eminent domain to take their homes for the enrichment of private developers. Norm Siegel has helped firefighters seeking the implementation of a skyscraper safety program and provisions for our firefighters to guarantee they have proper working communication equipment. Norm Siegel has helped families who lost a loved one on September 11th, 2001, as they seek the public release of materials from that day, including 911 emergency tapes and transcripts. And, here in 2009, Norm Siegel stood up against Michael Bloomberg's putch to arbitrarily extend term-limits against the explicit vote of the people. Norman has been there for protesters, bloggers, bicyclists, firefighters, 9/11 families, homeowners, renters and just about every single New Yorker at one time or another.

Back in 2005 when I met Norman Siegel, I also met another man, Paul Wooten. Paul Wooten was one of the people who wrote the law that created the Public Advocate's position, or so he told us. He said that when they wrote the law, they envisioned someone just like Norman Siegel in the position. Now, I had the impression that he also thought Mark Green had been a reasonable Public Advocate, so I can't speak to how the writers of the law creating the Public Advocate's position would choose between Green and Siegel. But Wooten specifically mentioned Norman Siegel as the perfect Public Advocate as the job was originally written.  read more »

While Public Advocate candidate Bill de Blasio gets mired in a major scandal, the blatantly best of the Public Advocate candidates, Norman Siegel, has received yet another endorsement, this time from the Amsterdam News:

Norman Siegel has run for this office before. He has run before and is running again because he feels that the people of the city need an independent voice that will speak for them. As the head of the New York Civil Liberties Union, he spoke for the voiceless and often powerless. He has been a champion of rights throughout his career. He has fought City Hall, struggled for improved community-police relations and pushed for greater accountability on the part of the NYPD. He has advocated and represented 9/11 families, the Skyscraper Safety Campaign and Firefighters Families, the Transit Workers Union and the United Federation of Teachers in FIRST Amendment lawsuits, in addition to African-American and Latino police officers in a racial discrimination lawsuit against NYC, as well as New Yorkers against the extension of term limits. He is a man of the people and that is why the New York Amsterdam News endorses Siegel for public advocate for the City of New York.

Amsterdam News also endorsed John Liu for Comptroller:

Combining his experience as both a New York City Council member and a former auditor for a major accounting firm, he is the candidate with the most combined experience in the financial and government sectors. Having represented the Flushing, Queens, area of the city, one of the most diverse and dynamic areas of New York City, he is able to look at the city from a global as well as local perspective. Liu has a five-point plan in his quest for this position. Liu proposes to diversify the comptroller’s investment portfolio by going back to basic portfolio management of stocks and bonds. He wants to bolster diversification of the city’s economy by expanding opportunities for WMBEs (women and minority business enterprises) and emerging industries. Liu also wants to support a more graduated income tax for city residents based upon wealth. The Industrial Development Agency that oversees small business development in the city is also in need of reform and Liu believes that the comptroller should have a greater role in this agency’s operations. And finally, he believes in using the comptroller’s audit bureau to review the city’s business development programs, including the Department of Small Business’ services.

This is just where Liu wants to begin. He sees a strong future for this city and wants to make sure that all New Yorkers are part of the success that can be achieved. This is why the New York Amsterdam News endorses John Liu in the Democratic primary for comptroller of the City of New York.

Americans for Democratic action, an abashedly liberal branch of the Democratic Party, has announced its endorsements for the September 15th Primary election. Founded in 1947, ADA is an independent liberal political organization dedicated to protecting individual liberty and expanding economic justice. Here are their recommendations (with my inevitable comments):

Mayor: Bill Thompson

Public Advocate: Norman Siegel (Siegel has also been endorsed by Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats, Democracy for NYC, Park River Independent Democrats (Upper West Side), the Village Reform Democratic Club, the Grand Council of Guardians (an organization of African-American law enforcement officials), Room 8 blogger and Brooklyn City Council candidate Rock Hackshaw, the New York Metro Area Postal Union (APWU, AFL-CIO), Audubon Reform Democratic Club (Hamilton Heights and Washington Heights), and Brooklyn Democrats for Change (Bay Ridge, Bensonhurst, Dyker Heights, Fort Hamilton, Bath Beach and Gravesend), The New York Community Council...and, of course, myself).

Comptroller: John Liu (Liu has also been endorsed by 504 Democratic Club (focused on disabled rights), El Nuevo Caribe Democratic Club of El Barrio/East Harlem, Lambda Independent Democrats, Lesbian and Gay Democratic Club of Queens, Stonewall Democrats of New York City, Staten Island Democratic Association, United Auto Workers, Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats, Barack Obama Democratic Club of Upper Manhattan, American Heritage Democratic Club...and about a gazillion others, including myself).

Manhattan District Attorney: Richard Aborn (I haven't endorsed in this race. Aborn has also been endorsed by Congressman Jerrold Nadler, State Senator Eric Adams, State Senator Daniel Squadron, 504 Democratic Club, OutPOCPAC, Gay and Lesbian Independent Democrats, Barack Obama Democratic Club of Upper Manhattan, Village Independent Democrats, and others).

39th City Council District (Brooklyn): Josh Skaller (Josh has also been endorsed by Howard Dean, Jim Dean, Assemblyman Jim Brennan, State Senator Eric Adams, Democracy for America, Democracy for NYC, The New York Community Council, Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats, International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 237, 111 and 854, Service Employees International Union (Special Officers and Guards, Local 177), Friends and Residents of Greater Gowanus, Carroll Gardens Coalition for Respectful Development and others...as well as myself.)

33rd City Council District (Brooklyn): Ken Diamondstone (I have endorsed Jo Anne Simon for this race, but Ken Diamondstone is another excellent candidate.)

19th City Council District (Queens): Steve Behar (Steve Behar has also been endorsed by Councilman Tony Avella, Democracy for America, Democracy for New York City, Queens County Progressive Democratic Club, The New York Community Council, Democrats for New Politics, Lesbian & Gay Democratic Club of Queens...and myself).

25th City Council District (Queens): Daniel Dromm (Daniel Dromm has also been endorsed by Stonewall Democrats, the United Federation of Teachers, 504 Democrats, among others. I endorsed him quite some time ago and think he is a very promising candidate, but I am concerned about his involvement in the Working Families Party scandal and have been unable to get a statement from his campaign).