In a country where politicos will perform anything short of oral sex on union members to get not only their votes and money, but, more importantly to a lot of politicos without true grassroots support, campaign workers, Serrano has balls to go public with his complaint. [via New York Post Online Edition: commentary]

July 24, 2005 -- REP. Jose Serrano is fuming that District Council 37, the largely minority municipal union, abandoned Democratic front-runner Freddy Ferrer to endorse Mayor Bloomberg. "In all honesty, I have no other way of saying it --it pissed me off," declared Serrano, the longest-serving Puerto Rican elected official in the nation. "This is going to have serious ramifications," said Serrano.

I'd love to know what the ramifications are. Time to pick up the phone and ask some questions. In the meantime, though, I'm asking you all a favor : Help me [w:fisking| fisk] DC37's reasons for supporting Bloomberg. Let's turn this into a community project. [via News Release, July 14, 2005: District Council 37, largest public employee union in New York City announces endorsement of Mayor Michael Bloomberg]:

Some of Mayor Bloomberg's first-term actions that contributed to DC 37's endorsement include:

• Ending hundreds of private contracts and returned the work to city employees.
• Supported funding and development of New York City's HHC public hospitals and health care facilities when the city faced a budget crisis.
• Began a major program of increasing civilian workers in non-enforcement duties in the Police Department so more police officers will be on the street.
• Introduced solid change in city schools, so the children and grandchildren of DC 37 members will be able to advance and contribute to society.

Mole33, Our Gal in Brooklyn, Lipris, c'mon guys, put on your thinking caps!