[Erlist] My New York City Voter Guide

[Eric]

Elections are tomorrow (Tuesday) and in New York there can often be a 
bewildering number of candidates and positions we've never even heard of. 
So I did some research (mostly at http://www.gothamgazette.com , an 
excellent, non-partisan, non-profit resource) and made my picks for all 
the posts and propositions on the ballot in my district (and a few in 
other New York districts). I offer this as a service for those of you who 
want information on the election. You may disagree with my picks and feel 
free to do your own research and come to your own conclusions. And also 
rememeber, you are allowed to bring a print-out of this information, or 
anything else you'd like, into the booth with you if you can't remember 
all the names.

And without further ado:

For Mayor:
Fernando Ferrer, Democrat
Clearly the better candidate, even though Bloomberg has ten times the 
money he does to run his campaign and is therefore in the lead. Bloomberg 
even decided to skip one of the debates, leaving only two the week before 
the election for any kind of direct conversation between the candidates 
and their ideas. Ferrer is said by most papers to have won both the 
debates, but is still behind in the polls.

Ferrer is pushing for doing more in the school system than just raising 
test scores; he's for preserving rent control and other affordable housing 
measures that are currently in jeopardy; increasing the number of police 
officers in the city (Bloomberg cut the number); and not give gifts like 
taxpayer-money built stadiums to giant corporations.

Public Advocate
Jim Lesczynski, Libertarian
It's been years now and still no one seems to know what the Public 
Advocate is supposed to be doing. Or what she has done. Betsy Gotbaum has 
done little to change this, and, it seems, little of anything. Lesczynski 
is says that the first thing he'll do if elected is fire everyone, abolish 
the position and resign, because the position of Public Advocate is a 
waste of taxpayers money and of everybody's time. I couldn't agree more.

Comptroller
No opinion.
Bill Thompson is running virtually unopposed.

Brooklyn Borough President
Marty Markowitz, Democrat
Markowitz is voting virtually unopposed as well, but that's okay, because 
I don't think anyone in the world loves Brooklyn more than Marty 
Markowitz. Go Marty!

Manhattan Borough President
Scott Stringer, Democrat
Stringer will win this one mostly because his real opponents were already 
beaten in the primary. Now all that are left are jokers like the guy from 
the Socialist party, and a Republican opponent who's greatest 
accomplishment seems to be learning the origin of the term "Big Apple".

Bronx Borough President
No opinion
Another borough president with no serious challengers.

Queens Borough President
Helen Marshall, Democrat
When the head of the opposing party in your borough is quoted as saying, 
"We don't really have any strong quarrel with the current borough 
president," you know you're doing alright.

Staten Island Borough President
John Luisi, Democrat
They're trying to use city money to build a NASCAR stadium in Staten 
Island, which is the same bull they were pulling with the West Side 
Stadium. The incumbent Molinaro is in favor of. Luisi is not. Vote Luisi.

All city council members must run for reelection this year. This being too 
many city council races to go into depth on, I will only address the one 
that affects me. For information on your own district, go to
http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/issueoftheweek/20051107/200/1633

District 34 - Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Diana Reyna, Democrat
The only person who complained about Fire Engine Company 209 closing in 
Williamsburg, and someone who helped stop the closure of Engine 252. Born 
and raised in Bushwick, Reyna has worked to improve schools and senior 
care.

Distict Attorney
No opinion
Robert Morgenthau and Charles Hynes are running virtually unopposed.

Judicial Seats
This is the one where everyone picks names at random, right? Well, no 
more! I've checked their backgrounds and the New York Bar recommendations 
(http://www.nycbar.org/PressRoom/PressRelease/2005_1031.htm ) and here are 
my conclusions:
Manhattan
Supreme Court 1st Judicial District (vote for three)
Matthew V. Grieco
Karla Moskowitz
Lottie E. Wilkins

Brooklyn and Staten Island
Supreme Court 2nd Judicial District (vote for six)
Carolyn E. Demarest
Donald S. Kurtz
Anthony J. Lamberti
Yvonne Lewis
Esther M. Morgenstern
Reinaldo Rivera

Queens
Supreme Court 11th Judicial District (vote for two)
Stephen A. Knopf
Charles J. Markey

Bronx
Supreme Court 12th Judicial District (vote for two)
Wilma Guzman
Lucianna Locorotondo

Ballot Questions
Proposition 1: Amending the state budget process
Vote Yes.
Currently the governor makes a budget and then submits it to state 
legislature, who have limited ability to amend it. This means Pataki can 
put whatever he wants into the budget and legislators pretty much have to 
take it or leave it. This is stupid. This proposition will allow 
legislators to have a hand in shaping the budget.

Proposition 2: Transportation Bond Act
Vote No!
This is the big one. You may have seen ads in favor of this on the subway. 
They say they're going to build all sorts of stuff like the subway to JFK 
and the second avenue subway if you approve the bond act. What they don't 
tell you is that they money will be borrowed from the state. You read that 
right, the Transportation Bond Act will BORROW $2.9 BILLION that taxpayers 
will then have to pay back. And why? Because the MTA doesn't have enough 
money for its grandiose projects? But I thought there was such a surplus 
that they're giving fare cuts this holiday as a gift to the riders? And 
what about all the back and forth where the MTA does have enough money, 
then it doesn't have enough money and has to raise fares twice (TWICE!), 
and then it looks like they're hopelessly corrupt and don't want us to 
look at their books, and now they want us to approve them borrowing money 
that we'll have to pay back?? What about this report from the city 
government in October of 2005 which was summed up by the Gotham Gazette as 
follows:

"The Metropolitan Transportation Authority could run a surplus of $928 
million, the state comptroller's office claims in this report. This is $95 
million more than projected by the MTA, indicating recent tax and fee 
hikes were unnecessary."
http://www.osc.state.ny.us/osdc/mta6-2006.pdf
http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/current/16

What the hell is going on?? Seriously, MTA, get your shit in order and 
then come back to us with a proposal that doesn't get the city further in 
debt.

Proposition 3: Establishing an Ethics Code for Hearing Officers
Vote No
Really just a way to give the mayor powers over the judges (by defining 
their code of ethics) and take power away from the city council. The code 
of ethics is just a way to have the mayor dictate the "ethical" behavior 
of the judges. Really to manufacture a way to give the mayor more powers 
over the judges (by defining their "code of ethics") and take power away 
from the city council. A bad, stupid idea.

Proposition 4: Adding Financial Management Requirements to the City 
Charter
Vote Yes
Certain financial management requirements -- balanced budget, limiting 
debt, annual audit, etc -- that were passed during the financial crisis in 
the seventies are expiring in 2008. This proposition will keep them from 
expiring, which is a good idea, because we need things like balanced 
budgets, less debt and auditing of a frequently bloated and corrupt city 
government.