NYC mayoral primary: yes, I voted.

Great Debates
1

This morning I walked into a nearly empty polling place in my neighborhood to cast my vote in the Democratic primary for the first New York City mayor’s race I can participate in. I moved here in 2003, and I’ve never been thrilled with Mayor Bloomberg, and I was looking forward to helping to vote him out.

However, it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen, and I’m not even sure if I’ll be able to contribute to the effort. I’m still fuming over Bloomberg’s support for the West Side stadium, and even though he failed, it seems I can’t pardon such a boneheaded move. I can’t imagine voting for him in November, even though I think he’s been okay on most points, and certainly better than any Republican I’ve ever lived under (with the possible exception of Arlen Specter.)

The thing is, the Democrats might not have my vote sewn up, either. Fernando Ferrer is likely to win the Democratic nomination, and possibly without a runoff, which is depressing. Ferrer is a buffoon with a political tin ear, and I do not relish the prospect of seeing his name in the voting booth this coming November. It would be very hard to pull it, and I’m seriously considering writing in Alfred E. Neuman.

This morning I voted for Anthony Weiner, whom I’d be glad to have as my mayor. He doesn’t stand a snowball’s chance in Alabama, but he still got my vote. Civic duty calls, so of course I’ll vote in November, but my options truly nauseate me. Unless somehow a miracle happens and Weiner or Miller pull ahead… ah, well.

2

  1. ::golf clap:: for taking the time to vote.

  2. I wonder how much of the reason for the empty polling place was due to low voter turnout, and how much due to absentee voting.

3

I would be very frightened if Ferrer became mayor. I like Bloomberg, though I thought he was wrong on the west side stadium, I think he’s done a pretty good job overall. Crime levels are good, the MTA is running OK (I suppose), and he’s made at least a bit of headway with the school system.

I think a low turnout bodes ill for the Democrats. I know my wife didn’t bother to vote in today’s primary because she isn’t interested in having any of these guys as mayor.

4

Yeah, I dunno. It could also be that I got there at 7:30 in the morning, but I don’t think it’s that. The thing is, I live in a very poverty-stricken area of the Bronx, which usually means low voter turnout. The mayor’s race isn’t generating much excitement; no one’s too wild about the candidates. And anyway, it’s a primary during a non-presidential election, which usually means few are going to take an interest. A heated contest can change that, but like I said, this one’s not a heated contest.

This just isn’t an exciting contest, and things in New York aren’t so bad, so it’s hard to make a case against an incumbent administration. (In fact, I’m not even sure this is a “great” debate…)