Other Advocates Weigh In
February 10th, 2009
And then they chime in.
Here is some reaction to the news this morning that Mark Green will be running for public advocate again.
Green served as the city’s first public advocate and successfully received the Democratic nomination for mayor in 2001, losing to Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Already, his bid has fueled speculation of Green’s mayoral prospects in 2013.
While one candidate (Assemblyman Adam Clayton Powell IV) has reportedly said he would likely leave the race, other candidates remain undeterred by Green’s announcement. Civil rights attorney Norman Siegel said he’ll stick with his candidacy, Councilmember Jessica Lappin is still reportedly exploring a run, and Councilmember Bill de Blasio released a statement (in full after the jump) confirming his intention.
From Betsy Gotbaum:
“It doesn’t surprise me that the field of strong candidates for the Public Advocate’s race continues to grow. I believe that is a sign of how extremely important the office is for New Yorkers.
I have been meeting with each candidate to ensure they are fully aware of the structure, function and unique challenges of this office – most importantly, that it lacks an independent budget. For the Office of the Public Advocate to reach its full potential, it must have an independent budget to be a true watchdog over city agencies and check and balance to the Mayor.
In the coming months, I plan to work alongside all of the candidates to strengthen this office, while continuing each day to help the most vulnerable New Yorkers get better access to city services.”
From Bill de Blasio:
By Courtney Gross on February 10, 2009, 1:28 pm“I am running for Public Advocate because I believe we need an independent presence in City Hall, fighting for all New Yorkers who do not have a voice. I have known Mark Green for many years and have a great deal of respect for him. I look forward to an engaging debate with all of the candidates over the next several months about the best ways to ensure every New Yorker is heard in this time of economic crisis.”
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