Vote for Ez
Ezra had a totally different blog to publish this morning but then he read the Ithaca Times article on Mayor Petersen's re-election bid.
That made Ez see red ..white..and blue.
Why would anyone ever think that Carolyn Peterson deserves another term? Does she really rate another term to do, as she did in her first term, the bare minimum for the people of Ithaca - for people of color, gays, working class families, renters, dog owners. Well, the list of people Carolyn hasn't served goes on and on. Liberal rhetoric doesn't cut it -- Common Council can take all the 'conscience' votes they want on gay rights, the war, etc. to maintain Ithaca's progressive reputation. But, all the generous liberal sentiment and talk aside, has the quality of life in Ithaca really improved in four years?
Who has Peterson served? Big developers, big retail chains, big education, landlords, property owners, not to overlook all her cronies, the good folk in Fall Creek who feel that they set the trend for this community, and finally, an undisclosed number of outside interests.
Why endorse another four years of the 'politics of exclusion and cronyism?' Carolyn has surrounded herself with old time politocs like Marty Luster and Dan Hoffman, rather than bringing new people into her administration, making City Hall an old boys/gals network of all the folks who have been around forever in Ithaca politics. No Fall Creek buddy left behind, right? What does Ithaca have to show for four years of nepotism, political favors, and sweetheart deals? A net gain in potholes, parking fees, and construction annoyance.
The 800 lb gorilla has gone off the reservation, moseyed downtown and started chewing on the trees down here. Cornell has pre-empted massive amounts of high revenue office space. skads of parking spots and countless municipal services provided gratis? Are tax abatements being handed out like cake at a kids' birthday party or what? party. When will the city assert a little independence and step out of the the shadow of that tax free Godzilla on the Hill? Was the recent publication of Cornell economic blue paper, boasting of the University's billion dollar footprint in the county, timed to coincide with its move downtown? Should working class Ithacans who foot the bill for a host of municipal services provided gratis to a largely transitory population of Cornell students be overawed by the numbers?
That's reason to vote for Ez. Ezra doesn't own a single piece of property in Ithaca. He has no vested interest in making Ithaca more tantalizing to high ticket developers, big box stores, and college students who buy most of their needs in house at the University shops and more on line than they do downtown. Ithaca should look to do more for its neighborhoods, its low income families, its minority teenagers than it does for the privileged occupants of the high rent district who live here only 9 months of the year. Where is the low income housing that is sorely needed? All Ezra sees these days is more upscale condos.
These are questions Ithacans need to ask. There are also things you need to know about Ezra. Obviously, an anonymous blogger cannot register himself as a candidate for office. So Ezra will not appear on any ballot and you can rest assured that Ezra will not be your next mayor. But, by writing his name in as a protest vote, you will be sending a signal to the people who think
they own City Hall. 40 votes --hey that's a curiousity. 100 votes - now that's giving the finger!
A protest vote is unlikely to upset the balance between Republicans or Democrats. Nor is any Democratic candidate likely to emerge as a serious rival to Carolyn Peterson now that Michelle Berry has declined to run. That means, whether you like it or not, the powers that be have already ordained another Peterson administration. So why not send a signal that you're not ok with that? Give yourself something to snicker about while you sit out four more years of mediocrity.
Let's get out the pothole vote! Vote for Ez for Mayor of Ithaca. Tip a canoe and Kidder too!
Comments invited at: ezrakidder@gmail.com - Peace, Ezra at 10:43 AM
