If I run for mayor this year, something I am seriously considering, I will be a write-in candidate, most likely.
I will bring the traffic war directly to New Jersey because they have been aggressing against us for an eternity and our leaders and media have refused to see what is clear - New Jersey is and has been at war with New York City!
I will protect public employee whistle-blowers.
Our schools will once again be number one!
I will appoint Diane Ravitch to lead the school system. There will be a return to emphasis on not only the three r's but social studies, critical thinking and logic, music appreciation and instrumental and choral education as well as both art appreciation and the making of artistic projects for each and every child in my city.
I will restore the merit system to public employment- no more "who do you know who did you blow" hiring and promotions.
I will shut down the entire "child protective" system in the five boroughs. The system is and has been a "fail!" and nearly twenty years of reform have not solved any problems.
I will enact a stock transaction tax and urge an alliance with the mayors of London and Tokyo to do the same. Ultimately there must be a global "Tobin tax" but New York can pioneer - we used to be firsters and innovators and the best carers for each other.
A total shake out of the NYPD top to bottom. Spot audits to assure that police officers life styles comport with their lawful incomes and savings. Public repeatings of the oath of office, this to be mass televised. Each and every officer is going to repeat his or her oath on the air. One strike, you're out - and I am not joking.
I am going to find out why it s that our Fire Department and Sanitation Departments are so damned "white guy". I will not be bullshitted by a bullshit commission either.
Firefighting occupations* by women and race
| Year | Total | Women | Black | Hispanic origin |
| 1983 | 170,000 | 1,700 (1.0%) | 12,400 (7.3%) | 6,500 (3.8%) |
| 1984 | 168,000 | 200 (0.1%) | 8,400 (5.0%) | 4,700 (2.8%) |
| 1985 | 186,000 | 1,500 (0.8%) | 11,300 (6.1%) | 6,100 (3.3%) |
| 1986 | 205,000 | 3,900 (1.9%) | 16,000 (7.8%) | 9,000 (4.4%) |
| 1987 | 204,000 | 1,800 (0.9%) | 15,700 (7.7%) | 10,800 (5.3%) |
| 1988 | 195,000 | 4,100 (2.1%) | 16,800 (8.6%) | 12,500 (6.4%) |
| 1989 | 188,000 | 6,600 (3.5%) | 22,600 (12.0%) | 8,300 (4.4%) |
| 1990 | 205,000 | 4,900 (2.4%) | 22,600 (11.0%) | 9,000 (4.4%) |
| 1991 | 200,000 | 2,800 (1.4%) | 17,800 (8.9%) | 9,400 (4.7%) |
| 1992 | 190,000 | 4,000 (2.1%) | 12,000 (6.3%) | 7,000 (3.7%) |
| 1993 | 188,000 | 6,200 (3.3%) | 14,100 (7.5%) | 9,400 (5.0%) |
| 1994 | 195,000 | 4,000 (2.1%) | 18,000 (9.2%) | 11,000 (5.6%) |
| 1995 | 237,000 | 6,000 (2.5%) | 36,000 (15.2%) | 11,000 (4.6%) |
| 1996 | 217,000 | 4,000 (1.8%) | 30,000 (13.8%) | 11,000 (5.1%) |
| 1997 | 218,000 | 7,000 (3.2%) | 27,000 (12.4%) | 10,000 (4.6%) |
| 1998 | 228,000 | 5,000 (2.2%) | 27,000 (11.8%) | 9,000 (3.9%) |
| 1999 | 223,000 | 4,000 (1.8%) | 25,000 (11.2%) | 12,000 (5.4%) |
| 2000 | 233,000 | 7,000 (3.0%) | 21,000 (9.0%) | 12,000 (5.2%) |
| 2001 | 250,000 | 7,000 (2.8%) | 32,000 (12.8%) | 21,000 (8.4%) |
| 2002 | 248,000 | 8,000 (3.3%) | 24,000 (9.6%) | 23,000 (9.3%) |
| 2003 | 258,000 | 9,000 (3.4%) | 21,000 (8.1%) | 16,000 (6.2%) |
| 2004 | 268,000 | 14,000 (5.2%) | 22,000 (8.2%) | 23,000 (8.6%) |
| 2005 | 243,000 | 8,000 (3.3%) | 26,000 (10.7%) | 19,000 (7.8%) |
| 2006 | 253,000 | 9,000 (3.6%) | 25,000 (9.9%) | 19,000 (7.5%) |
| 2007 | 288,000 | 15,000 (5.2%) | 29,000 (10.1%) | 18,000 (6.3%) |
| 2008 | 293,000 | 14,000 (4.8%) | 24,000 (8.2%) | 27,000 (9.2%) |
| 2009 | 284,000 | 9,700 (3.4%) | 21,300 (7.5%) | 25,000 (8.8%) |
| 2010 | 301,000 | 10,800 (3.6%) | 19,270 (6.4%) | 28,900 (9.6%) |
| 2011 | 305,000 | 13,700 (4.5%) | ** | 30,500 (10.0%) |
| Annual Average 2006-2011 | 294,200 | 12,780 (4.3%) | 20,790 (7.1%) | 26,320 (8.9%) |
*Includes only career firefighters. Excludes administrators, managers and volunteer firefighters.
**Insufficient data
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Household Data Survey. Numbers of firefighters are based on a sample of U.S. households. It appears that the percentage changes are not significant. Contact the Bureau of Labor Statistics for specifics on its survey methodology. These numbers can change considerably from year to year because of their small size and sample variability.Update: 1/13
**Insufficient data
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Household Data Survey. Numbers of firefighters are based on a sample of U.S. households. It appears that the percentage changes are not significant. Contact the Bureau of Labor Statistics for specifics on its survey methodology. These numbers can change considerably from year to year because of their small size and sample variability.Update: 1/13
FDNY's Black Firefighter Problem
Meet the black candidates who aced the FDNY's supposedly racist entrance exam—and still can't become firefighters
Photograph by Samuel Zide. Model: Carl Gillard. Props: Provided by Uncle Sam's and Eclectic Encore. Make-Up: Jessica Padilla.
How Do I Do a Write-In Vote?
Every voter should learn how to do a write-in vote. While not used very often in comparison to regular voting, it's a basic voting necessity. This year, make it a point to learn how to do one. Why this year? Because you don't need to, that's why, and therefore, that's the best time to learn. One of these years, you just may need to cast a write-in ballot. That's not the time to learn. You want to go in with confidence, not trepidation.
The write-in vote is used often in elections. You just don't see it because the newspapers don't usually give much space as to the results. You can actually vote for whomever you want when you write someone's name in. You certainly don't need their permission. And they'll never know who did it since a write-in vote is just as secret as voting the regular way. So, if you don't tell them, that person will never even know you did it. Some people even write in names of cartoon characters. As for myself, when I use it, I like to keep it professional. I pick an actual person who I think would do a good job and who could actually fill the position. (i.e. - somebody living and who resides in the area they would serve.)
Now that New York State has switched to the computerized card reader style of voting method, doing a write-in vote couldn't be easier. Even though the State has settled on using two different types of machines, the process is fundamentally the same. As you sign in to vote, you will be handed a voting card that contains the various offices that you will be voting for. (You may be handed more than one card if the number of offices being contested exceeds the space on the card.) You will then take this card over to a table that has partitions on it which helps to keep your choices secret. Upon looking at the card, you'll note that each office being contested has the list of the authorized candidates along with a circle next to each name. At the bottom of each list of candidates will be printed the word "Other" with a blank line next to it. Take the marking instrument provided and fill in the circle next to the word "Other". Then write in the name of the person that you wish to vote for. When you are finished, take the card up to the election inspector near the voting machine and give your card to him/her. They will run your card through the machine which will record your vote. If there is a problem with the machine reading your card, they will give it back to you and, if needed, help you rectify the problem. As an example, if you voted for someone in one of the other races and changed your mind, you may have not erased your choice thoroughly enough, in which case the machine might think you're trying to vote for two candidates in the same race. It should also be noted that if you are having any problems or have any questions while doing a write-in vote or voting in general, the election inspectors are there to help. All you need to do is ask. Also, don't worry about the machine being able to read your handwriting in reference to your write-in vote. All of the cards get reviewed back at the County Election Office where the write-in vote is tabulated. Yes, I know there is some grumbling that some (maybe a lot) of county election offices are not going through the cards and totaling the write-in votes. But I'm giving you directions on the way things are SUPPOSED to happen. If you want to press the issue with your local county election office, that's entirley up to you. In the end, doing a write-in vote is that easy.
As with the old lever style voting machine, there is one important thing to remember. And that is that if you write in the name of a person whose name already appears at least once on the list for that race, you're write-in vote will not count for that person. When it comes to having a person listed more than once on the list due to the endorsement of more than one party, the separate votes for a person running on two or more party lines will be added together to produce one total. Not so with the write-in votes. The logic of this is that if the voter didn't vote for the person already listed, then that voter must be voting for somebody else who just happens to have the same name.
That's all there is to the process. So, make this your practice year and cast your first write-in vote.
