WE THE PEOPLE: All that Glitters is not Gold(en)

The words of the Bard ring true in the fair land of Brooklyn.The Tea Party … oops … the GOP presidential primary field, isnarrowing down to Mitt Romney, Ron Paul or Newt Gingrich.

True conservatives will not go all out for the moderate Romney,which leaves the GOP in the unenviable position of not having anycandidate their party or the American people can truly support.This is a year for all citizens to get involved, get informed andbe a part of the political process. We don’t want to rely onprofessionals who are often more concerned about the gold ratherthan the good.

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State Senator Golden is being challenged by Andrew Gounardes,who hosted a well-attended fundraiser at JT’s Restaurant. Hiscomments to the crowded audience were reminiscent of RobertKennedy. Andrew possesses a similar eloquence and belief that theprocess can be changed for the good of the people.

Senator Golden once said that whoever decides to run against himwould have a tough race and it would cost a lot of money. Whyshould the money matter that much for a challenger? Local politicalraces shouldn’t be multimillion-dollar power struggles.

Golden directed $770,000 in taxpayer money to the BayRidge-Bensonhurst Beautification and Preservation Alliance, anot-for profit-organization he created in 1994. The organizationprovides services in the community but also promotes the senator atevery turn.

It is ironic that a member of the party which espouses smallgovernment and fiscal restraint can happily dole out tax dollars tonon-governmental organizations controlled by the politician writingthe check.

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Meanwhile, government spending has not significantly improvedmass transit in Bay Ridge or Dyker Heights and the Owls Headtreatment plant is still the neglected stepchild of the city watertreatment system.

The Beth Israel Medical Center on Kings Highway installed a $4million cogeneration unit at the hospital which will createapproximately $400,000 in electricity per year while reducinggreenhouse gasses. It is about time that our community received aplan with vision to transform the treatment plant from a detrimentto an enhancement.

Just a reminder, foreclosures have slowed, mortgage rates are atan all-time low, jobless numbers have improved and the holidayretail season was a record one. There are good things in our futureand it is time that our communities received the buildings,services and infrastructure they deserve. Our communities need anew voice in Albany and Washington, and 2012 is the year that canmake a difference.

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Our education mayor attacked teachers by placing anyresponsibility for poor performance on them alone. There arewithout doubt bad teachers who should be terminated, but with theincredible array of developmental, social and economic difficultiesfaced by a large percentage of 1.1 million students, it isridiculous to have a simple report card measure success. Even if765,000 students promoted, graduated or passed, it deserves an Fbecause it scored less than 70 percent!

The mayor doubled the amount of money spent on education butalienated the administrators, teachers and parents. The answer isnot always more money. We need leaders who realize that there areother resources and other answers to our problems.

There are too many New Yorkers who are hungry, disappointed orin need. They need three things: employment, shelter and a dream.We must change our course to get the vision and energy needed tofashion and follow through on a plan to accomplish these things.2012 is the Year of the Dragon. Let all citizens act with power andcourage and get involved.

Brian Kieran is a community activist who works for the Stateof New York and is a Democrat.