Common Sense: Drink up!

The judge’s order preventing the city from enforcing the ban on large soda drinks was a victory for common sense (my column included). Mayor Bloomberg’s favorite novel growing up had to have been Orwell’s 1984.

Although he shows no tendency towards book burning, his strong desire to have government intrude into our day-to-day lives with regulations and pronouncements has become a hallmark of his administration and a black mark on his legacy.

The nervy mayor when confronted with strong criticism on his nanny state policies regularly responds that they will get use to it. He claims to know what is good for us.

He has more than once overstepped his authority. It is good to see a judge agree.

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I was saddened to read of the passing of former Bay Ridge/Dyker Heights Councilmember Angelo Arculeo who represented the communities from 1962 to 1982 in the City Council. Mr. Arculeo — who I came to know well during the later years of his public service career when I was just starting mine — came from a time when there were no district offices or large staffs.

If you needed help you would simply give Councilmember Arculeo a call or meet him at one of the countless community meetings that it was an absolute obligation for elected officials to attend in person.

Mr. Arculeo served with distinction as the Republican leader of the Council for most of the years he held office. He helped train individuals like Bob Howe and Paul Balukus who held positions on his staff. He was also very active in the Edmund Seergy Republican Club, at one time serving as district leader of the 49^th Assembly District. May he rest in peace.

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Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights, and in particular the Edmund Seergy Republican Club, were the center of a great deal of political power when Angelo Arculeo was the minority leader of the City Council.

In fact, in 1976, the club could also claim as active members State Senator Bill Conklin, who was the deputy majority leader of the State Senate, and Dominick DiCarlo who was the deputy Republican leader of the State Assembly. The club was so powerful that it played the key role in John Marchi’s victory over John Lindsay in the Republican mayoral primary back in 1970.

And in terms of the community, its former Democratic Congressmember Hugh Carey was serving as governor.

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By all accounts, John Quaglione’s announcement and fundraiser for City Council was a great success. The room overflowed with guests, a great deal of money was raised, press and blogger attention was significant and positive.

Elections are about airing issues and giving the voters the opportunity to vote for change. In the process, the first step is to have qualified candidates that have a message with the resources to communicate it. John Quaglione has successfully taken the first step.