We The People: Evaluating the candidates as the field begins to narrow

The Democratic hopefuls are rounding on the far turn of the mayoral track. It’s a three-way race with Public Advocate Bill de Blasio and Council Speaker Christine Quinn tied at 24 percent and former City Controller Bill Thompson at their heels with 18 percent of the voters surveyed, according to the latest Marist poll.

Anthony Weiner has dropped out of the front pack as voters get close to making a decision. It is a breath of fresh air that his scandal-scarred personality and circus-like campaign is being left in the dust.

The Republican Party failed to select a candidate to seriously challenge the eventual Democratic candidate. It is enigmatic that they seem to have given up on City Hall although they controlled it for 20 years.

What the people need to know is which of the three Democratic candidates will better serve the people of New York City. The people may not need a new mayor since it appears that federal judge Shira Scheindlin is ready to assume control of the city.

Whoever rests their head in Gracie Mansion must be ready actually to lead the city. Scheindlin declared the city’s stop and frisk policy to be unconstitutional but her decision will be reviewed by the appellate court.

Mayor Bloomberg and NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly have both vehemently denied the judge’s contention that the city adopted a policy designed to target African Americans and Hispanics for unfounded stops and frisks by the NYPD.

Scheindlin held that New York City acted “with deliberate indifference toward the NYPD’s practice of making unconstitutional stops” and ordered a federal monitor to oversee the NYPD.

Mayor Bloomberg vowed to appeal the decision and stated that his successor should continue the appeal since the decision will result in an increase in violent crime in the city.

Judge Scheindlin’s next case is a suit to overturn the New York City Housing Authority’s trespass enforcement policy. Maybe it would be better if all security measures are relaxed for everyone. Scheindlin must have a judicial solution for education and transportation reform, too!

Quinn, de Blasio and Thompson have stated that they would not pursue an appeal of the stop and frisk decision but our elected leaders are the representatives who should be making these executive decisions.

Quinn promised the NYPD an additional watchdog in the form of an inspector general if elected. Does anyone really believe that the NYPD will be a better organization if directions come from the mayor, the commissioner, an inspector general and a federal monitor? The public safety buck should stop with the mayor and the City Council.

On a public safety note, Councilmember Vincent Gentile and CB 10 District Manager Josephine Beckmann went to the State Liquor Authority to share the community’s concerns over the infamous 93 Lounge in the Prince Hotel.

The SLA took note of the violation history and incidents at the establishment and rejected the operator’s request for a liquor license renewal. The weather will be wonderful for the last night of the Third Avenue Summer Stroll, so hopefully we the people can enjoy a nice night out in the neighborhood.