Thompson Concedes Mayors race to deBlasio

  Mayoral candidate Bill Thompson pictured above with Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., when Diaz Jr. endorsed Thompson for Mayor has conceded the mayor's race to current Public Advocate Bill deBlasio. With deBlasio hovering just over the 40% mark needed to avoid a run off election Thompson was hesitant to concede until today as more and more of his supporters including Bronx BP Ruben Diaz Jr. decided it was best for the Democratic Party that Thompson concedes as some have already pledged their support to the deBlasio campaign in the race against Joe Lhota. 

  Thompson was also endorsed by the Bronx Democratic County organization actually did not win the Bronx, and in some areas came in third behind deBlasio and Quinn. It had been expected that of the close to 70,000 votes to be counted for mayor, that deBlasio would maintain if not increase his margin of victory.

Bronx Democratic County Barbecue

  Saturday September 7th was the Annual Bronx County Barbecue. Bronx Democratic County Leader Assemblyman Carl Heastie was joined by many elected officials from the Bronx and beyond. 2 candidates for Mayor showed up Bill Thompson and John Liu. Letitia James the Bronx County organization backed candidate for Public Advocate, Congressman Charlie Rangel (who now has a little part of the Bronx), and Manhattan Democratic County Leader Keith Wright were among those from outside the Bronx. 

   Willie Colon who is best known as a great Salsa singer and band leader, but who also ran for congress in 1994 gave a mini concert in favor of his candidate for Mayor Bill Thompson. Bronx County Leader Heastie said that he was going to keep the political speeches to a minimum, and kept his word as only he, BP Diaz, Bill Thompson, Letitia James, and co-host Assemblyman Marcos Crespo had the microphone other than Willie Colon. 

   Barbecue banter- On the subject of a vibrant looking Congressman Charles Rangel there was no comment by either Manhattan County leader Keith Wright or Rangel himself as to another term in Washington. Willie Colon- I crashed this party for my friend Bill Thompson. Public Advocate Letitia James- "We need to change the direction of the city". To my question of her what then has the city council been doing for the past 4 - 8 years there was no answer by Ms. James (a current councilwoman from Brooklyn), or any of the three other Bronx Council members I asked the same question. Bill Thompson- Under previous Bronx County Leadership there was fragmentation. Bronx BP Ruben Diaz Jr.- I do have a primary. Senator Jeff Klein- Didn't Oliver Koppell endorse Republican candidate for Mayor Michael Bloomberg? Carl Heastie- I am endorsing Jeff Klein for re-election.

Left - The Bronx Democratic County headquarters on the corner of Blondell Avenue and Eastchester Road.

Right - On the left Mr. John Zaccaro Jr. President of the Bronx Young Democrats (and Councilman Fernando Cabrera's office was in charge of the grill this year.

 

Left - Two old opponents, now friends say hello to each other.

Right - Famous Salsa singer and band leader Willie Colon listens to a woman as Bronx Democratic County Executive Director Ischia Bravo looks on.

 

Left - Mayoral candidate Bill Thompson greets some of his supporters.

Right - Mayoral candidate John Liu says hello to Bronx County Leader Heastie and others.

 

Left - Bronx County leader Heastie with Bronx County backed Mayoral candidate Bill Thompson, Bronx BP Ruben Diaz Jr., Willie Colon, and Co-host Assemblyman Marcos Crespo.

Right - Willie Colon As he sings one of his hit songs.

 

Left - Senator Jeff Klein talking to Bronx County Leader Heastie, who later said that he was endorsing Senator Klein for re-election.

Right - Congressman Rangel talking to Bronx County Leader Heastie. Could this be for Heastie's endorsement for another term in Washington?

Bill Thompson Campaigns at Tracy Towers

  Led by 80th Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj Mayoral candidate Bill Thompson spoke with close to 100 people who attended the Tracy Towers Tenants Association candidate forum last night. Other candidates in attendance were 11th City Council candidates Andrew Cohen and Cliff Stanton even though Mr. Stanton left before the event started. Ms. Jean Hill President of the Tenants Association said that they were giving the tenants a chance to meet the candidates running for office. 

  Assemblyman Gjonaj introduced Mayoral candidate Bill Thompson. Thompson spoke of his families heritage, and how fortunate his family was to have been given opportunities to succeed which now are closing fast. How his mother was a teacher, and his father became the first black State Senator, City Councilman, and Judge, and is still active at the age of 89. Thompson said he is running "to turn the city around to give all the people the same chance his parents had many years ago.

  Thompson spoke of the recent poor showing of New York City students on the recent statewide exams, and said that the students are not getting the education they need to compete with others for the jobs that are out there. He said he wants a real educator in charge at the Board of Education mentioning former chancellors Ramon Cortines and Rudy Crew as example when he was President of the Board before mayoral control which has gone no where. 

  Thompson would bring a new era of policing by getting rid of current police commissioner Ray Kelly, add more officers to an undermanned police force, and end the misuse of Stop N Frisk. He spoke of working with the private sector to get more good jobs, stop outsourcing municipal jobs, and train students who may not get into college for the high paying trade jobs. 

  On housing Thompson wants to have 120,000 more units of affordable housing in his 8 years as mayor, with 70,000 of them new units. He said that in the 20 years of the Giuliani and Bloomberg both only cared about one borough that being Manhattan. 

  Assemblyman Gjonaj then introduced City Council candidate Andrew Cohen who spoke briefly, but ended by saying "Better days are ahead for Tracy".

  Questions were taken that included how to cut crime that was answered by Thompson of having more programs and schools open longer to keep students away from trouble. Who will be the new police commissioner was answered that Thompson did not know yet, but that he would be in on the interview process of Ray Kellys successor. When asked about the polls Thompson said that 4 years ago the polls had him down by 20 points. When he asked how many people in the room had been polled only 2 raised their hands (with me the writer of this story being one). Thompson said not to be fooled again like in 2009. On a question of contracts and pay raises to city employees Thompson blasted Current Mayor Bloomberg for letting all city worker contracts expire at one time. He said that he would sit down with the unions to see just where and how the contracts could be done.

Left - 80th A.D. Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj introducing Mayoral candidate Bill Thompson. 11th City Council candidate Andrew Cohen is seated near Thompson, and spoke later.

Right - Mayoral candidate Bill Thompson telling the voters of Tracy Towers why they should vote for him.

 

Left - 80th A.D. Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj (Right), 11th City Council candidate Andrew Cohen (center), and Mayoral candidate Bill Thompson (left) pose for photo.

Right - The three are joined by 81st A.D. Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, Ms. Jean Hill, and other officers of the Tracy Towers Tenants Association.

Willie Colon Endorses Bill Thompson For Mayor

  Famous Salsa musician Willie Colon endorsed candidate Bill Thompson for mayor yesterday. Colon who started his career as a musician, then became a civil rights & political activist by the age of 16. Mr. Colon has served as a member of the Latino Commission on Aids and United Nations Immigrant Foundation. He is the President of the Arthur Schomburg Coalition for a better New York, and is on the board of directors of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute. In 1995 Mr. Colon became the first minority to serve on the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) national board. 

  In 1994 Willie Colon ran for congress. In his first try for political office he narrowly missed victory over then four term incumbent Eliot Engel, and since then Colon and Engel have become good friends. Willie Colon has been an advisor and liaison to Latin Media Entertainment Coalition which includes Robert Deniro and Jennifer Lopez. Colon endorsed Hillary Clinton in 2008, and used his music to help campaign against Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez.

   Colon in a statement said that "Billy has always listened to our concerns, and has given us a seat at the table working closely with the Latino community. He understands our values and our cultures, will put policies in place to improve our economy, preserve our communities, advance our education system, and create opportunities for small business. Colon added " As mayor of New York City I know that Billy Thompson has what it takes to overcome any problems our city may face in the future, and I hope you will help me Elect Billy Thompson our next Mayor".                                                                                           

  Above- An early photo of  musician, Civil Rights and Political Activist Willie Colon. 

 Left - Willie Colon and Bill Thompson pose for photo as Willie Colon announces his support for Billy Thompson for mayor.

Right - Billy thanks his friend Willie Colon for the endorsement.

                                                                                                          

Thompson visits Bronx Senior Center

   During what was his 5 borough tour mayoral candidate Bill Thompson stopped a the Rain Senior Center located at 3540 Bivona Street in the Baychester section of the Bronx. While Thompson was at the Senior center Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. arrived to say hello, and speak about his good friend and candidate that he has endorsed for mayor this year. 

  Diaz told the seniors that he always hears of cuts to senior centers, but that his office provides resources to every senior center in the Bronx. Diaz then told the crowd about why he choose to endorse Bill Thompson for mayor and after Thompson thank Diaz the two went around the room talking with the seniors. I asked several of the seniors if they had voted in the last mayors race in 2009, and the answer was yes and for Thompson. Below are a few photos of the visit by Bill Thompson and BP Diaz.

Left - BP Diaz tells the seniors in the room why he choose to endorse Bill Thompson for mayor.
Right - Thompson thanks his good friend Ruben Diaz Jr. for his kind words, and gives the seniors a reason why they should vote for him for mayor.

Left - Thompson and Diaz work different sides of the room as their backs are opposite each other.

Right - Thompson and Diaz go over how it went, and other items as Thompson's wife Elsie (far right) listens.

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Hispanic Ministers of New York 25th Annual Luncheon

  Saturday afternoon was the 25th Hispanic Ministers Organization of New York luncheon. All of the candidates for mayor of New York City were invited. Democrats John Liu, Bill Thompson, & Erick Salgado, Republicans Joe Lhota & John Catsimatidis, and even third party candidate Adolfo Carrion were in attendance as well as almost 700 ministers or supporters of the clergy. U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer, New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, Bronx Assembly members Marcos Crespo & Luis Sepulveda, And Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. joined State Senator Reverend Ruben Diaz Sr. who was the Master of Ceremonies. City Council Speaker Christene Quinn and Public Advocate Bill Deblasio were not in attendance.

  

  There were speeches by the mayoral candidates, and here are some of their more memorable words. City Comptroller John Liu said "The city needs the Bronx", and looking at BP Diaz added "Its great to be here in God's Country". Joe Lhota spoke of his Bronx roots, and how as Deputy Mayor to Mayor Giuliani "500 jobs for Senator Diaz were created for his community". Not to be outdone John Catsimatidis spoke of being an alter boy, and how he helped build a church in the South Bronx. Former Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion spoke about his job as Bronx Borough President. 

 

Left - Senator Diaz is at the microphone is about to introduce the candidates for mayor in attendance. Candidate for mayor John Liu gives the thumbs up.

Right - City Comptroller John Liu speaks to the packed room.

Left- Republican John Catsimatidis speaks to the crowd.

Right  - It was Republican Joe Lhota's turn at the Microphone.

Left - Bill Thompson speaking to the audience. 

Right - Rev. Erick Salgado Speaks with Bronx Conservative Party Leader Bill Newmark, possibly for Newmarks support for the Conservative line in the November election.

Left - New York State Comptroller Tom Di Napoli.

Right - 15th Council District candidate Reverend Joel Bauza (one of the honorees) and his wife.

Senator Diaz poses with both Republican candidates for mayor Joe Lhota (left), and John Catsimatidis (right).

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