Oh, The Irony! Our Former Councilman Bill De Blasio Launches Community Organizing And Constituent Services Department As Advocate

Hannah Sennesh Day School

Thank goodness Bill De Blasio's two terms as our councilman ended in 2009.
He certainly seemed to be on the opposite side of his constituents on many neighborhood issues. He approved of the Atlantic Yards project, opposed the EPA Superfunding of the highly toxic Gowanus Canal, but supported the Toll Brothers' out of scale development along said canal. And just weeks before leaving the council, he sneakily tried to amend and erode a distinct 150 year-old city law that protects the unique front yards on the Carroll Gardens 'Place' blocks by requesting an exception for Hannah Senesh, the private school at the corner of Smith Street and First Place, so that the school could build an extension on city owned property.

Because of community out-cry, De Blasio decided against pursuing his "Courtyard Caper."

Now, in his first day in office, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio is launching "the Public Advocate’s Community Organizing and Constituent Services Department to help organize communities to play a more meaningful role in City Government." According to a press release from his office, the department "will provide New Yorkers with specific organizing tools and strategies in addition to helping them navigate City bureaucracy and connecting them to the services they need."

“Our communities deserve a greater say in the policies that affect their lives,” said Public Advocate Bill de Blasio. “Giving New Yorkers the tools they need to organize will help make our Government more democratic and responsive to the needs of the people. My office will help neighborhood activists build grassroots coalitions so they can have a greater impact on all levels of government.”

An anonymous reader sent me the following comment regarding Bill De Blasio's announcement:

From today's NYTimes "the city’s new public advocate, Bill de Blasio, will unveil a plan on Monday to train aggrieved residents to organize petition drives, demonstrations and civic actions"

Hey Bill - I'd like to start some civic action to stop the courtyards of our historic neighborhood being developed because of sleazy political backroom deals done by local council members who put their career ahead of their constituents. Wanna help me out with that?

Ironic is right.

Ms. Found In Brooklyn over at her blog is also fuming about De Blasio's hypocrisy.
Check out her post here.

What do you think, dear reader? Would love to know.



For Home Page, click Pardon Me For Asking