A vision for the neighborhood by Richard Realmuto, Esq. I want to say how thankful I am for all of the support I received throughout the campaign and on Primary Day. We made a strong second place finish that could not have happened without your effort and hard work! My goal was to put forth a message of real reform for New York City — to eliminate waste, fraud and corruption through fiscal responsibility and to bring living wage jobs and charter schools to our district. After so many years of corruption our district deserves honest politicians who are willing to address the emerging needs of a growing segment of voters in our neighborhood who long for a more inclusive approach to the issues and problems facing the residents of Washington Heights, Inwood and Marble Hill. Even though we were not victorious, what we accomplished was monumental in many ways — we faced a crowded field, with many bright, hard working candidates and well-financed campaigns. I am proud of what we accomplished during the months of our campaign. Most importantly, our campaign re-affirmed the significance of our democratic process and the public’s need to hold our elected officials accountable for their actions. I was happy to read about Mayor Bloomberg’s recent campaign pledge to support the expansion of charter schools. Throughout my campaign I stressed the fact that parents and students in Northern Manhattan deserve more choice in education. While touring the neighborhood I would often say to voters, “Have you ever heard parents say that they just had to find an apartment in Washington Heights or Inwood so that their kids could take advantage of the great schools located in Northern Manhattan?” It’s a common phrase in other parts of our city. So, while I congratulate Mayor Bloomberg for his continued support of charter schools, I wonder whether Bill Thompson and the rest of our candidates and elected officials will support his commitment. Will our next City Council representative fight for charter schools or will he buckle under the pressure of special interests groups who have consistently stood in the way of charter schools? More importantly, I can’t help but wonder when those in charge of our public school system will realize that they need to change current public school policies to reflect the values that are promoted in successful charter schools. These values stress discipline, respect, enthusiasm, accountability and maturity. They stand on the principle of meticulous attention to behavior and attitudes. I can’t tell you how many times my son would come home from school and tell me and my wife about kids who had disrupted a class and received no discipline for their misbehavior. It is time for public school officials to revamp school policy so that it reflects the values practiced in our charter schools. Only then will all of our children receive the educational and moral training they will need to succeed in a competitive world economy. On the economic front we must continue to encourage business development in Northern Manhattan. We need to call together landlords, developers and small business entrepreneurs to map out an economic plan that will vitalize Northern Manhattan and create living wage jobs and affordable housing for our residents. It’s not an easy task. It will take bold vision and strong leadership prepared to keep their face in the wind and to think and act outside of the box. Just because this campaign is over does not mean I will stop listening to you. Please continue to come to me with your ideas, challenges, and suggestions for our neighborhoods, and our city. We all must take care of our community. Thank you once again for all of your effort and support. It meant everything to me and my family. Last month Richard Realmuto finished second in the Democratic Primary race for City Council District 10.
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