Brooklyn Rev. throws support to Mayor

The New York papers reported today that Reverend A. R. Bernard, founder of the Christian Cultural Center, threw his support behind Mayor Bloomberg's reelection. Rev. Bernard took a chance and endorsed the CEO turned politician in 2001 and has chosen to stick with the mayor, even after courtship from the Democratic candidates.


The endorsement is a sign that the GOP mayor has made inroads with the city's minority communities and that effective leadership is more important than party affiliation. "I said four years ago - we don't need a politician, we need leadership. Mike Bloomberg is that leader that we need for the next four years in New York City," he said.


I am beginning to see changes in the make up of New York City. It was once assumed that the Black and Hispanic communities would forever be a strong voting block for Democratic candidates. But years and years of playing to community needs, the democrats have not come through with their promises and many minority voting blocks are seeing reform and change when a Republican represents their needs.


I've noticed when I skim through the websites of democratic candidates running for city offices, their talking points are the same as they were for the last election and for the elections before that. Maybe the electorate has become wise to the fact that New York City is controlled by Democrats and some of these points should've been accomplished already. Forget that the mayor is a Republican, the City Council is 48 to 3 Democrat. Any bill or policy initiative passed through the Council will certainly be initiated even after a mayoral veto. Why has the Democrats agenda remained the same? Shouldn't they have reached some of their goals by now and moved onto new ones that our communities face?


Perhaps voters will soon realize that a stronger Republican opposition sent to City Hall may allow for more effective legislation. A 38 to 13 City Council would better represent New York City. If more community leaders such as Rev. A.R. Bernard support candidates that show the leadership Mayor Bloomberg has shown, such a change in the Council could happen.