The main thing about the CP defeat that will have broader resonance beyond us bloggers and streets advocates is that the uptown NYT editorial followers have a concrete screwup to point to as an example of Albany's dysfunction- something that didn't exist in a real way before this.

I supported Diamondstone last time and he gave it an impressive shot. Conceivably Marty could be had with proper organization and funding. It really doesn't do him much good to run around to events like this but if pressure from Diamondstone has had this effect then more pressure would get us more Marty. I'm not sure that is a good thing.

The New York Senate races could be very volatile this year as Bruno hangs on to his majority by only two seats. Also, having O'Bama at the top of the ticket ought to bring out the influential Irish-American vote and that could hurt Marty too depending on who the candidate is.

Shelly, Marty and Joe are all powerful people, process reformers view them as evil forces. I think there is a sort of watershed when activists observe the sunset of one player or the other, and everyone jumps off their ship. It will be interesting when and if 1199 gives up on Bruno, I'm thinking they won't. One way or another the process itself, the political center of gravity and the jurisdictions aren't about to change any time soon. There is no government reform movement that addresses fundamental change in the city/suburb power relationship.

And again, CP is the least of my concerns. It probably would have been voted down in a free vote, and they at least had a public debate.

Peasant uprisings might be suppressed. But when you ain't got nothing, you've got nothing to lose.

Ken Diamondstone ran against Connor last time and got something like 40-45% of the vote. I think that softened up Connor to the point where he has to attend candidate forums like this one with a challenger with less gravitas and community ties than Ken but better connections to the Dem establishment. Your post would seem to indicate you disagree- that this only reinforces his power. Thoughts?

The are mad at Bloomberg for forcing a choice between the people they nominally represent and the people they actually represent.

If CP has passed, and drivers and placard holders were raising hell instead of Streetsblog, these same legislators would be claiming they were "secretly" against but were strong armed. The outcome reflects their actual positions.

We need the type of people in elected office that will "make thing happen" through their persuasiveness, their intelligence and their passion on issues that matter to New Yorkers. I'm not sure the current crop of Democrats that represent Manhattan in the state are deserving of their offices.

Time to throw everyone out and start from scratch.