EDITORIAL
AN UNPROMISING START
When early voting polling places across New
York City opened on Oct. 24, 2020, for the
first voters in the presidential election, they
saw a massive turnout — more than 93,000
people across the five boroughs on the first day.
But on June 12, 2021, the first day of early voting
in the all-important Democratic primary for
mayor, just 16,867 people showed up to vote — still
a good number for a beautiful Saturday in June,
but just 17 percent of the turnout seen last October.
It’s a bad sign that the voter interest in this
election — focused primarily on city government
— is nothing close to last year’s heated presidential
contest.
We’ve said it before, and it bears repeating:
The local elections matter, too — and, in many respects,
the people elected to represent us at City
Hall and Gracie Mansion have a far greater impact
on our everyday lives than those working in
Albany or Washington, D.C.
We’re about to select a new mayor to lead the
city out of the worst health crisis in a century
which devastated our economy.
The mayor, among other responsibilities, oversees
the NYPD and the public school system — and
will choose a police commissioner and a schools
chancellor reflecting their priorities and reshaping
how our streets are protected and how our
children are educated.
All but a handful of City Council seats are up
for grabs in this election. They will elect a new
speaker who will hold great influence in city government,
working with the mayor to shape budgets
and enact new policy.
They will also be tasked with handling landuse
issues and passing new regulations that will
impact every New Yorker almost on a block-byblock
level.
And in this city where registered Democrats
outnumber registered Republicans by more than
a 3-1 margin, the winners of the June 22 primaries
are almost certain to win their seats in the
November general election.
If you were passionate about voting last November
and were willing to stand in line to cast your
ballot, you ought to do the same this election cycle
— because this primary matters just as much to
the life of our city.
To the victors belong the spoils — but to the
apathetic non-voters belong the silent shame from
refusing to make their voices heard when they had
the chance.
HOW TO REACH US
TIMESLEDGER | Q 12 NS.COM | JUNE 18-JUNE 24, 2021
THE SHOOTINGS MUST STOP!
A 10-year-old boy named Justin Wallace was
shot and killed in Edgemere for no logical
reason. He is one of many who have been
killed as a result of gun violence.
My heartfelt prayers go out to the family of Justin
Wallace, who are grieving so much at this time.
Now, more than ever, we need to work harder to
get guns off the street.
Here is something to think about: Murder in the
city is up 9 percent as of May, and shooting incidents
are up 86 percent! The number of shooting victims is
up 72 percent!
Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio
need to work harder to help get those numbers down,
as do the state Legislature and City Council. If they
don’t, more innocent children can become victims.
Frederick R. Bedell Jr.,
Bellerose
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Early voting has started for the June 22 primaries. Make sure you go out and vote! QNS fi le photo
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