A Bruno-less New York

Most New Yorkers don't know who Joe Bruno is, even though he is the Senate majority leader up in Albany. Yet many do know of the hardships that his control of the Senate has brought us, especially here in the city. The possibility of Democrats taking over control of the body is a real possibility this year and something all voters should take heed of, especially in districts that are up for grabs (like Darrel Aubertine and Will Barclay in SD-48 upstate). Almost overnight, a Democratic majority would spur changes in social and fiscal policies that would focus on helping the least amongst us rather than the richest.

From The New York Sun:

Democrats told me they would renew that push and would also back a repeal of the so-called Urstadt law, passed in the Rockefeller era in 1971, which handed to Albany authority over New York City's rent regulation laws.

The shift on rent control would be one consequence of New York City becoming the Senate's geographic base of power. Another change — and one suburban voters should pay attention to — would be in the distribution of education aid. Senate Democrats would want to see more money going to New York City schools and less to Long Island districts.

In our conversations, Democrats repeatedly brought up the Rockefeller drug laws, the mandatory sentencing statutes for people convicted of non-violent drug crimes. "We would like to see the Rockefeller laws fixed so folks are not serving these extraordinary periods of prison for relatively minor matters," a Harlem Democrat, Bill Perkins, told me.

That is just the beginning of the laundry list. Other things include moving monies for schools from Long Island districts that do not need what they get so that NYC schools get their fair share. The death penalty debate would be over, and that would cease to be an issue in Albany. While gay marriage might not be legalized, civil unions would be passed easily. And back on fiscal issues, the legislature might even tilt to the left of the Governor in terms of making the tax rate more progressive so that middle class payers put in less and the rich pay more.

The choices voters make for their state Senators is a big deal this year. Do they want more of the same...or do they want change, nationally as well as locally.