Tuesday September 29th, 2009 is the runoff election in the Democratic Primary for the New York City Comptroller.  The turnout is expected to be abnormally low, so in this case every vote really DOES count.  In the past week conservative news media in the city have intensified a smear campaign against John Liu, a campaign that is rooted in, dare i say it, racism.  Certain forces in this city are committed to preventing the first Asian-American from holding citywide office by inventing false ties to shadowy conspiracies.  They pain broad support from organized labor unions as "being in the pocket of organized labor" and an endorsement from the Working Families Party as "clear association with ACORN" (the groups are very loosely related).  Possibly most indicative of their ethnic bias, they've tried to paint Asian Americans for Equality, an organization that covers tenants and immigrant's rights as corrupt and recipient of thousands of dollars of illegal funds.  (Obviously not true)

The best thing the New York City electorate can do tomorrow is reject the smear campaign run by the NY Post and Daily News and just remember,  were these claims and fears legitimate would they not be reported in the dozens of other New York's print and broadcast media?  Everyone from the Post to the Falun Gong have leveled ridiculous claims against him (most notably the the Chinese Communist Party will have access to NYC finances if he's elected).  Nonsense. 

People have also criticized John Liu for being on the news too much.  I pose this question to you.  When a delivery man is robbed and beaten to death, WHO ELSE would bring attention to their plight and motivate the City Council to offer a reward to the killers.  When a radio DJ calls a mixed race Asian toddler a "little lo mein eater" WHO ELSE called him out and forced him off the air?  WHO ELSE has been trying to keep the Metropolitan Transportation Authority executives open, transparent and accessible to the public?  All of us know, given the chance, the MTA leadership would take shelter in their offices and never answer to the people unless they are called out for frequent committee hearings.  Has anyone in the past eight years been more committed to transparent city government and cooperating with his colleagues to ensure a better quality of life?  I think not.

The choice is clear New Yorkers.  Every working man, every minority needs to vote tomorrow for a man that will protect your interests.  Reject the borderline racism and interests attempted to push their own agenda onto the people.  The enfranchised and wealthy opponents believe the pensions of city workers are a burden rather than the right of the hard working people.  They would prefer a man closely associated with real estate developers in the office.  They would PREFER a man that has never taken a stand against anything.  I dare to say that electing John Liu's opponent is a step BACKWARDS for New York.  Are we electing a Comptroller? Or are we electing a sock puppet?  We need a counter balance to the very powerful mayor.  David Yassky is NOT that man.

The Democratic Primary Runoff is tomorrow, Tuesday September 29th, 2009.