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MANZANO IN THE NEWS
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Wagner fm -
Vol. 2, No. 1
Wagner Free Media: The Community Paper for the Robert F. Wagner Graduate
School of Public Service
July 17, 2003
A Candidate Among Us: Wagner Student Runs for Borough President
By Craig
Mills
Carlos Manzano, a Westside Manhattan resident and soon-to-be
Wagner alumni, has announced he will be running as a Democrat for Manhattan
Borough
President
in September 2005. Borough President is no small office. Holding the
position has spring-boarded the careers of many prominent New Yorkers,
among them
Robert Wagner and David Dinkins, both of whom went on to become mayor.
As a close observer of New York City politics, this interviewer was particularly
interested to find a political candidate here at Wagner. The Borough
President serves as the chief elected official for about 1.5 million
residents of
Manhattan. Coveted by some of the top political names in Manhattan, the
position can scare away candidates who are less known. Kudos to Carlos
for taking such a brave step!
Profile of the Candidate
Though just in his mid-30's,
Carlos has been involved in politics for a long time. Born in Colombia,
he has lived in New York City for more
than
20 years. He has run in two campaigns: In 1994, he was elected Democratic
State Committee Member in the 64th Assembly District; in 1999, he had
an impressive showing in a special election to City Council, catching
the attention of political insiders. Carlos graduated from Queens College
in 1992. He will receive his Master's degree in Public Administration
from Wagner in 2003.
The Interview
Wagner FM sat down with Carlos to learn
a bit more about him, his vision and his views on topics related to
his run for office. The following
interview is the first in a series of articles that will focus on Carlos'
campaign.
Q: Why did you decide to run for borough president?
I believe I bring
a unique perspective into politics. I have worked in both the public
and private sectors. For the last 16 years, I have
been involved in community affairs and the Democratic Party as a volunteer.
In 1994, I was elected as a Member of the Democratic State Committee,
a non-paid party office. I've worked with schools and with senior citizen
centers. I've been involved with AIDS programs. I interact with all
kinds
of people and I believe the city needs leadership - not conventional
politics. I want to bring a new type of leadership, a leadership that
will involve a new generation.
Q: What is a New Democrat?
A New Democrat is one who adapts to constant
changes in the external environment. It's the type of Democrat who understands
demographic
changes - the new
players and the different institutions coming into our communities.
I call a new Democrat one who not only understands what is going on
around
him, but who makes a constant effort to bring different constituencies
into the electoral process.
Q: What is your vision for Manhattan?
I want Manhattan to be a place
where everyone has a chance to live, to work, to participate and do great
things. The problem is that Manhattan
is becoming a place for the very wealthy or the very poor. I think
this is bad for the city. We can be much more dynamic and much more creative
if we have a diverse group of people from all walks interacting with
one another. I think that's why New York is the capital of the world,
and I intend to fight to keep it that way.
Q: What are your political priorities?
I am concerned with a broad base of issues, but there are four that resonate:
- Education
- Affordable housing
- Economic Development
- Healthcare
Others, like the environment, civil rights, employment and age discrimination
are important, too, as well as an adjusted minimum wage,
support for the arts and public health concerns in poor neighborhoods.
A range
of issues has my attention, but the first four I mentioned are my priority.
Q: In a post-September 11th New York
City, what do you see as the long-range strategies for Manhattan?
Tourism suffered
tremendously after 9/11. We need to develop a plan with business
and community leaders to attract people back to the city.
New
York is one of the most visited cities in the world. After 9/11, our
cultural institutions suffered dramatically. Also, we have to try to
help big business
stay here in the city, but, more importantly, we must help small businesses
because I don't believe they have received enough support. We need
to make a concerted effort to produce creative events, like the Tribeca
Film Festival,
to bring people back to Lower Manhattan.
We must develop other industries,
like film, music, the arts and technology. I will work with the Small
Business Administration,
the Department of Economic
Development and minority business owners to provide incentives for
them to remain in business.
Q: Who will be your opponents?
A few names have been mentioned.
No one has come forward as aggressively as I have and said: "This
is what I want to do. I have no hesitation about it. I want to
be the next Manhattan Borough President." The
names that have been mentioned are Assemblyman Scott Stringer from
the Upper West Side, State Senator Tom Duane, Councilman Bill Perkins,
Councilman
Phil Reid, Councilwoman Eva Moskowitz and Councilwoman Margarita Lopez.
We
won't know for sure until the filings are made with the Campaign Finance
Board on July 1st next year. Anyone who is
serious about running for this
office must start raising funds this year.
Q: Of the possible candidates
you mentioned – do term
limits prevent them keeping their current office?
The council members, yes. (Lopez, Moskowitz, Perkins, Reid)
Q: With
all these well-known names, what will you do to get your name out?
How will you connect with the average Manhattanite?
Let me
give a little background on what's been happening in New York politics.
The public is so turned off by politicians that we are seeing
a trend of
people being elected who never held public office before. Rudy Giuliani
never held office before he became mayor. Neither did Mayor Michael
Bloomberg, Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum, City Comptroller Bill Thompson
or State
Attorney General Eliot Spitzer. Voters are reacting to people who bring
a different vision into the political arena. Surveys show that seven
out of 10 people don't know who their local elected officials are.
Incumbency
hasn't helped their visibility.
What I've been doing is moving away
from the traditional political structure by meeting people, by going
to community
events and universities. I've
also been actively recruiting. In fact, I have had two interns from
NYU in my office: one, a recent Wagner graduate; the other,
finishing her undergraduate
work. I am giving young people the opportunity to learn – an
opportunity they do not receive from most public officials.
Q: Who
do you expect to endorse you?
I don't believe any public
official will make a decision until 2005. I'm very proud to say
already I have received
the endorsement of former Chancellor
of New York City Public Schools, Frank Macchiarola. Frank has been
a great supporter, and he believes the city needs a different
direction.
He sees that change in my candidacy. There will be others [as the
campaign develops].
Wagner FM will be publishing more interviews
with Carlos as his efforts progress. For more information on
Carlos feel
free to visit his website.
For more information on the office of Borough President, please read
below.
Office of Manhattan Borough President
The City Charter, New York City's Constitution, prescribes
most of the powers of Borough President. Other powers derive
from the unique role
the Borough President has occupied in the political life of the city.
Duties include:
- Advocating for the needs of Manhattan residents in the city's
budget-making process.
- Developing a budget and lobby for restoration of services.
- Exercising control over part of the city's expenses and
capital budgets for Manhattan projects and programs.
- Overseeing such services as street repair, housing code
enforcement and parks maintenance.
- Chairing and appointing members for Manhattan's 12 community
boards.
-
Reviewing all major public and private land use proposals in
the borough – from
new office towers to the size and location of daycare centers.
(Having participated in this process, this interviewer can
attest that these
types of reviews are quite involved.)
- Recommending, approving or rejecting land
use projects, as well as guide recommendations through the
City Planning
Commission and Council.
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THE BP OFFICE |
 The
Borough President is the chief elected official of more than 1.5 million residents.
. .
read more
>> |
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PHOTO GALLERY |
 In
this virtual gallery, you will see Carlos with various officials as well as photos
from events. . .
read more
>> |
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