A Golden city on the hill?

By Matthew Lysiak
The Brooklyn Paper

Yellow Hooker has a tendency to daydream. He’s not the only one, apparently.

“Many community leaders have suggested that I run for mayor,” state Sen. Marty Golden (R–Bay Ridge) was saying the other day. “Whenever so many people of so many different backgrounds urge you to do something, you have to give it some thought.”

From police officer to Councilman to state Senator to … Mayor of New York City?

Inspired by the Senator’s words — and the lofty dreams behind them — I countered with some lofty day-dreaming of my own. In fact, I took the liberty of writing Golden’s 2014 inauguration speech — you know, for when he wins re-election.

I had the words Brooklyn Conservative Party Chairman Jerry Kassar fresh in my mind.

“Marty Golden would make a great mayor,” Kassar said. “He is a smart, hard-working, common-sense conservative who knows that lowering taxes is the key to economic development and keeping crime low is crucial if we are to improve our neighborhoods.”

Drafting the speech wasn’t hard. Golden told me that his two political heroes were Ronald Reagan and Rudy Giuliani, so all I needed to do was put in all that “morning in America” and “crime doesn’t pay” rhetoric. Here goes:

“Thank you, Bishop Sharpton, for that touching benediction. Friends, clergy, elected officials, honored guests, President Spitzer, and my fellow citizens: I am honored and humbled to begin my second term as the 109th mayor of New York City.

“Over the past four years, I have met with New Yorkers who share the common belief that possibility and opportunity is the essence of New York — and the promise of tomorrow.

“But let us not forget, four years ago, that optimism seemed in jeopardy. We worked together to divert a major fiscal crisis in 2011 by using the new tax revenue generated by Turtle Bay Casino, built over the space where the United Nations used to stand.

“My fellow citizens, let history say of us, ‘These were Golden years — when freedom gained new life, and when New York City reached for her best.’ I look forward to working with Gov. Gentile to see the realization of what is uniquely, our own, New York destiny.”

I thought I’d done a pretty good job, so I sent the copy over to Golden’s chief aide, John Quaglione.

“I liked ‘Golden years,’ but we are not commenting,” Quaglione said. (I considered that a victory!)

I also emailed a copy to Councilman Vince Gentile (D–Bay Ridge), who didn’t mind trying on the term “Mayor Golden” for size (most likely because the term “Gov. Gentile” was still ringing in his ears!).

“New York City is an important part of the empire state,” Gentile said. “I will do everything in my power as governor to help Mayor Golden succeed.”

Could it happen? Could Marty Golden someday be Mayor Golden? If he runs, at least we know one thing: Yellow Hooker isn’t the only one with a fancy for daydreaming.

The Kitchen Sink
State Sen. Marty Golden will be hosting his fifth annual “State Senator for a Day” contest, inviting local junior high school students to write a 250-word essay that begins with the words “If I were state Senator for a day…” (Our advice? Don’t try to kiss ass by starting with “If I were a state Senator for a day, I would raise salaries for all of our hard-working public servants in Albany.” The deadline for admissions is March 30. …

A man who quit the state Senate was back in the blazing spotlight last week, getting honored for donating artificial limbs to people mutilated in the civil war in Sierra Leone. Steven Mirones’s prosthetics firm Arimed made the donations. …

Students from the Brooklyn College and Pratt Institute chapters of the New York Public Interest Research Group were collecting empty bottles and cans in Bay Ridge on March 8 to promote a proposed “Bigger Better Bottle Bill.” The money raised from the collection will support the Bay Ridge Center for Older Adults’ Meals on Wheels program. …

On a related note, while discussing recycling at last week’s Community Board 11 meeting, District Manager Howard Feuer revealed that he is a big fan of Borat. …

At least one union loves Rep. Vito Fossella (R–Bay Ridge). The five-term legislator’s belief in low taxes earned him a glorious rating of 66 percent from the National Taxpayer Union’s annual review evaluation. And he sent out a press release about it? Of course; Fossella’s ranking is high for a New York legislator — most of whom, apparently, just want to tax and spend. …

Yellow Hooker condolences to the family of beloved Bensonhurst activist Vincent Badalamenti, who recently succumbed to kidney disease at the age of 88 and will be greatly missed. Here’s hoping Vincent is allowed to take to heaven his wife Paulette’s recipe for the best meatballs in Brooklyn.