There’s a well-known saying that there is no Democratic or Republican way of picking up the trash. The same goes for improving our schools, building our economy and recovering from Hurricane Sandy.
Our city needs a mayor who is free from special interests and committed to making the tough decisions around education reform and economic development that will continue progress made under Mayor Bloomberg.
And perhaps most urgently, the next mayor will need the experience and fortitude to rebuild from Sandy while ensuring all five boroughs receive their fair share.
I’m likely to run for mayor because my experience, vision and independence would enable me to be effective from Day One.
Overseeing the Office of Urban Affairs at the White House, for example, I understood the need to strengthen and protect metropolitan areas,where the bulk of Americans live. I facilitated key collaboration between the federal government and local officials. At the Department of Housing and Urban Development last year, I oversaw the response to Hurricane Irene — or what turned out to be Wake-Up Call Irene.
When Hurricane Sandy hit, I was at home on City Island in The Bronx. My family was lucky, suffering only minor damage to our property. But homes and businesses nearby were ruined, and hard-working New Yorkers saw their dreams and accomplishments ripped apart by the flood.
And while the Frankenstorm was no one’s fault, we cannot compound the tragedy by electing a mayor who lacks the skill and commitment to make sure future storms’ floodwaters stay out at sea.
Put simply, our city is too advanced — and too taxed — to accept anything less than a government that meets its fundamental commitment to protecting life and property. We must make investments in smart power, transportation, public safety and emergency-management systems.
The recovery from Sandy will take years, and shines a light on why the next mayor needs to have the ability and independence to focus on two pressing challenges:
* We need an aggressive and bold rebuilding program. By cutting red tape and rushing services to affected areas, Mayor Bloomberg is laying solid groundwork for this effort. But this job will not be complete in a year. The next mayor must have a plan for providing New Yorkers with the rebuilding tools they need.
* We need strategic investment in infrastructure improvements that will make our waterfront, low-lying areas and mass-transit systems safe from storms. We can’t afford to let future economic development collapse, which is what will happen if we allow politics rather than real needs to dictate our choices in this area.
Accomplishing these goals will be expensive, and our budget is already tight. So the next mayor will face the delicate balancing act of finding money for these efforts while making our schools better, ensuring public safety and providing services taxpayers deserve.
That’s why I have decided that if I become a candidate for mayor — a decision I expect to make in the next few weeks — I will not take any taxpayer money to fund my campaign.
Our city’s needs are bigger than ever, across all five boroughs. Voters should demand that candidates for mayor provide clear answers to the pressing issues we face. We owe that to New Yorkers.
Adolfo Carrion Jr. is former director of the White House Office of Urban Affairs and served as Bronx borough president from 2002 to 2009.