We’ve always considered the public advocate the most important job in New York that shouldn’t even exist. And the woman who will soon step into that post is making us even more convinced.
Come Jan. 1, Letitia James will leave her job as a City Council member to serve as the next public advocate.
In theory, the advocate is supposed to provide some balance against the elected politicians. to make sure important voices are not overlooked. In practice, James will only add to the echo chamber of a new city government whose council and mayor will all be as far to the left as she is on most issues.
That much is clear from James’ recent public vow to make sure Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio follows through on his campaign promises.
Leave aside that holding politicians accountable for their promises is, in a democracy, a responsibility left to voters acting through the ballot box. The practical problem for New York is that there is virtually no check on this government. The offices of mayor, public advocate and member of the City Council will all be dominated by people who have a strong allegiance to the Working Families Party, a tool of the unions.
Start with de Blasio, a co-founder of the party. Then there’s the new council, where the Working Families Party will soon enjoy greater influence than it’s ever had — and will have a huge say in selecting the new speaker. Next comes James herself, who has long ties with the party.
Here’s just a taste of what that means: James is the lead petitioner in a legal effort to get the courts to order an end to 42 charter co-locations now serving 17,000 children. The charters affected include some of the city’s best schools. Maybe someone ought to remind James she is public advocate, not teachers-union advocate.
It’s all part of the sham of the office. Public advocates like to claim, as Letitia James does, they represent the interests of the people. But look a little closer and you will find that when they are not furthering the interests of their own political ambitions, they are serving the special interests of the unions and activist groups that helped elect them.