EDITORIAL

The season of the Primary is drawing to a close, and the destinies of those seeking or continuing their service to public office hinges on you. After all, you are, in effect, an agent of change. 

Think about it. How common is the right to vote in other countries? The numbers are growing, though some people in other parts of the world continue to be deprived of that right. Compared to regions such as the Middle East, where in the year 2014, men and women still lethally protest for fair elections, Bronxites have the luxury of choosing without fear of repercussions.

In Mexico, voter fraud in the presidential election became so out of hand it resulted in violent protests.

In the Bronx, the civic act has been in decline for the last few years, unfortunately, despite efforts by the city and state Board of Elections to streamline the voting process. The answers over an electoral indifference vary—time constraints (though polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. during the Primary and General Elections), unregistered voters or even chaos at the polls are reasons why voters are reluctant to vote. It’s a shame since voter complacency can likely slow the progress for the Bronx, a borough that’s seen fragments of good government overshadowed by a rogues gallery of dirty politicians.

Within the last 10 years, a cast of Bronx politicians that include the late Guy Vellela, Pedro Espada Sr., Nelson Castro, Eric Stevenson and Larry Seabrook took bribes, abused nonprofits, perjured themselves, or lived outside the district they represented, turning a responsibility into a joke. In the cases of several politicians, laws were never quite broken, though many would argue they were derelict in their duties simply for their lack of presence.

Where did these political improprieties begin? It began within the confines of the polls. Who voted them in? You. Whether you actually went to the polls or not, you’ve submitted to this mess. This cannot stand. But voting isn’t bogged down to just showing up at the poll site to pull a lever or push a button. It means doing your homework by understanding who you are as a person, and assessing whether that politician asking for your vote closely matches your views. The city and state Board of Elections offices offer a free guide to understanding the positions of incumbents and their challengers. Vote for the right reasons; ask yourself “what can this politician do for me?” Quite frankly, this is perhaps the best time to think of yourself.

The fruits of your vote will likely blossom in the coming months, perhaps in the coming years as the legislator you voted for moves on to higher office and presumably continues their commitment to a more evolved community.

In the end, they’ll have you to thank. So go out there and vote. Think about it. Their success or failure starts with your input.