Jason C. McLean

It seems like I’ve been writing about municipal politics quite a bit lately.

I had the pleasure of phrasing Forget The Box’s endorsement of Projet Montreal and mayoral candidate Richard Bergeron in the November 1st Montreal elections as well as OTL’s Reclaim The Main Challenge to all candidates in the same election.  I also covered theatre activist Reverend Billy Talen’s Green Party candidacy for mayor of New York City in my theatre column.

It makes sense.  When national and international politics seem dominated by the same ideologies and policies regardless of what kind of progressive face gets put on it, the only solution for progressives to get things changed politically is to focus locally.

Considering how important local-first is becoming in areas of food consumption and shopping, it only makes sense that a community-based approach to political revolution or at least political chage will work as well. Then, all the local revolts can join up and affect change around the world.

It’s nice to see that in Montreal, progressive candidates seem to really have a chance.  Projet Montreal has jumped in the polls lately and if voter turnout is over 30%, they very well make an impact or get into office.  They’re being taken more seriously by the press and taking part in debates, too.

Meanwhile in New York, the reverend’s campaign is doing well and could very well bring change to City Hall.  Unfrotunately, they have been cut out of the debates.

Since you can’t keep a good culture-jammer down, though, Billy showed up at the debates anyways and let his voice be heard, asking Mayor Bloomberg just what he was doing there.  You see, Bloomberg recently got the two-term limit removed, essentially legislating his chance to run a third time.

While Billy wasn’t invited to take part in the debates, Bloomberg really has no place being there, which is what the Reverend asked him in this clip…