Have a Blessed Day

Sundays in the summer politically means churches, especially for a Nice Jewish Boy. As anyone who lives in or visits minority communities knows, churches are a cultural cornerstone of these neighborhoods. If you want to reach the hearts and minds of voters, you go where they pray.

And not just in election season, which is rightly suspect. So when I was in public office, we calculated that over eight years I had visited and spoken at some 140 Black and Latino churches. Once in Harlem in October 2000 I did it with President Clinton who, seeing me on the pulpit as the one white face with some 20 other clergy, called me “Rev. Green” to approving laughter.

So two Sundays ago Fred Lewis – an eternally charming and prayful friend -- and I went to three services in the Bronx and then last Sunday to two others in Southeast Queens.

First in the Bronx was The Coop City Baptist Church, presided over by Rev. Dr. Sheldon Williams. Because he had been to my home with a group of clergy years ago, I was able to connect to him and the audience by noting, “You’ve been to my home, thank you for allowing me to visit you in yours.” In my three minutes of remarks, I emphasized two words: “cooperation” since that was both the name of their community their church and what we needed more of in Albany that week…and "advocacy" since someone had to stand up for this community when it came to government services they needed especially during a harsh recession.

You can’t ask for votes from the pulpit, bad form if not unlawful given the separation of church and state. But you can talk record and values. So I remind all of the Baptist prayer "may the deeds I’ve done speak for me” as I recite the ways that I fought for the community…and look ahead to how the next Public Advocate can be a “socket you can plug into.”

Afterwards, I hear many “glad you’re back” and “have a blessed day”...and get nearly all (on the street outside) to sign our petitions to get on the ballot. Then we hurry east and north in Fred’s car to two others in time to welcome the congregants.

This past Sunday it was all Queens. Different churches, same message, identical warm responses. Perhaps it’s because I began my public service as Mayor Dinkins’s consumer commissioner, because I was a vocal critic of Mayor Giuliani for eight years and/or because of my general values as a progressive Democrat fighting for low-income families, but I’ve seemed to connect well with minority voters. This year, public polls have me doing very well again here but then, no one's voted yet. Can't and won't assume anything.

While opponents and journalists this past month understandably focus on petitions, money and endorsements, I’m also visiting communities where they live and pray. It’s inspiring and encouraging.