FDNY, NYPD Find a Use for the Convention

American political conventions used to be about something -- policy, programs and people. Now, they have degenerated into an infomercial about the candidate in an effort to convince a disinterested public that the man running for the job is a cross between Washington, Lincoln and Jesus. As the sham in Boston gets underway, there are some people who have found a way to use the conventions to their own ends in both Bean Town and the Big Apple, but they are outside the convention hall.

Outside will be the usual fringe groups, hawking souvenirs, getting delegates boozed up and trying for their 15 minutes of fame. The scuffles in Boston began on Sunday. In New York, though, the outside of the convention has been more interesting than usual already, and the Republican National Committee only turned up a few days ago.

Seeking to capitalize on the presence of the best and brightest of the GOP and trying to embarrass the billionaire Republican mayor, the New York City firefighters union and police union, with support from the teachers, have been picketing Madison Square Garden for the last week. The firefighters haven't had a raise in three years -- that is since 2001, and their contract expired in 2002. There isn't a person in the New York area that doesn't think they deserve one, except Mayor Bloomberg can't find the money.

So, the idea is to embarrass the party that alleges its patriotism perfect. Some of the signs read, "If you can't pay us what we're worth, pay us what's fair." Or more directly, "We can't afford to live in the city we protect." These are the men who ran into the burning towers while the lawyers, bond traders and government officials ran out.

The media will argue that the conventions are bland affairs, that the anti-war or pro-Bush protesters in Boston and New York are dull and naive. It will be a test of journalism to see if the national media picks up on this other story. Or perhaps, the unions will be successful and they'll get a contract before the convention opens in August. It would be nice to see the off-duty firefighters and police take in a ball game instead of walk a picket line because the city would rather focus on a West Side stadium.


© Copyright 2004 by The Kensington Review, J. Myhre, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent.


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