T H E F I V E B O R O U G H B A L LOT
TOTTENVILLE, STATEN ISLAND W’S BAR & RESTAURANT COULD WEINER RISE IN STATEN ISLAND? BY NICK POWELL “You guys see the headline in the Post? ‘Weiner Rising’?” It’s late afternoon on a Monday at W’s, meaning it’s “hit or miss,” according to the bartender, in terms of the number of customers who might file in for a postwork beverage. There are six men sitting at the bar having what passes as a political discussion for the W’s crowd. They bandy about some of the names mentioned as potential successors to Michael Bloomberg. Because of some pun-soaked headlines and a recent surge in press coverage, former Rep. Anthony Weiner’s name comes up, as well as that of Christine Quinn. “Here’s to our next mayor, Christine Quinn,” one patron says, lifting a shot glass to toast the City Council Speaker and current Democratic front-runner for mayor in the polls. The discourse on politics does not extend much beyond a cursory roundup of the most visible candidates. It is still early in the mayoral race, with roughly four months to go until the primary election. For those who follow New York City politics with a passing interest, the candidates to replace Bloomberg are little more than names and faces at this juncture. Weiner, however, is one name that is diffi-
cult to forget. jest, it reflects a larger mistrust of politi“Everybody makes mistakes,” says cians that was reinforced in recent weeks Matt Moore, a retired New York City fire- with the arrest of state Sen. Malcolm Smith fighter and current groundskeeper at the and Queens Councilman Dan Halloran on Monmouth Race Track in New Jersey, bribery and corruption charges. referring to Weiner. “It’s fifty-fifty with politicians right Most of the men at the bar respond to now,” Moore says. “They get in [office] and questions about politics with a certain wanna do good, but once they get that wariness, or simply don’t want their taste of power…” His voice trails off in a names printed foreboding manner anywhere other than before he adds, their driver’s licenses “And they get their and Social Secupension? I think it’s rity cards. Moore wrong.” is the exception, Moore says he is “They should put an approachable, nostalgic for a time the disgraced genial man eager when citizens could to converse. At the truly hold their politicians in front mention of Weiner, leaders accountof City Hall and let he brings up another able for their public name from disgraced us throw stuff at them missteps. congressional “They should like the old days.” lore, Vito Fossella, put [the disgraced holding him up as politicians] in front an example of a of City Hall and let politician who, like us throw [stuff] at Weiner, fell victim to them like the old his own extracurricular activities. days.” “[The personal troubles] wouldn’t Circling back to Weiner, Moore says it’s prevent me from voting for him,” Moore no surprise he is considering running for says. Still, he makes it clear that he is very mayor. He says the expectation of public much undecided on whom to vote for this officials who make mistakes is, “We’re fall. politicians; they’ll forgive us.” Moore is a unique voter in that he not With the paucity of women patrons at only eschews party lines to cast his ballot W’s, it’s difficult to get an accurate take on for whichever candidate he feels serves how female voters would view Anthony his best interests, he also makes sure to Weiner as a mayoral candidate. It’s fair write himself in as a candidate in every to assume that some might think twice election. While this move is partly done in about voting for a married man who
text-messaged lewd pictures to several different women. As the bartender empties ice buckets behind the bar, she doesn’t seem to show much interest in the discussion at hand. Asked if she would have a problem voting for Weiner in an election—hypothetically, that is, being that she’s a New Jersey resident—the bartender offers a blunt assessment of politicians like Weiner who become embroiled in sex scandals. “It’s no different than what any of these other guys are doing,” she said. “As long as he shows that he can run a city, it shouldn’t matter.” Reinforcing this opinion about Weiner, a New York City public schoolteacher named Loretta, who was loading groceries into her car in the parking lot adjacent to W’s, said that she would be open to hearing what he had to say rather than dismissing his candidacy altogether. “I don’t know,” she said. “I would have to see what his credentials are, rather than what he did on his Facebook or Instagram or whatever it was. I didn’t really know anything about his credentials until that incident. I’d have to learn more about him before I made a decision. He obviously made a mistake.” It’s difficult to say whether the opinions of these few voters in this small corner of Staten Island are an indication of a larger forgiving view on Weiner’s infidelities, but if nothing else, it’s clear that thanks to his well-timed media blitz, the former congressman is registering in the minds of voters as a face and a name that commands attention.
Retired firefighter Matt Moore believes that former Rep. Anthony Weiner deserves a second chance. 6
MAY 13, 2013 | www.cityandstateny.com
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