July 15, 2008
That's Just How Public Advocate Gotbaum Rolls
An email from the office of New York City’s Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum asked, “What sort of stuff do you guys generally look for from elected officials?” You never know until you see it, but this is definitely it: the Public Advocate Community Van, which was donated to the office by Keyspan and pimped out by a local artist.
Gotbaum will be using her new ride to promote the Children's Health and Wellness Tour; which she’ll take to all five boroughs and provide free health screenings to raise awareness about childhood obesity. To lure the kiddies, the van will be stocked with coloring books and they’ll raffling off swag to promote childhood health: water bottles, jump ropes, Odwalla bars, flying discs, NYC paintball games to encourage exercise, and baseball paraphernalia donated by the Mets and Yankees.
Per the press release, Gotbaum’s office is "hoping that it will attract kids to get screenings – and help promote [the Public Advocate’s] focus on children with its eye-catching colors."
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That's just glorifying graffiti. Peter Vallone, Jr is going to be really upset when he sees it. I'm sure it's like an abuse of city funds or something like that in his book.
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seriously?
this office has little enough credibility as it is and then they pull out this van?
farcical
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Is there orange shag carpet inside?
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Well you really can't fight their logic.
Kids just can't resist the hypnotic pull of a well-dressed rape van.
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that would be so good for picking up children to touch.
hey kids, want some candy?? GET IN THE VAN!
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You gotta admire politicians that steal their ideas from the Scooby Doo gang.
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So wait, the idea is to lure children into a van with coloring books and toys to "screen" them for signs of obesity?
This is a joke, right?
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Heh... Look at all us hacks. Breaking our fingers to be the first at that rape van gag.
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so... many... stalker van... jokes... can't decide... AAARRGGHHHH
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ha... look at all of us thinking we know shit about needing these services
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the previous sentiments reaffirmed my faith in humanity.
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i think this is a great idea -- she's being creative and reaching out to kids in new ways that may actually get their attention and response -- this is exactly what more electeds should be doing.
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Gotbaum has easily been the most ineffective and do-nothing Public Advocate in the short history of the office.
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I saw this van the other day parked underneath the FDR drive. I seriously thought it was for some rapper named the Public Advocate, which I thought was a pretty good name.
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Yeah I always see it by the seaport next to the bike lanes. I was wondering what the hell it was all about.
"Get outta my head!!!"
lol.
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Wait paintball games?? I mean I love playing paintball and I have played at the Queens field but I dunno, something just doesn't sit right there. I mean having kids shoot each other with painful paint balls and the fact that you can't even carry a paintball gun around in the city...
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We elect a mayor, a comptroller, 5 borough presidents and a full city council to represent us. Why do we need a Public Advocate to defend and save us from them? To give another useless politician a useless job and a platform for another office.
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It DOES resemble the "Mystery Machine" from Scooby Doo. And, now that I think about, Betsy kinda reminds me of Velma. Only question I have is who's Fred? Bloomberg?
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fuck you guys. that van is motherfucking awesome.
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Because kids vote. Right.
I am lazy - is anyone else running for public advocate? I will donate money and commit my vorte for that person, so long as they don't drive a pimped out van.
Didn't her sister drunkenly assault cops in flyover country before killing herself?
This van is worse than Covergate.
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I like it.
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That shit is dope. Period.
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Norman Siegel is a candidate running for Public Advocate.
I'd say he has the background and potential to make the office useful.
You Tube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LY1h9ZRoCpg
Campaign web site:
http://normansiegel.com/