In 1999, a group of Democratic state legislators from the Bronx contributed to one of the biggest public policy blunders in the city’s history. Six of them voted to repeal the commuter tax, depriving New York City of $400 million in annual revenues it had been receiving for years. In all, 23 city lawmakers voted for repeal.

How could they do it? You’re probably thinking they must have gotten something good in return, right? Like more money for city schools or after-school programs, or a greater say in the state budget? Or maybe some largesse for an important project like the redevelopment of the Kingsbridge Armory? 

Nope. They did it just to get a Democrat elected to a state Senate seat for a special election in Rockland County.

Despite selling out their own constituents in the city, their candidate lost. 

Democrats are once again anxious to pick up a seat for their party and the open seat once held by Guy Velella offers one of their best chances statewide. And this time the Bronx party has a chance to use their political clout for a good cause – protecting the north Bronx from a disastrous plan to dig a hole the size of Yankee Stadium for a water filtration plant in the Norwood section of Van Cortlandt Park. 

The Bronx Democratic machine supports Assemblyman Jeff Klein for the Senate seat. So do Democratic bigwigs like Fernando Ferrer, Mark Green and Eliot Spitzer. But everyone knows endorsements have little effect on elections. What could have a tremendous impact is a clear difference on a local issue of importance to voters.

Yes, we know, these are the very same Bronx Democrats that voted for the "alienation" of Van Cortlandt Park, mainly for the $243 million the city promised them for borough-wide park improvements in return. So, why would they change their minds? 

Klein now acknowledges that the plant will be more of a burden to residents than he originally thought when he voted for the alienation bill. It is not far-fetched to imagine that that and his party’s desire to win a much-coveted Senate seat could tilt the balance in favor of saving the park and the community from a quality of life nightmare.

Klein, an energetic lawmaker with a talent for getting publicity, obviously has a good shot at winning, but his election is hardly a foregone conclusion. Assemblyman Stephen Kaufman currently represents a larger portion of the 34th Senate District than Klein. (Though he’s a Democrat, Kaufman is drawing fire for planning also to run on the Republican line and confer with Albany GOPers.)  So the race will be close. Klein could stand out if he came out firmly against the plant, and used his close relationship with Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver to derail the plant-for-parks deal. Kaufman, on the outs with Silver, has little ability to affect policy, but he could strongly oppose the plant and differentiate himself from Klein. 

The 34th Senatorial District includes Woodlawn, where many residents are fighting the plant. Kaufman and Klein are new faces there and the first one to take a position could gain an advantage. (For the record, both voted for the plant, but only Klein voted to repeal the commuter tax.)

This is the political equivalent of a jump ball. The candidate who can jump highest and fastest to take advantage of this opportunity might just find himself with a Senate seat.