My series of collectible trading cards are a huge hit, but not everyone is happy.
I received texts from one mayoral candidate who was unhappy about them, calling them libelous (they are not, and besides – it’s parody) and asking me to go around taking them back.
It’s particularly troublesome to me that an elected official in a position of authority would misuse that authority. I sent a screenshot of the text to one of the candidate’s supporters hopeful they would talk reason into the candidate: but instead, the screenshot wound up on Reddit: without any context (only sixth ward voters would have known what the cards even were).
Then yesterday a person who appears to be that candidate’s campaign manager was caught on video taking down Michael Russo’s sign (hung on an inside private door) and rifling through private mailboxes (a felony). The candidate is not the type to have staffers acting on their own, but without proof: I will take things at the candidate’s word.
I have pointed out flaws in my opponents. But that’s very different to what my opponents have done. Pointing out who is funding a campaign is fair game. Pointing out that someone is using Airbnb to circumvent rent control: also fair game.