As we head into 2021 with Covid, the Capitol riots and the aftermath of a second impeachment trial swirling around us, we have little time to take a short breath and recuperate. For us New Yorkers in particular, it appears that we are going to feel compelled to obtain a score card of sorts to follow the burgeoning list of those who have thrown their proverbial hats in the ring as they all vye for the top job at City Hall.

Over the weekend, a public announcement was made that New York billionaire John Catsimatidis is once again running for mayor.  The Gristedes supermarket magnate is  joined by  quite a diverse and eclectic cadre of people hailing from a wide variety of backgrounds and qualifications who are seeking the same job. These 40 some odd people who will be competing with him for the mayoral race, have something way more powerful than Catsimatidis could ever have.

Yes, they are Democrats. And in a town like New York City, unless you are registered in the Democratic party, your objective of winning an electoral race is proscribed to you.  That is pretty much common knowledge amongst the Democratic party faithful.

Besides being known as the CEO of the Gristedes grocery chain, Catsimatidis’ resume also includes his Red Apple Group; a  real estate and aviation company. In addition, Catsimatidis also owns the WABC  radio station where he broadcasts his weekly program.  Definitely an impressive resume, but judging from his past forays into the political jungle that aptly describes New York City, being a Republican is essentially a one-way ticket to defeat.

As a matter of fact, a campaign is currently being waged to motivate New Yorkers who may possess some politically conservative predilections to register as Democrats in order to have their say in terms of the candidate of their choice in the upcoming mayoral primary. If nothing else, this campaign drives home the fact that the GOP is a moribund concept in the Big Apple and has been on life support for many decades. This town we call home is “bluer” than ever and anyone telling you otherwise is just fabricating a myth.  Just take a look at the local victories of the notorious AOC and others who subscribe to the nefarious agenda of the Democratic Socialists of America.

For all intents and purposes, the Republican party in New York City has devolved into nothing more than a person hiding a computer and sending out press releases. Even during the years when Nixon son-in-law Ed Cox was the chairman of the New York GOP, things moved at a snail’s pace and nothing of substance occurred to drive the party forward with any kind of determination. And then came such personalities as Adele Malpass, who certainly meant well but could not organize and build a nuts and bolts party. Currently, Nick Langworhy is the NY GOP chairman and other than putting out a brief statement here and there through his public relations person, Jessica Proud, there isn’t much noise coming out of the GOP camp.

Currently, the GOP is more disorganized than it has ever been, with the few members remaining  just standing around and scratching their heads about whether it is best to stick to the Trump brand of Republicanism or perhaps seek out new, younger and fresher leadership in the Ronald Reagan mode.

And to those brave souls who have run in New York City elections as Republicans, not only have they politically isolated from the rest of the city but if they should need campaign funding, the last place that will offer them any real assistance is the New York State GOP. Our sources have revealed that candidates who come “hat in hand” to the state GOP for funding are often told that it is incumbent upon them to raise funds on their own volition and that no monetary support will be forthcoming. Talk about dissuading people from seeking office under the Republican ticket.

Getting back to Catsimatidis’ decision to run for mayor. Let the record reflect that when candidates run for office who are known for their wealth and influence there is an unwritten moral obligation on the candidate’s part to offer significant donations to the charities for their choice. Unfortunately, Catsimatidis has not stepped up to the plate in this regard and his efforts have been negligible in carving out a reputation as a generous donor to any charities or causes that have dedicated themselves to helping the people of New York City.

It should also be duly noted that despite the fact that one New York newspaper claimed that Catsimatidis spent $12 million of his own money on his last bid for mayor of New York in 2013, the fact is that he only spent $6 million. Yet and still, there can be little argument that $6 million is no mere pittance or a small chunk of change. Despite his coffers being filled to the brim, Catsimatidis somehow managed to cleverly devise a way in which to lose the primary to arguably the most unelectable candidate ever seeking office.

And for those who can’t recall, the person who swiped the primary win from Catsimatidis was the otherwise dull, lifeless and utterly feckless Joe Lhota, the former chairman of the MTA. The voting public managed to see that Lhota had nothing to offer in terms of substantive policy or even personality, and thusly, we inherited Bill DeBlasio as the resident of City Hall.

In addition, the political zeitgeist is not blowing in the direction that would elicit favorable results for Catsimatadis. We are living in the epicenter of the “woke” generation and political correctness, identity politics and a strong and not so subtle undercurrent of radical left-wing rhetoric has taken center stage in our national political discourse. For Catsimatidis, this spells disaster at the polls.

Because the lion’s share of New York City voters are dyed-in-the-wool liberal Democrats and many more are Independents, the idea that their next mayor will be a “fat cat” developer with property strewn all across the city as well as simultaneously being known as a supermarket magnate, oil titan and radio station owner, does not sit well with them.  Especially in the post-Trump era.

While the pendulum of history has recorded that the status of wealth and privilege is either worshipped or denigrated, for the time being, these qualifications for becoming mayor are loathsome in the eyes of the voters.  If you also factor in the significant number of others who are also running for mayor in the city that never sleeps, it does not take much for one to know that Catsimatidis does not stand a snowball’s chance in hell of becoming mayor.

Suffice it to say that the NY GOP needs a complete overhaul, but for the time being, the most viable option for Catsimatidis is to preserve his dignity and to bow out of this race gracefully, before the turbulent political waters consume him.