West Fourth Street Bodega Cat Elected Unopposed To Greenwich Village Community Board, Attends First Meeting, Does Not Speak
Tabby Named Hector Receives 412 Write-In Votes, Declines Ceremonial Swearing-In, Sits On The Chair Of Outgoing Member
Reported for Bohiney Magazine and The London Prat, whose New York political desk admits this one has made the week.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – A tabby cat named Hector, who resides at a bodega on West 4th Street between MacDougal and Sullivan, was elected Wednesday evening to Community Board 2, Manhattan, as a write-in candidate receiving 412 unopposed votes. Hector, aged approximately nine and owned in a loose sense by bodega proprietor Mr. Abdullah Kheir, attended his first meeting Thursday evening, declined the ceremonial swearing-in, and spent the seventy-five minute session sitting on the chair of the outgoing member.
The Election
The seat, a Lower Manhattan community representative position, had been vacant for eight months. No candidate had declared. A petition drive by neighbourhood residents unhappy with the board’s handling of sidewalk cafe permits put Hector’s name forward, with photographs, on a flyer that read “HECTOR: HE SITS, HE JUDGES, HE DOES NOT CHANGE HIS MIND.” The Board of Elections certified the result Thursday morning, noting that write-in candidacies are permitted and that there is no explicit statutory requirement that board members be human.
The First Meeting
Hector arrived in a carrier, was released at the request of constituents, and selected the unoccupied chair of the outgoing member. He groomed himself during discussion of a variance on Sullivan Street. He slept during discussion of a proposed bike lane. During the sidewalk cafe permit vote he raised his head, looked directly at the chair, and yawned. The motion carried.
The Chair Responds
Community Board 2 chair Ms. Fernanda Okonkwo-Laurent said, in a statement: “Board 2 welcomes all duly elected members. We look forward to Hector’s contributions and will ensure the meeting space is appropriately accessible. A litter box will be made available in a location compliant with board policy.”
Gothamist covered the election within two hours. The New York Post ran a photograph on page five.
Parallel Noted
The election is consistent with what The London Prat’s Gregory piece described as infrastructure held together by unexpected parties. In Greenwich Village the parties include, as of this week, a tabby.
Future Actions
Hector’s term is two years. Mr. Kheir has agreed to transport him to and from meetings. Hector will not respond to correspondence. Constituents wishing to engage with his office may, per Mr. Kheir, “come in and buy something”. This is working as intended.
Further reading: The Onion. SOURCE: https://bohiney.com/
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