I’m not saying it’s definitely over but, thanks to a big labor endorsement by AFSCME’s District Council 37, NY Mayor Republican Mike “It Takes A Billion” Bloomberg is closer to re-election. Sure, it’s still a ways off until Election Day this Fall but it’s hard to see how any Democrat beats Billionaire Bloomberg (BB) without a united labor movement.

DC37 has about 120,000 members in our fair city. Yeah, the Dem candidates can try to downplay the endorsement all they want, arguing that the rank-and-file will vote for the Democrat. But, that’s not the point–it’s enough for Bloomberg to neutralize an all-out effort by DC37 for his eventual opponent, even if he doesn’t get the votes of the majority of DC37’s members. Instead, phone banks, mailings and canvassing will be done on behalf of BB.

Sigh. And you wonder why labor’s in trouble? It’s been a problem for a long time that NYC labor unions can’t get their act together to try to work in concert. You would think that maybe they could figure out a way to come together and support one candidate–maybe even a progressive, pro-labor one.