There's a million things I should be doing, but my mind is mush. I can't stay focused. I should be working on 6 other things but this popped up in my head and I'd like there to be some record of it.

There's this guy who works at the 7-11 near my house who always asks me if I'm running for Mayor. Not because I hang out at 7-11 and pontificate all the time...he's seen me in the paper a few times - doesn't know what I'm talking about, but figures if I'm in the paper and I'm not locked up in jail, (and I'm white) I should be Mayor.

There's a bunch of things happening in Rochester that are really annoying. I'm sure it's relatively the same in your town. The most creative way our "leaders" think about solving our city's problems is to build stuff. Usually it's dumb stuff like a soccer stadium or our own version of the Titanic, but sometimes it's scary stuff like new jails, underground bus terminals and casinos. Then there's the problem of "brain drain". There are some decent colleges/universities in this area and the complaint is that after graduation no one stays.

There was a meeting a couple of weeks ago, between some city council members and some of these rocket scientists who complain about this town. That, combined with the ridiculous direction our Mayorial race is shaping up got me to thinking. We need a real leader in this town. A real leader knows when to listen to the people and when to tell them to shut the hell up. Seriously. On occassion, a real leader has to tell folks that they are entitled to their opinions but they should find someone who cares.

For example, these whining little bastards who complain that there's nothing to do in Rochester and that we need to keep the bars open longer. Now, this "nothing to do" complaint has been around for a while and our "leaders" have perpetuated it because the only solution has been to open more bars...helping developers who donate to political campaigns/parties.

So...I'm the Mayor. Hell, let's say I'm just running for Mayor (make my 7-11 guy happy). And this this group of over-privileged white snots tells me that they may leave because there's nothing to do. My response?

Get the fuck out.

OK, maybe I wouldn't drop an f-bomb on 'em. But I'd say "Buh-Bye." You don't have things to do? I got things for you to do, MF'er. I have kids that need mentors, I have parks that need cleaning, homes that need to be tested for and cleaned of lead paint, I have institutional racism so entrenched in our system of government that it's going to take an army to get rid of it. Sheeee-it. Nothing to do...You need stuff to do, Sparky? I need people to walk Pac-Tac's on Genesee Street and Joseph Avenue. I have crazy homeless people that need help. I have a bunch of elderly people who need rides to medical appointments. I have a lot of single moms who need help becoming employable. Still got nothing to do? Not enough little leagues in the city (or diamonds to put them on). I need some role models for our inner-city girls (not any of you Girls Gone Wild Wannabe's though). Come on...who's still bored? I need escorts to get scared women through the crazies at Planned Parenthood. I have acres of abandoned land that need to be turned into urban farms and gardens.

Oh...and about these freakin bars. There is more than enough anecdotal evidence that supports the notion that I like beer. In fact, one may even conjecture that I love beer. And even though I don't have the time to drink it as much as I would like I have no problem with other people drinking beer. But if you think I'm going to use public money so that YOU can drink more...you must be out of your mind. There's the city line...Bye!

Leadership...you just stepped in some.

[Man, if I ever really run for Mayor, I'm in trouble]