Having grown up in Staten Island I feel I have carte blanche to really let it all out, Staten Italy, as it is commonly known, is the forgotten borough.  More a part of New Jersey than of NY, according to many, Staten Island is its own world, separate from all things logical and refined.  I must admit, all those MTV True life shows are true, every stereotype, you name it, you've heard it, believe it.  What is most shocking to me is that a land mass only a few miles form Manhattan can be so far from it.  Staten Island is the stomping ground for many of the cities hardest working cops, fireman, sanitation workers and so on, it is also home a great deal of small business owners (read as a grey economy).  Staten Island has 4 things going for it, 4 landmarks if you will, The Dump, The Mall, The Ferry & Ralph’s Ices, that and the fact that millions of people have driven “through” Staten Island, and rightfully so.  Now don’t get me wrong, SI was a great place to grow up, a peaceful suburb with tree lined streets, low crime, upper middle class houses and proximity to Manhattan.  That is where it ends, most people don’t even leave the island, their whole world revolves around Staten Island.  Their families own businesses that barter with other local businesses and no cash ever changes hands, everybody's knows somebody who can get you whatever you need, the place is truly recession proof.  Those who care enough to venture off the island often don’t let those who don’t know what is out there “over the bridge”.  Here, ignorance is bliss. 

Vito Fosella knows this all too well, he represented my home town, often ran unopposed and aside from the drunk driving and girlfriend and other child, he kept his head above water.  When the whole community is ignorant, the saying “Politics is local” rings louder than ever, as long as Vito didn’t build a homeless shelter in the neighborhood or raise a toll he was doing a great job.  Staten Islanders care so little that I honestly don’t think this will get him kicked out of office, many of them won’t even hear about it with the exception of their neighbor spreading some rumor that they know Vitos illegitimate child.  The local paper, The Staten Island Advance is everything a local paper should be, enough said. 

Way to go Vito, you make me proud!