Rev. Billy runs for Mayor of NY (under the Green Party)

Reverend Billy, he of the Church of Stop Shopping, appears to have the endorsement of the Green Party, and will be on the mayoral ticket come November running against Mr. Bloomsberg. At least, so says the New York Times This is a long line in the tradition of clowns running for elected office. I'm not sure that Rev. Billy would classify himself as a clown, but I do. (and I mean it in a good way, Reverend!) Rev. Billy and his Church of Stop Shopping have been performing since 1996, growing from a street performer on Times Square to a 35 person choir and 7 person band. The Church of Stop Shopping is a project of The Immediate Life, a New York based arts organization using theater, humor, and grassroots organizing to advance individuals and communities towards a more equitable future - starting today. They partner with citizens, grassroots organizations and progressive visionaries to produce dynamic, informed public campaigns that enact our core values - participatory democracy, ecological sustainability, and the preservation of vibrant communities and local economies. The big question is CAN HE WIN-- and if he did win, could he actually get it together enough to solve the multiple problems that the mayor of NY must face. He's got popularity, and a populous message-- but ultimately, I don't think that the people of New York want a reverend (of any persuasion) to be their mayor. I don't even think they want a rabbi, although he might have better luck! There's a story about Wavy Gravy, who ran for councilman of Berkeley CA, a surprisingly conservative place. Wavy's political poster was a picture of Wavy in his full clown regalia, and at the bottom it said "Wavy Gravy has a long history of fighting for what he believes in. We doubt his opponent has ever been arrested once!" Which is all about spinning your negatives into a positive. Anyway, the good news about Reverend Billy running is that it will make good entertainment, and hopefully will provoke some real discussion about some of the good Reverend's ideas about anti-consumerism. Find out more about Reverend Billy at his website http://www.revbilly.com