Politics is corrupt in the Big Apple.
The first round of voting for New York City’s honorary canine mayor begins this week, with incumbent East Village basset hound Sally Long Dog set to hand over a bone to one of 15 adorable dogs chosen from across the five boroughs.
East Harlem resident Steven Calabria created the furry contest, which he hopes will distract people from “the political madness going on around us” and promote initiatives like voter registration and increased pet adoption.
“Dogs don’t steal your money, they don’t know anything about gas prices or interest rates and they’re not subject to a federal ethics investigation. They just want to love you,” Calabria told The Post.
The election is set up like a March Madness-style 15-round bracket, with updates every Wednesday via Dog Mayor NYC’s Instagram stories, Facebook group and X account, until the final two political dogs face off on November 4th.
In the first round on July 24, Pepper the mini chocolate dachshund defeated Zyla the Rottweiler, 484 to 355.
The election takes place every two years, or 14 dog years, and Calabria, who works as podcasting director for Mount Sinai Health System, hand-picks most of the puppies.
To be selected, candidates must have some sort of public profile, such as a large social media following or be “highly visible” in the city, and live in one of the five boroughs.
“I actually had to turn down a dog that had over a million followers on Instagram because I lived in Westchester,” he said.
“I have no intention of getting involved in any residency scandals.”
Puccini, a Yorkie-poo from Hell’s Kitchen, is running with the campaign slogan “Pawsitively Puccini” and the promise of “free tennis balls for everyone,” said his owner, former Radio City Rockette Leslie Riddle.
The 16-year-old’s impressive resume includes winning Best Trick at the Hudson River Pet Parade, walking the runway at New York Fashion Week and starring as Tim Meadows and Ellen Barkin’s dog in the Peacock series “Poker Face.”
Upper East Side pup Shayna Maidel, a 5-year-old Coton de Tulear whose name means “beautiful girl” in Yiddish, is running with the slogan “This Fluffy Can Do Anything.”
Shayna’s owner, Heidi Silverstone, said she was campaigning to “turn off all the hissing radiators”.
She has been described by the New York Jewish Week as “perhaps the most Jewish dog in New York” for her actions that resonate with Jewish voters, such as posting the message “Shabbat, Peace” on her Instagram account every Friday.
“I hope so,” Silverstone said. “If elected, she’ll hand-deliver — no, she’ll foot-deliver — Chara to City Hall.”
This year, for the first time, a dog up for adoption will be on the ballot. Will O’Wisp, a 3-year-old rescue from the Animal Care Center of New York City, the city’s largest animal shelter, is running under the slogan “From City Shelter to City Hall.”
In 2022, New York City held its first canine mayoral election, with Sally Long Dog elected over golden retriever Riley, who became Deputy Canine Mayor.
Calabria believed Sally won the crown because “basset hounds better represent the average New Yorker, while golden retrievers are too jolly.”
During her tenure, Sally was even invited to visit City Hall to meet Mayor Eric Adams.
“As we were leaving, the Capitol security chief whispered to me, ‘I’ve worked here 28 years and I’ve never seen so many smiles at a press conference,'” Calabria recalled.
