A bittersweet day!

Today I have some very, very bittersweet news for all of you, my faithful readers.

Effective immediately, I am resigning my position as your councilman representing the 3rd Ward in order to take a position in Hillary Clinton's 2008 campaign for President.

Hillary and Hillary's campaign organization have asked me to join her Youth Are Our Future Now Hillary '08 Youth Advisory Subcommittee as co-chairman, and it is an honor I am deeply grateful to accept.

It's something I am reluctant to do. I am taking a $20,000 cut in pay, but how can you put a price on our future? Is getting the vote of just one more on-the-fence urban designer worth $20,000? Building a better future for the children of this nation by securing the support of a noise-rock band? Or an independent coffee shop? Or the clientele of a cult film video rental store that the other guys might have overlooked? I say yes, it is worth $20,000. It's worth more.

I love working with youth, and anyone that knows this neighborhood I have represented was made great by the youthful energy of its many late-teens, twentysomethings and very early non-homeowner thirtysomethings. These were the guys and gals that made us the envy of every non-Brooklyn, non-Bay Area urban neighborhood in America -- and we were even catching up with them, I know it. It's these talented, insightful, hard-working young folks that will decide who our next president will be, and it is my task to help them make the right decision. And the right decision is Hillary Clinton. She's not as young as her main rival, but she's got that "moxie" that I've seen in other great young leaders, and I'm so excited to help get the message out about her.

It's a time of transition here in the Heights. My assistant Marisha, too, is going through some professional changes. I would love her to come with me and work with on Hillary's campaign, but her future lies elsewhere -- in fact, not even in this country! She's taking a position in London this spring as a publicist for

My position will be filled by Mayor Underdahl's appointee, a man who is himself no stranger to the world of local politics, former Democratic 3rd Ward Councilman Charlie "Chick" Cavalcanti, Sr. As many of you recall, Chick served in this post from 1975 to 1979 before going on to also serve on the city's Recession Czar from 1980 until 1983, and then going into the private sector throughout the 1980s and 1990s (you may recall the short-lived 1985 CBS sitcom based loosely on his exploits as a tavern-keeper and former local politician, C'mere A Minute). He has come out of retirement to fill this position, and is excited about serving until a special election is called later this year. Here's hoping he brings the most interesting parts of the spirit of the old 1970s Armitage Heights to our modern-day neighborhood! Of course, Councilman Cavalcanti will be welcome to continue this blog as he sees fit. It is my hope that he does.

I will be maintaining a new blog called The Kids Are All Hillary!, which you'll be able to find at http://www.hillaryclinton.com/blogs/thekids. I hope to see some of you there -- and then in Washington in 2009!

So with my best wishes to all of you, I remain yours in service,