So if it’s just Tony Avella running against Bloomberg, maybe we should take a closer look at the Councilmember. Here’s what we know:

• He’s obsessed with animals, perhaps to the exclusion of other, uh, more pressing issues
• His public profile sometimes rises to a level of grandstanding, but perhaps not overly so . . .
• . . . in part because the grandstanding is often principled, or at least principled sounding
• That said, anyone who is against foie gras is kind of weird, and it would be stupid to have that become part of the Avella bully pulpit
• And yet . . . there’s something I like about someone who is willing to crack down on unwanted fliers and menus; that’s problem solving!
• And he does seem willing to take on the mayor when it’s appropriate . . .

OK. I’m sold. Tony Avella for Mayor. Go Tony, go! (But note that this is not a mandate! If you try to take away our foie gras, know that we may have to pull a Jesse Jackson on your ass.) (And a note to other potential candidates: following the mayor’s recent behavior, there are probably a lot of us who can become cheap dates.)