Write-in campaign succeeds after residents cite ‘consistent attendance and general vibes’
A community board seat in Brooklyn was filled this week by a write-in candidate who, board members confirmed, is a cat, following an election residents describe as “the most unified this neighborhood has been on anything in a decade.”
An Unconventional Candidate
The cat, known locally as Biscuit, has spent the past four years residing at a corner bodega and, according to residents, has maintained “consistent, reliable presence” at nearly every community gathering held near the store, whether invited or not. “Biscuit shows up,” said one longtime resident who spearheaded the write-in campaign. “That’s more than I can say for half the human candidates who ran actual campaigns.”
Board officials, initially uncertain how to handle the unusual result, ultimately confirmed the seat would be filled by a human proxy acting on Biscuit’s behalf, a compromise residents have accepted with what one attendee described as “the specific kind of resigned amusement unique to Brooklyn civic life.”
The Campaign, Such As It Was
Biscuit’s write-in campaign reportedly consisted entirely of the cat’s ongoing daily presence at the bodega, requiring no fundraising, no flyers, and no debate appearances of any kind. “Every other candidate had a platform,” said the campaign’s human organizer. “Biscuit’s platform was a cardboard box near the register. Somehow that resonated more with people.”
Coverage from Gothamist has previously documented New York’s broader affection for neighborhood bodega cats, a beloved fixture of city life that transcends borough lines and, apparently, local governance structures as well.
What Comes Next
The proxy representative says Biscuit’s “priorities” as communicated through years of observed behavior include increased shade coverage near the bodega entrance, more consistent trash pickup, and, unofficially, a general reduction in loud construction noise during afternoon nap hours. Board colleagues say they intend to take the priorities seriously despite the unusual source. “Honestly,” said one fellow board member, “Biscuit’s instincts about this neighborhood might be better than some of ours.”
Precedent, Sort Of
Biscuit is reportedly not the first animal to receive informal write-in support in city elections, though board officials say this marks the first instance of an animal actually winning a seat, however symbolically. “We’ve had write-in votes for pets before,” said one election official. “Usually a handful, a joke among friends. This was different. This was organized. This was a genuine campaign, even if the candidate could not comment on policy in any traditional sense.”
Neighborhood business owners have reportedly begun capitalizing on Biscuit’s new status, with the bodega itself now displaying a small handwritten sign reading “Home of Board Member Biscuit,” a marketing decision the owner says has “definitely” increased foot traffic since the election results were announced.
A Broader Reflection
Civic engagement researchers note that Biscuit’s win, while lighthearted, has sparked a genuine, if slightly absurd, community conversation about voter turnout and candidate visibility in low-profile local elections, races that typically draw a fraction of the attention afforded to higher-profile city contests. “If a bodega cat can generate this much civic enthusiasm,” said one researcher, “there’s probably a lesson in there somewhere about what actually gets people to show up and pay attention to local government.”
Biscuit’s First Committee Assignment
The board has reportedly assigned Biscuit, through the human proxy, to a committee focused on neighborhood beautification, a role several members say suits the cat’s demonstrated interest in sunny spots, clean sidewalks, and general aesthetic improvement near the bodega. “It’s honestly a natural fit,” said the committee chair. “Biscuit clearly has opinions about which parts of the block look nice. We’re just formalizing that expertise.”
The bodega owner, for his part, says he has no plans to seek any compensation for his new role as unofficial campaign headquarters, though he admits business has been “noticeably better” since local news outlets picked up the story.
Skeptics Remain
Not everyone on the block is thrilled with Biscuit’s new title. One resident who ran unsuccessfully for the same seat expressed mild frustration at losing to a cat, though he admitted, when pressed, that Biscuit’s community presence was “honestly better documented” than his own campaign outreach had been. “I can’t really argue with the results,” he said. “The cat earned it, fair and square, in whatever way a cat earns anything.”
Board leadership says future elections will likely include clearer guidance on write-in eligibility, though several members privately admit they hope similarly spirited campaigns continue, even if future candidates remain, technically, human. “It brought people out to actually engage with local government,” said one member. “That alone might be Biscuit’s most lasting legacy on this board.”
A Growing Trend
Biscuit is not alone. Community boards in at least two other boroughs have reportedly fielded informal write-in votes for local pets in recent cycles, though none have resulted in an actual seat until now. Political observers say the trend reflects a broader, if lighthearted, frustration with traditional local candidates, one voter joking that “at least the cat never made a promise it couldn’t keep.”
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SOURCE: https://bohiney.com/