I have written about the need to support candidates who support the community. I have written about Eric Adams, who was a police captain. I have written about Bill Batson, who has served with the NYCLU and on Community Board 8 and has helped preserve buildings that were stops on the Underground Railroad.

But sometimes community service can be simply helping out citizens who need some help. During the primary my wife and I spent an evening discussing candidates with a friend and neighbor. In the end we convinced her to vote for Chris Owens and Velmanette Montgomery, our main goals. But during the discussion our friend discussed the single politician who impressed her by being there when needed.

My friend actually knows many politicians, having worked with some. She has, as a mother and Brooklyn resident, had three occasions to write elected officials for help getting something accomplished. She has found that almost across the board, from city council to Senator, she got no responses. She either got nothing or she got promises of call backs that never came. The first two times she needed help she never got it. Just two more cases of NYC being tough.

The third time she got the same lack of results, until contacting Assemblywoman Joan Millman's office. Joan Millman came through and gave her the help she needed.

It is easy to criticize politicians. Often there is much to criticize. But I think it is equally important to praise where praise is deserved. In the eyes of my friend and neighbor, it's only Joan Millman among the many politicians in NYC she has dealt with, who is willing to pay attention to individual problems. I think that deserves praise.

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