Ex-Council Speaker Christine Quinn may be out of politics — but she’s still ready to help NYC

Quinn’s seeking a win for NYC

I know Christine Quinn so long I was probably there before mommy delivered her.

In 2006, she officiated at Barbara Walters’ father’s Latin Quarter nightclub on Broadway. In 2007, she was at Eliot Spitzer’s swearing in. Next? Democrats at a Tony Bennett party. 2008, placards saying if against her you’re a gay lesbian homosexual come as you are skunk. 2009, a Yankee Stadium speech. In 2010, working to improve a horse’s conditions. Etc., etc.

Christine: “My parents, grandparents and I lived here. All I wanted was to live in the city. My father said I was cursed with clarity. I wanted political organizing, government, politics, community, tenant organizing, and government after that.

“My grandfather from Ireland, third-grade education, was a milkman, then firefighter, then NYC’s Fire Department chief.

“People retire. Get hit by a bus. We change in a hot second here. I’d wave a magic wand and have more housing for homeless, low income and middle class. It’s terrible for poor people. We’re not talking about the pampas. We have some of the country’s highest rents.

“When I was City Council speaker, housing development stalled. Rents were sky high. I wanted political organizing, government, politics, community organizing. In 1989, I started after college to do tenant organizing.”

Cindy: Why are you not being out front like you used to be?

Christine: “It’s opportunity. I want to help the city, women, whatever opportunities might be. Now a teacher marrying a firefighter can’t afford to live here. We have 16 shelters, five permanent housing buildings, 200 apartments with holistic wraparound services, a mental health challenge, a substance abuse challenge, a kid who needs tutoring, streets are dirtier. More graffiti in Chelsea than I’ve seen in years.

“As soon as I find an election that’s winnable, I’ll be back in the game.”

Im-prez-ive stuff

Let us not knock presidents.

Rutherford B. Hayes suffered an unusual phobia. Dealt with an ongoing fear of going insane.

Carter suffered a bad case of hemorrhoids one Christmas. Wasn’t chic, so he didn’t tell nobody nothing.

Eisenhower hated cats and ordered that any found at his Gettysburg, Penn., estate were to be removed instantly

Coolidge kept a lion, small hippo, an antelope and a donkey.

Andrew Jackson? One thing I know is that he believed the world was FLAT.

William Taft could not stuff himself behind a steering wheel. He was a fatso.

JFK. Voted most likely to succeed at Choate — although his class was 112 students, he only graduated 64th.

Jefferson insisted the Declaration of Independence be ratified July 4 because that day the planets were astrologically united. History might say it’s a great way to run a railroad.

Warren Harding’s pastime was poker. He wasn’t lousy at it, but Vegas never raced to seat him at any table.

John Adams was great at playing marbles. Besides that he did nothing anybody remembers except that he had a really great last name!

And I thought I’d throw in one former mayor. There was the day Hizzoner de Blasio came to my home. He petted my Yorkie. Since to warm up an audience pols often feature pets, I told him I’d personally buy him a dog. He was excited. “Great idea,” he enthused. He then called me one hour later to say, “No. Can’t. My wife said she doesn’t want it.”

WANT to know what other nationalities think of us? One lady from India characterized us thusly: “You people from America are all peculiar. Not like anyone else. You’re like a hand. Each finger is different.”

Only in the USA, kids, only in the USA.