People used to feel oddly empowered to tell me all the reasons I couldn't win. Because I was a woman. Because I was a lesbian. Because I was from the West Side of Manhattan.

At the end of the day, somebody someday is going to say something about you. At least you can look back and say you lived the way you wanted to.

I understand that not everyone agrees with my perspective on Ray Kelly. But what you gotta look at here is somebody like Bill de Blasio talking out of both sides of his mouth and trying to have it both ways on a really critical issue like stop-and-frisk.

When you stand up there and do a press conference, it's a very preoccupied moment. You're standing in front of cameras; people are watching you; it's not so easy to be at ease.

We all think people deserve second chances. None of us are perfect.

I just want people to know you can get through stuff. I hope people can see that in what my life has been and where it is going.

For better or worse, when you're running for mayor, there's a little bit of a spotlight on you.