(photo: siferry.com)

There are three new vessels being commissioned for the Staten Island Ferry fleet, and Staten Island Congressman Michael Grimm would very much like one of the boats to be named after former Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Thus, on the eve of the September 11th attacks, he wrote a letter to the New York City Department of Transportation urging this outcome.

"Mayor Giuliani's tenure in office raised the quality-of-life in Staten Island and the City at-large," Mr. Grimm wrote in the letter, which you can view below. "Few have gone as far as him to make sure that the 'Forgotten Borough' was remembered in City Hall. Rudy formed a special relationship with the people of Staten Island based on shared values and a dogged commitment to making New York livable again."

This message was echoed in a press release where the Republican congressman argued, "From squeegee men to strip clubs, Mayor Giuliani got rid of the bad and brought in the good.”

As Mr. Grimm has pointed out, it's not exactly unusual for ferries to be named after politicians. Indeed, the Guy V. Molinari, pictured above, is named after the former congressman and borough president.

View his letter below:

Congressman Michael Grimm in once friendly territory, riding the Staten Island Ferry. (Photo: Facebook)

Congressman Michael Grimm called ads against him placed on the Staten Island Ferry, "smear tactics," "disgusting," and "politics at its worst" in a statement sent to The Politickertoday. The advertisements, which were purchased by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, focused on reports of a possible FBI investigation into Mr. Grimm's fundraising. Mr. Grimm described the campaign as evidence the allegations of illegal fundraising being made against him are politically motivated.

"This brings credence to our call that this is political from the beginning," Mr. Grimm said. "The people of Staten Island and Brooklyn know I have been fighting hard for them and I have the record to prove it, which is why the DCCC must resort to smear tactics."

The DCCC's ads feature headlines chronicling the questions raised about Mr. Grimm's finances and the link to a website, TheGrimmFiles.com, filled with incriminating information about Mr. Grimm’s business dealings and a 1999 nightclub altercation he was involved in. Mr. Grimm's district includes Staten Island and a small sliver of South Brooklyn, but he's not worried ferry commuters will be swayed by the ads.

"This is politics at its worst, and exactly what I would expect from Washington Democrats. My constituents know better than to fall for these disgusting tactics and will reject these claims when they cast their votes in November, overwhelmingly re-electing me to Congress," Mr. Grimm said.

Mr. Grimm, who was elected in 2010 is currently facing a challenge from Democrat Mark Murphy. There have been no polls released in the race, but the Cook Political Report rating for the district gives Mr. Grimm an edge.

Congressman Grimm (Photo: Getty)

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is going after embattled freshman, Republican Congressman Michael Grimm with a nasty ad campaign on the State Island ferry. Mr. Grimm, whose district includes Staten Island and a small portion of South Brooklyn, is currently facing a potential FBI investigation into his fundraising and a challenge for his seat from Democrat Mark Murphy. The DCCC's fiery ferry campaign features headlines about the probe into Mr. Grimm's finances along with the slogan "Your Congressman Michael Grimm" Looking Out For Himself, Not You" and the address of a website, TheGrimmFiles.com, filled with incriminating information about Mr. Grimm's business dealings and a 1999 nightclub altercation the congressman was involved in.

"Staten Island voters deserve to know that the FBI is looking into Congressman Grimm's potentially illegal fundraising tactics," Josh Schwerin, Northeast Press Secretary at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said in a statement announcing the ferry campaign. "These ads are holding Congressman Grimm accountable for his on-going scandals, and highlight the fact that the more voters learn about Congressman Grimm’s checkered past, the less there is to like."

As of this writing, we have not received a response to the ad from Mr. Grimm. View the DCCC's Staten Island Ferry poster below.