TAKE A HIKE, MIKE

You probably saw the headlines about Bloomberg's endorsement by the Independence Party. But while the majority of Independence Party delegates across the city voted to endorse Tax Hike Mike, the Staten Island group rejected the mayor-a big loss, since he cannot win without Staten Island's support.

Even more humiliating for the mayor, though, was the fact that one member of the five-member voting block actually voted to endorse our very own Christopher X. Brodeur (mayorbrodeur.org)-an impressive feat for a Democrat from Manhattan to pull off in the most conservative borough in the city.Maybe there's hope for Staten Island, after all.