These are critical times for New Yorkers.

As the slow economy begins to pick up steam, the political landscape of our city has found itself in quite a few funky situations.

From a Republican coup in Albany to thousands of local workers being unemployed to President Obama reportedly wanting Gov. David Paterson to step down from next year’s election, the next mayor of this city will have a lot on his shoulders.

And, with essential, local political seats up for grabs as well, this election season makes it all the more reason why New Yorkers should get out the vote.

Which begs these questions to be asked: Why were numbers so low during this year’s Democratic Primary? Will we see those numbers increase for the general election? Or, was it the “Obama” factor that had voters feeling fatigued?

No matter the answer, New Yorkers should feel ashamed at the Primary numbers.

According to final tally numbers, close to 10 to 11 percent of New York City's 3 million registered Democrats voted in the contest between City Comptroller William Thompson Jr. and City Councilman Tony Avella of Queens. Thompson, who is vying to be the city’s second Black mayor, won 70 percent of the vote; Avella received 21 percent.

Another surprising finding in the numbers was that tens of thousands of Democrats who went to the polls voted in two competitive primaries for city comptroller and public advocate, but did not bother marking their ballots for anyone in the mayoral contest. And, according to The Associated Press, this year's low turnout trumped the 18 percent appearance in the last Democratic mayoral primary four years.

Turnout for Democratic primaries in the 1990s and 1980s generally ranged from about 18 to 23 percent. Interest surged in 1989, though, when more than 1 million voters showed up — a turnout of 49 percent — to cast votes when former Mayor Ed Koch faced a primary challenge in his run for a fourth term.

Both candidates have given lackluster campaign punches. Thompson has tried to persuade voters on the lack of competency of Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the mayor himself has attempted to prove why he should be re-elected.

However, more is at stake here for the next mayor than ever before. The next chief will be responsible for helping to get transit on track, jobs back to the public and private sectors and must have strong relations with Albany and Washington D.C. This is also an important time in that the individual would have to work hard in monitoring stimulus dollars that you and I are supposed to receive.

Following the low voter turnout for the primary, local analysts stated that large numbers of Democrats stayed home because Thompson was already expected to win, or because they already may be satisfied with Bloomberg. The mayor is not registered with any party and did not compete in a primary. He and Thompson face each other in the Nov. 3 election.

Both campaigns have chosen to portray the low turnout favorably for their candidates.

Thompson attributed it to Democrats thinking his win was a “foregone conclusion” while the mayor’s spokeswoman Jill Hazelbaker said Thompson had failed to inspire New Yorkers, who are happy with the mayor's leadership – go figure.

Either way, the loser will be the constituent if he or she chooses not to vote.