Labor Day also is the day for the annual West Indian American Day Carnival. The Brooklyn parade is one of the largest in the city.
The event is modeled on traditional pre-Lenten Carnival festivities. It got under way Monday morning with elaborate costumes, miles of food stalls, colorful floats - and plenty of politicians kicking off the fall campaign season.
Gov. David Paterson, state Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Andrew Cuomo, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn are among the political figures on hand for the parade.
