This is from Democratic Leadership for the 21st Century:

Come hear what the candidates have to say about the financial crisis and other important issues facing our city, and submit your questions here to be answered by them on Monday night.

Future Municipal Mondays will include events with the Democratic candidates for Mayor and Manhattan District Attorney.

See you Monday night!

On Monday, May 4, join DL21C for a special Town Hall meeting

Featuring the Candidates for NYC City Comptroller:

- Melinda Katz, City Councilwoman, Queens
- John Liu, City Councilman, Queens
- David Weprin, City Councilman, Queens
- David Yassky, City Councilman, Brooklyn

7:00pm
Iguana Lounge (upstairs bar)
240 W 54th St (between Broadway and 8th Avenues)
E/V to 7th Avenue; 1 to 50th Street; A/C/B/D to 59th Street; N/R/Q/W to 57th Street
www.iguananyc.com
Free for members; $7/non-members

RSVP Here!

Submit your Questions for the Candidates Here!  read more »

Marjorie Gerseten, my wife, Joy Romanski, and I are co-hosting an event on May 3rd for our friend Josh Skaller, candidate for the 39th New York City Council seat in Brooklyn (portions of Park Slope, Carroll Gardens, Windsor Terrace, Kensington and Borough Park). Josh is a long-time organizer for Democracy for New York City, was president of the Central Independent Democrats political club in Brooklyn for two years, and was an early organizer with Brooklyn for Barak.

"Josh has always fought for fiscal responsibility and the progressive solutions needed to reform city government"

--Jim Dean
Chair of Democracy For America (DFA)

Without taking money from developers, PACs or lobbyists, and while a
first-time candidate, he’s the leader in number of donors and second in total dollars in a large field of good candidates. I want to emphasize that this is an amazing accomplishment and shows his organizational skills and potential. I also want to emphasize that it is so rare that the best, most honest and most progressive candidate running is also able to raise the most money.  read more »

I like the National Jewish Democratic Council's take on this news story better than anyone's:

NJDC welcomes Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter to the Democratic Party.

The Democratic Party of 2009 is an inclusive party that believes political parties should be big tents. In contrast, the Republican Party of 2009 is a party which believes in circling the wagons into an ever smaller and smaller circle until only the ideologically pure are welcome. Senator Specter has been a Republican since 1966 but he has never been a conservative ideologue. It has become increasingly clear in recent years that he is not ideologically pure enough for the Republican activists of today.

The Republican Party’s continued shift to the right has had negative implications for GOP support in the Jewish community. Despite the fact that in every election cycle conservative Jewish activists claim that Jews are becoming more Republican, the Jewish vote for Republicans at the national level is stuck at about 20%. Moreover, over the last decade there are fewer and fewer Republican Jewish office holders at the national level.  read more »

Last night was the Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats (CBID) endorsement meeting for two city council races: the 33rd and 39th City Council districts. Previously CBID endorsed Norman Siegel for Public Advocate and John Liu for Comptroller.

I did not attend the meeting but got a rundown from my wife who is an officer of CBID. Overall her impression of the candidates was a good one, which matches my own impressions. Steve Levin not only didn't show up (the second major district event he missed) but didn't even bother turning in a questionaire on time. THAT is called dissing the district. I guess he expects his boss, Vito Lopez, to carry him through the race. All the questionaires for the races covered by CBID (including both of these City Council races, Comptroller, Public Advocate and Mayor, with more to come) can be found at the CBID website...including Steve Levin's late homework...I mean questionaire. I will make reference to these questionaires but please go to the website for details because I will not be quoting from them.  read more »

Say hello to New York State's newest Congressman. Scot Murphy will represent the 20th district until the general election of 2010, now that former Assembly minority leader Jim Tedisco just threw in the towel.

D Trip's Chris van Hollen writes:

“Congratulations to Congressman-elect Scott Murphy on his remarkable, come-from-behind victory. In this election, voters responded to Scott Murphy’s record as a successful businessman who helped to create more than 1,000 jobs and his strong support for President Obama’s economic recovery package.

“In trying to win the NY-20 special election, the RNC, NRCC, and their Republican allies went all in on the losing gamble that voters would prefer their ‘just say no’ approach to President Obama’s bold plans to get the economy back on track.

“Scott Murphy’s victory in this district where Republicans outnumber Democrats by more than 70,000 represents a rejection of the obstructionist agenda and scare tactics that have become the hallmark of House Republicans.

The DNC adds:

DNC Chairman Tim Kaine praised Democrat Scott Murphy's victory over Republican Jim Tedisco in the special election for New York's 20th Congressional District, calling his win in a heavily Republican leaning district a demonstration of broad support for President Obama's leadership and the President's efforts to turn the economy around and create jobs.

"Scott Murphy's long-awaited victory is proof positive that Americans, even in this heavily Republican district, support the President and want him to succeed and the result is a repudiation of the failed policies of the past touted by Republicans," said Kaine. "Republicans decided to make this race a referendum on President Obama's leadership of the economy and his jobs and economic recovery plan - and given the result we are thankful that they did. Scott Murphy embraced President Obama's approach to the economy and his message of change while his opponent embraced the politics of division and the failed economic policies that got our country into the mess we find ourselves in today. While the Republican Party and its candidates appear to have learned nothing from recent elections and the nation's obvious desire for change, I commend the voters in New York 20 for supporting Scott and giving the President another strong ally for change as the Obama Administration moves forward with its plans to reform healthcare, invest in clean energy and improve education.”

The election was portrayed by republicans as a referendum on President Obama's agenda and, more personally, on the leadership or lack thereof of Michael Steele, the RNC chair. So how long until Steele doesn't have a job?

Ha! DNC fires off a quick and dirty video at Steele.

 read more »

There is a new and expanding scandal in town. And I am realizing it reaches through many aspects of NYC government...and is a further illustration of what is wrong with NYC.

I recently had a dust up here on DG about developer money in City Council elections centering on a candidate named Brad Lander. In resulting discussions both on and off line, I realized how in people's blind focus on developers, either pro- or anti-, what is ignored is the massive conflict of interest that permeates NYC politics where corporate interests (developers and others) donate so much money to politicians that it often determines who wins, and those very same corporate interests get major favors from politicians.  read more »

David Galarza For A New Day, the campaign committee for David Galarza, candidate in the race for Brooklyn’s 38th City Council District (encompassing sections of Sunset Park, Red Hook, Windsor Terrace and South Slope), announced that an open house of their new Sunset Park Field Office will take place this Sunday, April 26, 2009 from 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM the general public is welcome to attend this free event.

What: David Galarza Campaign Sunset Park Field Office Open House

When: Sunday, April 26, 2009
1:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Free to the Public

Where: 5411 7th Avenue (Between 54th & 55th Street), Brooklyn, New York

Why: The open house will offer an opportunity for members of the community to meet David Galarza face to face discuss issues of concern and learn about upcoming events and volunteer opportunities. Light refreshments will be served.

About David Galarza  read more »

Someone fowarded this email from the Math & Science Exploratory School in Brooklyn:

April 22, 2009

Due to the rain on Monday, we had a partial ceiling collapse in the fourth floor gym area. Our gym is currently off limits. We are waiting word from inspectors as to when it will be fixed and usable. Therefore gym classes will be held outside weather permitting or in classrooms.

The person who forwared it to me sent it with this comment:

yikes! i hope no one was injured! good thing there's plenty of money for ratner, but our schools are LITERALLY collapsing...

Funny how money for Ratner is always thought to be creating jobs, but money to maintain our schools isn't. Why is that?

Another day, more wreckage. Distract yourself with this cute effort by the DNC, courtesy of Kombiz.

As President Obama tries to steer something approaching a "middle course" on investigating the criminal actions of the Bush administration, the rhetoric used can be informative. Neither the president nor his spokespeople are using the word "torture" to describe the torture techniques used. Instead, they prefer "harsh interrogation."

The problem is that "harsh interrogation" connotes something perfectly legal, while it seems obvious that the methods used were not, by any legitimate stretch of the imagination, legal. Of course, Bush administration officials tried to rationalize the methods, and Dick Cheney is all over Fox TV saying that they were at least effective and kept America safe (meaning the ends justified the means). But we need a new phrase, one that paints a more accurate picture.

Enter the New York Times.  read more »

The battle is joined. Here's CapCon quoting republican senator Bonacic:

“This report is a missed opportunity to change the dysfunction of Albany to bring about more fairness, more civility and more empowerment for individual Legislators to serve the best interests of their constituents,” Senator John Bonacic (R-C-I, Mount Hope), Co-Chairman of the Committee, said. “The recommendations are small steps to address perception, and do nothing to change the culture that has caused New Yorkers to lose faith and confidence in their state government.”

And here he is on video, taken last year in 2005, claiming anguish over accusations that the upper House is dysfunctional.

Come and participate in a presentation and discussion:

Saturday, April 25th @ 1pm
Trinity Church- bet. 45th and 46th Street, enter at 4th Avenue, Sunset Park, Brooklyn

(Food and beverages provided)

Sunset Park has become increasingly unaffordable for low-income residents and families. With the increase in condominiums being built, high rents that makes it difficult for low income families and small businesses to survive, and increasing costs for food and transportation, just to name a few changes, you may be wondering what is happening and what can I do about it?  read more »

Here is a list of Public Advocate forums and chances to meet Civil Rights champion and Public Advocate candidate coming up around the city, from DFNYC:

Tuesday, April 21, from 7:00-9:00pm. The Barack Obama Dems Candidates Night at Church of the Intercession, 550 W. 155th st. Norman is scheduled for 7:00 PM

Tuesday, April 21, from 7:00-9:00pm. Concerned Democrats Coalition (CDC) at 215 Audubon Ave, Basement (corner of W. 176th St). Norman will arrive by 7:30 PM

Tuesday, April 21, Staten Island Democrats Association (SIDA) Candidate Night at the Road House Restaurant, 1400 Clove Road. Norman is scheduled to speak after 9:00 PM.

Wednesday, April 22, at 8:00-9:30 pm. Three Parks Dems Public Advocate Forum. The Youth Hostel at 103rd and Amsterdam Ave. in the Chapel room. Norman is scheduled to speak at 9:00 pm

Thursday, April 23, at 7:30-8:30 pm pm. Lenox Dems, Lex Dems, & Eleanor Roosevelt Dem Clubs PA Candidates Night at the NYU Blood Center, 310 E. 61st
(btw 1st -2nd Ave).  read more »

Well, this is rich. Via an emailed press release from Democrat Steve Behar, running to succeed Tony Avella in the 19th City Council district:

The Conservative Party of New York State is trying to hijack the
Democratic Party in Northeast Queens. Recently three of my opponents in the race
to succeed Councilman Tony Avella interviewed with the Conservative Party
seeking that party's endorsement. The Conservative Party's ideology and values are
contrary to the values of the Democratic Party. Yet two so-called Democrats in the
District 19 race, Jerry Iannecce and registered lobbyist Paul Vallone, recently
attended a Conservative Party Dinner and are said to be still pushing for that party's endorsement. As a true Democrat who believes in the progressive ideals and values of the Democratic Party, I believe there is no place in our party for the failed ideology and values of George W. Bush and Rush Limbaugh in MY Democratic Party.

Yes, the New York ballot is littered with parties nobody takes seriously, and the conservatives are no exception. It's baffling that they get any more respect than the potheads at the Marijuana party (yes, there is such a thing).

But no, Democrats shouldn't be seeking their support. Vallone must be desperate to do this kind of outreach.  read more »

For some time the bee population has been declining. This is likely due to many causes. However, in the past few years the decline of honeybees started becoming precipitous with entire colonies merely disappearing rapidly. Most people don't realize how alarming this is. But when you consider that a third of our food supply is dependent on insect pollination, and the vast majority of that pollination is thanks to honeybees, it means about one third of our food supply is at risk. Add to this the fact that fisheries are also collapsing (I recently heard that 90% are in decline, though outright collapse is occurring in some 50% of them) and you have some serious food shortages looming.

This is not exaggeration. This is based on current scientific data.

One of the most worrisome aspect of Colony Collapse Disorder was that no one could find a cause for it. It was frustrating not even knowing what the primary threat to our food supply was.  read more »

Some historians say that the Organization of American States is presently the oldest functioning regional organization in the world. That may be true. As a history buff, I generally hate to accept things as gospel; however there is evidence that this claim could be legit. If so, it is something to be proud of.

Somewhere around 1826, Latin-American nationalist Simon Bolivar called for the creation of a regional body, with a multi-national parliamentary assembly, a mutual defense pact and a co-operative military arm. His vision was to unify Latin America against external aggressors and world powers (including the USA).

At this 1826 “Conference of Panama” wheels were set in motion for the creation of a regional body, with the ambitious goals of dealing with hemispheric issues, while at the same time rivaling anything the “old world” had developed in terms of regional governance: a beautiful concept indeed. Go do the research, it makes for fascinating reading. It took many years and lots of name changes before the OAS (as it is now known) officially began on April 14th, 1890: by then the USA was a member.

Over the last 119 years the organization has gone through many more changes and challenges; as I said before, it is fascinating history. While you are at the research, be sure to read any books by Eduardo Galeano that you can get your hands on. He is one of the best writers on Latin-American history that I know.

So why am I writing all this?  read more »

UPDATE AT TE BOTTOM

Results are not official yet and not all ballots have been counted. But the last hope of the Republican candidate, Tedisco, came and went last night with the counting of absentee ballots in his stronghold of Saratoga. To win, barring a major surprise, Tedisco would have had to pull ahead with Saratoga's ballots. He didn't. This morning he was STILL behind by 86 votes. During the day today Murphy's lead has grown to 167 votes. There are no more Tedisco strongholds to save him. It would take a serious fluke to change the result at this time. Results here (not yet certified so unofficial).  read more »

Ninety-seven years ago this Tuesday, RMS Titanic sank beneath the waves to the bottom of the Atlantic. Governor David Paterson seems determined to avoid a similar fate.

Just this week, the governor, who has been the target of withering criticism from friend and foe alike - if we assume arguendo that people care enough to be foes, as a Dem VIP put it to me - has been unusually active. The big-ticket item is the governor's announcement that he would push for marriage equality in the legislature (there's a majority for civil rights in the Assembly, not in the Senate). The bill is to be introduced on Thursday.

But that's not all. Here are some headlines from his press office (no link, as via email):

GOVERNOR PATERSON INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO ALLOW UNEMPLOYED WORKERS TO RECEIVE EXTENDED FEDERAL BENEFITS (April 13th)

GOVERNOR PATERSON ANNOUNCES $38 MILLION FOR DRINKING WATER AND SEWAGE TREATMENT PROJECTS (April 13th)

GOVERNOR PATERSON ANNOUNCES $60 MILLION IN NEW FUNDING FOR HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS (April 9th)

GOVERNOR PATERSON, SENATOR SCHUMER, CONGRESSWOMAN SLAUGHTER AND CONGRESSMAN HIGGINS ANNOUNCE $72 MILLION IN ECONOMIC RECOVERY FUNDING FOR WESTERN NEW YORK INFRASTRUCTURE

Say what you will, but these initiatives are important. If he keeps up this schedule - instead of, say, wasting everyone's time by proposing to tax soda - David Paterson may have a fighting chance yet.  read more »

Several people sent me this article from Daily Politics. Seems city council candidate in Queens, Michael Cohen, was caught in corruption charges against former Liberal Party boss Ray Harding. There seems to have been a corrupt bargain wherein Harding worked with Gov. George Pataki's office to get Cohen a well-paid job in exchange for Cohen giving up his Assembly seat so Andy Hevesi could run for it. Cohen also endorsed Pataki at the same time, making it like so many other corrupt deals in NYC where favors, money and endorsements change hands.

There are several interesting threads in this latest scandal to hit a city council candidate. First off, I can't help but be reminded of the DiBrienza scandal in Brooklyn. Cohen is vowing to stay in the race despite the scandal...much like DiBrienza did. I suspect Cohen's continuation of his campaign will end up much like DiBrienza's as well: rapidly ended.

Second, this is a reminder what a nest of corruption Queens is. I usually write about Brooklyn corruption, but Queens clearly has its share as well.  read more »

This comes from Council Member Letitia James and really seems to be a sign of the times:

Council Member Letitia James Sponsors a Lien Sale Help Session this Thursday

[This] information pertain[s] to a notice sent recently from the Department of Finance, advising property owners that the City may sell debts owed on New York City property taxes and/or water/sewer charges in a lien sale if payment arrangements are not made by May 1st, 2009

On Thursday, April 16th, Council Member Letitia James has arranged for representatives from both the Department of Finance and the Department of Environmental Protection to hold a lien sale help session in the 35th Council District, for property owners to make arrangements to begin payment plans on outstanding debts. Also, please be aware that if you are a senior, or disabled, you may be eligible for a property tax reduction that could prevent the sale of a lien on your property. Properties owned by active duty military personnel may also be removed from the lien sale. Representatives of the Department of Housing Preservation and Development will provide information on low-cost loans as well. The details are as follows:  read more »

Saturday, April 25th
Noon - 4 pm
St. Mary's Park on St. Ann's Avenue and 146th Stree

Get Green: South Bronx Earth Fest: Join Sustainable South Bronx (SSBx) at St. Mary's Park on St. Ann's Avenue and 146th Street to celebrate Earth Day. This intergenerational event will not only celebrate our environment, but also the community we live in. Other expected organizations include Bronx Chamber of Commerce, Bronx River Alliance, Bronx YMCA, CityMatters, Council on the Environment of NYC, Materials for the Arts, Nos Quedamos, NYC Parks Department, and Waste Management of NY.

It has always seemed vaguely insane that NYC devlopers have been pushing for expensive development along the Gowanus canal while it smells like it does and it looks like this:

Development of the Gowanus canal into some kind of Venice-in-Brooklyn has been a long standing dream of many. But it always seemed that people wanted to build before anyone knew whether it was safe or not. Or, more precisely, people wanted to start building while MOST people were pretty damned sure it was NOT safe. My wife keeps predicting if plans to develop went forward it would be the next Love Canal.

Now the EPA has nominated the Gowanus canal for Superfund status. That means it recognizes it as essentially a toxic waste site that requires Federal help to clean up. Boy, I am glad they didn't start building yet! Imagine trying to sell luxury property while the EPA in full protective gear are cleaning it up.  read more »

James Carville apparently jawboned the DSCC into some assistance with paying off Hillary's campaign debt. Here's some excerpts from the breathless email.

So let's get to the fun part -- enter today to win one of three truly once in a lifetime opportunities and you will also be doing something great to help finish off Hillary's debt.

With a contribution today, one of these exclusive prizes could be yours:

Spend a day with President Clinton. Head to New York City to attend several interesting events with President Clinton followed by your own special New York City weekend.

Attend the American Idol season finale. You and a guest will watch live as the American Idol judges make their final comments and decisions on this year's most anticipated season finale!

Want to talk politics with me? How about a spending a weekend in DC. You will have lunch with me and my great friend Paul Begala. We will talk about politics, you will get to tour all the amazing sites DC has to offer and who knows what else could happen!

Here's a hint, from Prefix:

The median [audience] age for this year was forty, which means that the show's audience is aging roughly four years faster than the show itself. Though producers might be trying to reinvigorate things by adding new judge Kara DioGuardi and focusing on younger, hotter contestants, the writing is most definitely on the wall: Listening to bad amateur versions of pop songs makes you old before your time.

So those are your options: accelerate your aging process by watching crappy television live, or hang with Carville. Personally, I'd rather eat g;lass.  read more »

From 538.com, Nate Silver - you may remember him as poblano on Daily Kos - is cautiously confident of Democratic victory in the 20th District. The special election to fill Kirsten Gillibrand's House seat pitted Tedisco against Democrat Scott Murphy, who is presently ahead by the thinnest of hairs.

Although Republican candidate Jim Tedisco is leaving no stone unturned in the special election in New York's 20th Congressional District -- including objecting to the ballot of Kirsten Gillibrand, the woman whom he hopes to replace in the Congress -- the results tallied so far suggest that he is bound for defeat.

So far, according to results released (.pdf) by the New York Secretary of State, Democrat Scott Murphy has received 53.0% percent of the 1,870 the absentee ballots thus far counted by election officials. This translates to a net gain of 112 votes, enough to put him 47 votes ahead of Tedisco once Election Day results -- adjusted to reflect the state's re-canvassing -- are added back into the total.

Notably missing from the absentee count so far is Saratoga County, where Tedisco racked up his largest margin over Murphy on Election Night. Will Tedisco gain enough votes from Saratoga to overtake Murphy?

Well, he might - if Saratoga were the only county with absentee ballots outstanding. But there are plenty of votes still to be counted in Murphy's stronger areas too. Only about 16 percent of absentee ballots have been counted in Coumbia County, only 12 percent in Warren County, and none at all in Washington County. Murphy won between 55.8 and 56.6 percent of the vote in each of these counties on Election Day.

This isn't in the bag yet, but we have room for some cautious optimism.

Recently saw a reasonably good rundown of the race for Brooklyn's 33rd City Council District in City Hall News. Now there is a particular reporter for City Hall News who I plan on never quoting because I have learned from my wife that he is a little weasel who believes it is his job to sneak into private meetings and quote people without permission, and that little weasel will never get a link from me (not that he cares, most likely). But the author of this article is not that little weasel so I am willing to post about it.

The interesting thing about the race for this district, currently Yassky's seat, is just how it pits some real nasty characters against reasonably clean candidates.

Now there are two candidates who I am sure expected to be frontrunners...but they aren't. I am of the impression that Jo Anne Simon is currently the frontrunner in almost every way, though in a 6-way race that may change. I will discuss Jo Anne later. First I want to discuss the two who surely expected frontrunner status but who are just as surely lagging.  read more »