Brooklyn, NY -- October 25, 2005 -- Representatives of Gloria Mattera's Green Party Campaign for Brooklyn Borough President announced today that contributions to the campaign have exceeded the threshold for 4 to 1 matching funds from New York City's Campaign Finance program.

"I am proud to be the first Green Party candidate eligible for matching funds for this office," said Mattera. "This demonstrates tremendous support for our campaign from city residents who are tired of watching Marty Markowitz act as a doormat for Bruce Ratner and other developers who want to take over our city. The Campaign Finance Program levels the playing field for candidates such as myself who do not accept corporate campaign contributions, and is a wonderful tool in support of grass roots democracy."

To qualify, program participants running for Brooklyn Borough President must receive a total of $49,307 from at least 100 eligible contributors with a maximum amount of $250 applying toward matching funds, which will be at least $200,000 for the Mattera Campaign.

The outpouring of donations for Gloria's campaign exemplifies true grass roots commitment to a candidate who's not for sale," said Daniel Kadin, Mattera Campaign fundraiser, who noted that more than 800 people donated an average of $70 to meet the threshold.

In contrast, Markowitz has received at least 537 contributions of $1000 or more, including from real estate, banking and construction interests, and including the heads of four banks.

"These funds will enable us to run a forceful and high-profile campaign against a well-funded incumbent who has abandoned his party to endorse Bloomberg," said Colby Hamilton, campaign manager for the Mattera Campaign. "Through newspaper, radio and TV ads, and face-to-face outreach to voters on the street, we intend to let every Brooklyn resident know they have a real choice in this election."

http://electgloria.org

Who: Cindy Sheehan, mother of Casey, killed in Iraq.
Where: Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church, 85 South Oxford St.,
Brooklyn When: Sunday, September 18, 8:00 p.m.

Bring Them Home Now Tour arrives in Brooklyn this Sunday evening

Contact: Rev. David Dyson - 718 625 7515; Gloria Mattera - 917 886 1419

Cindy Sheehan's son Casey was killed in Iraq. In August she camped outside President Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas, attracting international attention for her protest against the war and the senseless death of her son.

On Sunday, September 18, Sheehan will bring her story to Brooklyn. She
will be joined by members of the Bring Them Home Now tour. Members of the Tour are speaking in cities across the United States as they travel by bus from Camp Casey in Crawford, Texas to Washington, D.C. for the Sept. 24 United for Peace and Justice March and Rally to End the War on Iraq.

Show your opposition to the war. Be there for Cindy, Casey and all those
civilians and soldiers needlessly killed in Iraq.

http://www.bringthemhomenowtour.org

Peace and solidarity
Gloria Mattera (Green Party candidate for Brooklyn Borough President,
www.electgloria.org)

ALERT: NYPD arrests Camp Casey NYC Organizer

On Monday night, the NYPD arrested Paul Zulkowitz at Camp Casey NYC in Union Square, despite the fact that organizers had a valid permit. Zulkowitz, a member of the Green Party's Peace Action Committee, has been one of the leading organizers of the effort to maintain a continuous presence at Camp Casey NYC in solidarity with Cindy Sheehan for the past two weeks.

This attack on First Amendment rights to Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Assembly comes as President Bush continues to claim that he is waging war in order to spread democracy and freedom. On the very day that Bush is attempting to force a Constitution on the people of Iraq at gunpoint, he and Mayor Bloomberg are working to silence dissent in the U.S. Ironically, this arrest comes almost one year to the day after the mass protests and illegal detnetion of RNC pretesters.

Organizers of Camp Casey are asking everyone who possibly can to stop by at Union Square, even if its only for a few minutes, to demonstrate your support and take a stand for our Constitutional rights.

How you can help:

**Call Mayor Bloomberg
Tell him to stop the NYPD assault on freedom of speech: 212-772-1081

Join us at Camp Casey in Union Sq.
Please join, support & visit with activists and organizers there now. Show Mayor Bloomberg and the NYPD that we will not be silenced. South side of Union Square Park, near 14th St. and University Place.

Mattera Campaign Hands In Petitions; Green Party Candidate Ready to Debate Markowitz

The Gloria Mattera for Brooklyn Borough President Campaign handed in almost 8,000 independent nominating petition signatures to the New York City Board of Elections at 10:30am Tuesday morning. 4000 signatures are required for the office.

“These signatures represent grass roots support for my campaign to bring open government to Brooklyn,

An audible groan could be heard on Thursday amongst the opponents of the Brooklyn Nets arena and development debacle courtesy of Bruce Ratner (aka C.M. Burns) and Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz (aka Mayor Quimby), when the supreme court ruling on Eminent Domain was handed down by the so-called liberal coalition of the court.

Bad enough that media whore Markowitz and billionaire-soon-to-be multi-billionaire Ratner have managed to run an end-run around New York's City Council (yes, the local goverment of a city of 8 million will have no say in the if/ how/why the debacle is planned/executed/funded), but now we have the 'liberal' justices on the court giving Ratner, Wal-Mart, Ikea, and just about anybody who has enough money to buy off a local election or local politician free reign to destroy your home or business.

Well, I'm mad, and I'm not going to take it anymore....

Time for a constitutional ammendment baring Eminent Domain abuse for corporate interests (and restrictions on Eminent Domain abuse for government public use as well).  

It's also time for a new Brooklyn Borough President. No democrat or republican has stepped forward to challenge Markowitz, so a Green candidate has. Go meet Gloria Mattera, and while you're there, drop a dime in the slot (with the usual penny added), especially if you are an NYC resident, as your donation (up to $250) will be matched by the NYC campaign finance board 4-to-1 if she reaches $50,000 in matchable donations.