Let's review just why we need to get rid of Slasher Monserrate in the special election in Queens on March 16:

Here is video of Monserrate dragging his girlfriend outside after the slashing he claims was accidental. Is this how you would treat YOUR loved one after accidentally slashing her? From Albany Project:

More reminders here: The Facts on Hiram Monserrate

So for the sake of Queens, New York City, New York State and ALL of us, let's get rid of Slasher Monserrate in the March 16 Special Election

This comes from Democracy for NYC:

Tuesday, March 16, 2010, there will be a special election for State Senate, right here in NYC. Democracy for NYC is proud to announce that we have endorsed Assemblymember José Peralta. Here are the results of the endorsement vote:

74% José Peralta
26% No Endorsement
0% Hiram Monserrate

If you've heard about this race, it may seem like Peralta will win easily. But Monserrate has big name recognition in this district - he was the Senator until he was expelled by vote of the State Senate after a serious domestic violence offense. Peralta is a great candidate, but unknown to many in the district and it will take a lot of grassroots volunteers to make sure the voters know about this very important election.

Homophobic Flyer:
José Peralta is a strong supporter of marriage equality, and his opponent Hiram Monserrate voted against the marriage equality bill. As reported by Daily News reporter Liz Benjamin, the following homophobic flyer is being distributed by supporters of Hiram Monserrate at churches in the 13th Senate District:
http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2010/03/anti-gay-rhetoric...  read more »

Today was the official groundbreaking ceremony for Bruce Ratner's Atlantic Yards, which former slave traders Barclays has the naming rights for. I was going to try and make the protests against this ceremony to mark the destruction of Central Brooklyn, the increased sewage load on an already over flowing sewage system and the increased gridlock in an already over crowded road system. But I couldn't skip work today. So I missed it. From what I hear, not that many elected officials made the groundbreaking either...perhaps realizing how unpopular the traffic, street closings and sewage overflows are going to be. And maybe when taxpayers realize how much people like Bloomberg, Marty Markowitz and Vito Lopez are making us pay for Ratner to make money, people will like it even less. But now the damage begins.

Here is the statement from Councilmember Tish James on the groundbreaking:

“He, who has money, has power, influence, and ultimately politicians.  read more »

Sustainable South Bronx is one of the best organizations in the city, addressing environment, health and poverty all at the same time. Here are a couple of excellent upcoming events for Sustainable South Bronx.

Happy Hour with Sustainable South Bronx
Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010
5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Bruckner Bar and Grill
1 Bruckner Boulevard
Bronx, NY 10454-4411
Cost $25 in advance, includes 2 free drinks and appetizers
RSVP by March 19, 2010 at Brown Paper Tickets
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/99880
Contact: Laura Johnson Avanessian at ljohnson@ssbx.org or 646.400.5433

4th Annual Hunts Point Hustle
5K Run/ Walk Race

on the future site of the South Bronx Greenway

Saturday, May 22, 2010
9am
Hunts Point Riverside Park
Calling for Volunteers!

To volunteer, call 646.400.5432 today.

Sponsorship Opportunities! Call 646.400.5433 today for information
on a variety of sponsorship opportunities.

Not able to give right now? Ask about other ways in which you can support
the Hunts Point Hustle and Sustainable South Bronx!  read more »

Well, perhaps soon my wife's pictures of the slime in the Gowanus canal (we beat the NY Times to it by more than a year) may become a thing of the past. Today the United States Environmental Protection Agency finally designated the Gowanus Canal as a Superfund site, designated for cleanup. I think we can all greet this with relief, with the exception of developers who wanted to develop the site with stink and slime intact for reasons which I cannot understand unless their greed has just decayed their common sense. I can only imagine real estate agents trying to move luxury apartments as that Gowanus stink wafted on the breeze.

But now a real cleanup is in the works thanks to Obama's EPA. Here is the Press release from State Senator Velmanette Montgomery, an early supporter (along with the Army Corps of Engineers and the Columbia University’s Urban Design Lab) of Superfund designation as the best way to clean up the canal:

Senator Velmanette Montgomery on EPA Superfunding the Gowanus Canal:
THANK YOU!  read more »