Earlier this month I highlighted City Council candidate Yetta Kurland's efforts to protect NYC hospitals from the epidemic of closures as well as her endorsement for City Council from the Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC). You can read their endorsement here.

Yetta Kurland has picked up another endorsement for City Council, this time from the Amalgamated Transit Union. From their press release:

New York, NY – Civil rights attorney and radio show host Yetta Kurland announced yet another labor endorsement today, this time by Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) International.

ATU’s Local 1181 is currently on strike in New York City demanding better conditions for their workers.

“I am honored that at a time when the members of Amalgamated Transit Union are busy fighting for their members on the frontlines, that they would take time to support me in my run for City Council. It shows the level of commitment these workers have to making this City a better place for all working New Yorkers.” said Yetta Kurland.

International ATU President Larry Hanley said “We are proud to endorse Yetta Kurland. Yetta has been there for us on the picket line, and she will be a voice for us in City Hall. Just as she courageously stands up for working men and women, we at the Amalgamated Transit Union proudly stand behind her in her candidacy for City Council.”

Kurland has already received early endorsements from TWU Local 100, CWA Local 1180, DC 37, Local 372, the NYS Machinists District 15 along with several elected officials and clubs including the Women’s Democratic Club of NYC.

Yetta strikes me as the kind of activist that this city lacks in its government. The City Council is one of the tamest (and lamest) I have seen in any city, seldom standing up to anything the mayor does. I think Yetta would make things at least somewhat more interesting. Some background from her website:  read more »

Looks like Daily Gotham is up again. And this seems like a good test post.

I remember Yetta Kurland from the fight to keep St. Vincent's Hospital (which happens to be the hospital where Jacob was born) open. And let's remember that closing of St. Vincent's coupled with the closing of NYU's Tisch Hospital, Bellevue Hospital and the VA hospital meant that emergency room coverage was critically low in Manhattan for some time after Sandy. In fact the NYU Medical Center's emergency room remains down today, though I believe their Urgent Care center is now open.

Sadly few people have been championing keeping hospitals open. The dynamic is a complex one. Hospitals almost all run at a loss. This is not because of mismanagement usually but because the cost of care in emergency rooms and ICUs is so hugely expensive that it tends to lose money at a huge rate...in order to save lives. The more people who don't have health insurance, the more people who have to depend on emergency rooms for basic care...and the more money it costs the hospitals. Reduce the number of uninsured people and spread emergency visits over more hospitals and the burden on each hospital is reduced. But leave lots of uninsured and close hospitals and each remaining hospital gets an even higher burden on their emergency rooms...driving them deeper into a financial hole.

Closing St. Vincent's just increased the burden on every other hospital. Of course Healthcare reform is a key way to improve the financial strength of our hospitals, but closing hospitals really isn't. Yetta Kurland gets that.

Yetta is running for City Council again in Manhattan (for the seat Christine Quinn is vacating) and hospitals is one of her main issues. And this morning the Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC) has endorsed her. From their press release:

40 blocks. That's the distance from the lower tip of Manhattan to the nearest trauma-treating hospital. In a city like New York , that distance could mean the difference between life and death.

That's one of the top issues Yetta Kurland, proud progressive, has been leading the charge on. She fought the closure of St. Vincent's Hospital and has been working hard to ensure that Lower Manhattan has the medical facilities it needs, especially with so many hospitals closed due to Sandy damage.

Now, Yetta Kurland is campaigning for New York City Council in your area, as a next step in serving the community. We are proud to endorse Yetta, the bold progressive in the race.

Yetta doesn't just talk the talk. She organizes for progressive change. Recently, she's helped lead local efforts to coordinate volunteers and relief efforts for Sandy victims. This Saturday, she's asking her team to take a break from campaigning and instead join her in the National Day of Service in the Rockaways.

Can you join Yetta this Saturday(January 19, 9:00am - 5:00pm) while she helps Sandy victims clean up and rebuild their community? Click to see details and RSVP.

We were proud to work with Yetta as we organized a New York event for Elizabeth Warren. Yetta Kurland is from the Elizabeth Warren wing of the Democratic Party, and we see Yetta as a rising progressive star who will do big things for New York .

Whether or not you can make it on Saturday, you should still take time to learn about Yetta's campaign.

Click here to volunteer for her campaign or join her email list and Like Yetta on Facebook for up-to-date campaign news!
Thanks for being a bold progressive.

-- Adam Green, Stephanie Taylor, Kayla Wingbermuehle, and the PCCC team

You can check out her website here.  read more »

I have been doing a running report on endorsements for the June 26th Democratic Primary in NYC (particularly Brooklyn races which I know the most about). Here is my latest update.

I want to note that voting in these primaries is critical. People complain about corruption in local politics all the time, but if they don't vote in these primaries they are doing nothing to fight that corruption. If you want a better system for Brooklyn and for NY State, pay attention to these primaries! It also helps to donate to or volunteer for some of these candidates.

LATEST ENDORSEMENTS:

CENTRAL BROOKLYN INDEPENDENT DEMOCRATS: Considered the most progressive and most reform club in Brooklyn.

One of the best things about this club is that they require candidates to fill out pretty tough questionnaires so you can read about each candidate. Click here to see the questionnaires that have been turned in for the June 26th primary.

Now here are the CBID endorsements:

LATEST CBID ENDORSEMENTS:

Martine Guerrier (57th Assembly District) (Something of an upset in the club, but many people found her very smart and refreshing)

Robin Garson (Civil Court Judge)

PREVIOUS CBID ENDORSEMENTS:

DISTRICT LEADER:

Jo Anne Simon (District Leader AD 52)
Chris Owens (District Leader AD 52)
Lincoln Restler (50th AD Male DL)
Lori Citron Knipel (44th AD District Leader)
Jacob Gold (44th AD District Leader)

ASSEMBLY:

Joan Millman (52nd AD)
Jim Brennan (44th AD)

STATE SENATE:

Velmanette Montgomery (18th SD)
Eric Adams (20th SD)
Kevin Parker (21st SD)
Daniel Squadron (25th SD)

CONGRESS:

Nydia Velazquez (7th CD)
No Endorsement (8th CD)
Yvette Clarke (9th CD)
Jerrold Nadler (10th CD)

Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club (LGBT issues)

Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club Endorsement List Primary 2012

PRESIDENT: Barack Obama

UNITED STATES SENATE: Kirsten Gillibrand

DISTRICT LEADER RACES

52nd Assembly District State Committee, Brooklyn: Jo Anne Simon
66th Assembly District State Committee, Manhattan: Arthur Schwartz

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

6th Rory Lancman, Queens
7th Nydia Velazquez, Brooklyn
8th Hakeem Jeffries, Brooklyn
9th Yvette Clarke, Brooklyn
10th Jerry Nadler, Manhattan/Brooklyn
11th Mark Murphy, Brooklyn/Staten Island
12th Carolyn Maloney, Manhattan/Queens
13th Charles Rangel, Manhattan
15th Jose Serrano, Bronx

NEW YORK STATE SENATE

11th Senate District, Tony Avella, Queens
13th Senate District, Jose R. Peralta, Queens
16th Senate District Toby Ann Stavisky, Queens
20th Senate District, Eric Adams, Brooklyn
21st Senate District, Kevin S. Parker, Brooklyn
22nd Senate District, Andrew Gounardes, Brooklyn
23rd Senate District, Diane J. Savino, Staten Island/Brooklyn
25th Senate District, Velmanette Montgomery, Brooklyn
28th Senate District, Liz Kruger, Manhattan
27th Senate District, Tom Duane, Manhattan
30th Senate District, Bill Perkins, Manhattan
31st Senate District, Mark Levine, Manhattan
33nd Senate District, Gustavo Rivera, Manhattan

NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY

28th Assembly District, Andrew Hevesi, Queens
39th Assembly District Francisco Moya, Queens
42nd Assembly District Rhoda Jacobs, Brooklyn
44th Assembly District James F. Brennan, Brooklyn
52nd Assembly District Joan Millman, Brooklyn
57th Assembly District Olanike Alabi, Brooklyn
61st Assembly District Matthew Titone, Staten Island
64th Assembly District Sheldon Silver, Manhattan
70th Assembly District, Keith L.T. Wright, Manhattan
71st Assembly District Herman D. Farrell, Jr., Manhattan
73rd Assembly District Dan Quart, Manhattan
75th Assembly District Richard Gottfried, Manhattan

JUDICIAL RACES

Surrogate Court Manhattan: Rita Mella
3rd Civil Court District, Manhattan: Olga Statz

OLDER ENDORSEMENTS:

Lambda Independent Democrats (LGBT issues)

For Congress...
Nydia Velazquez, 7th CD
Hakeem Jeffries, 8th CD
Yvette Clarke, 9th CD
Jerrold Nadler, 10th CD
Mark Murphy, 11th CD
Carolyn Maloney, 12th CD

For NY State Senate...
Eric Adams, 20th District
Kevin Parker, 21st District
Diane Savino, 23rd District
Andrew Gounardes for State Senate, District 22
Velmanette Montgomery for State Senate, District 18
Daniel Squadron for State Senate, District 25

For NY State Assembly...
Rhoda Jacobs, 42nd AD
Olanike Alabi, 57th AD
Jim Brennan for State Assembly, District 44
John Mancuso for State Assembly, District 60
Joan Millman for State Assembly, District 52

For Civil Court Judge...
Lizette Colon
Robin Garson
Wavny Toussaint

For District Leader...
Lincoln Restler for Male District Leader, 50th AD
Jo Anne Simon for Female District Leader, 52nd AD
Faryce Moore for Female District Leader, 57th AD
Joanne Seminara for Female District Leader, 60th AD
Jacob Gold for District Leader/State Committee, Assembly District 44
Lori Knipel for District Leader/State Committee, Assembly District 44
Chris Owens for District Leader/State Committee, Assembly District 52

More below  read more »

On June 26th [it's good if I get the damned date right!] there is an important Democratic Primary election in NY State. The decisions are between reform and corrupt, progressive and regressive. I would like to do another of my round ups of endorsements from local clubs, focusing on those that are considered progressive and reform-oriented.

I want to note that voting in these primaries is critical. People complain about corruption in local politics all the time, but if they don't vote in these primaries they are doing nothing to fight that corruption. If you want a better system for Brooklyn and for NY State, pay attention to these primaries! It also helps to donate to or volunteer for some of these candidates.

So here is a round up of endorsements from local clubs and organizations. (Presented before with the addition of Lambda Independent Democrats' latest endorsements)

MOST RECENT ENDORSEMENT: Lambda Independent Democrats (LGBT issues)

For Congress...
Nydia Velazquez, 7th CD
Hakeem Jeffries, 8th CD
Yvette Clarke, 9th CD
Jerrold Nadler, 10th CD
Mark Murphy, 11th CD
Carolyn Maloney, 12th CD

For NY State Senate...
Eric Adams, 20th District
Kevin Parker, 21st District
Diane Savino, 23rd District
Andrew Gounardes for State Senate, District 22
Velmanette Montgomery for State Senate, District 18
Daniel Squadron for State Senate, District 25

For NY State Assembly...
Rhoda Jacobs, 42nd AD
Olanike Alabi, 57th AD
Jim Brennan for State Assembly, District 44
John Mancuso for State Assembly, District 60
Joan Millman for State Assembly, District 52

For Civil Court Judge...
Lizette Colon
Robin Garson
Wavny Toussaint

For District Leader...
Lincoln Restler for Male District Leader, 50th AD
Jo Anne Simon for Female District Leader, 52nd AD
Faryce Moore for Female District Leader, 57th AD
Joanne Seminara for Female District Leader, 60th AD
Jacob Gold for District Leader/State Committee, Assembly District 44
Lori Knipel for District Leader/State Committee, Assembly District 44
Chris Owens for District Leader/State Committee, Assembly District 52

CENTRAL BROOKLYN INDEPENDENT DEMOCRATS: Considered the most progressive and most reform club in Brooklyn.

One of the best things about this club is that they require candidates to fill out pretty tough questionnaires so you can read about each candidate. Click here to see the questionnaires that have been turned in for the June 1st primary.

Now here are the CBID endorsements:

Jo Anne Simon (District Leader AD 52)
Chris Owens (District Leader AD 52)
Joan Millman (52nd AD)
Jim Brennan (44th AD)
Nydia Velazquez (7th CD)
No Endorsement (8th CD)
Yvette Clarke (9th CD)
Lori Citron Knipel (44th AD District Leader)
Jacob Gold (44th AD District Leader)
Rep. Jerrold Nadler (10th CD)
Sen. Velmanette Montgomery (18th SD)
Sen. Eric Adams (20th SD)
Sen. Kevin Parker (21st SD)
Sen. Daniel Squadron (25th SD)
Hon. Lincoln Restler (50th AD Male DL)  read more »

... at least according to a group of mixed gay queer/straight/what have you activists who shut the place down this past Saturday.

Yesterday, 150 people occupied the LGBT Center!! Queers Against Israeli Apartheid [sic] and 15 other groups* packed the lobby with chants, signs, speak-outs and a banner drop. Check out photos, video and press coverage.

We protested the Center's horrifying indifference to the queers of color, Arab and Muslim queers, and activist queers whose work got us where we are today -- and who are marginalized by the ban on queer human rights organizing in solidarity with Palestinians.

As is usual with these things, there was a list of organizers and participating groups, a total of fifteen.

Queers for an Open LGBT Center (QFOLC)
alQaws for Sexual and Gender Diversity in Palestinian Society
Adalah-NY: The New York Campaign for the Boycott of Israel
Brooklyn for Peace
Jewish Voice for Peace-NY
Jews Say No!
International Action Center
International Socialist Organization
Metropolitan Community Church of New York
New York Association for Gender Rights Advocacy (NYAGRA)
Palestinian Queers for BDS
SALGA
Sylvia Rivera Law Project
Workers World Party
Young, Jewish and Proud

Out of these fifteen, even applying the broadest possible measure, seven - bolded above - were actual LGBT organizations. The rest were not. The Workers World party, for example, is a socialist group with a distinct fondness for North Korea, a régime not especially known for its inclusive policies towards anyone, really, let alone sexual minorities. And while I personally am all for "Sexual and Gender Diversity in Palestinian Society", that's not really an issue I'd be willing to disrupt the LGBT Center in New York City over. It's a question of relevance.

Here's a hint, folks: if someone, like the Center, tells you you're not welcome, perhaps you'd be best off building your own space. Because from everything I'm hearing, and I hear quite a bit, you didn't really make yourselves any friends this past weekend. Queer, gay, or otherwise.  read more »