Brooklyn is a fucked up place for Democrats. Seriously. And this is largely due to the insane, selfish and greedy machinations of the party leader Vito Lopez.

The most recent insanity that Vito Lopez's machinations have delivered to us is the candidacy of a horrible, anti-choice, anti-LGBT candidate for Assembly named Rafael Espinal. This guy is so awful that the Conservative and Republican Parties of New York wanted to endorse him. The only reason that the Republicans cannot endorse him is that he screwed up the paperwork, so can't be on the Republican line.

Opposed to this corrupt sleazebag are two candidates. First there is the useless candidate of the long-standing political Towns dynasty Deidra Towns. And then there is the REAL Democratic Candidate, Jesus Gonzalez, who is running on the normally corrupt and sleazy Working Families Party line, but this time seems pretty kick ass.  read more »

I have been watching the unfolding WFP scandal with some interest, but have been waiting to comment. Partly I wasn't at first sure if we were talking minor technicalities that WFP ran afoul of or if we are talking about a deeper pattern of disregard for campaign finance laws. I am now thinking it is a deeper pattern of disregard for the law, or at least an attempt to skirt the laws, that we are talking about. [Couple of UPDATES added]

An article in City Hall News covers this developing scandal in considerable detail. Here is the breakdown they give of the scandal:  read more »

I had been surprised when the Working Families Party betrayed one of their former allies, Ken Diamondstone, in the race for the 33rd City Council district in favor of Vito Lopez's canidtdate, Steve Levin. Beytraying a friend for a candidate connected to the corrupt local machine seemed rather disappointing for those who have high hopes for WFP.

Seems Ken Diamondstone is not giving up without a fight. This is from Ken's campaign:

"I have successfully empowered members of the Working Families Party to choose their nominee for the City Council in the 33rd District themselves at the ballot box - the democratic way. My campaign has successfully circulated enough 'opportunity to ballot' petitions to necessitate a primary for the Working Families Party. I was saddened when power players in the WFP decided to appoint Steven Levin as their nominee for City Council in a backroom deal. Levin is a classic machine politician and the protégé of Assemblyman and party boss Vito Lopez, whose dictatorial leadership has taken the democracy out of the Brooklyn Democratic Party.  read more »

Not long ago, taking a break from my wonderful vacation, I responded to a letter going around regarding the fix being in for WFP endoring Bloomberg. You can read my diary here. Tonight I got an email from WFP endorsing Bill Thompson for mayor. Here is an excerpt from that email:

Less than an hour ago, the WFP's New York City Coordinating Council, the grassroots leadership of the party, voted to back Thompson - matching the sentiment of the overwhelming majority of WFP members and supporters who watched our Mayoral Forum and graded each candidate's performance.

Thompson has a clear message. He believes that city government must always put the middle class and working families first - above the real estate developers and corporate interests that have dominated our city for too long. In a Thompson Administration, Wall Street won't be the only street that matters anymore. Flatbush Avenue, Queens Blvd., The Grand Concourse, Victory Boulevard, and 125th St will have a real voice in City Hall.  read more »