Recently I posted about the impending rumble at the Independent Neighborhood Democrats (IND) this Thursday. Well, the first skirmishes have begun.

[UPDATES INCLUDED]

The background is this:

Old-time member of IND, one Salvatore "Buddy" Scotto, has been blatantly packing the club with people who have not previously been active in the club. I should note that Scotto has previously expressed outrage at others packing the club. There is a touch of hypocrisy here.

Scotto used this packing to push through the endorsements of Yassky and de Blasio at the last endorsement meeting. This caused some anger in the club, but to me was not outside the normal workings of the club, though I will have more to say on that later.

Many believe that Scotto's packing is also aimed at endorsing anti-choice, anti-marriage equality, pro-developer candidate John Heyer (who works for Marty Markowitz) for city council in the 39th district.

Many believe that this would sacrifice the basic priciples of the club (pro-choice, supportive of LGBT, etc.) for one man's obsession with the Gowanus canal development.

Many also see this as a betrayal by Scotto of former club President Bob Zuckerman, another candidate in the race.

[UPDATE I should note that as the opening skirmishes begin, I hear one bone of contention having to do with who can vote in IND, has been amicably resolved.]

And so the battle lines are drawn, with Scotto and his packers on one side and the rest of the club on the other. Most vocal in opposing Heyer are district leader Alan Fleishman, club President Kenn Lowy, and blogger Gatemouth.

So this week, Alan, Kenn and Gatemouth have been broadcasting their opposition to IND members, on Room 8, and in the Brooklyn Papers (the last of which, now that it is Murdoch run, is actually misquoting people to make them sound more inflammatory).

Their main questions have been Heyer's own positions on choice and marriage equality (though Heyer has expressed support of civil unions), though I think there should also be discussion of the development of the Gowanus canal since Scotto wants to develop it without comprehensive clean up, preferring to rely on the kindness of corporations to clean it up part of it without adequate oversight or complete cleanup. The contention of Heyer's opponents are not denying him the right to hold his opinions. They are saying that he is inappropriate for the district (a liberal district) and inappropriate for a liberal club like IND to endorse. And I think the way Buddy Scotto is doimg it has raised considerable anger and distrust. I should note that I have always felt packing was perhaps undesirable, but unavoidable and so I don't generally feel as outraged, whoever does it. But I do feel that anyone who DOES object to it should not himself be doing it.

To me the most surprising result of this opposition is that Heyer turned coward in the face of it. I did not expect this and I think it is uncharacteristic. He always struck me as a straightfoward kind of guy who had no trouble honestly discussing disagreements. But instead of facing his opposition in last night's IND/CBID sponsored candidate forum, he angrily withdrew from the forum! In fact he is calling this criticism anti-Catholic!

Sorry, Heyer, your positions on issues that affect many in your district ARE open to criticism, just like everyone's positions are. It is called focusing on the issues. Everyone agrees Heyer is a nice guy, so this is not a character attack. It is opposition to his stand on issues.

Heyer: backing out of scheduled events didn't do John McCain any good and it won't do you any good either. Better that you face your opposition respectfully and honestly, not wrongly and cynically accuse them of discrimination. I suspect when Heyer cools down he will respond better and regret dissing IND and CBID by skipping their forum. I predict Heyer will return to his normal dapper and calm demeanor quickly.

But there is another surprising aspect of this. Even though Heyer is anti-choice, it has so far only been male members of the club who have vocally opposed Heyer. What does Jo Anne Simon, district leader and candidate for City Council in an adjacent district, has been silent. Joan Millman, Assemblywoman from that district, has been silent. Both women are pro-choice and intimately associated with IND. Why are they silent? Why are they silent about Buddy Scotto's strong arm tactics in the club? Why are they silent about Heyer's anti-choice stand? Why are they silent about the betrayal of Bob Zuckerman?

I am sure they will both speak out, in full public view, this coming Thursday.