In 2005, after the primary, I wrote something of a scathing article criticizing the NYC grassroots for failing to put up a good fight and suggested that if we don't work harder, the only candidates who will ever get anywhere are the big money candidates like Hillary Clinton, Betsy Gotbaum (whose that?) and the like. Michael Bouldin's tirade about progressives this year has similarities with my 2005 rant. In many ways I agree with Michael.
But, 2006 is different. Unlike 2005, the grassroots worked extremely hard this year. We have matured since 2005, I think, and we did far more than we did in 2005 to win. We fought for a better mix of candidates, from the very progressive Bill Batson to the more mainstream but still kick ass Velmanette Montgomery and Eric Adams. We also, to a small degree, helped in the reform victory for civil court judge, helping Dena Douglas and Jackie Williams win. But I don't think I can say we won in 2006. We grew, but it wasn't enough.
I think Michael's article failed to recognize that we have come a few steps further since 2005. And I will note that some of the factors that helped us do so include the personalities of our best candidates, particularly Chris Owens, as well as the horror at the mess Ratner, Pataki and Bloomberg are shoving down the throat of Brooklyn. But Michael is right that those few steps are far from enough.
But I don't think you will EVER get the "alphabet soup" of progressive organizations to simplify itself. I am challenging the whole "alphabet soup" of Brooklyn politics to start talking and cooperate. This means reform (no...that does NOT mean "conservative") clubs as well as progressives. Independent Neighborhood Democrats (IND) has to open up and relax a little, including Buddy Scotto. If IND doesn't want repeats of its paralysis this year, it has to learn to play nice with others. Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats (CBID) did fairly well this year. I advise them to lighten up a bit, too. Less internal personal rivalries and more solid activism. But I was impressed with how CBID worked this year for their endorsed candidates. Democracy for NYC (DFNYC) did some wonderful stuff as well. My main complaint with DFNYC is that I feel like each meeting has to start organizing from scratch and commitment of members is spotty. New Democratic Majority (NDM) as an organization was absent from Brooklyn, though those of us who co-host and attend the Brooklyn meetings worked tirelessly this year. But NDM overall seemed to slumber through it all. Unless I missed something, which is QUITE possible.
I want to express some personal comments to my friends who I worked with this year.
Chris Owens is someone I met at DFNYC meetings. The best thing about Chris is that he is an intelligent and articulate advocate for Democratic values. To all who denegrated him recently, you have much to learn. Your denegration of this man's character either shows you know very little or were cynically attacking a good man for your own gain...something I expect from Karl Rove and Republicans, not from Democrats. We need Chris, whether as an organizer and inspiration or as an elected official. Chris is inspiring as few other Democrats I have ever met have been. We need you, Chris. I want to work with you to build a better and bigger coalition in Brooklyn. I know you aren't going to fade away but continue to fight. I will be there with you.
Bill Batson is someone I met much more recently, though also at a DFNYC meeting. One thing I especially thank DFNYC for is for giving me the chance to meet people like Chris and Bill. Bill is different than Chris, though also intelligent and articulate. We need you, too, Bill. You are a little more of a bull in the Brooklyn china shop of politics than Chris is...but boy does Brooklyn need someone to break a few plates so we can get something new and improved in stock. I definitely want to work with you more to build a better and bigger and perhaps a bit bolder coalition. And Joy and I still want to see your art work, something we never were able to stop by and do during the frantic campaigning.
To the local grassroots and clubs: we all worked hard but goddamit we need to work together better. There are some great minds in NYC now. Michael Bouldin, Devin Cohen, Tracy Denton, Josh Skaller, Heather Woodfield, Liza Sabater, Merele Mceldowney and many others. We worked so hard this year and failed. What do we need to do? We either have to become much better at fundraising or we have to be much, much better united, or we have to find a way to come to a better agreement with unions. Or all three.
The last is a tragedy. The Republicans and big business has done a wonderful job of splitting progressives and unions from eachother. It is ABSURD that progressives and unions fight while Ratner, rich and corrupt developer that he is, cleans up. Progressives NEED TO RECONNECT WITH UNIONS. They don't need to agree on everything, but they need to reconnect. Locally the unions think they don't need progressives. In a short-term, narrow and blind sort of way, they are probably right. But in a more strategic, long-term way, if unions want to stop having to beg Bloomberg and Ratner for crumbs and stop Republican union busting across the nation, they had sure better make up to us progressives because they are NOT as strong as they once was. Yvette's win proves they are strong. But if you look at how Bloomberg and Ratner have screwed and manipulated unions and how nationally Republicans have gutted labor, unions are looking pretty feeble on the grander stage. Nationally progressives and unions desperately need EACHOTHER. Locally that is harder to see because unions are being petted and fed by Ratner to make them think they are doing well. I think they are sadly mistaken, but in truth that is an issue I would rather discuss openly and respectfully with unions than simply say I think they are wrong and have them think I am wrong. Let's look nationally and realize that we are HURTING in Bush's Enron/Halliburton crony capitalist economy and the only way we can stop it is if progressives and labor get together.
I look forward to having some serious strategic discussions with Chris, Bill and my friends in the grassroots organizations and the clubs. We have to start first by linking with eachother. I am here. Talk to me. You know I have monthly meetings for progressive organizers to meet and talk. If you represent a progressive organization or club, come join our discussions. Talking to eachother is the first step.
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