[UPDATE: Seems today's Daily News has confirmation that Nydia Velasquez is a front runner to replace Hillary Clinton should she be elevated by Obama (Cabinet or, possibly, Supreme Court). Don't know about you, but I heard it first at CBID!]

Tonight was CBID's (Central Brooklyn Independent Neighborhood Democrats) dinner honoring the Brooklyn for Obama people who worked so hard both locally and nationally to elect Barack Obama. It was held at Bogota, the excellent Colombian restaurant on 5th Ave. Those who know me know that I paid particular attention to the food, so let me get that out of the way, then I will mention some of the rumors that came my way today both at the dinner and by email after I posted my "Defeating Tsar Bloomberg and his Trained Surrender Monkeys" diary.

The judicial convention is one of the ways corruption can best thrive in Brooklyn's machine dominated political landscape. Yet most Brooklynites have no clue what the judicial convention is, why we have it, or what needs changing about it.

Apparently Chris Owens, President of Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats, wants to do something about that. His efforts have created something of a stir because he is raising money as part of his run for delegate to the judicial convention. This raised eyebrows because no one could imagine why you need money to run for an uncontested party position. I held off commenting for the most part because I suspected there may well be a plan behind Chris Owens' fundraising, and I suspected I knew what it was since I had similar ideas (which I never followed up on) regarding County Committee.

No, not for that, most unfortunately, but Chris Owens just threw his hat into the ring - to run for Judicial Delegate from the 52nd Assembly District in Brooklyn. Via Facebook:

While my role as a Judicial Delegate will be limited by law and archaic, scripted procedures, this position provides a platform with which to continue the crusade for progressive reforms such as a more transparent and fair judicial selection process. Reformers have already been waging this fight for a few years -- everything from press releases to street protests! To get the Democratic County Leader to listen, we need to make noise on the inside.

And, through this campaign to become a Judicial Delegate, I am furthering my work as President of the Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats (CBID), Kings County's premiere reform political organization.

In 2006, we needed hundreds of thousands of dollars to run our Congressional campaign.

This year, however, I only need to raise $10,000.

If you would take a moment to go to my website, and make a one-time contribution of $25 -- no more -- then we will quickly be empowered to prosecute a strong campaign against Brooklyn's Democratic Party machinery. We don't need big money -- just 400 contributions of $25 each.

You can also send a check to Chris Owens for Brooklyn, 328 Flatbush Avenue, #333, Brooklyn, NY 11238-4302.

Yours for new Brooklyn leadership,

Chris Owens

So what on earth is a Judicial Delegate?

This last weekend Joy and I attended two events of political interest to New York. First I want to mention that on Saturday Joy participated in the 3rd annual Center for Anti-Violence Education's Punch-a-thon held in a very wet Grand Army Plaza entrance to Prospect Park. The Center for Anti-Violence Education (CAE) teaches women, children, teens, and LGBT individuals verbal and physical strategies to protect themselves and break cycles of violence in their lives and communities. CAE has a commitment to serving low-income families and offer our violence-prevention courses on a sliding fee scale. Courses for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault are free of charge, and free childcare is available at all classes. The annual Punch-a-thon raises money to pay for self-defense and violence-prevention courses to those who can't afford it. I sponsored my wife in this event and she, like most of the participants, did 1000 punches. In all the event raised $5000 to date with more hopefully coming in. The political angle was that several elected officials had promised to show up.

DDDB sent me a link to some pictures from Saturday's "Put Up or Shut Up Ratner" Rally (as I call it). Once again, I am struck at the politicians that have come together to oppose Ratner.

The iconic picture for me is Chris Owens and David Yassky, on the same stage to demand accountability in all aspects of the Atlantic Yards project:

How times have changed since 2006. And Ratner brought them together.

This picture gives a good impression of the turnout:

Though I think this might be facing only one way from the stage and so show about half the crowd. A was the far end of the crowd in this picture, so I couldn't see to the other end. This seems to give an impression of the crowd facing the other way:

Not a bad turnout for a dreary Saturday.

Today was the rally calling for Bruce Ratner to put up or shut up. Brooklyn is getting tired of Ratner making promises then breaking those promises even as he demands more taxpayer money. The rally was well attended, though we came slightly late and were way at the back, so didn't really see the whole crowd.

Chris Owens, President of Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats and Brooklyn Progressive Activist, led the rally. Three groups organized the rally: Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn, The Council of Brooklyn Neighborhoods, and Brooklyn Speaks. MANY local politicians attended, including some who had previously been pretty solidly behind Ratner. Ratner has worn out his welcome even among his supporters.

Here are some excerpts from the press release from the three organizing groups:

Chris Owens, son of my former Conrgessman and friend of the Daily Gotham editors, has landed a great sounding job and one he seems well suited for. He is NY Regional director for Building Educated Leaders for Life (BELL), an organization that provides after school programs for children. BELL describes their work as follows:

BELL, founded in 1992, is one of the nation’s leading providers of quality after-school and summer educational programs. It is committed to enhancing the educational achievements, self-esteem, and life opportunities of children living in low-income, urban communities. BELL serves more than 10,000 children annually in public schools throughout Baltimore, Boston, and New York City.

Heard some time back Chris had landed a great job for an educational organization, but didn't get the details until DG got a press release from BELL. From the BELL press release:

There's a gulf opening between the black elected leadership and black voters over the question of whom to support in the Presidential sweepstakes; in a sense, this gulf parallels the rift between much of the larger official party and the party base. The question is, simply put, whether Hillary's home state advantage gives her a higher claim on the support of New York Democrats than what the other candidates might expect.

In normal times, and with a more conventional cast of candidates, there probably wouldn't be much debate. However, given that this race features the historical breakthrough of an African-American candidate with a real chance at winning the nomination, the deck has been reshuffled.

In evidence of this, Chris Owens emails over the announcement of Brooklyn for Barack, a grassroots online effort to organize the borough on behalf of the Illinois Senator.

You won't have to miss 24 to catch Chris Owens’ TV show. At least for now.

Owens, a former Democratic Congressional Candidate and son of former Congressman Major Owens, is the host and executive producer of Inside the Congressional Black Caucus (iCBC, the lower case "i" is intentional and part of the show's logo) which was originally to premiere at 9 PM on Monday April 30 on the Black Family (BFC). That's the same time slot as 24, that addictive TV show that glorifies torture.

However, BFC is now being acquired by the Gospel Music Network and will cease programming next week.

But iCBC won't be homeless long. Owens is close to a deal with a cable property owned by one of the world's largest media companies.

Stay tuned for more info.

mole333 mentioned Chris Owens's TV show, Inside the Congressional Black Caucus (iCBC, the lower case "i" is part of the logo and intentional), in a December blog, but the launch was delayed until now.

iCBC airs Mondays 9 PM and Midnight Eastern Standard Time on the Black Family Channel (152 on Time Warner in NYC, see your local listings elsewhere). iCBC is scheduled to premiere on April 30 with footage of California Congressperson Maxine Waters and Michigan representative John Conyers and an interview with the Rev Jesse Jackson.

Chris Owens, the Harvard and Princeton educated son of former Brooklyn, NY Congressperson Major Owens and a 2006 Congressional Candidate himself in the frequently discussed in the Daily Gotham 11th CD race, is the co-host and executive producer. Chris isn't the only Owens with a TV career, brother Geoffrey played Elvin on the Cosby show.

iCBC is a joint production effort of the Black Educational Network (BEN, Which he co-founded) through iCBC Productions LLC and historically black college University of the District of Columbia, UDC). UDC is also provides production facilities for Washington DC Cable Channel 98.

Chris is also negotiating with ION Television, the new name for the Pax Network, and CoLoursTV to broadcast the show.