Progressive Democrat Issue 74: VIRGINIA GROUPS AND EVENTS
The Progressive Democrat (Virginia Edition)
Issue 74
Also can be found online at: http://moleprogressive.blogspot.com/
THOUGHTS:
Since my last newsletter, I have been, shall we say, becoming controversial in my local politics. I have been getting lots of attention, positive and negative, for some of my blogging. It has been exhausting. I will skip over the continuing saga of the local Democratic Club that has become split and filled with bad feelings. As I said before, this newsletter is not intended for airing strife among Democrats.
But I will share another one of my more controversial pieces, one that got huge attention this last week on two separate sites.
This may be a bit too local for some folks, but what is happening in Brooklyn, NY, is illustrative of a lot of what is going wrong in America. What is happening may be a version of the murder through neglect that is happening to New Orleans, or it may be outright corruption seasoned with arson and homicide. In essence, multi-cultural Brooklyn is under attack by those who want to develop it into nothing but office space, chain stores and luxury housing. My neighborhood is losing small businesses left and right, and they are being replaced almost exclusively by real estate agencies and expensive baby boutiques.
But there is more going on. Brooklyn is burning and arson is suspected.
A local hot-headed politician, Bill Batson, recently dubbed it the Disneyfication of NYC through Arson. (As a side note: I had some debate with people whether that should be spelled “Disnification” or “Disneyfication.” I think the former is more correct but the latter is clearer). Are developers really using arson to further their goals? I am as yet unconvinced, but the alternative explanations are almost as bad.
I first became suspicious when an apartment building at 1033 Pacific Street in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, burned down, killing four people. It was while reading about this fire that I became aware that there has been an unusual spike in suspicious fires in Central Brooklyn (http://ufalocal94.org/news_stories/brookly_hts_cr/brk_hts_03_24_06.html ). What particularly struck me was how many of those suspicious fires were in and around the area that uber-real estate developer Bruce Ratner, good friend of Mayor Bloomberg and Governor Pataki, wants to develop. It was one of those thoughts you don’t like having. When you make a connection that is far-fetched and disturbing, but does fit the facts. There is a huge push to declare the entire region blighted so Ratner can come in and develop it with Frank Gehry-designed skyscrapers, an arena and much, much more. It isn’t just the locally infamous Atlantic Yards project. There are surrounding neighborhoods that have already been promised to Ratner by Pataki and Bloomberg (http://dailygotham.com/blog/mole333/secret_development_deals_and_why_i_oppose_bloomberg ), a fact that was only made public because of a freedom of information act request by the neighborhood group Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn. Ratner has already stooped to back room deals and corruption to further his ends. He has even paid his own lawyer to work with the Empire State Development agency to review his own project. And the State was going along with it. It was only blocked by a lawsuit, which forced the Empire State Development agency to hire its own damned lawyer.
When we heard about the fatal fire in Prospect Heights and the unusual number of fires in that area, my wife and I both had the same thought: that the sudden spate of suspicious fires was awfully convenient for Ratner’s plan to declare the area blighted. Coincidence? Quite possibly. But it is a disturbing thought. I pushed that thought aside because although Ratner certainly employs thugs to push his agenda (I have encountered some), I have never witnessed any sign of anything beyond run of the mill, in-your-face intimidation. In fact I even saw Ratner foe, City Councilwoman Letitia James (WFP), diffuse that intimidation by essentially going up to the thugs and hugging them, leaving them rather sheepish looking (http://dailygotham.com/blog/mole333/why_i_love_letitia_james ). Even after hearing retired police captain and emerging politician, Eric Adams, refer to the fatal Prospect Heights fire as a suspicious arson, I still wasn’t ready to publicly discuss my suspicions.
On Wednesday night, two politicians independently raised the same specter of arson in Brooklyn at the Park Slope Democracy for NYC meeting. This time the suspicious fire was the massive Greenpoint warehouse fire that has recently made headlines. First Wellington Sharpe, running for Assembly in the 58th district, then Bill Batson, running for Assembly in the 57th district, called the recent fires in Central Brooklyn and now at the waterfront arson and linked them with the plans to overdevelop Brooklyn. The waterfront fire has since been looking more and more like arson when it was revealed that the developer of THAT project had had a similar suspicious and convenient fire happen before.
The Greenpoint warehouse fire was one of the largest fires in NYC in recent years, the 9/11 WTC fire aside. It spread so rapidly that the police strongly suspect arson. What raised eyebrows at the DFNYC meeting was the revelation that the warehouses that burnt down were the focus of a fight to declare them landmarks, which would interfere with plans to develop the Williamsburg/Greenpoint waterfront. The fire occurred mere days before the meeting scheduled to discuss landmark status for the warehouses. Coincidence? Quite possibly. But once again I am disturbed by the implications.
Another explanation for the sudden spate of Brooklyn fires is Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s closing of many of NYC's firehouses. The Central Brooklyn fires have been occurring in the very neighborhoods that are now considered too distant from firehouses since Bloomberg’s mass closing of firehouses to “save money.”
Neglect or arson? Either explanation is a condemnation of NYC. Is Brooklyn burning because Bloomberg wants to save some money or is it because developers want to get inconvenient buildings and people out of the way?
Wellington Sharpe and Bill Batson expressed deep concern that these fires are deliberate attempts to push undesirable communities (that means blacks) out of Brooklyn so that developers can build more office space and housing for the wealthy. They also expressed concern that the development, aided intentionally or unintentionally by the fires, is destroying the diverse culture and heritage that Brooklyn should be proud of. Batson in particular finds it interesting that black heritage sites like the Harriet Tubman museum are among the first things to be destroyed by the new development. Batson suspects that there is an effort to destroy black heritage in Brooklyn as a prelude to pushing out poor blacks to make room for the wealthy.
Bill Batson called it the "Disneyfication of NYC through Arson". This is a phrase that just might be a true and chilling picture of our future. I am not one to believe conspiracy theories. I think 9/11 was carried out by al-Qaeda and that the Bush administration was guilty only of incompetence and hubris, not complicity. I believe that JFK was killed by Oswald’s bullet. I do not believe that vast, evil conspiracies are common. But arson for insurance money and arson to drive out residents blocking real estate deals do occasionally happen. And anytime there is an unusual spike in fires, we have to consider that the fires are being set intentionally and are benefiting someone. This cannot be merely dismissed as paranoia.
Do I really believe that developers are burning down Brooklyn to make it easier for them to rebuild? I certainly don’t want to believe it! But whether neglect or deliberate destruction is destroying the diverse and unique Brooklyn we all love, it is still a trend that is horrible and disastrous. Katrina wasn’t caused by Bush, but the disaster that befell New Orleans was the fault of deliberate neglect of the infrastructure on the Gulf Coast, mainly levees and wetlands. The fires of Brooklyn are at best the result of similar deliberate neglect by the Republican Bloomberg administration that closed our firehouses. At worst it is an example of criminal acts by people who want to profit from Brooklyn’s loss. At a bare minimum we need our firehouses back. But we also need a thorough investigation into why Brooklyn is burning.
FROM MISSION ACCOMPLISHED TO THE FOREVER WAR IN THREE YEARS:
This week was the third anniversary of Bush's infamous "Mission Accomplished" speech, quite possibly the dumbest speeches in American History. Since then, the quagmire has stretched on and on and there is no end in sight.
Let's reflect on then and now...
May 1st, 2003, in the New York Times (via Editor and Publisher): http://www.mediainfo.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002425394
By Elisabeth Bumiller
WASHINGTON, May 1 -- President Bush's made-for-television address tonight on the carrier Abraham Lincoln was a powerful, Reaganesque finale to a six-week war. But beneath the golden images of a president steaming home with his troops toward the California coast lay the cold political and military realities that drove Mr. Bush's advisers to create the moment.
The president declared an end to major combat operations, White House, Pentagon and State Department officials said, for three crucial reasons: to signify the shift of American soldiers from the role of conquerors to police, to open the way for aid from countries that refused to help militarily and -- above all -- to signal to voters that Mr. Bush is shifting his focus from Baghdad to concerns at home….
''This is the formalization that tells everybody we're not engaged in combat anymore, we're prepared for getting out,'' a senior administration official said….
Three years ago we were "ready to pull out..." Well, as pointed out by the Editor and Publisher article as well:
When Bush spoke, the U.S. had 150,000 troops in Iraq; the number now stands at 132,000. American casualties at the time were 139 killed and 542 wounded. Today those numbers are more than 2,400 killed and 17,000 wounded.
How do you spell Bush Failure? I-R-A-Q...though some are ready to replace that "Q" with an "N."
But even our government has admitted to this failure when in April they re-named this war the Forever War. (Okay...Forever War is my term for it...they call it the "Long War.")
Here's what I had to say last month about the renamed war:
http://www.culturekitchen.com/mole333/blog/us_government_re_brands_the_future_the_forever_
Make no mistake. This rebranding of the war is the clearest admission of failure this administration has ever made. It is a desperate move indicating that they have no idea what they are doing. Some generals always wanted to fight the real war, the war on al Qaeda, and can't believe we pissed it all away by invading Iraq. Some generals want to cut and run, because they know we are barrelling down the same path we did in Vietnam only writ larger. Most of the world now looks at us with loathing, wondering what kind of idiots we are. Halliburton doesn't care what we call it as long as the war is a long, LONG war...a war that will forever fill their coffers and the coffers of Exxon and Bechtel until their CEOs are drowning in dollars.
And you know who else sees this as the Forever war and is pleased as punch at every single move Bush has made since the decision to invade? Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda. Bush has been their gift from Allah--an Americn President who fits exactly the caricature of America that they portray. Bush and bin Laden, who know many of the same people, are both thrilled to have the Forever War.
Don't forget to write your "Mission NOT Accomplished" letter to the editor: http://www.congress.org/congressorg/dbq/media/
I think this might be a good place to suggest supporting some Fighting Dems so we can get some people who REALLY know what it's like in office, replacing some of these inept, Chicken Hawk failures. http://www.actblue.com/page/fightingdems
Or just donate to Band of Brothers PAC: http://www.actblue.com/page/BandofBrothers
and Impeach PAC: http://www.impeachpac.org
In three years Bush has led us from victory to perpetual war…it’s time for us to say “no.”
APRIL 29TH NATIONAL DNC ORGANIZING:
April 29th was Howard Dean and the DNC’s national Neighbor-to-Neighbor organizing day.
Howard Dean sent out the call and across the nation Democrats responded. Last Saturday was the National Neighbor-to-Neighbor DNC grassroots canvassing day. More than 1000 events were scheduled across all 50 states reaching an estimate 1 million American voters. It was an unprecedented effort at grassroots canvassing.
Why were we doing it? We didn't collect money. We only signed up volunteers if they showed considerable interest. The effort was mostly just outreach. Our goal was to show our faces as proud Democrats and to engage in a dialogue in every state with America. Read more to hear stories from around the nation.
Some didn’t like the fact that it was the same day as the big march in NYC. I liked it! This way, no matter where people went in NYC there were liberals in the streets showing their pride in their political beliefs and activism. As people came home from the march, they found us at our table or they found door hangers on their doors reminding them that we can all do more than march. We can be active within our party, improving the Democratic Party as well as improving America.
My own event in Park Slope was small, but fun. Our reach went beyond our stated zone because one person took door hangers to cover her neighborhood in Bayridge and two people from Queens came by to take flyers into Manhattan for the Peace and Justice March. But our main efforts were a group taking door hangers through some of the less political areas of Park Slope to reach new people, and a couple of us setting up a table in front of my building in the heart of Park Slope. I tabled for more than 2 hours with a fellow Brooklyn activist and one of my regular readers handing out information on both the national and local Democratic Party and handing out DNC and Democracy for America pins. The response to both of these main efforts was overwhelmingly positive. Not only did people show appreciation for the Democratic Party, but they also were very happy to have normal neighbors like us reaching out within our neighborhoods to other voters. Our activism inspired them and made them feel better about the Democratic Party.
THAT'S why we were out there. We showed that we were proud of our party and we made them prouder as well. To a couple of people with complaints about the party we suggested that their involvement could make the difference.
Most of us felt great afterwards and, since we have some materials left over, we will print up more flyers and do this again on our own initiative perhaps next month.
That is what grassroots is all about. The Democratic Party isn't "THEM," it's "US!"
Here are some excerpts from people’s experiences around the nation, from the DNC website: http://www.democrats.org/a/2006/04/50_state_canvas_4.php
FLORIDA: Candidates getting involved
FL-5: Florida Congressional Candidate Rick Penberthy
We organized one of the door to door canvass efforts today. We had loads of fun and hit over 600 homes in two precincts here in Pasco Coutny [sic], FL. I've attached a picture or two of our efforts. A candidate putting his party in the spotlight and using his volunteer base to strengthen the Democratic Party. Rick is a Fighting Dem and a high school teacher. For more information, visit www.RickForCongress.com
VERMONT: DNC, Young Democrats and Democracy for America uniting for a common goal
The VT Young Dems had a canvass day. The main purpose was to piggy back on the DNC canvass and get some names to recruit for the VT YD. We took census data, figured out the youngest areas in town, and canvassed them. I don't know the final tally, but it looks like we raked it in, in terms of new volunteer names. We'll be hitting the streets with a fresh cadre of new volunteers soon!
We used the DFA Night School to help us with our canvassing. It prepared us well for the canvass this afternoon.
Phoenix, Arizona Preaching to the Choir and Getting out the Vote for 2006:
Canvassing in Phoenix in LD-10 wasn't bad today -- it wasn't too hot this morning and the event was reasonably well-organized (they're not always). We were canvassing Dems who voted in 2004 but not 2002, trying to encourage them to vote in the midterms. We also collected signatures on nominating petitions for some of the Dem candidates who still needed some. (Under AZ Clean Elections law, a candidate must obtain a certain number of signatures on a nominating petition before they can get on the ballot -- everybody from the governor on down to precinct captain.) I met some nice people and got quite a few signatures for three candidates (for state treasurer, corporation comminssioner and state representative). I'm also going to start attending the monthly Dem meeting in my legislative district to see what else I can do to help. A good day all around.
Rochester, NY Fighting for a Fighting Democrat
I knoced on doors for Monroe County Dems in suburban Rochester, NY for a couple hours. We gave each household a Dem doorhanger, Eric Massa flyer, and a volunteer flyer. The response was overwhelming positive (except for one Repubican who abruptly slammed the door). They were happy to see they were not forgotten and had alot to say. People were unhappy with mostly Iraq and cost of gas.
I talked to a former GOP who just chaned to non-affiliation. He left the GOP because they are no longer 'moderate' and will stop voting GOP for the immediate future. His major concern is energy independence - "I hate knowing when I refuel my tank, the money goes to the middle east and the terrorists...we must become self-reliant". I slowly nudged my head up/down and agreed. We talked how ANWR drilling is foolhardy and how Pataki sucks (he will vote for Spitzer for NY-Gov).
Overall, I great reaffirming day. We can make a difference if all of us put a little shoeleather on pavement!
Colorado Young Dems and Old Dems hitting the streets together
The Young Dems organized our canvass and us old folks from the Statehouse District helped out. We had about 19 people talking to Dems, Independants and R women betweeen 25-55. Many of the YD's had their first canvass experience. It was a nice day and a nice result. We got a couple activist recruits, and pretty good responses. Of course, on a nice day less than half the people were home.
Very well organized by the Young Dems!
We also were using the State Party VAN database so will be able to load our results in for the Statehouse District campaign. We have a good Dem rep in the middle of CO CD7, both heavily targeted cuz the districts are 50/50. This is a great start for the campaign.
INTERNATIONAL FOCUS: KIVA Globally
I will include every week an update on KIVA’s loan needs. KIVA has expanded their efforts greatly. For a while online publicity gained them more lenders than they could match to businesses in need of loans. They have made a huge effort to find new partners in more nations and now have more businesses in need than they have lenders. Time to redouble OUR efforts to get these loans filled!
Currently, there are about 8 loans to businesses in Honduras, one in Cambodia, ten in Bulgaria, and seven in East Africa that need filling. Remember, these are loans, so you will get the money back eventually. And you can start by loaning as little as $25. I keep getting updates on the loans I have made and I am amazed at how much a small loan can matter to these small businesses. As you can see, Kiva is doing wonders in many nations, but depends on us to fill the loans.
To loan, please go here: http://www.kiva.org/businesses.php
But everyone knows that I think the KIVA effort will not work in isolation. We need to combine these wonderful and very effective loans with other actions that help preserve the environments within which these communities exist. Since Kiva is covering so many nations right now, I think it is appropriate to suggest that people consider a donation to the Global Fund for Women in order to further support these and other communities around the world:
http://www.globalfundforwomen.org/
NATIONAL ACTION: The next step to victory in 2006
Last newsletter I pushed for people to join in the national DNC organizing event. Things went well across the nation. But let’s take it one step further. There are 10 Congressional races that are the most likely Democratic pickups in the nation. Help us target the 10 weakest Republicans in the nation.
Please go to this Act Blue site:
http://www.actblue.com/page/ten-weak-gop
You can donate as little as $5, I believe. Please help beat some Republican butt this year!
EVENTS, GROUPS AND MEETINGS: You can find plenty more events in your local area here: http://www.vademocrats.org/Calendar.asp
Tuesday, May 9th, , 6:30-9:00pm. The VGC May Meetup Program --A Living Wage in Virginia - An Issue of Economic Justice. At Capitol City Brewing, 2700 S. Quincy St (at the corner of 28th). Contact - info@vagrassroots.org
Monday, May 15th, 7:00-9:00pm, A Forum on Iraq with the Democratic candidates seeking the nomination to run against Tom Davis in the 11th Congressional District. So far, the two candidates vying for the nomination are Andrew Hurst and Ken Longmyer. It’s a great chance to come meet them and share your views on the war. The forum will be at the Mason District Government Center, 6507 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA 22003 from 7-9 PM on May 15.
Democracy for America: One of the best ways to get active! FIND YOUR LOCAL DFA MEETUP AND GET INVOLVED! http://www.democracyforvirginia.com/
The Democratic Party: Here are links to some of your local Dem clubs. This is another very important way to be active.
Albemarle County Democratic Committee, Albemarle County, VA VA
http://monticello.avenue.org/acdem/
Arlington County Democrats, Arlington VA http://www.arlingtondemocrats.org/ Contact Name: Elizabeth Weitzman mewsician1@msn.com (703) 528-8588
Arlington Young Democrats, Arlington VA http://www.arlingtonyoungdems.org Contact Name: Jaime Mulligan publicity@arlingtonyoungdems.org 571-334-7626
Democratic Party of Fluvanna County, Virginia, Bremo Bluff, Virginia VA
http://www.fluvannademocrats.org
Hanover Democrats, Ashland VA http://www.hanover-va-dems.org/
Loudoun County Democratic Committee, Leesburg, VA http://portal.lcdems.com/ Contact Name: Steve Deak chairman@lcdems.com
Norfolk Democratic Party Meetup, Norfolk VA http://democrat.meetup.com/115/ Contact Name: Alma D. Kesling akesling@yahoo.com 757 333-8694
Rappahannock County Democrats, Rappahannock VA http://www.rappdems.org/
Stafford County Democrats, Fredericksburg VA: http://stafforddemocrats.homestead.com/
Virginia Beach Democrats, VA http://www.vabeachdems.com/
Virginia Young Democrats, Richmond, VA VA http://richmondcity.vademocrats.org/ Contact Name: Justin Wilson justin@justin.net
Drinking Liberally: An informal, inclusive weekly Democratic drinking club. Raise your spirits while you raise your glass, and share ideas while you share a pitcher. Drinking Liberally gives like-minded, left-leaning individuals a place to talk politics. You don't need to be a policy expert and this isn't a book club - just come and learn from peers, trade jokes, vent frustration and hang out in an environment where it's not taboo to talk politics. Find your local drinking liberally group or start your own with a few buddies. Currently there are only two Drinking Liberally groups in VA (see below). But it is easy to start your own! Go here: http://drinkingliberally.org
Charlottesville, Virginia Drinking Liberally: Every Tuesday, 7:30 pm, Mellow Mushroom, 1320 West Main Street, Hosted by Jared Jenkins, charlottesville (at) drinkingliberally.org
Richmond, Virginia Drinking Liberally: Every Thursday, 7:30 pm onward Commercial Taphouse, 111 N Robinson St. Hosted by Scott Goode, richmond (at) drinkingliberally.org
RUNNING FOR CHANGE: And if you want a healthier alternative to Drinking Liberally (or want to do some running after your drinking), you can RUN for progressive causes. Building a progressive America through organized runs and other grassroots activities. To find your local Running for Change events, go here: http://events.runningforchange.org/
Issue 74
Also can be found online at: http://moleprogressive.blogspot.com/
THOUGHTS:
Since my last newsletter, I have been, shall we say, becoming controversial in my local politics. I have been getting lots of attention, positive and negative, for some of my blogging. It has been exhausting. I will skip over the continuing saga of the local Democratic Club that has become split and filled with bad feelings. As I said before, this newsletter is not intended for airing strife among Democrats.
But I will share another one of my more controversial pieces, one that got huge attention this last week on two separate sites.
This may be a bit too local for some folks, but what is happening in Brooklyn, NY, is illustrative of a lot of what is going wrong in America. What is happening may be a version of the murder through neglect that is happening to New Orleans, or it may be outright corruption seasoned with arson and homicide. In essence, multi-cultural Brooklyn is under attack by those who want to develop it into nothing but office space, chain stores and luxury housing. My neighborhood is losing small businesses left and right, and they are being replaced almost exclusively by real estate agencies and expensive baby boutiques.
But there is more going on. Brooklyn is burning and arson is suspected.
A local hot-headed politician, Bill Batson, recently dubbed it the Disneyfication of NYC through Arson. (As a side note: I had some debate with people whether that should be spelled “Disnification” or “Disneyfication.” I think the former is more correct but the latter is clearer). Are developers really using arson to further their goals? I am as yet unconvinced, but the alternative explanations are almost as bad.
I first became suspicious when an apartment building at 1033 Pacific Street in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, burned down, killing four people. It was while reading about this fire that I became aware that there has been an unusual spike in suspicious fires in Central Brooklyn (http://ufalocal94.org/news_stories/brookly_hts_cr/brk_hts_03_24_06.html ). What particularly struck me was how many of those suspicious fires were in and around the area that uber-real estate developer Bruce Ratner, good friend of Mayor Bloomberg and Governor Pataki, wants to develop. It was one of those thoughts you don’t like having. When you make a connection that is far-fetched and disturbing, but does fit the facts. There is a huge push to declare the entire region blighted so Ratner can come in and develop it with Frank Gehry-designed skyscrapers, an arena and much, much more. It isn’t just the locally infamous Atlantic Yards project. There are surrounding neighborhoods that have already been promised to Ratner by Pataki and Bloomberg (http://dailygotham.com/blog/mole333/secret_development_deals_and_why_i_oppose_bloomberg ), a fact that was only made public because of a freedom of information act request by the neighborhood group Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn. Ratner has already stooped to back room deals and corruption to further his ends. He has even paid his own lawyer to work with the Empire State Development agency to review his own project. And the State was going along with it. It was only blocked by a lawsuit, which forced the Empire State Development agency to hire its own damned lawyer.
When we heard about the fatal fire in Prospect Heights and the unusual number of fires in that area, my wife and I both had the same thought: that the sudden spate of suspicious fires was awfully convenient for Ratner’s plan to declare the area blighted. Coincidence? Quite possibly. But it is a disturbing thought. I pushed that thought aside because although Ratner certainly employs thugs to push his agenda (I have encountered some), I have never witnessed any sign of anything beyond run of the mill, in-your-face intimidation. In fact I even saw Ratner foe, City Councilwoman Letitia James (WFP), diffuse that intimidation by essentially going up to the thugs and hugging them, leaving them rather sheepish looking (http://dailygotham.com/blog/mole333/why_i_love_letitia_james ). Even after hearing retired police captain and emerging politician, Eric Adams, refer to the fatal Prospect Heights fire as a suspicious arson, I still wasn’t ready to publicly discuss my suspicions.
On Wednesday night, two politicians independently raised the same specter of arson in Brooklyn at the Park Slope Democracy for NYC meeting. This time the suspicious fire was the massive Greenpoint warehouse fire that has recently made headlines. First Wellington Sharpe, running for Assembly in the 58th district, then Bill Batson, running for Assembly in the 57th district, called the recent fires in Central Brooklyn and now at the waterfront arson and linked them with the plans to overdevelop Brooklyn. The waterfront fire has since been looking more and more like arson when it was revealed that the developer of THAT project had had a similar suspicious and convenient fire happen before.
The Greenpoint warehouse fire was one of the largest fires in NYC in recent years, the 9/11 WTC fire aside. It spread so rapidly that the police strongly suspect arson. What raised eyebrows at the DFNYC meeting was the revelation that the warehouses that burnt down were the focus of a fight to declare them landmarks, which would interfere with plans to develop the Williamsburg/Greenpoint waterfront. The fire occurred mere days before the meeting scheduled to discuss landmark status for the warehouses. Coincidence? Quite possibly. But once again I am disturbed by the implications.
Another explanation for the sudden spate of Brooklyn fires is Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s closing of many of NYC's firehouses. The Central Brooklyn fires have been occurring in the very neighborhoods that are now considered too distant from firehouses since Bloomberg’s mass closing of firehouses to “save money.”
Neglect or arson? Either explanation is a condemnation of NYC. Is Brooklyn burning because Bloomberg wants to save some money or is it because developers want to get inconvenient buildings and people out of the way?
Wellington Sharpe and Bill Batson expressed deep concern that these fires are deliberate attempts to push undesirable communities (that means blacks) out of Brooklyn so that developers can build more office space and housing for the wealthy. They also expressed concern that the development, aided intentionally or unintentionally by the fires, is destroying the diverse culture and heritage that Brooklyn should be proud of. Batson in particular finds it interesting that black heritage sites like the Harriet Tubman museum are among the first things to be destroyed by the new development. Batson suspects that there is an effort to destroy black heritage in Brooklyn as a prelude to pushing out poor blacks to make room for the wealthy.
Bill Batson called it the "Disneyfication of NYC through Arson". This is a phrase that just might be a true and chilling picture of our future. I am not one to believe conspiracy theories. I think 9/11 was carried out by al-Qaeda and that the Bush administration was guilty only of incompetence and hubris, not complicity. I believe that JFK was killed by Oswald’s bullet. I do not believe that vast, evil conspiracies are common. But arson for insurance money and arson to drive out residents blocking real estate deals do occasionally happen. And anytime there is an unusual spike in fires, we have to consider that the fires are being set intentionally and are benefiting someone. This cannot be merely dismissed as paranoia.
Do I really believe that developers are burning down Brooklyn to make it easier for them to rebuild? I certainly don’t want to believe it! But whether neglect or deliberate destruction is destroying the diverse and unique Brooklyn we all love, it is still a trend that is horrible and disastrous. Katrina wasn’t caused by Bush, but the disaster that befell New Orleans was the fault of deliberate neglect of the infrastructure on the Gulf Coast, mainly levees and wetlands. The fires of Brooklyn are at best the result of similar deliberate neglect by the Republican Bloomberg administration that closed our firehouses. At worst it is an example of criminal acts by people who want to profit from Brooklyn’s loss. At a bare minimum we need our firehouses back. But we also need a thorough investigation into why Brooklyn is burning.
FROM MISSION ACCOMPLISHED TO THE FOREVER WAR IN THREE YEARS:
This week was the third anniversary of Bush's infamous "Mission Accomplished" speech, quite possibly the dumbest speeches in American History. Since then, the quagmire has stretched on and on and there is no end in sight.
Let's reflect on then and now...
May 1st, 2003, in the New York Times (via Editor and Publisher): http://www.mediainfo.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002425394
By Elisabeth Bumiller
WASHINGTON, May 1 -- President Bush's made-for-television address tonight on the carrier Abraham Lincoln was a powerful, Reaganesque finale to a six-week war. But beneath the golden images of a president steaming home with his troops toward the California coast lay the cold political and military realities that drove Mr. Bush's advisers to create the moment.
The president declared an end to major combat operations, White House, Pentagon and State Department officials said, for three crucial reasons: to signify the shift of American soldiers from the role of conquerors to police, to open the way for aid from countries that refused to help militarily and -- above all -- to signal to voters that Mr. Bush is shifting his focus from Baghdad to concerns at home….
''This is the formalization that tells everybody we're not engaged in combat anymore, we're prepared for getting out,'' a senior administration official said….
Three years ago we were "ready to pull out..." Well, as pointed out by the Editor and Publisher article as well:
When Bush spoke, the U.S. had 150,000 troops in Iraq; the number now stands at 132,000. American casualties at the time were 139 killed and 542 wounded. Today those numbers are more than 2,400 killed and 17,000 wounded.
How do you spell Bush Failure? I-R-A-Q...though some are ready to replace that "Q" with an "N."
But even our government has admitted to this failure when in April they re-named this war the Forever War. (Okay...Forever War is my term for it...they call it the "Long War.")
Here's what I had to say last month about the renamed war:
http://www.culturekitchen.com/mole333/blog/us_government_re_brands_the_future_the_forever_
Make no mistake. This rebranding of the war is the clearest admission of failure this administration has ever made. It is a desperate move indicating that they have no idea what they are doing. Some generals always wanted to fight the real war, the war on al Qaeda, and can't believe we pissed it all away by invading Iraq. Some generals want to cut and run, because they know we are barrelling down the same path we did in Vietnam only writ larger. Most of the world now looks at us with loathing, wondering what kind of idiots we are. Halliburton doesn't care what we call it as long as the war is a long, LONG war...a war that will forever fill their coffers and the coffers of Exxon and Bechtel until their CEOs are drowning in dollars.
And you know who else sees this as the Forever war and is pleased as punch at every single move Bush has made since the decision to invade? Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda. Bush has been their gift from Allah--an Americn President who fits exactly the caricature of America that they portray. Bush and bin Laden, who know many of the same people, are both thrilled to have the Forever War.
Don't forget to write your "Mission NOT Accomplished" letter to the editor: http://www.congress.org/congressorg/dbq/media/
I think this might be a good place to suggest supporting some Fighting Dems so we can get some people who REALLY know what it's like in office, replacing some of these inept, Chicken Hawk failures. http://www.actblue.com/page/fightingdems
Or just donate to Band of Brothers PAC: http://www.actblue.com/page/BandofBrothers
and Impeach PAC: http://www.impeachpac.org
In three years Bush has led us from victory to perpetual war…it’s time for us to say “no.”
APRIL 29TH NATIONAL DNC ORGANIZING:
April 29th was Howard Dean and the DNC’s national Neighbor-to-Neighbor organizing day.
Howard Dean sent out the call and across the nation Democrats responded. Last Saturday was the National Neighbor-to-Neighbor DNC grassroots canvassing day. More than 1000 events were scheduled across all 50 states reaching an estimate 1 million American voters. It was an unprecedented effort at grassroots canvassing.
Why were we doing it? We didn't collect money. We only signed up volunteers if they showed considerable interest. The effort was mostly just outreach. Our goal was to show our faces as proud Democrats and to engage in a dialogue in every state with America. Read more to hear stories from around the nation.
Some didn’t like the fact that it was the same day as the big march in NYC. I liked it! This way, no matter where people went in NYC there were liberals in the streets showing their pride in their political beliefs and activism. As people came home from the march, they found us at our table or they found door hangers on their doors reminding them that we can all do more than march. We can be active within our party, improving the Democratic Party as well as improving America.
My own event in Park Slope was small, but fun. Our reach went beyond our stated zone because one person took door hangers to cover her neighborhood in Bayridge and two people from Queens came by to take flyers into Manhattan for the Peace and Justice March. But our main efforts were a group taking door hangers through some of the less political areas of Park Slope to reach new people, and a couple of us setting up a table in front of my building in the heart of Park Slope. I tabled for more than 2 hours with a fellow Brooklyn activist and one of my regular readers handing out information on both the national and local Democratic Party and handing out DNC and Democracy for America pins. The response to both of these main efforts was overwhelmingly positive. Not only did people show appreciation for the Democratic Party, but they also were very happy to have normal neighbors like us reaching out within our neighborhoods to other voters. Our activism inspired them and made them feel better about the Democratic Party.
THAT'S why we were out there. We showed that we were proud of our party and we made them prouder as well. To a couple of people with complaints about the party we suggested that their involvement could make the difference.
Most of us felt great afterwards and, since we have some materials left over, we will print up more flyers and do this again on our own initiative perhaps next month.
That is what grassroots is all about. The Democratic Party isn't "THEM," it's "US!"
Here are some excerpts from people’s experiences around the nation, from the DNC website: http://www.democrats.org/a/2006/04/50_state_canvas_4.php
FLORIDA: Candidates getting involved
FL-5: Florida Congressional Candidate Rick Penberthy
We organized one of the door to door canvass efforts today. We had loads of fun and hit over 600 homes in two precincts here in Pasco Coutny [sic], FL. I've attached a picture or two of our efforts. A candidate putting his party in the spotlight and using his volunteer base to strengthen the Democratic Party. Rick is a Fighting Dem and a high school teacher. For more information, visit www.RickForCongress.com
VERMONT: DNC, Young Democrats and Democracy for America uniting for a common goal
The VT Young Dems had a canvass day. The main purpose was to piggy back on the DNC canvass and get some names to recruit for the VT YD. We took census data, figured out the youngest areas in town, and canvassed them. I don't know the final tally, but it looks like we raked it in, in terms of new volunteer names. We'll be hitting the streets with a fresh cadre of new volunteers soon!
We used the DFA Night School to help us with our canvassing. It prepared us well for the canvass this afternoon.
Phoenix, Arizona Preaching to the Choir and Getting out the Vote for 2006:
Canvassing in Phoenix in LD-10 wasn't bad today -- it wasn't too hot this morning and the event was reasonably well-organized (they're not always). We were canvassing Dems who voted in 2004 but not 2002, trying to encourage them to vote in the midterms. We also collected signatures on nominating petitions for some of the Dem candidates who still needed some. (Under AZ Clean Elections law, a candidate must obtain a certain number of signatures on a nominating petition before they can get on the ballot -- everybody from the governor on down to precinct captain.) I met some nice people and got quite a few signatures for three candidates (for state treasurer, corporation comminssioner and state representative). I'm also going to start attending the monthly Dem meeting in my legislative district to see what else I can do to help. A good day all around.
Rochester, NY Fighting for a Fighting Democrat
I knoced on doors for Monroe County Dems in suburban Rochester, NY for a couple hours. We gave each household a Dem doorhanger, Eric Massa flyer, and a volunteer flyer. The response was overwhelming positive (except for one Repubican who abruptly slammed the door). They were happy to see they were not forgotten and had alot to say. People were unhappy with mostly Iraq and cost of gas.
I talked to a former GOP who just chaned to non-affiliation. He left the GOP because they are no longer 'moderate' and will stop voting GOP for the immediate future. His major concern is energy independence - "I hate knowing when I refuel my tank, the money goes to the middle east and the terrorists...we must become self-reliant". I slowly nudged my head up/down and agreed. We talked how ANWR drilling is foolhardy and how Pataki sucks (he will vote for Spitzer for NY-Gov).
Overall, I great reaffirming day. We can make a difference if all of us put a little shoeleather on pavement!
Colorado Young Dems and Old Dems hitting the streets together
The Young Dems organized our canvass and us old folks from the Statehouse District helped out. We had about 19 people talking to Dems, Independants and R women betweeen 25-55. Many of the YD's had their first canvass experience. It was a nice day and a nice result. We got a couple activist recruits, and pretty good responses. Of course, on a nice day less than half the people were home.
Very well organized by the Young Dems!
We also were using the State Party VAN database so will be able to load our results in for the Statehouse District campaign. We have a good Dem rep in the middle of CO CD7, both heavily targeted cuz the districts are 50/50. This is a great start for the campaign.
INTERNATIONAL FOCUS: KIVA Globally
I will include every week an update on KIVA’s loan needs. KIVA has expanded their efforts greatly. For a while online publicity gained them more lenders than they could match to businesses in need of loans. They have made a huge effort to find new partners in more nations and now have more businesses in need than they have lenders. Time to redouble OUR efforts to get these loans filled!
Currently, there are about 8 loans to businesses in Honduras, one in Cambodia, ten in Bulgaria, and seven in East Africa that need filling. Remember, these are loans, so you will get the money back eventually. And you can start by loaning as little as $25. I keep getting updates on the loans I have made and I am amazed at how much a small loan can matter to these small businesses. As you can see, Kiva is doing wonders in many nations, but depends on us to fill the loans.
To loan, please go here: http://www.kiva.org/businesses.php
But everyone knows that I think the KIVA effort will not work in isolation. We need to combine these wonderful and very effective loans with other actions that help preserve the environments within which these communities exist. Since Kiva is covering so many nations right now, I think it is appropriate to suggest that people consider a donation to the Global Fund for Women in order to further support these and other communities around the world:
http://www.globalfundforwomen.org/
NATIONAL ACTION: The next step to victory in 2006
Last newsletter I pushed for people to join in the national DNC organizing event. Things went well across the nation. But let’s take it one step further. There are 10 Congressional races that are the most likely Democratic pickups in the nation. Help us target the 10 weakest Republicans in the nation.
Please go to this Act Blue site:
http://www.actblue.com/page/ten-weak-gop
You can donate as little as $5, I believe. Please help beat some Republican butt this year!
EVENTS, GROUPS AND MEETINGS: You can find plenty more events in your local area here: http://www.vademocrats.org/Calendar.asp
Tuesday, May 9th, , 6:30-9:00pm. The VGC May Meetup Program --A Living Wage in Virginia - An Issue of Economic Justice. At Capitol City Brewing, 2700 S. Quincy St (at the corner of 28th). Contact - info@vagrassroots.org
Monday, May 15th, 7:00-9:00pm, A Forum on Iraq with the Democratic candidates seeking the nomination to run against Tom Davis in the 11th Congressional District. So far, the two candidates vying for the nomination are Andrew Hurst and Ken Longmyer. It’s a great chance to come meet them and share your views on the war. The forum will be at the Mason District Government Center, 6507 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA 22003 from 7-9 PM on May 15.
Democracy for America: One of the best ways to get active! FIND YOUR LOCAL DFA MEETUP AND GET INVOLVED! http://www.democracyforvirginia.com/
The Democratic Party: Here are links to some of your local Dem clubs. This is another very important way to be active.
Albemarle County Democratic Committee, Albemarle County, VA VA
http://monticello.avenue.org/acdem/
Arlington County Democrats, Arlington VA http://www.arlingtondemocrats.org/ Contact Name: Elizabeth Weitzman mewsician1@msn.com (703) 528-8588
Arlington Young Democrats, Arlington VA http://www.arlingtonyoungdems.org Contact Name: Jaime Mulligan publicity@arlingtonyoungdems.org 571-334-7626
Democratic Party of Fluvanna County, Virginia, Bremo Bluff, Virginia VA
http://www.fluvannademocrats.org
Hanover Democrats, Ashland VA http://www.hanover-va-dems.org/
Loudoun County Democratic Committee, Leesburg, VA http://portal.lcdems.com/ Contact Name: Steve Deak chairman@lcdems.com
Norfolk Democratic Party Meetup, Norfolk VA http://democrat.meetup.com/115/ Contact Name: Alma D. Kesling akesling@yahoo.com 757 333-8694
Rappahannock County Democrats, Rappahannock VA http://www.rappdems.org/
Stafford County Democrats, Fredericksburg VA: http://stafforddemocrats.homestead.com/
Virginia Beach Democrats, VA http://www.vabeachdems.com/
Virginia Young Democrats, Richmond, VA VA http://richmondcity.vademocrats.org/ Contact Name: Justin Wilson justin@justin.net
Drinking Liberally: An informal, inclusive weekly Democratic drinking club. Raise your spirits while you raise your glass, and share ideas while you share a pitcher. Drinking Liberally gives like-minded, left-leaning individuals a place to talk politics. You don't need to be a policy expert and this isn't a book club - just come and learn from peers, trade jokes, vent frustration and hang out in an environment where it's not taboo to talk politics. Find your local drinking liberally group or start your own with a few buddies. Currently there are only two Drinking Liberally groups in VA (see below). But it is easy to start your own! Go here: http://drinkingliberally.org
Charlottesville, Virginia Drinking Liberally: Every Tuesday, 7:30 pm, Mellow Mushroom, 1320 West Main Street, Hosted by Jared Jenkins, charlottesville (at) drinkingliberally.org
Richmond, Virginia Drinking Liberally: Every Thursday, 7:30 pm onward Commercial Taphouse, 111 N Robinson St. Hosted by Scott Goode, richmond (at) drinkingliberally.org
RUNNING FOR CHANGE: And if you want a healthier alternative to Drinking Liberally (or want to do some running after your drinking), you can RUN for progressive causes. Building a progressive America through organized runs and other grassroots activities. To find your local Running for Change events, go here: http://events.runningforchange.org/
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