NEW YORK CITY/STATE FOCUS: Four Fundraisers I Need Help With

Joy and I are going to be helping fundraise for four New York State candidates who are really good people. And I want to spend some time introducing/re-introducing each of them. These are really, really important races. Two of them are most important in terms of defeating Republians, and three of them are important in terms of getting GOOD Democrats and fighting corruption in New York.

New York City Public Advocate: Norm Siegel

Marjorie Gersten, my wife Joy Romanski and I will be hosting a fundraiser for former executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union (1985-2000), Norman Siegel, who is running for NYC Public Advocate. I can think of no one better suited to be our Public Advocate than Norm Siegel. Essentially, Norm has already been New York's unelected Public Advocate for years, standing up for the protesters against the Republican Convention and standing up for the rights of all New Yorkers when no one else seems willing. Norm Siegel's credentials go WAY back. He even spearheaded the NY State campaign for to impeach Richard Nixon!

We will host a fundraiser for Norm on Sunday, January 6th, 4:00 to 6:00pm at Marjorie's house, 50 Willow St, in Brooklyn Heights. For those who don't know her, Marjorie is a nationally recognized advocate for verified voting and a long-time grassroots advocate. Suggested Contribution: $25, though again, the main point is to have a chance to meet Norm. Drinks & Refreshments will be served. Please RSVP to Theresa at 212-448-6271 or NYCNormanSiegel@aol.com

You can read more about my impressions of Norm Siegel here and here.


3rd State Senate District (Suffolk County): Jimmy Dahroug

I have heard about Jimmy for almost two years now. But I only recently actually met him. When I finally DID meet him, I was very impressed. Jimmy Dahroug came within a hair's breadth of winning this State Senate seat in 2006 with very little money or support from the state party. This time around he is raising money like crazy and his chances of winning are high. In 2006 Jimmy Dahroug's race was one of the two closest State Senate races in the state...which means if we want to win those two seats that keep Joe Bruno able to block real governing of New York Jimmy's race is one of the ones we have to win.

The time I met Jimmy Dahroug was at a fundraiser where Jim Dean himself (Howard Dean's brother and head of Democracy for America) introduced Jimmy. You can read about my first meeting with Jim Dean and Jimmy Dahroug here.

I have agreed to join the host committee for a fundraiser for Jimmy Dahroug on Wed. Jan 9th. And here is YOUR invitation to join us in supporting this excellent candidate:

You are Cordially Invited to Attend A Cocktail Reception Hosted by Drs. Bonnie Maslin & Yehuda Nir

In Honor of
JIMMY DAHROUG
CANDIDATE FOR THE NEW YORK STATE SENATE

Wednesday, January 9, 2008, 6 pm
1050 Park Avenue, NYC
(at East 87th Street)

SUGGESTED DONATION:
$2,500 (Benefactor) $1,000 (Patron)
$500 (Sponsor) $250 (Supporter) $100 (Friend)

Please RSVP by phone: 631-434-5623 oremail: Jimmy for Senate_at_gmail.com

Checks payable to: People for Jimmy Dahroug
24 Nostrand Avenue, Brentwood, NY 11717

HOST COMMITTEE:
Phillip Anderson, Steve Behar, Wayne Brooks, Costa Constantinides, Jim Dean, Tracey Denton, Robert Donovan, Bernadette Evangelist, Ed Hartzog, Dan Jacoby, David Kogelman, Bruce Kraus, Betsy Malcolm, Hon. Trudy L. Mason, David Michaelson (mole333), Barbara Pearl, Morris Pearl, Pam Roderick, Carolyn Schultz, Joshu Skaller, Elizabeth Starkey, Richard Starkey, Jeffrey Trachtman, Heather Woodfield

39th City Council District, Brooklyn: Josh Skaller

Josh Skaler is running for New York City Council (39th district in Brooklyn, replacing Bill deBlasio). Josh is a really good friend and is one of the most honest, upstanding people I have ever met...certainly well above the average for Brooklyn politics. A progressive and a reform minded Democrat, Josh is a real grassroots candidate. Which means he depends on you and me to support him.

Josh Skaller is President of Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats (CBID), a club my wife is on the board of. He also serves as a board member and Field Director of Democracy for New York City (DFNYC), part of Howard Dean's grassroots legacy. It was through these two organizations that I first got to know Josh, though we have since become buddies apart from politics.

Unlike most City Council candidates, Josh stands outside a political system that rewards predatory developers who buy their way into the hearts of our elected officials. Josh believes that unchecked development threatens the beauty and integrity of our neighborhoods, overtaxes public services from transportation to schools and health care, and places an incalculable burden on our fragile ecology. Josh believes that we must never again be caught off-guard by developers who work in secret to draft grandiose projects that are dropped without warning on an unprepared public. Working with other progressive legislators, he is drafting a comprehensive plan with strict guidelines for developers. The guidelines will explicitly ban such covert tricks as eminent domain abuse and “blight analysis,” and the use of tax-exempt bonds to benefit for-profit companies.

Joy and I will be hosting a fundraiser for Josh Skaller on Thursday, January 10th, 6-9 PM. This will be a chance to meet and talk with Josh in a small group. We would appreciate a $25 contribution to Josh's campaign, but the main thing is to give you a chance to meet Josh. The event will be at our apartment, 195 Garfield Place, bell #11, Park Slope, Brooklyn. You can email me at mole333_at_gmail_dot_com for more info and to RSVP.


NY-13 Congressional District: Steve Harrison

DFNYC's Merle McEldowney invites you to an event in support of Stephen Harrison, Candidate for US Congress.

January 17, 2008 – 6 to 9 PM
2166 Broadway 16F
(between 76 & 77 streets)

On Thursday, January 17th, from 6:00 pm - 9:00 Merrle is having a party in my home to support and honor Steve Harrison, candidate for the US Congress in the 13th District. From her invitation:

I feel strongly about this race. Steve is a person who reflects all that I want to see in a representative. His values are consistently well thought out, and come from a fundamentally humane base. I think you will like him as much as I do.

As the Congressional representative for the 13th District, Steve will work to bring integrity and reform to Washington and get the representation that district deserves. In last year's race Steve nearly defeated Fosella in the district's closest election in decades. The New York Times, major unions, and our top Democratic leaders endorsed Steve.

Despite the relatively conservative leanings of his district, Steve ha has a clear shot of winning -- if we all stand together, Currently the district is represented by the last remaining Republican in the New York congressional delegation, Vito Fosella.

The suggested donation is $100. But you will be welcome for whatever you feel comfortable giving. Every contribution is a vote of confidence in Steve's Candidacy. That said, after hearing Steve speak you may feel moved by the spirit and Warren Buffet -- and we won't stop you from giving more.

If you cannot make the party, but would like to support Steve, please visit his web site at steveharrisonforcongress.com or enclose a check on the form provided.

So come to my house on the 17th, share some refreshments, some mulled cider made with Rum from the Dominican Republic.

I look forward to catching up with each of you personally

RSVP: Merle.McEldowney@gmail.com
212-933-0290

I also am enthusiastic about Steve. I have already donated a large amount to his campaign...I invite you to do the same. Winning NY-13 would be a big win and one that is LONG overdue.

I hope to see you all at one or more of these events!