The Progressive Democrat Newsletter grew out of the frustration of the 2004 election. Originally intended for New York City progressives, its readership is now national. For anyone who wants to be alerted by email whenever this newsletter is updated (usually weekly), please send your email address and let me know what state you live in (so I can keep track of my readership).
So, the Bank Bailout succeeded while the Autoworker Bailout failed in the Senate. Why the difference? Eighteen Republican Senators voted to shower money on the financial industry but refused to help working class Americans. Now if someone voted against both, they have a consistent philosophy on bailouts, whether you agree with them or not. To vote in favor of saving the bankers but letting the auto industry die shows a clear elitist bias. The list of those 18 elitist Republican Senators who will help bankers but leave auto workers out in the cold:
Bob Bennett, R-UT Richard Burr, R-NC Saxby Chambliss, R-GA Tom Coburn, R-OK Norm Coleman, R-MN Bob Corker, R-TN John Ensign, R-NV Chuck Grassley, R-IA Judd Gregg, R-NH Orrin Hatch, R-UT Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-TX Johnny Isakson, R-GA John Kyl, R-AZ Mel Martinez, R-FL John McCain, R-AZ Mitch McConnell, R-KY Lisa Murkowski, R-AK John Thune, R-SD
This week Obama named one of his best cabinet picks yet: Steven Chu, director of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, former chair of Stanford University's physics department, and Nobel Prize-winning physicist was named Obama's Energy Secretary. Chu also has been a strong supporter of alternative fuels and renewable energy research. THIS is the kind of leadership this country needs!
This week was one where Democrats eliminated two corrupt Democrats. The corrupt Governor of Illinois was taken into custody, and a corrupt Conrgessman from Louisiana was defeated in a special election. In both cases, the Democratic Party did what the Republican Party never does: it distanced itself from and rejected a corrupt member. Obama refused to help either one, and most Democratic leaders did the same. In the case of the Congressman, it meant sacrificing a Congressional seat to Republicans. But the defeat of a corrupt politician is seldom if ever a bad thing. I intentionally distanced my self from Louisiana Congressman Jefferson, caught with marked bribe money in his home freezer, more than two years ago and tried defeating him then. It took an additional 2 years to finally get rid of him. The Republican who defeated him is the first Vietnamese-American elected to Congress, and I welcome Congressman Cao. I may try to defeat him in 2 years, but for now it is better he won. In the case of the Illinois Governor, he was basically caught red handed trying to sell the Illinois Senate seat (vacated by a certain President-elect) to the highest bidder. Obama's transition team refused to play along and helped bring him down. Good riddence to his corrupt ass!
If Republicans treated their corrupt members the same way, they might do far better. Instead remember how they circled the wagons to protect even their most corrupt members? They even protected a pedophile in Florida and re-nominated (and almost re-elected) a CONVICTED felon in Alaska. Democrats fight corruption even within their own ranks. Republicans don't. That is one of the major differences between the parties.
This week's newsletter is kind of a responsible consumer issue, focusing on companies that are responsible members of society. The resources I present are from the past few week, but it is good to highlight the good companies. Too often we call for boycotts but forget that patronizing good companies is just as important as boycotting bad ones.
I have been doing carbon offsets of various sorts for 2 years now, trying to make sure my family is carbon neutral or better. And I encourage you to do the same. I recommend either Carbonfund.org or Native Energy.
But it occurs to me that another way to be green is to patronize companies that do carbon offsets. So I want to direct your attention to the list of business and organizational partners that these two offset programs work with to offset the carbon use of those businesses.
1-800 Courier 2020 Vision Allstate Insurance (the company I use) alonovo (a business owned by one of my readers...check them out!) Babies Online California Pacific Designs Calvert Group (I used to invest with them) Discover Magazine Esurance (they are a progressive company I have talked with before) Flower Petal.com Grounds for Change (Fair trade coffee) Hansen’s Green Fleet Car Service, LLC (New Jersey) Green Taxi Cab, LLC Hotels Combined Pty Ltd (hotel rate comparisons and reservations) New York Dermatology Group Online Trade & Technology Group LLC Orbitz (the site I most often use to book flights) Oxfam America (great charity!) PlanetShoes.com Propel Biofuels Ravelry, LLC (my wife loves them!) RealtyOnlineAdvertising.com Staples Surfing Magazine Volkswagen
Interestingly, here is a list of politicians who do carbon offsets through Carbonfund.org: Chris Dodd for President Senator Diane Feinstein’s Congressional Office Fred Klaske for Assembly Friends of Pete Harckham Senator Robert Menendez Office & Campaign Jane Mitakides 2008 Campaign
I urge you to patronize the companies that work with these two carbon offset programs. And, if you do, you might let them know to encourage them.
One of the most important thing you can do is to make sure your shopping habits fit your personal philosophy. The money you spend should, to the best of your ability, go to support your ideals. This is not easy, unless you have a resource that can give you the information you need to make these decisions.
That resource can be found at Co-op America. It is called "Responsible Shopper." I have been using this resource for some 15 years, back when it was a little boolket called "Shopping for a Better World." From their site:
Co-op America's Responsible Shopper provides you with the real story about abuses by well-known companies, gives you actions to promote corporate responsibility, and helps you green your life and world.
Companies are rated on their environmental, human rights, labor, ethics, health and safety, and green-washing performances.
Some examples:
Banking/Financial: none of the big companies are exactly good, but Bank of America (which I admit I have credit cards through!) and Citigroup are the worst.
How about booksellers: Amazon.com is the worst (sadly...I used to love them and shopped with them almost from the beginning), Barnes and Noble and Borders are better.
Food: Danone, Cadbury Schweppes, General Mills, Campbell Soup, and Dean Foods (White Wave Foods) are the best companies. Pepsi and Nestle are the worst (note: Nestle has been among the worst for at least 20 years).
Gas Stations: Exxon/Mobil, Chevron and Shell are the worst (no surprise for those who have paid attention to these companies for the last 20 years). Sunoco is marginally the best. Citgo is not rated.
Internet: Google and AOL are better than Yahoo (the worst).
Supermarkets: my favorite, Trader Joe's, is BY FAR the best (one of the best companies they rate). Whole Foods (which I consider overpriced and overrated) is second. Albertson's/Acme, Kroger, Safeway and, of course, Wal-Mart/Sam's Club are all terrible companies.
The site has details if you click on the company you want to look into.
Take a look. Give it a try. And make an informed decision.
This is a repeat from a couple of weeks ago. The Develop, Don't Destroy Brooklyn (DDDB) website lists, just in time for the holidays, all the businesses that have been supportive of their efforts to preserve Brooklyn. Here's that list below:
RESTAURANTS AND BARS:
7th Avenue Donuts Luncheonette (Park Slope) Diner fare and fresh baked donuts. 324 Seventh Avenue (between Eighth and Ninth Street) (718) 768-0748
Al Di La Trattoria (Park Slope) Park Slope’s perpetually packed, widely-acclaimed Venetian institution. 248 Fifth Avenue (Near Carroll Street) (718) 852-1572 www.aldilatrattoria.com (I can personally vouch for this one. Absolutely excellent! The sage butter gnocchi and the saltamboca (sp?) are among the best as is their frozen cappuccino).
Antonio's Pizzeria (Park Slope) Pizza since 1950. 318 Flatbush Avenue (between Park & Sterling Place) (718) 398-2300
Bacchus Bistro (Boerum Hill/Cobble Hill) French bistro. 409 Atlantic Avenue (between Bond & Nevins Street) (718) 852-1572 www.bacchusbistro.com
Beast Bar (Prospect Heights) A unique take on Spanish tapas, and bar. 638 Bergen Street (at Vanderbilt Avenue) (718) 399-6855 www.brooklynbeast.com
Blue Sky Bakery (Park Slope) Fine baked goods and café drinks. 53 Fifth Avenue (between Bergen Street & St. Marks Avenue) (718) 783-4123
Bob Law’s Seafood Café (Prospect Heights) "More than just Fish & Chips…" 637 Vanderbilt Avenue (between St. Marks Avenue & Prospect Place) (718) 789-4060
Bogota Latin Bistro (Park Slope) Pan-latin restaurant specializing in Central & South American cuisine with an emphasis on Colombian dishes. 141 Fifth Avenue (between St. John’s & Lincoln Place) (718) 230-3805 www.bogotabistro.com (I can also vouch for this one. Great empanadas)
Chez Oskar (Fort Greene) Funky French bistro. 211 DeKalb Avenue (at Adelphi Street) (718) 852-6250 www.chezoskar.com
The Chocolate Room (Park Slope) "Chocolate boutique and dessert café." 86 Fifth Avenue (between Warren Street and Prospect Place/Baltic Street) (718) 783-2900 www.thechocolateroombrooklyn.com
Cousin John's Café & Bakery (Park Slope) Breakfast and dessert pastries, pies and cakes. 70 Seventh Avenue (between Lincoln and Berkeley Place) (718) 622-7333
Curry Source (Boerum Hill) Anglo-Indian cuisine. 88 Bergen Street (between Smith & Hoyt Street) (718) 797-9719
Erica's Rugelach and Baking Company Baked by the Best in Brooklyn! Inspired by her great aunt's recipes, Erica's all-natural, sweet buttery pastry treats have been praised by journalists and cookie lovers across the nation. (718) 965-3657 www.ericasrugelach.com / EricasRugelach@aol.com
F-line bagels (Gowanus/Cobble Hill/Red Hook) Fresh Brooklyn bagels. 476 Smith Street (between Huntington and Ninth Street) (718) 422-0001
Franny’s (Prospect Heights) Farm fresh brick oven pizza and pasta. 295 Flatbush Avenue (between Prospect Place & St. Mark’s Avenue) 718-230-0221 www.frannysbrooklyn.com
Freddy's Bar and Backroom (Prospect Heights) Consistently chosen as one of NYC’s best bars, free music and events almost every night. And Freddy’s is a plaintiff on the federal eminent domain lawsuit. 485 Dean Street (between Fifth & Sixth Avenue) (718) 622-7035 www.freddysbackroom.com
Le Gamin Café/Creperie (Prospect Heights) French cuisine. 556 Vanderbilt Avenue (between Dean & Bergen Street) (718) 789-5171 www.legamin.com
Le Grand Dakar (Clinton Hill) African Senegalese cuisine with a global influence, live music as well. 285 Grand Avenue, between Lafayette Avenue and Clifton Place 718-398-8900 http://www.granddakar.com
The Greene Grape (Fort Greene) Fine wine and spirits. 765 Fulton Street (between South Oxford and South Portland St.) (718) 797-9463 www.greenegrape.com
Maggie Brown (Fort Greene/Clinton Hill) Restaurant & Bar - International home cooking. 455 Myrtle Avenue (between Waverly & Washington Avenue) (718) 643-7001 www.maggiebrownrestaurant.com
Maha's Middle Eastern Café (Park Slope/Prospect Heights) Variety of Middle Eastern cuisine, prepared foods and sandwhiches 69 Sixth Avenue (between Bergen Street & Flatbush Avenue) (718) 789-0510
Maria's Mexican Bistro (Park Slope) Considered by many to be the best Mexican restaurant in Park Slope, Maria's serves everything from Mexico City street food to coastal specialties. 669 Union Street (between Fourth and Fifth Avenue) (718) 638-2344 (I think this may have changed its name but not sure. Same location)
Night Of The Cookers (Fort Greene) Restaurant & Bar (Continental cuisine), Live Entertainment, Jazz Brunch. 767 Fulton Street (between South Oxford & South Portland Street) (718) 797-1197 www.nightofthecookers.com
Olea Mediterranean Taverna (Fort Greene) Eclectic blend of various Mediterranean cuisines, from Spanish, to Greek, to Moroccan, to Turkish. 171 Lafayette Avenue (between Adelphi Street & Clermont Avenue) (718) 643-7003 www.oleabrooklyn.com
Pane e Vino (Carroll Gardens) Affordable Italian cuisine on Smith Street, live music as well. 174 Smith St. (Wyckoff & Warren) 718-501-1010
Quercy (Cobble Hill) French cuisine. 242 Court Street (718) 243-2151
Red Mill Farms, Inc. (Williamsburg) Producers of the Omega 3 Energy bar, macroons and other health bars. 290 South Fifth Street (between Havemeyer Street & Marcy Avenue) www.macaroonking.com
Restaurant New Orleans (Fort Greene) "Offering Fine Southern Creole Cuisine" (bring your own wine or beer). 747 Fulton Street (between South Elliot Place & South Portland Avenue) (718) 596-6333
Sample (Cobble Hill) Tapas/Small Plates at this eclectic restaurant. 152 Smith St. (corner of Bergen) 718-643-6622
Scopello (Fort Greene) Ristorante Bar. 63 Lafayette Avenue (between South Elliot & Brooklyn Tech Place) (718) 852-1100 www.scopello.net
Soda Bar (Prospect Heights) Great drinks, great bar foods, great vibe, music and video. A great neighorhood place. 629 Vanderbilt Avenue (between St. Marks Avenue & Prospect Place) (718) 230-8393
Stonehome Wine Bar (Fort Greene) Contemporary American cuisine and fine wines. 87 Lafayette Avenue (between South Portland Avenue and South Elliot Place) (718) 624-9443 www.stonehomewinebar.com
Tillies (Fort Greene) Alittle bit of small town hospitality in the big city. Fine teas, coffees, French pastries and baked goods as well as bagels, sandwiches, quiche, organic smootthies, egg creams and more! 248 DeKalb Ave, corner of Vanderbilt 718-783-6140 www.tilliesofbrooklyn.com
Tini Wine Bar Café & Catering (Red Hook) Fine foods, wine and beer, and catering services. 414 Van Brunt Street (between Van Dyke & Coffey) (718) 855-4206 www.tiniwinebar.com
home/made 293 Van Brunt Street (between Pioneer and King) www.homemadebklyn.com
Tom’s Diner (Prospect Heights) World famous old-fashioned diner. 782 Washington Avenue (between St. Johns & Sterling Place) (718) 783-8576 www.tomsrestaurant.wordpress.com/about-toms-restaurant-in-brooklyn
Total Wine Bar (Park Slope) Fine wine, beer, cheese and more. 74 Fifth Avenue (between St. Marks Place & Warren Street/Prospect Place) (718) 783-5166 www.totalwinebar.com
Trois Pommes Patisserie (Park Slope) Specialty cakes, cupcakes, pies, tarts, cookies, ice cream, sorbet and other sweets. 260 Fifth Avenue (between Carroll Street & Garfield Place) (718) 230-3119 www.troispommespatisserie.com
Area Emporium & Day Spa (Cobble Hill) Massage, yoga and beauty products. 252 Smith Street (between Douglass and Degraw Street) (718) 624-3157 www.areabrooklyn.com
SHOPPING:
Addy & Ferro (Fort Greene) A fine clothing boutique (emerging, contemporary & vintage clothes). 672 Fulton Avenue (between South Elliot Place & South Portland Avenue) (718) 246-2900 www.addyandferro.com
Ankhafly A local Brooklyn designer providing urban ethnic fashion fusion for men and women. www.ankhafly.com / info@ankhafly.com
Boing Boing (Park Slope) "Maternity…Nursing…Infant…" Maternity & baby care and clothing. 206 Sixth Avenue (between Berkeley Place & Union Street) (718) 398-0251
Brooklyn Beads Boutique (Cobble Hill) Beads, beading and jewelry making – on your own or in classes. 244 Smith Street (between Douglass and Degraw Street) (718) 855-2375 www.brooklynbeads.com
Cloth (Fort Greene) A chic women's clothing boutique. 148 Fort Greene Place (between Hanson & Atlantic Avenue) (718) 403-0223 www.clothclothing.com
Cog & Pearl (Park Slope) "Handmade stuff to give or keep" – Jewelry, accessories & apparel. 190 Fifth Avenue (between Berkeley Place and Union Street) (718) 623-8200 www.cogandpearl.com
Community Book Store of Park Slope (Park Slope) Catering to the literary desires of Brooklyn’s residents. 143 Seventh Avenue (between Carroll & Garfield Street) (718) 783-3075 www.cbjupiterbooks.com (also has, or at least had, a nice, delicious coffee/dessert place in the back)
Enamoo (Boerum Hill/Cobble Hill) Clothing and household items. 109 Smith Street (between Atlantic Avenue and Pacific Street) (718) 624-0175
Extraordinary (Park Slope) Home accessories and gifts. 195 Fifth Avenue (between Berkeley Place and Union Street) (718) 230-9503 www.extraordinaryny.com
Flirt (Park Slope & Carroll Gardens) Women’s Clothing & Accessories at Two Locations 93 Fifth Avenue (between Prospect & Park Place) (718) 783-0364 252 Smith Street (between Douglas & Degraw Street) (718) 858-7931 www.flirt-brooklyn.com
Frosted Moon Emporium (Fort Greene) A fine gifts store. South Portland, between Lafayette and Fulton (718) 858-3161
The Green Onion Children's Shop (Carroll Gardens) Children's clothes and toys. 274 Smith Street (between Degraw and Sackett Street) (718) 246-2804
Handmade (Carroll Gardens/Cobble Hill) "Extraordinary accessories." 251 Smith Street (between Douglass and Degraw Street) (718) 694-9336 www.handmadenyc.com
Harry Tarzian World class art photographer. (201) 400-8770 harry@harrytarzian.com
Homage (Cobble Hill) Homage to skate and snow! A full service skateboard & snowboard shop offering lessons, rentals, winter bus trips, tuning, repairs, videos, clothing and sneakers. 151 Smith Street (at Bergen Street) 718-596-1511 www.homagebrooklyn.com
The Melting Pot (Atlantic Avenue) A unique batik boutique owned and operated for three decades by artist Nancy Cogen, features original, colorful batiks for kids of all ages, from infants to seniors. 492 Atlantic Avenue (between Nevins and 3rd Ave.) 718-596-6849
Memories Out of the Box (Prospect Heights) Get your photos out of boxes and into albums; do-it-yourself, do it with their help or let them do it for you! 633 Vanderbilt Avenue (between St. Marks Avenue & Prospect Place) (718) 398-1519 www.memoriesoutofthebox.biz /martie@memoriesoutofthebox.biz
MissWit Designs MissWit designs original and custom t-shirts for any occasion. Funny and pretty tees, just for you! (Special Note, MissWit supplies the DDDB t-shirts) www.misswit.net / deb@misswit.net
Red Lipstick Boutique (Prospect Heights) Clothing, jewelry and accessories for women. 560 Vanderbilt Avenue (between Atlantic Avenue and Pacific Street) (718) 857-9534 www.redlipstick.net
Refinery (Carroll Gardens/Cobble Hill) Handbags and accessories. 237 Smith Street (between Douglass and Degraw Street) (718) 643-7861 www.brooklynrefinery.com
SaveOnScents.com (Red Hook) Fragrance, bath & body supplies. 279 Columbia Street (between Carroll & Summit Street) (718) 858-7422 www.saveonscents.com
Shakespeare's Sister (Cobble Hill) Providing gifts a little more surprising, a bit more unexpected than what might be found at other gift stores. 270 Court St, between Butler & Douglas 718-694-0084 www.shakespearessister.com
Tarzian True Value Hardware (Park Slope) Park Slope's nearly century-old purveyor of hardware and housewares. 193 Seventh Avenue (between Second & Third Street) (718) 788-4120 (We shop here for all our paint, lighting, battery, garden, etc. needs)
Video Free Brooklyn (Carroll Gardens/Cobble Hill) DVDs*Videos*Rent*Buy*Sell 244 Smith Street (between Douglass and Degraw Street) (718) 855-6130 www.videofreebrooklyn.com
Zuzu’s Petals (Park Slope) Floral and garden needs. Two locations. 374 Fifth Avenue (between Fifth & Sixth Street) (718) 638-0918 158A Berkeley Place (between Sixth & Seventh Avenue) (718) 636-2022
SERVICES:
Brooklyn Frame Works (Park Slope) Custom Framing. 142 Fifth Avenue (between Douglass Street /St. Johns Place and Sterling Place) (718) 399-6613
Miracle Maids Earth Friendly Cleaning Service www.miraclemaidscleaning.com (718) 369-9000
The Puppeteer's Cooperative A group of artists and puppeteers working in cities around the nation to create giant puppet parades, pageants, and ceremonies of celebration and complaint, using simple materials and movements to build community cardboard extravaganzas. www.gis.net/~puppetco / puppetco@gis.net
StyleLynne Event Producer, and Wardrobe Supervisor, Lynne Curtis offers professional service for: Image Consultation, Closet Consultation, Personal Shopping, Home Décor, Event Planning, Special Gift Wrappings, Personal Gift Shopping, Corporate Gifts, and more. 877.STY.LYNNE www.stylelynne.com / lynne@StyleLynne.com
HEALTH AND WELLNESS:
Alexandra LaRosa, Certified Yoga Instructor Private Yoga Lessons. (718) 415-9133 or Alexandra.Larosa@gmail.com
Amy Gerard, Licensed Massage Therapist Recommended by Park Slope Parents Specializing in deep massage and pre and post-Natal massage. (917) 971-2193 or agerardlmt@yahoo.com
Dr. Margaret Rose de Cruz (Park Slope) Dr. Cruz is a Holistic Health practitioner, using Mind-Body Therapies. Massage Therapist, Chiropractor, Mental Health Counselor. 400A Prospect Avenue (between Seventh & Eighth Avenue) (718) 499-7258
Ellie Herman Pilates Studios (Park Slope) Changing the world -- one vertebrae at a time. 788A Union Street (between Sixth and Seventh Avenue) (718) 230-3707 www.ellie.net
Embora Wellness & Movement Studio (Clinton Hill) Offering classes in Yoga, Pilates, Martial Arts and Holistic exercise, in group, private or semi-private training formats. 900 Fulton Street (corner of Washington Avenue) (718) 857-4360 www.embora.com
Mona Fafarman (Park Slope and Manhattan) Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine 212-614-6716
Finetune Pilates Studio (Boerum Hill) Offering personal coaching pilates instruction. 329 Atlantic Avenue (between Smith & Hoyt Street) (718) 802-0928 www.finetunepilates.com/about_finetune.cfm
Opal Center (Park Slope) Center for massage and allied therapies offering licensed, therapeutic bodywork, employing an eclectic variety of techniques from the time-tested ancient to the newest innovations. 158 Fifth Avenue (between St. John's and Lincoln) (718) 857-6183 www.opalcenter.com
Providence Day Spa (Boerum Hill) Massage, facial & body treatments, pre-natal massage and body treatments, and acupuncture. 329 Atlantic Avenue (between Smith & Hoyt Street) (718) 596-6774 www.providencedayspa.com
Liese Schneider, Certified Holistic Health Counselor & Pilates Instructor Personalized health counseling programs. www.lieseschneider.com / liesehhc@gmail.com
Yogasana Center for Yoga (Park Slope) Offering yoga practice in the Iyengar tradition. 90 Fifth Avenue (between St. Marks Place & Warren Street/Prospect Place) (718) 789-7255 www.yogasanacenter.com
The Daily Gotham covers both New York City (with a slight emphasis on Brooklyn) and New York State politics.
Reform NY is the blog of the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law
No Land Grab: News from the point of view of Brooklyn opposition to overdevelopment
On NY Turf is run by someone I know. Long overdue that I add his blog here. Contains political info, good map resources for NYC and discussions of development issues.
True News from ChangeNYC.Org: ChangeNYC.Org is an organization unifying our City’s Democratic Party by welcoming all New Yorkers back into the political process. We are a coalition of real, everyday New Yorkers – young voters, progressives, neighborhood leaders, community bloggers, good government groups, and even conservatives – who believe that in cooperation we can bring the change to our City that together we have begun to bring to our nation.
Let me highlight some excellent candidates running in New York in 2009:
Norm Siegel for Public Advocate For those of you who live in NYC, let me introduce you to Norman Siegel, one of America's top Civil Rights Lawyers, is running for New York Public Advocate. Here's a Youtube video of him:
And here is Youtube footage of Norm Siegel and the NYC Coalition To Preserve Term Limits Press Conference:
Josh Skaller for City Council. A progressive who is coming in second in fundraising, Josh is considered a serious contender by several pragmatic allies I have talked to and has been endorsed by State Senator Eric Adams. Josh may well become the frontrunner if he keeps it up. Josh is a good friend of ours, a solid progressive, and about as honest as you can get. Josh will be one of my top priorities in 2009!
Marquez Claxton for City Council: A former NYC Police Officer and co-founder of 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care, Marq Claxton is running for the City Council District 31 seat in Queens. He is currently the chair of the Public Safety Committee for Community Board 13. He has been endorsed by Eric Adams (who I know and respect) and is being considered by the Working Families Party as a candidate.
Daniel Dromm for City Council: a public school teacher running for the City Council District 25 seat in Queens. He was a founder of the Lesbian and Gay Democratic Club of Queens and chapter leader of United Federation of Teachers, PS 199Q. He has been endorsed by the United Federation of Teachers, Mark Green, and others. WFP seem to be considering him as well. Dromm received the "Community Service Impact Award" from the Times Ledger Newspapers (2006), the "Outstanding Teacher of the Year" PS 199Q Principal's Award (2006), and the "Citation of Honor" from the Queens Borough President (1995). Seems like exactly the experience we need on the City Council.
More Races: Here is a Facebook Site highlighting some good primary challenges against those City Council members who voted themselves a pay raise then voted themselves a third term in the council over the vote and objections of the voters. In the future I will be highlighting some of these challengers, though for now electing Norm Siegel and Josh Skaller are my main efforts. I am particularly watching the following people to see if they are running for City Council. If they run, I am likely to support them:
David Galarza, Council District 38 Rocky Chin, Council District 1 Rodrick Daley, Council District 45
Here are a handful of Organizations worth checking out:
The Environmental Business Association is the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to supporting the growth of the environmental industry in New York State. Specifically, we help to promote and serve serving the industry sectors of Climate Change, Greening Communities, Energy and WALCE (Water-Agriculture-Land Use-Conservation-Environmental). News here. Events list here (not recently updated).
NY Citizens for Clean Elections: We are committed to passage of Clean Money Clean Election legislation in NYS that provides a non-partisan approach for full public funding of campaigns for all qualified candidates who refuse private money and abide by spending limits. We want to ensure that all Americans, regardless of wealth, have an equal voice in the political system and that qualified candidates are not discouraged from running because they do not have access to the money needed for a competitive campaign.
The Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats is a community-based Democratic club. CBID has fought for reform and progressive causes since 1968. As a Brooklyn-based Club, we have been instrumental in the election of many candidates for public office. Much of this success was a result of our question-and-answer forums with prospective candidates as well as our extensive on-the-street contact with our constituents.
Staunchly opposed to political corruption, we are proud of our independence and our commitment to progressive reform in city, state and national politics. We are a vehicle for citizen empowerment and making government more accountable to our neighborhoods.
We meet monthly, usually the fourth Thursday evening of the month in the basement of the Park Slope United Methodist Church, on the corner of 6th ave and 8th street, at 7:30pm. All are welcome.
New Kings Democrats (”NKD”) is a new, grassroots organization in Kings County (Brooklyn), New York whose primary mission is to recruit and prepare individuals to run for Kings County Democratic Committee. NKD hopes to achieve the goal of an inclusionary and participatory democracy by making it easy for individuals to run for local, elected office. NKD will serve as a training ground for individuals seeking higher office, and hopes to build and nurture a new group of Brooklyn Democratic leaders.
Stonewall Democrats of Western New York is the GLBT Democratic voice in WNY. Our mission is to advocate for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) community within the Democratic Party and to encourage GLBT participation within the Democratic Party. Our membership includes representatives from State, County, and City government, and several Democratic committee members amongst the various County Committees in WNY.
Drop the Rock: Enacted in 1973, the Rockefeller Drug Laws require lengthy prison terms for the possession or sale of a relatively small amount of drugs. There are over 13,000 people in New York’s prisons incarcerated under the drug laws, most of them minor offenders with no history of violent behavior. It costs New York $500 million a year to imprison drug offenders. 90% of the people locked up in New York for drug offenses are African American or Latino, despite research showing that the majority of people who use and sell drugs are white. Research shows that drug treatment is less expensive than imprisonment and more successful in reducing drug-related crime. Repealing the Rockefeller Drug Laws would save the fiscally strapped state over $220 million per year. Get involved here.
DEMOCRACY FOR NYC MEETINGS: First Wednesday of every month
Staten Island, Muddy Cup, 388 Van Duzer Street with hosts Al Dykes and Tracey Denton at 7pm
Upper West Side, The Parlour, 250 West 86th(btwn Broadway & West End), with host Merle McEldowney,7pm
West Village, Kettle of Fish, 59 Christopher St. (near 7thAve.) with host Abhishek Mistry, 7pm
Astoria, Queens, at Sanford Diner, 30-13 Broadway, with hosts Costa Constantinides and Jeremiah Frei-Pearson. Note: this Linkup will begin at 7:30.
Sunnyside, Queens, at The Grind, 39-24 Queens Blvd. in the back room, with host Dan Jacoby. Note: this Linkup will begin at 7:30.
Bayside, Queens, The First Edition, 41-08 Bell Blvd, right near the LIRR stop, with host Steve Behar of Democrats for New Politics, 7pm
Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, Wycoff Bennett Homestead, 1669East 22nd Street, 7pm with host Annette Mont
DRINKING LIBERALLY MEETINGS IN NY STATE:
Clifton Park, New York * First Wednesday of each month, 7:00 pm onward * Old Dublin Inn, 130 Meyer Rd (Google maps is wrong, please contact me for directions.) * Hosted by Chris Selkirk, cliftonpark (at) drinkingliberally.org
Ithaca, New York * Every Wednesday, 6:30 pm onward * Felicia's Atomic Lounge, 508 W State St * Hosted by Joseph Cannon Murtagh, ithaca (at) drinkingliberally.org
New York City, New York:
The Original Drinking Liberally * Every Thursday, 7:30 pm onward * Rudy's, 627 9th Ave (between 44th and 45th) * In the backyard, weather permitting * Hosted by Justin Krebs, Matthew O'Neill and Katrina Baker, nyc (at) drinkingliberally.org
Drinking Liberally Steps Out * Third Tuesday of each month, 7:00-9:00 pm * XES Lounge, 157 W 24th St (@ 7th Avenue) * In conjunction with the Stonewall Democrats of New York City www.sdnyc.org. * Hosted by Matthew Carlin and Greg Rae, outnyc (at) drinkingliberally.org
Harlem * Second Wednesday of each month), 6:30 pm onward * Soundz Lounge, 3155 Broadway (between 123rd and 124th) * Hosted by Yolanda (Shoshi) Shoshana, harlem (at) drinkingliberally.org
Park Slope * Second Wednesday of each month, 7:30-10:00 pm * Commonwealth, 497 5th Ave (at 12th Street) * Hosted by Anthony Accurso, Emilie Harkin and Emily Farris, parkslope (at) drinkingliberally.org
Queens * Fourth Wednesday of each month, 7:30 pm onward * Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden, 29-19 24th Avenue, Astoria, NY 11102 (group of young liberals taking up one lane) * Hosted by Donald Graff, queens (at) drinkingliberally.org
Upper East Side * Last Tuesday of each month, 7:30 pm onward * Doc Watson's, 1490 2nd Ave (at 77th) * Hosted by Matthew Bachiochi, ues (at) drinkingliberally.org
West Bronx * First and third Friday of each month, 7:30 pm onward * An Beal Bocht, 445 W 238th St (between Waldo and Greystone) * 1 to 238th, turn left, straight on 238th, just past the top of the stairs * Hosted by Jamin Sewell and Scott Kennedy, westbronx (at) drinkingliberally.org
Rochester, New York * Every Thursday, 8:00-10:00 pm * Monty's Korner, 355 East Ave * Hosted by Tom Tucker and Tracy Logan, rochester (at) drinkingliberally.org
And then we have: Shooting Liberally Tuesday, Feb 19 From your friends at Drinking Liberally comes the debut of SHOOTING LIBERALLY...
For the First Amendment enthusiast ready to move on to the Second. A social evening at the gun range including training & weapon rental.
For more info and to reserve your spot, contact: Stanley Sherman - maskarts (at) worldnet.att.net
LeftyBlogs Washington is the place to find out what's happening in the progressive blogosphere across Washington.
Horse's Ass: Strange name, but an excellent blogging team
Upper Left: A Democrat - without prefix, without suffix, without apology
SeattleActivism.org is a new website and project that provides information on upcoming events, actions, and meetings as well as links to organizations and resources in the Seattle area related to progressive activist issues.
We encourage groups, organizations, and activists to post information about Seattle-area events and actions relevant to progressive social issues, such as peace, environment, human rights, social justice, poverty and development, globalization, labor, etc. We have created an easy-to-use and open system for posting information about events to the site, and we also highlight and feature special or major events.
Our Wind Co-op is a unique cooperative of small-scale wind turbines on farms, ranches and public and private facilities across the Northwest. Through this collaborative effort, 10-kW turbines were installed at numerous rural sites serviced by publicly-owned utilities.
Seattle Advocates of Renewable Energy: a group of interested citizens who want to learn more about Renewable Energy and Sustainability. Our goal is to foster discussion, networking, and action on these important issues. We meet on the fourth Thursday of every month from 7 to 9 pm at the First Seattle Presbyterian Church.
Seattle Peak Oil Awareness (www.seattleoil.com) has been active for 2 1/2 years (it actually started out life as a Meetup.com group)!
Seattle Peak Oil Awareness is a local citizens action network offering information and practical ideas for living in a time of reduced energy availability. Working in small, focused groups we advocate healthy, sustainable living choices for all interested residents in the Puget Sound region. Read more here.
WASHINGTON GROUPS AND EVENTS:
Equal Rights Washington (ERW) is a statewide political advocacy organization for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community of Washington State. ERW works to end discrimination against LGBT people throughout the state. Find out what you can do here.
Progressive Change for Washington: is a growing coalition comprising progressives from across the political spectrum throughout Washington State. We are pooling our energies to promote progressive thought and action throughout the State of Washington.
And for those who want to mix social and political fun, here are Drinking Liberally groups in Washington:
Bellingham Second and Fourth Tuesday of each month, 7:00 pm Horseshoe Cafe, Ranch Room, 113 E Holly St Hosted by Dave Willingham
Burien Fourth Wednesday of each month, 7:00 pm Mick Kelly's Irish Pub, 435 SW 152nd St Hosted by Cherisse Luxa | Joe Fitzgibbon
Olympia First and Third Monday of each month, 7:00 pm Urban Onion in Downtown Olympia -- In the Bar, 116 Legion Way SE (In the Bar--enter on Legion) Hosted by Bruce Lund | Barry Piercy
Seattle Every Tuesday of each month, 8:00 pm Montlake Ale House, 2307 24th Ave E Hosted by Nicholas Beaudrot | Chris Mitchell
Seattle Eastside First and Third Thursday of each month, 7:00 pm Angelo's Restaurant, 1830 130th Ave NE Hosted by Norman Furlong | Doug Hightower | Rich Erwin
Newport Hills First Monday of each month, 7:30 pm Mustard Seed Grill and Pub, 5608 119th Ave SE Hosted by Robert Sargent
Shelton Third Monday of each month, 7:00 pm El Serape Restaurant, 2503 Olympic Hwy N Hosted by Mike Mosbarger | Drew Noble
Spokane Every Tuesday of each month, 7:00 pm Working Class Heroes Bar & Grill, 1914 North Monroe Street - (509) 327-0448 Hosted by Andrew Brewer
Tacoma Every Wednesday of each month, 7:00 pm Hub Restaurant, 203 Tacoma Ave S (in the bar area) Hosted by Melissa Thompson | Traci Kelly
Tri-Cities Every Tuesday of each month, 7:00 pm O'Callahans - Shilo Inn, 50 Comstock Richland Washington Hosted by Jim McCabe | Kendall Miller
The Sunshine State ought to have one of the most exciting, highest-profile, and most expensive U.S. Senate races in the nation in 2010, when freshman Republican Mel Martinez is expected to seek reelection.
Martinez is considered one of the most vulnerable Republicans on the 2010 slate. He won election just 51% to 49% in 2004 over Democrat Betty Castor, and his approvals and reelects are in the toilet:
Public Policy Polling did three surveys over the summer looking at Mel Martinez's job approval rating and how some potential opponents would fare against him.
In June his approval rating was 23%, in July it was 24%, and in September it was 23%.
We found that in hypothetical 2010 matchups Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink would lead Martinez 37-31, Congressman Robert Wexler would be tied with him 31-31, former Senator Bill Graham would lead him 51-31, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz would lead him 38-37, Congressman Allen Boyd would lead him 37-33, and Congressman Ron Klein would lead him 37-33. Martinez is probably the most endangered incumbent in the country for 2010 and given his lack of popularity even with Republicans is ripe for a strong primary challenge.
"Bill Graham", I assume, refers to Bob Graham. He's not running, but it's very possible that any of the others - Reps. Wexler, Klein, Boyd and Debbie Wasserman Schultz - might give it a go, and so might Rep. Kathy Castor, Betty Castor's daughter and a rising star in the state party.
Sink is the biggest name in current state Democratic politics and the best equipped for a statewide run. As the polling numbers indicate, she'd start the race in the best position against Martinez, but whether she runs will depend somewhat on whether she decides to run for Governor, either now or in the future.
Martinez is the big target for 2010, but there's also a Governor's race to be held. Unfortunately, Republican Governor Charlie Crist enjoys exceptionally high approval ratings, and is likely not to draw a particularly strong opponent. Alex Sink and State Sen. Dan Gelber (who gets a free shot at the race, as his term expires in 2012) are the only ones rumored for the race, and it certainly seems that Sink would be best served either running against Martinez, or waiting until 2014 to run for Governor.
In the House, there are three races which look especially promising for next cycle (because of Florida's ridiculous gerrymandering, there's always a race that can be won somewhere, if only because Democrats start from such a position of disadvantage.
FL-10 is home to ancient Republican Rep. C.W. "Bill" Young. C.W. Bill has been around for several generations, having been first elected in 1970, and he'll turn 80 years old in 2010. He's bound to retire some day, and he holds a district which leans slightly Democratic at the presidential level (with a PVI of D+1.1).
Democrats have a built-in candidate just waiting for Young to hang up his spikes - State Senator Charlie Justice (and if ever there was a great name for a politician, it is "Charlie Justice"). He'd have to resign his Senate seat to run for Congress, but that should be a fairly easy call given the opportunity.
FL-16: Sex scandals have flipped this R+2 district twice in the past two cycles - once from Republican Mark Foley to Democrat Tim Mahoney, and once from Mahoney to Republican Tom Rooney. (Foley, Mahoney, Rooney...apparently being Irish is a prerequisite to holding this seat).
Rooney should get a fairly strong challenge his first time out of the gate, before he gets too entrenched, and there's one especially strong Democrat to take him on. That would be State Senator Dave Aronberg of Greenacres. Aronberg lives just outside the district, in the 19th Congressional District, but his Senate district overlaps considerably with the 16th.
Aronberg is young (37), considered fairly moderate, has a base of support in his Senate district, and is exceptionally intelligent. The DCCC would do well to try and recruit Aronberg into the race, although he is not, in fact, Irish.
FL-25: Orange to Blue candidate Joe Garcia came exceptionally close to knocking off incumbent Republican Mario Diaz-Balart in 2008, losing just 53% to 47%.
With a seemingly strong base of support in Miami-Dade County, Garcia seems fairly well positioned to take another crack at the race. Garcia is only 40, and has a bright future in electoral politics if he wants to stay in the game. It doesn't look as though redistricting will help much (the Republicans will control it), so 2010 seems as good a time as any.
Here are some other alternative energy groups in Florida:
SolarCity Gainesville is a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of solar and renewable energy in Gainesville and Alachua County. Go here for more info.
Jacksonville's Sustainable Future: Jacksonville's Sustainable Future is a resource for those who are concerned about Global Climate Change and want to do something, as well as a resource for those who want to learn more.
Our focus is on creating a better world for future generations.
Join us to discuss citizen awareness projects, personal endeavors, and other plans for a better future for Jacksonville, Orange Park, the Beaches, St. Augustine, Fernandina, and the other areas that make up Greater Jacksonville. Go here for more info.
We are working on a number of projects related to energy conservation, energy efficiency, and renewable energy.
Please join us if you want to work towards a greener, cleaner, and healthier future for our community.
Orlando, Florida - The Alternative Fuel Vehicle Institute (AFVi) presents the 15th annual AF&V Conference + Expo April 19-22, 2009 in Orlando, Florida. Alternative fuels, vehicles and advanced technologies for public and private fleet applications are the focal points of this fuel and technology neutral conference. As the largest conference and tradeshow of its kind, AF&V 2009 is the place to educate, demonstrate and sell. More info here.
Here are some Florida groups and events:
Miami-Dade Democratic Black Caucus Regularly Scheduled Meeting Second Saturday of every month at 10 AM Event Location: El-Portal City Hall 500 NE 87 Street, The Village of El-Portal.
We welcome new membership, please join us, free continental breakfast served! Honorable Joyce A. Davis, President 305-754-0934
Democratic Hispanic Caucus of Miami-Dade Fourth Wednesday of every month, 7:00PM Hoja Nueva Restaurant at the Westin Colonade Please attend the monthly meeting for the Miami Dade Democratic Hispanic Caucus of Florida. For more info: 305 632-0036
Miami Dade Cuban American Democratic Club Miami Dade Cuban American Democratic Club Breakfast Meeting Event Location: “Versailles” restaurant located at 3555 SW 8 ST Miami, FL 33135 Fourth Saturday of each month, 9:00 a.m. (If this is the same Versailles Cuban restaurant that I know in California, the food is fantastic! Particularly the roast chicken and rost pork).
The Miami Dade Cuban American Democratic Club invites you to its next breakfast meeting at “Versailles” restaurant located at 3555 SW 8 St Cost: $15 per person.
For more info contact: Hector Caraballo (President, Miami Dade Cuban American Democratic Club) at hector_at_miamicubandems.org
MIAMI-DADE YOUNG DEMS MONTHLY MEETING Fourth Tuesday of every month, 7pm Location: Gordon Biersch 1201 Biscayne Ave. Miami, FL 33131 For info: 786-425-1130
Planned Parenthood Mixer Join us at On Tapp Lounge for our monthly mixer with Planned Parenthood. On Tapp is located on New Haven Haven just before you go over the Melbourne Causeway on the left side.
We meet at 5:30 pm the 4th Tuesday of every month. Brevard NOW and Planned Parenthood will celebrate the 35th anniversary of Roe v Wade and discuss the 2008 plans for both our organization. For more info, please call Michele Paccione/President at 480-9295 or e-mail at shellymk1@aol.com Organization: Brevard NOW Event link: www.myspace.com/brevardnow
Sumter County Democratic Club P.O. Box 1066 Wildwood, FL 34785 General Meeting at 7:00 p.m. on the 2nd Thursday of every month Sumterville Community Center
Tri-County Women's Democratic Club General Meeting at 9:30 a.m. on the 1st Monday of every month at the Sumter County Sheriff's Annex on Highway 466 @ Morse Boulevard.
Charlotte County Democrats meeting The Charlotte County Democratic Club meets on the second Saturday of every month. Please join us at 9:30 AM for coffee and snacks. The meeting starts at 10 AM. Location is the upstairs meeting room at the Public Library on Aaron Street in Port Charlotte. Call 743-5560 for directions or more info.
Peace Vigil West New Haven 5:00PM - 6:30PM First Wednesday of the month at the "Peace Corner" 1700 West New Haven (just west of the Melbourne Square Mall). Signs provided or bring your own. Please bring nonperishable food items for "Food Not Bombs". Food is distributed to local families in need.
More info 321-720-3520 or vimpoco@cfl.rr.com Organization: Patriots For Peace
Weekly Peace Vigil in Homosassa Every Tuesday, 4:00 PM Meet at Hardee's at Route 19 & Hall's River Road - Homosassa
Call Ed Murphy 382-0876 for more info
Weekly Peace Vigil in Inverness Every Thursday, 5:00 PM Old Citrus Courthouse
Call Beverly at 400-4174 for more info
And for those interested in a more fun way to be liberal, here are Florida's Drinking Liberal groups:
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida * Every Thursday, 7:00 pm onward * Island Jack's Patio Bar and Grille, 5425 W Atlantic Blvd, Margate (just East of 441) * Hosted by Jacqueline Hope Derby and Dave Pfeffer, ftlauderdale (at) drinkingliberally.org
Orlando, Florida * Every Wednesday, 6:00 pm onward * Johnny's Fillin' Station, 2706 S Ferncreek Ave (NE corner of Michigan and Fern Creek) * Hosted by Dan Hill, orlando (at) drinkingliberally.or
Pensacola, Florida * Every Thursday, 7:00 pm onward * Intermission, 214 S Palafox St * Hosted by Terry Welch, pensacola (at) drinkingliberally.org
Tallahassee, Florida * Third Thursday of each month, 6:00 pm onward * Gill's Tavern, 2545 North Monroe Street * Hosted by Sharon Collins, tallahassee (at) drinkingliberally.org
South TampaUPDATED * Every Wednesday, 7:00 pm onward (used to only be first Thursday) * Rock-N-Sports, 1600 E 8th Ave, #E200 (Above Starbucks, Across from Muvico, Next to Adobe Guilas) * Hosted by Tim Heberlein, southtampa (at) drinkingliberally.org * http://livingliberally.org/drinking/chapters/FL/southtampa
St. Petersburg * Last Thursday of each month, 8:30 pm onward * Limey's Pub, 1492 4th St N * Hosted by Connor Davis and Dave Lee, stpetersburg (at) drinkingliberally.org
Brandon * Every Thursday, 7:00 pm onward * Giordano's, 11310 Causeway Blvd, Brandon FL 33511 (Outside patio) (NEW location) * Hosted by Joe Litton and Shirley Litton, brandon (at) drinkingliberally.org * http://livingliberally.org/drinking/chapters/FL/brandon
Land O Lakes * Second Tuesday of each month, 7:00-9:00 pm * Rapscallions, 4422 Land O Lakes Blvd (US-41) * Hosted by Brian Reach and Michael Greenman, landolakes (at) drinkingliberally.orgF
CALIFORNIA FOCUS: Blogs, Alternative Energy, Groups and Events
I will continue, for some time, be focusing on Marriage Equality. I will keep the statement by Keith Olbermann on Prop 8 on the top of my California Focus for sometime because I think it needs to be heard over and over again. It is a brilliant statement right from the heart. I don't have much to add to it except I am also a straight man from a family of straight folks who support Marriage Equality and just don't get this whole homophobic anti-gay marriage movement:
What I don't understand is how two consenting adults loving each other threatens anyone else? My marriage isn't threatened if gays can marry!
FIGHTING BACK:
Proposition 8 is among the worst results in California. It is, basically, a homophobic Hate Amendment that lets government define whether the love between two people is legitimate. There is now a backlash against those who led in the movement to pass this hateful amendment. Among the leaders of this year's movement to discriminate against gays was the Mormon Church. Once again right wing religious fanatics want to force THEIR religion on American society. This is one more example of the American Taliban trying to marginalize anyone they see as different.
For those who doubt the extremist aspects of the Mormon Church (though of course not all Mormons), read Jon Krakauer's book, Under the Banner of Heaven.
There is a backlash. It is the kind of left wing backlash that seldom gets much momentum, but when it does, it can have a powerful effect. Over at Daily Kos there is a list of businesses that endorsed Proposition 8. These are businesses that should be targeted for economic pressure. On the left suggestions like this often cause consternation. Truth is, boycotts DO WORK when enough people get pissed off enough to actually do them. The California grape boycott was a long term effort that finally worked. The anti-Apartheid boycotts were often vague and irregularly carried out...but in the end they were part of what worked. Here is the list of targets for actual economic pressure:
ACMS Ag West Distributing Co., Inc. Ronald Allison, M.D.- Allison Geriatrics Alpasina Insurance Services Pastor Marcelo Alvarado, Iglesia Misionnera HispanoAmericana American Build & Design, Inc. Automated Environments Best Tire and Automotive Rich Bott-Bott Radio Network Boy's Republic Donovan S. Browning, DDS Mary J. Buzzell, M.J.B. Floral Services Catherine Callen - Lampstand Studios, Divide CO Ron Carter- Carter Construction Company CC Layne & Sons Inc. Duncan Chamberlin-Duncan's Auto Sales Richard and Marie Clayton- Maric Services Community West Mortgage Cornerstone Custom Construction CRS, Inc. Culp Diversified Properties Curry Copy Center of Hemet Eldon Cyrus- Cyrus Tree Service Thomas B. Dafoe – Briden Wilson Farm, Arbuckle John DeCesare, President - inetMatrix Joyce Edge, Founder/President – Survivors of Assault Recovery EL VOCERO MAGAZINE Everything4Mom.com Jason & Andrea Ewell – Jason’s Glass Tint, San Clemente Fahillion Technology Consultants Fernandez and Fernandez First Experiences Preschool John Gaines, D.D.S. Mark E. Gething, Insurance - Amarillo TX GFBB Benefits and Insurance Peter Giannini, CPA John J. Gobbell, Jr., Real Estate Appraiser Richard A. & Susan J. Gregg, SueGreggCookbooks, Riverside Guy Strohmeiers Auto Center H M S Capital Hartman Construction of Home Services Dr. Jay W. Henderson, President - The Law Offices of Jay W. Henderson, Ltd. Higham, Richards & Vranes Inspired Stylus Writing and Copyediting GLen Inverso- MJ Baxter Drilling Company R. Christian Jesperson- Chiropractic Family Health Center Justin A. March Associates, Inc. Richard Kerr- Kerr Real Estate Advisors George M. Knapp, Investment Advisor: Knapp Financial James Knox, American Focus Land Resource Investments Lane Associates, Inc. Law Offices of Kimber B. Goddard Leon's Place Independent Living Lewis Appliance Repair and Installation Logos Tax Service David W. & Alice G. Magnusson: Haws, Record & Magnusson, Attorneys at Law Vlade Mamayev, CEO – Buildex Inc. Mammoth Auto Nora O. Marin - Little Angel's Daycare, Rancho Cordova Wayne M. Martin – Wayne Martin Associates, Oxnard Maximum Marketing Inc. Joseph McFarland, DDS Douglas McMullin, MD Anchi Miller – ATM International, Kirkland WA Ridley R. Molders – Molders Logistics, Santa Ana Todd Mowrey-Fit-To-Be-Tyed Fabricio Mundo- LinearB Enterprises NordalAppraisal.com Don Nordgren, Owner - Pacific Coast Auto Body, Paint & Frame, San Diego Dr. Phillip Ortiz, President/Owner - Direct to You Mobile Dentistry, Murrieta Michael A. Padgett – Law Office, Fontana Bradley L. Quick - Bradley L. Quick Insurance Agency Rick J. Radecki – Lion’s Roar Media, Victorville RCS Door Service/ Rodney Press. Peter M. Reimer - Peter Reimer Farms, Shafter Reimer's Wholesale Nursery Resources For Continuing Education, Inc. RF Sweet & Associates Real Estate Anthony Rios- First Security Home Loans Rockingham Asset Management Rod B. Johnson, CPA Denise M. Roland – Reliable Referrals LLC, La Crosse WI RPM Events, Inc. Joel Sanders – Sanders Heavy Towing, Williams Ross L. Sardo – RLS Inspections, Inc. Ventura Janice Schindler, President - Schindler & Schindler Inc. Fountain Valley Scott McDonald & Assoc. SCVHHS Sheppard & Associates Insurance Agency David Smalley, M.D. Patricia Smith – Classic Clean, Inc. Los Gatos Splash! Designworks Cynthia L. Stevens - Cynthia’s Cleaning Service Robert D. Stevenson, DDS Douglas Stevenson-Quietcool, inc. Stubblefield Family Chiropractic Scott Suchomel-Sibling Systems Superior Notary, LLC Teague Construction The Fire & Cop Shop The Law Office of H. Craig Miller The Wellness Advantage President Daniel y Susana Torres, Vision De Futuroag Tri-Valley Propac, Inc. Tropical Sands Vacations William U. Valencia, Tax Consultant: Valencia Tax Service Keith Walker, Writer-Publisher: Golden Door Press Warren Photography, Victorville Robert R. Weedon LCSW, Coherent Counseling Services West Coast Commercial Mortgage, Inc. White Diamond Jewelers Zane Schaeffer Construction
Also over at Daily Kos there is a diary listing Mormon businesses. These are not necessarily endorsers of the homophobic propositions that have been enacted in several states. But they are members of the religious organization that led to fight to marginalize approximately 10% of Americans. These businesses are good targets for establishing a dialogue regarding this proposition and urging them to condemn theHate Amendment. Some may well be right wing nut cases, like Diebold. THEY should be boycotted. Others should not but rather should be part of an effort to talk to people about why marriage equality is fair and a good thing for American society. So here is a list of companies to look into and TALK to about marriage equality.
* Affiliated Computer Services * AES Corp. * Avista Corp. * American Express * Black & Decker * Cadence Design * Corvis * Central Pacific Bank * 1-800-Contacts * Cygnus Inc. * Diebold * Dell Computer * Dionex * Downey Savings and Loan * EarthShell * Franklin Covey * Hillenbrand Industries * Headwaters, Inc. * Hollywood Entertainment * Host Marriott * Iomega * JP Realty * Key Corp. * Knight Transportation * K-Swiss, Inc. * La Quinta Properties, Inc. * Marriott International * Micrel Semiconductor * Micro General * Merit Medical Systems * Monaco Coach * Microsemi Corp. * Myriad Genetics * Novell * NPS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. * NuSkin * Oil States International * Oakley * priceline.com Inc. * Phelps Dodge Corp. * Ryder Systems * SkyWest Airlines * Swift Transportation * Cornerstone REIT * Tropical Sportswear * Williams Companies, Inc. * Zions Bancorp
If you boycott a company...TELL them you are boycotting. If you contact a company and receive a reply, even just a form letter, write back. Keep up the dialogue. Make a follow up phone call. TALK to people. It can make the difference.
And here is a list of STONEWALL DEMOCRATS and related organizations in California:
Stonewall Alliance of Chico: The Stonewall Alliance Center offers a range of services to help connect people to their community. Volunteers staffing the Center provide information on activities and events and offer referrals for services. Our Education & Outreach give community members access to the Harlan Adams Memorial Library, Out Education classes, we deliver speaker’s panels to local colleges and presenters to area organizations and groups.
BLOGGING CALIFORNIA: Here are some blogs covering California Politics
Calitics is an open source news organization for California.
The California Progress Report is published by Frank D. Russo, a longtime observer of and participant in California politics.
Senator Barbara Boxer is up for reelection, and she ought to win, unless she happens to face an exceptionally strong candidate like, say, term-limited Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
I feel that Boxer would beat the Governator (who has also been mentioned as a possible candidate for a Cabinet position) in a head-to-head race, but it would be quite a lot of fun to watch.
Perhaps not as much fun, however, as the Democratic primary for Governor is expected to be.
Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi is already running. Other possible or expected candidates include:
• Attorney General, former Governor, former Presidential candidate and former Mayor of Oakland Jerry Brown. • U.S. Senator and former San Francisco Mayor Dianne Feinstein. • San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom • Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa • U.S. Rep. Loretta Sanchez • U.S. Rep. Hilda Solis
And those are just the Democrats. On the GOP side, Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner is expected to run, and we can only hope that Conservative Icon Tom McClintock might get into the race, whether or not he wins in the House.
Speaking of the House, there probably won't be too many top-tier races to begin with, but as we saw this year, there are a number of California districts where upsets are plausible. Among them:
CA-03, where Republican Dan "the Sacramento '49er" Lungren received under 50% of the vote in 2008. CA-04, where we still don't know who the next Representative will be (though it's not looking good for Democrat Charlie Brown). CA-26, where incumbent Republican David Drier pulled just 53% in 2008 CA-44, where Democrat Bill Hedrick nearly shocked the world by pulling off a stunning upset of Republican Ken Calvert, in a race no one saw coming. CA-45, a moderately Republican district and home of Democrat Mary Bono Mack. CA-46, where Republican Dana Rohrabacher got just 53% against Democrat Debbie Cook this year.
Meanwhile, it's likely Republicans will take another crack at Jerry McNerney in CA-11. It's likely neither party will gain any House seats in California in 2010, but you never know.
The Green Way Out: Yes...a Green New Deal is what we need...and on a related note: Green efforts boost economy. I've been saying this for YEARS. And boy our economy could use some boosting!
Here are some Biodiesel Cooperatives in California. If you have a diesel truck or car, joining one of these co-ops can help you drive more green.
The Berkeley Biodiesel Collecctive Berkeley, CA email: berkeleybiodiesel_at_yahoo.com. Or check out their website.
The Biofuels Research Cooperative Sebastopol, CA email: veggieoilcoop_at_yahoo.com.
I also want to highlight Conserv Fuels in Los Angeles, which offers a selection of alternative fuels (biodiesel and ethanol included) as well as pretty cheap regular gasoline. Joy and I buy our fuel (whatever we need) when we are in Los Angeles.
And Propel Fuels have several stations around California that offer biodiesel: (I discovered them when I saw they did carbon offsets)
* Rocklin 6700 Five Star Blvd Sacramento, California 95677
* Citrus Heights 7741 Auburn Blvd Citrus Heights, California 95610
* Sacramento, Folsom Blvd. 8090 Folsom Blvd. Sacramento, California 95826
* Sacramento, Norwood Ave. 4200 Norwood Ave Sacramento, California 95838
* Sacramento, Florin Road 8062 Florin Road Sacramento, California 95828
* Elk Grove 9190 E Stockton Blvd Elk Grove, California 95624
* Roseville 999 Sunrise Ave Roseville, California 95661
* Placerville 151 Main St Placerville, California 95667
Here are other alternative energy resources for Califorina:
San Francisco Community Power pilots innovative programs that improve our neighborhoods' environmental and economic conditions. We help small businesses and low-income families lower their expenses and reduce their ecological footprint. Our work provides policy makers with demonstrative ways to solve complex resource allocation issues.
California for Democracy: Here are some local Democracy for America groups (click on the link for more info)
Here are some local political meetings in California:
San Fernando Valley Young Democrats: San Fernando Valley Young Democrats shall endeavor to stimulate in young people an active interest in governmental affairs, increase the efficiency of our government, maintain the viability of our free institutions, and contribute to the growth and influence of the ideals and philosophy of the Democratic Party. Check their calendar of events here.
Pasadena Young Democrats: PYD welcomes students and young adults from throughout the region to join us. The mission of PYD is to encourage young people to participate in the political process, support progressive ideals and Democratic candidates and have a lot fun in the process!
If you are actively looking to find out about the local scene, get involved with a campaign, or even if you are just looking for some fun progressive people aged 14-35 to hang out with, we encourage you to join PYD and attend one of our meetings or events. Check out their calendar here.
Orange County Young Democrats: We are young workers, young families, college and high school students--ages 14-35--who are commited to the Democratic values that make America strong and provide opportunity for all. As the official voice for young people in the Democratic Party of Orange County, OCYD is a network of Young Democrat activists around the county that are helping to provide a Democratic presence around Orange County and around college and high school campuses. Check out their calendar here.
San Ramon Valley Democrats Meetings We are a group of dedicated Democrats living in the San Ramon Valley who have come together to support and promote the progressive social and political principles that always have been fundamental to the Democratic Party. The San Ramon Valley is comprised of Alamo, Blackhawk, Diablo, Danville, San Ramon, and southern Walnut Creek, and members of our club come from each of those communities. We meet once a month for an educational program at Mudd's Restaurant in San Ramon, alternating between lunch on the second Tuesday, and appetizers (no-host bar) on the evening of the fourth Thursday (6:30 PM). We register people to vote, walk precincts to arouse voters, raise money for candidates, and enjoy the opportunity to socialize with people of common interests. Go here for more info.
Our meetings are lively and our programs are focused on issues of concern to Democrats, locally, statewide, and nationally. Our speakers are chosen for their astute insight into the problems before us as citizens and as voters. We socialize before and after the formal meetings, and enter into animated discussions about the topic of the day. In the process we become fast friends.
Mudds Restaurant $22 per person (meal included)
Democrats of North Orange County Bill Daly, President 714-990-6767 Bruce Sandercock, Vice-President 714-871-5244 P. O. Box 6597 Fullerton, CA 92834 Monthly meeting: First Thursday, Sizzler Restaurant, 1401 N. Harbor, Fullerton; 6 p.m. dinner, 7 p.m. meeting
Santa Clara County (San Jose) Democratic Party Meetup We meet at 7:30pm on the second Tuesday of each month at the Dem Party Office, 2102 Almaden Road, Suite 114, San Jose, 95125. Feel free to bring snacks to share.
Brought to you by the Santa Clara County Democratic Party (http://www.sccdp.org).... Please join us to learn ways to help elect Democrats in Santa Clara County and beyond.
~~Together, America Can Do Better!~~
On Almaden ROAD (not Expwy), between Curtner and Canoas Garden. It's OK to park in the big lot, despite posted warnings.
Internet directions usually suggest taking Almaden Expressway, which is sometimes backed up. A lower stress route is to take Bird Avenue west from 280 and follow it all the way until it dead-ends at Malone. Left on Malone, Right on Almaden Road and 2102 is on the first corner on your left.
We meet in Suite 114, first door on your left as you enter the glass doors marked Main Entrance.
Drinking Liberally:
For those who like a more social, and beer focused, environment, there's Drinking Liberally. Here are the Drinking Liberally groups in California:
San Jose * Second Thursday of each month, 6:30 and on * Trials Pub in downtown San Jose, 265 N 1st St (main cross streets: W St James and W Julian) * September is our first meeting with our new host! I'm looking for a co-host, so let me know if you are interested * Hosted by Mia White, sanjose (at) drinkingliberally.org
Downtown Los Angeles * Third Wednesday of each month, 6:00-8:00 pm * The Edison, 108 West 2nd St * We'll be in the area past the bar, known as the "Generator Lounge" (the entrance to the bar is through the alley off of 2nd street) * Hosted by Vincent Jones, Cecilia Cabello, Becca Doten, Roxi Reeves and Jim Kennedy, downtownla (at) drinkingliberally.org
Hollywood * Second Wednesday of each month, 7:00-9:00 PM * Molly Malone's Irish Pub, 575 South Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles 90036 (near corner of 6th avenue) * http://www.mollymalonesla.com/ * Hosted by Vincent Jones, Jim Kennedy and Mary Jack, la (at) drinkingliberally.org
Pasadena * Every Tuesday, 7:30-10:00 pm * Madeleine's Wine Bistro, 1030 E Green St (between Wilson and Catalina) * We'll start out in the wine bar, then move out to the front patio. * Hosted by Asa Hopkins, pasadena (at) drinkingliberally.org
San Fernando Valley * First and third Thursday of each month, 7:00 pm onward * The White Harte Pub, 22456 Ventura Blvd, Woodland Hills (Two blocks west of Shoup Ave.) * Hosted by Andy Beaton and Jon Hytowitz, sfv (at) drinkingliberally.org
Westside * Fourth Wednesday of each month, 7:00-9:00 pm * Cock and Bull Pub, 2947 Lincoln Blvd, Santa Monica * Hosted by Vincent Jones, Mary Jack, Robert Coyner, Gisele Perez, Jeremy Bloom, Tami Reiss, Marc Saltzberg and Jim Kennedy, westsidela (at) drinkingliberally.org
Monterey, California * First Wednesday of each month, 6:30 pm onward * Ol' Factory Cafe, 1725 Contra Costa St (In Sand City, off of Del Monte Blvd) * http://www.olfactorycafe.com/ * Please note that The Ol' Factory Cafe currently only takes cash and local checks. * Hosted by Annie Ho, monterey (at) drinkingliberally.org
Santa Ana * Every Thursday, 8:30 pm onward * Memphis Bar, 201 N Broadway (Artists Village) * Hosted by Mike Lawson, orangecounty (at) drinkingliberally.org
Rancho Santa Margarita * Every Thursday, 7:00 pm onward * Canyon Fireside Grille, 22312 El Paseo * Hosted by Gary Kephart, rsm (at) drinkingliberally.org
Huntington Beach * First and third Thursday of each month, 7:00 pm onward * Oggi's Pizza & Brewing Co. - Out Back On The Patio, 19461 Main St * Next Meeting will be on Thursday November 15th * Hosted by Scott McKown and Louise Stewardson, huntingtonbeach (at) drinkingliberally.org
Sacramento, California * Second Thursday of each month, 7:00 pm onward * BJs Restaurant and Brewery, 3531 N Freeway Blvd (Natomas) * Come check out our new venue and meet some new people! * Hosted by Leslie Simmons, sacramento (at) drinkingliberally.org
San Diego, California * Every other Tuesday, 7:30 pm onward * Nunu's Cocktail Lounge, 3537 5th Ave (Between Brookes and Ivy Ln) * We will also be meeting periodically at Firehouse in Pacific Beach for special editions of Drinking Liberally. 722 Grand Avenue Pacific Beach, CA 92109 * Hosted by Jesse Rubin and Jason Miller, sandiego (at) drinkingliberally.org
San Francisco * Every Monday, 7:00-9:00 pm * Nickie's, 466 Haight Street (between Fillmore & Webster) (Look for our red, white and blue striped bottle!) * Hosted by Susan Harrison, sf (at) drinkingliberally.org
Oakland * Second and fourth Wednesday of each month, 6:00 - 9:00 PM * Luka's Taproom & Lounge, 2221 Broadway * Join us for the Eating Liberally Oakland Brunch at Luka's * Hosted by Cyril Allen and Philip Combs, oakland (at) drinkingliberally.org
Napa * First and third Monday of each month, 5:00-6:30 pm * Compadre's, 505 Lincoln Ave * Hosted by Mick Winter and Lauren Coodley, napa (at) drinkingliberally.org
San Luis Obispo, California * First and third Wednesday of each month, 7:00 pm onward * The Graduate, 990 Industrial Way * Hosted by Lorrie Toles and Sergio Monge, slo (at) drinkingliberally.org
Santa Barbara, California * Every Wednesday, 8 pm - 10 pm * Elsie's Bar, 117 W de la Guerra St (behind Paseo Nuveo Mall) * Elsie's is 21+ and cash only * Hosted by Daryl Chrisman and Bart Woolery, santabarbara (at) drinkingliberally.org
Santa Clarita, California * Second Wednesday of each month, 7:00 pm onward * Mulligans, 25848 Tournament Rd (Near Cal Arts) * Hosted by Michael Cruz, Bill Bailey and Minerva Williams, santaclarita (at) drinkingliberally.org
Santa Cruz, California * First Tuesday of each month, 8:00 pm onward * Cafe Pergolesi, 418 Cedar St (In the orange room to the right and back) * Hosted by Brandon Smith and Natalie Rojas, santacruz (at) drinkingliberally.org
Stockton, California * Third Friday of each month, 7:00 pm onward * Stockton Grand Hotel, 2323 Grand Canal Blvd (Front of Bar) * Grand Hotel tel. 209-957-9090 * Joel's Cell: 209-351-3397 * Hosted by Joel Carignan, stockton (at) drinkingliberally.org
Ventura, California * Second and fourth Wednesday of each month, 8:00 pm * JJ Brewsky's, now and forever, 2344 Ventura Blvd, Camarillo (in the heart of Old Town Camarillo) * Join us every second and fourth Wednesdays at 8:00 PM for a pint and some politics! * Heather, Marie, Mark and Brian * Hosted by Heather Schmidt, Marie Davis, Mark Eggertsen and Brian Mack, ventura (at) drinkingliberally.org
