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Mole's Progressive Democrat

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).

Name:
Location: Brooklyn, New York, United States

I am a research biologist in NYC. Married with two kids living in Brooklyn.

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  • Friday, March 06, 2009

    NEW YORK FOCUS: Blogs, Progressive Candidates, Peace Vigils, Groups and Events

    Comedy for a Cause

    Join us on March 14th, at 9 p.m. at the Times Square Arts Center (669 8th Avenue, New York) for an evening of comedy and help support Sustainable South Bronx.

    Tickets are $20 each and you must be 21+ to attend. Space is limited so call to reserve your tickets TODAY! Please contact Laura at 646.400.5433 or ljohnson@ssbx.org for more information or to purchase tickets.

    Be prepared for an evening of comedy with New Yorker attitude!


    Here are some articles worth reading:

    LGBT Equality And Justice Day Set For April 28 In Albany

    The Bigger, Better Bottle Bill

    NY Drinking Water at Risk

    Cover Up At City Hall Continues: Bloomberg and Quinn's Con Game will go unpunished...but it has inspired a reform bill in the City Council.

    Killer cuts to ambulance services coming...and this comes after repeated cuts by Bloomberg to the fire department. Does Bloomerg WANT New Yorkers to die?

    Senate will fold Rockefeller drug law reform into budget proposal. About time these outdated and ineffective drug laws get some much needed reform

    NY court deals landlords huge setback

    The fare hikers: Kruger, Diaz and Espada will bear blame for hammering straphangers

    Gillibrand Doing What Good Senators Do

    38th City Council District: Gonzalez Stealing Galarza's Ideas

    Manhattan DA Will Not Seek Re-Election: At age 90, this is not surprising. Personally I think Richard Davis sounds like a good candidate for Manhattan DA. He has been chair of Citizens Union and served on the Watergate Special Prosecution Force and in the United States Attorney’s Office.

    AIG Begs For Yet More Taxpayer Money: remember, AIG, along with Bank of America, used taxpayer money to party it up and to lobby against the Fair Pay Bill. Personally I feel AIG and Bank of America can go to hell. They screw American workers then beg us for money.

    Senate Leader Signals East River Toll Support

    Most New Yorkers support raising taxes on those making at least $250,000

    MTA denies money to Ratner...Of course Ratner's favorite bought politician, Angry Clown Marty Markowitz, wants to give more and more money to Ratner. Ratner gets what he pays for from Clown Prince Marty...but McMahon, NYC's newest Congressman says no to Ratner

    Judge Makowski Resigns Amid Allegations Of Tampering: More evidence that the judicial system in New York is seriously messed up. This is why I often spend some time focusing on judicial elections because when people don't pay attention we get lousy judges.

    Getting Schooled on Term Limits By Hugo Chavez. I am not in favor of Chavez getting unlimited terms, which seems to be his goal. But I gotta say, he did it the right way. Unlike here where Tsar Bloomberg and his Trained Surrender Monkeys on the City Council did the same thing the exact wrong way. Sad when Venezuela understands democracy better than New York. Meanwhile, Tsar Bloomberg's Approval Rating Continue to Drop

    Former NY State Senate Republican majority committed wild abuses of power

    Mayor's Order Encourages Developers to Violate the Law...and on a related note: NYC: City of the Developer's Sweetheart Deal


    NEW YORK BLOGGING:

    The Albany Project gives excellent coverage of New York State politics.

    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

    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 link to Norm Siegel on NY1.

    And here is Youtube footage of Norm Siegel and the NYC Coalition To Preserve Term Limits Press Conference:




    Josh Skaller for City Council. Josh is a good friend of ours, a solid progressive, and about as honest as you can get. Here is Josh's statement on his campaign website:

    I love Brooklyn—our neighborhoods and our people, the incredible warmth I feel walking around our vibrant and diverse communities. Like you, I know that Brooklyn is a terrific place to live and raise our families. But everywhere we look these days, the things that make our borough great are under assault. Developers and out of touch politicians seem determined to transform our community into an endless series of high-rise condos and strip malls. I believe that unchecked development threatens the beauty and integrity of our neighborhoods, overtaxes public services, and places an incalculable burden on our fragile ecology. I’m willing to stand up to the developers, and I hope you’ll stand with me.

    As President of Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats (CBID) for the past two years, and as an executive member of Democracy for New York City, I've had the honor and pleasure of working with fellow concerned citizens to help change Brooklyn for the better: Local government that doesn't fear its constituents, but embraces them. A political ecosystem that nourishes and amplifies our core values rather than suppresses them. Transparency, honesty, community empowerment, and more than just lip service for the progressive values our neighborhoods share. I will continue to work on behalf of schools and teachers for our children, an environmental policy brave enough to protect the planet for future generations, and I will stand strong and defend our neighborhoods from the out of control, out of context development that seems to be everywhere, and advocate for smart growth and community based planning.

    I look forward to bringing the enthusiasm I've shared with so many of you to city council.


    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. Here is Eric Adam's endorsement statement:



    Here is Marq Claxton opposing Bloomberg's term limits coup:



    And here is a statement by Claxton regarding inaccurate crime statistics in NYC.


    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.

    Here is a video of Daniel Dromm at Pride '09:



    Here is a video of Daniel Dromm protesting the Con Ed rate hikes and inadequate service:




    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 (I hear he IS indeed running!)

    Rocky Chin, Council District 1
    Rodrick Daley or Terry Hinds, 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 AMERICA MEETINGS IN NY STATE:

    Democracy For The Southern Adirondack/Tricounty Area. You can also check out their website here.

    Democracy For The Greater Glens Falls Area

    dfaROCHESTER. And you can check out their website here.

    Democracy for the Hudson-Mohawk Region. And you can join their Yahoo group here.

    Capital District of NY/GenDFA

    Democracy for the Hudson Valley

    Mid-Hudson Progressive Alliance

    Democracy For Westchester

    Democracy for Long Island. You can also join their Yahoo group here.

    North Country Democracy for America

    Central New York DFA

    Eastern Long Island Democracy for America

    Democracy For Saratoga Springs

    Kingston Democracy for America

    Democracy for Otsego and Delaware Counties

    Philipstown for Democracy

    DFA: Greene County

    Livingston County for Democracy


    DEMOCRACY FOR NYC MEETINGS:
    First Wednesday of every month.

    Upper West Side - 7:00 pm, The Parlour (back room) - 250 West 86th Street (btwn B'way and West End Ave.), with hosts Bernadette Evangelist and Sally Swisher.

    West Village - 7:00pm, Kettle of Fish, 59 Christopher St. (near 7th Ave.) with host Tracey Keij-Denton.

    Astoria, Queens - 7:30pm, - Ommonia Cafe 32-20 Broadway, with host Jeremiah Frei-Pearson and Costa Constantinides.

    Sunnyside, Queens - 7:30 pm, Bliss Street Station restaurant, 47-02 Greenpoint Ave., with host Dan Jacoby.

    Bayside, Queens - 7:00 pm, The First Edition, 41-08 Bell Blvd, right near the LIRR stop, with host Steve Behar of Democrats for New Politics.

    Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn - 7:00pm, Wyckoff-Bennett Homestead 1669 E. 22nd St. with host Annette Mont and Estelle Glasser.


    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 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

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