NEW YORK FOCUS

NEW YORK BLOGGING:

Drum Major Institute: Politics, Policy and the American Dream

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

Reform NY is the blog of the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law

CNY Latino: the ONLY Hispanic oriented newspaper in the Central New York area. CNY Latino is a monthly periodical dedicated to the Hispanic population, but prepared to be read by any culture, since it is written in both "English and Spanish".

The Herkimer County Progressive: Political Opinion and Commentary from Herkimer County's Premier Progressive Blog

The Daily Gotham covers both New York City and New York State politics.

No Land Grab: News from the point of view of Brooklyn opposition to overdevelopment


CURRENT TV:
Current TV, founded by Al Gore, includes some of the best journalism in America today. In particular their Vanguard series is amazing and should not be missed by ANYONE who wants to know in depth coverage of some of the major stories in the world. And now CurrentTV has Keith Olbermann as well.

In most areas Current TV is available on:
DIRECTV Channel 358
DISH Network Channel 196
Comcast Digital: Channel 107
AT&T U-Verse: Channel 189

Check out their program schedule here.


Somos El Futuro:

NYS Legislative Hispanic Advocacy Group, whose mission is to create opportunities that increase the participation of the Puerto Rican/Hispanic community in the public policy making process and build the capacity of New York's Hispanic communities to work towards the development of policies, laws, state rules and regulations that address the needs and issues of Hispanics across the state - http://www.somoselfuturo.org


SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL UNION:

Click here for the New York AFL-CIO website to get involved in protecting your rights in the workplace.

Check out the Working New York Television Show:

Cablevision: 19, 6 (Lower Westchester)
Time Warner Cable: 12 or 22 in Hudson Valley, 91 in NYC
Comcast: 20 in NY, 22 in CT, 19 in NJ
Direct TV: 62
Dish Network: 8116
Verizon FIOS: 6
RCN: 16
Charter Communications: 14

For more union info, contact:
Albany Office
100 South Swan St
Albany, NY 12210
Phone: 518-436-8516
Fax: 518-436-8470
Email: information@nysaflcio.org

New York City Office
50 Broadway, 35th Floor
New York, NY 10004
Phone: 212-777-6040
Fax: 212-777-8422
Email: information@nysaflcio.org
Contact Person: Joellen Sanders


Alternative Energy in NY State:

Here are some stats from Repower America:

* A $2 billion investment by Spanish energy company, Iberdrola, will double New York's 1,000-megawatt wind capacity to 2,000-megawatts - providing enough electricity for nearly 600,000 homes.

* New York's energy efficiency programs save enough electricity to power almost 115,000 homes for a whole year, save almost $140 million in energy costs, and prevent the greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to taking over 60,000 cars off the road. Although great progress, the state still has much more potential to increase its energy efficiency.

* The state has a renewable portfolio standard (RPS) that requires all public utilities to generate 24% of their electricity from renewable energy resources by 2013.

What you can do for Clean Energy:

For pennies per month more than you currently pay for energy you can buy 100% green energy from Con-Ed. Joy and I have been doing it for years, seriously reducing our carbon footprint and giving NY State cleaner air. Here's how it works:

Clean Energy for Residential & Small Business Customers ConEdison Solutions is leading the way in promoting pollution-free electricity by offering WIND and GREEN Power - clean, 100% renewable power. Instead of drawing on traditional power sources, such as nuclear power and fossil fuel sources, GREEN Power is generated from regional wind and low-impact hydropower sources. GREEN Power is composed of 65% run-of-the-river hydro and 35% wind power. See content label WIND Power is composed of electricity exclusively generated from 100% wind power. The benefit of clean energy is that it produces none of the detrimental environmental effects associated with electricity production that results in air emissions.

ConEdison Solutions is committed to making a difference in the environment and together we have the opportunity to help make a powerful impact. The cost for renewable energy has fallen dramatically in recent years and is only a fraction higher than electricity generated from traditional power sources. ConEdison Solutions' GREEN Power costs only an additional one cent per kilowatt-hour (kWh) more than our standard offer and WIND Power is an additional 2.5 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) more than our standard offer. Upgrading to renewable energy makes a difference and is a very affordable way to show that you care about the future of our environment.

To sign up GO HERE. Or call: 1-888-320-8991. You won't regret switching.


For those who want to combine fun with political action here's 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

Central Brooklyn Eating Liberally
* Second Tuesday of each month, 7:00-9:00 pm
* Various locations, email host for info
* Hosted by David Michaelson, mole333@gmail.com

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
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


DEMOCRACY FOR AMERICA MEETINGS IN NY STATE:

Democracy for NYC: includes the following chapters: (all meet the first Wed. of each month...let me know if I have left any out)

Astoria, Queens - 7:30 pm, Bear Burger, 33-21 31st Avenue, with host Costa Constantinides.

Sunnyside, Queens - *7:30 pm*, Starbucks on Queens Blvd. at 46th Street, with host Dan Jacoby and special guest Josh Silverstein.

Upper West Side, Manhattan - 7:00 pm, Dean's, 215 West 85th Street (between Broadway & Amsterdam), with hosts Sally Swisher and Emily Pearlman.

West Village, Manhattan - 7:00 pm, Kettle of Fish, 59 Christopher Street @ 7th Avenue, with host Richard Wallner and Tracey Keij-Denton.

Midwood/Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn - 7:00 pm, at the home of Terry Rodie, 1170 Ocean Parkway, Apt. 10K, between Avenues J and L. It's the big white building next to the cemetery, with hosts Christina Newhard and Vicky Curto.

Livingston County for Democracy

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

Democracy For The Greater Glens Falls Area

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

Capital District of NY/GenDFA

North Country Democracy for America

Democracy For Saratoga Springs


ALTERNATIVE FUELS:

There are two kinds of alternate fuels that are readily available that lower your carbon foot print and use AMERICAN resources and create AMERICAN jobs rather than supporting big oil companies and oil nations like Saudi Arabia, Iran and Venezuela.

ETHANOL: Cars labeled FlexFuel (now becoming common in some states) can use up to E85 (85% ethanol/15% gasoline). E85 burns cleaner than gasoline and is usually cheaper. I have used E85 in California and found it to be 10-40 cents cheaper than the cheapest gasoline at the same station. CLICK HERE TO FIND STATIONS IN NEW YORK OFFERING E85. This can be a really good way to help the American economy, help the environment, AND save money.

BIODIESEL: Pretty much ANY diesel engine can use biodiesel. Biodiesel burns cleaner and in most engines is better for the engine. It can be more expensive than regular diesel depending on the location, but is better for the environment, is better for most diesel engines, and is good for the local economy. You can find nearby stations and cooperatives (often the best option) that offer biodiesel by clicking here and either clicking on your state on the map or entering your zip code. We used biodiesel in a rental car one year and loved it.


Here are a handful of Organizations worth checking out:

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.


New York State Green Drinks Groups

Every month people who work in the environmental field meet up at informal sessions known as Green Drinks.

We have a lively mixture of people from NGOs, academia, government and business. Come along and you'll be made welcome. Just say, "are you green?" and we will look after you and introduce you to whoever is there. It's a great way of catching up with people you know and also for making new contacts. Everyone invites someone else along, so there’s always a different crowd, making Green Drinks an organic, self-organising network.

These events are very simple and unstructured, but many people have found employment, made friends, developed new ideas, done deals and had moments of serendipity. It's a force for the good and we'd like to help it spread to other cities. Contact your local node to get the latest info about coming along.

Here are links to Green Drinks Groups in New York State:

Albany

Auburn NY

Binghamton

Bronx

Brooklyn, NY

Buffalo

Hudson Valley

Huntington

Ithaca

Manhattan

Patchogue, NY

Plainview

Queens

Rochester

Saranac Lake

Saratoga Springs

Staten Island

Syracuse

Upper Delaware

Westchester County


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