Vote!

09/14/2009 | Comment

In case you haven’t noticed, there is an election tomorrow. Technically it’s a primary, but for all intents and purposes, it’s the election (the exception being the race for Mayor, which will be decided in November, not September).

If you are a registered Democrat, vote tomorrow.* If you are a registered Democrat in North Brooklyn, vote tomorrow and tell all of your friends to vote. This is particularly important in the 33rd District, which Williamsburg and Greenpoint shares with DUMBO, Brooklyn Heights, Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill and Park Slope (because we all have so much in common). Too often, our council members are focused on the southern part of the district, where the votes (and dollars) are, to the exclusion of the north. Good turnout from the northern territories can change that (it might even elect someone who actually lives here).

[*If you are not a registered democrat, you really should be – at least for the citywide elections. For better or (mostly) worse, New York has a closed primary system. That means you can only vote in the primary for the party you are registered for. If you are not registered as a Democrat in city elections, you will not have a voice in most of the races that affect you. That’s just the way it is, and that’s why you should register as a Democrat (you can always switch back to Republican, Independent, WFP, whatever in the even-year state and national election cycles).]



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Daily News Endorses Thies, Reyna

09/14/2009 | 1 Comment

The Daily News is out with its endorsements for significant City Council races. Locally, they are endorsing Evan Thies in the 33rd and Diana Reyna in the 34th. Here’s what they have to say.

[Thies] has distinguished himself in fights for affordable housing and public space.

and

[Reyna] has secured millions for new community and youth centers.

Reyna in particular is racking up the endorsements – she now has the Times, the News, El Diario, and the Brooklyn Courier. Thies adds the News to his earlier endorsements from the Brooklyn Paper and the Brooklyn Star.

In the 39th, the News like Brad Lander. Like the Times, the News is not making an endorsement in the 35th (Tish James’ seat). I’m sure some will see conspiracy there, but maybe it’s just not seen as a competitive race



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Closing the Book on the Bush Legacy

On every major measurement, the Census Bureau report shows that the country lost ground during Bush’s two terms. While Bush was in office, the median household income declined, poverty increased, childhood poverty increased even more, and the number of Americans without health insurance spiked. By contrast, the country’s condition improved on each of those measures during Bill Clinton’s two terms, often substantially.

We’re poorer, our kids are poorer and we are all less likely to have health coverage. Bush inherited a $236 billion dollar surplus and left us with a $1.3 trillion dollar deficit. Along the way, he saddled us with a $1.35 trillion dollar tax cut (among others) and a $694 billion dollar war (more expensive that Vietnam, it turns out). Oh, and the stock market lost 22% under Bush’s economic policies.

Heckuva fiscal responsibility, Georgie.

Don’t Tell Me What 9/12 Means, Glenn Beck

[As] someone who happened to be in New York City eight years ago today, the implicit premise of the 9-12 Project — that those who aren’t on Beck’s side must have somehow “forgotten” 9/11 and its aftermath — ticks me off royally and personally.

I was at home in Brooklyn, holding my six-week-old baby on the couch, when I saw the second plane crash into the World Trade Center on TV. I watched the smoking pit of the ruins from the roof of my apartment building as bits of memo paper and ash drifted on the winds to my neighborhood. I was there on 9/11, and 9/12, and 9/13. You’ll excuse me if I don’t feel warm nostalgia for the lingering smell of burnt airplane fuel, and metal, and bodies.

Right on.

Bernadette Peters Endorses Gerry Esposito

09/10/2009 | 3 Comments

Bernadette_n_Gerry.JPG
(l to r): Marie Esposito, Vinny from BARC, Bernadette and Gerry

I had no idea Gerry was a cat man:

Film and stage star Bernadette Peters announced today that she was endorsing Democrat Gerry Esposito for City Council, because of his phenomenal commitment to helping animals and the extensive work that he has done [on] behalf of the Brooklyn Animal Resource Coalition (BARC) in Williamsburg, Brooklyn… Esposito, who has six cats and takes care of three strays, said that it was an honor to receive Peters’ endorsement. “Bernadette Peters has been an inspiration to everyone who believes that animals deserve to be treated with dignity and love. I will eagerly seek out her insight when I am in the Council, because animal protection won’t just be on my agenda, it will be a priority for me.”



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Progress at 65 Commercial

09/09/2009 | Comment

David Yassky’s office said tonight that there is (finally) some progress on the City’s acquisition of 65 Commercial Street. The big stumbing block – MTA intransigence – seems to have been overcome, and the agency that answers to no one has agreed to two potential relocation sites. The City now needs to do a feasibility study for the site they select, which is expected to completed by the end of the month. Then, I guess, negotiations begin over the cost of acquisition (not a quick-turnaround process) and then design of construction of housing on the site, development of parks, waterfront esplanade and other open space benefits on adjacent sites.

A long way off, yes, but at least we can see the starting gate from here.



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An Actual Debate in the 34th

WG News + Arts held a candidates forum for the 34th District last night. For a while, it looked like it would be yet another one-sided discussion, this time with just Gerry Esposito (you may remember that the last two times Diana Reyna was the only candidate to show).

Well, at the last minute Diana Reyna decided she would attend. So kudos to her (the only candidate to appear at all four candidate debates/forums). And kudos to Gerry Esposito, who has now attended two of the four (and gets extra credit for appearing at a fifth event that wound up getting cancelled). Notably absent at all one of these events is the third candidate in the race, Maritza Davila.

And while I’m at it, kudos to WG News + Arts and the Brooklyn Rail for organizing the whole event.