Census: It’s Important… Really, REEAALLLY Important

Right-wing radio is making an issue of the fact that the Census Bureau is over budget already. They also don’t think the money spent on the Super Bowl Commercial was wisely allocated.  I’m enormously supportive of the idea of the Census being everywhere, including the Super Bowl. In modern society, you have to be completely overwhelmed with something for it to register as a big deal. The Census is certainly a big deal. So I’m glad that I saw an ad at the movie theater last night. It’s on TV, fliers litter the streets, it’s in the papers, on the radio, even on the internet: Census 2010 Website (it’s actually pretty awesome; you should check it out).

On that note, the Census has sent out its questionnaires, and if you’re even thinking about not filling it out or sending it in, read on:

You see, there is a tremendous amount riding on this year’s Census. The political wonk in me wants to wax poetic about the Census’s effects on redistricting: the process which immediately follows the Census where we reexamine each State’s allotment of Congressmembers and redraw our legislative district lines, from Congress to City Council, accordingly. NY will likely lose a congressional seat, and our State Legislature’s lines will be redrawn to either promote or prevent progressive legislation for the next 10 years, depending on the party in power when the lines are drawn.

But, that’s not even the worst consequence on not fulfilling your civic duty. Our esteemed Borough President Scott Stringer just sent me an email that sums it up pretty well:

Based on the results of the Census, the federal government distributes $400 billion in aid among the states – a significant portion of which may benefit New York City.

This funding supports vital social service programs that may affect you or someone you know, such as the Medical Assistance Program for healthcare, Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers for public housing, Federal Transit Capital Investment Grants for transportation initiatives, Title I Grants for our schools, Head Start educational programs and many more. Without these programs, thousands of families would go without public housing assistance and New York City children would lack additional educational programs to help them succeed in school. That is why every person must be counted.

The letter goes on to explain that this is a community outreach effort coordinated by Manhattan elected officials and community groups to get the word out.  They have a Facebook group. Become a fan! You can watch a video from the Census below.

Read more

HiramMonserrate.com: Hilarious

The special election in New York’s 13th Senate District is beginning to heat up. Hiram Monserrate, who was stripped of his Senate seat last month for his assault conviction, is running for re-election to the SAME SEAT HE WAS REMOVED FROM. Only in New York, folks.

His constituents aren’t happy about it either. His campaign website’s own guestbook contains mostly vehement swears about his job performance, scandal, and poor priorities. My favorite quote: “You are a g–d-m law breaker and you want to continue to make laws for this state?!”  Another good one: “your politics are atrocious, your behavior even more so. I call for your resignation and a public apology to your girlfriend.”

There have only been 6 comments since June 2008, and just in case they wise up and take it down, I’ve provided a screen shot above. But this is an opportunity we just can’t pass up. I’m calling for all MYD members to post their true feelings about Hiram Monserrate on his guestbook by CLICKING HERE. Best comment wins!

Oh, and give some time this weekend to Jose Peralta, the real Democrat running to replace Monserrate in the Senate. Email Alex V. for details:  political@gomyd.com

Hat tip to my buddy Tracey Keij-Denton for this find.

Bkly Special Election Announced Today

As a Young Democrat living in NYC, you should be aware: there’s an election a comin’ on March 23rd.

Democrats Joe Lazar and David Greenfield will be battling it out against Republican Jonathan Judge for the 44th Council seat (Brooklyn: Midwood, Kensington, Borough Park) vacated by the appointment of Simcha Felder to the office of Deputy Comptroller. Mayor Bloomberg announced the election date today.

Special elections for City Council are a strange specimen. They’re non-partisan, meaning candidates, whether registered with a party or not, have to create their own parties (e.g. Brooklyn for Better Bus Service Party). The term is also very short: from special election day until November, when they’ll have another special election to fill the remainder of the term.

Read more HERE.

Hat tip to Michael Harris, of the Examiner.

National Phenomenon?

Last year was tremendous for the Manhattan Young Democrats. We led a fight in our own state on Marriage Equality. We won awards in Chicago and trained young people there how to be awesome. We even picked a fight with the South Carolina GOP.

New York – check
Chicago – check
South Carolina – check

And now, MYD is being cited as an example for a “new model for City-wide or local political activism” by Democratic organizers in Baltimore who are inviting Dems from all over their city to a brainstorming session to reinvigorate their clubs. Give yourself a well-deserved pat on the back for setting a new standard. Do it again because you’ve not only gone a long way toward saving the party in New York, but in Maryland as well.

Baltimore – check  … is MYD becoming a national phenomenon?

Special thanks to the Baltimore Chronicle (http://baltimorechronicle.com/2010/012610Dems.shtml) for printing the story, and Al Barry and Kim Forsyth for organizing the meeting in Baltimore and preaching the gospel of Organizing 2.0.

City Council Committee Assignments – UPDATED

The omnipresent Azi of the NY Observer just issued the list of NYC Council Committee Assignments. Our Manhattan members are listed below with the extra money they get for their leadership positions. Click on the link at the bottom for the full list.

Speaker, Quinn, $28,000

Assistant Majority Leader and Standard & Ethics Chairwoman, Dickens, $15,000

Aging, Lappin, $10,000

Education, Jackson, $10,000

Government Operations, Brewer, $10,000

Higher Education, Rodriguez, $10,000

Lower Manhattan Redevelopment, Chin, $10,000

Parks-Viverito, $10,000

Public Housing, Mendez, $10,000

Technology, Garodnick, $10,000

Of note: Councilmember Charles Barron was stripped of his chairmanship of the Education committee. Rumored to be because of his campaign for Council Speaker. Also, noticeably absent from the list is Councilmember Dan Garodnick, who had previously been the chair of the Committee on Planning. I’m deducting points from myself for being impatient. Azi ended up posting Garodnick’s committee a little later (Tech Committee, a matter close to our hearts!).  It is important to note, however, that Garodnick is forgoing his lu-lu.

Click HERE for Azi Paybarah’s article in the NY Observer.

Cuomo: Don’t Vote for Pedro

According to the Daily News, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo “has found ‘extensive evidence’ of illegal and improper actions by embattled Sen. Pedro Espada Jr. and the companies he controls,” DN Albany Bureau Chief Ken Lovett reports.

As it turns out, Cuomo has been investigating Espada and his various companies for nearly 9 months (that’s before the June Senate coup). You see, in addition to being a State Senator, Pedro Espada is also President and CEO of both Soundview Healthcare Network and Soundview Management Services (which provides janitorial services for Soundview Healthcare). Cuomo has subpoenaed Espada’s Senate records and his companies for months, but he has yet to comply. In his defence, non-disclosure is something of an art form for Espada since he routinely fails to submit campaign finance filings as well.

Cuomo is now looking to have a judge force Espada to comply. Read more at the Daily News or check out the court documents conveniently provided by DN’s Elizabeth Benjamin.

Now, listen to the NY Times and buy a shirt (http://gomyd.com/2010/01/12/first-fashion-trend-of-2010/).

Future Leaders, Please Stand UP

It’s time to gear up for MYD Club elections! (Can you smell the excitement?) We’re not like those other groups that have “preordained” successors – we want people to stand up and get involved. Next year will see statewide and midterm federal elections, so we’ll need our top talent to lead us to victory.

Important dates:

1/5 – Executive Board Application Deadline(President, VP, Secretary and Treasurer)
1/12 – MYD Voter Guide emailed to members
1/19 – MYD Executive Board Election (461 Park Ave South, 10th Floor, 7PM)
1/29 – Directorship Applications Deadline
2/2 – New Executive Board meets to decide Directors

We’ve structured the Executive Board Application and Directorship Application deadline so as to encourage anyone who might lose an election for an Executive Board position to still vie for a Directorship, so don’t shy away from applying for both. Also, if you’re more issue-focused, our Issue Oriented Committees are required to elect new chairs in February. Check the calendar to see when the next meeting is taking place.

Executive Board Application (President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer)

Directorship Application (Communications, New Media, Development, Special Events, Finance, Political, Community Service, Creative, Social
Media, and Field)

Application instructions and deadlines are on the applications (see links above). To apply, you must have attended one MYD event in 2009 and you must pay your membership dues for 2010 between now and the election (dues are $35). You can pay at the election meeting on January 19th, 2010. For a description of the positions, please see the MYD Consitution. The positions of Creative, Social Media, and Field Director are not constitutionally mandated, and so will not appear in the constitution. We’ll be adding them to the Constitution this year. The descriptions will follow shortly. Constitutional amendments are due on January 5th as well (send to info [at] gomyd [dot] com).

MYD Targeted as GOP Threat

As a South Carolina native, I worry about the honor of my home State. We’ve had a run of national embarrassments lately: Miss Teen SC in ‘07, GOP Gov. Mark Sanford (R) cheating on his wife while vowing to stay in office and Congressman Joe Wilson (R) yelling “You lie” at the President while  he was addressing Congress.

I couldn’t take it anymore, so I invited Rob Miller, the Democratic challenger to Joe Wilson, up to New York for a small fundrasier. To my surprise, the SC GOP noticed: (See Right –>).

That’s right, the Palmetto Scoop, a local Republican e-zine, decided to print a SC GOP dig… against us. They try to lambaste Miller by tying him to us “New York City liberals” (ouch… feel the burn?). Also, why does the GOP operative they cite, Ryan Meerstein, hate NYC liberals so much? Could it be because he worked for the Giuliani Presidential Campaign? Maybe.

In any case, thank you Palmetto Scoop, for the web traffic. And, for pointing out that the SC GOP has nothing better to hit Miller with. Maybe next time you could just send me an email so I can save you the embarrassment. I’d be happy to tell you why I, as a South Carolinian and president of the Manhattan Young Democrats, support Rob Miller for Congress.

Sincerely,
Al Benninghoff
South Carolinian and President of the Manhattan Young Democrats

Tis the Season…

If you weren’t able to make the community service event last Sunday, it’s not too late to give back this holiday season.

MYD has teamed up with Hands on New York for a good ole’ fashioned toy drive. Donated toys will be distributed to children with the misfortune of living in domestic violence or homeless shelters in Manhattan. So, while you’re out this weekend doing your holiday shopping, grab a toy or two of any value and bring it on down to the MYD general meeting next Tuesday.

Seriously, any toy will do, so don’t be timid. You’ll be handsomely rewarded with big smiles and good karma.

MYD TOY DRIVE
Tuesday, December 15
7:00PM
461 Park Ave South, 10th Floor
Bring a toy of any value for kids in NYC shelters.

Don’t Vote for Bloomberg, Says Gawker

Thanks to our Finance Director Alex Leopold for this one.

I’ve been saying it for months, but here’s Gawker with a succinct and witty breakdown of most of the reasons NOT to vote for Bloomberg. Can’t say I sympathize with his assessment of Thompson, but this is good ammunition for anyone out there with a friend who is one of “those idiots who don’t know anything about politics but think it sounds smart to say ‘I am a social liberal and an economic conservative?’ Bloomberg is the candidate for them.”

Please, try to talk some sense into them.

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