Between Now and Sep 14: Anti-Espada, All The Time!

Huge shout-out to Margaret, Betsy, Scott, Richard, Paul and Kim for coming out with me last weekend to canvass in the 33rd. It was tons of fun and talking to people in the district really highlights just how high the anti-Espada fever is running.

To quote one resident, whose door we knocked upon in the 97-degree heat on Sunday afternoon:

Pedro Espada can go to hell.

In that spirit, we’re passing along info on another anti-Espada event taking place this coming Saturday. Our friends at the New Roosevelt Initiative will be leading the charge. Email vp [at] goMYD [dot] com back to get connected with the organizers. Details here:

Mr. Espada is giving away free food and school supplies at two locations on Saturday morning, and we are trying to get 40 people to go out to make his life miserable.  We’re meeting at 9:30, and will hit both of their giveaway sites.  Details are below if anyone can make it!

PROTEST AGAINST PEDRO ESPADA
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2010
9:30 am – c. 11:30 am

Vladeck Hall (9.45-10.30)
74 Van Cortlandt Park South (corner Hillman Avenue)

Moshulu Library
285 East 205th Street(10.30-11.15)

Of course, converting anti-Espada sentiment to actual votes on Sep 14 are two very different things. That’s why we need you to mark your calendars for canvassing on Sunday, Sep 12, for GOTV! In a district where only 10-15% of the base gets out to vote, every single vote will count. Again, email me if you want in on the fun: vp [at] goMYD [dot] com.

Healthcare Reform Hits New York: NY Bridge Plan – $421/month!

Great news for all New Yorkers:

Obamacare came to New York in earnest Monday as the state started offering coverage for the uninsured with preexisting medical conditions.

Here are the details:

In March 2010, Congress passed the health care reform law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The law created a temporary program until January 2014 that makes coverage available for individuals who have a pre-existing medical condition, have not had insurance for six months, and who are legal US residents.

This new program is called the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) and will be available throughout the country. In New York State, the PCIP plan is the NY Bridge Plan, administered by GHI, an EmblemHealth company.

PCIP plans will operate until the year 2014. At that time other provisions of health care reform will go into effect and state health benefit exchanges will be available for individuals to purchase coverage.

People who are eligible for the plan, which will have premiums running at a (relatively speaking) reasonable $421/month:

• Are legal US residents.
• Reside in New York State.
• Have one or more pre-existing medical conditions.
• Have not had health care coverage for the last six months.

Find more info about the NY Bridge Plan here.

Daily News

Hat tip: Elizabeth

SAVE THE DATE: 2nd Annual Young Gets It Done Party on Sep 27

Russell Drapkin, OFA Arizona Regional Field Director, 30

Russell’s career in the field began before most of us knew what the word “democracy” meant:

My first political experience was when I was in 5th grade and my mom’s boss was the campaign manager for a county executive bid in Maryland. Of course mom got dragged in, and so did I. So I’m pretty sure I was stuffing envelopes (old school!) and knocking on doors then.

Following up on this illustrious start (and much door-knocking and phone-banking since then), Russell is flying today to Phoenix, AZ — where he will take up his new role as Regional Field Director for Organizing for America (OFA). He’ll be managing Community Organizers and joining the good fight as the Dems head into what will be, by all estimates, a bruising midterm election season.

Originally from the DC area, Russell moved to NYC after finishing conservatory in Chicago in 2002. He took up residence in Harlem and got involved with MYD through the 2008 Open Seat Project — where we asked young Dems to run for elected office in the local county committee. Since then, he’s navigated us through harrowing bus rides to Mamaroneck, gotten very active in local campaigns as a volunteer, and generally always been willing to teach us a whole lot about politics and policy every time we’re all meeting for drinks.

Though his work in Arizona will be in the field, good progressive policy is also near and dear to Russell’s heart:

Arts policy in the US is pretty terrible.  It’s terrible at the federal, state, and local levels. Education is a lifelong endeavor. It doesn’t stop at the end of high school, college, or even grad school. Having things that will continue to challenge, engage and inspire people is something we should pay more attention to, and fund substantially better than we do now. The arts should be a big part of that.

We wish Russell all the best in his new gig — and we’ll miss you!

Pedro’s Fake Home

Email Emmy at vp [at] goMYD [dot] com if you want to help us defeat Pedro Espada Jr! We still have some t-shirts left…

Majority of New Yorkers Want Continued Democratic Control of the NYS Senate

While polling at the national level for midterm elections has looked grim for Democrats, it looks like the story is more positive at the state level:

New York Democrats have had to face a rocky economy and recession-induced budget shortfalls in their first few years as the majority party in the State Senate.  But New York voters remember the previous 40 years of GOP control, and according to a new Siena College poll, only 27% of New York voters want to go back:

• 33%:  Want to see Democrats expand their State Senate majority
• 34%:  Prefer the status quo, in which Democrats hold a narrow edge
• 27%:  Want to see Republicans re-take a majority

This has to be unwelcome news for State Senate Republicans.  Between the GOP infighting occurring up and down the ballot and the atrophy of the Senate Republicans’ statewide campaign apparatus, Republican Senate candidates were depending on a hostile electorate to carry them over the top in key districts.

But that electorate, while clearly hostile to incumbents (only 31% plan to re-elect their incumbent Senator in a generic question), is not scapegoating Democrats for the state’s troubles.  And with Republicans showing extreme weakness in every statewide contest tested in the Sienna poll, there are no coattails for GOP legislative candidates to ride.

But, making sure the Democratic majority is expanded–so that we can avoid situations like the last summer’s coup and really get going on enacting a progressive agenda for the state–is going to be hard work over the next three months. Learn why it’s so important we fight for better Dems and a better Albany by watching MYD’s Take Back NY video here:

Check out information on campaigns here and get plugged in with the MYD field team by emailing Colin at field [at] goMYD [dot] com!

The Albany Project

Three Reasons Why Espada Has To Go – And What You Can Do About It

Reason #1:

He’s accused by state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo of siphoning $14million from his Bronx-based Soundview health clinics.

Reason #2:

A high-end Manhattan tailor is suing Espada for walking out on a $7,200 tab for six custom suits.

And this just out, Reason #3:

The Bronx Democrat still owes the state Board of Elections $10,310 for failing to turn over timely financial disclosure forms, board spokesman John Conklin told the Daily News on Tuesday.

Agreed:

“It’s a disgrace,” said Blair Horner of the New York Public Interest Research Group. “After repeated promises to do otherwise, the majority leader is still in violation of the state election law.”

Want to help us oust Pedro Espada Jr? We’re canvassing this weekend in the 33rd District. Free transport, 10-3PM on Saturday, and likely back up there on Sunday.

Email vp [at] goMYD [dot] to get this deadbeat out of office!

Daily  News

Straw Poll on Sep 1st: Attorney General Candidates!

A Straw Poll is an informal vote to gauge opinion within a group–and holding a straw poll to gauge opinion for young voters is becoming an annual tradition among Young Dems!

This year, we’re polling for Attorney General primary candidates. We’ll be gathering at locations in Manhattan (there are locations in Queens too) at 7PM on Wednesday, Sept 1st at Luca Lounge! Deets here:

www.lucaloungenyc.com/lounge/
222 Avenue B between 13th/14th
From 7-9pm reduced prices: $5 mixed drinks, beer & house wines.
RSVP on Facebook HERE!

Votes will be tallied across the Manhattan and Queens locations to give you the minute-by-minute results of the City-wide poll for AG. See you there!

Tell the EPA and/or Cuomo: “Don’t Frack With Our Drinking Water”

Remember this?

The good news is that a hydrofracking moratorium passed the NYS Senate earlier this month. The bad news is, it was only a moratorium for a year. So we have to keep fighting to make sure our drinking water doesn’t get all fracked up!

The City Council is holding a town hall for New Yorkers to express their concerns, here’s the info:

NYC Council Hearing on Hydrofracking, Tues, Aug 24

The NYC Council is hosting a town hall meeting on hydrofracking and natural gas drilling in the State of New York.

When: Tuesday, August 24th from 5pm-8:30pm

Where: Borough of Manhattan Community College at 199 Chambers Street in Manhattan.

At this public meeting, residents will have the opportunity to comment on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) official study examining the potential health and environmental impacts of hydraulic drilling.

While the EPA is holding hearings elsewhere in the State, none have been proposed for New York City. This town hall will serve as a way to voice concerns regarding the issue of drilling for natural gas and uncertainties about the processes used for natural gas drilling, including hydrofracking in the Marcellus Shale Formation.

Please RSVP by this Friday, August 20th to:  events@council.nyc.gov or (212) 788-6871.

Can’t make it to the Town Hall? Tell Democratic candidate for Governor Andrew Cuomo to support a permanent ban on hydrofracking by taking action HERE. This is part of the MYD Environmental Committee’s official policy platform — read more about it HERE.

Happy Birthday, 19th Amendment!

From Planned Parenthood NYC:

“Happy Birthday, 19th Amendment! Ninety years ago today, on August 18, 1920, the 19th Amendment, giving women the right to vote, was ratified. We’ve come a long way since – right?”

I’m still waiting for some industrious MYD member to start up our Women’s Issues Committee, cuz there’s plenty still left to do. (Though some might disagree…)

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