MYD Policy Points – Complete!

I’m proud to announce that the 2010 Policy Points are complete! You may remember them from our last General Meeting – we did some editing and created this, with all the highlights.

MYD Legislative Platform 2010

These policy points were created by our Issue Committees, for more details you can check them out here:

Community and Social Equity (CASE)

Economics

Education

Environment

Foreign Affairs

Transportation

If you’re interested in endorsing the MYD Legislative Platform, or if you have any questions you can email Alex at political [at] gomyd [.] com for more information.

Thank you to everyone who made this possible!

Goals for Life & America Scores

Last Sunday the women of MYD attended America Scores‘ “Goals for Life” soccer challenge, and guess what? We came in second! Proof positive that The Manhattan Young Democrats don’t inherently suck at sports. Though it’s most likely that we did so well because we had such a fantastic time! Special thanks to Elizabeth, Heather, Kat and Emmy who really did all the physical stuff and to Robbie of America Scores for giving us the opportunity to play on center court at Madison Square Garden for a while.

The sports component was followed by an inspired talk on how to achieve a positive work-life balance. We want to thank America Scores for all the hard work they do to enhance the lives of children across the country through their combined platform of soccer and poetry!

About America SCORES:

Our soccer, creative writing, and service-learning curriculum teaches our poet-athletes to look for balance in their lives from an early age. In our program, they learn how to stay healthy, express themselves emotionally, and how to make change in their communities.

Check out a really great success story HERE. Learn how you can volunteer HERE.

New York Neighbors for American Values

MYD is proud to add our name to the list of supporters to New York Neighbors for American Values Coalition.

Our Position:
As Americans and as New Yorkers we are stronger when we work together. New York Neighbors for American Values embraces the American constitutional values of religious freedom, diversity, and equality. We stand together and rebuff the crude stereotypes meant to frighten and divide us.

New York Neighbors for American Values is proud to include Muslim-American community members and institutions in our community, as we do all communities working to strengthen the fabric of our vibrant city. We reject the idea that any neighborhood in our great City is off-limits to any particular community. We welcome the effort of Muslim New Yorkers to build institutions that serve their communities and our diverse City.

We feel very strongly that religious freedom is inherent to our country, and we encourage said freedom across the board.

There will be a press conference today at 12 at City Hall, details are on the website http://nyneighbors.org/, and you can follow the progress on twitter @nyneighbors

MYD 2010 Policy Platform – Up For Review!

Our Issues Oriented Committees have been working hard on their policy platforms and we’ve been able to narrow and focus our goals to a few key policy points. A quick tear-sheet of the platform is available for download (2010 Platform Tearsheet – 8.17.10), full descriptions are available on the website HERE (where you can also check out the 2009 Policy Platforms). At tomorrow’s General Meeting the IOC chairs will go over their platform and we will have the opportunity to discuss them. If you’re interested in helping frame the issues that are important you as a Young Democrat we encourage you to join the committees so we can start planning activities and advocating on these ideas.

For the 2010 Election Cycle we will be sending these Policy Points to candidates and elected officials so they can get a better idea of the issues that are important to us, and we can find new and creative ways to work together! After tomorrow’s meeting the official platform will be on the IOC Pages and official copies can be requested from our Political Director, Alex at political[at]gomyd[.]com. Looking forward to tomorrow’s discussion!

Community and Social Equity (CASE)
Marriage Equality
Campaign Finance
Ethics
Rules Reform
Redistricting

Economics
Balancing the State Budget
Diversifying the New York City Economy
Banking for the Unbanked
Expansion of Rail to Upstate
Job Creation Tax Credits
Community Benefits Agreements
Fund Allocation Reform

Education
Public Education
Spending and Investments
Charter Schools

Environment
Ban on “Hydro-fracking” in Upstate New York Watershed Areas
Greater Tax Incentives for Green Roofs Construction

Foreign Affairs
Bilingual Education for English Speaking Students
Green Energy initiatives

Transportation
Pedestrian Safety
Buses
Congestion Pricing
Security

NYSYD Caucus of Color Position Openings

The NYSYD Caucus of Color has some leadership positions currently open. Jugba Santi the Caucus’ Downstate Region Vice Chair sent along more information, contact info is below.

Calling All Young Democrats!

The New York State Young Democrats Caucus of Color is the office youth of color arm of the New York State Democratic Party. The Caucus has various positions still available. These positions include:

Secretary

Capital Region Vice Chair

Upstate Vice Chair

Central Vice Chair

The Finance Chair

We also have three standing committees: The Political/Communications Committee, The Outreach Committee and the Finance Committee. If you are interested in any of these positions or committees, please email the Caucus at nyscoc[at]nysyd[dot]net.

Event Flashback: Truman National Security Project

Just about a month ago our friends from the Truman Project took time out of their weekend to train MYD members on matters of National Security, Military and Veteran Affairs.

Did you miss the training and have been feeling bad about it? Not to worry! Just this week The Truman Project put their extensive training guide on their website, download it HERE for free.

The Truman Project’s National Security Manual is your best source for talking points, background, and critical information about the national security challenges facing our nation. The Manual covers 20 topics over 180 pages, ranging from Military 101 to Terrorism, Torture, and Intelligence. Each in-depth chapter includes topical talking points and historical background on the current challenges. The accompanying Communications Guide contains hard-hitting message advice, offensive and defensive language, and a Q&A guide to help you communicate a strong, progressive point of view to the public.

+1 For Equality

Breaking news: California just over turned Prop 8!

Yes to winning battles, but we haven’t forgotten about winning the war.

(CNN) — A federal judge in California has knocked down the state’s voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage, ruling Wednesday that the state’s controversial Proposition 8 violates the U.S. Constitution.

Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker found in his ruling that the ban violated the Constitution’s equal protection clause under the 14th Amendment.

Netroots Update #2 – Let’s Register People To Vote!

**I wrote this yesterday, but believe it or not the wireless at the conference is a bit shaky! Check out what’s been happening at #nn10 on Twitter**

Good morning MYD! This morning I’m at a panel called “How Progressives Can Avoid Demographic Pitfalls in 2010 and Beyond” and we’re having a great talk with Rock the Vote about Millennial participation in politics.  Luckily even in my old age I just fit into the Millennial category (officially 13-29 year olds)! You probably remember (especially if you’re an MYD member because we called you to tell you about it) that earlier in the year MYD launched www.youthvoteny.com a place where you can write to your Senators and tell them that you want publically funded universities to also be voter registration sites. Sounds pretty straightforward right? Unfortunately it’s not that simple, young people move around a lot (especially in NYC, in the past 10 years I’ve had 7 addresses) and it’s hard to get them locked down. Something interesting that we’re taking about this morning is how the term Millennial (the next generation of voters) starts at the age of 13.  These kids will be voting sooner than we realize and we need to get them engaged. If someone has a bad political experience their first time out they’re not going to come back. Read more

Greetings from Las Vegas!

Hi MYD’ers! I’m spending a few days in Las Vegas at Netroots Nation and will be trying my best to update you daily! My fellow New Leaders Council graduate and Democracy For America scholarship winner, Zerlina (of urbanpolitico.com) and I checked into the hotel and headed straight for the pool (which was fun until we realized that when it’s 106 outside you really can’t stay out there for that long!) The official activities started today, I’m headed to a panel on Veteran’s affairs put on by our good friends at The Truman National Security Project, then a DFA lunch with Howard Dean’s brother Jim Dean, the current chair of DFA. About to head into a panel on Immigration Reform followed by one about how to write a good action email (so stay tuned for that, MYD newsletter getters! Don’t get the Tuesday newsletter? Sign up at the top of this page!) Later tonight Laughing Liberally is hosting a comedy show after the keynote. Since this is my very first blog from a conference ever I’ll keep it short and promise to have more tangible news from the fray tomorrow!

Live Like a Liberal – One Step at a Time

Recently, Living Liberally Co-Founder, 2009 MYD Young Gets It Done Winner, 2010 New Leaders Council 40 Under 40 Winner, and NLC Mentor (to me) Justin Krebs’ latest book “538 Ways to Live Work and Play like a Liberal” hit the shelves (buy it on Amazon HERE).

I’m reading the book now (I’m on #391 Add the Little Prince to your children’s reading list, or read it aloud), it’s a quick witty list of practical and important ways to change your day to day life to live more progressively. Small things like turning off the tv for a second and reading a magazine, requesting books at your local library and putting your chargers on a power strip that can be turned on and off are simple changes that we all should be doing. Broader, more interesting ideas are to be involved in your community, say hello to your neighbors and make your neighborhood a better place to live by being a better participant. In NYC especially it’s easy to keep your head down and not talk to people, but imagine for a minute looking up and engaging. Personally, I’ve started waving to the owner of my local deli every night when I get home, which makes me feel safer when it’s later at night.  I’ve started talking to the teenagers on my block. Turns out they’re a creative bunch of kids with keen interests in music and art.  Not bad for my tiny corner of the city!

Justin’s book is getting national attention and was recently reviewed by the conservative blog, The Weekly Standard (HERE). Sure, most of the review is tongue in cheek, but it’s worthy of note that the author attended a Drinking Liberally meeting and was surprised by how welcome he was (although he did imply that Liberals don’t know how to drink, which I take personal offense to). But that’s of course the point, to be welcoming and open. There are many definitions of a “Liberal” Justin opens his book by giving you his own:

Liberals believe that we are better off when we live for each other than when we only live for ourselves.

Sounds like that’s one rule we should all live by.

Check out Justin’s tour schedule and see him in person in a city near you this summer! He’ll be in Brooklyn Monday the 26th!

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