Time to Vote, People
Tomorrow’s primary day, and the more time we spend in both our roles as blog master and flea master, the more we realize how important these local positions are. And while it’s easy to feel like one’s vote might not make a difference on the national stage, all it takes to get elected to most…
Tomorrow’s primary day, and the more time we spend in both our roles as blog master and flea master, the more we realize how important these local positions are. And while it’s easy to feel like one’s vote might not make a difference on the national stage, all it takes to get elected to most of these local positions like city council and assembly is a few thousand votes. Which is why we want to urge everyone to take the 10 or 15 minutes required to swing by your local high school gym and pull the handle. It’s not always easy to keep up on what differentiates some of the candidates, so we’d direct your attention to the excellent coverage The Brooklyn Paper has this week. The biggest race in our neck of the woods is Kevin Powell‘s effort to unseat long-time incumbent Ed Towns; The Brooklyn Paper presents such an unflattering portrait of Towns (let’s just say the guy’s not too up on his current events), it’s hard to imagine anyone voting for him based on his record. The other biggie in Brownstone Brooklyn pits newcomer Daniel Squadron versus long-time State Senator Martin Connor; the Brooklyn Heights Blog live-blogged their debate last week. There’s a lower profile but important race in the 57th Assembly District (which encompasses Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights and parts of Bed Stuy). Bill Saunders, a fixture in the area for decades, is being challenged for the position of District Leader by Walter Moseley, a former employee of Clarence Norman, supporter of Atlantic Yards and part of the Ed Towns machine. As for Saunders, he’s taken firm positions on two issues that may interest Brownstoner readers: He’s been a critic of the Atlantic Yards process and, along with State Senator Velmanette Montgomery and Councilmember Tish James, spoke up in defense of The Flea this summer when it was briefly under fire; Saunders has been endorsed by the Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats.
Six men and The Paper [Brooklyn Paper]
Identity politics – like “hockey moms”
Wow – discouraged to hear that some of the Hasidic community are working against those lanes. Rabbi Glanz – I’d encourage you to rethink your position. There is not a good alternative route to get to and from the Williamsburg Bridge from Bed-stuy and points south other than the streets you mentioned. More and more of us will be using this route, lanes or no lanes. By allowing bike lanes you exert some control over this traffic by creating order. Otherwise you end up with us bikers chaotically taking over the whole road. Remember – if there’s no bike lane, it’s ALL bike lane.
Given the power of incumbency, I do not see the wisdom of voting to send someone to congress that you (the individual voter) don’t respect. Better, it seems to me, to let the incumbent, however-flawed, ride for another two years and use the time to identify and support a quality successor.
Dammit Poley! Stop that! You did it again. You said something I agree with!
Citizens Union, who sponsored the Conner-Squadron debate has clips of the debate on their site: http://www.citizensunion.org
And, if you want more details on the other local races that will be decided tomorrow, Gotham Gazette has thorough coverage:
http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/fea/20080902/202/2633
I knew that the race was divisive but didn’t realize that it was as serious as to send out separate mailings based on tribal affiliation. Although Stewart, whose assistant stole public funds and diverted then to the Caribbean, has not sent separate mailings, he does emphasize his accent when addressing people from the West Indies.
BTW, Parker who was accused of punching a Traffic Agent over a parking ticket but subsequently acquitted of any wrongdoing in that case, is the only one of the three who will support same sex-marriage. Since same-sex marriage is currently a state-by-state issue, if the Democrats take over the state legislature, it may actually become a reality in NY. Felder and Stewart are very much opposed to same-sex marriage, which is not surprising given their tribal affiliations.
Hasidim might not want all those immodestly dressed bicycle skanks rolling through southside, especially on the sabbath.
Two stories in one day proving the inherent destructive nature of identity politics.
The modern era truly is the death of the individual, all that matters is tribe and culture.
Hasidim don’t like bike lanes? I’ve seen Hasidim on bikes!