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September 8, 2008

Time to Vote, People

voting_machine_2.jpgTomorrow'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]




Posted by Brownstoner at 10:27 AM | Comments (16)
Categories: Politics

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Comments

Frankly I am not surprised by Ed Towns complete lack of knowledge, but I don't care how dumb or ignorant he is - it still will never force me to pull the lever for a candidate with a SERIOUS and prolonged history of violence (mostly against women) for the UNITED STATES CONGRESS - as Kevin Powers has - research it - it is quite scary.

While a large percentage of our representatives are an embarrassment, I still have to much respect for the ideals that these institutions are supposed to represent, that I don't know how any paper (even one as fugasy at the BP) could endorse a guy like Powell

Here is my endorsement - leave the row BLANK

Posted by: fsrg at September 8, 2008 10:45 AM

How could you not mention the three-way race between Parker, Stewart, and Felder in Flatbush and East Flatbush? This race has been very divisive with the candidates depending on their cultural affliations instead of issues for votes. Parker - American of African descent, Stewart - American of African descent orignally from the Caribbean and Felder - American of European descent and an Orthodox Jew.

Posted by: Just Wondering at September 8, 2008 10:50 AM


fsrg is right - Towns is extremely unresponsive, but Powell is no choirboy.

http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2008/07/19/2008-07-19_chris_rock_dave_chapelle_and_other_stars.html

Posted by: East New York at September 8, 2008 11:08 AM

Crap. I Was hoping I could vote for Powell to get Towns out of there. Do I have to run for this seat myself?!

Posted by: 11233 at September 8, 2008 11:28 AM

Follwing the success of yesterday's rally, I urge all hasidic readers on this thread please go out and vote for Daniel Squadron in the 25th Senatorial District.

Daniel has been a good friend of the hasidic community for the past few years, he shares our values and supports our goals such as fighting the bike lanes on Bedford & Wythe Avenues.

Posted by: Rabbi Leib Glanz at September 8, 2008 11:43 AM

Kevin Powell would be a disaster for Brooklyn. I'm hoping we can find someone better in 2010. I mean, the guy bit a reporter in 2004 and calls people racist for bringing it up -

http://www.r8ny.com/blog/slothman8888/kevin_powell_race_hate_is_ed_towns_racist_as_powell_said.html

Posted by: charlieh at September 8, 2008 12:19 PM

re: Parker/Stewart/Felder.

My wife is registered to vote under her maiden name, and one of us has a Jewish-sounding surname, and one doesnt. Felder is sending out two completely different sets of campaign literature, depending on whether or not you're mishpoche (Yiddish for 'family'). Depending on who he's targeting, Felder stresses how much public money he'll get for private school families, and how he'll protect our precious children from those animals running wild in the streets, and how voting for him is a mitzvah. Or not.

Reminds me of Noach Dear's recent campaign. Depending on what part of the district you were in, the campaign signs were either for Noach or Noah.

Posted by: Flatbushwhacker at September 8, 2008 12:26 PM

Hasidim don't like bike lanes? I've seen Hasidim on bikes!

Posted by: Brenda from Flatbush at September 8, 2008 12:30 PM

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.

Posted by: Polemicist at September 8, 2008 12:31 PM

Hasidim might not want all those immodestly dressed bicycle skanks rolling through southside, especially on the sabbath.

Posted by: Flatbushwhacker at September 8, 2008 12:35 PM

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.

Posted by: Just Wondering at September 8, 2008 12:49 PM

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

Posted by: amanda at September 8, 2008 1:40 PM

Dammit Poley! Stop that! You did it again. You said something I agree with!


Posted by: cobblehiller at September 8, 2008 1:54 PM

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.

Posted by: altervoce at September 8, 2008 2:25 PM

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.

Posted by: Dr Dean Franklin at September 8, 2008 2:35 PM

Identity politics - like "hockey moms"

Posted by: LilBitOfLuck at September 8, 2008 2:57 PM

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