life in the sonic age

Last week the Independent Neighborhood Democrats (IND) endorsed John Heyer for the 39th City Council District and this act has set many things in motion. I have known John for many years and I respect his right to have his views. However, in two crucial areas our views are diametrically opposed.

My mother, the author Bonnie Bluh, spent her entire adult life fighting for women’s rights. From an early age I saw first hand how important and vital this struggle was. Her first published book followed the beginning of the women’s rights movement in Europe during the 1970s. That book “Woman to Woman” charts the remarkable struggles women had to go through to obtain basic rights in some of the most advanced countries in the world. One of those rights, a woman’s right to choose, is not negotiable for me. John does not believe in a woman’s right to choose.

Today one of the major battles against discrimination involves equal rights for the gay and lesbian community. I have friends and relatives, both gay and lesbian, who are in committed relationships and some are raising children. I am deeply concerned about their rights.

Because they are not allowed to marry, same-sex couples across the country are denied a wide range of basic rights - from the ability to make decisions for a partner in a medical emergency to the ability to file joint tax returns. This discrimination also affects lesbian and gay parents who are often prevented from assuming legal parenting rights and responsibilities.

John supports Civil Unions. However Civil Unions do not guarantee the over 1,000 federal and state protections and rights that a marriage provides. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has stated that only access to civil marriage (not civil unions) provides equal protection to same-sex couples under their state constitution. Full marriage equity is what I personally support and what I will continue to fight for. John does not support marriage for same sex couples.

Over the years John has altered some of his positions and views and I admire how he has grown. I do not see this as flip-flopping, but as a sign of intelligence and I applaud him for it.

But at the same time I am committed to fighting for a more equal and just society. I am also committed to expanding the rights and freedoms of our citizens, not taking these rights away.

In the eight years I have been a member of IND, three as Chairman of the Executive Board, and for the past six months as President, I have never considered taking a leave from the club. But this is a unique situation where true leadership is called for. Under these circumstances, it would be unfair to our endorsed candidates for me to remain President. Consequently, as the Constitution of IND requires, I will take a temporary leave of absence from the club until after the primary - effective noon on Friday May 29th. There should be no question in anyone’s mind that I will resume my duties in September and I will do everything I can to heal whatever rifts have developed among the membership. My hope is that IND will be a strong progressive voice for Brooklyn again soon.

Kenn Lowy
President
Independent Neighborhood Democrats

Will be released on Tuesday May 26th.

Last week IND, the Independent Neighborhood Democrats, endorsed Jo Anne Simon for 33rd City Council District, and John Heyer in the 39th.

Apparently, there was some commotion about the 39th.

http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/32/21/32_21_gk_ind.html

http://www.politickerny.com/3669/how-liberal-democratic-club-endorsed-gay-marriage-opponent

http://onlytheblogknowsbrooklyn.typepad.com/
 

David Yassky said he would not rule out voting for a 16 year term four years from now. I asked the question, and he knew why I was asking.

How does power corrupt? No need to answer that (because you already know the answer).

Yes, the billionaire Mayor, who has run the city like a billionaire, wants to be Mayor for Life. I never agreed with term limits until I saw how effective they could be. I know many people feel that Bloomberg has a done a great job, but I don’t agree. He’s done a better job than Giuliani, but that’s not saying much.

#1: The Olympics. I’m an athlete. I still swim in open water swim races, I used to compete in running races and triathlons. I love watching the olympics. But bringing them to New York City was a laughable idea. The congestion, the overcrowding and that terrorism thing. We are the number one target! Stupid, bad, misguided, waste of money and time.

#2: The West Side Stadium. Congestion! The wrong location - a waste of time, money, blah, blah, blah.

#3: Bloomberg likes the Atlantic Yards proposal. Did I mention he’s a billionaire? It doesn’t provide a lot of jobs (not jobs that pay well), unless you’re in construction. Then it’s great, until it’s done, then you need to find another job. No low income housing! Very little (very little) middle income housing. Lot’s of housing for people who make a lot of money (less of those people now than a month ago).

#4: Eight years is enough. If you can’t get something done in eight years, you don’t deserve a day more. The same goes for everyone in the city council. If you did a good job, you deserve to be elected to another position. If not, get a real job.

Tonight’s Semi-Annual Brooklyn County Committee Meeting was a slight departure from previous meetings. It was still mostly scripted (as you can see from the pictures). Yes, that’s really a script their holding in their hands. And the script readers are chosen in advance (not for their reading abilities). Tonight was the beginning of the end of normalcy. The meeting featured new committee members objecting (to almost everything) and motions flying back and forth. It went “off script” a lot and seemed to catch many district leaders by surprise. Wait another two years, and then we’re really going to have some fun!

I’m not sure if this falls into the “upset” column or not. But it is big news when a young upstart (I’m not calling him that, others have) handily defeats a 30 year incumbent.

It’s tough when someone you supported and know loses, but that’s the game of politics. Say what you want about Marty Connor, he really did accomplish a lot in his 30 years and Squadron has some big shoes to fill. I hope and expect him to rise to the occasion.

Congratulations Dan! My advise: hit the ground running.

It was a hard fought dirty race, but the good guy actually won! Devin Cohen defeated Roger Adler for a seat on the Civil Court. Adler waged a filthy and ugly campaign that cost him well over $200,000 of his own money. As the Beatles sang “money can’t buy you love” or respect.

Congratulations Judge Cohen!

First the disclaimer: Devin Cohen is a friend of mine. However, everything I am writing is factual. Thankfully, I don’t have to embelish anything.

Several months ago I had lunch with Roger Adler and two other people. Roger wanted to have lunch with us because of our roles in IND (Independent Neighborhood Democrats). I am the Chairman of the Executive Board of IND, however, what I am writing here is my personal opinion. Roger told us he wanted to run for a judgeship. His plan was to run against an incumbent. That’s an uphill battle in any election, but against a sitting democratic judge, it’s almost unheard of and almost impossible to win. His pitch was simple, support me or I’ll run against Devin Cohen for Civil Court (he actually said it that way). He also said he was prepared to put several hundred thousand dollars of his savings into this race and he would outspend Cohen. We explained to Roger that the way IND works is that everyone gets to vote. We don’t tell people who to vote for. It’s a democratic process.

Several weeks later Roger announced that he was running for the same seat as Devin. He has no experience with Civil Court so it’s a poor fit. But it’s also what Roger has done in the past as a lawyer that makes me uncomfortable. For example:

Adler worked pro bono for the Conservative Party on its legal brief against same sex marriage in New York. He also made financial contributions to the Conservative Party (remember, he’s is a member of the Democratic Party).

Adler represented (jailed) former Democratic Party boss Clarence Norman during his various corruption trials, something he neglects to mention on his flyers.

He has put over $200,000 of his own money into this race! To be blunt, he is trying to buy a judgeship!

Here’s my last point:

You walk into a court room. You are suing the city because you were walking across the street one night and there was a large pothole in the way. You didn’t see it because the street light was out. You fell and broke your ankle. You are suing the city asking them to pay your medical bills. Sitting behind the bench is either Roger Adler (top left) or Devin Cohen (pictured below). You know Adler’s record (see above), and you’ve been told that Devin Cohen is a volunteer EMT, who has been working in the

community for years and is a past chair of the Environmental Protection Committee of Community Board 6.

Who do you want deciding your case?

It’s that simple!

Turnout will be very light - so you’re vote really counts. And you’re vote will make a difference in the lives of a lot of people. So what are you going to do?