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24 days and ticking since Christine Quinn addresses CRDC and the constituents in our district on her decision to overturn term limits by a vote through the City Counsel
In the last newsletter I predicted that Speaker Quinn and our Mayor would plot to overthrow term limits before December. As I write this article only one month later, our elected officials have already thwarted the will of NYC voters by getting term limits extended through a vote in the city council. Now, I have gypsy blood in my family but I am no fortune teller. How did I guess what was going to happen and how did I predict the exact excuse our elected officials would use when I said “NYC is in a financial crisis and we cannot afford a change in leadership….” you might ask? Simple, a politically connected consultant told me about this in early September. He informed me that this had been planned for months.
Thus, last month I called on our councilwoman to place this issue before a public referendum and reminded her that our club passed a resolution opposing overturning term limits unless it was done through public referendum. I received no response. I know I am not the only one offended by this, so I ask our club what are we going to do? Ms. Quinn is our elected representative and when we voice an objection to her actions, she simply ignores us? Don’t you think she should have spoken to our club before she went against our collected opinion?
Normally, I attempt to argue my point with facts and reasoning. However, in this case, I do not feel this is necessary as most people realize that what transpired was nothing more than a shameless power grab. The voters of New York have spoken twice on this issue and to simply ignore the voice of the people is not what is supposed to happen in a democratic society. Again, we can argue the fine points, but why bother? 89% of the people of NYC agree that term limits should be overturned by referendum only. I am so disgusted with how this was handled that I don’t know where to start.
I am not happy with the mayor (whom I don’t vote for anyway) but I am much more upset with Christine Quinn. Every time she tries to justify why she overturned term limits the way she did, I get more offended. Does she think I am stupid? I feel like she takes my vote for granted, I think she takes the will of our club for granted, and I don’t like to be made to feel stupid (did I already say that?).
On (roughly) October 12th the world “officially” discovered that Christine Quinn would support overturning term limits. Thus, it has been 24 days and counting since our councilwoman has spoken directly to her constituents about this decision. I think this is totally inappropriate. So, I ask Christine to schedule a public forum to explain to the people in our district why she decided to extend term limits, even though her own political club is against her actions. I would ask that her office pay for all the publicity and ads that are necessary to invite the people in our community to this forum so they can listen to what she has to say and ask whatever questions they have. I personally do not know how she can ask for our vote if she won’t discuss such a serious issue with her constituents.
I will be writing an article about term limits every month until next year’s city council elections. I will work very hard to provide different viewpoints about what I see as a travesty of justice. Hopefully the leaders in The Chelsea Reform Democratic club will help hold our elected official’s feet to the fire, otherwise, what is the point?
Luke McAuliffe
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On October 18th, Club President Lynn Kotler sent the following letter to NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn:
"The Chelsea Reform Democratic Club wants to remind you of our position -- passed in December 2005 -- that the CRDC is opposed to any attempt to change the term limit law for City Council members other than by vote of the people.
Our position has not changed."
See that resolution by clicking on "Resolutions" on the right side of this screen. |
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By Gloria Sukenick, CRDC Housing Chair
Councilman Robert Jackson deserves applause and support for his effort to give our mom & pop
stores and small businesses the protection they need to be able to continue providing jobs and
serving their communities.
He was on hand Saturday, October 25th at 9th Avenue between 17th and 18th Streets, where a
number of small stores are being threatened with eviction…and one store is in the process of
being vacated right now. Councilman Jackson spoke about his bill to a group of store owners,
Chelsea residents and local activists.
There is not a neighborhood in our city that has not seen huge numbers of their small stores and
businesses fall victim to rent gouging by greedy landlords….and have seen the gates come down
on businesses they have depended on for years. Many of the stores remain empty for long periods
of time, as well, due to the over-the-top rents being asked.
In Chelsea, there is a story of a long time Chinese restaurant that now is forced to charge for dry
noodles in order to satisfy the landlord’s huge increases.
There is no question that this bill should be supported by our elected officials. This legislation
would involve mediation between tenant and landlord and arbitration only when tenant and
landlord fail to reach mutual agreement. The only costs involved would go to a not-for-profit
arbitrator organization and would be the responsibility of both parties.
This bill should have the active support it deserves from all of our elected officials --- there is not
a neighborhood in all of New York City that has not seen the very nature and connection of their
communities ripped apart by masses of drug stores….banks (though that may soon end)…upscale
restaurants…high-priced boutiques and the like. This bill looks like ‘just what the doctor
ordered’.
So…to all our elected officials…GET ON BOARD AND VOTE YES ON THIS NEEDED
LEGISLATION THAT WILL PROTECT SMALL STORES AND BUSINESSES AND THE
SERVICES AND JOBS THEY PROVIDE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
Keep Fighting! |
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Economic Stimulus and Economically Distressed Workers
by Michael Zweig, Junyi Zhu, and Daniel Wolman
As the financial crisis on Wall Street unfolds with intense media coverage, we are losing sight of another crisis: more than a million families across the United States will face foreclosure in the next six months as the last of the sub-prime mortgages contracted in 2006 and early 2007 reset. Accelerating job losses and low wages aggravate the lives of tens of millions of families. In the rush to focus on Wall Street, these are the families whose lives must not be forgotten. These are the working people who need attention and help from a new stimulus package as well as structural economic reforms. This study focuses on the needs of these economically distressed workers and proposes economic policies that will improve their lives while strengthening the overall economy.
Full Report
For futher information
n, contact Michael Zweig, Director, Center for Study of Working Class Life
631-632-7536 or email
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Michael Zweig will be speaking at CRDC's membership meeting in November.
See the calendar for details.
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The LGBT and HIV/AIDS Committee of
CRDC along with LeGal (the gay and lesbian
bar association) and GLID (Gay and Lesbian
Independent Democrats) are planning a
symposium on LGBT and HIV/AIDS issues in
the Middle East.
If you would like to join the
Committee and/or work on the symposium,
please contact CRDC Executive Committee
member, Paul Goetz at
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Dear Neighbor,
The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) is looking for assistance in promoting influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations. In 2005, nearly 3,000 New Yorkers died due to complications from influenza and pneumonia and each year thousands more are hospitalized due to influenza. Annual influenza vaccination and one-time pneumococcal vaccine are effective in saving lives and preventing hospitalization. Unfortunately only 59% of NYC adults 65 and older received a flu vaccine in 2005 and only 48% received a does of pneumococcal vaccine. DOHMH holds over 400 influenza vaccination outreach events at senior centers and other facilities in the fall, and has a dedicated clinic in each borough offering flu vaccine from October through late spring. Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) sites and many other medical facilities also provide vaccination services for adults.
Please share this information with anyone you know over the age of 65. Let’s make our community healthier!
For more information on influenza and clinic locations please visit www.nyc.gov/health/flu
Best,
Melanie La Rocca
Legislative Aide
District Office of Christine C. Quinn
New York City Council Speaker
224 West 30th Street, Suite 1206
New York, NY 10001
Phone: (212) 564-7757 x104
Fax: (212) 564-7347 |
