Democrats' Iraq "Readiness Strategy"

With the House debate on Iraq in Day 2, new details of the Democratic strategy to end the war are becoming public. From Politico.com:

Top House Democrats, working in concert with anti-war groups, have decided against using congressional power to force a quick end to U.S. involvement in Iraq, and instead will pursue a slow-bleed strategy designed to gradually limit the administration's options.

Led by Rep. John P. Murtha, D-Pa., and supported by several well-funded anti-war groups, the coalition's goal is to limit or sharply reduce the number of U.S. troops available for the Iraq conflict, rather than to openly cut off funding for the war itself.
. . .
Murtha, the powerful chairman of the defense subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, will seek to attach a provision to an upcoming $93 billion supplemental spending bill for Iraq and Afghanistan. It would restrict the deployment of troops to Iraq unless they meet certain levels adequate manpower, equipment and training to succeed in combat. That's a standard Murtha believes few of the units Bush intends to use for the surge would be able to meet.

In addition, Murtha, acting with the backing of the House Democratic leadership, will seek to limit the time and number of deployments by soldiers, Marines and National Guard units to Iraq, making it tougher for Pentagon officials to find the troops to replace units that are scheduled to rotate out of the country. Additional funding restrictions are also being considered by Murtha, such as prohibiting the creation of U.S. military bases inside Iraq, dismantling the notorious Abu Ghraib prison and closing the American detention facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

It's worth reading the whole article.

We'll get to see this strategy in action here in New York, as Republican Reps Randy Kuhl and Vito Fossella decide how they're going to vote. New York Republicans Tom Reynolds, Peter King and John McHugh have decided to vote for expanding American involvement in Iraq, while James Walsh is going to abandon his Republican colleagues and vote to oppose the Bush expansion plan. From Newsday:

Two of New York's Republican lawmakers stayed on the fence Tuesday as Congress began debating a resolution opposing a troop increase in Iraq - a measure that could have more sway over their political futures than on U.S. fighting forces.

We'll let New York Rep Charlie Rangel have the last word:

"Today, you have to decide whether or not you want this war to continue, and how many people have to die . . . [the resolution opposing escalation] is not going to hurt our beloved warriors, it's going to help our country, it's going to help them."

Right on.

What do you think? Ending the war is the important thing - is this plan the way to do it?

Technorati tags: Working Families Party | Iraq

Westchester-Putnam Chapter: Raising Wages and Winning Elections

The Westchester-Putnam Working Families Chapter is having a good week.

Last night, the Yonkers City Council passed a living wage bill, with the wage indexed to inflation. The vote was originally set for next Tuesday, but the City Council President said, "what the hell, let's do it now", and they did. Now comes the hard part: the bill passed with 4 5 votes, but and it needs 5 votes if there's a veto. With elections coming up in November, expect whether the Mayor vetoes the bill and who votes to override that veto to become hot campaign issues.

But the Westchester-Putnam Chapter wasn't there to celebrate their victory, because yesterday was also Election Day. The chapter endorsed winning candidate Ken Jenkins. Ken won with 81% of the vote out of 2,232 votes cast, and more than 5% of Ken's votes came on the WFP line.

Keep up the good work!

Find the Working Families chapter nearest you.

Technorati tags: Working Families Party

House Debate on Iraq: Day One

The U.S. House of Representatives is debating George Bush's plan to increase American involvement in Iraq.

Democrats plan to take a self-described "first step towards reducing American participation in the war" this week and pass a nonbinding resolution that says NO to escalation.

Working Families agrees that sending more of our troops into harm's way is wrong, but we're not satisfied with nonbinding resolutions. We want the troops brought home from Iraq.

There's reason to believe we're moving in that direction. Some of the highlights from today's debate include Rep. Jerry Nadler (via MyDD):

"That is why this resolution must be only the first step.

In the Supplemental Budget we will consider next month, we should exercise the only real power we have - the Congressional power of the purse. We will not cut off the funds, and leave our troops defenseless before the enemy, as the demagogues would imply, but we should limit the use of the funds we provide to protecting the troops while they are in Iraq and to withdrawing them on a timetable mandated in the law. We should provide funds to rebuild the army and to raise our readiness levels, for diplomatic conferences in case there is any possibility of negotiating an end to the Iraqi civil war, and for economic reconstruction assistance, but above all, we must use the power of the purse to mandate a timetable to withdraw our troops from Iraq.

We must use the power the people have entrusted to us. The best way to protect our troops is to withdraw them from the middle of a civil war they cannot win, and that is not our fight."

and Rep. Louise Slaughter (via Daily Kos):

"This resolution - and the debate this week - is only the beginning.
. . .
In March, for example, we will consider the President's supplemental funding request. Soon afterward, we will consider the regular authorization and appropriations bills for the war. All of these debates will be detailed and significant.

But before we go forward, we must first know where we stand. Our goal this week is to clearly establish whether Congress agrees or disagrees with the President's current approach to Iraq. If the answer is no, then we will have the basis for forcing a change in that approach.

It is my most sincere hope that the vote we take on Friday will be the first of many that will help produce a better end to the war in Iraq than the one our current course will produce."

Rep. Slaughter's whole speech is on YouTube:



If you agree that we need to bring the troops home, let your U.S. Representative know.

And if you have a favorite speech or line from today's debate, share it in the comments.

Technorati tags: Working Families Party | Iraq

House Debate on Iraq Starts

The House debate on Iraq has started - watch it on C-SPAN. What do you think needs to be done?

Technorati tags: Working Families Party | Iraq

Charlie Rangel Takes On Income Inequality

The gap between wealthy families and working families is growing. Real median income is falling, poverty is rising, and fewer workers have health insurance. The price of college is shooting up, leaving new college graduates saddled with loans for years. And while this is happening, Bush tax cuts go to benefit Wall Street stockbrokers who took home $24 billion in bonuses last December.

So credit Representative Rangel for taking testimony on wealth inequality in his new position as Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee to see what can be done to help working families make ends meet (via the Daily Politics). Raising the minimum wage will help, but that's only a first step. Rep. Rangel is looking at what to do next.

The AFL-CIO has weighed in, you can read more here, here, here, here, and here's the full list of Ways and Means Committee hearings.

Technorati tags: Working Families Party | Income Inequality

Global Warming and Monroe County

Remember the record warmth in December? Well now parts of upstate New York are getting hit with record snowfall - 12 feet and 2 inches so far, breaking the state record from Decmeber 2001 of 10 feet and 7 inches.

As global warming changes weather patterns and causes extreme weather - like hotter winters and heavier snowstorms - parts of New York are starting to take action.

Monroe County's the latest, with a plan to generate energy from the Mill Seat Landfill by converting methane gas that the landfill gives off into energy instead of releasing it into the air. Methane is an intense global warming gas, and the amount of methane gas from the landfill is equivalent to 54,000 cars. Converting that methane gas into energy will generate enough energy to power between 4,000 and 6,000 homes.

More on what needs to be done soon.

Technorati tags: Working Families Party | Global Warming | Energy Independence

NY-SD7 Post-Election Numbers With Maps

Here are maps of turnout percentage (pdf) and Craig Johnson's percentage of the vote (pdf) in the recent State Senate special election on Long Island.

Serious number junkies will want to look at the pdf versions, but the basic breakdown is blue means a high percentage on both maps, green is a medium percentage and yellow is a low percentage.

Turnout first:



And the percentage of the vote that Johnson won:



Here's the SD7 turnout percentage pdf and the SD7 Johnson percentage pdf.

I'm blown away by how many people voted in this race: 50% turnout anywhere in a special election is, frankly, amazing. When you throw in freezing temperatures, wow.

I also want to see the effect of canvassing on turnout and Johnson's vote, but that'll take longer to put together. Still, it looks like Port Washington really came out strong for Craig; our canvassing there got a great reception.

What stands out to you?

Technorati tags: Working Families Party | NY-SD7

Albee Square Mall Says NO To Wal-Mart

Today at 1pm the Albee Square Mall, located in downtown Brooklyn, and UFCW Local 1500 will announce a deal to respect the wishes of the community and exclude Wal-Mart from the development. Community organizations, members of the New York City Council, the Working Families Party, State Senator Eric Adams, faith-based leaders and other unions - who all played a part in striking this deal - will also be in attendance.

Here's UFCW Local 1500 President Bruce Both:

"On the issue of Wal-mart, the developer and their representatives acted in a professional and responsible manner hearing our concerns about the devastating effect a Wal-mart would have in Brooklyn. . . . They have made it clear to us that there are no plans now, nor will their be in the future, to bring Wal-Mart to the Albee Square Development."

UFCW Local 1500 Director of Special Projects Pat Purcell added:

"The developers representatives, keeping with their cooperative approach, have agreed to continue to meet with the coalition to discuss other issues such as affordable housing . . . all parties understand the win-win situation that come from accountable and responsible development and open communication between developers and the communities. The people in the community want and deserve a voice. We look forward to a continued open and positive dialogue"

The agreement will be followed by a protest against Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart has declared that moving into Brooklyn is a priority for the company. Protesters include UFCW, the Change To Win Union, Jobs With Justice, Families United for Racial and Economic Equality the Working Families Party, the New York Central Labor Council, ACORN, New York City Council Members Leticia James, Erik Dilan and David Yassky, State Senator Eric Adams, the Teachers Union, the Laborers Union and the RWDSU.

This comes admist a growing number of missteps by Wal-Mart and increased problems for the company resulting from their anti-worker business practices, including a gender-discrimination lawsuit against Wal-Mart that is moving forward. Those practices include poor pay, forcing workers on public assistance and punitive sick leave policies where a worker can be fired for taking care of a sick child.

Technorati tags: Working Families Party | Wal-Mart

WFP Gets Credit

In the post-election glow from Craig Johnson's, make that Senator Craig Johnson's, big win yesterday, the accolades are starting to come in. We went to the mat for Craig, canvassing for hours every day in freezing weather, pulling our organizing staff out of the rest of the state and putting them up in a Long Island hotel for 2 weeks to work on the race, and sending all our staff into the field for GOTV - which is why the Times -Union called us "one of Johnson's biggest supporters" - so the kind words are gratifying.

Here's what Newsday had to say the day after:

Winners:

DAN CANTOR (Working Families Party state chairman) The state party has made its mark as an influential political player, having given Johnson his spokesman in Alex Navarro, its ballot line and its support.

The Daily News's blog, 'Daily Politics,' agrees:

WINNERS

The Working Families Party made a clean break with Joe Bruno and the Senate Republicans after years of playing footsie in order to move specific legislative items forward (e.g. the minimum wage increase). As far as I can tell, the party more or less bailed out the Johnson operation, giving 75% of its staff over to the Johnson campaign for 3 weeks -- WFP supplied the campaign with 75 field canvassers, a hyperactive communications director, and support from party-linked unions, proving as always that there is no substitute for seasoned ground troops.

Aw, shucks. We were glad to do it!

Crains (no link) writes:

Winners

The Working Families Party, which broke with Senate Republicans, to endorse Johnson along with private-sector unions 32BJ, RWDSU, CWA and UFCW.

Over at Urban Elephants they're having a tough day, but they're facing facts:

Let me just say this. Check
Submitted by Scott Sala on Wed, 02/07/2007 - 10:07am.

Let me just say this. Check the WFP votes for Johnson. Their frontman ran Johnson's GOTV. I got no less than 10 emails from WFP. Yes, I subscribed long ago.

On the other end, I directly emailed O'Connell's campaign email address off an official email announcement to ask for anything UE could do to help - post GOTV times/dates, etc. I never got a response. I'm not a big street campaigner, but I know there are thousands of Republicans like me. We'll do it if - IF - persuaded. I wasn't in this race.

GOTV Makes and Breaks Campaigns
Submitted by Robert on Wed, 02/07/2007 - 10:45am.

Scott you make a great point. When it comes to get out the vote operations, dems leave no stone unturned, and especially neither does their radicalized alter-ego party the WFP. They will do whatever it takes to make sure their voters get to the polls. This is why they beat us almost every special election anywhere downstate.

Republicans, on the other hand, think it is enough to mail 20 pieces of mail and maybe send a few automated or live phone calls and that people will be motivated to vote. In zero degree weather, few people are naturally motivated to vote.

Heh

From Nassau GOP Watch:

Congrats to all the people on the ground that helped Criag win.

The Working Families Party really helped pull this off and the NYS blogs like the Albany Project lit a fire for this race.

And this from a diary at Daily Kos by Rusty5329:

Some may know that the Working Families Party (WFP) ran the vast majority of the field operations. WFP canvassers knocked on 45,000 doors over 28 days. The goal was to make sure that not a single voter in Nassau County would be able to forget about the election. Turnout, turnout, turnout. This whole race came down to turnout. Whoever could get the masses off their asses was going to win. So the Dem's called in the best canvassers in the state.

That's us.

The New York Times weighed in with an article over the weekend:

The Working Families Party, which helped run Mr. Johnson’s field operations, demonstrated skill and clout.

Technorati tags: Working Families Party | NY-SD7

Craig Johnson Wins in SD7

Craig Johnson won the special election for an open New York State Senate seat in the Seventh Senate District. Here are the unofficial election night results:

CANDIDATE NAME	PARTY	RESULTS	CANDIDATE TOTAL
CRAIG M JOHNSON	D	24,814
CRAIG M JOHNSON	WFP	1,538	26,352
MAUREEN C O'CONNELL	R	18,967
MAUREEN C O'CONNELL	I	1,688
MAUREEN C O'CONNELL	C	2,256	22,911

This was a big win, and it took a lot of work from a lot of people. To many people to mention, but let me thank the volunteers from across the state who filled the phonebanks and knocked on doors, the 129 people who donated $6,056 online to win, The Albany Project, Daily Gotham, Nassau GOP Watch, Communications Workers of America, SEIU Local 32BJ, UFCW Local 1500, RWDSU, UAW, Long Island Progressive Coalition, the WFP Nassau Chapter and - most of all - the 100s of canvassers who went out day after day in the, literally, freezing cold to talk to voters and pull them out to vote. Those canvassers were the engine we rode to victory, and they deserve everyone's thanks.

We'll let Craig close this post off with the prepared text of his victory speech:

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Today you made history.

• For more than 30 years, every Senate Seat on Long Island has been held by Republicans
• For 100 years, THIS seat has been held by Republicans
• Today we bid those years farewell and begin a new century.
  

***

As Democrats, we are on our way to a new majority in the State Senate - a cause that was advanced tonight but that continues starting now.

As Long Islanders, we are heading towards property tax reform - that will help our seniors and overburdened middle class.

And as New Yorkers, we will help Eliot Spitzer finish the job of changing state government so it works for all of us, not just the well-connected few.

[HOPES AND DREAMS]

I mention Eliot Spitzer - and in the campaign we spoke about Joe Bruno. But this campaign wasn’t about either of them. It wasn’t even really about Craig Johnson and Maureen O'Connell.

It was about the men and women, the children and the seniors, the working families of Roslyn, New Hyde Park, Great Neck, Port Washington and Elmont and all of the 33 villages of the 7th Senate District.

This election was about the hopes and dreams of the people I am now proud to call my constituents.

I asked you to vote our hopes - our hopes for a Nassau County that's more affordable for our seniors and working and middle-class

I asked you to vote our dreams - our dreams that our children will be able to find good jobs and homes they can afford here on Long Island.

You have my word that I will go to Albany to help all of us here on Long Island realize those hopes and those dreams.

[MAUREEN O'CONNELL]

I need to say a word about my opponent. As a nurse and as an elected official, Maureen O'Connell has dedicated her life to helping others.

This was a hard campaign, but there are no hard feelings. Maureen has had a noble career and I’m happy that she will continue as a colleague in government.

[THANK YOUs]

This is not my victory. This is your victory. More than 1,000 people gave up days, weeks of their lives to dedicate to this cause. I wish I could personally thank each and every one of you tonight. And I will try to do that over the next few days.

But please let me take the next few minutes to single out a few people who have been so important to this cause.

• My great friend and our great Governor, Eliot Steamr--- Spitzer
• My county chair – Jay Jacobs
• Our two great State Democratic Chairs – June O’Neill and Dave Pollak
• My new leader – soon to be the Majority Leader – Malcolm Smith and my Old Leader, Judy Jacobs
• Our two great U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer and Hillary Clinton
• Nassau’s Three Members of Congress: Gary Ackerman, Carolyn McCarthy and Steve Israel
• Three of Nassau’s greatest elected officials – My County Executive Tom Suozzi, my Assemblyman Tom DiNapoli and my Town Supervisor Jon Kaiman
• So many other great elected officials, friends, supporters . . .
• Thank you to the unions that supported me –
  • the Nassau, Suffolk and New York City PBA
  • CWA
  • 32 BJ
  • the Painters
  • the Auto Workers
  • the Steamfitters
  • R.W.D.S.U.
  • and U.F.C.W. Local 1500
• and the Pride Agenda
• Thank you to my campaign staff – who worked so hard for so long especially Brian Stedge, Nathan Smith, Marc Lapidus, Doug Forand and Alex Navarro – and everyone else – I’m sorry I can’t mention everyone.
• and to Dan Cantor the young men and women from the Working Families Party who knocked on 45,000 doors for our cause
• Thank you to my fantastic support network – my father, my sister, my mother-in-law, my father-in-law, my sister-in-law,
• And finally the two most important influences on my life
• My Mom, Barbara Johnson, and My Wife, Liz.
  

[CLOSING]

And let's remember what we fought for. We are Democrats, but we don't just fight to elect our own for our own sake.

We fight for:

• Taxes that are fair for our seniors and middle-class
• Housing we can afford
• Health care for every man, woman and child
• including the pursuit of tomorrow's cures today
• Schools that help every child reach their full potential
• Stewardship of the environment for our children and grandchildren
• The freedom to control our bodies
• Marriage equality,
• The right to organize
• And a government that works for every one of us, not just the well-connected few,
  

And we will keep on fighting until we have fully realized the hopes and dreams of every New Yorker.

Thank you very much. God bless you. And God bless America.

Technorati tags: Working Families Party | NY-SD7

It's Election Day in SD7

and it's going to be close!

If you live in the district, be sure to VOTE FOR CRAIG JOHNSON ON ROW E, the WFP ballot line

And tell your friends who live in the district or who have friends that live in the district to vote for Craig Johnson on Row E

You can still help us win. Head out to any of these staging areas in the district and we'll put you to work:

Mineola: Mineola LIRR station, take a campaign shuttle to the Portugese Heritage Society at 133 Willis Avenue.
Walking Directions: at the Mineola LIRR Station cross to the NY-bound side of the tracks. Walk on Station Plaza N (turns into 3rd Avenue as you pass the hospital) and turn right on 1st Street. Walk 2 blocks on 1st Street to Willis Avenue. Turn left on Willis Avenue and walk half a block to 133 Willis Avenue.

Great Neck: Great Neck LIRR station, take a campaign shuttle to 169 Middle Neck Road

Port Washington: Port Washington LIRR station, take a campaign shuttle to 691-3 Port Washington Boulevard

If you're not sure if you're in the district, it includes Albertson, Baxter Estates, Bellerose, Bellerose Terrace, Carle Place, East Hills, East Williston, Elmont, Floral Park, Flower Hill, Franklin Square, Garden City Park, Great Neck, Great Neck Estates, Great Neck Gardens, Great Neck Plaza, Greenvale, Harbor Hills, Herricks, Hicksville, Kensington, Kings Point, Lake Success, Manhasset, Manhasset Hills, Manorhaven, Mineola, Munsey Park, New Cassel, New Hyde Park, North Hills, North New Hyde Park, Old Westbury, Plandome, Plandome Heights, Plandome Manor, Port Washington, Port Washington North, Roslyn, Roslyn Estates, Roslyn Harbor, Roslyn Heights, Russell Gardens, Saddle Rock, Saddle Rock Estates, Sands Point, Searingtown, South Floral Park, Stewart Manor, Strathmore, Thomaston, University Gardens, Westbury, and Williston Park.

Here's a map of the district as well:



Follow the election results at http://www.nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/BOE/results.html

And afterwards, come on down to Leonard's of Great Neck for the Craig Johnson Election Night Victory Party. Festivities start when the polls close at 9 pm. Leonard's of Great Neck is at 55 Northern Blvd. in, you guessed it, Great Neck.

This is it!

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Technorati tags: Working Families Party | NY-SD7

Republican Official Refuses to Comply with County Attorney Order

For the past few days, Republican State Chair Joe Mondello has been saying publicly that he plans to engage in a campaign of voter intimidation on election day with blanket requests for identification. On Saturday, the NY Times reported Mondello said, "Our poll watchers and election inspectors will challenge people to show some kind of identification as to who they are."

The County Attorney's office issued instructions to the Board of Elections that they reach out to poll workers, and make sure that they were informed of the law and the special circumstances under which poll workers were to request identification:

"I am requesting that you immediately notify all special election poll workers and inspectors that they must not request identification of any person seeking to vote, unless there is an "ID" notification next to the bar code for the voter name on the registration poll ledger prepared by the Nassau County Board of Elections."

The Republican response to these instructions was to was to disobey the county Attorney's directive.

Below are two letters, the Nassau County Attorney's letter



and the Republican response



Update: A Nassau County Supreme Court Judge is ordering Republicans to comply with election law and not intimidate voters in tomorrow's special election, and has scheduled a hearing for Tuesday at 9:30 am. The order was sought by Nassau County because the Republican commissioner of the County Board of Elections refused to comply with a County Attorney directive to follow election regulations and prohibit voter intimidation. The Nassau County police will deliver notice of the court order to every polling place in the Seventh State Senate district when the polls open at 6am on Tuesday.

Here are the three pages of the Judge's order







2nd Update: Follow this story at the newly launched Nassau Voter Protection blog.

Tomorrow is Election Day! Don't let the Republicans steal the vote!

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Technorati tags: Working Families Party | NY-SD7

O'Connell MO: Open Mouth, Insert Foot

Flyers endorsing Maureen O'Connell continue to get her in trouble.

Here's the newest O'Connell flyer:



The most glaring error is the claim that O'Connell's a State Senator. She's not, no ifs, ands or buts. The rest of the flyer also gets things wrong.

Take, for example, the claim that O'Connell designed the nation's first at-home care program for cancer patients. The truth is, the Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx actually designed the nation's first at-home care program for cancer patients - 30 years before O'Connell's program.

O'Connell also talks up her performance as Nassau County Clerk, even as she refuses to release - or even respond to - an audit critical of her performance in office.

And let's not forget the O'Connell campaign's Osama-Balboni flyer. Over the weekend the Daily News took O'Connell to task in a scathing editorial well worth a read that asks, "How desperate is the GOP to hold onto the Nassau County Senate seat that's up for grabs Tuesday?"

But here's the key:

"In a photo, [O'Connell] stands next to ex-Nassau Sen. Michael Balboni, now Gov. Spitzer's top security adviser, beneath the official seal of the state Office of Homeland Security. A voter might assume she runs with their support. But Balboni has not endorsed anyone, and Spitzer is backing Democrat Craig Johnson. Also, Homeland Security strongly objects to this politicization of its logo, calling it 'completely inappropriate' and 'arguably illegal.'"

No wonder O'Connell is keeping her campaigning to friendly audiences.

Daily Gotham, Community Alliance and The Albany Project have more on O'Connell's ever-changing positions on the issues.

Tomorrow is Election Day!

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Technorati tags: Working Families Party | NY-SD7

Absentee Ballots Give Johnson an Edge

Absentee voting numbers from the Nassau County Board of Elections give Craig Johnson (D-WFP) the edge over his opponent Maureen O'Connell (R-I-C).

These numbers go through Saturday, and are broken down by party registration. Tomorrow is Election Day in the Seventh State Senate district special election on Long Island.

Democratic Party: 699
Republican Party: 646
"Blanks": 177
Independence Party: 18
Conservative Party: 15
Liberal Party: 3
Right to Life Party: 1

The word from the Johnson campaign is that they're "cautiously optimistic" but everyone needs to keep working hard.

This is a fraction of the people who will vote in the election, so even though it's encouraging, it also show how close the race will be. Your involvement will make a difference in who wins, so find a way to help!

Tomorrow is Election Day!

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Technorati tags: Working Families Party | NY-SD7

NY-SD7: Eliot Spitzer on the campaign trail

Eliot Spitzer hit the campaign trail earlier today with Craig Johnson as part of the "Moving New York Forward – 33 Stops in 33 Hours" barnstorming tour of the Seventh Senate District. Craig is visiting each of the 33 villages in SD7 in the 33 hours leading up to the Feb 6 special election.

Here are some pictures from the campaign trail:





Tomorrow at 12:45 pm, U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton will join Craig Johnson for a Get Out The Vote rally at the American Legion Hall, 60 Hill Avenue, in Elmont. Monday is the last day of campaigning before the voting starts in the special election for an open New York State Senate seat.

Come out and meet Craig and help the campaign Get Out The Vote!

Can't make it out? Help with a donation.

Here's Craig's Monday schedule and the last 16 stops on the "Moving New York Forward" tour:

1. 6:10-8:25am - Train Station, Port Washington

2. 8:45am - Haven Diner, Port Washington

3. 9:05am - Starbucks, Port Washington

4. 9:25am - Baked to Perfection, Port Washington

5. 9:45am - Northwinds Coffee & Tea Co., Port Washington

*** 6. 12:45 pm - Get-Out-the-Vote Rally with Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton - American Legion Hall, 60 Hill Avenue, Elmont, NY. ***

7. 2pm - Stop 20 Diner - Elmont, NY

8. 3:30pm - North Shore Farms, Port Washington, NY

9. 4:05pm - Park Delicatessen, Port Washington, NY

10. 4:45pm -- Door-Knocking, Roslyn, NY

11. 6:00pm - Train Station, Great Neck

12. 7:30 pm - Gino's Pizza, Great Neck, NY

13. 8:15 pm -- Seven Seas Diner, Great Neck, NY

14. 9pm - Starbucks, Manhasset, NY

15. 9:30pm - CVS drugstore, Roslyn Heights, NY

16. 10pm -- Sullivan's Quay, Port Washington, NY

2 days until Election Day!

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Technorati tags: Working Families Party | NY-SD7

Unions Go To Bat For Craig Johnson

Here's a copy of the mailer about Craig Johnson (D-WFP) and the Feb 6 special election for an open New York State Senate seat being sent to members of the Communications Workers of America (CWA), Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 32BJ, United Auto Workers (UAW), United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) Local 1500, and the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU).



It's just one of the ways these unions and the Working Families Party are campaigning to Get Out The Vote and elect Craig Johnson on February 6.

2 days until Election Day!

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Technorati tags: Working Families Party | NY-SD7

Great Neck News Endorses Craig Johnson for State Senate

The Great Neck News, a local weekly paper, has issued a powerful endorsement of Craig Johnson (D-WFP), calling him "Impressive - in his command of the facts, his stand on issues, and his character." The endorsement also sums up Maureen O'Connell's view of the public she is campaigning to represent, saying "she has barely set foot in Great Neck during the entire campaign."

Craig Johnson has now gotten nearly every editorial endorsement in the race, including Newsday, the Great Neck News (below), the Franklin Square-Elmont Herald, the New York Daily News and the New York Times.

Here's the full endorsement of Craig Johnson by the Great Neck News:

CRAIG JOHNSON FOR STATE SENATOR

Vote Feb. 6 in Special Election

Readers of this page are aware that we do not take kindly when candidates refuse to come before "the public" to answer questions at a debate. It is a great test of character, how the candidates do handling tough, even partisan questions.

Republican candidate Maureen O'Connell didn't just duck out of the debate, she dissed the Leagues of Women Voters (Great Neck, Manhasset and Port Washington), by suggesting that she better needed to spend her time meeting the "public" instead of participating in the debate.

That got in my craw because I am a huge fan of the League of Women Voters. What an incredible slap at the women and men who work so hard day in and day out to preserve active participation in voting, and who happen also to be scrupulous about being nonpartisan.

In fact, partisanship is a big issue in this campaign.

Republican Michael Balboni, who had so effectively served as State Senator, was famously bipartisan, working in close partnership with Democratic Assemblyman Tom DiNapoli, to get things done for the community, and the community loved him for it. Senator Balboni spent a lot of time in Great Neck and working on behalf of Great Neck schools, parks, libraries, the Great Neck Art Center.

But if Maureen O'Connell was anointed by the Republicans to fill his shoes, she is no Balboni. Indeed, she has barely set foot in Great Neck during the entire campaign, with the exception of a brief stop at the Great Neck Senior Center at the Great Neck Arts Center, carefully avoiding any kind of interaction with the press (if you can believe that: a politician avoiding the press).

During her political career in the New York State Assembly and now, during this campaign, she has never deviated from the Republican line, and there is no reason to expect she will going forward.

What she told us when we finally caught up with her where she was clearly most comfortable, at the American Foreign Legion in East Williston, surrounded by about 100 men representing various police and fire unions provided curious insight into who she was. Each speaker seemed to make some connection between September 11, and how Ms. O'Connell would somehow protect their interests. When I asked her whether, in the interests of New York State's security, she would support a State Senate resolution to ask Governor Spitzer to keep our National Guard here in New York rather than in Iraq, she said, "I would ask [Balboni] for his recommendation."

In contrast, Democratic candidate Craig Johnson can claim to be independent, based on his record as Nassau County Legislator.

In numerous appearances in Great Neck, Mr. Johnson (who claims he is a "Great Necker by marriage" since his wife, Elizabeth Kase Johnson, was raised here) has stood unequivocally in support of funding stem cell research and development, women's reproductive rights, access to health care and protection of the environment.

He can also justifiably claim to being a "fiscal conservative," steadfastly standing behind the votes he made in the County Legislature to bring back Nassau County to fiscal health from near-junk rating. More impressive, he stops himself at each instance where he might be making fiscal promises that he is not sure he can keep, when it is so much easier for a candidate to promise the world.

Like Ms. O'Connell is doing, in pledging to bring back a few hundred dollars more in STAR rebates. What she doesn't mention is that for this to actually happen, she would have to get the rest of New York State outside of Long Island to go along with her idea of "redistribution" of state revenue. Fat chance.

Ms. O'Connell's disingenuousness is alarming, and not just her campaign's flat statement that they can't reveal where the candidate will be at any given time. Much has been made about an audit of her County Clerk's office by Nassau County Comptroller Howard Weitzman that is being kept secret because it may be critical of her management abilities.

Ms. O'Connell has lashed back that Mr. Weitzman, a former mayor of Great Neck Estates, is being political. And yet, Mr. Weitzman, a Democrat who is in contention to become New York State Comptroller, has refused to comment on the report or release it.

When we asked her campaign why she does not simply release the report, we were told that the deputy clerk who Ms. O'Connell assigned to work with the Comptroller's office "is out on maternity leave. She is scheduled to be back on Feb. 5. At that time, Maureen and her will sit down and review the proposal and then request a meeting with Mr. Weitzman." That sounds like stone-walling, which I don't think is an admirable trait in an elected representative.

On the other hand, Craig Johnson has been impressive – in his command of the facts, his stand on issues, and his character. He is independent when he needs to be. He will be our champion, even if it means bucking up against Governor Spitzer and Democrats, should that be necessary. He has proven as much in the Nassau County Legislature. And he is clearly in tune and in step with the values that Great Neckers have demonstrated are important, time and again.

As a Nassau County legislator, moreover, he brings the experience and knowledge-base about our local problems that he could work to rectify at the state level. He understands the problems of cost-of-living, of school funding formulas, of transportation, of the impact of Medicaid, health care and prescription drug costs that we face.

We can look to him to be an advocate for government reform, hopefully breaking the Republican stranglehold that has prevented New York State from moving forward, to back development of alternative energy technology and biotech that will promote jobs and the state's economy; promote universal health care and reductions in prescription drug costs. He has clear proposals that could help alleviate some of the property tax burden on Nassau County, including working to get more state aid for school districts and attacking Medicaid fraud and waste.

O'Connell has tried to play catch up with some of these issues, but generally, her proposals are empty rhetoric, unsupported by her record in the State Assembly.

Mr. Johnson's platform is about moving forward, and positioning New York State to compete in the future in alternative energy, stem cell research, jobs and economic development. We like his proposals for biotech development, which could bring thousands of jobs to our area, for using the State's buying power to encourage manufacture of hybrid vehicles, as well as lower prescription drug costs.

At one rally he shouted out, "Do you want to move forward?" I don't know about you, but I like someone who is about moving forward, rather than stonewalling.

Craig Johnson has received endorsements from the New York Times, Newsday and now this newspaper. We see him as being in line with the values of Great Neck, and likely to be responsive to this community. Many other individuals and organizations we admire share this view.

But though Mr. Johnson's list of groups and supporters who back him may well outnumber his opponent's, and it may well be that a majority of voters in the district back his election, still, none of that will matter because it will all come down to who comes out to vote in the Special Election, on Tuesday, Feb. 6.

In this election, every vote does count. Will it be yours?

-- Karen Rubin, Editor

2 days until Election Day!

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Technorati tags: Working Families Party | NY-SD7

Moving New York Forward – 33 Stops in 33 Hours

Craig Johnson (D-WFP) is setting a blistering campaign pace leading up to Election Day on Feb 6 as he campaigns for an open State Senate seat in New York's Seventh District on Long Island.

Starting this morning, Craig launched the "Moving New York Forward – 33 Stops in 33 Hours" tour. He's campaigning in every one of the 33 villages in the Seventh District from this morning until the election starts, leaving no stone unturned to Get Out the Vote. The tour will take Craig to morning bagel stops, religious services, Super Bowl parties, and popular lunch hour spots.

Governor Eliot Spitzer and U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer will campaign with Craig Johnson at different stops during the day.

Come out and meet Craig and help the campaign Get Out The Vote!

Can't make it out? Help with a donation.

Sunday Schedule:

1. 7am - Let There Be Bagels, Port Washington

2. 8:15am – Best Bagel, Great Neck

3. 9:30am – Constituent Meeting, Great Neck

4. 11am – First Baptist Church, Westbury

5. 12 noon – Sid Jacobson Jewish Community Center – East Hills

6. 12:50pm - St. Brigids Church – Westbury

7. 1:45pm – Supermarket -- Manhasset

8. 2:30pm -- House Party – Great Neck

*** 9. 3:05pm - Waldbaum's – 40 Great Neck Road, Great Neck, NY (Campaigning with Sen. Charles E. Schumer) ***

10. 3:40pm – Cosi – Great Neck

11. 4:15pm – House Party – Great Neck, NY

12. 5:15pm – Super Bowl Party – Roslyn Estates, NY

13. 5:50pm – Super Bowl Party – Roslyn Estates, NY

14. 6:40pm Super Bowl Party – Sands Point, NY

*** 15. 7:30pm – Super Bowl Party – Great Neck, NY – with Gov. Eliot Spitzer ***

16. 8:30pm – Super Bowl Party – Kings Point, NY

17. 9:45 pm -- Finn McCool's bar/restaurant – Port Washington, NY

2 days until Election Day!

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Technorati tags: Working Families Party | NY-SD7

Republicans Threaten Dirty Tricks in SD7

Three days from election day, Maureen O'Connell's campaign is falling apart as Craig Johnson (D-WFP) racks up endorsements and public support in their Long Island race for an open New York State Senate seat.

The Republican response? Threaten dirty tricks. Joe Mondello, the Republican Party chairman for New York State and Nassau County, is already threatening to harass voters going to the polls, claiming that he's scared of "an onslaught of people from New York City being bused here and trying to vote."

Mondello knows that no one is being bused to Long Island to vote; he's looking for an excuse, however flimsy, to justify illegally harassing voters at the polls. Since O'Connell hasn't campaigned in many parts of the district, Republicans can safely assume that anyone turning out to vote in the parts of the district that they've abandoned is voting for Craig.

The Johnson campaign has a legal team in place to deal with Republican voter harassment and is requesting federal election monitors to prevent voter intimidation. But they can't be everywhere at once.

That's why we need you. The WFP canvass has grown to 100 people for the final weekend, and it'll grow again on election day. Supportive unions and local activists are getting involved. But the campaign needs literally 100s of people to turn out for it's Get Out The Vote plan.

There's still time for you to get involved. Sign up today!

You'll be glad you did, because you'll know that you helped win a key State Senate seat in the dead of winter (or what passes for winter these days).

3 days until Election Day!

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NYC Police Benevolent Association endorses Craig Johnson for State Senate

The NYC Police Benevolent Association joined their brothers and sisters in Nassau County and endorsed Craig Johnson for State Senate. Craig is running for an open New York State Senate seat in a Feb 6 special election.

The NYC PBA has more than 2,000 members living in the Seventh district.

In endorsing Craig, the NYC PBA cited his tough-on-crime record and his long-standing support of local law enforcement agencies. From PBA President Patrick Lynch:

"Craig Johnson has spent his entire public life making sure that our police departments have all the tools and support that they need to make sure that our streets are safe and that our families are protected . . . He is the best candidate to continue the work of Mike Balboni."

Craig had this to say:

"We need to support our men and women in blue as they fulfill their charge in making our communities and our streets safe places for our families . . . I am proud to accept the endorsement of the New York City PBA and, as your state senator, pledge to do everything in my power to make Nassau County a safer place for our families."

Here are some pictures from the event:





4 days until Election Day!

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Technorati tags: Working Families Party | NY-SD7