Ben Franklin Democratic Club Meeting

  Above Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz answers a question that was posed to him and the other local elected officials that were on hand for the January meeting of the Ben Franklin Democratic Club of the 81st Assembly District. Left to right are Councilman Andrew Cohen, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, State Senator Gustavo Rivera, and Chief of Staff to Congressman Eliot Engel Bill Weitz. State Senator Jeff Klein was unable to attend, and that is Ben Franklin Club President Ellen Feld standing behind Councilman Cohen and Assemblyman Dinowitz.

  This was a new format of the club to have its elected officials all sit up front together rather than in the past calling them up one at a time. The club also announced its slate of officers that were nominated by its nominating committee to be voted on at the end of the month.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR BILL DEBLASIO

  The Ben Franklin Democratic Club is seeking volunteers to help on the Bill deBlasio campaign for Mayor. 

  We need your help to campaign for Bill de Blasio for Mayor so we can have a big Democratic win November 5th.  Here's a morning and late-day schedule for one or more two-hour shifts at transportation stops in our district. Just call Dan Johnson to let him know which two-hour shift you can cover. (516) 672-3819. Thanks.

7-9 am
231st Street/Broadway - 1 train
238th Street/Broadway - 1 train
242nd Street/Broadway 1 train
Mosholu - 4 train
Spuyten Duyvil Metro North

5:30-7:30 pm
Spuyten Duyvil Metro North
Riverdale Metro North
231st Street - 1 train
Bedford Park/Grand Concourse D train

Daytime
Jerome Ave and East Gun Hill Rd
Stop & Shop
Skyview Shopping Center
Johnson Avenue/W. 235 Street

Ben Franklin Dem. Club Votes Not to Endorse Again

  Wednesday August 14th the members of the Ben Franklin Democratic Club voted again not to endorse any Democratic candidate in this years primary.  There was a little scuffle however when one member who is supporting Christine Quinn questioned a letter from Councilman G. Oliver Koppell that was some what negative about the speaker. The Councilman's wife stood up to blast several members without naming them for sending out an e-mail about Councilman Koppell's negative letter to the members of the club about Speaker Quinn. Councilman Koppell then said candidates go after each other all the time. The letter said that he had been in the City Council for almost 8 years now with Christine Quinn as speaker, and that she was doing things mainly for political gain. 

  A little more mayhem was thrown into the mix when Male District Leader Bruce Feld warned that some members might vote not for their candidate seeing that tonight that candidate does not have enough support to win. One member then stated that he was supporting De Blasio, but would vote differently because it looked like De Blasio would not win the club endorsement that night. Another member said that an endorsement should unite, and not divide the club. Assemblyman Dinowitz said that Councilman Koppell had the right to send his letter out, as harsh as it was to candidate Quinn. He also said "The club needs to focus on the candidates that have already been endorsed", mentioning Public Advocate, City Comptroller, Bronx Borough President, and 11th city council. Dinowitz suggested as many other members of the club had said that there be no endorsement tonight. After State Senator Gustavo Rivera thanked the club for helping him win ion 2010, he stated that he was supporting Speaker Quinn. A voice vote was then called for, which by a 10 - 1 margin was in favor of not endorsing for mayor at this time. 

Left - Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz addresses the club as to why he thinks "No Endorsement" should be taken at this time.

Right - Councilman Koppell states his case.

 

Left - Lorraine Coyle Koppell blasts club members for attacking her husband Councilman Koppell in a secret e-mail sent to certain members.

Right - BFDC member and De Blasio supporter David Kornblau speaks of how he will vote seeing that his candidate may not have enough support to win the endorsement.

Left - 11th City Council candidate Andrew Cohen (endorsed by the BFDC) thanks the club for their volunteer work in helping him get on the ballot, and asks for more volunteers for the rest of the campaign.

Right - State Senator Gustavo Rivera mentions that he is supporting Christine Quinn for Mayor.

BFDC Endorsement Meeting

   Last night the Ben Franklin Democratic Club held an endorsement meeting for the two positions of Civil Court Judge in the Bronx, the position of Public Advocate, and for Mayor. Club President Ellen Feld opened the meeting by saying that there was national news coverage of the BFDC Mayoral Forum that was held last week. She added that Sunday at the BFDC headquarters (4-6 PM) will be the kick off for the Cohen for Council campaign with several BFDC already endorsed candidates such as BP Diaz, Comptroller candidate Stringer, and others to be in attendance. 

   81st A.D. Male District Leader Bruce Feld announced that petitioning begins on June 4th, and that the club will have its own petitions available the day before for members to pick up. 

   President Ellen Feld said tonight's meeting was for endorsement of 2 judges, Public Advocate, and Mayor should the club choose to endorse which included the option of no endorsement also for any of the positions. First up was current Acting Supreme Court Justice Larry Schachner running for Civil Court Judge. Second was Acting Supreme Court Justice Julia Rodriguez also running for Civil Court Judge in another capacity. Both Judges had been endorsed before by the club, and were overwhelmingly endorsed again this time.

   Next came the position of Public Advocate, where there seemed to be a split in the club. President Feld said that there were four candidates running, and that there was also the choice of no endorsement calling for a vote to endorse or not. Councilman G. Oliver Koppell stood up to ask that "the club vote not to endorse for the position of Public Advocate, but also vote to not endorse for Mayor tonight". Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz said that he disagreed with Koppell on not endorsing. He suggested that the club vote for Public Advocate even though the club may not vote to endorse for Mayor. He added "There are seven candidates now for mayor and only four for Public Advocate". 

   Discussion continued on the subject with one member asking that the candidates appear again which can not be done said President Feld who added that the club has already heard from the candidates. State Committeewoman Helen Morik said that she agrees with Councilman Koppell's position of no endorsement for both Public Advocate & Mayor. Former State Committeewoman Marcia Alina stated that if there is no endorsement the club would look like it is not being a part of the races. A voice vote was taken to decide to endorse for the position of Public Advocate or not was to close so that a show of hands had to be taken.       The vote was to endorse for Public Advocate where as several members of the club spoke on behalf of the candidates running. this vote was taken by written ballot that was announced later after all the votes were counted. 

  It was time to endorse or not for the mayors race. Club parliamentarian Bruce Feld explained from the section in the clubs by-laws that stated that a candidate must win with more than 50 percent of the vote cast. Then the top two candidates and the option of no endorsement is voted on, and then the top candidate and no endorsement which will provide the answer. He said that this happened four years ago when the club voted and endorsed for mayor and not for Public Advocate. A question of the club having a quorum was answered with "Yes there is a quorum present" by President Feld. 

   Club member Mike Heller suggested that the club not endorse for mayor now as until the numbers change as it is to close right now. Club Vice-President Paul Ellis agreed on waiting, especially since the entry of Anthony Weiner into the mayors race. Member David Kornblau said that in 3-4 weeks the bloodletting would be done, and then the club could endorse a candidate. By a voice vote of over 2 - 1 the BFDC voted not to endorse any candidate for mayor, but the executive committee could bring the endorsement vote back on the agenda at the next meeting. 

   The results of the vote to endorse for Public Advocate was won by current State Senator Dan Squadron with 34 out of 53 votes cast. It was also mentioned that the petitions of all mayoral candidates would be at the BFDC if the candidates would leave them for club members.

Left - Councilman G. Oliver Koppell asking the BFDC not to endorse for Public Advocate or Mayor.
Right - Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz disagrees with Councilman Koppell saying that the club should endorse for Public Advocate even if it chooses not to endorse for mayor.

Left - Club member Mike Heller says that the margin is so close in the mayors race that he suggests that the club not endorse any candidate right now.
Right - Club Vice-President Paul Ellis agrees on not endorsing for mayor especially with the entrance of Anthony Weiner in the mayors race.

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Ben Franklin Democratic Club Endorses Stringer for City Comptroller

   Last night the Ben Franklin Democratic Club (the largest Democratic club in the Bronx) voted to endorse a candidate in the upcoming City Comptroller race. Current Manhattan Borough President and candidate for City Comptroller Scott Stringer (a favorite of many Ben Franklin club members) spoke to the standing room only crowd at the clubs headquarters. After a few questions the club voted 34 to endorse Stringer to 5 no endorsement votes. 

   On the meeting agenda was an introduction to the four Democratic candidates running for the position of Public Advocate. There was no endorsement vote for this position which was said to come at a later date. The four candidates for the office of Public Advocate were Reshma Sajuani (A former Deputy Public Advocate to the current Public Advocate Bill DeBlasio, who also is the founder of Girls Who Code a non-profit organization based in New York City), Brooklyn State Senator Dan Squadron (who spoke about his duties as a state senator and what he wants to do as the next Public Advocate), Brooklyn Councilwoman Letitia James (who explained here vision for the office of Public Advocate), and Newcomer Cathy Guerriero (who made a huge impression on some Ben Franklin members by her bold and brash style of describing herself and what needs to be done as a Public Advocate for the people of New York City).

 

Left - Manhattan Borough President and candidate for City Comptroller Scott Stringer addresses the crowd at the Ben Franklin Democratic Club.

Right - Newcomer Cathy Guerriero fired up many of those in the audience with her bold and brash style of describing what people have gotten in the past from the Public Advocate, and what she wants to bring to the position for the people of New York.

Left - Candidate Reshma Saujani explains her position to the members of the Ben Franklin Club.

Right - Brooklyn State Senator Dan Squadron gives his views as to why he should be the next Public Advocate.