'Gerrymandering': Screening And Discussion On Redistricting With Director And Electeds

Gerrymandering is a practice of political corruption that attempts to establish a political advantage for a particular party or group by manipulating geographic boundaries to create partisan, incumbent-protected, and neutral districts. (wikipedia)

Why should this concern us here in Carroll Gardens? Because the New York State Senate is getting ready to redraw district lines and because this process should be transparent and free of corruption.

SPECS, LINES AND VIDEOTAPE:

BROOKLYN ELECTEDS & POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS DISCUSS GERRYMANDERING

Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries and Senator Daniel Squadron join the filmmaker for a post-screening conversation about how to reform the redistricting process

BROOKLYN, NY- As the NY State Senate prepares for their decennial re-drawing of district lines, New Kings Democrats, Prospect Heights Democrats for Reform, and a contingent of Brooklyn progressive organizations will co-host a screening of Gerrymandering, followed by a discussion on the topic of redistricting with Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries (who also appears in the film), Senator Daniel Squadron, and the filmmaker Jeff Reichert.

The Dweck Center at the Central Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library,

10 Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn, NY
Wednesday, February 23rd;
6pm: film screening
8pm: a discussion on redistricting with Assemblymember HAKEEM JEFFRIES, Senator DANIEL SQUADRON, and the filmmaker, JEFF REICHERT

HOSTED BY: New Kings Democrats, Prospect Heights Democrats for Reform, Lambda Independent Democrats of Brooklyn, Independent Neighborhood Democrats, the 57th A.D. Democratic Organization, Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats, Progressive Association for Political Action, Brooklyn Latino Democratic Club, and Manhattan Young Democrats

Gerrymandering, an acclaimed documentary by Prospect Heights filmmaker, Jeff Reichert, made its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2010.

For more information about the event, please visit NewKingsDemocrats.com.

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Tonight, Cobble Hill Association Hosts Community Round Table With Daniel Squadron

Sates Senator Squadron

The Cobble Hill Association resumes its Community Roundtable series tonight with State Senator Daniel Squadron. The roundtable is an informal way for the community to address concerns and to discuss issues with elected officials series of In the past, the association has invited Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, Councilman Brad Lander and Assemblywoman Joan Millman.

You are invited to attend the

Cobble Hill Association's

Community Roundtable Meeting

with State Senator Daniel L. Squadron

7:30 PM on Wednesday, February 16th

at Christ Church 326 Clinton Street

(at the corner of Clinton and Kane Streets)

Please join us for a "Community Roundtable" meeting with State Senator Daniel L. Squadron. Hosted by the Cobble Hill Association, the community roundtable series is to provide an opportunity for you to meet directly with your elected officials. We are honored to have Senator Squadron as our guest. This will be an informal meeting where you can discuss any issue or concern directly with State Senator Squadron.

We hope that you will be able to attend!

This meeting is free of charge and is open to all members of the public.

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Senator Daniel Squadron Discusses The Need For Change In NY State Senate

photo and video credit: www.capitaltonight.com

This week, State Senator Daniel Squadron gave an interview to reporter Liz Benjamin of Capital Tonight, a nightly political show up in Albany. In the interview, Squadron discusses the need for change in the State Senate and his push for more aggressive reform.

Thought you may be interested in checking it out, dear Reader.

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Stop The Idling...Join A Rally In Support Of "Shore Power" At The Cruise Terminal

This coming Monday, Councilmember Brad Lander and State Senator Daniel Squadron will be joining community members to rally for 'shore power' and against the idling of the huge cruise ships that dock at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal. This issue does not only affect our Columbia Waterfront neighbors, but all residents here in Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill and Red Hook.
Please read the press release below and come join the rally.

Dear Neighbors,

Please join us Monday at noon for a press conference and rally in support of bringing "shore power" to the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal. Along with the community we have been pushing for shore power for a long time -- now we are holding this "Stop Choking Brooklyn" rally because we can't wait any longer!

Switching to shore power -- so that ships can hook up to the electric grid instead of idling their engines in port -- would stop tons of unnecessary and life-threatening pollution, which is equal to thousands of cars idling.

The Port Authority and the Environmental Protection Agency have obtained $15 million in funding to build the necessary infrastructure. However, for shore power to become a reality, the Economic Development Corporation, which operates the cruise terminal, Carnival Cruise Lines which uses the terminal, and New York Power Authority, which delivers electricity to the terminal, need to come to a final agreement about the price of electricity.

Join us on Monday to rally for an agreement now, so the work needed to bring shore power to the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal can begin and idling cruise ships stop choking Brooklyn!

Here are the specifics on the event:

What: Rally to Stop Choking Brooklyn, with free surgical masks for
everyone, to show just much pollution is spewing into Red Hook
When: Monday, January 3rd, noon
Where: corner of Van Brunt Street and Pioneer Street

We hope you’ll join us on Monday to rally for a cause that will make our community an even better place to live!

Thank you,

Councilmember Lander and Senator Squadron

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Carroll Gardeners Get Together At Transit Garden For Tree Lighting And Holiday Cheer

Sure, it was cold last night, but bundled up in hats and gloves, with a cup of hot chocolate in their hands, a group of Carroll Gardeners attended the annual Christmas Tree lighting in the charming little Transit Garden at the corner of Second Place and Smith Street. Ornaments were hung, Christmas carols were sung and Season's Greetings were exchanged.

The event was hosted by the neighborhood group that took over the former Metropolitan Transit Authority parking lot, turned it into a garden and continues to lovingly plant and care for the little green oasis.

Thank you to the MTA representatives who stopped by. And thank you also to State Senator Daniel Squadron and fellow Carroll Gardener for joining the festivities.

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State Senator Squadron To Hold His Second 25th District Community Convention

Daniel Squadron at his Community Convention in March 2009

Some of the Carroll Gardeners who were in attendance at the first

Community Convention, March 2009

New York State Senator Daniel Squadron has been an impressive representative since he took office in January 2009. Right from the start, he had promised to be available and to reach out to his constituents. He has certainly been a very responsive elected official and for that, he deserves out thanks.

He was one of the first politicians to come out in support of the EPA's listing of the Gowanus Canal as a Superfund site. He also joined community activists in protecting Carroll Gardens' historical and architectural integrity by speaking out against a planned expansion by a private school onto one of the neighborhood's signature courtyards.

In order to be more responsive to his constituents, Senator Squadron held a Community Convention in March of 2009 to discuss such issues and topics such as quality of life, education, jobs, transportation and housing. It was a very well attended event. Along with some Carroll Gardens activists, I took part in the convention and found it not only useful but empowering.

The senator followed up with a series of dial-in conference phone calls to update the community on how the goals discussed at the convention will be implemented by him and will help shape his administration's priorities.

Now, Squadron is following up with a second Community Convention. Please see the information attached below:

Dear Friend:

I am writing to invite you to the second annual 25th District Community Convention, on Sunday, April 11th. I hope you will join me to offer your thoughts and ideas on legislative and community priorities.

25th Senate District Community Convention

Sunday, April 11th

2:00 to 5:00 p.m.

at BMCC: 199 Chambers Street (just west of Greenwich)

Click here to RSVP

Last year, more than 400 community members attended and offered valuable feedback on topics as far-ranging as school overcrowding, park planning and nightlife concerns. The great ideas I heard influenced my work at home and in Albany. This year, I hope to get your input on those topics, as well as tenants’ rights, health care, ethics reform and more. (Please click here for a complete list of topics we will be discussing.)

Please RSVP to Rosemarie Diaz in my office at 212-298-5565 or rdiaz@senate.state.ny.us. I hope to see you there!

Sincerely,

Daniel

Daniel Squadron

State Senator

25th Senate District

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Direct From Albany: State Senator Daniel Squadron On Ethics Reform Passing Legislature

Direct from Albany!
On Wednesday, January 20th, the New York State Senate and Assembly both passed Ethics Reform Legislation. This video was taken during the State Senate session regarding this matter. It shows our Senator Daniel Squardon speaking on a portion of the legislative package. His staff was nice enough to forward it to me.

Below is Senator Squadron's statement.

Greetings,

Last week I announced that the Senate and Assembly had introduced a package of ethics legislation that I pushed forward; today I am very pleased to report that both houses -- the Senate and Assembly -- have passed the package by an overwhelming margin. I have fought for increased disclosure, enforcement, and independence in Albany since I took office, and by passing this ethics package today, the Senate and Assembly have taken a significant step towards that goal.

When this package becomes law, it will make our state government more transparent by requiring increased income disclosure from legislators, more accountable by restoring an independent ethics commission and making it easier for the State Board of Elections to investigate campaign finance violations, and more honest by closing the "Bruno Gap" in state ethics law and making it illegal for a public officer to use government resources for outside, for-profit business.

To be clear, the package is by no means a silver bullet; there is still more work to be done, but we cannot delay reforming ethics laws any longer. On Monday, the New York Times agreed and wrote: "As State Senator Daniel Squadron, a New York City Democrat, put it, 'It is better to have a good bill than a perfect press release.' But it is only the beginning, however useful, of what must be a sustained, cathartic effort to restore the public trust."

I couldn't agree more. I worked hard to win the ethics legislation we passed today, and as we carry on the fight to reform Albany and restore New Yorkers' faith in their state government, I am committed to continuing to push for further reforms in our ethics and campaign finance laws. I appreciate the support and dedication of all New Yorkers who share my goal of meaningful change in our state government.

Sincerely,

Daniel Squadron

State Senator

25th District

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At F Train Town Hall, MTA Promises Improvements

(photo credit: Senator Squadron's office)
From left to right:
Assemblywoman Joan Millman, Councilman-elect Brad Lander
and State Senator Daniel Squadron

Shortly after taking office in early 2009, State Senator Daniel Squadron was flooded with telephone calls from constituents, who complained about the spotty F train service. In response, Squadron asked the MTA to undertake a top-to-bottom review of the F line.

Last week, on Thursday, December 10 at PS 58, Senator Squadron held an "F Train Town Hall."
Andy Inglesby and Glenn Lunden of the M.T.A. were in attendance to explain the recently completed report about the line's performance and to discuss proposals for improving service.
Also on hand were Assemblywoman Joan Millman and Councilman-elect Brad Lander.

In their presentation, Inglesby and Lunden acknowledged that the F significantly lacked behind other lines in the system in on-time performance. Amongst the issues facing the line are:

- the F is the 2nd longest route (27 miles)
-has a complex track sharing between the G, E and V line.
-Has a busy schedule with 15 trains per hour at peak.
-Has a large ridership
-Has an aging car fleet
-And an aging infrastructure (82.5% of the route dates before 1940 or earlier with 16% constructed in 1919-1920)

Currently, some improvements are being implemented. New subway cars have been replacing older ones and some stations are being renovated.

-The Jay Street station rehabilitation will be completed by the end of 2010. A new underground transfer to the M and R lines at Lawrence Street/ Metro Tech will be provided at the J Street station by the first quarter of 2011.

-The Culver Viaduct rehabilitation is underway right now and will be completed by 2013. The work will unfortunately mean some additional interruption in service on some week-ends.
The Viaduct work will include the full renovation of the 9th Street station, which will need to be closed for approximately 9 months.
An express service on the F line will not be possible until this work is completed. The MTA will look at that possibility after 2013.

As for Carroll Gardens' main subway plaza at 2nd Place and Smith Street, which was closed for safety concerns during the construction of the 360 Smith Street building, it will remain closed until October 2010.

Lets hope that some of this work will improve the less-than-average performance of the F.

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State Senator Squadron To Host Town Hall Meeting About The F Train

F Stands for...
If you think the F train service leaves lots to be desired, you are not alone. Overcrowding, re-routing and outages are a constant annoyance for local commuters. When State Senator Daniel Squadron took office in January 2009, he promised to work on the problem and asked the MTA to review the F line. The results were made public in October. Now, the senator is inviting the community to a town hall meeting on the subject. Below is more info from the senator's office:

This past summer, State Senator Squadron called on the MTA to conduct a full line review of the F Train in response to the many constituent complaints he received regarding ongoing service problems. In October, the MTA released the findings from this review in a comprehensive report (which you can find on Senator Squadron's website at: www.squadron.nysenate.gov).

To make this report even more accessible to the public, Senator Daniel Squadron and Community Boards 2 & 6 invite you to attend a Town Hall Meeting about the F train. MTA representatives will discuss the recent report about F train performance, and discuss proposals for improving service.

F Train Town Hall

Hosted by State Senator Daniel Squadron 

WHEN: Thursday, December 10

6:30 pm

WHERE: PS 58 Auditorium

330 Smith Street, Brooklyn NY

(Corner of Smith and Carroll streets, at Carroll Street stop on the F line)

If you have any questions about this event or would like to receive a copy of the F train report, please don't hesitate to contact me. I am available by phone at (718) 802-3818 or by e-mail at ellen at danielsquadron dot org.


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A Letter From Albany: State Senator Squadron Updates His Constituents On The Goings-On

Have you been following the despicable goings-on in Albany in the last few days? As our State Senate has been turned into one giant soap-opera, our State Senator Daniel Squadron addresses his constituents directly with this email to express his own indignation at his colleagues. The email was sent out yesterday. Just in case you did not get it, I am reprinting it here.

Dear Friend,

With so much happening in Albany, I wanted to send along an update.

Over the last week and a half, I’m sure you have joined the rest of the state in looking on with horror and fascination as the State Senate has collapsed. A partially aborted attempt by two of my Democratic colleagues to enter into a pact with the Republicans has led to deadlock...and absurdity. For a period last week, the most significant question circling the capitol was, who holds the keys to the Senate chamber? The absurd truth is that control of the upper legislative house in the third largest state in the nation seemed for a period to hinge on an actual hinge.

There are lots of reasons we are in this mess. For one, it's important to remember there are many who have been desperate to freeze action on important progressive goals from housing to jobs to ethics and campaign finance.

But things have gotten so bad so quickly for a simple reason. In the State Senate, the person, or people, who lay claim to the title of Temporary President and Majority Leader hold all the power. You are not witnessing a simple battle over titles or committee chairs. Rather you are witnessing a fight built on the question of who controls:

· All of the millions of dollars of internal Senate resources (staff, district mailings, member “lulu” stipends…even paper clips)

· All of the tens of millions of dollars of legislative grants and capital investment dollars
· All – that’s right all – of the legislation that moves through the house (in effect giving the leader of the Senate a non-overideable veto on all legislative matters in the
State of New York)
· All other things you can imagine, except who gets elected to this body

New Yorkers are watching a woefully undemocratic process unfold because this is a battle for control of a woefully undemocratic place. After having been elected by the people, each legislator holds one powerful card – the vote for leader. In a sixty-two-member body in which members are so evenly divided between parties – and all sixty-two of us, not to mention advocates, lobbyists and special interests, understand the stakes – desperation, chaos, and stalemate are all too likely.

The only way out of this mess, assuming neither party suddenly gains a large majority, is for the entire body to enact real reform that fundamentally changes the power dynamic.

In the short-term, we need a bipartisan operating agreement that leaves the question of leadership aside while letting us pass the legislation that is so important for our city and our state. We cannot let the madness overwhelm the fact that the issues we fight for and the laws we pass have a profound effect on our constituents.

The proposal put forward by the Democratic Conference, modeled on what other states have done, is a fair way to get us back to the business of legislating, or at least a place to start the conversation. (On the other hand, the "proposal" put forward by the Republican Conference would give Pedro Espada and Dean Skelos absolute power and includes the insane idea that Senator Espada has two votes.)

Of course, whatever solution we come to now won’t get all of the legislation I'm fighting for passed or solve all of the Senate's problems -- and there are a lot of them. Real long-term reform is necessary; we need substantive changes on ethics, campaign finance and internal rules. This year we started to move the ball on each, but we have not done nearly enough. Beyond just getting support for ethics reform, which I was pleased to do, we have to enact it. Beyond just introducing campaign finance bills, we have to pass them into law. And beyond rules reform at the margins (or what the "coup" served up, which is a cynical attempt at headlines that masks leader-controlled business-as-usual), we need to fundamentally change the way the Senate is organized: if we had a real way to move bills to the floor, non-partisan administration of the Senate, and a fairer balance of power between the leader and the members, this sort of nuclear stalemate would be very, very unlikely.

New Yorkers are witnessing a fight over choosing a leader who will have near-absolute power, not just on a $130 billion budget but on issues from healthcare to the environment, housing to farming to civil rights. If there is any lesson from this standoff, it is that reform is not about idealism or feeling nice. It is about democracy, at its most basic core. Without democracy, the rot emanating from the Senate Chamber won’t stop in Albany; it is sure to spread, via bad laws and poor policy, across the state from Western New York to the eastern tip of Long Island.

I wish I could offer a prediction about what happens next; but the last week and a half has been so unpredictable, I'm convinced predictions are impossible. (A week and a half ago I would have bet that this week we would pass my ethics reform legislation, my housing, education and pedestrian safety proposals, and a raft of other bills I carry.)

As always, please let me know if you have any thoughts, suggestions -- or predictions. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Best,

Daniel

Daniel Squadron
State Senator
25th Senate District

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Thanks To State Senator Squadron, MTA To Review F Train

State Senator Squadron's letter to MTA

State Senator Daniel Squadron certainly deserves thanks for urging the MTA to address the many problems plaguing the F train. The ridership on this line has exploded in recent years. Then there is the problem with deteriorating stations. (9th Street in particular is a nightmare.)
Most importantly, some of the elevated tracks look disastrous.
In an email, Ellen Whelan-Wurst, the Senator's Brooklyn Office Director, writes:

I wanted to let everyone know that thanks to a request made by Senator Daniel Squadron, the MTA has begun a full-scale, comprehensive review of the F train. Senator Squadron reached out to the MTA on this matter after having heard from many constituents about the increasing problems facing F train riders, including delays, crowded trains and poor station conditions. We are happy that the MTA has begun this review, and of course we will share the conclusions as soon as they are released.

Sounds great to me.
And for those who missed it last week, our State Senator got special mention in an editorial in the New York Times.

It is worth noting that the befuddled Democratic majority was nothing to wave the flag about. In many ways, it turned out to be almost as bad as the Republicans who ran the Senate for more than 40 years until January. But some Democrats, like Senator Daniel Squadron of Manhattan, were pushing for real changes that would, for example, have started to clean up the campaign finance system.

Thanks, Senator Squadron!
For related reading go to The Brooklyn Paper

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Directly From Albany: State Senator Squadron On Bringing More Transparency To State Government

This just in from John Raskin, State Senator Squadron's chief-of-staff:

Hi Katia,

Here's the latest from Albany: Daniel introduced a bill today that will bring more transparency to state government.

In this clip from about an hour ago, he is announcing (with the support of the majority leader) a bill that would require more disclosure from lawmakers, particularly about their business dealings with lobbyists.

Here for more information: http://www.politickerny.com/3860/squadron-my-form-already-public-why-isnt-yours
and here for a bit of background: http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/02/senate-leader-pushes-for-income-disclosure/

Bravo, Senator Squadron and thanks, John, for sending it right over to Brooklyn! I love this instant feed from Albany. What a great way to stay tuned to and in touch with our Senator.

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State Senator Squadron Hosting A Community Convention To Discuss Pressing Issues

I just RSVP'ed my spot to this event. Hope you will attend as well. If you are interested, reserve yours at convention@danielsquadron.org. I wished more of our elected officials reached out to their constituents in the same fashion. Below is a message from Senator Squadron:

Dear Friend: At my swearing-in ceremony a few weeks ago, I announced that I will be hosting the first-ever 25th Senate District Community Convention in March. As part of my plan to make our state government more open and accessible than ever before, I am inviting constituents from all over my district to join me at this convention, on March 15th. At our convention, I will ask you to help me shape my priorities and strategies as I work hard for our district in this, my first year in office. (Please note that the community convention is rescheduled from the original March 1st date!) I hope you will bring your ideas, and your perspectives, on what our state government can do to improve our communities and step up more effectively to respond to these difficult times. I want your ideas on housing, on transportation, on the state budget, and on the myriad issues that we can take on to make New York a better place to live. If you would like to join us for the 25th Senate District Community Convention, please RSVP today to convention@danielsquadron.org. The convention will be on Sunday, March 15th, from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m at the Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC), 199 Chambers Street (just west of Greenwich). Please RSVP today to convention@danielsquadron.org! I look forward to seeing you on March 15th. Best, Daniel Daniel Squadron State Senator 25th Senate District

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