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April 29, 2006
NY Mayor lacks moral code
On Thursday, Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York City told an audience that there is no middle ground on the abortion issue.
Mr. Bloomberg yesterday told an audience of abortion rights advocates that "on this issue, you're either with us or against us," and he urged them not to let elected officials "nuance themselves" away from a strong commitment to women's rights.
There is a bit of irony to the mayor's position. Often, it is the liberal establishment that argues conservatives too often see "black and white" with no "shades of gray" on matters. Democrats argue that most issues involve a degree of "gray."
Mayor Bloomberg is clearly taking a "black or white" stance on the abortion issue, yet as an elected Republican, one would assume he is taking the wrong side. He is also treating the abortion issue in an extreme matter, when clearly the majority of Americans believe it is one of the top social issues that involves a degree of gray.
"Reproductive choice is a fundamental human right, and we can never take it for granted," Mr. Bloomberg said.
Unfortunately, the Mayor of New York City is clearly not considering the Rights to the new life that has been conceived. Reproduction is part of nature and whatever higher power you believe in or your understanding of male and female differences, it is how a species continues to exist. The female of all species is responsible for carrying the young to term and their bodies are designed to do so (I know about sea horses, I'm not talking about exceptions to the rule). This is not something that should be viewed as an intrusion to Woman's Rights. It is a given.
Let's look at a ridiculous scenerio. If a woman chooses to have a child, then when that child grows up and turns out to be a problem child, a woman should have the right to sue government for not doing a good enough job convincing her to have an abortion. This, of course, is preposterous, yet if we believe this argument, that abortion is black or white rather than a gray area, one can say we are striving to reach such a scenerio in the courts some day.
Posted by Daniel Peterson at 01:11 PM | Comments (1)
Crain's Business Breakfast Forum with John Faso
Meet Republican Candidate for Governor - John Faso!
Mr. Faso will discuss his plans to run for governor and how he would reform the state government.
He will be questioned by popular journalists, including Crain's Editor, Greg David.
Tuesday, May 9th, 2006Grand Hyatt
42nd St & Grand Central Terminal8:00 - 8:30 a.m. - Networking Breakfast
8:30 - 9:30 a.m. - Program
$55 for individual ticket(s) if pre-registered by May 2nd (American Express, Visa or MasterCard only); $60 thereafter. CLICK HERE
$550 for table(s) of ten if pre-registered by May 2nd; $600 thereafter. CLICK HERE
You must be pre-registered to attend this event. All tickets are non-refundable.For more information, CLICK HERE or call the Events Hotline at 212-210-0739.
Posted by Daniel Peterson at 10:21 AM | Comments (0)
April 25, 2006
Defenders of the Family Banquet - Zell Miller!
TIME IS RUNNING OUT!
Friday, April 28, 2006
Sign up today and sponsor a table (of 10) for the "10th Annual Defenders of the Family Banquet - A Decade of Destiny" featuring the Honorable Zell Miller! A Democratic supporter of President Bush, Zell is the only person ever to have been the keynote speaker in both the Republican and Democratic national conventions. He is a former US Senator, nationally acclaimed governor, best-selling author, former university professor, US Marine Sergeant and a dedicated Christian. His speeches are a unique mixture of analysis, humor, scripture, faith, family patriotism, and straight talk common sense.
DON'T MISS IT! The banquet will be held at the Hanover Marriott on April 28, 2006. Click here , then to sign up just click on the box.
You may also call 973-781-1414 or 1-800-653-7204. Individual tickets are $85. To sponsor a table call and ask for John Levy at the above phone numbers. Bring as many friends and family as possible. Now, more than ever we need your support to stand for marriage in NJ!
Posted by Daniel Peterson at 10:21 PM | Comments (0)
April 23, 2006
Republicans who don't know our candidates
Recently, I read a comment where a number of New York Republicans were not familiar with candidates running for office in this year's elections. This is something we should not be hearing, especially in a year when New York State is on the verge of becoming controlled entirely by Democrats.
So what is a Republican to do?
Well, the first thing you should do is sign up for the free email alerts from our candidates. Periodically, our candidates will send out a newsletter detailing recent events and opinions expressed by our candidates. Signing up for a candidates newsletter is not an endorsement for that candidate, but an information tool, so when election time does come, you'll be most informed.
For those who are still unaware of who is running and what they are saying, here are your candidate's websites:
Please go to their Sign Up section, drop in your email and receive notifications.
Governor
John Faso
William Weld
Attorney General
Jeanine Pirro
State Comptroller
J. Christopher Callaghan
U.S. Senator
KT McFarland
John Spencer
Posted by Daniel Peterson at 01:03 PM | Comments (0)
April 18, 2006
Richard Parsons for Mayor?
The Post is reporting on a rumor that Mike Bloomberg is trying to recruit Time Warner Chairman Richard Parsons to run on the Republican ticket in 2009. I can only hope it's true. Having another self-made man--and a minority at that--on a high profile ticket would do wonders for the party and even for the minority community.
I've frequently held Mr. Parsons up as an example of a real role model for minorities, as opposed to the blackmailing likes of Jesse Jackson and Kwesi Mfume (who himself is battling an African-American Republican for a Senate seat in Maryland). Parsons, born and raised in Bed-Stuy, graduated from the University of Hawai'i and Albany Law and went on to a successful corporate career. He was also Gov. Nelson Rockefeller's lawyer in Albany and later in Washington. Parsons has been considered a candidate to succeed Treasury Secretary John Snow.
Posted by Nikhil Bhat at 01:37 PM | Comments (5)
April 17, 2006
Congratulations to NYYRC VP Jennifer Arangio!
Our very own New York Young Republican Club Vice President, Jennifer Arangio has stepped down to take a position in Washington DC. 
Jennifer is now serving as Senior Counsel to the Chairman, Congressman Peter King, on the House Committee on Homeland Security.
She leaves NY behind, but not forgotten, and promises to return often to support friends in party-building and running for public office.
We wish her well in her new endeavor and her new life and hope that someday her return to NYC politics is more than just a weekend trip.
Congratulations Jennifer! Best of luck swimming with the sharks in DC.
Posted by Daniel Peterson at 06:13 PM | Comments (0)
Coulter Backhands Baldwin
Here's a little tidbit to make you smile all week long. This was in one of the celebrity magazines last week, and my girlfriend thoughtfully ripped it out for me.
Alec Baldwin - every conservatives favorite Baldwin, at least to laugh at - was recently asked if he would prefer to sleep with the youngish 41 year old Ann Coulter or 72 year old postergirl for gene therapy Sen. Diane Feinstein. Now, this is a no brainer for most Americans and especially any Hollywood types. Or so I thought.
However, the always politically unconscience smart-Alec declared he'd rather spend time between the sheets with the ancient and uneasy to look at Feinstein, saying that "With Coulter, we'd have sex and I'd have to jump out the window."
Never one to miss an opportunity to insult a wacky liberal, Coulter replied by saying "That's the only reason I can think of for wanting to have sex with Alec Baldwin." We can only presume that Ann lives on the upper floors of a high-rise. Anything under five stories and there's always the risk he might survive.
Also chiming in, presumably to settle the dispute, was Hulk Hogan. Hogan declared that "Alec would be lucky to date Ann." Does this confirm what many have thought, that if Hogan goes the Arnold-Jesse route and runs for office, there will be an (R) next to his name?
As if that isn't enough, Hogan also weighed in on (conservatives favorite nutcase) Rosie O'Donnell's challenge to Naomi Campbell. On a recent Tonight Show, Rosie said about Naomi "I would actually like to fight her... For all the people she's beat up, she needs a big, 200 pound lesbian to kick her ass."
Hogan astutely chimes in on this by asking, "Why did Rosie stick her nose in this business?" Than he stated, "She's jealous she can't fit into Naomi's jeans!"
Now, I know Hulk is busy with his reality show and raising his family, but I think he may be missing something here. If Rosie was talking about getting into Naomi's jeans, I don't think wearing them was what she had in mind. Just a note to the Hulkster.
Anyway, some fun stuff to make you smile this week.
Posted by Robert Hornak at 10:50 AM | Comments (0)
April 16, 2006
With Legislators Like These. . .
The Post is reporting that Rep. Carolyn Maloney (NY14) is looking to require proper labeling on tanning beds. Apparently one's uterus is off-limits to government meddling, but not one's skin.
One has to ask, though: does this look like effective legislating? Why are we afraid of bringing out conservative issues--school choice (I know, much of the 14th specifically is weary of it), smaller government, lower and simpler taxes, a healthier economy all sound much better than the current opposition agenda in the New York delegation of slaying the Bush "machine" and playing "overprotective parent" with American adults. It continues to baffle me.
Posted by Nikhil Bhat at 03:21 PM | Comments (0)
Primaries Build the Party
As a member of the Manhattan County Committee, I have had many New York City Republicans give their opinions as to the best way to run strong candidates and win seats. After being involved in recent elections and reviewing the results of the elections for the past six years, I have concluded that the party's strategy doesn't work. Unfortunately, the party has not come to the same conclusion and it can be an uphill battle to convince just enough leaders to change their beliefs.
One issue that the county committee needs to change their philosophy on is having primaries. The organization believes primaries are devisive and waste campaign funds on a primary instead of the general, where the real opponent sits and waits. Also, every district, assembly or council, are out-registered by democrats anywhere from 3-1 or 10-1, so having primaries may get your base to the polls, but it still won't bring you the numbers on election day.
Has the Republican Party ever thought that the reason a district may have 30,000 democrats and only 9,000 republicans is because they don't have primaries?
Recently, I discussed voter ratio with a republican who lives in the East Village and he told me in his early years, he registered democrat because he wanted to vote in primaries as well as the general. Since the democratic party almost always had primaries for every race from assembly, council, mayor or attorney general, he would be able to choose his "favorite" democrat, then vote republican in the general election. How many registered democrats are really republicans, but aren't because the action in New York City is almost exclusively within the democratic party?
At Urban Elephants, there is a Upper West Side democrat who has the following profile:
"A registered democrat since 1972, but have voted almost exclusively republican since 1984 ... haven't made the switch since almost all the action on the Upper West Side is democratic and I still have moderate twitches (Joe Lieberman is OK), and the dems throw a good party occasionally."
Sounds as if this person stays registered democrat for the same reason.
There are 65 Assembly districts in New York City alone. Every district has a voter registration tilted in favor of the democrats. Republicans hold only two districts, both of which are in State Island, where the voter ratio is below a 2-1 democrat to republican base. However, republicans have won in many of the other 63 Assembly districts.
In 2005, Mayor Mike Bloomberg won 47 of the 65 Assembly districts. Bloomberg is a unique candidate to look at, because even though he wears an "R" on his lapel, most New Yorkers know he's not a true republican.
In 2002, Governor George Pataki won 28 of the 65 Assembly districts. It is reasonable to assume that there are a little over two dozen districts where a moderate to conservative republican could be competitive. If the NY GOP fielded candidates in these 28 districts, and, if 10 had more than one candidate, the republican party should let primaries develop for building the party base. Perhaps many registered democrats and "blanks" will re-register to vote in a republican primary.
What 10 Assembly districts should open to primaries? Well, in 2004, President George W. Bush won 9 districts out of the 65. If a conservative Republican candidate like our president could win an Assembly district, where democrats clearly outnumber republicans, it shows there is a base to build the republican party.
Primaries are not devisive.
Democrats hold primaries for nearly every local race where there is an open seat or a weak incumbent. Because of their large base, democrats usually don't hold too many grudges, because if two democrats are fighting each other, a third could quietly step up to the plate and take a primary from them. Usually, there is a "hand-shake" agreement where they let the people decide on the winner and the loser throws support behind the winner. When the democrat wins, the loser may get a position somewhere within the party for showing good sportsmanship. Republicans apparently are unable to this. It's time to try. The goal should be to actually have someone win a seat, rather than worry about being challenged within the party. You can't complain about devisiveness if you can't win.
Primaries don't waste campaign funds.
Republicans believe that if you spend all your money in a primary, you won't have enough afterwards to put against your real opponent, the democrat, in the General Election. This is simply false. First, you are campaigning to your base. You are letting them know they have a choice and they should vote for who they like best. Voters aren't stupid. They appreciate it if the party lets them pick and choose the candidate they agree with most. You want your base to turn out in a primary, as well as the General. It's not like they will forget their is a General, so if you win them over in a primary, you'll have their vote in November. What about voters not registered republican who can't vote in the primary? How will they know to vote for you if you don't have the money to reach out to them after you win a primary? Simple. Press. A republican primary for a local seat will be news. NY1 will talk about it. Newspapers like the Daily News and NY Post will have stories on your primary. The local papers, West Side Spirit, Our Town, The Villager, will have stories on it. Press is free and if republicans have primaries, the word will get out to the general public. Finally, if the two republicans make an agreement to work together after a primary, the winner uses his or her funds to ask for a voter's vote and the loser can use his or her funds to explain why they should not vote for the democrat.
It's time to start considering primaries where the republican base can be energized. It's time to believe that our lack of primaries is the reason we are outnumbered in districts by a 5-1 ratio because we lack primaries. There are registered democrats who want to vote for republicans. Until we give them choices in primaries, they won't switch party registration. It may only be something like 10% of democrats, but in a district with 30,000 registered democrats, that is 3,000 more voters added to the republican party in an Assembly district alone.
Posted by Daniel Peterson at 10:25 AM | Comments (1)
April 13, 2006
The City Council rejects Wal-Mart in Flushing
Once again the City Council gets involved when not needed or wanted, but this time it is hurting my home turf. As reported in yesterday's cover story in the New York Sun, the old Caldor on Main Street and Roosevelt Avenue was in negotiations with Wal-Mart to purchase and refurbish the lot, investing between $5 and $10 million. In the first instance, the project would provide local jobs in construction, retail, shipping and marketing. Plus the additional tax revenue and the benefits of low-cost shopping with a variety of products for consumers, it looks like a good thing to me. The project was set to start as early as July, and now it appears to be a dead deal.
Local Councilman Liu is quoted as saying "Wal-Mart is not welcome in Flushing anyway...the only purpose it would serve would be to displace economic activity, not supplement economic activity." Maybe Liu doesn't welcome Wal-Mart, but Flushing residents do, and of course millions of invested dollars would spur economic activity, who is he kidding?
But more importantly, it's simply not his place to intervene with private property. Maybe Liu wants to claim the property by eminent domain, and then sell it to his friends, for his own version of Wal-Mart. Either way, some members of the City Council seek to control economic forces in favor of a communist-style agenda.
Speaker Quinn described Wal-Mart as "liars" for essentially not requesting the City Council's permission for the project, first, and demanded "more information" from Wal-Mart concerning the Flushing location. These offensive and arrogant attacks on a private company serves no purpose to New Yorkers, it actually hurts us. When people are leaving New York City because of high taxes, restrictions and regulations on business, we should be welcoming a solid company like Wal-Mart into the mix. Wal-Mart does not need any special variances since the site is already zoned commercial. The City Council's unwarranted attempts to obstruct its progression, is just one more example of the City Council's failure to recognize when they're not needed or wanted.
Posted by Raquel Walker at 08:37 PM | Comments (3)
Democrats return to their roots
Today's New York Sun reports on a race-based campaign used by the National Democratic Party to prevent an election of the state's first black Senator, who happens to be a Republican.
Mr. Steele has long been a focus of Democratic fire. In previous campaigns, Mr. Steele has been pelted with Oreo cookies for allegedly betraying his race. Two Democratic campaign staffers resigned last year when they illicitly obtained copies of Mr. Steele's financial records.
This is typical of the Democratic Party. They have become an embarrassment to America by returning to their 19th Century roots of racism and voters should take notice. No political party has a monopoly on race, creed or religion. Unfortunately, democrats continue to believe they "own" the black vote. Perhaps it's because of their roots in slave ownership.
Mr. [Cornell Belcher, a pollster handpicked by Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean], recommended strong action. "Democrats must be aggressive, Steele is a unique challenge," he wrote. "Democrats can not afford to wait until after the primary election to knock Steele down. A persuasion campaign should start as soon as possible to discredit Steele as a viable candidate for the [black] community."
One of our liberal friends over at Room 8, Gatesmouth, took note of the story and take an "intellegencia" approach in attacking the NY Sun's "attack" on the Democratic Party.
Clearly, having a conservative broadsheet in New York City is a bad thing, according to Gatesmouth. It appears their ongoing position is still "Speech is free as long as it conforms with our beliefs, otherwise it's right-wing propoganda."
Democrats have a lot of soul searching to do if they are unable to present positions on issues that resonate with the people and simply attack republicans for being republicans. It's easy to be condescending and laugh at such a statement, since Democrats have a monopoly on New York City politics. But if the New York Republican Party starts to wake up and win some elections, maybe Democrats will begin to realize that not everyone should fall behind their authoritarian approach to speech and policy.
The New York Young Republican Party hopes that Michael Steele will remain above the Democrats attacks of Uncle Tom and Oreo cookie and wins the Maryland Senate seat. It will be a clear sign that the black vote is not to be bonded to the Democrats.
Posted by Daniel Peterson at 06:38 PM | Comments (1)
Pataki Outmaneuvered by Silver, Yet Again
Gov. Pataki thought he had one up on Assembly Speaker Shelly Silver by proposing a $500 per child education tax credit as part of this years budget deal. This credit, that parents can use to take $500 annually right off the top of their tax bill, could be used for anything from school uniforms and supplies to tutoring or even private school tuition.
Is this a good thing? Of course it is. Anything that helps overtaxed, overworked and over-stressed parents in NY is a good thing. However, everyone also saw this proposal for what it really was. A backdoor attempt to establish government funding for private school tuition.
Not that $500 is going to make it possible for hordes of parents who couldn't afford private schools before to suddenly pull their kids out of public school and make a commitment that would probably cost them a few thousand more minimum. But it sets a precedent that can hopefully be expanded in the future.
However, New Yorkers should never underestimate the shrewdness of Shelly Silver. He's been taking Albany republicans to the cleaners for over a decade now, and he has his moves down pat. This time, faced with the choice of either allowing this back door precedent to be set in favor of tax dollars being allowed to help fund private school education, or, if he opposes the measure risk voter backlash for standing in between parents and badly needed tax relief, he rewrote the choices.
Silver decided he could outflank Patakl by offering a broad-based child tax credit for every parent, no strings attached. You have a kid under 18, you get the credit. It only came to $330 per child, but more parents get it. When confronted with the no-win scenario, Silver changed the rules of the situation giving him an out. A very Captain Kirk thing to do, for you Star Trek fans.
Now, Pataki has vetoed the Silver version and asked that the legislature send him a tax credit specifically for education. Is this a winning move for Pataki, or will Silver continue to hold the upper hand in this fight? Well, Silver has neutralized any anti-parent attack by offering his own giveaway. Plus, he can still up the anti by increasing the amount of his credit. What does he care? Controlling state spending has never been his concern.
Can we come out of this with tax relief for NY parents? I expect so, but it looks unlikely to be the education credit republicans had hoped for. In the Albany triumvirate, Silver is Caesar and Bruno and Pataki are mostly there for show. Republicans dreams of a back door path to school vouchers in NY is DOA, and will need to lead that fight strictly on its merits.
Posted by Robert Hornak at 12:48 PM | Comments (2)
NYYRC May Political Forum
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Our Speakers
Candace de Russy, a nationally recognized public official, writer and speaker on education and cultural issues will be our guest. Throughout a career dedicated primarily to education reform, she has led efforts to raise academic standards, strengthen core knowledge, and bring accountability to campuses and schools. Dr. de Russy chairs the Academic Standards Committee of the SUNY Board of Trustees. In 2002, President Bush appointed her to the Board of Visitors of the US Air Force Academy.John P. Avlon, columnist for the NY Sun and former head speechwriter for Mayor Giuliani. Mr. Avlon will speak about political reform and the Republican Party. Reform issues in NY would seem to be core issues for NY Republicans. But with the party having trouble reforming it's own moribund ways and becoming less effective each year, the question on everyone's mind is, will the NY Republican Party be able to put it's own house in order so that it can fight for real reform in NY state? We hope Mr. Avlon has the answers to this and other questions.
Our 2006 Candidate Series continues with J. Christopher Callaghan, candidate for NYS Comptroller. Since 1997, he has served as Saratoga County Treasurer. Previously he served as Budget Officer for the Town of Waterford and is President of the New York State Association of County Treasurers and Finance Officers. More information about his campaign can be found at Callaghan for Comptroller.
Date: Thursday, May 11, 2006
Time: 7:30pm - 9:30pm
Place: Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen's Club
283 Lexington Ave (bet 36th & 37th St), 2nd Floor
Admission: Members - FREE, Non Members - $5, F/T Students - $2.
After Politics Socializing
The meeting may adjourn at 9:30, but no YR event is complete without a trip to our favorite local pub for a chance to network, socialize and make new friends. So, plan on a late evening and please join us at:Margarita Murphy's
591 Third Avenue
Between 38th and 39th streets
Posted by Ron Lewenberg at 03:59 AM | Comments (0)
April 12, 2006
Education Tax Credits
Queens County Conservative Party
Election News
*****
Thomas M. Long, Queens County Chairman
Raquel Lacomba Walker, Political Affairs Chairwoman
For Immediate Press Release
Contact: Thomas M. Long
(718) 748-6505
**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
EDUCATION TAX CREDITS
Queens County Conservative Party leaders are urging elected officials in the New York Senate and Assembly to make Governor Pataki's education tax credit proposal a part of this year's final budget. Governor Pataki's proposal provides a $500 tax credit to low and middle income families with children in elementary or high school in order to lower costs related to private/parochial schooling, including after school programs, tuition and tutoring. Education tax credits would provide much needed assistance to families whose children are faced with underperforming or overcrowded local public schools.
The Governor's bill would help empower parents, giving them a choice as to where their child goes to school. This freedom will encourage improvements and more accountability in public school performance, since studies show children in competing schools do better academically.
Education tax credits will also help save New York taxpayers billions of dollars. Compared to the cost of a $500 tax credit, it would cost taxpayers almost 30 times more to educate that same child in a public school. It's a win-win situation for families and public schools.
"It is undeniable that education tax credits would assist families especially in the poorer neighborhoods," said Tom Long, Chairman of the Queens County Conservative Party. Adding, "This is because many families can not afford private or parochial schooling. Governor Pataki's proposal would give families equal access to quality schools. This is why almost 80% of lower income families support education tax credits."
Education tax credits and other important legislative issues will be on the agenda of the upcoming meeting at the Queens County Conservative Party, set for Thursday, April 20, 2006 at 8:00 P.M. at the American Legion Continental Post #1424, located at 107-15 Metropolitan Avenue, Forest Hills, New York. Candidates in the November 2006 election, and some elected officials including Senator Frank Padavan, Assemblyman Tony Seminerio and Assemblyman Jimmy Meng are scheduled to speak. All are welcome.
Posted by Raquel Walker at 06:52 PM | Comments (0)
April 10, 2006
The Immigrants Take a Stand. What's Ours?
Most of the protestors at City Hall today will be there to oppose making fellons of the 11 million illegal immigrants here in the country. Agree with it or not, the Sensenbrenner bill has done one very important thing: it's drawn a line in the sand. But are there two sides?
Opponents of the bill are an interesting bunch. Business groups, the Catholic church, Latino groups and a majority of Democrats nationwide have made public their opposition to Sensenbrenner's bill and by in large, they seem to be united. What about the Republican party? What's our stand?
Tune in to 77WABC and it's John Gambling ranting about the immigration problem, all the while holding obedience to the law as the standard by which immigrants should be judged. He has a point but that doesn't do anything for the debate. We simply can't load up 11 million immigrants onto trains and ship them back to Mexico. Let's face it, they're here. So what do we do with them? What do we do about the border?
Not all Republicans are behind the President's reforms and after witnessing how Rep. King undermined Bush, it's becoming easier to do. But despite the debate, which is one we should be having, the larger point for the party is being lost. Instead of making criminals of immigrants, we need to make them Republicans.
Former RNC Chaiman Ed Gillespie last week said that the GOP must not become the anti-immigration party. He said that if it weren't for the Spanish-speaking vote in 2004, John Kerry would be president today. He's right. So now the question becomes more clear. What's a weaker position: the president's plan or John Ketchup Kerry as president?
There are all kinds of ideas that are better than making fellons of the 11 million families, workers and let's face it, hard-working would-be Americans. Why not strengthen NAFTA? Why not make offical policy a plan by which illegals join the reserves on a fast-track to becoming legal? And yes, I support the president as I have on many issues. He doesn't just have America's security at heart but the party's.
We abandon immigrants (illegal or undocumented, whatever) at our own peril. At the end of the day, an overwhelming majority of them are Christian, family-oriented, hard-working people. They already are Republicans! Let's make it official.
Posted by Lee Guarnella at 10:13 AM | Comments (4)
April 09, 2006
OUR TOWN write-up on "Raising the Titanic"
The GOP Debates Itself
by Edward-Isaac Dovere
This week's issue of Our Town features the New York Young Republican sponsered event, "Raising the Titanic: Can the NY GOP be salvaged?"
[Deroy] Murdock began with remarks chargin that [Governor] Pataki lacks charisma, competence and character. He likened the governor to a vending machine for handing out profitable political patronage and called the lack of construction at the World Trade Center site "a monument to his incompetence."
[Former Public Advocate candidate] Jay Golub called for Republican candidates and elected officials to stand more firmly behind lowering taxes, promoting school vouchers, barring gay marriage and opposing abortion rights, arguing that a majority of like-minded New Yorkers exists to support them....He added, "If Republicans don't have the strength to make these arguments in New York, there's frankly not a reason for them to exist at all."
Our Town is published by Manhattan Media and can be found along the east side of Manhattan at these locations along the avenues.
Posted by Daniel Peterson at 11:13 PM | Comments (0)
YR "Support School Choice" Spring Social Event
Support Educational Tax Credits!!!
The New York Young Republican Club would like to invite all New Yorkers who support school choice to come join us at Second on Second. Since Thursday is a school night, we invite you as early as 6:30 PM! However, if you go to night school, you're more than welcome to show up whenever you can.
23 Second Ave between 1st & 2nd St 212.473.2922 start:6:30 PM
Thursday nights is "School Girl Night" with the bar and wait staff, so the New York Young Republican Club believes that if you support parental choice with education, you should show your support by showing up on April 27.
Our Spring social will be open to all members and non-members, so come and enjoy.
For more about Educational Tax Credits, see the New York Young Republican Club blog.
For directions and information about Second on Second click continue reading below.
To get to Second on Second, you can:
1. Take the "F" train to the Second Avenue stop.
2. Take the "6" train to Bleecker Street and walk two blocks East.
3. Take the "M15" bus to E 2nd St on Second Ave.
If 6:30 PM disrupts your dinner time, Second on Second serves Thai Food.
Happy Hour is from 5 PM to 8 PM.
Karaoke starts at 9 PM, but if you wish to have a private karaoke room,
you can call them for a reservation. 212.473.2922
The NYYRC is not requiring anyone to sing if you choose to come.
Posted by Daniel Peterson at 10:33 PM | Comments (0)
April 04, 2006
Taxes are High, so People Flee
The New York Times reportst that New York City is losing its black population" mainly because of our tax and spend liberals.
Many blacks are leaving for economic reasons. Jacqueline Dowdell moved to North Carolina last year from Hamilton Heights in Upper Manhattan in search of a lower cost of living. Once an editor at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem, she now works as a communications coordinator for a health care company in Chapel Hill."It was a difficult decision, but it was a financial decision," said Ms. Dowdell, 39, adding that the move also gave her time to research her family's roots in Virginia.
It's bad enough that our local government feels it needs to stick its hand in everything that concerns the average New Yorker.
You need a job? Well, the local government will make sure you get one that provides you a "living wage" and all the social benefits required to live. If the place of employment does not comply, they will be harrassed. Government doesn't feel you can decide whether you have a brain to choose where you wish to work.
Need a place to live? Well, the local government will construct housing, because the private sector cannot do it the way government can. For one thing, government has already set up rules, regulations and taxes which restrict development in the private sector. Unless you have lots of money, you shall not build. If you have lots of money, you will find that you cannot construct anything below a certain size, because it'll cost you too darn much. An out of place 30 story housing tower in a sea of 5 floor walk ups? Of course. Regulations. Taxes. It's the way to go.
Catholic schools are closing? No problem. Government will simply raise your taxes and get the money to build more public schools so the Teachers Union can run these new schools into the ground with their every increasing contract bureacracy.
How can we honestly solve some of these problems?
1. Lower taxes. Cut the property taxes and utility taxes by 25%. Get rid of the unincorporated tax and other small business taxes that prevent entrepeneurs from starting new businesses. Allow big box stores into NYC and give New Yorkers a choice. It's been reported that nearly 50% of African American males in NYC are out of work. If we can allow for businesses to do business here, jobs will be created and revenue will come in. Government has to stop thinking it should have a cut in all the dealings in New York.
2. Remove housing regulations on private developers and with the reduced property taxes, affordable homes will spring up throughout the city. Government should also get out of construction. It is costing the tax payers too much and it would be better if private developers hire their own contractors for construction. Government should also sell government housing. Hire an independent mangement company for a housing complex that will hire residents in a housing project and also allow for residents to buy their home. This will lower costs in the size of our city workforce and will lower maintenance costs that sometimes pay for nothing.
3. Provide tax credits for families that send their kids to any school in New York City. There is no reason government shouldn't encourage parents to find the best place for education at a rate they can afford. There is no reason Catholic and private schools have to close because of low enrollment and the public school system asking for more money because of too many kids. There's a connection between the two and the Teachers Union and media fail to connect the dots.
If we begin to make life affordable to New Yorkers and allow us to make decisions on our own, there is no reason we should be reading about anyone fleeing this great city. These are things New York Republicans should be vocalizing on a day to day basis.
Posted by Daniel Peterson at 04:13 PM | Comments (0)
Our City Tax Dollars at Work
A resolution supporting the censuring of President Bush for his surveillance program will be introduced by council member David Yassky (D) at City Hall tomorrow.
New York's City Council is known for gathering together and frequently passing resolutions that have nothing to do with the function of city government. In 2003, then council speaker A. Gifford Miller, called on passing a resolution condemning the use of force in Iraq, then proceeded to hop on a bus to Washington DC using tax-payer money, so he could petition for more No Child Left Behind money.
Wouldn't you think there are more pressing issues for our elected officials when they report to work on a Wednesday morning?
Apparently not.
The voice of the republican (and sane) conscious in the council, James Oddo (R), is quoted as saying:
"I think it's such a stupid resolution, I'm encouraging a vote on it, so New Yorkers can get a look at the mental health of the members of the council. ...Let's see where people stando n this dopy idea. ...This is partisan politics. And I like David, but this is so partisan, so pointless, this is the type of resolution that embarrasses the council."
In the November 2005 elections, New Yorkers had a chance to add five additional Republicans to the three council members we already had and expected to win re-election. If we had been successful, it would've given us two republicans in Staten Island, two republicans in Manhattan, two republicans in Queens, one in the Bronx and one in Brooklyn. We would've had a party member in all five boroughs. The balance would have been 43 democrats to 8 republicans, still a very lopsided legislature, but it is believable that a more moderate to conservative influence in the council could have guided New York City on a more affective path.
It will be important to keep track of all the dealings this City Council does over the course of four years, because we will need about a dozen strong and well qualified candidates running on important issues that resonate with the voters. We will need about two dozen more running in districts that show republicans care about where our city goes into the next decade. We have to stop our elected officials from clocking in every morning and talking about issues that they have no control over.
Posted by Daniel Peterson at 03:33 PM | Comments (2)