Inauguration is lesson plan at Obama Elementary

Inauguration is lesson plan at Obama Elementary
Emily Thomas, left, 9, Wendy Lopez, second from left, 10, Tiara Henry, second from right, 10. and Esta Thomas, 10, students at Barack Obama Elementary School, cheer as they watch television during the inauguration ceremony for President Barack Obama, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009 in Hempstead, N.Y. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Related: Age of Obama - Inauguration
Harlem Village Academies 7th Graders Blog the Inauguration
Obama is an inspiration to a 14-year-old watching from Harlem
Hempstead's Barack Obama Elementary School

U.S. Presidential Election Results Board: Watch History Happen

Watch the results of the historical U.S. presidential election as they occur in real time.

Public Forum - Term Limits: Their Impact and Who Decides

Citizens Union, Common Cause/NY,
and the New York Public Interest Research Group present

A Panel Discussion and Public Forum

Term Limits: Their Impact and Who Decides

Richard Briffault
Professor, Columbia Law School; Vice Chair, Citizens Union
The Honorable Lew Fidler
Assistant Majority Leader and Member, New York City Council
Randy M. Mastro
Attorney, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher; Deputy Mayor, New York City, '96 - '98
Esmeralda Simmons
Executive Director, Center for Law and Social JusticeMedgar Evers College; former member of the NYC Redistricting Commission

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2008
6:00 - 9:00 PM

Baruch College
The William and Anita Newman Vertical Campus
55 Lexington Avenue at 24th Street
14th Floor

Please RSVP at 212.227.0342 ext.39
or events@citizensunion.org

Growing Opposition To Bloomberg Power Grab

A growing number of voters, civic groups (e.g., LatinoGreens) and elected officials are alarmed by NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg's attempt to continue in office beyond the two terms presently allowed by law.

They are joining Nydia Velazquez (U.S.Rep-Brooklyn/Queens), Anthony Weiner U.S.Rep-Brooklyn), NYC Comptroller Bill Thompson (Brooklyn), Bill de Blasio (NYC Council-Brooklyn), Letitia James (NYC Council - Brooklyn), John Liu (NYC Council - Queens), Annabel Palma (NYC Council - Bronx) and Mark Green (former Public Advocate) in opposing what they view as an undemocratic scheme: using the current Wall Street crisis as cover to deep-six the mayoral term limits law New Yorkers fought so hard to enact.

Stop Mike Bloomberg's power grab - Daily News
Term limit power grab would mar Mayor Mike Bloomberg's legacy - Daily News
Bloomberg Makes Power Grab - Amsterdam News
Bloomberg Expected to Seek Third Term as Mayor - NYTimes
Early Opposition to Bloomberg Power Grab - Village Voice
Bloomy: I'm Good Enough, I'm Smart Enough and Doggone It, People Like Me So Much They'll Let Me Overturn Our Democracy - Room8
Bloomberg Archives: Was a Lauder Deal even legal?; Anatomy of a deception; Unanswered questions, dark suspicions; Bloomberg's saddest moment- SpinCycle
Bloomberg once called change to term limits a 'disgrace' - Newsday
U.S. Rep. Velázquez: Changing Term Limits for Bloomberg Violates Voting Rights - Latino LI

Additionally, people like Velazquez are concerned that such a ploy by a sitting incumbent, a billionaire able to use his personal wealth and the power of the public purse, to "persuade" willing council members, is both a corruption of the democratic process and undermines people's voting rights--especially of minority voters.

What follows is an Open Letter To all N.Y.C. Residents To Act To STOP Bloomberg High jack of City Hall by concerned citizens:

In the midst of the Global financial crisis, Mayor Bloomberg has decided to remain as the Mayor of New York in spite of the existing term limits.

Preying on the fear felt and the uncertainty faced by New Yorkers, Bloomberg has decided that he is the only one able to lead in these dark times ahead. In order to bypass the term limit laws put in place by the New York City electorate on two occasions Bloomberg has resorted to attempting to override the law via his back room dealings with many self serving Council people.

Together they are working to push a bill in the City Council that will, if they prevail, give Bloomberg a third illegal term. This scheme is one that if successful can be repeated again and again as long as people are facing the uncertainty of the world-wide financial crisis.

IF TERM LIMITS LAWS ARE TO BE ELIMINATED OR MODIFIED IT MUST ONLY BE DONE BY THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS THAT INSTITUTED THEM: A REFERENDUM.

CALL, FAX AND E-MAIL THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. LET THEM KNOW THAT YOU WILL REWARD THEM FOR THEIR LOYALTY; OR PUNISH THEM FOR THEIR BETRAYAL. THE PEOPLE OF THIS CITY WILL BE WATCHING HOW THEY VOTE.

Brooklyn City Council Members

Charles Barron
718 Pennsylvania Ave.
Brooklyn, New York 11207
718-649-9495/9496 tel.
718-649-3111 fax

Bill de Blasio
2907 Fort Hamilton Pkwy
Brooklyn, New York 11218
718-854-9791
718-854-1146

Erik Martin Dilan
387 Arlington Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11208
718-642-8664 tel.
718-642-8639 fax

Mathieu Eugene
123 Linden Boulevard
Brooklyn, New York 11226
718-287-8762 tel
718-287-8917 fax

Simcha Felder
4424 16th Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11204
718-853-2704 tel.
718-853-3858 fax

Lewis A. Fidler
1402 East 64th Street
Brooklyn, New York 11234
718-241-9330 tel.
718-241-9316 fax

Vincent J. Gentile
8703 3rd Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11209
718-748-5200 tel.
718-748-5222 fax

Sara M. Gonzalez
5601 5th Ave S-2
Brooklyn, NY 11220
718-439-9012 tel.
718-439-9042 fax

Letitia James
67 Hanson Place
Brooklyn, NY 11217
718-260-9191 tel.
718-260-9099 fax

Darlene Mealy
1757 Union Street, 2nd Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11213
718-953-3097 tel.
718-953-3276 fax

Michael C. Nelson
3810-A Nostrand Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11235
718-368-9176 tel.
718-368-9160 fax

Domenic M. Recchia, Jr.
445 Neptune Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11224
718-373-9673 tel.
718-373-0195 fax

Diana Reyna
444 South 5th St.
Brooklyn, New York 11211
718-963-3141 tel.
718-963-4527 fax

Kendall Stewart
1694 Flatbush Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11210
718-951-8177 tel.
718-951-8191 fax

Albert Vann
613-619 Throop Ave.
Brooklyn, New York 11216
718-919-0740 tel.
718-919-0744 fax

David Yassky
114 Court Street
Brooklyn, New York 11201
718-875-5200 tel.
718-643-6620 fax

Queens City Council Members

Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr.
159-53 102 Street
Howard Beach, New York 11414
718-738-1111 tel.
718-322-5760 fax

Tony Avella
38-50 Bell Blvd., Suite C
Bayside, New York 11361
718-747-2137 tel.
718-747-3105 fax

Anthony Como
78-25 Metropolitan Avenue
Middle Village, NY 11379
718-366-3900 tel.
718-326-3549 fax

Leroy G. Comrie, Jr.
113-43 Farmers Boulevard
St. Albans, NY 11412
718-776-3700 tel.
718-776-3798 fax

James F. Gennaro
185-10 Union Turnpike
Fresh Meadows, New York 11366
718-217-4969 tel.
718-217-4968 fax

Eric N. Gioia
47-01 Queens Boulevard
Suite 205
Sunnyside, New York 11104
718-383-9566 tel.
718-383-9076 fax

Melinda R. Katz
104-01 Metropolitan Ave.
Forest Hills, New York 11375
718-544-8800 tel.
718-544-4452 fax

John C. Liu
135-27 38th Avenue
Suite 388
Flushing, New York 11354
718-888-8747 tel.
718-888-0331 fax

Hiram Monserrate
32-37 Junction Boulevard
East Elmhurst, New York 11369
718-205-3881 tel.
718-205-4145 fax

James Sanders, Jr.
226-18 Merrick Blvd.
Laurelton, New York 11413
718-527-4356 tel.
718-527-4402 fax

Helen Sears
37-32 75th St.
Jackson Heights, New York 11372
718-803-6373 tel.
718-803-9832 fax

Peter F. Vallone, Jr.
22-45 31st Street.
Astoria, New York 11105
718-274-4500 tel.
718-726-0357 fax

David I. Weprin
205-07 Hillside Ave.
Suite 16
Hollis, New York 11423
718-465-8202 tel.
718-776-2302 fax

Thomas White, Jr.
145- 40 Rockaway Blvd
South Ozone Park, New York 11436
718-843-0792 tel.
718-845-0817 fax

Shakira Hearts Obama for U.S. President

Latina recording artist Shakira expressed support this weekend for Barack Obama's candidacy for President of the United States. The Grammy-winning pop artist and humanitarian believes that Obama is best prepared to lead United States -- a place of "profound importance to me".

"I feel in my heart that he would be able to reconstruct peace and confidence in the United States."

Shakira encourages all U.S. Latinos to vote in November. Amen!

Si, Se Puede!

Links:
Shakira - wikipedia
Shakira anuncia respaldo a Obama
Shakira Lauds Obama's 'True American Message'
Shakira
La Fundación Pies Descalzos (The Barefoot Foundation)

Voter Drive To Register 2,500 Latino Immigrants

A coalition of Long Island community groups are kicking off a voter registration drive for Latino immigrants ahead of the November elections, they announced in a press conference Thursday.

The groups, including the Long Island Immigrant Alliance, say they plan on placing ads, making phone calls and using the addresses of new citizens to register voters. They also plan to teach new voters where to vote and how to read English ballots.

Latinos are the fastest growing minority on Long Island. Last year, nearly 15,000 Latinos became U.S. citizens and thousands more turned 18 and are therefore eligible to vote. It’s just a matter of getting them to go out to the polls, activists say.

"This process that we're initiating today is going to include Latinos from one tip of the Island to the other tip,” Luis Valenzuela, of the Long Island Immigrant Alliance, says.

Links:
News12 Video
Group wants new citizens to vote

Ya Es Hora: Workshops on Voting and County Government at Brentwood's PRONTO, Inc.

Now is the Time!
County Government & You

Attend two important workshops:

Workshop I: Understanding county government
and how it works

Wednesday, September 17th
6:15-7:30p.m.
Both workshops will be at
PRONTO, 128 Pineaire Dr., Bay Shore, NY 11706

Workshop II: Your right to vote
and why it matters

Wednesday, September 24th
6:15-7:30p.m.

For more information & to RSVP, call Ligia at 631.231.8290
A light dinner will be served

¡Ya es Hora de assistir a
dos talleres importantes!

El Govierno del Condado & Ud:

Taller I: Entendiendo el condado del
govierno y como funcciona

El miercoles, 17 septiembre 2008
6:15-7:30p.m.
Ambos talleres tomarán lugar en
PRONTO, 128 Pineaire Dr., Bay Shore, NY 11706

Taller II: Su derecho de votar
y porqué importa

El miercoles, 24 septiembre, 2008
6:15-7:30p.m.

Para informarse y registrarse, hable con Ligia al 631.231.8290

Tomorrow is Primary Day - Vote!

We, We Can ! Si, Se Puede!

Tomorrow February 5th is Primary Day in New York. Exercise your right to vote.

Where to vote?

To find your voting booth in NYC click here.
To find your voting booth Suffolk County click here.
To find your voting booth in Nassau County click here.
To find your voting booth elsewhere in New York State click here.

Here are a few details and rules that will help make the voting process run smoothly:

Polls are in Nassau, Suffolk, New York City, Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Putnam, and Erie counties from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Elsewhere in New York, polls are open from 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Anyone in line at the time the polls close is allowed to vote

If you are a first-time voter who registered by mail, bring a valid photo ID or a document that shows your name and address

If your name does not appear on the voter rolls or if you are a first-time voter and can't provide proper identification, you may vote by affidavit ballot

We, We Can ! Si, Se Puede!