The Working Families Party endorsed Freddy Ferrer a couple of weeks ago. I attended that event, which included such stars as Major Owens, Letitia James and Chris Owens. Now WFP is trying to help Ferrer counter the huge amount of money Bloomberg is spending to buy the election:

We [WFP] don't often ask our network of supporters to donate directly to a candidate. Usually, we want your money invested in the WFP directly, as that pays longer-term dividends in terms of building our capacity.

Not this time. This time, we urge you to directly back the WFP-endorsed candidate for Mayor, Fernando Ferrer. He needs and deserves your support.

The incumbent Mayor is spending what can only be described as an obscene amount of money. He could just about give every voter another $400 property tax rebate for the amount of cash he is putting into his re-election.

This is called buying an election. It mocks the democratic process. Elections should be about ideas and values and the ability to articulate a vision...

The key thing right now is to increase the number of medium and small donors to Ferrer. He gets matching funds from the city at the rate of 6-1, and even though he'll never have Bloomberg-style dough, he can get enough to get his message out.

We know the incumbent mayor has a bottomless checkbook, and you don't. But PLEASE - open it and send $50 or $100 or $250 to the Ferrer campaign.  read more »

There are many who say that the Democrats are too divided for Ferrer to win. And I know that the Vallones fall into line with that division since they endorsed Bloomberg. But I must say that those who have endorsed Freddy Ferrer are telling, in my opinion, because they show a considerable unity, bringing in former rivals, bringing in moderates and progressives, blacks, whites, hispanics, etc. I really think that the Ferrer campaign, win or lose, is a chance for the Dems to get themselves together, and start building back their strength.

Here is a litany of endorsements:

Mark Green: Ferrer's former rival endorsed Ferrer Oct.13th.

Of the 2004 rivals for President, progressive Howard Dean, progressive/moderate John Kerry, and moderate John Edwards have all come out swinging for Ferrer, urging their supporters to donate and, at least in the cases of Dean and Edwards, coming to NYC to stand with Ferrer. I was lucky enough to be there with Ferrer and Howard Dean in Union Square on Monday. Don't know about Leiberman, but wouldn't be surprised if he supports Bloomberg since they both are kind of similar in their conservatism.

"Our Democratic values are what make this country great, and right here in New York City is where we take our stand--Freddy Ferrer is the leader we need to take that first step in returning those values to New York City and beyond." --Democratic Party Chairman, Gov. Howard Dean  read more »

I have been feeling depressed and frustrated about the divisions on the left. The whole “herding cats

I am posting this from Chris Owens' newsletter, but also heard about it from other sources. You are needed to help reform politics in Brooklyn:

The successful reform campaign of Margarita Lopez Torres for Surrogate Court Judge of Kings County is under attack. The legal challenge to her slim 121-vote lead is serious!

Volunteers are needed immediately -- at least eight people or more at a time. Meticulous work is required.

When? The hours for the next two weeks are 9 am to 9 pm from Mon-Fri, 9-5 on Saturdays, and 10-5 Sundays, for the next two weeks; shifts will be arranged as follows: 9am to 1 pm, 2 pm to 5pm, 6 pm to 9 pm. Where? Brooklyn Board of Elections, 210 Joralemon St, 4th Floor (across from Borough Hall).

If you can help, please contact Susan at 347-623-2668 or Matt at 718-415-3239.

People have heard me complain about corruption in the Democratic Party in Brooklyn. I was particularly angry when all the reform candidates seemed to go down in flames in this last primary election while corruption and do-nothing politics won big. Well, things are looking better than I had thought.

Clarence Norman, the head of the Brooklyn Democratic machine and also the leader of corrupt Brooklyn politics, has been convicted on all four counts today. This is a blow for reform and against corruption in the Democratic party. The following is quoted in its entirety from the NY1 website:

Brooklyn Democratic Party leader Clarence Norman was found guilty Tuesday of mishandling campaign contributions.

The state assemblyman has been convicted on two felony counts of violating election law by taking excessive campaign donations, and two counts of falsifying business records.

The jury agreed with prosecutors that Norman tried to conceal $10,000 worth of contributions in the 2000 and 2002 Assembly primary elections. Norman's lawyers had maintained it was all an honest mistake.  read more »