Start:
Tue, 02/21/2006 - 6:00pm

Film and Panel Discussion
Join the ACLU, Right to Vote, the Brennan Center for Justice and Demos, for a screening and panel discussion concerning Democracy's Ghosts: How 5 Million Americans Have Lost the Right to Vote.

Produced by the ACLU and Off Ramp Films, Democracy's Ghosts takes you on a journey into the lives of disfranchised Americans, showing how the loss of this fundamental democratic right has a devastating impact on these citizens, the communities they live in and, ultimately, society itself. After seeing the film, you will never again question whether you're too busy to go to the polling booth. And you'll want to act to make sure everyone can vote. From the cradle of the civil rights movement in Selma, Alabama to the hallowed halls of an Ivy League college, "Democracy's Ghosts" spends time with people who are living their lives as legal ghosts because of felony convictions. Their stories are complemented and enriched by interviews with experts and well-known personalities, among them evangelist Chuck Colson, actor Charles Dutton, civil rights icon Congressman John Lewis and Harvard Professor Lani Guinier.

Start:
Tue, 02/21/2006 - 7:00pm

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Where: TBD

Mix and mingle with DFNYC and many '06 candidates.

Click here to RSVP

Admission: $5 per person (with RSVP), $7 without

Admission price benefits Democracy for NYC. It's a good cause, so bring a friend.

For Brooklyn's progressive Democrats, there is no political race this year more important than in the 11th District to succeed Congressman Major Owens. We have an opportunity to elect someone who is courageous, bright, compassionate, articulate, a good listener, and a very good friend to us all – Chris Owens. Chris is right on the issues that we care about, and he is the ONLY one of the five declared candidates who has shown the foresight and the guts to oppose Bruce Ratner’s Atlantic Yards development scheme. Anybody who saw him debate his four opponents at the Lambda Independent Democrats meeting last month can tell you that no candidate is more outstanding than Chris Owens. But Chris cannot get to Congress without our help. That’s why I’m inviting you to join Chris and his staff for a short get-together at Magnetic Field on Tuesday, February 21, at 7:00 pm. Chris will give a short speech and then answer any questions you may have for him. Please come out to see what you can do to help elect Chris, and please bring your checkbooks. Magnetic Field (that's where we used to host the Howard Dean meetups) is located at 97 Atlantic Avenue (between Henry & Hicks Streets). Directions: Take the 2, 3, 4, or 5 train to Borough Hall, or the R or M to Court Street, and then walk down Court to Atlantic Avenue (4-6 blocks) and turn right and walk 2-3 blocks. Or take the F or G to Bergen Street, walk up Smith Street and turn left onto Atlantic and walk 3-4 blocks. And if you're coming from Williamsburg or Greenpoint, take the B61 Bus to Atlantic and get off near Magnetic Field. Please RSVP. I hope to see you there. Bring all of your friends. If you can't attend, please make a contribution.

Start:
Wed, 02/22/2006 - 8:00pm

Progressive Politics in Northeast Queens

DEMOCRATS FOR NEW POLITICS

Meeting Notice

February 22, 2006 8 P.M.
At

The Chabad Center of Northeast Queens
26-06 213th Street
Bayside, New York
(at the corner of 26th Avenue and 213th Street – across from the Bay Terrace Shopping Center)

The president is breaking the law. Momentum is already mounting in Congress for a real, independent investigation into the president's illegal wiretapping program. But unless Congress knows that citizens are concerned, they'll shrink from their responsibility to act as a check on the president's power. To turn up the pressure on Congress, we�re organizing nationwide “Constitution Vigils

Start:
Thu, 02/23/2006 - 6:00pm

Art for Change presents,
"Stories from Home: The Littlest Witnesses"
Drawings from the Children of Darfur

Carlitos Café y Galeria, 1701 Lexington Ave., bet. 106-107st
February 19 – March 18, 2006
Opening reception: Thursday February 23rd 6-9pm

Art for Change and Carlitos Café y Galeria are pleased to present the opening of "Stories from Home: The Littlest Witnesses," Drawings from the children of Darfur. Since 2003 the occupants of the Darfur region of Sudan have been subjected to unspeakable atrocities at the hand of their government's army and a group of merciless militants known as the Janjaweed.

Start:
Thu, 02/23/2006 - 7:00pm

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Where: Cosi, downstairs
2160 Broadway at 76th St.

Click to Join

Join us for an exciting new initiative the DFNYC Research & Advocacy group and work on your issue. New participants are always welcome.

The Research & Advocacy group or R&A provides you with an opportunity to on the issue or project you are most passionate about and develop an advocacy plan for other DFNYC members.

Some possible issues and project are: How City Government Works; Potential Reforms to the NY State Legislature; or National Health Insurance. Advocacy plans for these issues could include: a forum or panel discussion; flyering in a representative’s district; writing to our representatives; or joining another organization’s advocacy plan.

Each R&A member will focus on a specific issue and gather the information necessary to form an advocacy plan. All members will help eachother revise their ideas and hone in on an advocacy plan. The R&A group will work to empower the DFNYC membership and make us more informed and effective advocates.

Click to RSVP

Some readers will know of my efforts on behalf of Africa. Mostly my efforts have succeeded in drawing investors who are willing to loan small amounts of money, through the microloan organization KIVA, to small businesses in Africa. But along with KIVA, I have been trying to also publicize other ways to help Africa environmentally, economically and through education. In the spirit of these efforts I bring you an event at New York University: GET DOWN TO HELP AFRICAN SCHOOLS: Thursday, February 23rd, 7 PM, Palladium Multi-Purpose Room; $5 Afro-Funk Massive: an 11 piece Afrobeat Band and Ghanian Food ALL PROCEEDS go to the Africa School Advancement Program For questions or more info email: pjp239@nyu.edu

Start:
Sat, 02/25/2006 - 2:00am

The Dutchess County Young Democrats will hold their first meeting in over a year on Saturday, February 25, 2006. The meeting will take place at the Dutchess County Democratic Committee Headquarters located at 41 Page Park Drive in Poughkeepsie at 2:00pm.
The Dutchess County Young Democrats is an organization dedicated to providing opportunities for young democrats to become actively involved in the issues that affect their lives and enabling them to connect with other young democrats in the county. Any registered democrat between the ages of 18 and 35 is eligible to become a member of the Dutchess County Young Democrats.

Start:
Sun, 02/26/2006 - 8:00pm

Come join us at Cinema Classics (332 E. 11th St, btwn 1st & 2nd ave.) on Sunday, February 26 at 8pm for a screening of Harriette Draper's Documentary Take it Back. There's an optional donation to DFA of 10 bucks at the door if you can swing it.

In January 2004 the eyes of the country were focused on Iowa as many of the nine Democratic presidential candidates gathered for the famous Iowa Caucuses. To everyone’s surprise the front runner was Howard Dean, a name that nine months earlier was virtually unknown. Suddenly, this doctor and six term governor from the rural state of Vermont was poised to lead the challenge against George W. Bush. Many forces, threatened by his populist support, joined together to defeat him.

Start:
Mon, 02/27/2006 - 10:00am

Support our speakers for PBOS (Paper Ballots, Optical Scanners)
and against electronic voting!

Monday, Feb 27, 2006
10 AM to 1 PM

City Hall
Council Chambers, 2nd floor

Committee on Governmental Operations
Chairperson Simcha Felder
Hearing on Compliance with HAVA (the Help America Vote Act)

Teresa Hommel is coordinating for PBOS, and will be on the right hand side (as you come in the door) in the front.

Let's fill the balcony one more time! Please attend!

N or R train to City Hall
4 or 5 or 6 train to Brooklyn Bridge
1-2-3 to Park Place

Members of the Gov Ops Committee:

This one comes from Democrats.com Monday Feb. 27, 2006, 6:30 to 8:30 PM Progressive Democrats of America New York Metro Meeting At our first PDA organizing meeting last month in Manhattan, we decided to form a New York Metro Group to focus on important New York issues such as the upcoming Senate primary, election machine reform, and garnering support for various congressional bills to bring the Iraq war to a swift close and to impeach George Bush and Dick Cheney. Come Meet Progressive candidates: Chris Owens, running for Congress in CD 11 Jessica Flagg, who is running for Congress in CD 17 Jonathan Tasini, New York Candidate for Senator Learn How We Can Challenge Hillary Clinton's Support for the War! SEIU Local 1199, 310 West 43 St., Auditorium, A Floor

Start:
Tue, 02/28/2006 - 9:00pm

On Tuesday, February 28, 2006, New York State will hold a special election to fill vacant seats in the state legislature.

In New York City, these vacant seats include:

- the 59th Assembly District in Southeast Brooklyn, Bergen Beach area (previously held by Frank Seddio)
- the 67th Assembly District in Manhattan, Upper West Side (previously held by Scott Stringer).
- the 74th Assembly District on the east side of Manhattan, below midtown, above the Lower East Side (previously held by Steve Sanders)

Click more to the full press release below for details and other vacant seats around the state.

Start:
Tue, 02/28/2006 - 9:00pm

On Tuesday, February 28, 2006, New York State will hold a special election to fill vacant seats in the state legislature.

In New York City, these vacant seats include:

- the 59th Assembly District in Southeast Brooklyn, Bergen Beach area (previously held by Frank Seddio)
- the 67th Assembly District in Manhattan, Upper West Side (previously held by Scott Stringer).
- the 74th Assembly District on the east side of Manhattan, below midtown, above the Lower East Side (previously held by Steve Sanders)

Click more to the full press release below for details and other vacant seats around the state.

Of course, there are two glaring omissions on this line-up given LatinoPundit and I live here in the city. Never ceases to amaze me... ----------------------------- Thurs, March 2, 2006 | 6:00-8:00pm The Republic of Blogs: New Media and Democracy Join Demos, Center for Social Media, Center for Media, Culture and History, People for the American Way and Air America for an event on blogging, media and democracy. Panelists: Lakshmi Chaudhry Senior Editor, In These Times Co-Author, Start Making Sense: Turning the Lessons of Election 2004 into Winning Progressive Politics Rebecca MacKinnon Fellow, Berkman Center for Internet and Society, Harvard Law School Co-Founder, Global Voices Online Drazen Pantic Founder, OpenNet Co-Director, Location One Christopher Rabb Founder and Chief Evangelist, Afro-Netizen Moderator: Rich Benjamin Senior Fellow, Demos Andrew Heiskell Center for Democracy 149 5th Avenue, 7th Floor Register online http://www.demos.org/page179.cfm or call (212) 633-1405 x533

Start:
Fri, 03/03/2006 - 10:00am

Come to the City Council Chambers this Friday to support the renewal of rent stabilization and rent control and to rescind the Urstadt law which had taken away NYC's home rule with regard to housing issues.

Important Public Hearing at City Council

Friday, March 3, 2006
10:00 am - ?? (late afternoon)
City Council Chambers
City Hall, 2d Floor

This is a joint hearing of the Housing and
Buildings Committee and the State and
Federal Legislation Committee. Three
measures will be considered:

Resolution 79, renewing the city rent control
law for three years, to March 31, 2009 - this is
sponsored by Council Member Rosie Mendez
and others.

Intro 118, renewing the city rent stabilization
law for three years, to April 1, 2009

Efforts to rescind the Urstadt law

Start:
Sat, 03/04/2006 - 9:30am

-Our Next Meeting is this Saturday -
Featuring a Guest Speaker on Campaign Finance Reform in NYS
Campaign Finance Reform will do more than any other action to move representation
out of the clutches of corporations and place it into the hands of the people, where it belongs.
The Mid-Hudson Progressive Alliance announces campaign finance reform to be a cornerstone of our activism.
Our guest Gene Fischer is chair of the Citizen Action Hudson Valley Clean
Elections Working Group. He will be addressing the Alliance about what he calls "America's best kept secret".
Clean Elections is also known as Voter-Owned Elections and public financing of political campaigns. It levels the playing field by allowing everyone, not just rich or well-connected individuals, to run a legitimate campaign.

You are all invited to attend the BRIDGES Symposium on evolutionary biology being held this Saturday March 4th, in the King Juan Carlos Center (53 Washington Square South), beginning at 9:15 AM. We have a nice line-up of student speakers (from AMNH, Columbia, NYBG, NYU and Princeton) and D. Futuyma from Stony Brook (writer of an evolution textbook) gives a keynote titled: "Niche Shifts, Speciation, and Macroevolution". if you are interested in Evolution (and remember: "Nothing in Biology makes sense except in the light of Evolution." (by T. Dobzhansky)) this event is not to be missed!

Start:
Sun, 03/05/2006 - 12:30pm

From the Stonewall Democrats' February emailer:

Stonewall will be marching in the 2006 St. Pats for all Parade, on Sunday, March 5th in Woodside at 12:30 pm.

The parade begins at 43rd and Skillman Avenue and ends at 61st Street & Woodside Avenue.

The Post Parade fair will be from 2-5 pm, at SAINTS AND SINNNERS, 60th Street & Woodside Avenue. The parade will be honoring The McCourts Brothers- (Malachy, Frank, Michael & Alfie) and Ellen Duncan and will include New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn along with numerous other political and community leaders.

Email Dirk at

Start:
Mon, 03/06/2006 - 7:00pm

Bronx Linkup

Where:2977 Bainbridge Ave, Apt. 405
with host Teresa Weber

Please RSVP to host Teresa Weber at teresaresa -at- gmail.com (replace -at- with @). If you are able to provide a ride to the Bronx Linkup or if you need a ride, please indicate this when you RSVP.