[UPDATE: Seems today's Daily News has confirmation that Nydia Velasquez is a front runner to replace Hillary Clinton should she be elevated by Obama (Cabinet or, possibly, Supreme Court). Don't know about you, but I heard it first at CBID!]

Tonight was CBID's (Central Brooklyn Independent Neighborhood Democrats) dinner honoring the Brooklyn for Obama people who worked so hard both locally and nationally to elect Barack Obama. It was held at Bogota, the excellent Colombian restaurant on 5th Ave. Those who know me know that I paid particular attention to the food, so let me get that out of the way, then I will mention some of the rumors that came my way today both at the dinner and by email after I posted my "Defeating Tsar Bloomberg and his Trained Surrender Monkeys" diary.

My son jumped up in bed when I woke him this morning and immediately wanted me to carry him out of bed. Normally he likes lounging half asleep in bed for 15 or 20 minutes before getting up. But today was election day and he was excited.

"We don't want to see ANYMORE of George Bush and John McCain," he keeps saying.

About a month ago he asked for an Obama button. Well, I figured he just wanted to be like mom and dad. But it went beyond that. He was PROUD of that button and showed it off at his childcare. He'd quiz people on who they supported,

He has been dreaming about election day with an excitement that rivals his anticipation of his birthday.

Josh Skaller, who is a friend of mine, has reported his recent fundraising results for the 2009 City Council race to replace Bill deBlasio:

BROOKLYN, N.Y.—Officials from Josh Skaller's City Council campaign announced today that the candidate had exceeded fundraising targets for the filling period ending July 15 and is eligible for matching funds from the City.

Skaller, who is running to replace term-limited Councilmember Bill de Blasio in the Council's 39th district, raised nearly $55,000 to date. He is eligible to receive an additional $90,000 in matching funds in 2009.

"We've exceeded all of our goals for this period," said campaign treasurer Aaron Rudelson. "Josh has already qualified for the full amount of matching funds from the city, both in money raised and in in-district donations."

The campaign noted that many of the donations were raised in small amounts from voters throughout the 39th district, which stretches from Cobble Hill in the north to Borough Park in the south, and includes such diverse Brooklyn neighborhoods as Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Carroll Gardens and Kensington.

Tonight was the annual dinner of the Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats (CBID), an organization my wife is an officer of. First off, let me say we missed the annual dinner of the club I am on the board of, the Independent Neighborhood Democrats (IND), largely due to lack of time, money and a babysitter, and the fact that the IND dinner is much less convenient for us to get to. Generally I try to make it to both.

Joy and I arrived a bit late, so we missed some of the speeches. Yvette Clarke and Jerrold Nadler spoke before we made it. [CORRECTION: Nadler and Clarke were present for schmoozing purposes and did not give speeches]. Pity because they can both give a good speech and it would be interesting to have heard if either of them brought up impeachment, an issue dear to the club that Yvette and Jerrold disagree on.

Today was the rally calling for Bruce Ratner to put up or shut up. Brooklyn is getting tired of Ratner making promises then breaking those promises even as he demands more taxpayer money. The rally was well attended, though we came slightly late and were way at the back, so didn't really see the whole crowd.

Chris Owens, President of Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats and Brooklyn Progressive Activist, led the rally. Three groups organized the rally: Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn, The Council of Brooklyn Neighborhoods, and Brooklyn Speaks. MANY local politicians attended, including some who had previously been pretty solidly behind Ratner. Ratner has worn out his welcome even among his supporters.

Here are some excerpts from the press release from the three organizing groups:

So today I get several emails and instant messages having to do with the number one State Senate race we can win...the one Jimmy Dahroug almost won in 2006. This is our top priority race and we shouldn't fuck it up. So this diary is hopefully going to get everyone back on the right track.

First off, let me indicate that Jimmy Dahroug has a new website. Here it is:

http://www.jimmyforsenate.com/

Second, it seems that someone over at the NY Times has done a really sucky job of doing his research because he discusses this race without even mentioning Jimmy Dahroug. Well, if the NY Times can't figure out who's actually running in the top State Senate race in NY State it shows a sharp decline in the quality of their reporting. To the NY Times: Get your damned act together. Seriously. Don't be so sloppy. It just makes you look bad.

Last week Joy and I had a fundraiser for our friend, Josh Skaller. He actually had two parties that night, raising some $1500 that night, I am told. I suspect my party was the lesser of the two...but sounds like a good night overall for a solid grassroots candidate. For those who missed it, here is ANOTHER chance to meet Josh:

Come to a House Party for Josh Skaller, a Progressive Voice for City Council

Host: Wayne Brooks
Location: Wayne's apartment
262 Court Street #2/Butler Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231 US
When: Sunday, January 27, 3:00PM
Phone: 347-645-0581

Dear Friends,

I'm having a house party at my apartment for my good friend Josh Skaller, who is running for City Council in Brooklyn's 39th District in 2009.

Josh is running for what will be an open seat now held by Bill de Blasio. The district covers much of Park Slope, Cobble Hill, and Carroll Gardens, along with parts of Windsor Terrace and Kensington.

Josh is President of Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats (CBID), one of the most dynamic and influential political reform groups in New York. He also serves as a board member and field director for DFNYC (Democracy for New York City).

This month there are four fundraisers I am pushing. One I am on the host committee of, two I am full on co-host (one of which is at my apartment) and one I am merely plugging for friends.

The first one was last Sunday, and I now have results from that. Sunday, Marjorie Gersten, Joy Romanski and I hosted a fundraiser for Norman Siegel, running for NY Public Advocate. You can read about my (3-year old interrupted) comments on the event here. And you can read another participant's obeservations here at the Brooklyn Optimist. But now I would like to add that the fundraiser did quite well for a small scale event put on by people like me who almost never do fundraising. We brought in $1400 for Norman Siegel. Now I am sure many out there see that as small potatoes, but it's damned good in my world!

If you want to add to this, please call his campaign at 212-448-6271. Tell them Marjorie, David and Joy sent you.

Just got back from a Norm Siegel for Public Advocate fundraiser in Brooklyn Heights (will blog it when I have a money report...turnout was good by my standard and lots of people were writing checks, but don't know the final tally)...

And just got off the phone with Jimmy Dahroug, running for NY State Senate, who is having a fundraiser Wednesday, January 9, 2008, 6 pm at 1050 Park Avenue, NYC (at East 87th Street). But I already blogged about that fundraiser (hope you all can make it! Jimmy's a great guy).

Tonight I want to invite you all to my apartment. Really! We will clean up all the toys lying around. Joy and I are hosting a fundraiser for my good friend, Josh Skaller on Thursday right in my own Park Slope, basement apartment.

It is rare that I make it to political events in Manhattan, but so many people were urging me to meet Jimmy Dahroug, candidate for State Senate in Suffolk County, last night at a Manhattan fundraiser with Jim Dean of Democracy for America as a special guest. I am glad I went even though it meant being late for my son's bedtime, an event I don't like missing. In the end I barely met Jim Dean and only briefly got to talk with Jimmy Dahroug, but did get to hear both speak and got to meet several other candidates running for City Council in 2009: Josh Skaller (DFNYC organizer and president of Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats, running for Bill DeBlasio's seat...what, Josh, no website yet?), Costa Constantinides (on the steering committee of the Democratic Lawyers Council working on voting rights and running in Astoria...and with the name to match the district) and Steve Behar (running in district 19 in Queens). By the way...rumor has it some of you out there think Josh Skaller is mole333.