Jackson Heights Life

Like you said, I just joined, but what a great site. My girlfriend has been on for years. ill speak to her to see what the "rules" are. I am just commenting on a topic a lot of people in my democratic club and building are talking about. Thanks.

[Moderator's note: Yes, please do review our rules.  One rule is "no name calling" ... please express your views with civility and cut that out.  Thank you.]

Here is Senator Prelate appearing on an upstate TV show explaining himself. It is mind numbing to watch. "We need to step-up."
Or "Now is not the time to be on the sidelines."

If he shows up tomorrow with this line of malarchy, he is going to get thrown out of the room. He can't possibly think that his Jackson Height constituents are that stupid. It sounds like some meaningless talking points Trumps advisors gave him.

Please watch this, please share it and please show up tomorrow. No matter what you're opinion is, it could be the most important thing you do all week. Thank you.

http://www.twcnews.com/nys/capital-region/capital-tonight-interviews/2017/02/2/jose-peralta.html

Gothamist: Are NY's Breakaway Democrats Republican Tools Or Secret Progressive Heroes?

From Crain's, this afternoon: Trump's rise casts Democrat's defection in harsher light

http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20170203/BLOGS04/170209957/trumps-rise-casts-democrats-defection-in-harsher-light

Sure, full of talking points like all politicians....  but he's basically confirming what I said above about the failure in the leadership of the Democratic party to get anything done, or change their strategy since the election.  He confirmed they have no plan, other than the status quo.  He confirmed they are fighting amongst themselves.  The party as it is is screwed.  He says that he went to the IDC to at least try and get policy moving forward, as I suggested above.

theDude, I hope you stick around the boards and prove you aren't just an opposition shill.  I am with you that I don't often give politician's the benefit of the doubt, but in these crazy political times I think it suits everyone better that we view the news with less ideology and more of an open mind.

Too many people at the Town hall meeting, so I didn't make it in.
Hopefully someone will update us soon?

Well, I'm exhausted but I was in the room. Here are Peralta's basic points, which we can debate.

* The Democrats do not actually have a majority because of this guy Simcha Felder, who defected from the Democrats and acts as a functional Republican.
* The IDC has entered an agreement with the Republicans that in exchange primarily for agreeing to lower property taxes outside the city, which requires the votes of people from the city, the IDC gets veto power over bringing bills to the floor and gets to push its own progressive legislation.
* Raise the Age and the DREAM Act will pass this year because of the IDC.
* Anything bad that happens is because of Simcha Felder. I can't tell you how many times we heard this guy's name.
* The IDC is the only thing that can stand against the Trump agenda because it now has the ability to actually stop things in the Senate, which the Democrats otherwise would not have because of ... can you guess the name?
* Peralta commits to rejoining the main Democratic conference if the Dems actually have more than 31 people, because Simcha Felder doesn't count.
* He will not vote for any legislation that would disadvantage his constituents
* He will do another town hall in April.
* p.s. Simcha Felder. Also, Simcha Felder.

Here are some Tweets from someone else in the room:
https://twitter.com/RossBarkan

I am a devoted liberal who hates what is happening to our country. But I also pride myself on calling it as I see it. I don't blindly latch onto a candidate just because they have a"D" attached to their name. The last time the Democrats controlled the state senate they voted to support as their leaders: Pedro Espada (prison); Malcolm Smith (prison); John Sampson (prison). If I was a senator who cared l would have thought about jumping ship too (of course, jumping ship back then would have led to me joining the Republican leader Dean Skelos--prison). Putting aside Peralta, people who care have to hold all their leaders accountable.

I also have to comment on the Village Voice article that is linked to above. In it, the author reports that Jackson Heights has a "burgeoning bloc of progressive, affluent Democrats" who will make Peralta pay for his choice. If it is a choice between Peralta and the "burgeoning bloc of progressive, affluent Democrats" who think you can be a progressive gentrifier, I'll take Peralta warts and all.

Does anyone know what happened at Peralta's town hall meeting last night? I heard it was quite a bru-ha-ha with people banging on the windows of the Jewish center of Jackson heights.

I posted something in the other thread. There are also some articles out today:

http://www.villagevoice.com/news/angry-queens-residents-have-a-name-for-their-turncoat-democratic-senator-traitor-9644259

https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20170204/jackson-heights/jose-peralta-idc-jackson-heights-state-senate