Please do not forget that today is the Democratic Primaries in New York State. The polls are open throughout New York State until 9pm. If you need to look up your polling location please visit the New York State Board of Elections website at http://www.elections.ny.gov/
Queens Chronicle – Thursday, September 10, 2009
Allow gays in military
Dear Editor:
On the campaign trail, President Obama spoke out against the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy that prevents gays and lesbians from serving openly in our armed forces. Now, as commander in chief, the president has a chance to do something about it.
All qualified Americans should be able to serve openly in the military regardless of sexual orientation.Don’t ask, don’t tell is the only policy that mandates firing a person because of their sexual orientation. Nearly 13,000 service members have been discharged from the military since it was put in place. Of those, more than 800 have skills considered to be “mission-critical.”
The Military Readiness Enhancement Act would repeal don’t ask, don’t tell and allow all qualified Americans to serve openly regardless of sexual orientation.
The time is now for President Obama to fulfill his campaign pledge to end this discriminatory law that prevents brave men and women from serving their country. It’s time for the president to partner with Congress to pass the Military Readiness Enhancement Act and get rid of don’t ask, don’t tell once and for all.
Matthew Silverstein
President, New York State Young Democrats
Here is the President’s Plan For Health Reform As Per The President’s Email To Supporters Last Night!
If You Have Health Insurance the President’s Plan:
If You Don’t Have Insurance, the President’s Plan:
For All Americans, the President’s Plan:
Brothers and Sisters,
On behalf of the entire New York State Young Democrats family, I would like to wish everyone a very Happy Labor Day!
On Saturday September 12, 2009 we will once again march in the New York City Central Labor Council’s Labor Day Parade and March with our brothers and sisters from Teamsters Local 814 & Joint Council 16. We will be meeting at 10am on 46th Street between 6th & 7th Avenues in Manhattan. Please contact Mike Corbett at mcorbett@nysyd.net for more information.
Labor Day is the day we honor and acknowledge the hard work of union members across the country. As Congress comes back into session, organized labor continues to advocate the passage of The Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) and we must continue to support this effort. This bill would enable working people to bargain for better benefits, wages and working conditions by restoring workers freedom to choose for themselves whether to join a union. Please call your elected members of Congress and the Senate and urge them to support EFCA.
As Labor Day unofficially marks the end of Summer, I would like to reflect on our accomplishments over the past few months:
The 2009 YDA National Convention was a huge success for NYSYD. The Manhattan Young Democrats were once again honored as the YDA Chapter of the Year. MYD was also honored for the best one time program for their Open Seat Project. We are all so proud of what MYD has achieved.
In addition, two of our members were seated on the YDA Executive Committee: Stephanie Hausner was appointed to the Democratic National Committee by YDA President Crystal Strait. Michael Corbett was elected Chair of the Young Democrats of America Labor Caucus. We are proud of Stephanie and Michael as well as the other New Yorkers who were elected to YDA Caucus offices.
A reminder to all members…
Please do not forget to vote in the upcoming primary elections. If you need information on looking up your voter registration or locating your polling place please visit the New York State Board of Elections web site at https://voterlookup.elections.state.ny.us/votersearch.aspx
In Solidarity,
Matthew Silverstein Mike Corbett, Chair
NYSYD President YDA Labor Caucus
2009 NYC Straw Poll Final Results
(Brooklyn, Queens & Manhattan Combined Totals)
Mayor
Bill Thompson – 85.1%
Tony Avella – 14.9%
Comptroller
John Liu – 50.5%
David Yassky- 43.8%
Melinda Katz- 3.8%
David Weprin- 1.9%
Public Advocate
Eric Gioia- 45%
Bill de Blasio- 24%
Norman Siegel- 17%
Mark Green- 14%
Manhattan District Attorney
Cy Vance- 59.3%
Richard Aborn- 28.8%
Leslie Crocker Snyder-11.9%
* This DA Straw Poll Was Only Conducted At Manhattan Location
Dear Mr. Silverstein:
Thank you for contacting me and expressing your support for government-run public option in health care reform. I wholeheartedly agree that a public option will help enhance access to quality and affordable health care for every American.
Our country is facing a crisis in health care. The cost of health insurance is skyrocketing, and too many New York families are caught in the middle. Like you, I believe it is absolutely unacceptable that more than forty-six million Americans do not have health care coverage. Both the health of our citizens and the health of our nation are at stake, and we must act soon.
I strongly support the establishment of a public health insurance option which would create a not-for-profit insurance plan, started by the government, which would compete on a level playing field with existing private health insurance plans. Because the public health insurance option would be not-for-profit, it should require lower premiums and, therefore, exert downward pressure on the premiums of existing insurance plans. This change is pro-consumer because it adds competition to insurance markets, allowing New Yorkers and all Americans one more choice of affordable and comprehensive health insurance.
Too many Americans are either uninsured or underinsured and Congress must act soon to provide the necessary catalyst we need. The Senate Finance Committee, of which I am a member, is working with all stakeholders in the health care community to develop a strong bill that can help solve our current health crisis.
Thank you for contacting me about this important issue. Please do not hesitate to contact me again if I can ever be of assistance to you on this, or any other matter.
Sincerely,
Charles E. Schumer
United States Senator
This Saturday August 29, 2009 at 2pm, rain or shine, groups from all over New York will converge on Times Square in New York City to pay their repects to the memory of Senator Kennedy and honor him by bringing attention to Health Care Reform. We encourage all NYS Young Dems to join us at this historic event to show the detractors that there is indeed mass support for this important cause. Please join us at 42nd Street & 7th Avenue. Please email Marisa Vigilante at health@gomyd.com if you are planning on attending.
Delegation Chair: Matthew Silverstein
Vice Chair: Tajian Jones
Whips: Michael Corbett & Chris Smith
National Committee Members: Dustin Hausner & Kate O’Hagen
Delegates:
Alternate Delegates
On Tuesday July 28, 2009 the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee approved President Obama’s Supreme Court Nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor. This vote sends Judge Sotomayor’s nomination to the full Senate for a confirmation vote. The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee voted 13-6 in favor of Judge Sotomayor with one Republican vote. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) voted with the Democrats approving Judge Sotomayor. Judge Sonia Sotomayor if confirmed would be the first Hispanic Supreme Court Justice. The full Senate vote should occur sometime next week.
On July 23, 2009 The New York State Young Democrats Executive Committee Adopted The Following Resolution….
CONCERNING: Comprehensive Health Care Reform
WHEREAS, the New York State Young Democrats believe all Americans, regardless of life station or social position, have a right to high quality, affordable Health Care; and,
WHEREAS, one in six or 45 million Americans are currently uninsured and another 20 million are underinsured, which places and expensive burden upon the nation’s emergency services and proliferates contagious diseases; and,
WHEREAS, young people aged 18-29 comprise the largest uninsured group in the United States, with nearly a third living without Health Coverage; and
WHEREAS, Health care costs have increased 85% in the last ten years, with the expectation of exponential increases in years to come, forcing as many as 72 million Americans onto the roles of the uninsured by 2040; and,
WHEREAS, the increasing costs of Health Care will lower the take home wages of Americans by nearly $25,000 in 2040, detrimentally impacting the United States’ Gross Domestic Product and saddling future generations with insurmountable national debt; and,
WHEREAS, the Obama-Biden Health Care proposal seeks to expand coverage, improve quality, lower costs, expand preventative care, and promote innovation and advancement in medical technologies, at an affordable cost to America; therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, the New York State Young Democrats and its members actively recommend and encourage the passage of President Obama’s Health Care plan to the members of the 111th Congress; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, New York State Young Democrats officially and publicly add its name to the growing list of progressive organizations which support the Presidents Health Care plan.
