August 2018 Meeting Featured Updates from Congressman Jerry Nadler and Covered Primary Plans, Immigration, Environment and Gun Reform
President Erik Coler opened the August 2018 Meeting with a request to insert the Immigration Resolution into the Agenda after the Committee Reports. This was unanimously approved along with the rest of the Agenda. He then announced there would be no September meeting as Primary Day falls on the normal second Thursday of the month and that that the County Committee meeting would most likely be held in the last week of August, according to Ben Yee.
Keen Berger’s District Leader Report covered the race for Civil Court Judge by Robert Rosenthal, the VID endorsed candidate. Sheshe asked for volunteers.
Nat Johnson gave the Environmental Committee Report next, filling us in on the planned tour of the Sims Municipal Recycling Center on September 20. The club is selling $3 reusable bags. Styrofoam will be banned as of January 1, and there will be a town hall about composting.
Laurie Hardjowirogo spoke for the Voter Reform Committee. The anti-IDC campaign is very successful with phone banking for Robert Jackson, John Liu, and Alessandra Biaggi. She will be campaigning with Antonio Delgado upstate on August 26, and Kate Linker will be hosting a phone bank for Anthony Brindisi and Max Rose on August 16. She advised anyone interested in participating to contact her for more info.
Now Allison Stowell spoke for the Gun Reform Committee. Alessandra Biaggi had come out in favor of ERPO/ the Red Flag law, so they were planning to coordinate with the Voter Reform Committee to stage an event to support her. Brad Hoylman sponsored S.B. 9145 to ban 3D “ghost guns”. Allison said Cuomo was campaigning on the Red Flag bill and she was hopeful he was sincere because he doesn’t like to lose.
Jerry Nadler Update
Now the big event–Congressman Jerry Nadler gave a speech about the Mueller investigation and gave his analysis of Trump’s motives. He spoke of Trump’s narcissism and lack of understanding of government processes, his calling the press “the enemy of the people” and calling the FBI and Mueller’s investigation a “witch hunt”. He spoke of Trump’s and Pence’s racism and negativity, contrasting him with Bernie Sanders, who had real solutions. Trump’s solution is “Only I can fix it”.
Nadler spoke of the danger of this appeal, which is typically fascistic, and he spoke of the Russian hacking of emails and how a candidate can’t accept anything valuable to a campaign, especially from a foreign power. He said Bernie was good at uniting the party after the election, but the split was exacerbated by Trump.
He spoke of the Hollywood Axis tape, meeting with Putin alone, the FBI investigation of Hillary, and the need to protect Rosenstein and Mueller. He spoke of the movement to impeach the President and reminded us he is the ranking member of the Judicial Committee, who would supervise that process. He said it was foolish to push impeachment now and that it should wait until after the election, when hopefully the House will be in Democratic hands.
Jerry also talked about the Trump assault on the social safety net and the disastrous immigration policies–and the importance of subpoenaing the tax returns.
Finally, after some questions, Jerry left to a standing ovation.
More Committee Reports
Tony Hoffmann gave the Campaign Committee Report. He began by soliciting volunteers for Election Day, and then introduced Tiffany Hodges, who also spoke of the need for volunteers and ads and digital media. She mentioned going to Rhinebeck to campaign for Delgado.
Tony mentioned Rachel Lavine’s campaign against Penny Mintz for NYS Democratic Committeewoman for downtown Manhattan, noting that the Board of Elections had disqualified Mintz’s petitions, but Penny was appealing the ruling, so it was unclear if she would be on the ballot. He brought up Robert Rosenthal and Tish James, and gave Elissa Stein credit for the graphic design of the campaign literature and ads, which she donated pro bono. Starting September 15, the club will be dispatching buses to CD’s to make Congress blue.
Dave Siffert of the Immigration and Family Reunification Committee read the new Immigration Resolution, which unanimously passed with one friendly amendment.
Last up was Ben Yee, State Committeeman of the 66th AD, who is running unopposed. He outlined the calendar for the County Committee, with an August 18 Day of Action for Max Rose and a meeting probably on the 28th to address rules changes proposed eight months ago.
Under New Business:
David Siffert solicited volunteers to do screening interviews of immigrants for Catholic Charities. He is also holding a postcard party at his home for Alessandra Biaggi on the 13th.
Anne Heaney advocated for a rally against fossil fuels at Cuomo’s office on the 12th.
Sharon Woolums touted her new article in the Villager advocating for the SBJSA act.
Nadine Hoffmann spoke of how she and the Recording Secretary, Kathy Slawinski, attended the City Council meeting on immigration reform and the club donated $250 in gift cards to Damyn Kelly at Lutheran Social Services. A picture was taken of Nadine, Kathy, David, and other club members with the check.