This morning's New York Times on the fallout from Tuesday's Primary:
The City Council will hold its first formal meeting since the
Democratic primary, an electoral housecleaning that cost at least four
members their $112,000-a–year jobs. It will be an awkward session, to say the least… A potentially icy reception for Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn. She backed several losing Council members and was humbled by an unimpressive re-election margin in her Manhattan district.
This afternoon, Margaret Chin, almost certainly Lower Manhattan's new councilmember, holds a news conference. We'll be there. In the past, Chin has said she would have to weigh whether to support Quinn as Speaker.
In a separate article the Times notes that Asian candidates (including Chin) won Primaries in three City Council districts this week:
All told, the developments amounted to something of a watershed
moment for Asian New Yorkers — the city’s fastest-growing minority
group, three-quarters of them foreign-born — and their involvement in
municipal politics. “It’s significant for the whole population to
see all these Asian-Americans taking political roles for the first in
public,” said Margaret M. Chin, a sociologist at Hunter College who studies Asian-American communities. “The West Coast broke this barrier close to two decades ago.” Chinatown
itself is likely to be represented by an Asian-American for the first
time, with the victory of Margaret S. Chin (no relation to the
sociologist), a community activist, over Councilman Alan J. Gerson, a
two-term incumbent… Of the 51 Council districts, 32 had primaries on Tuesday. Turnout in
the three districts where Asian-Americans won was among the highest in
the city: 17 to 18 percent, compared with a citywide average of 11
percent, according to the Board of Elections. “The one
constituency who had a reason to turn out and turned out in large
numbers were Asian-American voters,” said Evan Stavisky, a Democratic
consultant who worked on Mr. Liu’s campaign in 2001 and Ms. Chin’s
campaign this year… Unlike in 2001, when she and two other Chinese-American candidates
split the vote, this time Ms. Chin was the only such candidate in a
district where Asians are about 40 percent of the population, though
they accounted for only 18 percent of Democratic voters, Mr. Stavisky
said.
In an article headlined, "Fear in Alphabet City," New York Press reports, "The recent shooting outside an East Village bar shouldn’t have been
such a surprise. Bullets are more common in the neighborhood than most
people want to believe."
The Tenement Museum Blog brings us news of a new art project opening in one of the Essex Market's abandoned building's tomorrow:" FEED, the exhibit opening Friday, explores the market as a site of
various kinds of exchange – commercial, social, and cultural. Video
screenings, performance pieces, and interactive walking tours will all
be on offer."
Last night, Margaret Chin gathered with a large group of supporters at the Golden Unicorn Restaurant in Chinatown to celebrate a victory 18 years in the making. She thanked supporters for helping her win the District 1 City Council seat – and talked about the importance of her accomplishment to Chinese Americans in New York City:
Supporters crowded into in a raucous banquet hall in Chinatown last night to celebrate Margaret Chin's convincing victory in the District 1 City Council Primary over two-term incumbent Alan Gerson. He was one of four Council members kicked out of office in what the New York Times called "the greatest repudiation of incumbents in a generation." Before yesterday's election, only three members of the City Council had lost re-election battles since 1997. But voters – angered by the Council's decision to extend term limits – rejected three members who supported the controversial maneuver.
The significance of the moment was not lost on Chin last night, who finally prevailed after seeking the District 1 Council seat four times. For the first time, Chinatown will be represented by an Asian. Chin will be the only Asian woman on the City Council. While vowing to represent all of Lower Manhattan, she acknowledged that history had been made. The achievement was a long time in the making. Almost 20 years ago, Council districts were redrawn, with the idea that the neighborhood should have a voice in City government.
Chin won by a one-thousand vote margin, in a five candidate field. With 100-percent of the precincts reporting, she has 39% (4541 votes). Gerson: 30% (3520). PJ Kim: 16% (1927). Pete Gleason: 11% (1293). Arthur Gregory: 2% (235). All day long, there were reports of high turnout in Chinatown, but in other neighborhoods interest in the Primary was relatively low. Chin did better than some of her opponents expected in more affluent parts of the district, including Tribeca and Battery Park City. She also did well on the Lower East Side, where her signature issue, affordable housing, is a paramount concern.
Gerson called Chin to offer his congratulations shortly after 11pm, but he did not officially concede the race. His campaign struggled from the start. Having to defend his term limits vote, Gerson was constantly on the defensive. He was temporarily knocked off the ballot due to errors in his petitions, denied public matching funds and was even stricken with the swine flu. Gleason, who picked up a key endorsement from the Downtown Independent Democrats, faded in the final days of the campaign. Having gone after Gerson aggressively in debates and in court battles, Gleason may have been perceived as excessively negative. Kim, who was endorsed by the New York Times, was the wild card. The 32-year old newcomer to downtown politics battled rumors that he was a spoiler, put in the race by Gerson allies to allegedly divide the Chinese vote (Kim is Korean).
Last night, Chin thanked her husband, who urged her to step down from an executive position (at Asian Americans for Equality) in order to devote her full attention to the campaign. She hired a brash, young campaign manager, Jake Itzkowitz, an organizer for Barack Obama's presidential campaign. He put in place an aggressive get out the vote operation, not only in Chinatown, but across the district.
Margaret Chin with campaign manager, Jake Itzkowitz
Chin is not letting up. Just as she has most every day since May, she was out at a subway stop this morning, greeting voters. Chin has a Republican opponent in November's general election, but given the overwhelming Democratic majority in District 1, her election is all but assured.
We will have a video report from Margaret Chin's victory celebration later today.
Throughout New York City all indications are that turnout has been low in the Democratic Primary. The exception seems to be in Chinatown, where City Council member Alan Gerson and candidate Margaret Chin are fighting to get the upper hand. Earlier today a dispute erupted at The polling location at 133 Bowery. According to a poll inspector lawyers for the two campaigns nearly had to be separated earlier today. The dispute apparently was related to allegations that a translator was coaxing a woman she was helping to vote for Chin. Gerson himself was leaving the precinct as I arrived.
TONIGHT at The Sunshine Cinema: Thanks to the Museum of the Moving Image, you can catch a sneak peek of Jane Campion's film, “Bright Star”, a romantic drama about the final years of 19th-century poet John Keats, seen through the eyes of his lover, Fanny Brawne. The film, which stars Abbie Cornish and Ben Whishaw, premiered to rave reviews at the Cannes Film Festival.
TOMORROW NIGHT: at The Eldridge Museum – Stempenyu's Dream with Steven GreenmanIn. Violinist Steven Greenman and
ensemble draw inspiration from legendary 19th-century Eastern European
performer Stempenyu, who was immortalized in the fiction of Sholem
Aleichem. Stirring religious hymns, Moldavian dances and spiritual
yearning are all a part of the mix.
It was an excruciatingly long meeting last night of CB3's SLA Committee. We'll have some thoughts later today or tomorrow on the contentious gathering – and the growing sense on the committee that the rules guiding liquor license approvals need to be updated. In the meantime, Eater details the approvals and rejections.
The committee rejected applications from a karaoke place at 196 Orchard, Sushi Hana (111 Rivington) and an unnamed French bistro at 175 Ludlow. However, the CB3 members signaled their approval for the much-talked-about meatball shop on Stanton Street, Rushbury at 17 Orchard, Le Cubain, Local 138, Macando and Bowery Electric.
The baord was able to wrap up the night's business in a mere 7 hours!
More on the murder of Glen Wright, the 21-year old college student who was stabbed at the Baruch Houses this past weekend. Police have confirmed (per the Daily News) that it was likely a case of mistaken identity: “Cops were exploring the possibility that an 11-year-old girl – asked by the killer to point out his intended target – mistakenly fingered Wright… Suspect Joel Herrera, 20, was arraigned on murder charges. Herrera, a suspected gang member who has several prior arrests and a 2006 arson conviction, admitted to detectives that he mixed Wright up with someone who beat up one of his friends, police sources said.” Wright, who lived in Harlem, was taking a break from washing his grandmother’s windows when he was killed.
Get your Rosh Hashonah goodies now! Russ & Daughters annouces its holiday hours.
Blue Elm will open Thursday at 198 Orchard, the old “Regate” space. Eater reports: “Malik Fall, who has been executive chef at both Asia De Cuba and China Grill, will create a menu fusing French, African, and Asian cuisines, which will include items such as “‘Avocat Aux Crevettes Senegalais,’ consisting of a dozen shrimp stuffed with avocado, chickpeas, Spanish onion, tomatoes, and hard-boiled eggs.”
This is an opportunity for organizations and residents to tell
the Community Board their budget priorities. What streets need repaving? What
parks need repair? Help us assess the needs of our community.
Every year the Community Board submits a list of capital and
expense budget priorities to city agencies. This hearing is the community's
opportunity for individuals and community organizations to have input into the
district priorities.
This hearing satisfies the NYC Charter requirement for citizen
participation in the budget process. Groups and individuals representing all
segments of the community are encouraged to participate in the hearing.
Don't forget to vote today. New Yorkers will choose the Democratic nominees for mayor, public advocate, district attorney (in Manhattan) and controller. Since there's not much suspense in the mayoral contest (Bill Thompson will almost certainly win), the real excitement tonight will be in the City Council races. One of the most interesting contests is right here in Downtown Manhattan. The battle for the District 1 City Council seat, now held by Alan Gerson, has been intense.
First thing's first. REMEMBER TO VOTE. If you're not sure about your polling site, it's easy to look up on the Board of Elections web site. Polls are open until 9pm.
Gerson, a two-term City Councilmember, is being challenged by Margaret Chin, Pete Gleason, Arthur Gregory and PJ Kim. Chin will be relying on a big turnout from Chinatown, but also strong support on the Lower East Side. Gleason will be counting on voters in Tribeca, Soho and the Financial District, though he also has high hopes of drawing from the LES. Kim is appealing to new voters – 13-thousand newcomers that have arrived in the district in the past three years. Gregory is hoping he'll have a base of support on the West Side, in Tribeca and the Financial District.
There are predictions of low turnout. In 2004, only 7-thousand votes were cast. There are about 60-thousand registered Democrats in District 1.
We'll be in touch with all of the campaigns throughout the day – and have results and reactions from the candidates sometime after 9pm.
Glenn Wright, 21 years old, died after being stabbed in the neck at the Baruch Houses Saturday night. He had been visiting his grandmother, helping her clean the windows in her apartment. This is what happened, according to a story in the New York Times:
He was taking a break outside when a group of three or four men attacked him, relatives said. His father, who was nearby, saw the attack in progress and chased after the men. Mr. Wright, bleeding profusely from the neck, ran back into the lobby of his grandmother’s building and collapsed in his aunt’s arms, said his brother Peter Wright Jr. He was taken to Bellevue Hospital Center. Over the next several hours, as word of the attack spread on Facebook, friends and relatives poured into the hospital. Doctors delivered the news on Sunday afternoon that he was dead.
Family members said it was a case of mistaken identity but there is no confirmation of that from the NYPD as of tonight. There will be a memorial service for Glenn Wright tomorrow at 5pm, 2050 Second Avenue in East Harlem, followed by a short procession to Central Park East High School, where Wright graduated.
The Downtown Independent Democrats turned on Councilmember Alan Gerson, endorsing challenger Pete Gleason. Now DID has sent out a sharply-worded mailer to 11-thousand voters, railing against Gerson's tenure. The editors of Bloomberg Watch (supporting CD1 candidate Margaret Chin) say of the DID mailer:
They made no mention of the person they endorsed by a narrow margin — a
tacit admission in our view that either they recognize the mistake
following Wayne Barrett’s piece in the Village Voice or they realize that Gleason has no chance, or both. The question is from whom does he draw votes? Margaret Chin? Gerson? Kim?
NYC Kids PAC, a new organization, endorses Alan Gerson.
State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver campaigned on Grand Street yesterday with DA candidate Cy Vance. But has Shelly endorsed Vance? The Daily News wanted to know.
Silver and Vance (along with Councilmember Alan Gerson) also visited with residents trying to refurbish Luther Gullick Park. Later this week we'll have a video report from Sunday's "Community Day" in the park.
Peter Kwong, author and professor, will be answering questions about the gentrification of Chinatown in the NYT this week.
He grew up on the Lower East Side, later became a fixture of the downtown scene and achieved worldwide fame as the author of "The Basketball Diaries." The Times remembers poet Jim Carroll.
Restaurants and bars desperately seeking liquor licenses go before Community Board 3's SLA Committee tonight. If you want to speak for or against any restaurant or bar, this is your chance. The meeting takes place at 630pm at the JASA/Green Residence, 200 East 5th Street (Bowery). The full list of restaurants is on CB3's web site.
P.J. Kim is a Princeton-educated Korean immigrant with a Harvard M.B.A.
An activist who has run nonprofit groups, he directed the nation's
largest free tax preparation campaign, gaining 43,000 low-income New
Yorkers more than $80 million in refunds. He's the choice over
incumbent Alan Gerson.
He's also won the support of Chinatown activist, lawyer and former City Council candidate Rocky Chin:
I think PJ Kim stands out and offers us the promise of fresh, new, effective leadership. Yes – he's young – but so is Dan Squadron – another excellent candidate who many of us helped elect.. and Dan is already making progressive reform waves in Albany! In my opinion, Alan and Margaret come to this race unfortunately with just a bit too much "baggage"….and that will make it difficult for them to be forceful, effective and constructive in the council – and make it difficult for them to contribute and lead where and when they will be really needed. Alan has made postive contributions in the District over these 8 years, but his vote to extend terms limits was a disappointment and his continuing problems with constituency services and a mediocre council attendance record cannot be ignored. Margaret paints herself as a champion of Chinatown. While she surely is a housing and immigrant rights activist and advocate, she has been unsuccessful in promoting unity, consensus or effective coalition building in Chinatown. She continues to have many detractors among Chinatown's civic leaders. I also wish she would take some resppnsibility for her own history in the community and in the progressive movement. In my mind, this history – hers and that of AAFE's – has some chapters that are so profoundly troubling that it remains a major part of her present-day baggage unless she can fully and truthfully disclose her role and be accountable… The new councilmember will need to figure out how to bring our diverse communities within District 1 together – and needless to say, we need our councilmember to pay more attention to Chinatown and the LES part of the district.
State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver helped serve food on Friday at the Project Open Door Senior Center in Chinatown. It was the first National Day of Service and Remembrance. Earlier this year, President Obama signed the Edward M. Kennedy 'Serve America' Act, which established September 11th as a day, not only for Americans to reflect and remember, but also to give connect with their communities by volunteering.
Speaker Silver said, "Volunteering to perform at least one good deed or service
is a way to remember and honor our country’s spirit. The way in which
Americans came together on Sept. 11— and the way in which we continue
to come together — reminds us what it means to be an American."
Anyone who would like to become involved in volunteerism on the Lower East Side (on any day) can call Zach Bommer, in Silver's office, at 212-312-1420 or email Silver@assembly.state.ny.us.
