Public Advocates Race- Who Is Running And Who Has Signed Our Defending Libraries Letter of Support (Plus, Very Important, Who Is Taking Real Estate Money!)

Who is running for NYC Public Advocate and more . . .

The whole race for NYC Public Advocate is sort of ridiculous at the moment.

There is no time for anyone to find out about the election (it’s on Tuesday the 26th of this month), figure out who is running, or to campaign and say what their positions are.  It is also for a stub term that will be over almost instantaneously.  The next election for the office basically starts as soon as this one ends.

Lastly, it is a shrieking advertisement for why we should have instant runoff voting.  With seventeen candidates (still) running it is a circular firing squad where candidates advertising similar positions will execute each other.  The winner could conceivable win with less than 10% of the vote (more likely it will be with a little over 20%).  A good Republican can be better than a bad Democrat (we don't want to be in any way prejudiced), but with only one Republican running, he may be the winner just because he is a Republican even though no candidate is allowed to run as either a Republican or a Democrat.

What may be more important is how quickly any winner of that office can do something that makes fireworks to set themselves up for the next election for that office.  That includes potentially doing something for libraries and doing the things that protects the city’s populace against the real estate industry, protecting the public realm, public places and maintaining a livable city with human dimension and scale for its residents.

We have written before about the importance of the office of NYC Public Advocate when our libraries are under threat.  Further, one of the prominent and obvious forces in the panoply of forces arraying to threaten libraries, is the real estate industry that spends so copiously to buy off our elected officials.  Information about which of the Public Advocates candidates are taking money from that industry and which of them are taking in the biggest and most troubling ways is available on an article in the Villager by Lynn Ellsworth of New Yorkers For a Human Scale New York (see- Wanted: Candidates who’ll fight big real estate, February 11, 2019) and in a related study she has published on the numbers (see- Follow the Money and the Voting Records:  Public Advocates Race . . .Candidates Who Participated in the First Debate  2/6/19- It uses cute little face icons as a guide to the ext and analysis).

In the Villager article Ms. Ellsworth says the race is lowering her expectations about what is in store for our future because the “race is rife with term-limited politicians, machine pols and recipients of real estate money.”

After a few curt remarks about the effect real estate money has already had on candidates in the huge field that is running Ellsworth says:

The sniff test of “who takes real estate money and who doesn’t” leaves a few candidates standing: David Eisenbach, Nomiki Konst, Dawn Smalls and Ben Yee — and to a lesser extent Kim and O’Donnell. The two women, Smalls and Konst, passed the first of the Campaign Finance Law’s funding thresholds and got into the public debate.

In the bad-news-might-be-good-news department, the most encouraging thing that can be teased out of this overall perplexing situation is that because very few people will vote and know about the election and the candidates, those who do may have significant extra sway over the results.  We encourage you to vote.  Just as important: Let the candidates you are voting for (and not voting for) because of their positions with respect to libraries and the real estate industry know about how those issues have directed your vote.

Right now a number of the candidates have signed the Citizens Defending Libraries letter of support:

Support and Sign-On Letter: Full and Adequate Library Funding, A Growing System, Transparency, Books and Librarians.

(We will be sending the information out to our multi-thousand list soon- plus potentially updating this post- so if you wish to exercise influence on any non-signers to tell them to get down to business please do.)

Public Advocate candidate signers are (roughly in order of quickness of response and enthusiasm):

David Eisenbach (who has written a letter about his support for libraries)
Nomiki D. Konst
Benjamin L. Yee
Jared Rich
Rafael L. Espinal

Non-signers are:

Melissa Mark-Viverito (She has actively ignored all our reach outs)
Yandis Rodriguez (Not likely to come around to signing since he secretly set up sale of Inwood Library)
Jumaane D. Williams (A front runner who should be signing and abstained on the City Council vote on the Brooklyn Heights Library sale as we recall)

And the others who have not gotten back to us:

Michael A. Blake
(Anthony) Tony Herbert
Ron Kim
Daniel (Danny) J. O’Donnell
Dawn L. Smalls
Latrice Walker
Eric A. Ulrich
A. Manny Aliccandro
Helal Abu Sheikh

Candidates who dropped out and are now irrelevant are:

Theo Chino
Daniel Christmann
Ifeoma Ike
Diane Savino
Gwenn Goodman
Michael Zumbluskas
Raphael Schweizer

November 7, 2017 (Tuesday) NYC Elections- Voting Options & What Library Defenders Should About Candidates Running For Office

Candidates Steve Levin Victoria Crambranes, both running to be council member representing the 33rd district

Please remember to vote on Tuesday and remind all the library defenders you know to vote too. . .

No matter what, your votes sends a message to our elected officials that you vote and it can send a message* about what you care about, including libraries.

(* NOTE: If you are unhappy with the choices you can send a message by NOT voting particular lines or by writing in alternatives.  And, on things like judges, if you know and like some, but don't know about the others, only vote for the judges you like so you don't dilute your vote.  Voting Green Party can send a message and help that party get their message out better and better over time.)

Here is a roundup of some important voting options this Tuesday when it comes to defending libraries and information about the candidates’ positions and their records on selling libraries.

The second biggest library in Brooklyn was just sold, the central destination Business, Career, and Education Library Brooklyn Heights Library in Downtown Brooklyn.  It was sold for a minuscule fraction of its value in a shrink-and-sink-deal mirroring the Donnell Library shrink-and-sink-deal debacle (a central destination library likewise replaced with a luxury tower).

That makes several races on Tuesday all the more important.

Race for 33rd City Council District

One of those important races is the City Council race for the 33rd district where incumbent City Councilman Steve Levin who pushed through that Brooklyn library sale (and let the top floor of the Williamsburg Library be given away) is running against challenger Victoria Cambranes.  The debate between the candidates was very telling.  More information here:

Debate Between Candidates For 33rd NYC Council District, Incumbent Councilman Steve Levin And Challenger Victoria Cabranes

On Eve of 10/29/'17 Debate With Victoria Cambranes, Challenger For His Office, Councilman Steve Levin Sends Transparency Request Letter to Brooklyn Public Library Promised in Spring 2015 (But it's deficient!)

The Race For New York City Mayor

City Councilman Steve Levin could not have pushed through the sale of the second biggest library in Brooklyn had it not been the plan of library-selling Mayor de Blasio who is now also pushing forward other ill-advised library sales like the Inwood Library.

Running against him is a candidate who opposes these sales and has signed out Citizens Defending Libraries Letter of Support.  More information here.

Democratic Primary (September 12, 2017)- Candidates For Mayor: Sal Albanese vs. Bill de Blasio

Race for Public Advocate

For years ago Tish James as Candidate for Public Advocate ran with full-throated statements about how if she was elected she would oppose and stop the sale of city libraries.  But what has she really done when had the chance.  David Eisenbach was running against her and supposedly remains on the Liberal line for the general election (but is apparently not actually on the ballot).  He has spoken out against the library sales and signed our Citizens Defending Libraries Letter of Support.  More information (important about Tish James) here.

Democratic Primary (September 12, 2017)- Candidates For Public Advocate: David Eisenbach vs. incumbent Tish James

Since it looks like you won't find Mr. Eisenbach on the ballot it is all the more important to direct your attention to another candidate running for Public Advocate (who you will not have any problem finding on the ballot), James Lane, whose strong position about not selling libraries was made very clear by him at our Public Advocates Forum.

Race for 35rd City Council DistrictAnother city council race to care about is the City Council race for the 35th district (Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, Bed Stuy, and Crown Heights) where incumbent City Council Member Laurie Cumbo is running against challenger Jabari Brisport.  Laurie Cumbo wholeheartedly backed Councilman Levin’s sale of the second biggest library in Brooklyn and is enthusiastic about library sales generally.  (That’s notwithstanding that when she was running to first obtain office she signed our petition opposing the library sales.)  She is funded by a ton of real estate money and generally characterized as being blindly in that industry’s pocket.

In contrast, challenger Brisport has vigorously opposed the selling of the Bedford Union Armory in Crown Heights, currently one of the biggest issues in the district with respect to which Cumbo (whom we find untrustworthy when it comes to the sale of public assets) is no better than “ambiguous.” 

An Extra Thought About Why You Should Vote

And just in case you needed an extra push to think about why it is important to vote and why it is important to think about libraries when you vote, you may want to consider this:

How Did Trump Get Elected?: Michael Moore In "Terms of My Surrender" Envisions That It Was A Dumbing Down of the Country That Involved Closing Libraries

The United States is at the bottom of the list of countries in the world in terms of voter turn-out.  And of the fifty states New York is at the bottom of the list in terms of voter turn-out.  That unfortunate fact actually means that your vote counts all the more.  It's an unfortunate fact that can be explained by the way that our elected officials disappoint and fail to represent us when in office.  Still when the choices are wrong we can still send a message that the choices are wrong if we vote and, if necessary, don't vote certain lines or write in candidates.

Democratic Primary (September 12, 2017)- Candidates For Public Advocate: David Eisenbach vs. incumbent Tish James

David Eisenbach wearing save our library, don't sell our libraries buttons as he campaigned outside the Inwood Library to be elected to the office of NYC Public Advocate

What do library defenders need to know about the candidates running to be the Democratic candidate for New York City Public Advocate?  David Eisenbach is running against incumbent Tish James.

Thursday of this week, David Eisenbach was up in the neighborhood of Inwood standing with a large crowd outside the Inwood Library calling for that library to be saved from sale for development by Mayor Bill de Blasio and his administration.

Save the Inwood Library press conference Thursday

Public Advocate Tish James was not there.  In her now nearly four years in office as Public Advocate Tish James has done little to oppose the sale of New York City libraries.

After the current NYC Comptroller, Scott Stringer wrote a strong letter critical of the BPL's sale and shrinkage of its second biggest biggest library in Brooklyn with the current Tish James followed suit to write similarly, and as a candidate for office candidate James campaigned against such shrinkages.
Accordingly, Citizens Defending Libraries endorsed her when she ran for her office.  And Ms. James mentioned protecting libraries in both speeches she gave after her two primary wins four years ago.  She again mentioned the importance of protecting libraries and our public assets in her inaugural address.
 
Nevertheless, Ms. James is one of the list of public officials who have not done enough to exercise their formidable powers to protect the libraries from the significant abuses involved in their sales.

Where does David Eisenbach stand on the subject of NYC library sales?

David Eisenbach has signed our Citizens Defending Libraries letter of support.  See: Support and Sign-On Letter: Full and Adequate Library Funding, A Growing System, Transparency, Books and Librarians.

Letter from David Eisenbach, candidate for Public Advocate, decrying library sales.

David Eisenbach has also furnished Citizens Defending Libraries with a letter further expressing his thoughts about stopping these sales and the role of the Public Advocate in that regard.

It reads:

To Supporters of Citizens Defending Libraries,

My name is David Eisenbach. I teach history at Columbia University and I'm running in the September 12th Democratic Primary for Public Advocate because I'm tired of New York City's Democratic establishment selling off our libraries, parks, and hospitals to Big Real Estate. I'm absolutely furious about the city's plan to demolish the Inwood library and sell the property to a developer. Libraries have played an essential role in my life. As a child my local library hosted storytelling and film programs that enkindled a joy for learning and planted the seeds for my career as a writer and History Channel host and producer. My first book was almost entirely researched in NYPL. I think the Inwood Library sellout is symbolic of the sick, distorted priorities of our current society that values money over knowledge. Now more than ever we need to build and expand libraries not tear them down for the highest bidder.

I know 4 years ago Bill de Blasio and Tish James made a lot of promises to Citizens Defending Libraries -- promises that went unfulfilled. It would be very reasonable for you to be suspicious of yet another politician promising to be THE ONE to defend the libraries. All I can say is I don't accept big real estate money. I'm not a career politician looking to use the Public Advocate's office to become mayor - I only want to be Public Advocate. I've dedicated my career to spreading knowledge and sparking a passion for learning in my students. I promise I'll be a Real Public Advocate who will defend Inwood library and all others. So remember to vote this Tuesday.

Sincerely,

David Eisenbach

Our Election Edition Respecting The Democratic Primary (September 12, 2017): Races For Mayor, Public Advocate, City Council

Save The Library press conference in Inwood Thursday

We hope that library defenders registered as Democratic in New York City will be voting this Tuesday (September 12, 2017), in the primary.  Much of what you as a voter might want to know you were likely to find out if, this Thursday, you were with the crowd up in the neighborhood of Inwood standing outside the Inwood Library calling for that library to be saved from sale from development by Mayor Bill de Blasio and his administration.

Sal Albanese, candidate for Mayor

You would have heard Sal Albanese, running for mayor against library-selling Bill de Blasio decrying the de Blasio administration’s many library sales, including the Inwood library.  Sal Albanese has signed our Citizens Defending Libraries Letter of Support.  More on what you need to know about the two Democratic candidates for mayor is available here: Democratic Primary (September 12, 2017)- Candidates For Mayor: Sal Albanese vs. Bill de Blasio.

David Eisenbach, candidate for NYC Public Advocate

David Eisenbach was there.  He is running against incumbent Tish James for the office of Public Advocate.   David Eisenbach has signed our Citizens Defending Libraries Letter of Support.  More on what you need to know about the two Democratic candidates for Public Advocate is available here:  Democratic Primary (September 12, 2017)- Candidates For Public Advocate: David Eisenbach vs. incumbent Tish James.

You also need to know that a lot of the people who are causing trouble for the communities they are supposed to represent are city councilmen helping to push through sale of the libraries.  In the neighborhood of Inwood, Josue Perez is running against the local library-selling city councilman Ydanis Rodriguez and therefore has gotten “support of several Uptown groups, including Save the Inwood Library.”  Josue Perez spoke at Thursday’s Save The Inwood Library Press conference.

Josue Perez, running for city council against library-selling Ydanis Rodriguez

Other city council members high on the list NOT to vote for because they favor and push through library sales: Brad Lander, Steve Levin (sales are shrinking two libraries in his district the Brooklyn Heights Library and Williamsburg Library), Carlos Menchaca (selling the Sunset park Library), and Laurie Cumbo.

Ede Fox is running against Ms. Cumbo and her real estate money.