Diamond Street

Kirsten Gillibrand for Senator

2010-03-08T23:00:00.008-05:00

Kirsten Gillibrand lives in Hudson NY
(well really in Greenport, but close enough).

I am the Chairman of the Hudson City Democratic Committee, and I couldn't be prouder to chair her hometown Democratic Committee.

As a freshman Senator and an appointed one at that, she has taken the lead on a host of issues, but there has never been a stronger leader in the Senate on ending discrimination against gay people.

I was at a meeting of Hudson Valley Chairs this past weekend at which we unanimously endorsed the Senator. She was incredible, and I'm pretty jaded when it comes to political speeches. She knows the issues and she offers plans to solve problems. On a host of issues, she is not content with going with the flow. She is taking the lead.

Kirsten Gillibrand for President...er...I mean Senator.

NYS Senator Diane Savino Speaks on the Marriage Equality Bill

2009-12-08T04:34:00.002-05:00

I hadn't ever heard of Senator Savino of Staten Island. But I am a big fan now. Check this out!

See also NY Magazine

$9Million Dollars?...Well How Much Does a New Form of Government Cost Then?

2009-11-02T20:51:00.012-05:00

How does $9 Million dollars disappear from the county general fund?

Our county leader, Board of Supervisors Chair Art Baer says that no one is responsible. But despite his assertion, there are people responsible and they need to be held accountable.

But first a few things need to be stated and understood. One of the most important things to know is that not only is Ken Wilber the County Treasurer, but he receives a separate salary as budget director. So for anyone to seriously claim that there was no way for Ken Wilber to have known about this issue is an outrage. He is County Treasurer and Budget Director. How could he not have known? Either he mislead the public, or he is incompetent. Whichever it is no longer matters. The entire Board of Supervisors, Democrats, Republicans and Independents should immediately call for County Treasurer Ken Wilber's resignation.

As for Department of Social Services (DSS) Commissioner Paul Mossman, he needs to immediately explain to the public why he conducted his department's accounting to the Board of Supervisors and to the public in such a clearly shoddy manner. If he is unable or unwilling to clarify the answer to this question, he should be dismissed.

But there are other questions that need asking as well. How long has Chairman Art Baer known about this fiasco? What about the Chairs of the various committees with budgetary oversight and oversight of DSS, that should have caught this issue? How much will this scandal cost the taxpayers of Columbia County in increased borrowing costs? Will there be penalties for having lied to bond holders who purchased our debt instruments in good faith and now find the county to have overstated its fiscal health?

On the issue of the dismissal of Pattison, Koskey, Howe and Bucci: It is no wonder that Pattison, Koskey, Howe and Bucci has been silent. Chairman Baer has been reported as saying that he would "go nuclear" if Koskey breaks that silence. Now there are rumors that Koskey is one of bidders on One City Centre. The failure of Art Baer to release the results of the bidding process only fuels the fire that we are not getting the whole story.

The purchase of Ockawamick, the move of DSS, the relocation of Pine Haven, the St. Charles Hotel as homeless shelter…and now the write down of millions of dollars from the general fund. Our county has lurched from one misguided and not thought through proposal after another. Now we have the current scandal, all presided over by a Chairman not elected by the people of Columbia County, but by the some of the residents of the Town of Hillsdale.

All of this points out the real problem in Columbia County. Our form of government is a breeding ground for secrecy, nepotism, lack of accountability and corruption. For decades the Republican majority did not even allow Democrats on the Board to see the budget before it was approved by the Republican majority. The Democrats were inconsequential in the process. While there has been limited improvement to what is shared with the minority, due to Democratic increases in representation on the Board; much of our county government continues to operate in secret. This is the real reason for this scandal and it will never end until Republicans no longer hold the majority on the Board of Supervisors.

There are only a handful of counties in New York which still have Boards of Supervisors. Most have moved to County Legislatures with an Executive who is accountable to the voters of the entire county, not just one of the towns. In the next few months I will be dedicating a substantial part of my time to help create a public groundswell of support to end our antiquated form of government. It is time to replace it with one that is accountable for the decisions it makes. One where the party in the minority has the same access to information as the majority, regardless of which party is in power. I urge all of the residents of Columbia County to do the same. Open government with fair and thoughtful representation is what every citizen deserves.
Now is the time for Columbia County to move to a County Legislature and County Executive.

Victor Mendolia

• DSS officials: County did no wrong by claiming $9M.

• Fate of DSS, One City Centre worries officials.
• Baer answers questions on $9M shortage

See also: How Do You Lose $9M? and Free pass?

One of the Best Things About Hudson...Bindlestiff!

2009-06-12T13:56:00.007-04:00

One of the best things about moving to Hudson, has been seeing and getting to know the Bindlestiffs. The Bindlestiff Family Cirkus is something to see. Fire Eaters, Sword Swallowers, Acrobats and Freaks rule this circus.

Unlike Ringling/Cirque where the action is precisely choreographed, their work is what might happen, when the staff went home at the Mental Institution for the Criminally Artistically Insane.

See everything at: bindlestiff.org

Check out this new video that gives you some history.

Make sure to go see their shows in the area this Summer.

Buckaroo Binldestiff's Wild West Show
Rocking Horse Ranch
June 13 at 8:30PM
June 20 at 8:30PM
July 4 at 8:30AM
July 10 at 8:30PM
Fun for the whole family.
Rocking Horse Ranch
600 Route 44/55 (Thruway Exit 18)
Highland, NY 12528

Freaks & Foolz Cabaret
Art Fits Vermont
BurlingtonVT
All Day - Two Day Event
Show Times
Saturday & Sunday July 11 & 12
12:00 - 3:00 in City Hall Park and
9:00pm - 11:00PM in City Hall
(Contois Auditorium)

Bindlestiffs at Spiegeltent
at Bard College
August 1 at 1:00PM
August 2 at 7:00PM
Bard College, Annandale on Hudson
Tickets

Bindlestiff Family Cirkus Show
at Columbia-Greene Comm. College
September 20 at 2:00PM
CGCC
4400 State Route 23, just 1.3 miles east of the Rip Van Winkle Bridge in Hudson
Tickets 518-828-4181 x 3344

Candidate School

2009-04-25T03:24:00.004-04:00

Don't like the way things are?

Run for office!

Shepard Fairey http://obeygiant.com/

San Franciso Mayor Gavin Newsom on Whether Civil Unions and Marriage are Equal

2009-03-20T01:25:00.009-04:00

Gavin Newsom, the current Mayor of San Francisco and more than likely, the Democratic challenger to Governor Terminator, spoke at the Commonwealth Club recently. He lays out why civil unions can never be accepted as equal to marriage.

Become a fan on Facebook

I Got Licked!

2009-03-10T17:02:00.011-04:00

So I am really late in posting this (like all winter) but toward the end of the summer I had an old picture of myself from 1979 with me and showed it to Christopher at Lick - the best Ice Cream Store/Hangout in Hudson.

It inspired him to do this chalk drawing of me on the sidewalk in front of Lick.
See the post on Lick's Blog.

1979 - Cherry Grove Ferry, Sayville NY
More of Me (and my dog Rocky) on the Lick Blog

Best Oscar Acceptance Speech 2009

2009-02-27T22:24:00.008-05:00

Great Oscar Acceptance Speech

Best Screenplay - MILK

Umm - No Not That MILK

This MILK

Sign the Petition on ThePowerOnline.org

2009-02-20T18:47:00.005-05:00

Campaign 2001 Memorabilia

2009-02-19T13:24:00.005-05:00

I was digging around in some old picture folders and came across my campaign flyer from 2001 when I challenged Christine Quinn (the current Speaker of the NYC Council).

At the time she was trying to overturn term limits, was complicit in the harrassment faced by bars, nightclubs and adult establishments and she had an enemies list. Eight years later, not much has changed.

The primary took place on an infamous day. 9/11/2001.

I had to drop out of the race before the election because I had a gran mal seizure completely out of the blue. I spent months having every test and scan to find out what was up. In the end it was determined that was supremely exhausted and my body just shut down.

Even though the voters in New York City have held three referenda on term limits and have rejected extending them twice, Speaker Quinn will most likely be reelected to another term, against the will of the people.

Scott Murphy for Congress

2009-02-18T00:40:00.011-05:00

SCOTT MURPHY for CONGRESS

There will be a special election in the 20th Congressional District on March 31st to fill the Congressional seat vacated when Kirsten Gillibrand was appointed our new Senator.

Scott Murphy is the Democratic nominee.

Learn more about Scott:
scottmurphy09.com
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
Scott on Wikipedia
Scott on DailyKos
Scott on AHN
Scott in New York Observer

Scott's YouTube Channel
Donate to Scott's Campaign on ActBlue

Join Scott's Group on Facebook
Become a fan on Facebook

We Have Tortured! War Crimes Need To Be Prosecuted!

2009-01-20T06:58:00.001-05:00

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Arrest Bush? If We Don't Someone Else Just Might.

2009-01-20T00:43:00.001-05:00

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

American Prayer by Dave Stewart

2009-01-19T06:55:00.003-05:00

A new Inauguration Day Version of American Prayer by Dave Stewart (Eurythmics) with a bevy of other cool people (and Jason Alexander).

Pete Seeger and The Boss

2009-01-19T06:52:00.001-05:00

The great Pete Seeger represents the Hudson Valley at the Inauguration with Bruce Springsteen.

THE POWER IS YOURS because you are THE POWER.

2008-12-31T03:08:00.008-05:00

I have been asked to be an officer on THE POWER and am honored to do so.

The Power is an outgrowth of the spontaneous grass roots energy that erupted in the aftermath of California's Proposition 8 which took away the right of same-sex couples to marry

The first order of business for The Power is to ensure a Democratic majority in NY State Senate without any pre-conditions. .

Even though Democrats won enough seats to take control of the Senate for the first time in 40 years, three conservative Democrats want gay marriage off the table as the cost of keeping their votes with the Democrats. The threat being otherwise they'll cut a deal with the Republicans and give them back the majority. So a deal may have already been made with the Democratic leadership to not address the issue. More details on the reported deal here.

This is a typical Albany power grab, with equality as the bargaining chip. It is the kind of stuff that has always gone on in Albany, but for once it is seeing the light of day.

Please Join and participate! Help spread the word.

The Power on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=39366464226

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
From Facebook page for THE POWER

THE POWER IS YOURS because you are THE POWER.

JOIN THE POWER in holding political leaders accountable to support equality, most immediately marriage equality, not on some arbitrary and convenient schedule, but right now.

UNLEASH THE POWER to enact marriage equality legislation in New York in 2009 and to achieve federal recognition of those marriages.

Please:
1. JOIN the Facebook group.
2. POST it to your Facebook profile.
3. INVITE all your friends, straight and gay, New Yorkers and out-of-staters.
4. Post articles and discussions about these Senators and the battle for marriage inNew York.
5. ORGANIZE events and demonstrations. If you are willing to do so, please contact the group leaders.

***********************************************
Background:

THE POWER is the outgrowth of a Facebook group that harnessed the spontaneous grass roots energy that errupted in the aftermath of Proposition 8 to pressure a group of rogue Democratic New York State Senators known as "The Gang of Three" (Ruben Diaz , Sr., Carl Kruger, and Pedro Espada, Jr.) to abandon a scheme to back an anti-marriage Republican (Dean Skelos) over a pro-marriage Democrat (Malcolm Smith) for majority leader. Through thousands and thousands of calls to anti-gay Senator Ruben Diaz, Sr., we put him and other legislators on notice that the people are prepared to take the fight for equality to our opponents in their own districts, and that we won't give up until we prevail.

On December 6th, The Gang of Three made a deal which gives Democrats control of the State Senate for the first time in forty years and which will make Malcolm Smith the President Pro Tempore, enabling introduction of marriage legislation in 2009.

Unfortunately, rumors surfaced in the press that as part of the deal, Smith had agreed to table marriage legislation until after the 2010 gubernatorial election. Though there has been no official confirmation of such a deal, it became clear that the thousands of people assembling under the banner of the old Facebook group needed and wanted to assemble under a different banner that wasn't tied to any one specific politician or political party, specifically for the purpose of pursuing marriage equality in New York.

Since Facebook does not allow anyone to change the name of a group after it has been created, the only solution was to create a new group with a more generic name.

Thus, The Power.

Go to Facebook Now and Join

Contact Info ThePowerNY@gmail.com

Crucial Links:
Join The Impact
Marriage Equality - NY
Empire State Pride Agenda
Capital District Gay and Lesbian Community Council

Upcoming Events: Marriage Equality Day in Albany February 3rd

A New Day - Happy New Year

2008-12-30T09:24:00.006-05:00

Happy 2009 Everyone!

The Worst President Ever Gets a Small Bit of Just Rewards

2008-11-21T17:06:00.003-05:00

As the Inauguration of Barack Obama approaches, George W. Bush prepares to leave office as the Worst President EVER. His place in history starts looking even clearer when his contemporaries on the world stage won't even look him in the eye, let alone shake his hand.

Prop 8 Nationwide Protest Saturday

2008-11-15T00:22:00.009-05:00

JOIN

THE

IMPACT

National Day of Protests
Against Proposition 8

Shepard Fairey, the graphic designer and illustrator who created the iconic images for Obama's campaign, has turned his focus to the current fight for equality in the gay and lesbian community, designing a poster intended specifically for use at this weekend's rallies in California and elsewhere.
More including a hi-res version at Towelroad

Albany
Location: 24 Eagle Street Albany, NY
Time: 1:30pm
More Info

New York City
Time: 1:30PM to 4:30PM
Organizers: Evan Terry, Carrie Harrington, Dani Ryan, Shalini Shah, Heath Tucker
Contact info: impactnyc@gmail.com or info@marriageequalityny.org
Supporting Organizations: Marriage Equality New York
More Info

Syracuse
Location: City Hall: 233 E Washington St Syracuse, NY 13202
Time: 1:30pm
Organizer: Ashley Wysocki
Contact info: anoel_43@yahoo.com
Supporting Organizations: CNY Pride, Marriage Equality NY, Syracuse University LGBT
Resource Center
More Info

20 Years Later, We Still Have to Stop the Church!

2008-11-14T22:23:00.013-05:00

My ACT UP comrade, Peter Staley had a mouthful to say about the recent protests against Prop 8 on Joe My God. I can't say I disagree with him. (Original Post here)

So far the message and the method have been a bit tame. That's not to say that I am not thrilled that there are thousands of people on the streets protesting. But "God Loves Gay Marriage" is a far cry from "Stop the Church" and in the end isn't that what this is STILL about? This struggle is still a struggle between the Catholic Church, Mormons, Evangelicals and Fundamentalists who are not only preaching intolerance and hate to their congregants. But also continue to actively work to impose their agenda as public policy. Exactly the same reasons ACT UP went to Saint Patrick's Cathedral in 1989.

Back then Cardinal O'Connor and the Church heirarchy was actively trying to squash the implementation of the "Children of the Rainbow Curriculum"a program to teach children about diversity which included gays and lesbians, and to block condom availablity and safer sex education in the public schools
.
I am thrilled that people are once again out in the streets by the thousands fighting for their right to live their lives as they choose, without interference from religious zealots. These are the same religious leader hypocrites that protected hundreds of pedophiles for decades, the same ones that look the other way while polygamist pedophiles set up whole towns for their sick abuses. The same preachers that preach fire and brimstone for gay people while they hide their own crystal-meth fueled sexcapades.

These are the people who want to take away people's rights, rights given them by the proper interpretation of the Constitution and law.

There is still more work to do. These so called leaders won't go down without a fight. But they will lose. Hypocrisy and intolerance cannot withstand being exposed. I believe that we will have to raise the ante to get there, but they will fall.

I had a dream not long ago and in it I was asking, "will the church ever fall? It has been the single most wicked thing on the planet. Wars, inquisition, genocide. How will it ever end?" The answer was that it would fall just like the Berlin Wall. It will just no longer make sense to anyone.

There are many people in the world who use their religion to spread love and kindness. I mean no disrespect to people of faith who understand the issues and respect the separation of church and state. None of my comments are directed at these people who do so many good things for humanity.

But to the preachers of intolerance, to the hypocrites and liars, to the closed minded bigots of the world. Your days are numbered.

It's Coming!

Now More Than Ever -- Stop the Church!

Proposition 8 - What Is It To You?

2008-11-10T22:42:00.002-05:00

There is a Lot More Than Just a Presidential Race This Year!

2008-11-02T01:38:00.011-04:00

This is an historic election in so many ways. It has truly been a year of "firsts". We are looking at electing an inspirational, capable, level-headed leader to clean up the mess of 8 horrible years of Republican rule that can only be described as a complete and utter failure, and to plot a new course for our nation and the world. What an exciting year it is to actually be able to go to the polls and elect Barack Obama our next President.

On the local level here in Hudson we also have five outstanding Democrats on the ballot. Making 2008 one of the easiest elections in recent memory. You cannot lose by doing one simple thing. Vote Row A - All The Way!

Each of these five candidates will serve Hudson and our area with the best understanding of the struggles we face after the disaster of the Bush Presidency and decades of Republican cronyism, corruption and neglect on the county level. They understand what it will take to get beyond the current state of affairs and bring back the promise of this country. So learn about the people on the Democratic ticket and we are sure you will agree that this year it's Row A - All the Way!

In the order they will appear on the ballot:

Barack Obama and Joe Biden
for President and Vice-President

http://barackobama.com

Judge Patrick McGrath
for Supreme Court
http://www.judgepatrickmcgrath.com/

Kirsten Gillibrand
for Congress

http://kirstengillibrand.com

Ken Dow
for State Senate

Anne Rubin
for Assembly

http://annerubin.net

Richard Koweek for
Hudson City Judge

http://koweekforcityjudge.blogspot.com/

2008-10-12T19:41:00.004-04:00

The Little Death with Moby

2008-10-12T03:26:00.002-04:00

A tast of Blue Tsunami http://bluetsunami.com

Columbia County Democrats Announce Blue Tsunami Voter Rally

2008-10-04T04:43:00.006-04:00

Blue Tsunami
The Rally in the Valley
A Massive Six County Hudson Valley Voter Rally
Saturday October 18th 4pm - 4am

More Info at: http://BlueTsunami.com
Buy tickets at: http://www.actblue.com/page/bluetsunami

6 Counties - One Mission
On October 18th the Columbia County Democratic Committee is sponsoring Blue Tsunami a massive voter rally in Hudson NY. Joining the Columbia County Committee as co-sponsors are the Democratic Committees of the five surrounding Hudson Valley counties, Albany, Dutchess, Greene, Rensselaer & Ulster. This will be a first for this area.

Democrats ready to take power and lead.
These areas of the Hudson Valley, long considered Republican strongholds are now on the verge of becoming solidy Democratic. Blue Tsunami will work toward better coordinating our efforts, raising funds for the crucial local elections next year and informing voters.

Fostering dialogue between candidates and officials and voters.
The voter rally is aimed at energizing voters to get to the polls in November and to make the most informed decisions when they do. There will be elected officials and candidates participating in the event (We will announce them shortly) with speeches, information and the opportunity to speak one on one.

Having a blast while we get the work done.
There will be live music by a wide variety of bands. The headliners are The Little Dead. The bands members include Laura Dawn, Daron Murphy and Aaron Brooks and it's most famous member Moby. Find out more about the bands that are playing here. The event will close with an all-night dance party with DJs to be announced.

So please join us in Hudson NY for Blue Tsunami as we help turn the Hudson Valley a beautiful shade of Democratic Blue.

If you are on Facebook or MySpace. Join the Blue Tsunami Event pages that these links go to.
Blue Tsunami Event on Facebook

Blue Tsunami Event on MySpace

Blue Tsunami Event on Facebook