Norman Siegel Office in PHeights

raulism · September 2005

As a proud citizen of Prospect Heights, I wanted to let everyone know that the Brooklyn headquarters for the Norman Siegel campaign is right around the corned. It's at 761 Washington between Sterling and St. Johns, and until the primary, it'll probably be staffed from 10am to 10pm. By some odd occurrence, I find myself Siegel Brooklyn Field Coordinator.

If you like the use of eminent domain for the government to take private property from one individual and give it to another private individual, you probably don't want to vote for Norman Siegel. However, if you think that the abuse of eminent domain in Ratnerville is wrong, you should know that Norman Siegel is the eminent domain lawyer for DDDb. He has also defended the 9/11 victims families, and various citizens who have been detained by our government for such crimes as walking on the street during the Republican National Convention.

I could go on about why I think he's the person we need in the strange office of Public Advocate, but please visit www.Norman2005.com or email me at [email protected] if you have any questions. And definitely contact me if you want to volunteer!

You can also meet Norman yourself at the Tea Lounge this Friday (9/9) from 6:30-7:00.

This pathetic primary may seem like a waste of time next to the New Orleans disaster, but I think Katrina highlights the importance of this election. If we ignore our problems, they don't just go away. And politicians will never do the right thing unless we all force them.

Regards,
Raul

ana.log · September 2005

So, what's his plan to stop the Ratner machine?

raulism · September 2005

Subject: My best shot

ana.log wrote: So, what's his plan to stop the Ratner machine?

You know, I'm afraid I don't have too many concrete answers. He will use City resources and the office of Public Advocate to take up the case against Ratner's abuse of eminent domain. This alone is reason to vote for him, since DDDb's legal fees will run up into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Norman has marched with us, and spoken at our rallies for a long time. He is sympathetic to our concerns, and the biggest problem in my mind, is the disregard for democracy and accountability in the Ratner/Markowitz alliance. He can certainly publish economic analyses, and work to publicize the nasty activities of the MTA and other unaccountable public authorities.

There are many many many questions the city and state have not answered. What is the impact on traffic? Can our sewers and electrical grids handle the strain? Can the bedrock support a 60-story building? Any of these concerns could (or rather "should") stop this monstrosity, and Norman could easily use his office to make things difficult for Ratner.

I can try to get more detailed answers if you want, but does that address your question?

Regards,
Raul

alafairnadia · September 2005

Subject: Re: Norman Siegel Office in PHeights

raulism wrote: As a proud citizen of Prospect Heights, I wanted to let everyone know that the Brooklyn headquarters for the Norman Siegel campaign is right around the corned. It's at 761 Washington between Sterling and St. Johns, and until the primary, it'll probably be staffed from 10am to 10pm. By some odd occurrence, I find myself Siegel Brooklyn Field Coordinator.

If you like the use of eminent domain for the government to take private property from one individual and give it to another private individual, you probably don't want to vote for Norman Siegel. However, if you think that the abuse of eminent domain in Ratnerville is wrong, you should know that Norman Siegel is the eminent domain lawyer for DDDb. He has also defended the 9/11 victims families, and various citizens who have been detained by our government for such crimes as walking on the street during the Republican National Convention.

I could go on about why I think he's the person we need in the strange office of Public Advocate, but please visit www.Norman2005.com or email me at [email protected] if you have any questions. And definitely contact me if you want to volunteer!

You can also meet Norman yourself at the Tea Lounge this Friday (9/9) from 6:30-7:00.

This pathetic primary may seem like a waste of time next to the New Orleans disaster, but I think Katrina highlights the importance of this election. If we ignore our problems, they don't just go away. And politicians will never do the right thing unless we all force them.

Regards,
Raul

As a voting resident across the street I'm begging you now: please do not stand outside of that office on Saturdays or Sundays yelling into a megaphone and/or blaring really irritating music. This happened last year with whoever rented that space and it drove me BATSHIT.
Thanks.

raulism · September 2005

Subject: Re: Norman Siegel Office in PHeights

alafairnadia wrote: As a voting resident across the street I'm begging you now: please do not stand outside of that office on Saturdays or Sundays yelling into a megaphone and/or blaring really irritating music. This happened last year with whoever rented that space and it drove me BATSHIT.
Thanks.

There's not much chance of that, since we haven't been doing that on Saturdays or Sundays, and we have other events this final weekend. Though there are mostly non-Siegel people on the block, and you have as much control over their actions as I do.

~Raul

alafairnadia · September 2005

Subject: Re: Norman Siegel Office in PHeights

raulism wrote: [quote=alafairnadia]As a voting resident across the street I'm begging you now: please do not stand outside of that office on Saturdays or Sundays yelling into a megaphone and/or blaring really irritating music. This happened last year with whoever rented that space and it drove me BATSHIT.
Thanks.

There's not much chance of that, since we haven't been doing that on Saturdays or Sundays, and we have other events this final weekend. Though there are mostly non-Siegel people on the block, and you have as much control over their actions as I do.

~Raul

Yeah, last year it was another politician and I asked them to stop it. They didn't listen, though.

raulism · September 2005

Subject: Re: Norman Siegel Office in PHeights

alafairnadia wrote: Yeah, last year it was another politician and I asked them to stop it. They didn't listen, though.

Last year there were two campaigns on Washington Ave.: Tracy Boyland between Prospect & St. Marks and Major Owens, between Sterling & St. Johns. This was Major Owens' last campaign, since he is retiring. Tracy Boyland may be back to haunt us, but there's a wild race going on in her City Council district, with her father running for her old seat, and about 11 challengers.

The Norman Siegel citywide headquarters are in Manhattan, so you can expect us to be quiet on election night.

In any case, I urge everyone to vote for Norman Siegel. He rocks. Betsy Gotbaum has been lame, at best. (How's that for a reasoned political argument?)

Best,
Raul

flute · September 2005

Subject: Re: My best shot

raulism wrote: He will use City resources and the office of Public Advocate to take up the case against Ratner's abuse of eminent domain. This alone is reason to vote for him, since DDDb's legal fees will run up into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

As an elected official, couldn't that be considered a conflict of interest?

I personally think that the Public Advocate's office needs some new blood, a fresh face. Norman Siegel is such a "fixture" in NYC. I know he stirs things up a bit, but he's kind of predictable.

ana.log · September 2005

Norman Seigel may indeed "rock" but I'm not hearing much from you about why that is. He may indeed oppose eminent domain, but I'm not hearing anything concrete about what he's going to do to stop it. I highly doubt he's going to do anything at all. Like most politicians, i suppose he'll run on this issue betting it's 'hot-button' status will motivate people to vote for him -- and then once he'll elected he'll cross over and support the plan. Isn't that what politicians do?

vanilla · September 2005

Subject: Re: Norman Siegel Office in PHeights

As a voting resident across the street I'm begging you now: please do not stand outside of that office on Saturdays or Sundays yelling into a megaphone and/or blaring really irritating music. This happened last year with whoever rented that space and it drove me BATSHIT.
Thanks.

also M-F, especially evenings or late LATE night... WTF?!???

raulism · September 2005

Subject: Re: Norman Siegel Office in PHeights

vanilla wrote:

As a voting resident across the street I'm begging you now: please do not stand outside of that office on Saturdays or Sundays yelling into a megaphone and/or blaring really irritating music. This happened last year with whoever rented that space and it drove me BATSHIT.
Thanks.

also M-F, especially evenings or late LATE night... WTF?!???

Oh, I understand what you're talking about: someone else. We don't have any music here, there are no megaphones and there's no yelling. If you see someone doing anything like that, please talk to me because I'm the Brooklyn campaign coordinator, and it's my responsibility that nobody on the staff makes my candidate look bad. But I hope you realize that we are trying to be as responsible as possible. For instance, we are probably the only campaign that is not putting up posters on public property like street polls, which is illegal.

If there is any problem, or if you have any complaint, call me on my cell at 646-498-6093. Otherwise, I will often be at the office, which is between Shorty & Louis's barbershop and the Thriftway pharmacy at 761 Washington.

-Raul

raulism · September 2005

Subject: a preliminary statement about why Norman Siegel rocks

ana.log wrote: Norman Seigel may indeed "rock" but I'm not hearing much from you about why that is. He may indeed oppose eminent domain, but I'm not hearing anything concrete about what he's going to do to stop it. I highly doubt he's going to do anything at all. Like most politicians, i suppose he'll run on this issue betting it's 'hot-button' status will motivate people to vote for him -- and then once he'll elected he'll cross over and support the plan. Isn't that what politicians do?

Okay, here is what Norman Siegel is doing concretely against eminent domain. He is the lawyer for Develop Don't Destroy in their case against Ratner/NYC. He is also the lawyer for a woman named Joy in Downtown Brooklyn who is also facing an eminent domain fight. When he becomes Public Advocate, he has promised to use City resources for these legal battles. He also marched with DDDb earlier this summer, and railed against eminent domain in other cases as well, including ColumbiaÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s plan in West Harlem.

It seems like you don't realize that Norman Siegel has been the head of the New York Civil Liberties Union for 15 years, and he's been fighting the good fight for 40 years (he's 61). After 9/11, he went an defended the Arab and Muslim detainees who were held without cause: That is not something you do to make friends. During the Republican National Convention, when protesters and pedestrians were being held illegally, he defended them (incidentally, they didn't call the current Public Advocate, though it was her responsibility) and I think 90-95% of the cases were thrown out. He also is the lawyer for the bicyclists who get arrested for riding in groups of three, because Bloomberg considers that an illegal parade. I spoke with one man who was arrested and held without bail for homicide. Norman Siegel got him off (I'll give you more details if you want), but he did not accept payment for that. He doesn't accept payment for a lot of these activities.

If you want to challenge him personally, I suggest you come meet him today. He will be in Brownsville at Pitkin & Bristol at 5pm and then at the Tea Lounge on Union near 7th Ave in Park Slope from 6:30 to 7:00 tonight (Friday).

By comparison, you may want to see what the Village Voice wrote about the incumbent at:
http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0536,barrett,67511,5.html

It should be noted that during the first debate, the incumbent Betsy Gotbaum said that there was no use of eminent domain the Ratnerville. During the second debate, she referred to them as "holdouts." Betsy may be a perfectly nice woman, but she is more a corporate advocate than a public advocate. Her accomplishments are thin at best- she claims that she was one of the foremost opponents of the West Side Stadium, but I never saw her.

I would be glad to go into more details of why I have invested my body and soul to get Norman Siegel into office. My personal feeling is that the way to stop the nasty nasty direction this country is going is by fighting for local issues. This is not a joke for me. If there had been some social justice in New Orleans, there would not have been such a disaster there. It's time for us to take responsibility for what's going on- saying that "all politicians are the same" is a cop-out. If you are not willing to even be informed about the differences, it means that you are helping the worst of the worst to get in. Politicians will take the easy way out unless we make our voices heard.

Sincerely,
Raul

ana.log · September 2005

Thanks Raul, first let me say that I really admire the fact that you are involved in the campaign and that you are so sincere and genuine in your support of Normal Siegal. I am clearly way too cynical about politics to do the same.

Obviously, a lot of people in the community don't want the arena and everything that comes with it, yet it seems the process will move forward with or without the community's support. Legal battles notwithstanding, I guess I'm trying to get a sense of whether there is any chance that this development can be stopped, or not, and what else, besides lawsuits, might be invoked to stop it.

t-fal · September 2005

if norman seigel wants votes out my way, all he has to do is bitch and get something done about the b71 bus. it used to be such a good bus, you could set your watch to it! then they got this horrible derelict former lazy ass frat boy of a driver who is about as reliable as a teenager's menstrual cycle. its so enraging, that everyone who took that bus regularly now bitches about it. and the poor other drivers who are doing their job have to feel the brunt of it. that guy, i swear to god is often a half hour late, and it only runs every half hour!

and if he could get the b71 to run later that would be dreamy. but if he could just publicly shame or humiliate that one particular slack driver, he'd get my vote, and probably a lot of other voters out crown heights way.

anonymous · September 2005

Subject: norman

looking beyond the arena project, which Norman is clearly firmly against, here is why electing Norman, in my opinion, is important:

Betsy Gotbaum is an insider--a monied, entrenched incumbent. She is of power and money and from power and money. We need LESS of that in our political office holders. She is beholden to developer money, yes that includes Ratner. Norman is an outsider, insurgent and of the people.
An election day victory by Norman Siegel would be a wake up call to all the entrenched incumbents who run this city like their private self-promotion club, and an alarm bell for outsider, insurgents who will be inspired to enter office.

Politics is a disgusting field, which is why many, many good people have no interest in running for office. If we can get more good people, more "everyday people" instead of power and money people, in office, our politics will be better and thus civic life will be better.

The office of public advocate has so much more potential than Betsy has even attempted to use. Norman, if elected, would truly advocate for the people, instead of protecting the powerful.

That is why I think the public advocate race this year is so important, and so much bigger than that one race itself.

just my thoughts. vote for Norman Siegel.

flute · September 2005

http://www.gothamgazette.com/campaign2005/53

Just don't forget that there are other candidates in the race besides Betsy Gotbaum and Norman Siegel ...

anonymous · September 2005

that is true, there are other candidates. I happen to like Rasiej, but he doesn't bring to the table what Norman does.

Norman Siegel Office in PHeights

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