NYC: Vote on Thursday, September 15

As you know, one of my top causes is getting New Yorkers to vote in the district where they live.

Local elected officials are the ones that affect your day to day life, and the ones who will actually listen when you call, write, or email.  None of this "I'm still registered in my home state" even though you live and pay taxes in New York.  It's just foolish.  This is not the '08 presidential election and you can still influence your friends and family in your home state while being a participating member of your actual current community.

The primaries are MORE important than the November elections for locals because in NYC, the Democrat almost always wins.

SO, the important thing is getting the RIGHT Democrat on the ballot. The only time to do this is in the primary election, and you must be registered with the Democratic party to cast this vote. While I respect the philosophy of registering Independent, guess what?  It's a waste of your vote in New York. So make your vote count and register and vote as a Democrat, and if you don't like the system, do something to change it.  Opting out is irresponsible.

This year the primary elections are on Thursday rather than the usual Tuesday, probably because of 9/11.  So plan to vote this Thursday, September 13.  Here is a link to everything you need to vote in New York State.

Newsflash: My Demographic Doesn't Favor Romney

Shocking, I know.

This post by my favorite Jezebel is hilarious.

"Even though single people's strong preference for President Obama could tip the election away from the GOP, Romney campaign needn't fret. The election's still four months away, and there's still plenty of time to nominate a running mate that will appeal to single women — Channing Tatum wearing glasses, perhaps, or the song "Call Me Maybe" (what do you mean the constitution doesn't allow politicians to nominate musical compositions for office? Stupid activist court system)."


Well, I suppose if the GOP can make a VP out of Christian Bale making me dinner while reading me O Magazine and queuing up the latest ep of True Blood, I could sway right.  


Then again, probably not.

The Mayoress Makes Some Resolutions for 2012

Can you believe it, dear constituents?  It's not only a new year, it's an election year, and will mark the fourth year of Meet the Pressler.  How the time does fly, much like a soaring bald eagle in the opening credits of The Colbert Report.

I swore in 2008 that a) if the Republicans won, I would move out of the country for a year, or b) no matter who won, I would be out of here for the 2012 election cycle.  I was just too exhausted from the emotion, involvement, and constant news onslaught of '08.

But here we are, it's 2012, and I don't plan on leaving the country (disregard the fact that I am currently out of the country).  So, in accordance with keep my sanity and yours as we enter Obama v Romney (prediction!), here are my three 2012 resolutions to you:

1. I'm going to stay more objective.  Not because I am - barring any major revelations, I'm voting for Obama, let's just get that out of the way (more on why later).  But rather than get emotional about it...

2. I'm going to go all pundit on your ass.  Opinions backed up by sorta facts but mostly other opinions!  But for serious, if I distance myself a bit in order to evaluate strategic moves, especially when it comes to my specialty of marketing and PR, I'll emerge far less emotionally exhausted.  Also, watch for me on CNN or MSNBC or Comedy Central.  Don't blink!

3. I'm going to wear my now-vintage Obama tank from '08 more often.  I can't resist gold metallic, people.  Gold metallic!

In Which The Mayoress Encounters the Chair of the NYC Cultural Affairs Committee

On the rare occasion, my passionate career in promotion and persistent participation in politics (as well as absolute adoration of alliteration) intersects.

Last Wednesday, my client Fractured Atlas hosted a conversation with NYC 26th District Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer (Long Island City, Astoria, Sunnyside, Woodside), also Chair of the NYC Cultural Affairs Committee.

If you have ever had the privilege of encountering Van Bramer, you undoubtedly share my full-blown political crush. Though it shall remain unrequited (Sorry ladies, he’s gay! Sorry boys, he’s engaged!), I am content, as I am fully in support of any politician who can make me laugh while making me think – and isn’t afraid to drop a few F-bombs and thinly veiled insults along the way.

The Mayoress with the hosts of the evening.

The event had a surprisingly fantastic turnout, and Van Bramer stayed an hour late just to answer every question from the overflowing audience of artists, whether from his district or not. He was candid, cohesive, informative, and passionate. He explained how things work and how any of us can influence that process.

I say “surprisingly” not because it was an FA event – as the nation's largest nonprofit arts services organization, their following is strong, and deservedly so. I was surprised because it is very difficult to get almost any audience – let alone artists who work long hours with full schedules – to take time out to find out about the political system and how it affects their life, work, and funding; and how they can improve the way it all happens. Huge kudos to those who showed up, asked questions, gave input. They were heard.

But if you’ve never been to an event like that, or otherwise been in contact with your elected official, whether City Council, Community Board, City Executives, State Senate, State Assembly, State Executives, U.S. Senate, U.S. Congress, or U.S. Executives (whew!), or if you do not vote, not only in November elections but in primaries, you are not heard.

Your opinions, effectively, do not matter.

Here is where I begin my rant, and reason for writing this post. If you read this blog you’ve heard it before, but I’d rather be a broken record than not pound home the point.

You cannot complain about something happening – or not happening – if you are not willing to do something about it. This is America, you have many avenues toward trying to make a change. You can vote, you can participate, you can write your representatives.

Here’s what I don’t think a lot of the frustrated-while-uninvolved people understand: most people are also frustrated but uninvolved. So if you join the very small ranks of the involved, heard, and counted, you are heard.

Every elected official I have come into contact with beyond a handshake bases his or her decisions heavily on what his or her constituency thinks. How do they know what their constituency thinks? Well, all they can base it on is what their constituents tell them that they want and need. So the very small percentage who bother to do so are the ones who dictate what life will be like for everyone else in their district.

When I attended a city council campaign debate in ’05 while volunteering on a campaign, do you know what topics they covered? Whether bikes should be allowed to ride on the sidewalks and whether they would do something about it.

Are. You. Fucking. Kidding. Me.

But guess what? The people who showed up cared about that. And I won’t mention the neighborhood, but you better believe the Upper East Side had a lot more revenue that next year in the form of tickets to bicycle riders.

If you want things to be a certain way, you have to tell your elected official. Complaining to yourself or the closest person who will listen may be effective for letting off steam, but not for moving the world forward.

I'll be the first to admit: I’m not satisfied with how much I do to make my neighborhood, city, state, or country, the place I’d like it to be. But I do do something, even if it’s not yet at the level I hope. I write this blog so I can sway your opinion. I volunteer periodically. I donate to causes I care about. I write my elected officials when I’m really hot and bothered. (It takes both conditions, you see, because I try to be the former on the daily, what what.)

Van Bramer made allusions to a future run for mayor, but it seems his campaign will be about 15 years before mine, so I graciously nod to his Bramerness and offer my early support.

Why The Mayoress Supports the 99%

Three words: changing the dialogue.

Hey, remember the Tea Party?  Though a fringe group and certainly not the majority, they swung the overall American debate on all issues extremely far right.  Candidates on the right and some on the left had to start answering the questions they were asking.  Some even ran on their platform.

The #Occupy movement stands to do the same for the left, bringing a balance back to the discussion in this all important year before a major election.  Their theatrics invite media attention, which means that pundits and candidates have to respond in order to be newsworthy.  Perfect.

Yes, it would be nice if there were clear leaders and a well-outlined platform.  But you know what?  It would probably be less effective at this point.  Because now, you and I and most everyone we know are the 99%, and we can see a glimmer of our dissatisfaction with The Way Things Are, the way things are working - and more importantly - not working, in their frustration.  And that sympathy makes the movement more widely accessible, and gives it more possibility, at least for now.

So, cheers to everyone who believes in America enough to try to fix it.  As always, I admire those who get up and say or do something, even when I don't fully agree, over those who sit on their couches and talk about it.

"Fair and Balanced" Elections

I had to read this sentence four times to even begin to get my head around it:

...Every major contender for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination who isn’t currently holding office and isn’t named Mitt Romney is now a paid contributor to Fox News.

Full article.

VOTE TODAY NYC!

Today's the New York primaries, and as I've said before, many time, it's MORE important for you to vote today than in November.  Here's why.

It's gonna be a tough one for me - just moved to a new district, still registered in the old one.  Great moment walking to the subway today - guy tries to hand me a candidate's flyer and I deflect, "I'm not registered in this district."  Without skipping a beat he says, "I wanna be registered in your district."  Hot.  Now that's an election-day-appropriate pickup.

Go out there and vote!

"And Make Us All More Freer Than We Were Yesterday"

Have you met Basil Marceaux, candidate for Governor of Tennessee?  No?!  Well, let me introduce you!

If I Ruled the World...

Wyclef Jean for Haitian President?!  I can get on board with that.  Why shouldn't the arts be experience for politics?  Reagan... Schwarzenegger... Franken... The Mayoress... yes, performers translate to brilliant (or at least, very good looking) leaders!

Let's consider his resume:

WYCLEF JEAN
+1.917.555.4325
wj@wyclef.com

OBJECTIVE
Serve as president of Haiti

EXPERIENCE
2000s - Present  Independent Performing Artist; Producer; Community Activist
- Over 1,000 contacts in entertainment and politics
- Garnered global attention for insightful lyrics and progressive tunes
- Ability to work long and unusual hours, as well as travel extensively
- Comprehensive knowledge of social media
- Blogger for Huffington Post
- Produced mildly successful Fugees spinoff group City High

1990s - 2000s The Fugees   Band Leader/Artist
- Worked in collaborative environment
- Grossed millions of dollars in sales
- Toured extensively, gave crowd-moving performances (aka speeches)
- Global recognition for talent, innovation
- Bandmate Pras once went on date with future Mayoress of New York City; it didn't go that well but it's a good story.

SPECIAL SKILLZ
Brilliant oration, good fashion, rhythm, ability to seize unique opportunities.


See?  There you go.  Clef for Prez!!

In Which the Mayoress Crashes Bloomberg's Victory Party

I wrote this the morning after Election Day in 2005. Seems appropriate to share now...

--------------------------------------------

The Other Republican Party

No matter what anyone says, it’s fun to be on the winning team. Losing with dignity is a nice idea, but a mirage – even Red Sox fans had to invent The Curse so they could feel like they accomplished something every year they were met with a certain pinstriped team. So when the candidate I’d been volunteering for in a pivotal New York City council district won on Tuesday night, it felt good to party, good to be thanked, good to be part of the team people wanted for the next two years.

I was new to all of it – campaigning, victory parties, and even the Democratic Party. Growing up in homogeneous suburbs and later attending a conservative Christian university, my party affiliation had never been a question – everyone was a Republican. My campus didn’t have a Young Democrats chapter. Come to think of it, I’m not sure my campus even had a young Democrat.

I had been holding out longer than I’d realized, so when I swung left, I swung hard. Call me a Scorpio- my loyalty is off the meter: when I pick a party, a cause, hell, a coffee shop, my allegiance is rock solid. As with most things, when you decide to associate yourself with an idea, it seeps into your skin more than you know.

My experience volunteering had been wonderful – I met all sorts of New Yorkers, learned about the political process, truly saw the importance of the individual in democracy. And even though my hours were nothing compared to the tireless staffers, they remembered my name and thanked me profusely at the humble yet energetic victory party, our new councilmember even taking time to offer advice on my current career path.

And it’s good to be a Democrat in 5-to-1 New York City. We’d won most of the new seats in the council and our incumbents blew away any competition, though the King of New York remained, and remained Republican.

Don’t get me wrong – by November 8, I was more than dismayed at the inept, unfocused campaign Fernando Ferrer had run. Ignoring entire demographics, narrowing his image unjustifiably, press mess-ups… but I still voted for him. Yes, out of party loyalty, but for many other reasons ranging from Bloomberg’s stratospheric Bush campaign contributions to residual bitterness at his ridiculous Olympics bid, instead of practical initiatives like real change in public education and housing affordable for those of us who can’t quite assume the suffix -illionaire.

“Hey – wanna go to the Bloomberg victory party?” The whisper came from Angela, one of the staff members and my new friend from the campaign. We both looked around, a little guilty. “It’s still going on and everything’s free.”

After all, our party had started to dissipate. And my fading energy and staunch Ferrer loyalty melted in light of the word that being a former starving artist had conditioned me to obey Pavlovianly: free. Plus, I reasoned, if I was going to endure four more years of Bloomberg, he could at least buy me a drink.

At the New York Sheraton, a purposeful loop of the crowded, St. John’s and Brooks Brothers-wearing, donor-soaked lobby yielded official Mike ’05 buttons and the names needed to gain entrance to the 45th floor, the site of the staffers-only fete.

One thing that was immediately apparent as we exited the mirrored elevator: no one looked like a staffer. The staffers I worked with were all wasted from too little sleep and too many action lists, with wrinkled clothes and grateful smiles barely masking their complete exhaustion. The Bloomberg staffers were in cocktail attire without exception – apparently their literature handouts were stationed in salons rather than subways.

Our entrance was blocked momentarily by the no-nonsense female bouncer, who insisted she knew nothing about our connections to get in. As I stepped aside to avoid getting shoved back, I noticed a few women waiting in head-to-toe hipster vintage, making me exhale a bit in my less-than-glam jeans and velvet blazer.

Just then, the reason for our wait emerged: Mike himself, with complete security detail, leaving the party, the only one who looked at all drained from the day’s events. I’d only seen him in person once before, on one of his famed subway rides. He was still well-dressed, well-protected, and well-fettered with an intimidating entourage. As he breezed past us to the elevator, barely acknowledging congratulations, we ducked into his penthouse party, which was still going strong.

After promptly visiting the top-shelf open bar (welcome after pacing out our drinks at the previous cash-bar victory party so many floors below), we gravitated toward the back bedroom where Angela’s friends had set up camp. They, after all, weren’t regular Bloombergians, they were part of a fellowship that assigns workers to various campaigns, and several of them had been placed on this one – our key to entry. All of them were Democrats.

Eager to investigate the foreign land I’d just gained passport to, I embarked on a purposeful mingling circle around the penthouse. The large rooms housed glamorous groups of groupies looking me up and down with condescending approval (men) or dismissal (women), and the small rooms revealed twos and threes that I half-expected to snort lines off the pristine gold-and-marble countertops. Okay, call me overdramatic, but my only experience partying with people whose bank accounts had never been in the red included access to all the stuff conservatives were always railing against.

Why didn’t anyone introduce himself? Why didn’t any other girls eat the copious amounts of chocolate cookies still out on every table? Why didn’t anyone stop to admire the amazing top-floor view of the Manhattan skyline, which still moves me after five years in the city? I guess I wasn’t used to being up so high.

Back in the bohemian oasis, tones were more relaxed, conversation less forced. That is, until a well-suited staffer dropped in on our circle of Levi’s and childlike delight that we were drinking bourbon instead of PBR. The conversation with these legitimates was always polite, congenial, but in the way that made me rub my cheeks in sympathy for the forced smiles, and rub my ears in angst of the screechy tones people assume when trying to sound interested, or worse yet, interesting.

That’s when I realized the girls in vintage hadn’t found their outfits rummaging through Williamsburg basement stores, like I had. It was the flavor du jour, a ruse, maybe; like my temporary re-alignment with the Republican Party.

“You were a Republican?” Angela gasped. “You have to explain that.”

“Well, I was, but not like this…” I began, then stopped short, not only by the crowd of Jenna and Paris clones that pushed past us, but by my realization that the Republicans I knew in real life, the ones who were puzzled by my party realignment, were not these people.

The Republicans that populate the red states, and more pivotally, the red half of the swing states, are not oil tycoons and CEOs bathing in stock options and corporate bonuses. The Republicans who vote Republican – my mother, my grandmother, my best friends from childhood – are hard-working, tax-paying believers in the old American dream, and don’t need big government to protect or even help them – yet. They trust that if the president says we need to go to war, well then, he must know, because after all, he’s the president. These are the values of their peers – or parents or grandparents- that fought the good fight against Nazi Germany and Communism – and won. I know because this is how I felt until I lived through September 11, when things started to seem more relative than black-and-white; when I found myself a resident of a city of immigrants, of every world culture, and of the widest gap between rich and poor, and it became all too clear that everyone in the land of dreams doesn’t wake up on the same pillow. The party I was presently party to has little in common with them other than US citizenship, yet they are the ruling class that the common people repeatedly vote into office.

The difference between the Bloomberg festivities and the councilmember’s was like going to a Hollywood movie premiere from an Off-Broadway play opening: glassy, evaluating, “Should I know who you are?” eyes versus rolled-up sleeves, “We’ve only just begun!” energy.

“Parties aren’t what you’re beholden to once you are in office,” a former city council speaker had said in a symposium I’d attended a month earlier. “You’re responsible to your constituents. Parties are the vehicle to get you into office.” Now I understand what he meant.

If there’s one thing Ferrer was right about in his push for mayor, it was his concept of Two New Yorks: the rich and poor, the white and non-white, the represented and ignored.

Only this was the first time I felt solidly in the second category.

Election Results

Guys, I am too upset to even write a coherent blog post.

Bloomberg re-elected after cheating. Every cheating incumbent City Councilmember getting another term. Republican governors in Virginia and New Jersey. I mean, for serious, WHO is voting for Republicans after all we've seen over the past few years???

I just... I can't... ARGH. It's nothing short of disgusting to me that more New Yorkers know -- and care -- about what's going on with the World Series than who's running our city and why. I give up.

Person of the Day: Judy Lobo

Thanks to Erica for bringing this blog to my attention. I'll be emailing the full text of this to all my NYC peeps.

‘I know, I know — but’ - is the response I have been getting from all of my friends when I tell them that I am not voting for Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Some friends look away with a momentary guilty look. Some hang their heads down and say ‘but I don’t like the other guy (Bill Thompson).’ Some just say ‘ well, he cannot be bought.’ To all of them, I say, as Rachel Maddow always says, ‘Bull Hockey.’

Here is why I am not voting for Mayor Mike.

Read Judy's seven dead-on reasons.

LiveBlogging the Mayoral Debate

(refresh to see latest thoughts)

Watch it here.

Didn't tune in until 7:40 so I missed the bulk of it, but gotta say I'm quite impressed by Thompson, he's super prepared and holding his own; he's in it to win it.

I love how they're both pulling out their NY dialects even though Mike is from Boston.

Mike claims he's in touch with the average New Yorker because he once had a small business. Thompson rebuts by pointing out that his policies are pushing the middle class out of their neighborhoods. (Bloomberg's development incentives in my neighborhood are the very reason why I no longer have the lovely cityscape view I once had.)

Mike says immigrants will pull us out of the recession. WHAT?! Cheap labor is the answer? How about jobs for those of us who are already here?? Still waiting on that help for the economy Mike, or are you too loyal to your paying customers, aka the investment banks?

Thompson really is rocking it. I have to admit, I underestimated him. Probably because it's hard to drown out the $83 billion + in Bloomberg marketing cacophony.

"I think I'll be kind and give him a D-," Thompson on grading how the mayor has done.

Remember, I think it was the '05 election, when Bloomberg didn't even show up to the debates? Like he even has to. SIGH.

Obama Endorses Thompson!

The headline says it all folks! Even the POTUS has to speak out when a mayor makes a power grab that flies in the face of democracy.

Blog of the Day

Check this out! A whole blog devoted to explaining why Bloomberg is ridiculous! It's called No Power Grab, and has such gems as:

Here is a clip from an email I received from Dan Cantor, WFP Executive Director:

Thompson has a clear message. He believes that city government must always put the middle class and working families first - above the real estate developers and corporate interests that have dominated our city for too long. In a Thompson Administration, Wall Street won't be the only street that matters anymore. Flatbush Avenue, Queens Blvd., The Grand Concourse, Victory Boulevard, and 125th St will have a real voice in City Hall.

At last Thursday's Forum, in question after question, Thompson spoke boldly about his support for our values and issues. The Mayor mostly did not. (You can watch the highlights here.)

When asked about campaign spending, Mayor Bloomberg told the hundreds of WFP supporters watching in the room and online: "rich people don't always win."

Our job now is to prove him right.

Only prob is that it seems to be anonymous - hey No Power Grab blogger(s)! Email me so I can buy you a virtual drink or something!

Mayoress Endorsements: NYC Primary 9/15

Okay, New York City Democrats. You're voting on Tuesday 9/15, and at the risk of repeating myself for the umpteenth time:

Why is the primary MORE important that the general election, class?

BECAUSE, my dear readers, in New York, the Democrat almost always gets elected, so choosing WHICH Democrat is MORE important, and that happens on Tuesday, September 15. This is also why you must register as a Democrat, not an Independent.

>Visit the Official NYC Voter Guide

MAYOR: WILLIAM C. THOMPSON
From the start, Thompson has been speaking out against Bloomberg's continued ridiculousness. He recognizes that NYC is more than just the affluent neighborhoods and believes in creating jobs and backing social services. Our current Comptroller (and therefore well acquainted with our city's fiscal position), he's also really good at using Facebook appropriately as an elected official, which sets my marketer's heart a-twitter (hee!).

PUBLIC ADVOCATE: ERIC GIOIA
I'll be honest, this is my toughest category, so I opted for advice from the politically active people I admire most (props, Babs Chen and Matt Silverstein). There are several strong choices here so go ahead and check them all out. And don't fault Gioia if he's suddenly scarce over the next few days - his wife's nine months pregs.

COMPTROLLER: DAVID YASSKY
I'm a Yassky fan going back 4 years. When I was going through my career change and considering politics, city council worker and friend Emily Merrill cited Yassky as one of the few who was progressively representing his district, which includes my neighbors just a few blocks west in the 'burg. I worked on his campaign for Congress, which he lost, but I'm glad he's now running to keep serving the city. He's a champion of green energy and seems pretty genuine for a local politician, so he's my pick.

CITY COUNCIL
I urge you to find out who your incumbent is and NOT vote for him or her. Why? Because he or she helped Bloomberg overturn the law that NYC voters established overturning term limits. None of them deserve to be re-elected after committing such a heinous crime against their constituents. This is also why Bloomberg must be voted on on November 3.

MANHATTAN D.A.
I'm in Brooklyn but for all my city peeps, a word of caution before you vote for Cy Vance Jr. because the Times told you to: his primary legal experience is defending white collar criminals. Is that really the influence we want at city hall? So, as always, everyone vote for Sam Waterston 4evah! YAY!! (But seriously, here's some good info on the candidates.)

Okay, players - go VOTE!

TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO REGISTER TO VOTE IN NY

NEW YORKERS!

One of my top causes is getting my friends to vote in the district where they live, especially in New York. Local elected officials are the ones that affect your day to day life and the ones who will actually listen when you call, write, email. None of this "I'm still registered in my home state even though I live and pay taxes in New York." It's just foolish.

The primaries are MORE important than the November elections for locals because in NYC, the democrat almost always wins. SO, the important thing is getting the RIGHT Democrat on the ballot. The only time to do this is in the Primary Election on 9/15, and you must be registered with the Democratic party to cast this vote. While I respect the philosophy of registering Independent, guess what? It's a waste of your vote in New York, it just is. So make your vote count and register Dem today and SHOW UP at the polls on 9/15. I'll post my endorsements in a week or two.

From Freelancers Union:

Are you registered to vote in the primary election on September 15? Odds are you aren’t.

Today’s the last day to register to vote (PDF).

Yes, voting’s the “civic-minded” thing to do, but it’s also in your best interest. The right candidate can make a difference in your life and on your bottom line. Plus, NYC’s primary elections typically have low turn-out, which means that together, as a group, we can really make a splash.

Right this very second, print out this registration form (PDF) and stick it in the mail. No stamp necessary. Today is the postmark deadline.

Voto Nulo

This is how bad things are in Mexico: people are so unsatisfied with all their candidate choices that there is growing support for the "Voto Nulo" - basically writing in "nothing" on the ballot as an expression of non-support for all candidates. I like it.

Full article.

Weiner Out! Scared of Possible Run by A Certain Mayoress???

This just in! Congressman Anthony Weiner, long the media darling to take out King Bloomberg, will NOT be running for mayor this year! What, he doesn't have ten billion dollars to spend on campaign? Lazy.

See his op-ed in the Times.

Well, you know what this means: time to officially endorse the one man who's shown he's up for the challenge, and who's spoken against the King's illegal activities since last fall:

The Mayoress Officially Endorses Bill Thompson for NYC Mayor 2009.

Obvs the headline in the Post tomorrow.

Didn't You Get the Memo?

A lovely satire piece by Manohla Dargis and my #1 literary crush, A.O. Scott. Do not miss this one.

To: Anxious studio heads

From: A.O.S.

Did you notice the last election? People paid a lot of attention, took sides, argued back and forth. As they had, come to think of it, for much of the previous eight years. And yet so many of your “serious” movies tiptoe around areas of real public concern, trying to be vaguely topical while strenuously working to avoid offending anybody. As a result, nobody bothers to go see them. So why not risk troubling the waters a little bit? A lot of the audience likes to argue about movies and also about politics. Why not feed that appetite instead of suppressing it?