On Thursday, August 18th, the Village Independent Democrats held their monthly meeting at St. John’s Church on Christopher Street. Club president Nadine Hoffman reported on a variety of Democratic Party political activities, including State Committee and Judicial Delegate races. (Judicial delegates help to select candidates running for a variety of judgeships.) Tony Hoffman gave an
-
-
Cuomo’s Ego Is Boss
By George Capsis I have to caution myself not to call a City press office after reading a press release like yesterday’s from the Mayor’s Office that boasted that they were getting homeless people into NYCHA, “vacant” apartments, which is much cheaper than putting them in privately-run shelters. I have to caution myself because I
-
Europe is Looking for a Strong Global U.S. Position
By Winfried Gruetzner, Hamburg Doesn’t it give you, like me, the creeps when you look at a photo of Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the front page of the WELT, one of Germany’s three leading newspapers? Putin and Erdogan demonstrate power, incalculable and dangerous. And where is a western antipode?! Donald Trump even
-
Go with Glick
By Keen Berger, Democratic District Leader, 66A As District Leader of the Village, I confess that I am a political junkie, obsessed with national, state, and local government. Like many readers of WestView, I fear Trump and have doubts about many state leaders. I write now because I do not expect everyone to have followed
-
-
More on Glick
There are many statements with which we take issue in Arthur Schwartz’s article in your July issue about his withdrawal from the Assembly race. But as parents who have been active in education issues over the last decade, in particular the efforts to secure the Foundling Hospital and 75 Morton Street as school space—efforts now
-
Glick Defense
I was glad to read that Arthur Schwartz, (my co-District Leader in the 66-A Assembly District) decided not to run for the New York State Assembly. I know that Arthur has a full and complex family life, and a demanding law practice, and I think he realized that his priorities belong there. However, I am
-
An Argument for Term Limits
In his first term, a politician works for you. In his second, for the guy who takes him to lunch. In his 3rd, for his largest contributor. In the 4th, for the company who is ready to give him a job whenever he is ready to quit. —George Capis
-
Deborah Glick: Education and Health Care Champion?
By Arthur Z. Schwartz Although I have withdrawn from the Assembly race for health reasons, I have not backed away from my fervent belief that Deborah Glick has poorly served our community for the last 26 years. Several letters in this issue of WestView “extol” her “accomplishments,” particularly in the area of education. The writers,
-
VID Remains Active During Summer
The Village Independent Democrats held their monthly meeting on Thursday, June 9 at St. John’s Church on Christopher Street. Erik Coler, standing in for club president Nadine Hoffman, reported on a variety of club activities. District leader Keen Berger reported on Democratic Party activities, including her own proposals to reform the New York City Board
-
Why I Am Withdrawing From the Primary Against Glick
By Arthur Z. Schwartz There have been few moments in my life which have been more gratifying than the first day of petitioning to get on the ballot this past June 7, when I stood on the corner of 12th Street and 7th Avenue, getting the smiles (and signatures) of neighbors that I have known
-
BERNIE SANDERS
Arthur Schwartz, WestView Contributor, was asked by Bernie Sanders to join him on stage at a rally held June 23rd at Town Hall. At his speech Sanders called on his supporters to run for offices large and small, across the US, to fight for an end to corrupting influence of money in politics, for climate
-
A Message To Democratic Convention Delegates
By Arthur Z. Schwartz Editor: On the morning of June 21st all of the New York Delegates to this summer’s Democratic National Convention met in New York to elect members of committees, fill vacancies, etc. It ended with turmoil over whether Andrew Cuomo had been elected Delegation Chair. The 117 member Bernie Sanders Delegation chose West
-
Deep Background on NYU
In response to your illuminating article in the WestView News, which I will now read rigorously, I was impressed to learn about the NYU President’s new job/building (as well as many vivid subtexts inherent within). Also, it’s quite breathtaking to get all that deep background on my alma mater, considering that it was such a
-
Villagers Headed to the Democratic Convention
As a result of the Democratic Presidential Primary held on April 19, some delegates to the Philadelphia Convention of the Democratic Party were awarded that day and some were elected at the State Democratic Party Convention. Arthur Schwartz, Westview Contributor, was elected at a State Democratic Convention as an At-Large delegate, and has been tapped
-
Big Primary Vote on June 28th (Yes, Another One)
On Tuesday June 28th there will be a primary election for the Democratic candidate to run for the U.S. House of Representatives. Jerry Nadler, who has represented the West side of Manhattan including the Village for about 24 years, is running against newcomer Oliver Rosenberg. Although both candidates have websites that detail their backgrounds and
-
VID Prepares for Elections
On Thursday May 12, the Village Independent Democrats held their monthly meeting at St. John’s Church on Christopher Street. Democratic district leader Keen Berger and club president Nadine Hoffman reported on a variety of issues, including the renovation of the club’s office on Perry Street. A slate of judicial delegates, which serve on committees to
-
Where Have All the Politicians Gone?
The Closure of Beth Israel—It’s Our Fight Now! By Arthur Z. Schwartz We, as a community, are being rolled over by the almighty dollar. Even the West Village, which has become one of the wealthiest communities in the country, cannot take on the desire to cash in on NYC real estate, even at the
-
The New Fourth Estate
By Catherine Revland On a recent trip to Italy, I got into political discussions (an old habit) with locals as well as tourists from all over the world. When people found out where I was from, their response was a near universal alarm over the presidential campaigns. “How could this happen in your country?”
-
-
A Shot Over The Bow
Deborah Glick—You Will Not Shut Down My People’s Law Practice! By Arthur Z. Schwartz We are three months away from the first real primary we have had for a local state office since 1990. Twenty-six years since Deborah Glick won a 4 way primary, after scaring the legendary Bill Passannante into retirement. There is no
-
VID Endorses
On Thursday April 14th, the Village In-dependent Democrats had their monthly meeting at St. John’s Church on Christo-pher Street. There were reports on a variety of political issues by club President Nadine Hoffman and District Leader Keen Berg-er, followed by reports on election activity (mostly petitioning for Jerry Nadler) by Tony Hoffman, and an update
-
Thoughts About the Presidential Primary and Debating Deborah Glick
By Arthur Z. Schwartz April, for me, was a month of highs and lows—in the political arena. Since I like to be transparent now in the manner I will be a public servant, I want to share my thoughts. I debated Deborah Glick two times in April. The first time was on April 9th before
-
Arthur Schwartz to Silver Judge: NO LENIENCY!
April 28, 2016 Dear Judge Caproni: The undersigned is an attorney who has spent 38 years representing working people in employment and occupational safety matters, and most of the last 21 years as the Democratic District Leader in Greenwich Village, a community that borders that which Sheldon Silver used to represent. I do not know
-
-
Hillary Supporters
On Sunday, April 17, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender New Yorkers from across the five boroughs rallied in front of the historic Stonewall Inn in support of Hillary Clinton for President. Speakers included Congressman Jerrold Nadler, Borough President Gale Brewer, Senator Brad Hoylman, Assembly Member Deborah Glick, Council Member Corey Johnson, former City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn, American
-
Youth Owns the Future, Age Sees It
In the midst of a record turnout in the 66th Assembly District, and all the problems with voter records, Arthur Schwartz local District Leader, wanted to make sure that 93-year-old Ruth Berk got an opportunity to vote. So at noon on April 19 he wheeled her into the Polling Station PS 3. She was proud to announce that
-
A Final Pitch for Bernie—Vote April 19th
By Arthur Z. Schwartz For six months I have been writing for the WestView News that “presumed” Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton, was anything but a shoo-in. I have kvetched about the media’s refusal to cover the Bernie Sanders phenomenon, except for a week after the New Hampshire Primary. I dare say that the Sanders campaign
-
The April 19 Presidential Primary Ballot—Lots of Choices!
By Arthur Schwartz New Yorkers finally get to jump into the Presidential Primary process on Tuesday April 19. Polling places are open from 6 am to 9 pm. If you are not sure where you vote call 1-866-votenyc (866-868-3692) or type pollsitelocator.nyc into your computer or smartphone. Most people in the West Village vote at
-
Greetings to the WestView Readers
By Bernie Sanders Greetings to the readers of WestView and to your wonderful publisher George Capsis. As you know I grew up in Brooklyn, attended NYC Public Schools and started college at Brooklyn College. I was the child of parents who spent their formative years surviving the Great Depression, and who taught me the value
-
Revisiting My Times Letter
By Maggie Berkvist When The New York Times ran my Letter to the Editor on March 4th, WestView News publisher George Capsis suggested that, since it concerned a subject under much discussion these days, (In fact, it elicited 395 responses in the Times’ online edition!) it should be reprinted in this month’s issue. In his
-
WestView Editor Caucuses For Bernie in Nevada
By Christy Ross In a cheery kindergarten classroom at Mountain View Elementary School, I joined 20 of my Elko neighbors to caucus in the Nevada Democratic primary on February 20. Fourteen of us (including myself) stood among the low tables and tiny chairs on the right side of the room to indicate our support for
-
Letters: Job Loss and Stock Market Key Reasons to Keep ACA
To the Editor: In reference to your advocacy of a federal Single Payer healthcare plan in place of the ACA, let it be conceded that on straight economics a Single Payer plan, as in Canada, the UK and almost all of the developed world, would be far less costly. But, alas, “Politics is the art
-
Times Slams Clinton
By George Capsis Oh, wow—the New York Times, despite their endorsement of Hillary Clinton, slammed her in an editorial on February 26 entitled “Mrs. Clinton, Show Voters Those Transcripts.” It starts with a scolding: “ ‘Everybody does it,’ is an excuse expected from a mischievous child, not a presidential candidate. But that is Hillary Clinton’s
-
April 19 – A Primary Vote With Lots of Meaning
By Arthur Z. Schwartz New Yorkers will have a stark choice in April. We will have a presidential primary after Super Tuesday and primaries in another half dozen states. And there is a good chance that even discounting “super delegates” (those undemocratic figureheads and friends of the party establishment, who have far too much power
-
Inside Bernie Sanders
By Arthur A. Schwartz By the time you read this, the Iowa Caucus results will be counted and either Bernie Sanders will have won or he will have suffered a narrow loss. Whichever way it goes, his campaign has awakened a movement in America which must not be lost. I haven’t been to Iowa, and
-
Stop Mayor’s Attack on City’s Horses
We the public should not pay off Mayor de Blasio’s political debts. The City Council bill to ban the passage of horse drawn carriages from driving to and from their stables to Central Park is a terrible idea. This is a campaign promise that he made to developer Steve Nislick and NYCLASS in return for
-
Why I Joined a Political Club
By Alec Pruchnicki Since the 1960s, I’ve been active in a variety of political causes. I learned back then not to be co-opted (a popular phrase during the ‘60s) by getting involved in “bourgeois” political action. Those who supported Gene McCarthy or Bobby Kennedy worked hard, only to get Richard Nixon and several more years
