Meeting notes July 23
Full replay: https://www.facebook.com/cbidems/live
Rich Bennett began the meeting by acknowledging the recent losses of Rep. John Lewis and of one of the founders of CBID, Joe Ferris. Jack Carroll spoke with fond remembrance of Mr. Ferris, describing his many years of service and his commitment to progressive politics. He was the last of the CBID founders to pass away and the club honors his memory.
Rich then proceeded to discuss the recent primary results, to the extent known, and he introduced Julio Peña, the new district leader in the 51st Assembly District. He spoke briefly, expressing his thanks for the club’s support.
Next, Diana González spoke about her experience watching absentee ballots being counted and described the process. In one district, the 52nd, there were 19,000 absentee ballots cast, an unusually high number. Many were discarded for various reasons. Discussion revolved around improvements that are being sought from legislators, as well as the courts, to improve voter participation via absentee ballot in the future.
A video from Athonine Pierre was shown. She spoke about the disappointment in the recent city budget vote, but recognized that the fact that there was so much contention around it showed that an impact had been made in a very short period of time and that’s gives her hope that continuing the fight to defund the police could be won.
Then we heard from Marina Marco O’Malley of the Alliance for Quality Education concerning the cuts to Department of Education’s budget in the most recent NYC budget., as well as other issues affecting the budgeting for education in the next two years. The Millionaire’s Tax was discussed as a potential solution to some of the shortfall, but it remains to be seen if it will make it through the legislature in the next session. If passed, it would allocate $14 billion directly to education in the state.
Next, Susan Stamler of United Neighborhood Houses spoke about the community services it provides for New York City and how the new budget represents significant cuts to its ability to provide all the services that are so desperately needed.
Erica Cohen and Julie Kerr reported that there were some voter registration and voting rights bills that were either being passed in the state legislature or were about to be, including automatic voter registration. Assemblymember Jo Ann Simon called in and reported that, yes, automatic voter registration had passed, and the online voting registration application that was devised by New York City was also approved and will be going to the governor’s desk for signature. She said that other bills were being passed, as well. In response to a question, she said that further bills would be addressed in another summer session, which she thought would happen after the federal government finished the next stimulus package.
Peter Hogness from Water for Grassroots spoke about a voting rights project underway in Florida, following some court cases that left ex-felons out on parole or probation without voting rights, despite a Florida amendment allowing this. Republican legislators have passed laws requiring the repayment of court fees, etc., before voting rights could commence. This leaves a couple of million people in Florida disenfranchised, but there are 250,000 who would be able to register. There is a postcard-writing effort underway to reach those people to educate them about their rights and encourage them to vote. Many organizations are involved, including the League of Women Voters, Lift Every Vote, as well as Water for Grassroots.
Finally, a second vote was taken for the proposed Constitutional amendments to allow CBID to conduct virtual voting when necessary and this passed by a vote of 15 to 1. The amendments are now incorporated into the club constitution. Text is as follows:
"All votes must be cast in person or online through an application/platform previously approved by the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall convene virtual membership meetings and Executive Committee meetings and allow online voting at their discretion. In-person or virtual attendance is required in order to vote. Votes by proxy are not allowed."
"Every member of the Executive Committee shall be entitled to one (1) vote, which must be cast in person or online through an application/platform previously approved by the Executive Committee. In-person or virtual attendance is required in order to vote. Votes by proxy are not allowed."
The meeting was adjourned.