Here is an article by former Bronx Assemblyman Michael Benjamin in the New York Post about the convoluted way that the head of the Board of Elections is selected. In this instance, a deal was made to allow the Bronx Boss, Assemblyman Carl Heastie, to select the person. However, that deal fell apart when the Staten Island Election Commissioner, who was going to provide the needed vote, resigned to run for DA. Now there could be a vacancy for a while in this important position. This quote from Mr. Benjamin says it all, "our modern elections are far too important to remain a vestige of a bygone political era. It's time to free our election process from patronage control by the two major political parties. "
Assemblyman Heastie wants to be a big-time boss, but Carmine G. De Sapio he ain't.
ReplyDeleteSays Michael Benjamin, who's first big job was a patronage position at the Board of Elections given to him by Roberto Ramirez.
ReplyDeleteIf it ain't broke ...
ReplyDeleteWho said that it ain't broke? If anyhthing needs fixing, it's the Board of Elections
ReplyDeleteThe country is facing debt downgrades and investor panic, so I don't think anybody really cares about Heastie or Benjamin or Ramirez (who is he?)
ReplyDeleteFrom a political standpoint, this Bronx Political Chatter website is a pesky presence that does nothing to promote trust and respect for our elected representatives.
ReplyDeleteInstead of trying to foster discord, you should be trying to build a harmonious relationship between the voters and the politicians.
So please stop harping on the misdeeds and character failings of our elected officials!
What does it take for these politicos to realize that good government is good politics?
ReplyDeleteOut of all the politicians in The Bronx, City Councilman James Vacca, who chairs of the Transportation Committee, is a beacon amid the gloom.
ReplyDeleteHasn't our country outgrown having political bosses?
ReplyDeleteRights supressed for the public good?
ReplyDeleteHey Anon@11:02
ReplyDeleteIt takes demented naivety to not question the "misdeeds and character failings of our elected officials." In a district that contains one hundred thousand possible voters, these politicos get elected with fewer than five thousand votes. This blog has some of the best information. I like knowing that an elected official does not have residency, is using member item funds to run their campaigns,through phony non-profits, and laundering our hard earned taxpayer money to their friends and family. When our politicians use Community Board letterhead for free land to build non profit housing, when you catch them in their pay to play schemes that are detrimental to our neighborhoods. That is what a good blog does. Try and keep up!!!!
So where do all of you stand on ethics classes in schools?
ReplyDeleteHere's a newsflash - our political leaders create discord between voters and themselves. Many are crooks and they all, every single one, put there own self interest ahead of the public. You are a complete buffoon.
ReplyDeleteDo any of you remember Councilwoman June M. Eisland of the 11th District in the Bronx, who served 22 years in the City Council and chaired the Land Use Committee?
ReplyDeleteIn 2001, when she was forced out of the Council by term limits, she ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for Bronx Borough President.
Afterwards, there was a hubbub over her campaign funds. Does anyone know what ever happened with the dispute over whether she had to repay the unspent campaign money that was raised through public matching funds?
Hey Anonymous @5:43
ReplyDeleteAlways remember that James Vacca voted to extend his own term limit. It was a selfish, cowardly action. The light from that beacon is blinding you.
According to this article by Joshua Payne in The Riverdale Press from July 20, 2006, former Councilwoman June Eisland got to keep $130,000 she raised and is allowed to spend it through a political action committee called EISPAC:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.genovaburns.com/filesave/Riverdale_Press_072006_LDL_Eisland.pdf
So if I read the article correctly, it seems that Ms. Eisland is free to dole that money out as she sees fit for political/lobbying purposes.
I wonder if her campaign contributors ever imagined that their money might be spent going from fund-raising event to fund-raising event trying to get lobbying clients?
"J.R.Dobbs is Bishop" is a tough-minded Bronx political observer. I'm always happy to read his astute and knowledgeable comments.
ReplyDeleteThat Eisland money thing is just shameful.
ReplyDeletePrivate citizens without responsibility for governmental decisions should not tell Government what to do!
ReplyDeleteAnonymous @ August 2, 2011 12:38 PM must have forgotten the words "WE THE PEOPLE
ReplyDeletePrivate citizens should tell the government what to do. After all, ours is a federal republic that is a DEMOCRACY!
How did June Eisland end up being mentioned and discussed here? I didn't know about the thing with the campaign cash. It's very interesting but totally irrelevant to the subject of who heads the Board of Elections.
ReplyDeleteyup, people should stay on the topic
ReplyDeleteNow of course the only one in riverdale-worthy enough to talk about AGE OLD JUNE Eisland stories-is bumbling stumbling fumbling Barbara walters wannabe-is last Minute CB 8 replacement and former 8 times CB8 reject-Robert press- trying to blabble his way into a political seat after 20 years of trying lol
ReplyDeleteAren't Press and Rivieccio two sides of the same freakish coin?
ReplyDeleteNo need to publish everything that every angry wierdo writes!
ReplyDeleteOk let me apologize but my point-exactly-lets stay on the point. In regards to Mr press, offically NWB Dems have seperated their relationship with the committee of 100 democrats because of the bungling of robert Press. Sad really.
ReplyDeleteAnd now we understand under the recommendation of this organization this man is disrupting community board 8.
Now in regards to being "freakish" or a "weirdo" yeah I guess that I've been called worse-by the horsies with NO NAME- (oh that's your backkkkk lol)