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Dan Weeks NYC 1982

http://vanishingnewyork.blogspot.com/2011/07/street-view-1982.html

#dan weeks #b/w photography #photography #1982 #nycphotographer

Dan Weeks Convenes Local Leaders to Press for Commuter Rail

Executive Council Candidate brings together policy experts and legislative leaders to promote NH Capitol Corridor Rail Project in 2017

Nashua, NH —Democrat Dan Weeks today will lead a discussion with local political leaders and policy experts at Nashua City Hall at 12pm to outline next steps for bringing commuter rail to southern New Hampshire starting in 2017. The Weeks campaign also released a video highlighting the candidate’s support for commuter rail.

“After years of study, the evidence is in that commuter rail is New Hampshire’s biggest economic development opportunity in a generation. For a modest up-front investment, we can unleash hundreds of millions of dollars in outside investment for the good of our entire state and create thousands of middle-class jobs to grow our economy and keep our young people from leaving,” Weeks said.

Weeks, the Democratic candidate for Executive Council in District 5, will lead a discussion with Nashua Mayor Jim Donchess, State Sen. Bette Lasky, former State Sen. Peggy Gilmour, rail engineering expert Michael Izbicki and developer Dan Kelly of the NH Rail Transit Authority, as well as nearly 20 state legislators and legislative candidates, at the Nashua City Hall Auditorium today from 12-2pm.

“It is time for the state legislature and Executive Council to look to the future by beginning the financial planning, preliminary engineering, and environmental permitting that will allow New Hampshire to leverage federal funds and invest in commuter rail,” said Weeks.

Weeks called on the New Hampshire state legislature and Executive Council to reinsert over $3 million in available federal funding for the Capitol Corridor rail project back into the state’s Transportation Improvement Plan, and develop public private partnerships to assist with financing the proposed extension of the Lowell line to Nashua, Manchester Airport, and downtown Manchester. The funding was removed by Republican leaders in 2016, against the recommendation of the NH Department of Transportation and contrary to public demand.

“My great-grandfather Sinclair Weeks helped build the Interstate Highway System half a century ago,” Weeks said. “He was a conservative businessman and Eisenhower’s Secretary of Commerce, yet he recognized that public investments in infrastructure and education breed private-sector growth. We need to bring together private enterprise and public investment once again, to strengthen our New Hampshire economy through commuter rail.”

“Studies show that while the Capital Corridor rail project would cost between $5 to $10 million per year, it would serve nearly 700,000 passengers per year, bring $174 million in federal tax dollars back to New Hampshire, create 5,600 permanent jobs, spur approximately $750 million worth of new real estate development and add nearly 2 million square feet in new commercial space by 2030,” said Weeks. “That’s why 74 percent of Granite Staters support commuter rail. That’s why our Chambers of Commerce and businesses large and small support commuter rail—to help spur economic growth and keep talented young workers in New Hampshire.”

“The single biggest economic development opportunity in a generation is staring us in the face,” Weeks said in a video released by his campaign. “If I’m your Executive Councilor, I will take the right votes to move our state forward on commuter rail.”

Dan Weeks and his plan to fight for commuter rail was endorsed by Nashua Mayor Jim Donchess and Hon. Peggy Gilmour, candidate for State Senate District 12.

Mayor Jim Donchess: “We need strong allies at the highest levels of state government to succeed – people with sound judgment and a stake in Nashua’s success. That’s why I’m proud to stand with my friend and fellow Nashuan, Dan Weeks, in his campaign for Executive Council against Dave Wheeler. Dan has already fought hard to support the Capitol Rail Corridor by lobbying the state legislature, educating the public, and recruiting fellow citizens to do the same.”

Hon. Peggy Gilmour: “Dan Weeks has the vision, integrity, and tenacity that New Hampshire needs on the Executive Council. Dan is entering public service for the right reasons. He cares about people and making our democratic system work for everyone. He listens, whether you’re a Republican or a Democrat. I trust him to put the public’s interest above political party or special interests. Dan supports common sense solutions to bring new jobs to New Hampshire: investing in commuter rail and renewable energy.”

Dan Weeks Convenes Local Leaders to Press for Commuter Rail was originally published on NH Labor News

#Commuter Rail #Dan Weeks

Dan Weeks Calls On David Wheeler To Follow The Law And Disclose His Campaign Finances

Weeks condemns Wheeler’s refusal to debate or disclose campaign finances

Nashua, NH – Today, Dan Weeks (D-Nashua), the Democratic nominee for New Hampshire Executive Council in District 5, called on his opponent, incumbent Councilor David Wheeler (R-Milford), to publicly disclose his campaign finances, in accordance with state law. Weeks also reiterated his call for Wheeler to agree to public debates.

“Mr. Wheeler has gone out of his way to applaud Donald Trump, yet even Trump is now debating his opponent,” said Weeks. “Public servants must be accountable to the people. But after two months of asking, Mr. Wheeler still refuses to even acknowledge my debate request. Worse yet, he is the only high-level candidate for state office to ignore all three state financial disclosure deadlines, which means he has either not paid for his many visible campaign expenditures or is in outright violation of state law.”

“In this campaign, I have visited every town in District 5,” said Weeks. “Countless voters have told me that Mr. Wheeler refused to respond to their phone calls, emails, or address their legitimate concerns. Many doubt that my opponent has ever even been to their towns. If I am elected to the Executive Council, I will always listen to my constituents and practice full transparency.”

Since announcing his candidacy in March, Weeks has toured all 33 towns in District 5 and attended countless events. He officially filed to run for Executive Council by obtaining signed petitions from each town in the district, rather than by paying a fee as Mr. Wheeler did.

“Your Councilor should be transparent. That is why I’ve challenged my opponent to a public debate and voluntarily released financial information about my campaign, even before the state filing deadlines. I am proud that our campaign has received over 1,200 contributions from people from all walks of life.”

New Hampshire campaign finance law requires candidates to file financial reports starting August 24th when at least $500.00 is expended. In keeping with Dan Weeks’ long history advocating for campaign finance reform and greater government transparency, Weeks believes candidates should file sooner than the August deadline and should be prohibited from accepting donations over $1,000 from individuals or any corporate donations. He has voluntarily modeled those reforms in his campaign.

“I find it incredibly hard to believe that my opponent has not surpassed the $500 expenditure threshold that would require a financial disclosure,” said Weeks. “Mr. Wheeler needs to disclose his campaign finance reports and debate, to prove that he isn’t wheeling and dealing with the public’s trust.”

Dan is a 12th generation Granite Stater, a community leader in Nashua, and a proven advocate for good-government reform. Raised on a small community farm in Temple, Dan left home at age 18 to serve with AmeriCorps, attend Yale and Oxford on scholarships, and work on democratic development abroad. He returned to New Hampshire to start a family and continue his public service.

Dan Weeks Calls On David Wheeler To Follow The Law And Disclose His Campaign Finances was originally published on NH Labor News

#Dan Weeks #David Wheeler #Executive Council

Planned Parenthood NH Action Fund Announces Endorsements In NH Executive Council Races

Advocacy Arm of State’s Largest Women’s Health Organization Cites Critical Role Executive Council Plays in Health and Safety of all Granite Staters

CONCORD—With New Hampshire’s Executive Council playing an essential role in decisions that impact the health and safety of all Granite Staters, Planned Parenthood New Hampshire Action Fund (PPNHAF) PAC today endorsed five candidates for executive council who will safeguard health care access for women and low-income families and support judicial and commissioner candidates who are also committed to women’s health. These candidates include:

Mike Cryans, Candidate for Executive Councilor, District 1

Andru Volinsky, Candidate for Executive Councilor, District 2

Beth Roth, Candidate for Executive Councilor, District 3

Chris Pappas, Incumbent Executive Councilor, District 4

Dan Weeks, Candidate for Executive Councilor, District 5

“In the past two years, votes taken by the Executive Council have influenced the health of more than 60,000 Granite Staters who rely on expanded Medicaid and Planned Parenthood health centers for their care. With so many recent threats to health care access, Planned Parenthood New Hampshire Action Fund PAC has endorsed five candidates whose statements and actions demonstrate that they will not put politics before the health of New Hampshire’s women and families,” said Jennifer Frizzell, Chair of Planned Parenthood New Hampshire Action Fund PAC.

The New Hampshire Executive Council is a five-member body whose responsibilities include reviewing and approving contracts, confirming the appointments of judges and commissioners, and working closely with the Governor to oversee the affairs of the state. In recent years, some anti-women’s health members of the Executive Council have voted to reject contracts awarding state and federal funds for preventive care at Planned Parenthood health centers in New Hampshire –risking patient access to critical services such as cancer screenings, breast exams and birth control. Given the significant impact decisions made by NH’s Executive Council have on women’s health care access, Planned Parenthood NH Action Fund PAC has evaluated each of the candidate’s positions on women’s health care access and support for funding Planned Parenthood health centers, conducted interviews and endorsed candidates who will protect women’s health.

Planned Parenthood NH Action Fund Announces Endorsements In NH Executive Council Races was originally published on NH Labor News

#Andru Volinsky #Beth Roth #Chris Pappas #Dan Weeks #Endorsements #Mike Cryans

Dan Weeks Is Ready To Take On David Wheeler In Executive Council Race

Weeks Remarks on Officially Democratic Nomination for Executive Council District 5

Nashua, NH – Dan Weeks (D-Nashua), former Executive Director of Open Democracy and the New Hampshire Rebellion, officially became the Democratic Nominee for the New Hampshire Executive Council’s fifth district and has released the following statement:

“I am deeply honored to officially receive the Democratic nomination for Executive Council in New Hampshire’s Fifth District.

The past few months have been an incredible and humbling adventure. We began this campaign in the spring by filing for office the grassroots way with hundreds of petitions from ordinary citizens in all 33 towns – a first for New Hampshire. We continued over the summer with handshake tours, ice cream tours, parades, fairs, house parties, and service projects in every corner of the District 5. And we have kept the focus on citizens not special interests, engaging hundreds of volunteers and raising over 1,000 small donations.

Our message is one of empowering the everyday citizens in our political system, instead of those with the deepest pockets. It is one of taking care of our most vulnerable neighbors by fighting to continue the Medicaid expansion which serves over 50,000 Granite Staters. It is a message that we respect women and families, and their rights to affordable and accessible healthcare through continued funding of Planned Parenthood.

And it is a message that we must bring New Hampshire into the 21st century through broadband and clean energy projects that are good for our economy and our environment. Projects like commuter rail, the greatest economic opportunity for New Hampshire in a generation, which will bring over 5,600 new permanent jobs and millions in outside investment to our state. And projects like moving to a 100% renewable energy smart grid, complete with expanded broadband access, which will bring even more good-paying jobs, while protecting our precious natural resources.

I have been honored to receive support from such outstanding individuals as Nashua’s Mayor Jim Donchess, Former Executive Councilors Debora Pignatelli and Bernie Streeter, former NH First Lady Dorothy Peterson, and former Chief Justice of the NH Supreme Court John Broderick. Our campaign has also been endorsed by groups like the American Federation of Teachers – NH, the State Employees Association, and many other labor and grassroots organizations. The list of supporters grows each day.

In the 55 days remaining until the general election, we will draw stark contrasts with our opponent, whose message could not be more different from our own. Although I respect Councilor Wheeler’s long tenure in state politics, I believe his record is one of misguided allegiance to the values of the Koch brothers, not Granite State values. Values that pledge to block the Medicaid expansion, to prevent funding for Planned Parenthood, to deny the stark reality of climate science, and to stand in the way of the progress on expanding opportunity for every New Hampshire child.

Staying true to my proven record and background of good governance, I have worked tirelessly to engage my opponent in a series of public debates so these issues can be addressed for the benefit of the voters. My opponent has steadfastly ignored my requests. Unfortunately, his refusal to engage with me is in line with his long history of ignoring his constituents and individuals who hold views that may differ from his own ideology.

New Hampshire and the Fifth District deserve to be represented on the Executive Council by someone who shares their values and aspirations, someone who will listen to their needs and will return their calls. I promise to work my heart out to earn the support of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents all across District 5, and to faithfully represent your needs and interests on the Executive Council. “

Dan Weeks Is Ready To Take On David Wheeler In Executive Council Race was originally published on NH Labor News

#Dan Weeks #Executive Council #Nashua

Dan Weeks Reports Record Small Donations and Total Fundraising for NH Executive Council

NASHUA, NH – Executive Council candidate and good-government reformer Dan Weeks (D-Nashua) announced Thursday that his campaign raised a record 1,035 individual donations totaling $154,173 from March to August, while rejecting corporate special interest support and voluntarily capping contributions far below the legal limit of $7,000.

According to the report – the first official filing of the 2016 election cycle – more than half of Weeks’ campaign contributions came in amounts of $50 or less and nearly 80% in amounts of $100 or less. Both the number of individual donations and total amount raised are records up to this point in a NH Executive Council campaign, according to past reports filed with the NH Secretary of State. The report followed an earlier voluntary filing at the end of June (the only such filing by an Executive Council candidate), in keeping with Weeks’ longstanding advocacy for transparent and accountable campaigns. Weeks’ opponent, incumbent Councilor David Wheeler, refused to follow suit.

Report Summary, March-August 2016 (campaign to-date)

Donation Size

Donations Count

Percent of Donations

$50 or less

577

55.7%

$100 or less

813

78.5%

$250 or less

911

88%

$500 or less

978

94.4%

Total Donations

1,035

100%

Total Amount

$154,173

100%

“When I announced my candidacy in March, I asked the voters of District 5 to join me in practicing a different kind of politics, free from the undue influence of big money contributors,” Weeks said. “I am honored that thousands of fellow citizens have stepped forward already – as small donors, ballot petition signers, or volunteers – to make this a people-powered campaign. I believe today’s official fundraising report, showing record individual donations and not a dime in corporate support, is evidence that voters value democracy and want candidates who practice it in their campaigns.”

Weeks, who stepped down in March as Executive Director of the nonpartisan government watchdog group Open Democracy, has long advocated for increased transparency and campaign finance reform. Among his reform proposals, reiterated in a letter to Secretary of State Bill Gardner in July, are capping contributions to state candidates at $1,000 for the primary and general elections by removing the political committee loophole (whereby candidates may accept up to $5,000 per contributor prior to filing their candidacy); prohibiting direct corporate contributions to campaigns; requiring all state candidates with receipts over $500 to file their fundraising reports online on a minimum quarterly basis; and enacting citizen-funded elections via voucher or matching funds for qualifying candidates who voluntarily accept only small donations. Weeks has sought to voluntarily model these reforms in his campaign.

“Strengthening democracy and stopping big money politics has been the central focus of my professional life since attending ConVal high school here in District 5 and meeting Granny D,” Weeks said. “Although more work needs to be done at the legislative level to increase disclosure and implement citizen-funded elections, I believe that candidates can and must ‘walk the talk’ by voluntarily capping and disclosing their donations, and saying no to corporate support. That’s what I have done, and will continue to do, throughout my campaign. I urge my opponent to do the same.”

Dan Weeks Reports Record Small Donations and Total Fundraising for NH Executive Council was originally published on NH Labor News

#Dan Weeks #executive council district 5

Weeks Amplifies Call On Wheeler To Debate - "I'll come to your door!"

NASHUA – More than two weeks after Executive Council candidate and good-government reformer Dan Weeks (D-Nashua) hand-delivered a debate invitation to his opponent, the incumbent Councilor David Wheeler continues to evade the issue and ignore requests from non-partisan organizations offering to host debates. Dozens of District 5 voters have echoed Weeks’ call for debates by sending messages of their own to Wheeler, who has yet to respond to a single one.

“I firmly believe that anyone who seeks the people’s trust owes it to the voters to stand up in public alongside his opponent and defend his positions,” Weeks said. “If Councilor Wheeler won’t agree to meet me in public and debate, you have to wonder what he’s trying to hide.”

Weeks added that he is more than willing to come to his opponent’s neighborhood or front door with a podium for him, if that’s what it takes to have a public debate.

In a letter Weeks delivered to Wheeler at the August 3rd meeting of the Governor and Council, Weeks formally requested Wheeler “work with me on arranging for a series of debates… to provide direct and substantive access to our positions on the issues to voters.” The letter received coverage in The Union Leader, Nashua Telegraph, and other outlets. Although Wheeler indicated to The Union Leader on August 12th that “we’re working on setting one up in Peterborough as we speak,” neither the Weeks campaign nor the Peterborough organizers have received any response from Wheeler as of August 18th.

The call for debates is not the first time Wheeler has refused to return letters or calls from Weeks, a longtime District 5 resident, or other constituents. Since entering the race in March, Weeks has called upon Wheeler to address questions and concerns from constituents over commuter rail, renewable energy, women’s health contracts, and racist and xenophobic statements made by Donald Trump, after Wheeler was the senior-most elected official to attend the Republican nominee’s New Hampshire address in June. All of Weeks’ requests to-date have gone unanswered.

“There is simply no excuse for an elected representative to systematically ignore his constituents’ pleas,” Weeks said. “As I travel the 33 towns in District 5 meeting voters and hearing their concerns, I am repeatedly told by ordinary citizens that Wheeler never returned their calls. That is unacceptable.”

Weeks concluded, “As a 15-year advocate for transparent and accountable governance, I am ready to do my part by answering voters questions directly – not through speeches and soundbites at a forum but in a real debate. It’s high time Councilor Wheeler joined in.”

Weeks Amplifies Call On Wheeler To Debate – “I’ll come to your door!” was originally published on NH Labor News