#stephen levin

[szepkerekkocka]

Egy igazi rézangyal

Rendszeres olvasóim megszokhatták, hogy néha beszámolok az aukciók világának egy-két érdekesebb tételéről, eseményéről, nem utolsó sorban az

[hyperallergic]

City Councilmembers to Hold Cultural Plan Hearing

View Post

[jakeleffermanjournalism-blog]

From Brazil to Brooklyn – Participatory Budgeting Shakes Things Up

By Jake Lefferman

BROOKLYN, NY - Brooklyn residents began the process of deciding how to spend one million dollars of the public budget Thursday night.  Community residents proposed and debated projects that included environmental improvement, public safety, and technology updates.

Historic Borough Hall housed this, the first of several neighborhood assemblies.  A dozen residents divided into small brainstorming groups to share concerns and propose solutions to what they see as the most critical issues affecting their neighborhoods.

This citywide initiative, called participatory budgeting, came to New York City three years ago by way of Brazil.  First piloted in Porto Alegre, Brazil in 1989 the program gives community members decision-making powers over an earmarked portion of the city’s budget.  Since then, it has spread to over 1,500 countries throughout the world including New York, Chicago, and Vallejo, California according to the project’s website.   

Brooklyn City Councilman Stephen Levin said the program aims at empowering communities to decide how to spend their tax dollars and keeps the district budget transparent and accountable.  “It gives people some confidence that government is responsive and is working for them, that they can participate, and that their voice does matter,” he said.

The program is gaining momentum.  Last year, over thirteen thousand New York voters chose 45 winning projects totaling over ten million dollars in government funding.  More than 1700 projects were proposed by over 1600 residents, said outreach coordinator Benjamin Solitaire, a number organizers hope to beat this year.

Now in its second year in Brooklyn’s 33rd district, one of nine districts participating, the program relies heavily on the work of a few staff members, volunteer support, and community involvement, said volunteer Jake Karr.  Karr helped lead Thursday’s meeting along with outreach coordinator, Benjamin Solitaire, and Levin’s lead organizer, Lisa Bloodgood.

“It’s really just people in the community who are really engaged and really care about this project,” said Karr.

Facilitators Lisa Bloodgood and Jake Karr lead a community breakout session at Thursday’s meeting. Photo by Jake Lefferman.

Solitaire and Bloodgood gave a presentation on the history and goals of participatory budgeting and the rules and procedure governing suggestions.  Facilitators explained that each project must cost a minimum of $35,000 and all projects combined cannot exceed $1 million, the standard amount each city council member sets aside for his or her district.  They then divided attendants into small groups where they shared ideas about how to spend the money.

“We need up to date technology for god’s sake,” said resident Daphne Griffith, while proposing funding to purchase new computers in local schools.

“I would like to see children’s gardening programs in K through eighth grade,” said Diane Buxbaum, who suggested modeling an initiative based off Alice Water’s Edible Schoolyard Project.  “Not only does it teach children nutritional values but responsibility and how to cook.”

Others cited public safety as a concern.  “These reckless drivers should be punished for making U-turns unexpectedly without even signaling.  I’ve seen it four times this week,” Griffith said while arguing for the need for stricter traffic enforcement.

Additional suggestions included Borough Hall Plaza improvements, rooftop gardens, more trashcans in Williamsburg and Greenpoint, and soft edges along the Gowanus River. 

Last year, Levin’s district allocated over $1.7 million to public housing repair, park improvement, playgrounds, library upgrades, MTA station upgrades, and security cameras through the program.  Levin said he was pleased with last year’s turnout and expects more this time around.  “We had good participation and people got really invested so we want to make sure that happens throughout the district again this year,” Levin said.

The Councilman also said his office learned a lot from last year and is working on strategic outreach to reach more people.  “We want to see more participation from some pockets of the community who didn’t seem to participate as much last year and make sure there’s a stepped up level of participation,” said Levin.  He cited South Williamsburg, public housing developments, and the senior community.   

Volunteers and residents become involved in participatory budgeting for a variety of reasons.  Jake Karr said, “I think it’s one of the most direct ways to make democracy matter and visible and remind people that democracy is more than just going out and voting every few years.”  Karr’s interests in this program were first peaked in a course at Brown University.  The professor was a visiting instructor from Porto Alegre, where the program was piloted, and often lectured about its origins and results.

According to a World Bank case study on the program’s Brazilian birthplace, the results are mostly positive.  The study found that citizen participation in the program rose steady, from 1000 in 1990 to 40,000 in 1999.  It also notes that the budget controlled by citizens increased from 17% in 1992 to 21% in 1999 and that citizen priorities had led to the reallocation of funds to public housing, sewer and water connections, and schools.  However, the study also indicates that the program has been slow to involved members of the poorer sectors of the community, and participation drops off once a group’s demands are met. 

Councilman Stephen Levin (D-District 33) speaks with resident at Thursday's neighborhood assembly. Photo by Jake Lefferman.

At the end of Thursday’s meeting, the top six ideas were proposed to Stephen Levin, as he sat eagerly in the front row.  Citizens pitched Borough Hall Plaza upgrades, school gardens and roof gardens, tree evaluation and maintenance, sidewalk benches, and library technology improvements.  All ideas suggested by participants, however, will go to the next stage of the budgeting process, delegate meetings, where proposals will be developed from November through March.  

There will be several more brainstorming sessions, open to the public, at neighborhood assemblies throughout the month.  This process will continue until a pubic vote before the end of the fiscal year in April.

[hyperallergic]

Brooklyn Councilmember Levin's Art Agenda

Artful councilmember Stephen Levin. (image via Wikipedia)

In a recentannouncement, New York City…

View Post

[stedmanswhiteboard]

Government is OFTEN Good

In an ironic twist. The day after I wrote my post about my excitement for Kalanick / Yassky talk at NExT about innovation and regulation I had a government whammy hit Northside. Over the 8 days of the event this year we'll have more than 80,000 people coming to different aspects of the festival as we celebrate the innovation and creative communities of Brooklyn, with the majority coming over the June 15 + 16 weekend.

When I suddenly received a spate of emails last week from local civic and elected leaders I was worried... The MTA decided, without consulting community boards, local leaders, or ANYONE, that June 15 + 16 was a great time to close service to Brooklyn for service updates to the L train. 

My apologies to neighbors who might have heard a barbarically yawping "wtf" ring through Wellesley. 

Within an hour of this announcement local businesses who rely on the increase in local business during Northside (and on another weekend they had announced), civic groups, and a remarkable team of local elected officials led by Daniel Squadron, Joe Lentol, Stephen Levin, and Marty Markowitz created a coherent and unified approach to the MTA. They drafted a letter, advised patience to those of us impacted by this, and assuaged us with remarkable communication. 

... then something amazing happened. In less than 48 hours they fixed the problem. The dates were changed. If you'll excuse a slight reach... guided by great elected officials, the regulation (MTA changes to the L train schedule) that threatened to strangle valuable innovation (the emergence of Northside Festival as a major event and boost to the local economy) was changed to everyone's benefit. 

So now a final point. There is a mayoral election coming up in NYC. Learn about the candidates and VOTE in the primary. That is where this election is almost entirely decided and the next Mayor will impact everyone in NYC... particularly anyone interested in entrepreneurship.

Just to reiterate a huge thanks to State Senator Daniel Squadron, NY Assemblyman Joseph Lentol, Council Member Stephen Levin, Borough Prez Marty Markowitz, and everyone else who participated in this rapid response.

[hasidicbrooklyn-blog-blog]

Levin/Restler & City Council Redistricting (update 1)

After the final meeting of the New York City Districting Commission, the revisited lines need to be approved by the City Council. The lines protect the incumbents, so it shouldn't really be a problem. In the 33rd district, the boundaries have slightly changed since the preliminary draft. A few blocks from the old 33rd district, in BoCoCa and North Park Slope, have been reintegrated. On the other side, a few blocks in the Williamsburg's Northside (East of the BQE) will finally stay in the 34th District. It doesn't change our conclusions for a possible primary between Steven Levin and Lincoln Restler : both area may favor Restler. 

On the other hand, we don't think the revisited lines will help a possible run by Vito Lopez in the 34th district, as a Post's journalist tried to pinpoint. The proposed plan is a clue of the contrary. The Broadway Triangle in South Williamsburg would stay in the 33rd District, whereas it was included in the 34th during the preliminary draft. The Ridgewood Bushwick Senior Citizens Council (RBSCC) co-sponsored a huge housing project with a hasidic organization (UJO) in this area, part of Lopez's 53rd Assembly District. If Lopez becomes Council-member, he will lose the Broadway Triangle. Lopez knows it; so does Christine Quinn. 

Legend : 

in red, the revisited 33rd district in yellow, the first preliminary draft in black, the old district

[hasidicbrooklyn-blog-blog]

Lincoln Restler Vs Stephen Levin, September 2013

One month after the election, Lincoln Restler finally lost against Chris Olechowski, the Community Board 1’s chairman, 6018 to 6037. He has decided not to challenge the results of the elections, released by the BOE a few days ago. Commentators wonder if he will challenge the local City councilman Stephen Levin, who supported Olechowski, in a primary next year. The epic fall of Levin’s main support (and mentor) Vito Lopez, after sexual harassment complaints, could be considered as a great opportunity for Restler. But it’s forgetting another reality: district and, redistricting.

In theory, redistricting reflects the demographic changes and erodes the electoral support of the incumbent, creating opportunities for challengers. In our case, gerrymandering could prompt the contrary. After the 2012 redistricting in the 50th Assembly district, we already mentioned that Restler’s victory in 2010 (against Warren Cohn) became a defeat (3434-2922). After the 2013 redistricting in the 33rd City council district, it seems even more complicated for a reformer candidate to win a primary.

Restler’s defeat in 2012

The Hasidic vote (UJO-affiliated) caused Olechowski’s victory. 90,5% of his votes were cast in the Hasidic area. This election has also shown that there is no polish vote in Greenpoint; the polish candidate did a little better than Cohn in this area in 2010. He got 280 votes in the Northside-Southside and 26 in Fort-Greene/Clinton Hill.

Restler did a terrific job, by reaching as many voters. First, in the Hasidic area, he received the strong support of a dissident faction of the Satmar (and their affiliates), close to Aaron Teitelbaum in Kiryas Joel, and got 37,6% of the vote. In the heavy Hasidic EDs (67,73, 74, 78), it’s closer to 30%, which is a little lower than Dilan Velazquez in June and closer to Squadron in 2008. And in the public housing, where Hasidic families live with other minorities, he did very well and even beat Olechowski in the Independence Towers (62). In the EDs 82 and 83, South of Flushing, which is gentrified by young Hasidic families, he got almost 50% of the ballots. Some commentators consider that this is a stronghold of the Aaronis but other minorities and hipsters, more inclined to vote for Restler, live also in this area. We’ll have to look at the voters file to have more information. Second, the reformer mobilized many voters, reaching municipal primary’s turnout, in the Southside-Northside (987, +75% since 2010) and Greenpoint (1349, +43%). If there is a hipster vote in the area, Restler got it.

How a reformer candidate can win in the 33rd district

The Hasidic vote had decided the primary (or special election) in 1991 (Ken Fisher) and 2009 (Stephen Levin) because the district vote was divided between many candidates (7 both times). However David Yassky proved in 2001 that you could win the primary without their support. His main opponent, the 50th district leader Steven Cohn, had the Hasidic backing, and a few supporters in the rest of the district (or at least he thought he did, as Gatemouth explained). The election was postponed, after 9/11, during Yom Kippour, and the turnout was very low, especially in the Hasidic area.  Finally, Cohn 2486 votes in the Hasidic area and around 2000 in the rest of the district. There were only 4 candidates, and David Yassky was able to compensate his lost in the Hasidic area in other parts of the district. Yassky, a very ambitious (and reformer?) candidate, managed to get key political club support and reach the reformer and liberal voters in Brownstone Brooklyn. He got only 950 votes in the 50th Assembly District and did very well in Brooklyn Heights-Downtown Brooklyn (3063) and BoCoCa-North Park Slope (2438). The two other candidates Ken Diamondstone and David Reiss totalized 3700 voters, mostly out of the 50th Assembly District.

Why does Lincoln seem to have an opportunity

In 2009, Stephen Levin had almost the same strategy than Cohn, but won. The turnout was bigger in the Hasidic area, because of internal rivalries, and he got 3605 votes there (if you take off Isaac Abraham's vote, he got less than Cohn). He did worst than Cohn in the rest of 50th AD, but a little better in Brownstone Brooklyn. Five other candidates divided the vote in the district, and one Hasidic candidate got the support of the Aaronis.

If Restler is a candidate next year in a two-man primary, there could be a path for victory. Contrary to 2009, he could get the support of both the Aaronis in Williamsburg and the “reformers” (that supported Jo Ann Simon and other candidates) in the rest of the district. As the September election showed, he almost neutralized Levin’s support in the 50th Assembly District even with a very strong turnout in the Hasidic area. He would have to maintain his support, and just do better than Levin in the 52nd Assembly District.

How does the 2013 redistricting help the Regulars

But the situation is actually more complicated, because the 33rd City Council District doesn’t include the whole Restler’s vote base in the 50Th. As we analysed, only 4559 (76%) of his electors in the 50th AD vote in the actual 33rd CCD, contrary to 5375 (89%) of the Olechowski’s electors.

The new 33rd district, proposed by the Districting Commission, increases these figures, to 5034 (84%) and 5771 (95%). The new district includes a few blocs south of Flushing, in the 50th AD, where the Hasidic community has expended during the 00’s, and gave up several Election Districts (EDs) in the Southside and Northside, where Levin is particularly weak. The Greenpoint area will not be affected. Finally, Restler is below in the 50th by 737 votes.

The key of this election will be the 52nd AD, which is a very different political area (and electorate). In 2009, 1414 electors voted for Levin and 6676 for the other candidates. His main challenger, Jo Anne Simon, close to Restler, received lots of support, especially in Brooklyn Heights, and North Park Slope. Technically, Restler could reach the voters of all the other candidates, who are more progressive and reform-oriented.

However the 2013 redistricting could give the election to Levin. The north of Park Slope (and parts of BoCoCa) would be removed from the proposed district; 3737 didn’t vote for Levin in this area in 2009; only 1289 of those electors will stay in the district. And in 2001, this area was the base of Yassky’s victory. In the 2013 33rd district, Yassky would have lost against Cohn (4291 to 4003) 

The Yassky’s way (enhanced by the Aaronis support) seems very difficult after this redistricting. 

Other factors

It’s too early to make a deeper analysis about this election, as Restler hasn’t declared his candidacy yet. Brooklyn and local politics will have a big play there. Levin is seriously weakened by Lopez’s scandal and fall. On the other hand, he is the incumbent. He is a hard-worker and has developed ties with other elected officials (in the city council) and his electorate in Greenpoint, where he lives, and in Brooklyn Heights.

Restler will be able to start his campaign very early and develop his power base in Greenpoint and in Brooklyn heights. Let’s not forget that he grew up in Brooklyn Heights, and that his political club, New Kings Democrats (NKD), is well connected in the whole 52nd Assembly District.

The real question remains: how will the relationship between Frank Seddio, the Executive Committee and the Reformer faction evolve. Ken Fisher and David Yassky has showed (differently) that the 33rd City Councilmember could be somewhere in the middle. Then, what will the main Hasidic faction do? We guess they will stay loyal to Levin against Restler. But, depending on the internal politics, the real question will be the turnout.

Another key factor is the number of candidates: will the reformers unify behind Restler? Will the Democrat Party encourage another candidate, whether it’s against Levin or to take from Restler’s base? Finally, which candidate will get the support of Joe Lentol, Millman and other elected officials in the area?

To be continued...

[oreoswithpeanutbutter]

Highlights of my day:

-Marcus telling me he liked my jacket/coat/whatever it is as I was leaving breakfast (at the caf!). I was wearing my yellow one with the buttons.

-Getting called cute by my psychology teacher for citing something wrong in my paper

-Getting a creeper text from Stephen telling me to turn around and then talking with him for a bit and riding his scooter

-Seeing a bunch of college kids freak out over getting to pet special anxiety dogs

-Getting complimented on my striped sweater that my roommates absolutely hate. They think it's really ridiculous but Alex said its real colorful and it matches me and it's cute.

-Seeing the boy I like. His hair was wet.. I said hey and he said hey back. But it wasn't just like hey. It was like "Hey Wick!" and he was like "Hey Tiffany! =)" and then Erica asking me about my feelings cuz she said I had a "glow" about me for about 5 seconds after that exchange.

-Seeing Wall-E at the film school on the big screen TV

-Spontaneous Starbucks trip with my roommates

-Food trucks in Costa Mesa tonight!

Yup. So. It's been a busy day but. It's been real nice.