County Committee News

Working for a more progressive Brooklyn

At a Brooklyn Democratic county committee meeting, progressives tried to exert muscle, but 500 proxy votes ensured wins for the county boss.

Beneath the surface, control of the county committee meeting had already been determined by how many county committee members had signed over their votes to faction leaders.

'It is entirely unacceptable to sign my name to a letter, and purport it to be from me, and send it to my county committee members asking for them to give a proxy [vote] to Frank Seddio.'

If we’re lucky, the same progressive wind that swept away nearly all of the state senators of the former Independent Democratic Conference...

Members of the Brooklyn Democratic County Committee received phone calls, door-knocks and mailings this week urging them to turn over their votes by proxy to party boss Frank Seddio — including letters bearing the names of elected officials and district leaders who say they didn’t sign them.

County committees set the rules for political parties, elect leadership and determine the local party's budget. They also choose which candidates to run in a special election. So how can you get involved?

Progressive New York Democrats celebrating the stunning primary election defeats of a half dozen state Senators who caucused with Republicans and a Brooklyn machine stalwart had better steel themselves to take on the appallingly undemocratic local Democratic Party itself.

From governor to state Senate and even party committees, the Empire State’s old party bosses are on the defensive.

One New Yorker tries to engage in the lowest level of city politics, is stymied.

One New Yorker tries to engage in the lowest level of city politics, is stymied.

The leadership of the Queens County Democratic Party is denying allegations that it is running candidates for the Democratic County Committee who have no idea that they’re on the ballot, including one who allegedly has been registered to vote in Florida for nearly two years.But one of the surprised candidates contacted by the Chronicle confirmed the story first reported by The New York Times; candidates seeking election without the party endorsement are miffed; and the city’s Board of Elections isn’t talking at all.

In Queens, Democratic bosses run candidates without their consent for a board that sets party policy, even as reformers get kicked off the ballot.

Brooklyn Democratic County Committee member Ernest Skinner says he has delivered over 20 signed and notarized affidavits from registered Democrats in State Sen. Simcha Felder’s district and a letter to Brooklyn Democratic Party Chair Frank Seddio asking that Felder be removed from the Democratic Party for what Skinner described as Felder’s “lack of sympathy and loyalty to the party.”

The stunning victory of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez over Queens Democratic Party boss Rep. Joe Crowley has led some to celebrate the end of party machine-dominated politics in New York City.

Rep. Joseph Crowley lost his re-election bid in a stunning fashion. But he hasn’t lost it all.

07/05/2018 07:20 AM EDT