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April 13, 2006
IND: A Troubling Week
I have been silent on this issue all week because in my position at IND (I am the Chairman of the Executive Board), I did not feel it appropriate to respond on my blog. But this story makes a few claims that are incorrect and must be corrected. The bold sections below are wrong (read it and come back here)! The vote was not in secret. It was a planned monthly meeting. Although only board members are allowed to vote, members of IND are always welcome. The second bold section, which states “Joan and Kenn were looking over the list and saying, ‘This is trouble,’” is completely false, and the person who made this claim knows it (and yes, I know who said it). In fact, Joan and I have not discussed this at all, except during the board meeting. But more importantly, I did not think it was trouble. It was expected that Ken Diamondstone would sign up as many people as he could. The same goes for Chris Owens and David Yassky. This happens every year. I should state that I have not backed any candidate in either race, but Ken Diamondstone and I are friends. I know David Yassky and Chris Owens and have worked with both of them. What bothers me about this article is that someone I know lied in a blatant attempt to harm my reputation. Disagreeing is fine and expected. The people who were the most passionate about this issue are people I have worked with in the past, and I will work with them again in the future. Even though we disagreed on this issue, I respect them and I know they respect me. Disagreeing is expected, lying is not, and is totally unacceptable.
For more coverage of this story, read the following articles:
OnNYTurf: A Most Unlikely Vote Fixer in Brooklyn
Courier-Life: New Members Barred From Voting At IND Club
The Daily Politics: Shocked Shocked
Kenn Lowy
“New Dems Locked Out
By Gersh Kuntzman
The Brooklyn Papers 4/14/06
Clubhouse politics in Brooklyn was thrown into turmoil last week after one supposedly influential club barred more than 100 new members from its upcoming endorsement vote — even though they all signed up on time. The board of Independent Neighborhood Democrats voted in secret to move up its long-scheduled May 18 endorsement vote so that the flood of members — supporters of congressional candidate Chris Owens and others from the anti-Atlantic Yards group, Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn — would not be eligible to pick candidates for the club to endorse. The board’s April 6 vote set off a round of charges that the board didn’t want Owens to “steal” the endorsement for the 11th congressional district from City Councilman David Yassky (D- Brooklyn Heights) — and counter- charges that Owens and others were “packing” the club at the last minute. “These 100 people came in
to pack our club and I’ll be damned if I’m going to let ’em get away with it!” said Buddy Scotto of Carroll Gardens, a founding member of the IND. “[Candidates] went out and rounded up relatives and friends. But Owens and others slammed IND right back — leveling pretty much the same charge.
“Changing the endorsement vote is an injustice against anyone who joined prior to the long-stated deadline,” said Owens, whose IND membership precedes the current rhubarb and, as such, says it is his “job” to find new members. “I know I brought in nine people,” he said. “And I know they joined on time. Reform-minded clubs should stick to the rules.” Though independent in name, IND is affiliated with Assemblywoman Joan Millman (D-Park Slope) and state Sen. Martin Connor (D-Brooklyn Heights). When the flood of new members rolled in, Millman and executive board Chairman Kenn Lowy dove into the surf, sources said. “Joan and Kenn were looking over the list and saying, ‘This is trouble,’” said one club member.”
Posted by klowy at 05:29 PM | Comments (0)