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LPNY News
01/27/08 MANHATTAN-- We had a great Convention this year. We had 33 people in attendance including Murray Sabrin, Ron Paul's choice for Senate in NJ, and Jim Miller, whose wife died of MS after many years as an advocate for medical marijhuana. We also had two Presidential candidates (Jim Burns and Alden Link) as well as two Congressional candidates (Jim Forsythe in NH and Ron Ramo in Queens). Ron Moore was re-elected Chair in a tight race against NOTA (14-1) and Mark Axinn will continue as Secretary-Treasurer. Our other officers are Jim Lesczynski, Antonio Musumeci and Ron Ramo.
03/30/08 GRLP-- 2008 convention of the Greater Rochester LP -- see the report from GRLP Chair Chris Edes here: 2008 Convention
09/12/07 WESTCHESTER-- Bill Schmidt, Candidate for Peekskill Mayor, was endorsed by LPNY at its state convention and will have the Libertarian Party name next to his on the ballot, among other parties. For more information about him and to get in touch to help with his campaign, please see Peekskill First.
09/12/07 SUFFOLK-- Libertarian Estelle Edwards is running for Suffolk Country Executive and is on the ballot. Join the Suffolk County LP YahooGroup for information on her campaign and what you can do to help.
09/12/07 GRLP-- The Libertarian Party is fielding two candidates for City of Rochester School Board this year. Check out the websites of our candidates Christopher Edes and Max Kessler. Both are on the ballot and looking forward to hearing from local libertarians.
08/02/07 CAPITAL-- The next Capital District meeting will be held on Tuesday August 14th at 6PM at the Branch Office on Maiden Lane in Albany.
Here's a link to a short sample video of our first trial run of the Capital Outsider show on Google Video for those who are interested. You may have to raise the audio volume, unless you have powered speakers; we're still learning the ropes:
Capital Outsider, episode 1
07/30/07 MONROE-- The Libertarian Party is fielding two candidates for City of Rochester School Board this year. Check out the websites of our candidates Christopher Edes and Max Kessler. If you want to make some cash and support a good cause (Liberty) at the same time, please contact Chris Edes. He's paying $15/hour for help with signature collection, more possible for those with experience.
07/01/07 SUFFOLK-- Libertarian Estelle Edwards is running for Suffolk Country Executive. Suffolk County residents have to pay an extraordinary amount of taxes, so that's likely to be one of her main issues. Ms. Edwards needs all the help she can get to gather the approximately 3000 signatures necessary to be confident of getting the Libertarian line on the ballot. So if you are a New York resident, especially downstate, please see if you can help her out. Join the Suffolk County LP YahooGroup for information on group petitioning dates, and download a petition there today! The start date for gathering signatures will be July 10, and ends August 21.
The petition is in PDF format for ideal formatting for printing. Adobe Acrobat can be downloaded to read it if you don't already have it.
04/30/07 NEW YORK-- A bill we support: S29 and A575 would lower the number of signatures for getting "independent" candidates on the ballot by half. The statewide petition requirements for the LPNY would fall from 15,000 signatures to 7,500 signatures.
For the text of this bill see:
http://public.leginfo.state.ny.us/menugetf.cgi and search for the bill numbers above.
Also see: LPNY Press Release
04/13/07 NEW YORK-- Tax Day is April 17 in most of the Northeast this year, due to the weekend and Patriot's Day.
The Greater Rochester "Theft Day" protest will be on Tuesday, April 17th from 6pm-10pm. Please join the Greater Rochester mailing list for more information about this event and more news from this newly-reorganized group.
There will be a Tax Day Protest in Ithaca on either Monday or Tuesday
late afternoon at the Ithaca Commons. Also, this weekend there will be
sign-painting party for the event. The protest will last 2 hours. See the Ithaca LP mailing list for more information.
In the media: North Country Public Radio is airing a piece on tax protestors featuring former Libertarian Gubernatorial candidate Robert Schulz. The Justice Department is suing Schultz, claiming that his fellow tax protestors are costing the Treasury more than 20 million dollars. Listen to the segment here. Their argument against the legality of the income tax was outlined in a symposium organized by Schulz in 1999.
04/13/07 NORTHERN-- SUNY Plattsburgh: There will be a meeting Monday night, April 23 in Meyers 226 at 7:30pm. We will talk about plans for the fall, including how to set up the libertarian club on campus and public events we can sponsor. For more information, please contact Robert Hofer at parel -at- capital.net or 518-846-7716.
03/29/07 MONROE-- (Re-)Inaugural Convention for the Greater Rochester Libertarian Party!
Please join us Saturday, March 31st, 4pm-10pm, at Rand Lodge, Park Road, Powder Mills Park. See http://rochesterlp.net/meetings.htm for the latest information!
03/28/07 WESTCHESTER-- Thanks to the extraordinary perseverence of David DeSanto, the Libertarian-produced talk show "Hardfire" now has a weekly showing in the Village of Larchmont, Village of Mamaroneck, and Town of Mamaroneck, Thursday nights at 8, channel 77, starting April 5th http://www.lmc-tv.org/. Thank you, David!
02/10/07 ITHACA-- Ithaca Libertarians Monthly Meeting
Tuesday, February 20, 2006 7:00 PM
209 N. Aurora Street, Ithaca
Bool's Flower Shop
All area libertarians and friends are welcome to attend! Meetings held every third Tuesday.
01/15/07 ITHACA-- The monthly meeting of the Ithaca Libertarians is
this Tuesday, January 16, 7 PM at 209 N. Aurora St., Ithaca.
12/15/06 ITHACA-- Holiday Party with dish-to-pass at our monthly meeting Tuesday, December 19th at 7:00pm. Held at Bool's Flower Shop, 209 N Aurora St., Ithaca
All are welcome!
Regular monthly meetings are the 3rd Tues, as above.
12/01/06 NEW YORK-- The April 28, 2007 state convention will be held on Long Island. The Suffolk County Libertarian Organization (SCLO) has arranged plans for the Radisson Hotel in Medford at exit 63 of the LIE. There are no parking charges. This location is convenient to Islip/MacArthur Airport, as well.
We held the state convention at this location the last time it was on Long Island. (It was a Best Western at that time.) There is a restaurant and bar attached to the hotel for those arriving on Friday night.
Join the Suffolk LP Mailing List to discuss these preliminary convention plans and give your feedback!
11/18/06 SUFFOLK-- The Suffolk County Libertarian Organization is looking for a few good volunteers to help at the January 14th OPH booth. This will be at the VFW in Babylon 9-4. Please volunteer for at least one hour. We will train volunteers.
*** We are looking for other locations to do OPH outreach.***
Contacts: Michael House and Jim Harris
11/15/06 WESTERN-- A December Meeting of the Libertarian Party is scheduled for Thursday, December 7, at 7:30 PM, at John Wadsworth's home in Buffalo at 313 Summer Street. Hope to see you then!
11/03/06 NEW YORK-- Poll Watchers Needed
Democracy requires vigilance!
Please help out the party by volunteering to be a poll watcher on Election Day. Libertarian candidate for Attorney General, Chris Garvey, has prepared a file for you to print out to be allowed to witness the vote totals at the end of the election, at your local polling place, or another nearby.
 Download your signed form and instructions to be a pollwatcher for the Libertarian Party
Thanks! Don't forget to vote on Tuesday!
11/02/06 SUFFOLK-- Long Island is being considered as the location for the April 28, 2007 state convention. The Suffolk County Libertarian Organization (SCLO) has proposed that it be held at the Radisson Hotel in Medford at exit 63 of the LIE. There are no parking charges. This location is convenient to Islip/MacArthur Airport, as well.
We held the state convention at this location the last time it was on Long Island. (It was a Best Western at that time.) There is a restaurant and bar attached to the hotel for those arriving on Friday night.
Join the Suffolk LP Mailing List to discuss these preliminary convention plans and give your feedback!
09/12/06 ITHACA-- Join us Friday, September 29 for Ithaca's 24th Annual Apple Harvest Festival, on the Ithaca Commons from 12-6 PM. We'll be running Operation Politically Homeless, handing out candidate information, and enjoying the locally grown apples & fresh cider!
09/05/06 KINGS-- Libertarian U.S. Congressional candidate Steve Finger will be on the streets campaigning after the primary election of September 12. The first big street event in Brooklyn is the immediate Sunday, September 17th, 10am-6pm, on convenient Atlantic Avenue (first stop in Brooklyn on the 4 train). Please write to Steve at Finger4Congress@aol.com and tell him when you can meet him there and how long you can stay. http://www.fingerforcongress.org/
09/03/06 NORTHERN-- We will be meeting at 7pm on September 20 at Bob Hofer's house at 537 Miner Farm Rd in Chazy. Give him a call at 518-846-7716 if you need directions.
08/22/06 NORTHERN-- We will be meeting at 7pm on September 20 at Bob Hofer's house at 537 Miner Farm Rd in Chazy. Give him a call at 518-846-7716 if you need directions.
Some of us will also be attending the Friends of the NRA dinner in Lake Placid on August 30. Contact Bonnie Scott and/or the organizer, Cecilia R. Martin for more information.
08/15/06 CENTRALNY-- We had a fun BBQ/campout in Chenango County this weekend, with folks from Syracuse, Ithaca, downstate and --once again, some from Europe -- as well as some Chenango County Libertarians returning for another year's festivities!
Coming up next...
September 30, 2006
Treadway Inn and Conference Center
Owego, New York
Meeting of the Coalition to Free New York
Please mark your calendars and plan on attending!
08/11/06 NORTHERN-- Clinton County Libertarians will be meeting once again at the Koffee Kat, Wednesday, August 16 at 7pm. That's at 104 Margaret St. Join us!
Remember, it's not too late to get some more signatures to help us get on the ballot! Get info and download the forms here: http://ny.lp.org/petitions/
08/01/06 COLUMBIA-- Capital District and Hudson Valley members are invited to Eric Sundwall's house on Aug. 8th 7PM for the Capital Chapter meeting. Our light BBQ will hopefully culminate a successful afternoon petitioning for eric's Congressional run. All LPNY members are invited.
07/04/06 NEW YORK-- Members of the New York Libertarian Party attended the National Libertarian Convention held in Portland, Oregon on July 1st and 2nd. Speakers at the convention ranged from Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic speaking about instant runoff voting, to former Congressman Bob Barr from Georgia.
At the convention, minor bylaws changes were made, the platform was greatly streamlined (read the latest LP Platform online), and Vermont LP State Chair Hardy Machia was elected as our region's representative to the Libertarian National Committee. Eric Sundwall, 2006 Congressional candidate from Niverville, NY, was elected as the alternate regional representative. The local region consists of New York, New Jersey, and New England.
07/03/06 NORTHERN-- We will be having our monthly Plattsburgh meeting a week later then usual, on Wednesday, July 26. Join us at the Plattsburgh Post Office during the day for petitioning, then we'll meet (location TBD) for an after-petitioning party.
06/25/06 ITHACA-- Here in Ithaca we're looking forward to our INDEPENDENCE DAY BBQ & CAMP OUT to be held on July 1, 2006, from 2PM until.....breakfast! The location is Rowan Hill Farm, 430 Enfield Center Road East, Ithaca, NY. The BBQ will be at 6 PM, with a bonfire at dusk. We have volleyball, horseshoes, a paddleboat on the pond, walking trails, a pavilion and shelters in case of rain, and lots of room for camping! Join us to celebrate those radical ideas our country was founded on! For more information or to RSVP contact Christa at (607)387-9683 or sieringcr@msn.com. See you there!
06/10/06 WESTCHESTER-- The 2006 Libertarian U.S. Senate candidate, Jeff Russell, will be appearing in White Plains June 22 at Coughlan's, 15 South Broadway, from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. Please join us! We will also be holding an organizing convention at that time. Please join us if you're in Westchester! RSVP to William Aponte, at WTurtleNY -at- aol.com.
06/10/06 NORTHERN-- The Clinton County LP will be doing petitioning training during its June 21 meeting. We'll meet at the usual place: the Koffee Kat, at 104 Margaret Street in downtown Plattsburgh, at 7pm.
06/08/06 WESTERN-- Update on the Taste of Freedom event
See the FreeNY blog, http://blog.freeny.org/?p=491, for pictures of Libertarian U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Russell and the LPNY
table.
Thanks to everyone who participated! FreeBuffalo is doing great work exposing the waste in government and encouraging alternatives to politics-as-usual. Check out their web site, http://www.freebuffalo.org/, for their white papers and other information.
05/29/06 Cornell University-- New officer slate elected for next year's College Libertarian club at Cornell University at our final meeting this year are:
President: Kaitlyn Van Arsdell
Vice-President: Curry Taylor
Secretary: Andrew Loewer
Treasurer: Scott McKinney
All officers are incumbents to at least one former office in the club. Have a great summer everyone,
Curry
05/29/06 Cornell University-- Cornell PhD candidate Curry Taylor makes the front page of the Advocates for Self-Government http://www.theadvocates.org/index-may-1-06.html
Great picture!Sun Apr 30
Also check out Cornell Libertarian Anastasia's blog, http://toughlove.catallarchy.net/blog/
The Cornell Libertarians will resume meeting in the Fall.
See: http://www.rso.cornell.edu/liberty/
and
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cornell-libertarians/
05/29/06 Cornell University-- Cornell PhD candidate Curry Taylor makes the front page of the Advocates for Self-Government http://www.theadvocates.org/index-may-1-06.html
Great picture!Sun Apr 30
Also check out Cornell Libertarian Anastasia's blog, http://toughlove.catallarchy.net/blog/
05/29/06 Cornell University-- Cornell PhD candidate Curry Taylor makes the front page of the Advocates for Self-Government http://www.theadvocates.org/index-may-1-06.html
Great picture!Sun Apr 30
Also check out Cornell Libertarian Anastasia's blog, http://toughlove.catallarchy.net/blog/
04/19/06 CAPITAL-- Friday, April 28 is the date for our eminent domain rally in Albany. It is planned for 12:00-3:00 pm at the Capitol Steps. We want to bring together Libertarians, property rights and good-government advocates, eminent domain victims and anti-Kelo advocates. Join the activism list at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lpny to help plan this event, or see http://libertarianwiki.org/Eminent_Domain_Rally_NY
Saturday, April 29, the following day, we are holding our convention at the Best Western on Wolf Road in Albany. Find out more and sign up now to reserve tickets for the luncheon, speakers, and dinner.
You may have read that William Weld is seeking our cross-endorsement. The LPNY Chair, John Clifton, has endorsed Weld. Jim Lesczynski, former Chair of the Manhattan LP, says Speak now, or forever hold your peace. It should be an exciting convention--don't miss it!
04/19/06 WESTERN-- The biggest event of the year for Liberty in Western NY--FreeBuffalo's Second Annual Taste of Freedom--is June 3rd at the Central Terminal in Buffalo, from 12-8pm. Last year, it was attended by close to 600 people. They plan on making this year even bigger and better.
Read about the FreeBuffalo founder's trip to Albany to ask Governor Pataki to veto the budget. Jim Ostrowski says "Our $122B budget should be more like $70B, so there's simply no need to veto tax cuts."
04/18/06 STATEWIDE-- Ithaca, Manhattan and Clinton County Libertarians spent some time April 17 doing outreach in their respective cities for Tax Day. Way to go!
Clinton County Libertarians Bob Hofer and Bonnie Scott handed out about 200 "million dollar bill" flyers with local contact information and talked to passers-by for three and a half hours around lunchtime at the Plattsburgh post office.
Ithaca Libertarians Ellen Ricketson, Brian Sullivan, Ron Olsen, Mike Silvia, Rob Robinson, Carl Ricketson, Christa Siering, and Cornell Libertarians Curry Taylor, Scott McKinney and Sloane Frost conducted an OPH (Operation Politically Homeless) booth from 2 to 6pm on the Ithaca Commons, giving "the quiz" to 53 passers-by.
Finally, from 7:00 pm to midnight, Manhattan Libertarians passed out "Million Dollar Bills" on the steps of the main post office at 33rd Street and 8th Avenue.
Thanks to all who participated. Tax Day is a day when many average Americans share our outrage at government spending. It's a great time to reach out.
04/06/06 NORTHERN-- Slight change of plans: we won't be having an April 19 meeting (the third Wednesday of the month) so we can focus on the April 17 Tax Day outreach and planning a visit by Peter Christ of LEAP (Law Enforcement Against Prohibition) on May 17! It will be in Plattsburgh, but the exact location is TBD. Please email Bonnie to help plan and promote this visit!
04/01/06 ITHACA-- Tax Day is coming, and the Ithaca Libertarians will be back out on the Commons with Operation Politically Homeless (OPH), offering passers-by the opportunity to take the World's Smallest Political Quiz and discover their political identity. Come help out from 2-6 PM, or just stop by to say hi and show your support!
Tax Day also gives us a chance to let Ithacans know about the Ithaca Tax Burden Calculator, available on our web site, http://www.ithacalibertarians.org. Citizens can customize the form and find out, "Just how much do I pay in taxes, anyway?"
The next general meeting of the Ithaca Libertarians will be Tuesday, April 18, 7PM at 209 N. Aurora St., Ithaca. See you there!
03/30/06 CENTRALNY-- Mark Bitz, a turkey farmer in Onondaga County and a speaker at the 2005 New York Libertarian Convention, is announcing a new book, Creating a Prosperous New York State. Mark delineates the state's income growth, employment, population growth, high school graduation rate, average SAT scores, health insurance coverage, transportation system's quality, and poverty rates relative to other states. He exposes how New York State leaders have taken the number one economy in the world in 1950 to its present 44th place among the 50 states. The book is available at FreeNYS.org.
03/29/06 MANHATTAN-- MANHATTAN LIBERTARIAN PARTY
Monthly Meeting
Monday, April 10
Business session 6:30; speaker 7:30. Open to all, free.
THIS MONTH'S SPEAKER:
Historian John Chodes will discuss his book, "Destroying The Republic: Jabez Curry And The Re-Education Of The Old South," about the man who unknowingly brought about the nationalization of America's public schools—leading to the mind-control curriculum that's still being used to dumb-down our children today.
Ukrainian East Village Restaurant
140 Second Avenue
(Between 9th Street and St. Mark's Place)
Convenient to 1st or 2nd Avenue M15 buses, or 8th Street/St. Mark's Place & 9th Street M8 cross town buses
Closest subway: Take 6 train to Astor Place or R/N train to 8th Street and walk East to Second Avenue.
Ask for the Manhattan LP in the banquet room in the back of the restaurant.
For more information: www.manhattanlp.org, 212 779 1873.
03/17/06 NORTHERN-- Join us April 17 at the Plattsburgh Post Office to do outreach to last-minute tax filers! Call Bob Hofer at 518-846-7716.
If you're in Essex County, contact Gerry Allwell at 518-873-9839 to plan the same thing near you.
See our Tax Day Activism information for ideas about what to do on this important day for Libertarian Outreach.
Next Clinton County LP meeting will be Wednesday, April 19, at Bob Hofer's house in Chazy.
02/16/06 NORTHERN-- Good news: the town of Massena will NOT be using Eminent Domain to move a Wal*Mart project forward. more info
The next Clinton County LP meeting will be back at the Koffee Kat, 7pm March 15, and we'll be planning an Income Tax Day outreach at the Plattsburgh Post Office. Please join us!
02/15/06 WESTERN-- Free Buffalo held a fundraiser February 11, the first-ever Liberty Ball. "Hero of the Tax Revolt Awards" were bestowed on Paulette Peterson, Rus Thompson, and Tony Fracasso, who have all helped in the struggle to reform the corruption and economic irresponsibility of the local political class. Attendees also enjoyed the music of the Jony James Blues Band!
Then, it was back to business Monday. James Ostrowski held a press conference about the now-infamous Bass Pro deal. (see release) The figures on Bass Pro's spending ARE just $22 million, not $57 million; the "local" Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation is really a subsidiary of the Empire State Development Corporation, with voting members appointed at a meeting in Manhattan, and there is no final deal yet, 14 months in this debacle.
The local blogs reported on the press conference and the confirmation of the news that Free Buffalo had already been advertising: Bufffalo Geek, Buffalo Pundit and the WNY Media Network -- the latter has video.
02/10/06 NORTHERN-- NEW LOCATION for the next Clinton County Libertarian meeting! It's still at 7pm on February 15, but please meet us at Bob Hofer's house, at 537 Miner Farm Road, a half mile east of Chazy Central Rural School. If you are coming up route 9 from Plattsburgh, take the first right in Chazy after the Stewart's. The house is the first one that sits way back from the road and the house number is on the mail box.
02/05/06 MANHATTAN-- The Manhattan Libertarian Party elected a new slate of officers at its annual convention on Saturday, Jan. 21. The officers for 2006 are:
Chairman: Joseph Dobrian
Media Relations Director: Sam Sloan
Secretary/Treasurer: Mark Axinn
Fundraising Director: Ron Moore
Membership Development Director: David Kachoui
Webmaster: Bob Armstrong
The highlight of the Manhattan chapter's first monthly meeting this year will be a debate between noted Libertarian activists Dr. Tom Stevens (affirmative) and Gary Donoyan (negative) on the following resolution:
"Resolved: The New York Libertarian Party should cross-endorse William Weld for Governor in 2006 if he is the Republican nominee, rather than endorsing an independent, Libertarian candidate."
Monday, February 13, 2006
Ukrainian East Village Restaurant
140 Second Avenue [new window]
( between 9th Street and St. Mark's )
Business 6.30 PM, program 7.30 PM
Free to all!
02/02/06 CAPITAL-- April 28: date for eminent domain rally in Albany
Planned for 12:00-3:00 pm, location TBD, possibly at the
Empire State Development Corp's offices at 30 S. Pearl Street.
We want to bring together Libertarians, property rights advocates,
eminent domain victims, good-government folks, and anti-Kelo
advocates. Join the activism list at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lpny to help plan this event,
or see http://libertarianwiki.org/Eminent_Domain_Rally_NY
02/01/06 QUEENS-- LPQC February meeting
Saturday February 11, 2006 10:30am - 12:30pm
Event Location: Bohemian Hall, 29-19 24th Avenue, Astoria, Queens. (1 Block north of the Astoria Boulevard N Train station, 1/2 Block west of 31 Street)
http://www.bohemianhall.com/home.htm
Notes: A presentation on volunteer coordination and organizational development by LPQC State Representative Tom Stevens. Additional planning for April county convention, April state rally against eminent domain, and March county meeting.
For information, contact: (718) 707-1421 Libertarian Party of Queens County, New York Meetings are held the second Saturday of each month.
See also:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LPQC/
02/01/06 CENTRALNY-- Upstate and Western NY have hit some hard times lately, and the investment schemes of politicians haven't been helping.
In Rochester, there's the Fast Ferry Folly, which should have been 100% private from day one. http://www.democratandchronicle.com/news/...
The Syracuse Post-Standard has a detailed article on the collapse of their local boondoggle, Destiny USA.
http://www.syracuse.com/news/...
While those plans crumble, bloggers are finding their voices and each other. Some Central NY blogs are featured in the NYS BlogWatch currently.
02/01/06 CENTRALNY-- Postings found at some of the blogs in the NYS BlogWatch.
Utica: first step, slash taxes.
http://www.lifeandtimesofutica.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15781741&BRD=2681&PAG=461&dept_id=543947&rfi=6
"Fairness to Utica"
http://strikeslip.blogspot.com/2005/12/fairness-to-utica.html
"Democracy at 5pm," about Syracuse
http://philatsun.blogspot.com/2006/01/democracy-at-5-pm.html
NYCO's Election '06 section
http://www.silent-edge.org/wp/?cat=6
York State's Social and Economic Timeline from 1779-1861
http://www.geocities.com/satchkep45/timeline.html
Mohawk Valley blog reflects on diaries
http://mohawkvalley.blogspot.com/2006/01/today-i-spread-manure.html
01/24/06 NORTHERN-- Canton's village board had their hearing about an ordinance making smoking illegal for minors.
Next Clinton County Libertarian meeting: 7pm on February 15 at the Koffee Kat, at 104 Margaret Street in Plattsburgh.
North Country news: Border Checkpoints, PASSes and ePassports Add your comments on the issues forum!
01/20/06 NORTHERN-- There's a need/opportunity for Libertarians to speak out at the January 23rd Canton village meeting, 7:00 PM at the Municipal Building Board Room, 60 Main St. Canton, NY.
about the proposed ordinance making smoking illegal for minors.
Next Clinton County Libertarian meeting:
7pm on February 15 at the Koffee Kat, at 104 Margaret Street in Plattsburgh.
North Country news: Border Checkpoints, PASSes and ePassports (add your comments to our issues forum!)
01/15/06 CAPITAL-- NYLP member Jeff Russell is seeking the Libertarian nomination for United States Senator from New York. Jeff is making the rounds of the state's libertarian chapters in support of his campaign, and he spoke with members of the Capital District LP on Tuesday night (January 10).
Eric Sundwall, Libertarian from Columbia County, attended and has a great write-up with pictures at the Columbia County LP website. Check it out! And let us know if you are interested in running for office in 2006 (or 2007), too.
01/15/06 NORTHERN-- Plattsburgh: join us January 18 at 7pm at the Koffee Kat at 104 Margaret St to talk about the mailing we're going to do to the non-enrolled voters in Clinton County.
01/14/06 WESTERN-- Announcing the First Annual Liberty Ball
February 11th, 8-12pm, Leonard Post, 2450 Walden Ave., Cheektowaga
Featuring the Jony James Blues Band
Tickets--$15/$25 couple--566-7720 or freebuffalo@adelphia.net
Free Buffalo
http://www.freebuffalo.org/
01/10/06 ITHACA-- Jan 10 - latest Newsletter published
Jan 17 - Annual Convention - 7 PM at 209 N. Aurora St., Ithaca
Next Meetings: Feb 21, March 21, April 18
Spring brings back the Ithaca Libertarian's OPH Table on the Ithaca Commons. See: IthacaLibertarians.org
01/08/06 CAPITAL-- Washington County started foreclosure proceedings Tuesday to seize 1994 LPNY gubernatorial candidate Robert Schulz's home and property in Fort Ann.
Schulz has been protesting paying his property taxes--depositing money into a trust account payable to the county instead--because he believes Washington County's bonds to fund the Hudson Falls trash plant were unconstitutional (i.e., that bonds may not be issued in NYS without voter approval).
On January 6th, the Post-Star, one of upstate New York’s largest daily newspapers, published a story about Bob Schulz.
The story covered his two current battles: the bond dispute with Washington County and also his organization We The People’s battle at the Federal level to force a response to their grievances presented in 2003, which include that the government went to war with Iraq without a formal congressional declaration of war, that the government has overstepped its taxation authority, that it is improperly abridging citizens' rights through the Patriot Act, and that it has violated constitutional debt-limiting provisions. Post-script: You can also read Bill Van Allen's letter to the Post-Star about this.
01/07/06 MANHATTAN-- The Manhattan LP convention will be held January 21, 2006, at the Ukrainian East Restaurant (140 Second Avenue, at 9th Street).
Not only do you get a delicious Ukrainian dinner, you'll hear from our illustrious speakers James Bovard (Attention Deficity Democracy, The
Bush Betrayal), Fred Cookinham (The Age of Rand), and NYC Councilmember
Letitia James. Jeff
Russell, candidate for the LPNY nomination for US Senate, will also be speaking.
Send in your registration
form today:
(PDF form)
01/07/06 CENTRALNY-- CNY Congressional Republican Sherwood Boehlert heads to the South Pole while the race for his seat...heats up?
Boehlert faces a Republican primary challenge for the 24th Congressional District from former Seneca Falls Mayor Brad Jones. His Democratic challengers are multiplying, and include
Chenango County resident Les Roberts,
Oneida DA Michael Arcuri,
Utica College professor Jeffrey Miller, and Utica attorney Leon Krizol...and Ray Meier? According to this forum, him too: see MSN's Utica Area Discussions for discussion of this race.
Do we have any Libertarians interested in running? If so, please let us know!
12/24/05 NORTHERN-- Clinton County Libertarians got their local voter data this year without charge by bringing their own CD to the Board of Elections office. Boards of Elections are supposed to supply parties and campaigns voter data 'at cost,' but results have varied across the state. Bringing your own CD is a great idea. As of November 2005, we're up to 664 enrolled Libertarians statewide, not counting all the ones mis-coded as 'other!'
12/18/05 NORTHERN-- Next Plattsburgh meeting: Wednesday, Dec 21, at the Koffee Kat. See the new Upcoming.org listings to stay up-to-date about LPNY events.
10/04/05 NORTHERN-- Next Clinton County meeting: 7pm Wednesday, October 20, at the Koffee Kat in Plattsburgh, 104 Margaret St. Come on out!
09/26/05 Cornell University-- T-shirt Contest!
We'll be selling T-shirts as our first fundraiser. But before we sell
them, we need to know exactly what we'll be selling.
The idea is going to be for all interested parties to submit a design for
a shirt. You have two options for your design idea: You can either
explain it in plain English (ie "A portrait of Karl Marx with Mickey
Mouse ears) or use customink.com, which has a great design interface.
After you finish designing on that site, choose the 'send and save' option
and send it to me at rlj9 [at cornell -dot- edu]. At the 10/3 meeting, we'll have a vote on the designs and proceed with printing and ordering.
(update from Ryan Lawrence Juliano)
09/26/05 SUNY Plattsburgh-- SUNY PLATTSBURGH LIBERTARIANS MEETING -
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 - 7PM
Since we are not yet an officially recognized club, we may not be
able to get one of the meeting rooms. So we will get together by the
elevators on the second floor of the Angell College Center next to Java
Joe's. If we get a meeting room, we will go there. If not, we will sit
at one of the large tables inside the Flynt Commons.
09/26/05 SYRACUSE-- Howard Woolridge continues across the state. We feted him at the Smithson residence on 16th, and the Post-Standard covered his appearance at the Westcott Street cultural festival on the 18. Read the article online.
09/21/05 MANHATTAN-- The Manhattan LP's publication, Serf City is available on the web, as well as for handing out to crowds. See:
http://www.manhattanlp.org/issues_files/serfcity_vol1_iss1.pdf
09/21/05 NORTHERN-- North Country LP meeting tonight, Sept 21, 7PM, at the Koffee Kat in Plattsburgh.
09/14/05 BROOME-- Scott Monroe and his co-host Rob Speer were featured Sunday in the Press and Sun-Bulletin's Lifestyles section (an archived copy of the article can be found here). Their show, News & Blues, airs at 10 p.m. Tuesday nights on channel 4 on Time Warner Cable public access. It features a little bit of music, and lot of Libertarian news analysis and video clips.
09/13/05 LFC/SUNY Buffalo-- SUNY BUFFALO's Libertarian organizer Don Stillwagon reports 84 Libertarians in their online Facebook and that a few of them are brainstorming what to do next. Get in touch with Don to help out!
09/07/05 LFC/SUNY Fredonia-- SUNY FREDONIA hosted Howard Woolridge,
the LEAP (Law Enforcement Against Prohibition) horseback rider, on September
7th. Thanks go out to Aaron Stadler
for helping to arrange a Libertarian hometown welcome to a fellow traveler.
09/06/05 LFC/SUNY Plattsburgh-- The SUNY PLATTSBURGH Libertarians had
their first meeting ever on Tuesday, September 6 and will be meeting again on September 13 at 7pm. Retired professor Bob Hofer is teaming up with Libertarian student Derek McDermott and a few friends -- they had four students in all at their first meeting. They are applying for Student Association recognition and plan a booth at their school's Club Fair on September 17 (1-3 pm). For more info, contact Derek at derek.j.mcdermott -at- gmail.com.
After the meeting, Bob Hofer wrote, "It is the most enthusiasm for libertarianism that I have ever seen."
09/05/05 LFC/Cornell University-- The CORNELL Libertarians had their
first meeting Monday, Sept 5, with
25 attendees! Having a table at the
annual Club Fest helped boost their
initial attendance, and having a core
of leadership carrying on from last year
also helped them get a running start.
They will be meeting EACH Monday at
9:00pm in Rockefeller B16 this school
year, but alternating between executive
(administrative) meetings and general
(activity/non-business) meetings. Contact
Curry Taylor at ctaylo12 -at- twcny.rr.com or
Ryan Juliano at rlj9 -at- cornell.edu.
09/04/05 ITHACA-- - ANNOUNCEMENTS & FALL EVENTS - New website now live! Ithaca Libertarians.org link below --- New day and time for monthly meetings (3rd Tuesday at 7:00pm) Same place - see below. --- 9/20 monthly meeting, 10/8 OPH table on the Ithaca Commons, 10/18 monthly meeting, 11/15 monthly meeting, 12/20 monthly meeting, 1/17 annual convention and social event TBA
08/11/05 SYRACUSE-- After a bit of dormancy since the LPNY convention, we're gearing up for an exciting September! First, Bonnie's planned a BBQ/campout at her place in Sherburne, NY for the weekend of September 17.
And then we learned we ALSO have Howard and Sam coming through the area right about then! Howard Wooldridge, a retired police officer hailing from Texas and Michigan, will be arriving in Syracuse about the 14th or 15th, about a month away from the end of his cross-country horseback trip to publicize the problems with the War on Drugs.
Read all about his trip here:
http://leap.cc/howard/index.html. (LEAP stands for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition.) There will be a party for Howard in Camillus (West of Syracuse) on the 16th, the Friday before Bonnie's BBQ. Come spend as many days as you can with your fellow Libertarians, with Howard, and with other LEAP representatives!
08/11/05 SUFFOLK-- August 27th is the
Long Island Libertarian Cook Out!
9th ANNUAL LILCO BBQ in PLAINVIEW in NASSAU COUNTY
2pm thru 7pm (state committee meeting earlier)
contact Jim Harris @ 631-269-57112 or fax 631-269-4859
volunteers needed: BBQ'Rs GREET'Rs HELP'Rs
08/11/05 WESTCHESTER-- Anthony Futia reports that his petitioning is going strong! He's gotten enough to qualify for the ballot as a Libertarian, but he's still getting more signatures for a healthy margin of safety. Give him a call at (914) 761-6023 or email him at futia2 -at- worldnet.att.net if you can help, or if you can make a donation to help pay for local advertising.
08/11/05 NORTHERN-- Gerry Allwell has just been nominated for Temporary County Chair for Essex County, and he wants everyone to get in touch with him if they can help out at the Essex County Fair, August 17 to 21st! You can reach him at 518-873-9839, or gbear711 (at) yahoo.com. There will also be a Clinton County LP meeting on August 17, at 7pm, at the Koffee Kat in Plattsburgh. The newsletter, North Country Libertarian, is going out today.
07/24/05 NORTHERN-- We had another meeting at the Koffee Kat in Plattsburgh July 20. (The Banana White Chocolate Custard Pie and the Fruit Smoothies were great...mmmm.) We had five attendees this time, including Gerry Allwell from Essex County, who is helping us organize that county. We talked about our recent outreach booth and we're planning a social for August 11 to invite all the new Clinton County folks who signed up!
We're looking forward to the Essex County Fair in August and the Battle of Plattsburgh in September for our next outreach up this way.
07/21/05 ITHACA-- SUMMER & FALL EVENTS IN ITHACA - July newsletter just posted on Yahoo, 8/13 OPH on the Ithaca Commons, 8/19 IL monthly mtg, 9/16 IL monthly mtg, 9/17 OPH on the Ithaca Commons, 10/8 OPH on the Ithaca Commons, 10/21 IL monthly mtg, 11/18 IL monthly mtg
07/03/05 to 07/08/05 NORTHERN-- We participated in the Mayor's Cup this year, with a "Battle of Plattsburgh" bean-bag toss. We entertained countless kids, going through around 1500 prizes for the kids playing. (Some took more than one prize!) We had little whistles, bracelets, temporary tattoos, sugarless candy and more. A big thanks to everyone who helped out: Bob and Lucy Hofer, Gerry Allwell, Robin Wiggins, and Bonnie Scott. We got names from 30 people who were interested in learning more, and we registered 10 people to vote--three of them as Libertarians! See the pictures
06/30/05 MANHATTAN-- by Jim Lesczynski / Special Advertising Opportunity for Pro-Freedom Businesses
I am pleased to offer you a unique opportunity to promote your pro-freedom
business:
The Manhattan Libertarian Party is getting ready to publish _Serf City_, a
tabloid newspaper discussing New York politics from a libertarian
perspective. We have the hard-hitting articles, we have a printer lined
up, and the layout is in progress. I've seen the early galleys, and I can
honestly say that we have a first-class publication on our hands.
What we need now are advertisers willing to help themselves while helping
us publish _Serf City_.
We are printing 10,000 copies of the premiere issue of _Serf City_, and we
intend to distribute all of them before the end of the summer. This is a
terrific opportunity for you to tell a large audience of freedom-minded
New Yorkers about your business.
Our rates are very affordable and competitive:
Full-page back cover (2-color): $700
Full-page inside: $500
Half-page: $250
Quarter-page: $125
Eighth-page (business card): $75
Right now, _Serf City_ will be a one-time publication. We would love to
publish more issues in the future, but that will depend on the level of
advertiser support and reader response. (Let the market decide!) Will you
help us make the premier issue of _Serf City_ a success, while helping
your business reach literally thousands of New Yorkers?
Please reserve your ad space in _Serf City_ by Tuesday, July 5th.
We'll need artwork submitted by Tuesday, July 12th. Most file types (PDF,
Quark, Photoshop, Illustrator, etc.) are fine. See below for ad specs.
Want us to design the ad and/or write the copy? Just let us know -- no
extra charge.
Thank you for your support. Any questions, please email me at
jim@manhattanlp.org or call me at 646-387-7591.
Regards,
Jim Lesczynski
Chair, Manhattan Libertarian Party
Editor & Publisher, Serf City
Ad specifications:
Whole page: 10.375 in. by 13 in.
Half page: 10.375 in. by 6.375 in. (deep)
Quarter: 5.0735 in. by 6.375 in. (deep)
Eighth page/Biz card: 5.0735 in. by 3.125 in. (deep)
06/24/05 WESTCHESTER-- Larry M moved to Florida, but we've got some new folks interested in getting involved now. We should have a county-wide meeting to announce soon. Willie Aponte and Bonnie Scott met with Anthony Futia on Friday. Anthony's running for town supervisor of North Castle, and has been a libertarian for a long time.
06/15/05 NORTHERN-- Clinton County Libertarians had their third meeting on June 8, and have another planned for June 22, at the Koffee Kat. It's mostly been just Robert Hofer (Clinton County Temporary County Chair) and Bonnie showing up, but we're starting to get in touch with other Libertarians in the area, including Richard Pitt, who ran for school board this Spring!
We are going to have a booth at the Plattsburgh "Mayor's Cup" event held the week of July 3 to July 9. Join the lpny_northern list to talk about it!
ITHACA-- SUMMER EVENTS IN ITHACA: 6/9 OPH table on the Commons, 6/17 monthly meeting, 7/3 & 7/4 Ithaca Libertarians & FSP Campout & Celebration - it's partytime! 7/15 monthly meeting, 8/13 OPH table on the Commons, 8/19 monthly meeting
05/11/05 ITHACA-- LTE published today, latest IL newsletter published 5/10, OPH table on Sat., 5/14 across from Progressive/Green/Bush Must Go headquarters on the Ithaca Commons, monthly mtg. on 5/20 - usual place & time.
05/04/05 MANHATTAN-- by Jim Lesczynski / We have two big events this Saturday, May 7th, plus our monthly meeting next
Wednesday, and I'd like as many of you as possible to join us.
1. Global Marijuana March
The Manhattan Libertarian Party will be marching as a contingent this year,
and our mayoral candidate Audrey Silk will be speaking on stage at the rally
in Battery Park. We need as many folks as possible to march with us, carry
our banners, and hand out literature.
Assembly for the march begins at High Noon at Houston Street & Broadway. At 1
PM, a colorful procession of activists, patients, politicians and their
supporters will march toward Battery Park where notable speakers and musical
entertainment will address the crowd. We should arrive at Battery Park by
2:30 p.m., and be there until 6:30 p.m.
2. BOOT Bloomberg Benefit Party
This is a benefit fundraiser for the nonpartisan BOOT Bloomberg group. Audrey
Silk and our other citywide candidates will be there campaigning and
shmoozing. Come and support the effort to BOOT Bloomberg out of office!
Band Line Up:
Mad Juana
NYC Blues Devils
Slags
World War IX
Congress of Oddities
$5.00 donation at the door
Otto's Shrunken Head Tiki Bar & Lounge
538 E. 14th bet A&B
http://www.bootbloomberg.com/Events.htm
Everybody, please try to make one or both of these events on Saturday,
especially the marijuana march so we look like a real force. Let us know if
you plan to be there.
3. Monthly meeting
Our next monthly meeting is Wednesday, May 11th, at 6:30 pm, at the Ukrainian
East Village Restaurant, 140 Second Avenue between 9th Street and St. Mark's.
Our guest speaker will be Thomas K. Wright, executive vice president of the
Regional Plan Association. Mr. Wright will discuss the West Side Stadium and
market solutions to traffic flow in NYC.
05/03/05 NYC-- by Jim Lesczynski / There is an excellent column in Newsday today about our NYC mayoral candidate Audrey silk.
04/27/05 ITHACA-- Events for the Spring and Summer in Ithaca will include OPH outreach tables, social events, meetings and a BIG overnight Libertarian - FSP campout and BBQ over the Fourth of July!
04/21/05 KINGS-- by Gary Popkin / The annual Mermaid Parade will be held at Coney Island this year on Saturday, June 25. You may go to the official parade web site.
04/17/05 NORTHERN-- Northern Libertarians have been busy writing letters to the editor, including Lee Monnet with one about the upcoming state convention April 23 in Syracuse! read them here
04/13/05 MANHATTAN-- LIBERTARIANS NOMINATE AUDREY SILK AS MAYORAL CANDIDATE
Community Activist Urges Personal Responsibility, Freedom;
Convention Also Taps Lesczynski, Moore For Citywide Offices
Audrey Silk, community activist and founder of NYC Citizens Lobbying Against
Smoker Harassment (NYC C.L.A.S.H.), was nominated as the Libertarian Party
candidate for Mayor of New York City on Saturday, at a convention at the Bohemian
Hall in Astoria, Queens. The convention also nominated businessman Ron Moore,
president of Marketing Technologies Group, for New York City Comptroller, and
Jim Lesczynski, Manhattan Libertarian Party chair and veteran activist, for
Public Advocate.
Silk, a retired 20-year veteran of the New York City Police Department, is
perhaps best known as a champion of free choice and private property rights
through her advocacy for smokers' rights and calling for lawmakers to stop turning
disapproval of legal behavior into laws against it. Supporters cited her
experience as a political activist and her intellectual honesty, as well as her
established rapport with the media, as her main assets in the upcoming
campaign.
"I'll speak forcefully on the issues important to us and will never say I
believe something that I don't," Silk promised the convention following her
first-ballot selection over three other candidates. "Being inexperienced as a
candidate I have a lot to learn so I welcome your suggestions. But one thing I do
know is that there are a lot more libertarian-minded people out there than
we're led to believe. You'd be surprised how many people agree with our
principles when you talk with them one-on-one."
"Audrey's ability to connect with people is probably the main reason why
she'll be such an effective candidate," said Lesczynski. "She's articulate; she
speaks her mind politely, intelligently, and energetically. She's highly
principled, and most of all she stands for the principle of 'live and let live,'
which is the cornerstone of Libertarianism."
For more information about Audrey Silk and the Libertarian party, go to
www.nycclash.com and www.manhattanlp.org.
04/07/05 ITHACA-- Michael Badnarik will be our honored guest for a series of events - join us for one or all! Cornell debate on the Constitution 4/14, CU Libertarians Student Get-Together 4/14, Tax Tax Protest and Dinner 4/15, Radio appearance 4/15, Constitution Class at Cornell 4/16, Free State Project Dinner 4/16
03/25/05 BUFFALO-- Cuts continue to be made here in Buffalo. DMV's, State Corrections officers, Government Employees, etc. Giambra still has not made his own salary cut. Why does the working man continually be taken advantage of at the politicians benifit. Things are not looking bright.
03/21/05 NORTHERN-- Tax Day outreach is planned for Friday, April 15, in front of the Plattsburgh post office. We'll be handing out literature and helping people enroll as Libertarians.
03/20/05 SUFFOLK-- March 28 - Monday - 7pm
Long Island Libertarian Meetup at John Harvard Brew House in Smith
Haven Mall - route 347. Free admission - it's up to people whether
they want to order food/and or drinks.
Headliner: Dr. Thomas Woods, Jr., author of NY Times bestseller 'The
Politically Incorrect Guide To American History'
Dr. Woods teaches at Suffolk Community's Brentwood branch. He was on Bruce's
radio show some time ago. It ought to be interesting. Let's hope
some surprise storm doesn't cancel this event!
03/18/05 WESTERN-- Dick Fuerle
writes: I'd like
everyone to know that I had a piano version (piano and singers) of my
musical "REBELLION!" made by professional musicians. It is about the 1794
Whiskey Rebellion, which occurred in Western Pennsylvania and it is
thoroughly libertarian. You can listen to it at www.whiskeyrebellion.us
03/17/05 MANHATTAN-- by Jim Lesczynski / Unintended consequences of the Assault Weapon Ban sunset... New York State has its own version of the assault
weapon ban that essentially mirrored the federal law but without the sunset
clause. Like the rest of the country, we could still buy pre-ban high-
capacity magazines (more than 10 rounds) while the federal AWB was in effect.
Now that the federal AWB has sunset, however, the companies won't even sell
the pre-ban magazines to people in New York State, because you can't tell the
difference between them and the post-ban version, and they have to cover
their butts. So the AWB sunset actually made us less free!
03/16/05 ITHACA-- Marshall and Ali Stocker will be guests on Mark Finkelstein's Right Angle cable
TV show tomorrow night! It's on Time Warner cable channel 13 Thursday, 3/17 at
7:30pm. Marshall said, "We'll be discussing the principles of libertarianism.
I have provided the host with the http://ny.lp.org/Ithaca/ website for him to plug."
The show also repeats on Friday at 4:00pm and Tuesday at 5:00pm.
03/15/05 BUFFALO-- The Free Buffalo group
met on March 8 at the Tandoori Restaurant, 7740 Transit
Road, Williamsville, near Sheridan Drive, from 6 to 9 PM. See FreeBuffalo for more information about the group. James Ostrowski, the founder, will be speaking at the Libertarian Party of NY's Annual Convention April 23 in Syracuse.
03/11/05 TOMPKINS-- LPer Wil Kone has started up a new website and a new group: http://wilkone.com/, dedicated to fighting the Tompkins County Library tax.
03/11/05 NASSAU-- At its February meeting, the Nassau County LP decided to change the date of its monthly meeting to the second Thursday of each month. Meetings will continue to be held at 8:00 p.m. at T.G.I. Friday's, Manhasset, 1445 Northern Boulevard, at Shelter Rock Road. You can join the Nassau Libertarian Meetup to be reminded about their meetings, or see to view libertarian meeting information for other NY counties.
03/08/05 MANHATTAN-- by Jim Lesczynski / NY Post columnist and editorial board member Ryan Sager has an excellent column today on TechCentralStation.com about the Manhattan Libertarian Party's lawsuit against the Campaign Finance Program.
03/06/05 BUFFALO-- Welcome to new ny.lp.org blogger John
"Elohim." Expect to see some incisive commentary coming our way from Buffalo.
03/02/05 ITHACA-- The latest newsletter of the Ithaca Libertarians is now posted at our Yahoo group - see below for link.
We're bringing Michael Badnarik back to Ithaca to debate liberal Cornell professors about the US Constitution, to teach his class, and to join us for Tax Day protest activities. We're also laying the groundwork to begin a new non-partisan taxpayer's coalition in Tompkins County.
Ithaca Times article about our new chapter released today.
02/28/05 MANHATTAN-- Libertarian Chair Sues Bloomberg, City to Stop Campaign Finance Program
New York, 2/28/05 – Manhattan Libertarian Party chair Jim Lesczynski filed suit in New York County Supreme Court today to overturn New York City's lavish Campaign Finance Program.
"Today we are putting Gifford Miller and all the other political welfare queens on notice that we are taking them off the dole," Lesczynski declared. "The city's obscenely extravagant six-to-one matching funds program is not only fiscally irresponsible, but it violates our Constitutional protections against compelled political speech."
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Campaign Finance Board Chairman Frederick A.O. Schwarz, Jr., the Campaign Finance Board, and the City of New York are named as defendants in the complaint. The complaint alleges that compelling taxpayers to bankroll political speech with which they disagree violates the free speech clauses of the New York State and U.S. Constitutions. Lesczynski is asking the court for a permanent injunction blocking the Campaign Finance Program.
"Libertarians oppose all forms of welfare, whether for individuals, corporations or politicians," Lesczynski said. "I vehemently object to the content of their campaign messages, which inevitably promise more taxes and less freedom, but I object even more to being forced to pay for those repugnant messages."
Copies of the complaint are available upon request to interested members of the media.
02/28/05 by Steve Healey / The LP of Monroe County (Rochester, NY) had their annual convention on Feb 26, 2005. Former Libertarian state party chair Albert Dedicke was elected chair of the organization, with Joe Kirchner continuing as Treasurer and Andrew Demers as the group's voting representative on the state committee. The convention included speakers - Peter Christ of LEAP
http://www.leap.cc/
- Neil Jaschik from Citizens for NYS Legislative Reform
http://www.thepeopleofny.com
02/28/05 MONROE-- by Steve Healey / The LP of Monroe County (Rochester, NY)
had their annual convention on Feb 26, 2005. Former Libertarian state party chair Albert Dedicke was elected chair of the organization, with Joe Kirchner continuing as Treasurer and Andrew Demers as the group's voting representative on the state committee.
The convention included speakers
- Peter Christ of LEAP
http://www.leap.cc/
- Neil Jaschik from Citizens for NYS Legislative Reform
www.thepeopleofny.com
more information
02/22/05 MANHATTAN-- by Joseph Dobrian / According to last report, Libertarian activists Audrey Silk and Joseph Dobrian will appear on CBS's "Early Show" on Wednesday morning. The segment will probably air at 7.40 EST, but we've been advised to watch between 7 and 8 on that morning. The segment deals with smokers' rights.
02/21/05 MANHATTAN-- by Matt Siegel /
New York Criminal Court
Docket # 2004NY037121
People vs. Geoffrey Blank
On February 17th, after a trial lasting four days, political
activist Geoffrey Blank, founder of NO POLICE STATE, was convicted of
Attempted Contempt Of Court for sitting in the front row of seats, which
is normally reserved for attorneys. This offense is punishable by up to
60 days in prison, but according to Geoffrey, his conviction is "...less
about me sitting down than it is about not letting me stand up and
represent myself."
Mr. Blank had been acting as his own attorney in several
court cases arising from his arrests at political demonstrations. Most
of his cases were being dismissed rather than going to trial, and
Geoffrey could often be found out in the hallway joking with court
employees who were encouraging him to go to law school. But Geoffrey
was content to be his own attorney for now.
One morning he sat in the front row of the courtroom, a
group of guards approached him and asked him to move. Geoff refused
because, as far as he knew, he was an attorney. According to CPLR 105c,
the word "attorney" includes "a party prosecuting or defending an action
in person." Furthermore, in the People vs. Rosen, the highest court in
New York State ruled that "A defendant who has elected to proceed Pro Se
is both a defendant and an attorney." Regardless, Mr. Blank was
arrested and charged with Attempted Contempt Of Court.
Of all the charges he currently faces, such as assaulting an
officer, inciting a riot, and obstruction of governmental
administration, the only charge that actually went to trial was this
one. After months of being told that the trial would proceed, and then
having it postponed indefinitely, Mr. Blank was called the night before
and informed that he would be on trial the next day. His trial was then
postponed another month. When he finally went to trial, he was denied
his right to a jury, denied his right to call all his witnesses, and was
then convicted by criminal court Judge Anthony Ferrara.
Sentencing will be on April 8th at 9:30am, in Jury Part
One. I would encourage people to attend. I would also encourage people
to write Judge Anthony Ferrara and ask for leniency. It's not like
Geoffrey has hurt anyone. I would ask people to write Administrative
Judge Martin Murphy and District Attorney Robert Morgenthau, and ask
them why the court is wasting our tax dollars prosecuting a case like this.
Administrative Judge Martin Murphy
100 Centre Street
NY, NY 10013
Judge Anthony Ferrara
100 Centre Street
NY, NY 10013
District Attorney Robert Morganthau
1 Hogan Place
NY, NY 10013
02/18/05 ITHACA-- At our founding convention tonight, the Ithaca Libertarians voted in favor of adopting the proposed by-laws to become the newest chapter of the NYLP. Official application to the NYLP for charter will take place in a couple of days.
02/14/05 MANHATTAN-- by Jim Lesczynski / Serf City
The Manhattan Libertarian Party is producing its own tabloid newspaper, similar to the national LP's
_Libertarian Viewpoint_, but focusing exclusively on local political issues
from a libertarian perspective. We'll make the articles relatively evergreen,
so that the publication can have a long shelf life. The title I've chosen for
the tabloid is _Serf City_.
I know we have a lot of very good writers in our midst, and I'm calling on
all of you to contribute an article or two. more info
02/13/05 KINGS-- Brooklyn Libertarians had its first meetup in a Park Slope cafe in
January. We will be running at least two people in Brooklyn in 2005, Gary Popkin and and Ed Price. If we get a third, we will be in good shape
toward seeing the Libertarian Party name and emblem on every voting
machine in Brooklyn.
02/12/05 LFC/Cornell University-- We are currently still getting set up with a mutual meeting time for this semester. However, we will have that done soon and will move on to having regular meetings. Hopefully this semester we will have a range of speakers and participate in events with the local Ithaca LP chapter.
02/02/05 LFC/Cornell University-- Updates:
Michael Badnarik is coming to Ithaca April 15th and 16th! Register now for his class he'll be teaching here 4/16. http://www.constitutionpreservation.org/class.html
.
Ithaca Libertarians Founding Convention 2/18/05 5:30pm Bool's Flower Shop. See the Ithaca LP page for more information.
01/29/05 KINGS-- Hardfire is a libertarian cable-TV political talk show, produced in Brooklyn,
NY. Hardfire is shown on Brooklyn cable and is live-streamed on the Internet Mondays at 10:30 PM, so it can be
seen anywhere in the world. Hosts so far have been John Clifton, Chair of the
Libertarian Party of New York; Jim Lesczynski, Chair of the Manhattan
Libertarian Party; and Joseph Dobrian, Director of Media Relations for the
Manhattan Libertarian Party.
01/29/05 ITHACA-- April 15th is 'Tax Day', and Michael Badnarik will be our guest for a
series of outreach events that day. The next day, Saturday the 16th, is the day for Mike's
Introduction to the Constitution class! Get ready, and join the Ithaca_LP list to help prepare.
01/26/05 NYC-- Sunday, January 30th at 1:00 p.m. Join candidate Jak Karako
for coffee, tea and bagels at the Marmara Manhattan Rooftop Lounge
(301 East 94th Street, corner of 2nd Ave).
Jak's a former LP candidate who's running in the Democratic primary this year.
ITHACA-- ANNOUNCEMENT: Founding Chapter meeting of the Ithaca Libertarians - February 18, 2005 5:30pm. New York's newest LP Chapter is in Ithaca! At the regular meeting place, Bools (see below).
01/18/05 NASSAU-- Harvey Kash and Carl
Lanzisera were arrested in front of the First District Courthouse on January 10--for telling lawyer jokes. They were waiting in line to enter, and someone didn't find them very funny. They have been charged with disorderly conduct.
The Associated Press writes about a group the pair founded..."Americans for Legal Reform is a group that uses confrontational tactics to
push for greater access to courts for the public and to monitor how well
courts serve the public. The pair said that for years they have stood
outside courthouses on Long Island and mocked lawyers."
01/14/05 ELMIRA-- by Libertarian Social Coming Up! / Elmira-Corning area Libertarian social event in the works for March. The event will be held in beautiful downtown Big Flats at the Big Flats Community Center.
http://www.bigflatsny.gov/recreation/communitycenter.html
If area Libertarians have any ideas/topics for the meeting, please cantact me at: AndrewGardner@twcny.rr.com Thanks,
Andrew Gardner, Elmira NY
01/13/05 MANHATTAN-- by Jim Lesczynski / For those who follow such matters, the Manhattan Libertarian Party elected a new county committee last Saturday at its annual convention:
* Jim Lesczynski - Chair
* Bob Armstrong - Secretary/Treasurer
* Joseph Dobrian - Media Relations Director
* Ron Moore - Membership Development Director
* Nic Leobold - Fundraising Director
Congratulations to our new officers.
01/11/05 COHOES-- LPNY Treasurer subpoenaed over Christmas holiday for no reason
It's not hard enough being a 'third party,' we suppose. It's not enough to have to gather more signatures in hotter summer weather, to be placed lower on the ballot on Election Day with levers that don't always work.
Libertarian Party of NY Treasurer Werner Hetzner reports "My kids
were handed the subpoena while they visited just before Christmas." He says that the Board of Elections lawyer wouldn't return his calls, "until he must have gotten my certified
letter with a copy of the report that I sent in in July. Then he talked to
me. It seems they found the report in the BoE files."
01/10/05 SUFFOLK-- Long-time member Audrey Capozzi writes to us from Costa Rica:
"We have been meeting at John Harvard's Pub for around 6 month on the 4th Mon.
Bruce Martin got us on the Meetup back then and we have been haveing 20 or so
members each meeting. (We raised $600 for Don the night he attended in Sept.
or Oct.) We play the ISIL video, disk actually, What is Liberty? or similar
title - so newcomers can view it until the meeting starts or the food is
brought in."
01/07/05 WESTCHESTER-- William Aponte writes that he met with Larry McElhinney. Willie says, "He has
assumed responsibility for the Westchester Libertarian Meet-Up
Group." Welcome aboard, Larry!
01/06/05 MANHATTAN-- Please come to the Manhattan Libertarian Party Annual Convention
Saturday, January 8, 2005
1050 Restaurant 735 Tenth Avenue (corner of 10th Avenue and 50th
Street) New York, NY Sign-in at 1:30 pm, dinner at 7:30pm
RSVP via email to Jim Lesczynski, jim@manhattanlp.org, with your meal choices if you haven't already!
01/04/05 ALBANY-- Update on Green Party NYS v. NYS Board of Elections:
The Green Party Attorney has contacted the Bd of Elections Attorney,
asking the Board's consent to make the order permanent. The Attorney
General's approval is required.
If consent is not forthcoming after a reasonable interval, the
plaintiffs might have to make a motion.
12/15/04 NASSAU-- Both NEWSDAY and NY DAILY NEWS in today's papers (12/15/04) covered the New
Cassel revitalization groundbreaking yesterday. Both mentioned briefly and
inaccurately the St. Luke's/Libertarian protest. See our release and other mentions on ny.lp.org. Please take a look at www.nydailynews.com and
www.newsday.com.
NEWSDAY had two opinion pieces which praised the urban renewal project but
didn't mention St. Luke's at all.
Please send letters to the editor of NEWSDAY and NY DAILY NEWS setting them
straight, especially if you were there for yesterday's or one of our other
protests.
They will want your home address, phone #s for verification. not for
publication. Keep them under 200 words or so.
letters@newsday.com
voicers@edit.nydailynews.com
Thanks
Richard Cooper, Vice Chair
Libertarian Party of New York
Chair, Nassau County LP
12/8/04 ALBANY-- NY State lawmakers voted yesterday for a partial reform of the state's harsh drug laws. Quoted by AP News, Rockefeller Drug Law Reformer Robert Gangi called the changes "modest" and noted that they didn't return discretion to judges, one of the key calls of the "Drop the Rock" coalition. Assemblyman Jeffrion Aubry, the most influential elected proponent of serious change, was quoted by the Journal News as saying "While I firmly believe that full judicial discretion and treatment as an alternative to prison would be the best options, for right now, this is substantial progress."
Other proponents of reform, such as Russell Simmons of the Hip-Hop Action Network, agree that they wanted more, but they view the new legislation as progress.
 Full text of: S.7802/A.11895
12/6/04 ALBANY-- Over Pataki's veto, the minimum wage was raised in NY, effective January 1, 2005...and January 1, 2006....and January 1, 2007! More information from the NY Enterprise Report.
12/04/04 SARATOGA-- Saratogan Paul Ellsworth Pugh II is possibly interested in running for office.
12/03/04 HUDSONVALLEY-- NOTICE: the next state Board of Elections commissioner meeting will be held Monday Dec 6th, 1 PM at the
Sloatsburg (NYS Thruway) rest area meeting room (top floor).
12/03/04 SYRACUSE-- The Libertarian Party of New York annual convention will be held April 23, 2005 at the
Holiday Inn at Carrier Circle in Syracuse, ten minutes from the airport
and right off of I-90. For more information, including menus, schedule,
flyers to print out, please see http://ny.lp.org/official/convention/
To volunteer to help out, please contact Bonnie Scott, at rabbit@cownow.com.
12/03/04 NORTHERN-- Bonnie emailed all the inquiries and lapsed members that we had email addresses for, and we have three new mailing list members already! One inquiry, Mike S., wrote to say that he has since moved to Pennsylvania and is active there.
12/03/04 LPQC-- The LPQC meets regularly. They have an annual Toy Drive this time of year...we need details!
12/02/04 MANHATTAN-- Saturday, January 8, 2005: Manhattan Libertarian Party annual convention. So far, our speakers
will include Ethan Nadelmann, Walter Olson, Amy Heath. Additional
speakers/attractions may be added. As usual, our convention will
include a sit-down dinner, cash bar and an exciting benefit raffle.
The convention will take place at the 1050 Restaurant, corner of 10th
Avenue and 50th Street.
12/02/04 NYC-- A draconian anti-bicycling bill, Int. No. 497, was recently introduced to
the New York City Council by Councilmember Madeline Provenzano. If
passed, Int. No. 497 would require every bicycling New Yorker over sixteen
years old to obtain bicycle license tags from the NYC Department of
Transportation. The bill stipulates that those who do not display such tags
on their bicycles would be subject to up to 15 days imprisonment in
addition to hefty fines (up to $600!) and bicycle confiscation.
Voice your opposition to the bill to Councilmember Provenzano and to your
own councilmember
For more information on the bill, see
http://www.transalt.org/press/askta/041116bikebill.html
12/01/04 SYRACUSE-- Onondaga County's Mark Bitz is the owner of Plainville Turkey Farms. He's fed up with bureaucratic bungling making it harder for him to get by. Times-Union Article on Bitz
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