Hi Paul,

Our Wednesday, May 6th meeting presented campaign statements by candidates in contested primaries in Englewood and Bergenfield. A reporter from The Record attended the meeting and filed a report.

But the article she wrote never appeared in print!

It was posted on The Record Website, so if you want to know about the meeting, follow this link to the Website:

http://www.northjersey.com/news/bergenpolitics/Candidates_meet_at_Bergen_Grassroots_forum.html

Thanks for all you do,
Paul

Bergen Grassroots Presents

Contested Primaries

Wednesday, May 6, 2009 at 7:15 PM
Ethical Culture Society, 687 Larch Ave., Teaneck 07666
 
WE FOCUS ON DEMOCRATIC CONTESTS 
IN ENGLEWOOD AND BERGENFIELD

BACKGROUND: Bergen Grassroots believes the 2009 Democratic primaries in Bergenfield and Englewood are of special importance. Therefore, we are sponsoring a meeting that will provide residents of these municipalities the opportunity to hear from the pool of candidates. Each candidate will have five minutes for an opening statement introducing his/her candidacy. The floor will then be thrown open for questions from the audience and the moderator.
 
Englewood  Mayor     Bergenfield Council      Englewood Council-at-Large
Frank Huttle III           Robert Gillman              Lynne H. Algrant
Deirdre Paul                   Thomas A. Lodato       Vince L. Monden
Scott Reddin                   Fedra Lolos                    Horace H. Ragbir
                                             Fernando Vargas         Jason J. Snyder    

  
           “I don’t live in either town. Why should I attend?”

 Because Bergen County is a community; what happens in Bergenfield and Englewood may well bear on the future of all other towns. Besides, any candidate’s rhetoric may persuade you to volunteer for a campaign outside your hometown’s boundaries. Come and learn what is at stake in your neighbors’ back yards!

In addition, as at every Bergen Grassroots meeting, you’ll be brought up to date on recent and upcoming events. Enjoy the company and conversation of like-minded progressive people. Refreshments will be served. If you haven’t been to a Bergen Grassroots meeting before, or in a while, this is one you won’t want to miss!
 
                              Ethical Culture Society Auditorium
                          687 Larch Avenue, Teaneck, NJ 07666
                                   (Entrance on North Street)
                       Parking available in parking lot and on street.
 
                                                 BERGEN GRASSROOTS
                                    Restoring America’s democratic ideals

Bergen Grassroots
presents
An Evening of Potpourri
Weds., March 4, 2009,7:15pm

Because our scheduled speaker had an eleventh-hour conflict and had to withdraw, we have assembled a collection of current issues of interest to North Jersey progressives. That’s you!

On Saturday evening, 800 of us gathered in Somerset, NJ at a gala ball sponsored by Garden State Equality. You’ll get a comprehensive report.

On Sunday afternoon, progressives in the Fifth Congressional District announced the formation of a 2-year-long campaign to Retire Garrett and Take the Fifth. Details will be reported by Grassrooters who attended this important meeting.

What’s happening with the Palisades Interstate Parkway cops? Important disclosures and a vigorous exchange!

A report on the soon-to-be announced appointment of the US Attorney for New Jersey.

How is Michael Kasparian progressing with the reform measures he promised at our February meeting?

And much more!

Ethical Culture Society Auditorium
687 Larch Avenue, Teaneck, NJ 07666
(Entrance on North Street)
Parking available in parking lot and on street.

Bergen Grassroots
Dedicated to restoring America’s democratic ideals
www.bergengrassroots.org

Fellow Grassrooter,

In recent days, I have spoken to a number of you and learned that you didn’t get to read the article that appeared in The Record on Thursday, Feb. 5, the day after our monthly meeting. Here’s a link that will bring you directly to it.

http://www.northjersey.com/news/bergenpolitics/39127757.html

The article doesn’t go into much detail about the question-and-answer exchange between our members and Michael Kasparian, new chair of the Bergen County Democratic Organization, and we didn’t tape it, so perhaps we can charactrize the tempo and tone this way:

Former Hasbrouck Heights Councilwoman Carol Skiba, Hackensack activist Ruth Bauer Neustadter and Steering Committee member Allen Sklar, among others, spoke about the tight-fisted control that is exercised by allies of ex-BCDO Chair Joe Ferriero in their hometowns. All speakers emphasized the need for more transparency in state and county government, leading to more openness in the County’s 70 municipal governments as well.

Thanks for all you do,
Paul

Fellow Grassrooter,

Here’s news of significant impact for all progressives:

On January 15, 2009, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that the Pay-to-Play Reform Law, based on a model ordinance developed by Citizens’ Campaign, stands on solid constitutional ground.

Most of you know that Bergen Grassroots has partnered with the statewide Citizens’ Campaign organization to promote passage of the model ordinance in municipalities throughout Bergen.

Briefly, the ordinance sets strict limits on contributions by contractors and professionals who seek to do business with the municipality. Its purpose is to keep big money out of small-town elections.

In the fall of 2007, Citizens’ Campaign began a signature-collecting campaign in Teaneck that would have placed a binding referendum on the November ballot compelling the governing body to adopt a reform ordinance. Bergen Grassroots members undertook to help Teaneck residents collect signatures. After we collected nearly twice the minimum needed, the Council quickly avoided embarrassment by adopting the reform ordinance.

The effort to gain approval of the model ordinance from the Bergen County Board of Freeholders began early in 2006. Bergen Grassroots leaders and members accompanied Citizens’ Campaign leaders to a Freeholders meeting, at which Freeholder David Ganz, who is an attorney, announced that he had spent “hundreds of hours” studying the draft ordinance and concluded that it was unconstitutional. The Citizens’ Campaign’s legal task force, headed by retired NJ Chief Justice Gary Stein, promptly disagreed with the Ganz assertion. Now, the sitting NJ high court has settled the issue conclusively.

To all those who gathered signatures in the Teaneck campaign, and to other Grassrooters who have participated in other campaigns, we have one word: vindicated!

Thanks for all you do,

Paul

Dear Mr. Kasparian,

My name is Sabastian Belfon, I am member of Bergen Grassroots and Cliffside Park Democratic Club. I was recently elected to the Steering Committee of Bergen Grassroots and would like to extend my personal invitation to you to attend our next meeting, February 4, 2009.

I am a ten year veteran of the US armed forces (USN & USCGR) and the father of two small children. I only recently began my political activism; motivated principally by my opposition to the Bush administration, the mishandling of the US Iraq occupation/reconstruction and the continuing rise in the death toll of our brave servicemen and women. I was a volunteer to the BCDO in the successful Jon Corzine gubernatorial campaign and a Deputy Field Organizer in the Obama Biden presidential campaign.

Within Bergen Grassroots I have been active in environmental issues, anti-war demonstrations, progressive government initiatives and to a far lesser extent the BCDO reform movement. I vigorously support reform of the BCDO, but as I have stated to the membership, as well as the elected officials and their representatives who have graced Bergen Grassroots with their presence, it has not been my signature issue. I think it is important to note that Bergen Grassroots has been active in a whole host of political initiatives and we will remain so.

I want to share an experience I had that I think highlights a potential issue relating to the BCDO. I recently tried to attend a debate of the County Freeholder candidates hosted by the AARP and Knights of Columbus in Dumont, NJ. I was summarily shown the door. In and of itself this would not have been disturbing to me. But what was and continues to disturb me is the fact that there were NO OTHER opportunities where a debate was made available to the general public, nor did the Democratic candidates make themselves available for question or comment.

I appreciate your stated objective of “opening up” the BCDO and congratulate you on your election to BCDO chairman. Mayor Calabrese has related to me many a fond experience of his chairmanship and I am sure you will accrue the same. As I write this I am reminded of what Barak Obama said in his inaugural address; that we “must choose unity of purpose over conflict and discord.” I think your appearance at Bergen Grassroots could go a long way to achieving that goal and I hope you look upon my invitation favorably.

Best regards.

Sabastian Belfon

Come join like-minded progressive people for interesting conversation and stimulating guest-speakers.

Parking is available on the street and in the small parking lot behind the building.

Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County
687 Larch Ave
Teaneck, NJ, 07666
201-836-5187

By Paul Aronsohn, posted on BlueJersey.com:

For many Bergen Democrats, this week is turning out to be a study in contrasts.

On the federal level, we are excited about a dream realized with the inauguration of the first African American President.  On the county level, however, we are concerned about a hope deferred with another seemingly uncontested election for our Party?s leadership.

On the federal level, we are celebrating a democratic process that gave rise to one of the most robust, most engaging, most accessible elections in American history.  On the county level, however, we are lamenting an undemocratic process that gave rise to cancelled meetings, hastily called conventions, and a questionable firing.

On the federal level, we are ushering in an era of much-needed change.  On the county level, however, we are anticipating another era of status quo.

In other words, for many Bergen Democrats, this week represents the best of times and the worst of times.  We are thrilled about the inauguration of Barack Obama on Tuesday, but we are troubled about the convention of the Bergen County Democratic Organization on Thursday.

[Read more at BlueJersey.com]

Fellow Grassrooter,

The weather forecasts have certainly favored those who are in an unseemly rush to the coronation of Michael Kasparian as BCDO chairman.

At our meeting Tuesday evening (Jan. 13) with District 37 Democratic leaders, the consensus was that Michael Kasparian would win the seat at the Jan. 22 convention without opposition.

After some discussion, during which Paul Eisenman presented the view that it was unthinkable that we fail to produce someone to at least stand for democracy and against the succession-by-anointment of a corruption-ridden administration, we agreed to stage a demonstration to call to public attention this mockery of the democratic process.

On Thursday (Jan.  15th) the BCDO Executive Committee is scheduled to meet, presumably to accept Ferriero’s abandonment of his “leave of absence,” and approve his selection of Jan. 22 as the convention date. One-two-three, done.

Between Tuesday evening and now (about 24 hours later), the weather reports have become increasingly foreboding. The reports are for “biting cold” and a temperature near or below zero. 

At our Steering Committee meeting tonight (Wednesday), we had unanimous agreement not to ask our members to go forward. The weather was a critical part of that decision.

Some of you, however, may feel strongly enough about this outrageous undemocratic behavior to want to protest. State Sen. Loretta Weinberg believes the Committee may invite us in to hear our protests. If they don’t, everyone will be sent home quickly. We appeal to you to use your own best judgment as to how fit you are for this brief exposure. Some of us will be in front of BCDO headquarters at 50 Main Street, Hackensack at 8pm on Thursday, Jan. 15. You decide. 

The Steering Committee decided to endorse BG’s commitment to make sure that Democratic voters in Bergen will have an opportunity to vote for an appropriate candidate in opposition to Kasparian on Jan. 22.

Paul Eisenman for the Steering Committee