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

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