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The official newsletter of the New York Democratic Lawyers Council
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To contact NYDLC about news, events, or opportunities, email info@nydlc.org.
Howard Leib, Editor | Jarret Berg, Executive Director
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"New York isn't buying what Donald Trump is selling--we stand for inclusion, fairness and progress, not division and fear."
- New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
This coming week, a few exciting events to check out:
On Saturday (12/2) at 9AM, NY Dems will rally outside Cipriani's 42nd Street (Vanderbilt Avenue just north of 42nd St by Grand Central Station (
map)) to send a message to President Trump, who will breakfast with big-dollar donors. See below for full details.
On Monday (12/4) 6:30-9:30PM, NYDLC will host a FREE Holiday Party in Westchester (White Plains) to celebrate the right to vote and say a BIG 'thank you' to all 2017 VoterPro volunteers for their relentless hustle!
RSVP here (full details below).
And now to the news...
On Tuesday, the NYS Assembly Election Law Committee heard from election officials and cybersecurity experts on the integrity of New York's election systems, to identify how to best protect against cyber-infiltration and attack. The hearing was called after the Department of Homeland Security informed 21 states (not including New York) that their election systems and registration databases were targets of the coordinated Russian hacking effort that also attacked the DNC and Hillary Clinton's campaign last year.
Susan Lerner of Common Cause New York and Susan Greenhalgh of Verified Voting both argued for risk-limiting audits of voting machines, which they believe will improve upon New York's randomized/blanket 3% audit standard (Gotham Gazette).
In a new GothamTalks video OpEd on Voting Rights, NYDLC Executive Director Jarret Berg discusses the modern fight to vote in New York and across America; several desperately-needed voting reforms lawmakers should enact in 2018; NYDLC's election monitoring, pro-voter advocacy, and rights-based community programming; and the need for a drastic cultural shift among the rising American electorate so all eligible voters are ready to participate in local elections. Read about it and watch the full video OpEd here.
It is clear we have a lot of work to do protecting the vote and improving our elections. That's why your support for NYDLC in 2018 will be so critical. NYDLC was founded in 2005 on the premise that successfully protecting and advancing the right to vote requires a focused and sustained 24/7/365 voice for fundamental civil rights. Your contributions (in any amount) directly support NYDLC's critical pro-voter advocacy, civic engagement, and voter protection programming in New York and nationally.
Click here to help sustain our efforts!
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NYDLC is a coalition of attorneys, law students, and voting rights advocates who are dedicated to protecting and advancing voting rights in order to strengthen our democracy.
NYDLC Members pay $25 annual membership dues and receive discounts on CLEs and events (100% financial hardship exemption is available for membership). Your support enables NYDLC to continue our important work.
Your generosity enables NYDLC to continue pursuing pro-voter initiatives in New York and across the U.S. For the past 11 years, NYDLC's trained Election Monitors have helped ensure that all eligible voters are permitted to vote without difficulty or intimidation, and that all votes cast are counted and counted accurately.
In 2017, NYDLC will continue to protect the rights of voters through election monitoring, attorney education, civic engagement and community empowerment initiatives, and voting-rights advocacy.
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Here's an opportunity to put your voter protection skills to work in the deep south. This work has never been for the faint of heart, and could not be more important!
Doug Jones is the Democratic US Senate Candidate running in a December 12 Special Election to fill the Senate seat vacated by Jeff Sessions and currently occupied by Luther Strange, who was rejected by his own Alabama Republican party only a few weeks ago in favor of the ultra-conservative alleged child sex abuser Roy Moore.
Doug Jones is an impressive Democratic candidate who is not afraid to take unpopular positions in the interest of justice. As the former US Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama appointed by President Bill Clinton. Jones rose to prominence for prosecuting the remaining two Ku Klux Klan perpetrators of the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing which killed four African-American girls, along with securing an indictment against the Olympic Park Bomber.
Jones will hopefully end the career of the infamous Roy Moore.
You may remember Moore from previous affronts to American democracy including the time he misunderstood the First Amendment, installing a 5,280-pound block of granite with the Ten Commandments engraved on it in the middle of the night without the knowledge of the other Alabama Supreme Court justices.
There was also that time Moore refused, as a highly-visible judicial public servant, to accept the federal rulings protecting same-sex marriage. For his unanimous fellow members of the Judiciary that ousted him from the bench--twice--it was not the substance of Moore's opinions but his overall lack of integrity and impartiality.
Supporter housing is NOT available. We will do our best to assist your travel arrangements. By signing up below you are committing to travel to Alabama to help Doug Jones and Alabama Dems protect the vote on Election Day.
WHEN: Special Election Day is
Tuesday Dec. 12, 2017.
Will you be in Alabama ahead of Election Day? Join the GOTV team by emailing the GOTV Coordinator: stephanie@dougjonesforsenate.com
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Help celebrate the 100th year of women having the right to vote in New York State.
The Museum of the City of New York is about to open a terrific exhibition on the subject, "Beyond Suffrage."
WHEN:
Now through July, 2018
WHERE: Museum of the City of New York, 1220 5th Avenue (at 103rd St), NY, NY 10029
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NYDLC's Steering Committee sets the platform and agenda for all of our projects and initiatives. Steering Committee meetings are open to all members who would like to attend.
At each meeting, we hear reports from all our Committee Chairs and discuss upcoming campaigns, events, and initiatives.
We encourage those who are new to NYDLC, those looking for an update on what the organization is focused on, those looking to get substantively involved in our work, and those with new projects/proposals to attend Steering Committee.
WHEN: Weds, Nov. 29th, 6:30 PM
WHERE
:
BY PHONE ONLY, DUE TO CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING!
Dial in option: You are welcome to dial in to join the meeting. Call-in details will be emailed to all RSVPs
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12/2: ANTI-TRUMP RALLY
President Trump's secret is out! He and his big donors tried to keep the location of their upcoming fundraiser a secret, but no longer! That's right - Trump and his friends will be at breakfast at Cipriani's on 42nd Street this Saturday and we want to take our message straight to him.
Our message is simple: New York isn't buying what Donald Trump is selling - we stand for inclusion, fairness and progress, not division and fear.
Donald Trump and Republicans in Washington have targeted New York's values and our bottom line, and we are fighting back. We are fighting against attacks on our healthcare system, a tax plan that gives millions to corporations at the expense of the middle class, and policies that threaten Dreamers, women, people of color, the LGBTQ community, workers, and many more. We hope you can join the rally, and bring your voices!
WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 2nd, 9:00 AM
WHERE: Vanderbilt Avenue, just north of 42nd Street by Grand Central Station.
(
map
).
--Attendees should enter the rally at 43rd and Vanderbilt, and arrive on foot or, using public transportation, exit Grand Central on the west side to avoid interfering with security.
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Please join NYDLC in Westchester as we celebrate the right to vote this
holiday season, so we can thank you in person for all of the time, expertise, and resources you have dedicated to pro-voter advocacy, election monitoring, and civic engagement initiatives this past year.
Admission is free but must RSVP so we know to expect you
(light food/drinks will be served).
Together, we will continue the inter-generational fight for the fundamental franchise--what civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis affectionately calls
"the most powerful non-violent tool we have"
All are welcome to attend and are encouraged to bring like-minded friends and colleagues who may be interested in our mission.
2018 is a new year and our voting rights work is more important than ever before.
WHEN: Monday, December 4th, 6:30 - 9:30 PM
WHERE: The Brazen Fox, 175 Mamaroneck Ave, White Plains, NY 10601 (map)
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Join NYC-based attorneys at the City Bar to hear Stephen Gillers, Elihu Root Professor of Law at NYU and a nationally renowned ethicist, address current issues of legal ethics.
This recurring program typically features timely topics geared to an audience of diverse interests. Audience questions and comments are encouraged.
CLE Credit available: NY, NJ, CA, and PA
Recently, Professor Gillers spoke on the following topics:
- Ethical Issues that Confronted Marc Kasowitz While Representing Donald Trump
- Is Robert Mueller Conflicted?, and
- Are You as Ethically Sharp as a 2L?
WHEN: Thurs., Dec 7th, 9:00 am - 11:15 am
WHERE: House of the Association, 42 West 44th Street, NY, NY
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Day 1 ONLINE VIDEO REPLAY.
This is an online video replay that will be held only at the specified time below. 3 NY Credits: 1 Ethics; 1 Skills; 1 PP.
Faculty:
Gilbert C. Ferrer, Esq.;
David M. Grunblatt, Proskauer Rose LLP;
Stuart J. Reich, Law Offices of Stuart J. Reich
In the uncertain political climate, immigration law reform continues to be a contentious issue. Gain an overview of what you need to know to practice immigration law successfully and how to obtain the proper immigrant visa or "green card" for your client. The first day focuses on Non-immigrant Work-related Visa Categories and Obtaining a Green Card.
Topics include: Labor Certification and Removal Proceedings; Introduction and Overview of Non-immigrant Categories; Three Most Utilized Nonimmigrant Work Authorized Visa Categories and Labor Certification; Employment-Based Immigration
WHEN: Tues. Dec. 19th, 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
WHERE: RSVP AND ONLINE VIDEO REPLAY LINK WILL BE EMAILED
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Day 2 ONLINE VIDEO REPLAY.
This is an online video replay that will be held only at the specified time below. 3 NY Credits: 1 Ethics; 1 Skills; 1 PP.
Faculty:
Jeffrey A. Heller, Esq.
Eugene Glicksman, Glicksman & Cardoso
Linda Kenepaske, Law Office of Linda Kenepaske, PLLC
Stuart J. Reich, Law Offices of Stuart J. Reich
Part 2 of the above taped CLE on Immigration law. The second day covers Family-based Immigration, Removal Proceedings and an Overview of Asylum and offers practical tips and advice.
Topics include: Family-Based Immigration; Immigration Defense: Removal Proceedings; Political Asylum
WHEN: Weds. Dec. 20th, 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
WHERE: RSVP AND ONLINE VIDEO REPLAY LINK WILL BE EMAILED
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Opportunities to Get Involved
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There are so many ways you can use your skills to help protect voting rights. If you are interested in any of the below, please email info@NYDLC.org and include your mobile #.
1) Join NYDLC Committees!
- In addition to NYDLC's Steering Committee (which all members are welcome to join), the bulk of NYDLC's programming is organized by our several standing Committees. We encourage all NYDLC members to get involved and participate with at least one of these committees. Each committee meets periodically and takes the lead on various initiatives. Committees include: Minority Voting Rights, Legislative Affairs, Law Student Organizing, Finance, Continuing Legal Education (CLE), Sub-Committee on Election Integrity and Technology, and our Constitutional Convention Working Group.
- To join a committee, please send an email with the committee name in the subject line and your mobile number in the body of an email, to: info@NYDLC.org
2)
NYDLC Seeks Legal Interns / Law Fellows for 2017 Pro-Voter Initiatives
- This is a great opportunity to gain valuable campaign experience while networking with Elected Officials and attorneys who practice in every sector. The role is ideal for new attorneys, law students, and undergraduates or grad. students considering a career in public service. If you know anyone who is interested, please share this with them.
- APPLY! Please submit a brief (2-3 paragraph) statement of interest and a current resume to info@NYDLC.org with "legal intern" in the subject line.
3)
NYDLC Seeks Communications Interns to Assist with Press, Digital Organizing, Social Media, or Basic Web Design for Pro-Voter Initiatives
- Help NYDLC's voter protection efforts and strengthen NYDLC programming by supporting our communications, social media, digital organizing, and/or web presence. This is a great opportunity to gain campaign experience while networking with Elected Officials and progressive advocacy groups. The role is ideal for comms or web design undergrads or grad students considering a career in public service.
- APPLY! Please submit a brief (2-3 paragraph) statement of interest and a current resume to info@NYDLC.org with "legal intern" in the subject line.
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Jack Schnirman, Nassau County Comptroller-Elect Seeking Qualified Candidates
- The incoming administration of the Comptroller's Office is seeking to fill a variety of positions with qualified, mission-driven individuals with backgrounds to reform government and root out waste, fraud, and inefficiency, including: public sector and labor attorneys, accounting including forensic, investigative auditing, budget and finance, management consulting or performance data analytics.
- Interested candidates should submit a resume to transition@jackfornassau.com.
Just Leadership USA (JLUSA), 2 positions: Director of Comms; NYS Advocacy Director
- JLUSA is dedicated to cutting the US correctional population in half by 2030, and empowering people most affected by incarceration to drive policy reform. Over the coming year, JLUSA plans to grow its staff size and open a DC office
NYC Office of Climate Policy and Programs (NYC), Chief of Staff
- The Chief of Staff is a key member of the Climate Policy and Programs (CPP) team and reports to the Senior Director for Climate Policy and Programs and Chief Resilience Officer.
Center for Disability Rights, Inc.,
Policy Analyst (Albany, NY)
- We need a Policy Analyst in Albany to work to secure the freedom, equality, and civil rights of disabled people through legislative and policy advocacy. This is a position with tremendous potential to shape State and Federal law in ways that affect millions of Americans. Qualifications: Bachelor's Degree, Two (2) years of experience analyzing legislation, law, regulation, and policy, and working knowledge of state Medicaid program and long term care system. and disability rights, Superb English writing skills.
AARP Associate State Director, Community Engagement (NY, NY)
- Full-Time. AARP is nonprofit, nonpartisan, with membership of 38 million. The position serves as a member of the AARP New York State Office Team.
- Requires Bachelor's degree in Political Science, HR, and/or Non-Profit Management, Social or Human Sciences, Marketing and Public Relations, or related 5+ years.
NYC OATH Hearing Officer
(part time, several spots)
- Opportunity to work for the City as a Hearing Officer (Per Session) at the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH). Schedule is flexible and one can work a few days a week. Oath Officers hold hearings and adjudicate summonses issued by the city's enforcement agencies, like the Departments of Health, Transportation, Sanitation, Parks and Buildings.
- Details: There is a 1000 hour per calendar year limit. It pays around $45.00 an hour. Candidates make their own schedules and are union members.
- How to get involved: Email NYDLC member Len Polletta for application details, at lenpolletta@gmail.com.
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HOW WILL THE NEXT
LINES BE DRAWN?
NATIONAL - LOSING OUR CENSUS -
As you know, the allocation of congressional and legislative seats across the country, as well as many issues relating to redistricting, all draw heavily on data supplied by the Census Bureau. This, in and of itself, has rarely been a partisan issue. Prepare for that to change.
Ignoring a long tradition of naming nonpartisan civil servants to the post, President Trump has instead opted to name a hyper-partisan GOPer to be Deputy Director of the Census Bureau. That in itself would be bad enough, but this GOPer is Thomas Brunell.
"According to Politico, Brunell has testified on behalf of Republicans in a half-dozen gerrymandering court cases and penned a book titled Redistricting and Representation: Why Competitive Elections Are Bad for America. As a professor at the University of Texas at Dallas, his research, which centers on redistricting and voting-rights cases, has frequently been used by the G.O.P. to defend gerrymandering." This appointment does not bode well for America with the 2020 Census on the horizon.
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GERRYMANDERING
MICHIGAN - TAKING THE INITIATIVE -
Michigan is one of the states that has been so gerrymandered that even a Democratic sweep of the popular vote will not insure a Democratic majority in the state legislature of congressional delegation. With GOPers in control of the state legislature, and thus the redistricting process, a group of unpaid volunteers have taken it upon themselves to get an anti-gerrymandering proposition on the State's ballot, and it looks like they will succeed in doing so. Voter lead ballot initiatives, in the states that allow for them, may be the only option open to that those of us who believe that the side that gets the most votes should win. We need to look at that path in such states, and look to creating such paths in states like New York that have no initiative provisions.
You can also support Voters Not Politicians efforts here
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VOTER SUPPRESSION:
THE MODERN POLL TAX
NATIONAL - GIVE ME YOUR TIRED, YOUR POOR, BUT DON'T LET THEM VOTE
- Poverty should not be a barrier to voting. This is why poll taxes are unconstitutional.
Nonetheless, in 9 states, anyone who owes legal fees or court fines can be struck from the voter rolls. And they are. Alabama has stricken over 100,000 voters (3% of the voting age population) for this reason. This will, unquestionably, play into the votes in the up-coming special Senate election. And that is precisely why these rules are put into place. We must fight them, and then continue to fight them.
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Weekly Brain Teaser
E-mail your answer to
DemEsqNYC@aol.com
by
the end of business on Friday. Put Brain Teaser in the subject line. We will print names of those people who get the answer right in our next issue.
This Week's Question
November 30th would have been the 81st birthday of what 1960's political activist who leapt to fame as a member of the Chicago Seven, a group of young radicals accused of conspiring to disrupt the 1968 Democratic National Convention.
Last Week's Question
What was the name of the governor of the Plymouth Colony at the first Thanksgiving dinner?
Correct Answer
William Bradford (Ye Olde Editor's Wife's 16th Great Grandfather)
We had correct answers from:
Stan Kurzban and Fred Russcol
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NYDLC is a coalition of attorneys, law students, and voting rights advocates who are dedicated to protecting and advancing voting rights in order to strengthen our democracy.
NYDLC Members pay $25 annual membership dues and receive discounts on CLEs and events (100% financial hardship exemption is available for membership). Your generous support enables NYDLC to continue our important work.
Your generous support enables NYDLC to continue pursuing pro-voter initiatives in New York and across the U.S. For the past 11 years, NYDLC's trained Election Monitors have helped ensure that all eligible voters are permitted to vote without difficulty or intimidation, and that all votes cast are counted and counted accurately.
In 2017, NYDLC will continue to protect the rights of voters through election monitoring, attorney education, civic engagement and community empowerment initiatives, and voting-rights advocacy.
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Help Wanted
NYDLC is a volunteer-driven organization, functioning through the donated time and enthusiasm of our members. We have openings for people to take on specific projects on a local, state and national level. email info@NYDLC.org if you are interested in getting involved.
About The New York Democratic Lawyers Council
The New York Democratic Lawyers Council (NYDLC) is a coalition of attorneys, law students, and voting rights advocates. We work to ensure that every eligible citizen is allowed to vote and that every vote cast in every election is counted. The NYDLC was formed out of a concern that voting rights are increasingly under attack in our country and an understanding that now is the time to put the skills of Democratic attorneys to work to ensure that every citizen's right to vote will be upheld in future elections. Our activities include advocating for pro-voter legislation and reforms, conducting CLEs, protecting the vote on Election Day, and initiating litigation when necessary to guarantee the fairness of and the widest participation in the U.S. electoral process. NYDLC was founded by attorneys who have assisted the Democratic Party in numerous elections, including every Presidential Election since 2000.
READING SOMEONE ELSE'S COPY? - To get your own copy of Democratic Law Briefs, E-mail your Name, Address, Company, Title and E-Mail Address to Info@nydlc.org.
GOT NEWS? - If you have news for Democratic Law Briefs, we'd love to get it. E-mail your news, ideas, rumors and thoughts to Info@nydlc.org.
Democratic Law Briefs, E-Mail Edition. Copyright 2017.
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Stay Connected with NYDLC
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To contact NYDLC about news, events, or opportunities, email
info@nydlc.org
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Howard Leib, Editor | Jarret Berg, Exec. Director
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