Of course I am disappointed by the outcome of the runoff.  But while I will not have the opportunity to serve as Comptroller, I do believe that we have had an impact on the City.  Our campaign ensured that ideas like green investing, budget transparency and pension reform are part of the debate going forward.  More broadly, we articulated powerfully and consistently our core vision of a government that is forward-thinking, willing to tackle hard problems, and insistent on results.  The endorsement of the Times, the Daily News, the Post, the Observer, Crain’s, and community newspapers throughout Brooklyn and Manhattan—and most important, 44% of the runoff voters—testifies to the strength of that vision.  Part of our work going forward must be to push forward on realizing that vision here in New York City.

And speaking of going forward: I am moved beyond words by the hundreds of calls and emails I have received since Tuesday.  Many of you have asked about my future plans.  For the moment, I am taking it easy and catching up on time with Diana, Susan and Margaret.  I will make sure that my staff and I continue to provide quality representation to the 33rd Council District for the remaining three months of my term, and I have already begun working with Steve Levin to ensure a smooth transition when he takes office in January.  Soon enough, I will begin to focus on charting a new course, and I very much hope I will continue to stay in touch with all of you, and that we will have many opportunities in the future to work together on the causes that we share.

Warm regards and all best wishes,

David

Amy and Laura are a prime example.  The two self-described "Not-Quite-Teens for Yassky" held a lemonade stand in their neighborhood to get the word out on David's candidacy. Every conversation, or sign in the window of a store, or piece of literature handed to an undecided voter, makes a real difference.  We are exactly three weeks away from the September 15th primary, and now more then ever, we need your help.  Please email yassky.field@gmail.com to help us ensure that the right candidate for this office is the one we elect.

But it's the right thing to do to leave our children and grandchildren a cleaner planet.

We need David Yassky as our next New York City Comptroller -- that's why the New York League of Conservation Voters officially endorsed his candidacy this week.

David combines innovative policies with a 24/7/365 commitment to getting the job done. No other candidate has this record of achievement:

• Sued Exxon Mobil to clean up their Brooklyn oil spill after 50 years of neglect

• Authored the bill to make every taxicab in NYC a gas-electric hybrid by 2013

• Passed the Waterfront Planning Act, which NYLCV called "the most important piece of waterfront legislation adopted by the City in recent years."

• Reported on illegal dumping in New York waterways, leading to the prosecution of one of the City's worst polluters

• Pushed for tax incentives for building owners who install green roofs and solar panels

• Fought to convert the City's heating oil to biodiesel

Biking to Work Should Be Easy to Do
Last week David won another battle for the environment and public health. He took on political forces to pass the Bike Access Bill for people who want to bike to work.

Investing in Green Tech
As Comptroller, David has pledged to invest 5% of pension funds in green technology companies. David will work to create the jobs of the 21st century right here in New York City while building a better, cleaner city.

David Yassky is a powerful force for protecting the environment. The New York League of Conservation Voters is proud to support him.

Sincerely,

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

Can you make an investment in this campaign to make sure we get him elected?

Join the 5 dollar Finance Committee today. Under the City's matching funds system, your five dollar contribution, as well as any contribution below 175 dollars, will be matched six to one.  Watch the video, donate, and spread the word.

This past Sunday, I attended Abyssinian Baptist Church with David and our Campaign Manager Cathy Toren. I was originally born in Ethiopia, and so sitting in the pews, I couldn’t help but make note of the Ethiopian Cross positioned behind the pulpit.  The cross was more than a decorative piece; it symbolized the great amount of history that the Congregation was built upon.  Abyssinian Baptist Church was founded by a group of African Americans joined by Ethiopian merchants who in 1808, dismayed with the principle of “separate but equal,” left the ministry of The First Baptist Church of New York City and built a house where all could worship.  The church was named Abyssinian, a name that paid respect to the heritage of the merchants and a name that is now recognized internationally as a leader of urging development both at home and abroad.

Councilman Yassky used his opportunity to address the congregation to issue a call for action.  Referencing the biblical story of the Wall of Jericho, during which Joshua lead the Israelites in an attack against the city of Jericho, Councilman Yassky reminded the congregation:

“The Walls didn’t fall when the leaders sounded the trumpets – they fell when the people gave a mighty shout.”

With that, he urged the Congregation to join with him in giving a mighty shout that might resonate throughout New York City to demand a government that works for all of its people.  

Councilman Yassky has long recognized the importance of faith-based institutions in serving as pillars of aid and while he believes that City government shouldn’t fund sectarian activities, he does believe that government should fund religious institutions in their critical role as community organizations.  As Comptroller, he will pursue a sensible policy that maximizes the use of religious institutions without breaching the wall between church and state.

And most definitely, as Comptroller, he will ask us all to give a mighty shout.

Hello Blogosphere --

My name is Sara Haile-Mariam, and I am  working for David Yassky’s campaign for New York City Comptroller.  I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself – I am a recent NYU graduate who began my political endeavors working for the Obama campaign as a grassroots organizer, surrogate and out-of-state coordinator.  During the campaign, I spoke at rallies in NY to emphasize the importance of youth involvement and to elucidate upon why I believed electing Barack Obama as President would be in the best interest of future generations.  I’ve appeared on Hardball and MTV and have done interviews with CUNY TV, WABC, WNBC, among others, and also served as a panelist on BET during their election night coverage.  Since the election, I was a speaker at Rufus Wainwright’s Black Out Sabbath concert and a participant in BET’s post- election documentary called “The Obama Effect.”  I’m also a contributor for the Huffington Post.

Needless to say the last 2 years have been quite a whirlwind; I’m excited about continuing the work that I started on the Obama campaign. For me, that includes working to elect David Yassky as the City’s next Comptroller.  I’ll be blogging throughout the campaign and hope to hear from you all – this blog will serve as an ongoing conversation, where we tell you about what’s going on in the political world and do our best to address your questions and concerns regarding the office of the Comptroller.

When I told my friend Jake I was taking this job he joked, “Comptroller?  What’s that—like a transformer?” His reaction isn’t unique to him- the New York City Comptroller yields a lot of influence and so in the weeks ahead we’re going to work to help you understand what’s at stake and to urge you to support David Yassky out of the conviction that he really is the best person for the job.

In the meantime - I wanted to share why I am supporting David for Comptroller.

Over the course of the 2008 presidential election, I became one of those young people that you heard about – a college student inspired by a message of hope, and compelled to answer a profound call to action articulated by the current President of the United States, Barack Obama.  Over a year and a half ago at a Women for Obama rally alongside Samantha Powers and other New York Women, I endorsed Barack Obama for President.

Prior to the “Age of Obama,” my endorsement might not have seemed like much in the midst of a society that prioritized age as a prerequisite for action.  A society beholden to a pervasive mentality that decried youth as a hurdle to be overcome rather than a state of life marked by curiosity and ambition.  Young people were told that they were incapable of making a difference and thus retreated into political ambivalence seeking other ways to utilize our skills.  Until a presidential candidate demanded more of us by suggesting that if united, our voices could help shatter this mentality and usher in a new generation of leadership.  I did everything in my power to help elect Barack Obama to the Presidency—and yet, the request that he articulated wasn’t simply about him.

Contrary to popular belief, I didn’t support him because of his charisma or oratorical capabilities.  I supported Barack Obama because I knew that change simply didn’t come from electing a new leader, but rather, our country required a leader who exhibited what Robert Kennedy described as the “qualities of youth.”  In identifying young people as the world’s hope, Kennedy elucidated on what these qualities entailed and suggested that they weren’t restricted by age, stating that they were not “a time of life but a state of mind, a temper of will, a quality of imagination a predominance of courage over timidity, of the appetite for adventure over the life of ease.”

Innovation requires these qualities of youth, and while Barack Obama might be President, our work is far from over.

Tip O'Neill once said that "all politics is local."  As we feel little more than spectators of our volatile national and international financial systems I think we would be wise to reflect on this notion.  The financial crisis began in New York, and while I've only lived here for four years I love this city and the crisis that we've been witness to does not reflect the creativity, ingenuity and decency of its people.  Yet while the crisis started on Wall Street, with the Comptroller race months away, Main Street possesses the power to help chart a new course for our City.  It's for this reason that I am endorsing and working for Councilman David Yassky in his bid to become New York City Comptroller.  There's a temptation to dismiss the next Comptroller as irrelevant to our lives and ambitions.  It's all too easy to perceive the City Comptroller as little more than a glorified accountant, as someone disconnected from the issues that consume our lives and the decisions that we make on a regular basis.  Now more than ever, we must demand more of the person who holds this office.

David Yassky understands that the next comptroller must set a policy vision that will pave the way for accountable spending and the kind of transparency that ensures that we're a part of the process rather than victims of it.  He has spent the last seven years pursuing innovative solutions – passing legislation to put fuel-efficient hybrid taxis on our streets and helping factories install solar panels.  He is the only candidate to outline how he plans on using new technology to foster and encourage increased transparency and citizen oversight by building a website that does that now (www.itsyourmoneynyc.com).  His record reflects a history of pushing back against conventional wisdom to encourage solutions worthy of the 21st century.

On a personal note, I believe he represents the new generation of leadership that we must usher in alongside President Obama, leadership that is not beholden to age or race or gender but rather recognizes the power of audacity and the necessity for reform.  I've signed on to his campaign because I know that the people of New York City will benefit from having him in office.

David Yassky is the best person for the job of the next Comptroller; he will deliver the kind of oversight and vision that will move New York City forward in light of our recent difficulties.

He will exemplify the qualities of youth to work toward solutions that prioritize future generations. 

Equality isn’t something that should have to be legislated—and the Manhattan Young Democrats are urging us all to contact our State Senators and remind them of this important truth.

Proceed to the following site to have your voice heard.

Newyorkequality.com

For years, President Bush blocked the passage of the bill. Now, with the support of President Obama, the Democratic House has sent a clear message in favor of civil rights for all New Yorkers and all Americans. 

For years – both working for Chuck Schumer in Congress and on the City Council – David helped to author and strengthen hate crimes legislation here in New York City. While progress in the area of civil rights is often slow, today marks yet another important step forward in the fight for equal protection for Americans of all walks of life. 

However, while we can take great pride in the bill’s passage, it also serves as a reminder of the need to redouble our efforts to broaden civil rights even further. Throughout this campaign and as our next Comptroller, David will fight for issues that matter to all New Yorkers – from marriage equality to making sure that LGBT couples are counted in the 2010 census.  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BING AND GARODNICK ENDORSE YASSKY FOR COMPTROLLER

Manhattan Elected Officials and Community Leaders Begin to Rally Around Yassky Candidacy

Assembly Member Jonathan L. Bing and Council Member Daniel R. Garodnick today joined with local East Side leadership to endorse Council Member David Yassky for New York City Comptroller. In doing so, they praised Yassky for offering innovative and progressive solutions that will create a New York City that is economically strong, diverse and sustainable for working families.

“The support of Assembly Member Bing and Council Member Garodnick signifies that Manhattan’s most dynamic and progressive leaders are eager to partner with a Comptroller’s Office that is focused on using innovation to deliver results and an accountable City government for taxpayers,” Council Member Yassky said. “I look forward to working with them and all of Manhattan’s elected leadership in order to create jobs now and lay the foundation for long-term economic growth.”

“David Yassky’s commitment to the principles of accountability, innovation, and results will serve New York City well when he is Comptroller,” Assembly Member Bing said. “At this moment of great economic uncertainty New Yorkers deserve a Comptroller who has a proven record of finding progressive solutions to the City’s most serious economic challenges. David will be that Comptroller.”

Bing was first elected to the Assembly in November 2002 from the 73rd Assembly District in Manhattan as the first Democrat to represent this District in twelve years, and was re-elected to a fourth term in 2008 with 74 percent of the vote.  His district includes the Upper East Side, East Midtown, Sutton Place and Turtle Bay communities.  Bing is the author of nearly 50 bills that have passed the Assembly, eighteen of which have become law including legislation which provided ill 9/11 clean-up and recovery workers access to the workers’ compensation benefits that they deserve.  He is the Chairman of the Assembly’s Subcommittee on Mitchell-Lama Housing.

“I have worked very closely with David Yassky on the City Council, and I believe that he has the intelligence, creativity and discipline to lay the groundwork for environmentally sustainable economic growth,” said Council Member Garodnick.  “I am confident that David will use the significant powers of the office to build upon his proven record and deliver for Manhattan and for all New York City taxpayers.”

Garodnick was elected to the New York City Council in November 2005, and represents the Upper East Side, Stuyvesant Town, Peter Cooper Village, Turtle Bay, and portions of the West 50s.  He has authored legislation to protect tenants and consumers from harassment, as well as to promote more openness and transparency in government. He has been praised by the New York Times for his “independent streak,” as well as for being a “champion of smarter redevelopment along the East River and a fighter for increased funding for the city’s public school students.”  Garodnick is the co-chair of the Manhattan Delegation in the City Council.

Bing and Garodnick were joined in their endorsements of Council Member Yassky by the following East Side Democratic leaders: State Committee Members Trudy L. Mason and Conrad Foa; District Leaders Meryl Brodsky, Charles Buchwald, Linda Foa, Molly Hollister, Lawrence M. Rosenstock, and Frank Wilkinson; District Leader and former Lexington Democratic Club President John Mills; and former District Leader and former Lexington Club President Alexander Tisch.

Bing and Garodnick’s endorsements are the first official endorsements of David Yassky’s candidacy by Manhattan elected officials. Last week, Reverend A.R. Bernard, Pastor and CEO of the Christian Cultural Center, a 30,000 member mega-church in Central Brooklyn, endorsed Yassky for New York City Comptroller.

On the show, he told Dominic Carter that he will be a City Comptroller who will use the powerful tools of the Office to create jobs now and lay the foundation for environmentally-sustainable economic growth. That's exactly what David has done for seven years on the Council, and what he will continue to do when he is Comptroller.

Click the link below to watch David take on the most important issues facing New York's working families:

REVEREND A.R. BERNARD ENDORSES DAVID YASSKY FOR COMPTROLLER 

Bernard's Christian Cultural Center Has 30,000 Members in Central Brooklyn

Reverend A.R. Bernard, Pastor and CEO of Central Brooklyn's Christian Cultural Center, today endorsed Council Member David Yassky for New York City Comptroller. In doing so, he cited Yassky's proven record of fighting for progressive change and innovative solutions to the profound economic challenges facing New York's working families.

"David Yassky has fought his entire career to create jobs and grow the economy, to protect the City's affordable housing stock, to get illegal guns off of our streets, and for social justice for all New Yorkers," Reverend Bernard said.  "I believe that as Comptroller David will continue to stand up for those who are too often left out of the political process, and I look forward to working with him in that very important effort."

"I am profoundly honored to have the support of Reverend Bernard and look forward to partnering with him to create jobs and improve the lives of all the New Yorkers who are struggling through economic hardship," Council Member Yassky said.  "I will be a Comptroller with a singular focus on accountability, innovation, and results. With those principles in mind we will put forth an ambitious progressive agenda to lay the foundation for sustainable economic growth and a stronger City of New York."

Reverend A.R. Bernard is the Founding Pastor of the Christian Cultural Center (CCC), a 30,000 member mega-church in Central Brooklyn. He is also the President of the Council of Churches of the City of New York, which represents 1.5 million Protestants, Anglicans and Orthodox Christians. Bernard sits on the New York City Economic Development Corporation Board and New York City School Chancellor's Advisory Cabinet.

###

PS-8, the area's local elementary school, has seen a rapid rise in enrollment over the past five years, and as those kids advance through the school system, the question becomes, "where do they go next?"

When area residents began to express their desire for a nearby middle school for their kids to attend after graduating PS-8, Councilman David Yassky pushed the School Construction Authority ("SCA") to review as many sites as needed to ensure the most cost-effective school is built. But as The New York Post reports, the SCA seems to have other priorities in choosing where to build the school:

Instead, internal memos and e-mails show the agency had already decided weeks earlier to let father-son developers David and Jed Walentas include a middle school in their planned 18-story apartment tower rather than consider alternate sites for a school proposed by neighborhood groups and Yassky.

"The SCA is supposed to aggressively try getting the best deal for citizens, but this proves they only seriously looked at one proposal," said Yassky (D-Brooklyn), who represents the area.

The $200 million Dock Street plan did not include a school when it was shot down during the city's land-use review process in 2004. Critics contended then, as now, that it would block historic views of the Brooklyn Bridge.

David strongly believes Downtown Brooklyn needs a middle school to serve the needs of our community, and that's why he's offered suggestions to the SCA for proposed locations. But he also believes that the SCA's process of searching for a satisfactory site must be conducted with transparency and due diligence, and without regard to developers' profits or big money politics. For this reason, David opposes the Dock Street plan. Alternate middle school sites must be given serious consideration in order to lower costs for taxpayers and preserve the character of our neighborhoods.

Brooklyn families deserve good schools in their neighborhoods that are built to serve the needs of our children, not the wallets of millionaire developers. And the SCA has a duty to build those schools.

As comptroller, David Yassky will hold all city agencies, including the SCA, to the highest standards of accountability and transparency, in order to ensure that taxpayers get the biggest bang for their buck.

"While the TLC does enforce a licensing process for brokers, and is therefore very much aware of the intricacies of the system that is in place, the TLC does virtually nothing to regulate brokers’ rates or contract terms outside of the $800 per week taxi medallion lease cap they have imposed."

"Often times drivers who enter into standard, 27-month contracts with brokers for a medallion and Ford Crown Victoria, ultimately pay double the actual public leasing cost of the vehicle over the life of the contract."

Download the PDF of the full report here

This morning, David sent out the following email to his supporters asking them to volunteer for the campaign and join the fight.  

Dear Friend --

This week, I've been all over the city talking to New Yorkers and working with people to make progress on the issues that matter to them. This race is about more than obscure budget numbers - it's about using the city's resources and all the tools of public office to improve people's lives.

Every day, I'm doing what I can to promote common sense solutions for real people. And when I'm Comptroller, I'll continue to deliver for New York using a larger set of tools. But I can't do it without you.

Get involved now - please sign up to volunteer for our campaign:

http://davidyassky.com/volunteer

Yesterday I stood with Comptroller Bill Thompson, Brooklyn elected officials and community activists to applaud the State Supreme Court's injunction against spending more city money on prisons. And this morning, I'll be at City Hall leading a rally to advocate for re-allocating the money that would have been spent on the Brooklyn and Bronx Houses of Detention.

We should be spending our city's limited funds on schools, parks, police officers and firefighters - not on prisons.

These are tough times, and our city resources are stretched thin. That's why I'm not going to stop fighting for common sense solutions for real New Yorkers. But I need your help.

Please get involved:

http://davidyassky.com/volunteer

Thanks for being on our team.

Sincerely,

David Yassky

This week, I visited a Purim festival at a large synagogue in Manhattan.  A friend, the former president of the congregation, walked me around and introduced me to the congregants, telling them I am a candidate for City Comptroller.  No one said, "What's that?" or "I'm not interested in politics."  Instead, each person I met said, "That's going to be a tough job," or "Good luck -- we need it" -- or, best of all, "What can you do?"

Of course, there wasn't time for long policy discussions -- especially with little children in Purim costumes needing attention.  And I've been in politics long enough to know that most voters don't want a long lecture on fiscal policy.

When I started this campaign a year ago, I was convinced that with the tools of the Comptroller's office, I could make a real difference to the future of the city.  For a policy wonk who loves city government, City Comptroller is just about the perfect job.  With the powers of this office -- budget certification, contract approval, auditing, and pension investment -- you can affect pretty much every area of City policy.

I started with plenty of ideas on everything from housing to economic development to the environment, and with a strong desire to use the Comptroller's office to implement those ideas.  But over the past couple of months, as the meltdown has unfolded, I have felt a whole new sense of urgency.  I really believe that the city is facing a once-in-a-lifetime challenge, and that the decisions we make over the next couple of years will have enormous consequences.

The good news is, the Purim festival reminded me that New Yorkers are highly engaged and ready for the challenge.

I know that in this election, with so much at stake for the city, voters want and are ready for a serious debate on how to respond to the crisis.  There are six months until Election Day -- plenty of time to hash out issues and ideas.  This blog is one attempt to do that, and to share a personal perspective on the campaign.  Please join in!

If Albany gets its way, we might not see Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie filming movies in New York anymore. Why should that matter to anyone who's not a celebrity watcher? Because New Yorkers wouldn't get to work on the movie set either.

Ordinary New Yorkers are hurting. They expect city leaders to find smart and innovative ways to bring money and jobs to New York City, and the Movie & Film industry is one thing that does that.

Since 2002, there has been a 92 percent increase in total filming days in the City. The industry now generates tens of thousands of jobs and  $5 billion a year in economic activity in New York.

A big reason why the industry has grown is New York's "Empire State Film Production Credit"  which refunds some of the taxes paid by  film production companies - and makes it more affordable and appealing to film in New York. The tax credit alone has created 19,000 good-paying jobs with good benefits - exactly what we need more of in New York.

Unfortunately, our state government is currently planning to let the film tax credit expire the in the 2010 budget - making it much more expensive to make movies in New York. If the tax credit expires, the movie and film industry will simply look elsewhere to film. If New York doesn't get these jobs, some other state will.

Last week, David and other city and state officials sent a letter to Governor Paterson urging quick action to renew the tax credit and keep jobs in New York. David made it clear where he stands:

“This program is a proven, effective, targeted tax incentive that has successfully attracted business to our City and State. If we don't restore this funding, we will be failing the hard-working men and women who rely on these industries to pay the bills and put food on the table for their children.”

  What do you think? Do you agree with David that the Film Production Tax Credit needs to be extended in New York?

David and the entire campaign team look forward to our new blog becoming an important forum where New Yorkers can have conversations about the issues important to them.

Make sure to check back into the blog regularly for pictures and video from the campaign, insight on breaking city news and posts from David himself, weighing in on the campaign and talking with voters across New York.

This campaign is about finding smart, progressive solutions for New Yorkers like you.  We hope you will continue to visit the blog, and start a real conversation with David about the issues that are important to you and your family.