At the moment I am moving from this host to another. New posts will be at http://49thward.nationbuilder.com and in short order the www.49thward.com address will take you there directly. If you would like to visit the "beta" site please feel free. Any thoughts or comments would be welcomed.
DF
Petitions empower voters to have choices on Election Day. Come help us get some great progressive candidates on the ballot this weekend. Join us at 10am on Saturday, September 17, 2011 at the 49th Ward Democratic Party HQ, 1774 W. Greenleaf, Chicago, IL 60626. Questions, need petitions? (773) 973-4949 or democrats@49thward.com
Fellow Democrat,
I want to invite you to my fundraiser on Monday, September 12. As you may know, like you, I am a volunteer. Being a Ward Committeeman is not a paid job. It is a position that has no salary or funding at all. I have worked so hard over the years doing the organizing and party building because I believe in the work we do, the values we share and the candidates we jointly decide to support. The glory and the fame go to other folks like my good friends Jan Schakowsky and Joe Moore, while you and I work hard fighting for what we believe in and make it happen.
This year I am running for re-election and I need your help. Our local Democratic Party is one of the most independent, grassroots and transparent ward organizations in Cook County and perhaps in the United States. From the very beginning I have worked hard to be sure that it was, and will remain, that way. To do that I need to raise money and run my own campaign this Spring. Some of you may be in a position to make a significant contribution while others of you just simply are not.
If you can afford to make a donation I have set up an ActBlue page, a secure website for Democratic candidates, so that you can make a contribution from a credit or debit card online. The web address is: https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/49wardweb92111. It does not require that you make a large contribution. Small contributions are accepted, and when added together those small contributions add up to big contributions. If you can visit the site and make a donation, big or small, I truly need your help. You can also stop by the event and give a donation by cash or check at the door.
The party information is as follows:
Monday, September 12, 2011
6:00pm to 8:00pm
Heartland Cafe
7000 N. Glenwood
Chicago, IL 60626
Map: http://bit.ly/qTAQFS
I can provide you with more information if you have any questions. Please just hit reply and send it to me.
One of many reasons Jan Schakowsky is one of the very best and brightest leaders in our nations Capital today. We have a great Congresswoman who truly has her finger on the pulse of not only our district, but of America today. Its obvious she gets it.
August 15th, 2011
A Jobs Agenda, Anyone?
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/15/opinion/a-jobs-agenda-anyone.html
In what can only be described as a triumph of bad policy and craven politics, Congress and the Obama administration have spent the year focused on budget cuts, as the economy has faltered and unemployment has worsened. Official unemployment is 9.1 percent, but it would be 16.1 percent, or 25.1 million people, if it included those who can only find part-time jobs and those who have given up looking for work. For the past two and a half years, there have been more than four unemployed workers for every job opening, a record high, by far. In a healthy market, the ratio would be about one to one.
By a large margin, Americans have told pollsters that job creation is more important than budget cuts. Yet Republican leaders are wedded to austerity and appear to think that high unemployment will hurt President Obama politically more than it will hurt them, so they will likely resist efforts to create jobs, no matter how great the need.
Without more jobs, both the economy and the budget will deteriorate further. It is past time for Mr. Obama to send a jobs plan to Congress that has popular appeal, one that he can use to try to shame Republicans. He will need cooperation from the Senate, which should bring one jobs-related bill after another to the floor, forcing its members to approve jobs initiatives or go on the record to show that they just don’t care.
Mr. Obama has begun to talk more about jobs, but his agenda is thin. Its main components — extending federal unemployment benefits and the payroll tax cut beyond their expiration at the end of this year — are vitally important, but their extension will only maintain the status quo. His idea for an infrastructure bank to finance large-scale building projects is also good, but would take time, and would not address the immediate need for jobs. Ditto his push for patent reform and trade agreements.
There are other ideas worth fighting for. Take, for example, Fix America’s Schools Today, or FAST, an idea that has been incorporated into a House proposal to be introduced this fall by Jan Schakowsky, Democrat of Illinois. Public school buildings in the United States are on average over 40 years old and in need of an estimated $500 billion in repairs and upgrades. A $50 billion school renovation program would employ 500,000 workers (1.5 million construction workers are currently unemployed) and could be easily scaled up. The money could be disbursed through existing federal formulas to all 16,000 public school districts. The initial cost could be largely offset over 10 years by ending tax breaks for fossil fuels, as called for in Mr. Obama’s 2012 budget.
Other programs in the Schakowsky bill could employ an estimated one million young people for projects in federal parks, community centers and on college campuses, as well as 350,000 laid-off teachers, police officers, firefighters and health care providers.
Washington, in thrall to austerity, has abandoned one of the most immediate and powerful tools for supporting growth and jobs, namely, borrowing at today’s low rates to provide direct fiscal aid to states. But Mr. Obama can and should make the case for targeted new jobs today, to be paid for over time by closing tax loopholes.
Republicans are sure to howl that new programs will undo the debt ceiling deal, but it is surely possible over a 10-year period to tackle near-term action on jobs and long-term action on deficit reduction. The alternative is even slower growth and higher unemployment.
Join us for our annual Legislative Update, Monday, July 18th, 6:30 p.m. (food and refreshments) 7:15 p.m. (meeting), at the 49th Ward Democratic Party Office, 1774 W. Greenleaf (at Ravenswood).
Our guests, State Senator Heather Steans (7th District) and our new State Representative, Kelly Cassidy (14th District), will update us on the latest news from our state capitol.
With the budget crisis coming to a head and critical programs facing the budget axe, Illinois is facing a financial crisis the likes of which have not been seen in over 70 years. What can be done to put Illinois back on track fiscally without jeopardizing important programs and services to the state's most vulnerable populations? Is expanded legalized gambling part of the solution or will it only make our problems worse? And what about re-districting? What impact will the new congressional and legislative maps have on the future direction of our state and nation?
Hear perspectives from two of the state's most progressive legislators.
We look forward to seeing you at a very exciting and informative meeting!
The campaign to re-elect the President has begun.
Organizing for America and the Democratic Party of the 49th Ward are hosting a phone bank and open house every Wednesday evening. We are reconnecting with our strongest volunteers from the 2008 campaign and also bringing on folks who may not have been involved last time to build a real grassroots organization.
It will be a tough, hotly contested campaign, and the road to victory begins right here in the 49th Ward, where President Obama captured 90% of the vote in the November 2008 election.
Please join us this Wednesday, June 8th, at 6:30 p.m., at the 49th Ward Democratic Party Office, 1774 W. Greenleaf (at Ravenswood) as we launch our inaugural phone bank. This opportunity is open to all, 49th Ward residents and non-residents alike!
To RSVP please go to:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/phonebank/gpkxcy
Sincerely,
DAVID FAGUS
Committeeman
JOE MOORE
Alderman
MICHAEL JAMES
President
49th Ward Democratic Party
DAVID KOGAN
49th Ward Coordinator
Obama for America
State Representative Harry Osterman (D 14) was elected Alderman of the 48th Ward of Chicago on 2/22/11. When he resigns from office there will exist a vacancy in the office of State Representative of the 14th District.
According to Illinois law, the vacancy in that office is to be filled by appointment of the Democratic Ward Committee who represent the Wards in the 14th District. The appointment will be to fill out the current term of office for State Representative which expires in January 2013.
The Committeemen's vote to select someone is weighted by the number of votes that Harry Osterman received in each Ward when he was elected State Representative in November, 2010. The weighted vote is listed below.
Anyone wishing to be considered for appointment must meet the eligibility criteria for office as set forth in law. The selection of a person to fill this office will be made at a public hearing on April 16th at 1:30 p.m. at Loyola University in the 14th District.
Those wishing to be considered for appointment should provide the following information along with a resume and send it to StateRep14@gmail.com. Once your application is received you will be contacted so that a time can be scheduled for you to present your credentials on April 16th to the Committeemen and the community. In order to be scheduled for an interview, your application should be received by April 11th.
If you would like to be considered for appointment for the position of State Representative of the 14th District the following information must be submitted:
1.) Name
2.) Address
3.) Attach complete resume
4.) Why do you wish to be considered for State Representative?
5.) What would be your top priorities as State Representative?
6.) Have you ever run for political office?
NOVEMBER, 2010 GENERAL-- REP. IN GEN ASSEMBLY, 14TH
WEIGHTED COMMITTEEMAN VOTE
40th Ward Patrick O'Conner 3078
48th Ward Carol Ronen 11667
49th Ward David Fagus 6683
50th Ward Ira Silverstein 4
TOTAL 21432
If you would like additional information please send your requests to davidfagus@49thward.com and I will do my best to answer all requests.
David Fagus
On Thursday night, February 17, 2011, please join Ald. Joe Moore and Committeeman David Fagus as we host "President Preckwinkle - The First 75 Days."
In early December Toni Preckwinkle became the President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners and took control of Cook County government. With a projected deficit of nearly $500 million dollars, an office over run with scandal, mismanagement and corruption from her predecessor and a demand for the reduction of the sales tax Toni has had an enourmous job to do to get the County back on the right path.
Come hear about her accomplishments and achievements, the changes in the leadership she has put into place as she forms her administration, and how she will overcome the fiscal challenges with her proposed FY 2011 budget which is now before the Commissioners. But most of all come see how you can support her progressive reform agenda as the budget battle heats up.
Date: Thursday, February 17, 2011
Time: 7:00pm
Location: New Field School
1707 W. Morse
(Corner of Clark and Morse)
If you have questions or would like additional information please email democrats@49thward.com or call (773) 973-4949.
We had a wonderful crowd of about 200 people at the Democratic Party of the 49th Ward endorsement session. All of the candidates answered questions and shared their thoughts about what they think will make for a better Chicago. By all accounts, it was a good endorsement session.
Our local Democratic Party is a very grass roots, bottom up organization. Endorsements made by our organization come from a vote of the active membership. Today, after hearing all of the candidates speak, the active members of the organization cast their vote.
In order to get the endorsement a candidate needs to get 2/3 of the votes cast. If no candidate receives 2/3 of the votes cast then the matter is sent to the Board of Directors where further action is considered.
The results are as follows:
MAYOR
Emanuel 21.4%
del Valle 50.0%
Braun 0.0%
Chico 14.3%
Watkins 1.4%
Walls 12.9%
CITY CLERK
Horton 15.6%
Mendoza 86.4%
The race for Mayor is referred to the Board for further consideration.
UPDATE: THE BOARD HAS DECIDED TO MAKE NO ENDORSEMENT IN THE RACE FOR MAYOR IN FEBRUARY 22, 2011 ELECTION.
Susana Mendoza is endorsed by the Democratic Party of the 49th Ward.
A meeting of the Board will be set for some time over the next few days and additional information will be posted here.
Finally, a big round of applause goes out to all those who made it their business today to come and become informed about the very important choices we have to make on February 22, 2011.
My thoughts about our candidates are that Rep. Susana Mendoza has the promise to be an excellent Clerk. Her record as a legislator is strong. Her energy and enthusiasm for the position is high. She has shown us that she has the experience and the progressive values that we hold dear through her work as a State Representative. I am proud that we have voted to have her on our ticket.
Alderman Joe Moore, one of the leaders of our local Democratic Party, has a very long history of standing up and fighting for what is right, fighting for what is best for the people of our ward and the city regardless of what powerful interest is lined up on the other side. He has continued to work together with all the members of our community to build a stronger community here in the 49th Ward and I am happy to have him as a member and leader of our organization.