This week, we celebrated the 90th anniversary of a great victory for women and a radical and hard fought win for American democracy: women’s suffrage — the right to VOTE!

Sitting here in 2010, it’s hard to imagine a time in American history during which women were not allowed to vote, especially as we watch women run for all levels of elected office. But as we celebrate the 90th anniversary of American women’s right to vote, we, as men and women, must ask ourselves if we are honoring the plight of so many who came before us and fought for this most fundamental right.  The sad reality is that in areas around the world, women and men are still denied the right to vote and to squander this right and responsibility is not only an affront to them but also to those who fought so hard to ensure we have these freedoms today.

Therefore, to celebrate the 90th anniversary of women’s suffrage there’s clearly one thing to do: recommit yourselves to supporting the democratic process — vote and teach your children the lessons of our history and the importance of civic participation.

-Liz

This year New York State will introduce a new voting system in which voters will mark their choices on a paper ballot using a pen or ballot marking device, and will insert their marked ballot into a scanner. To ensure that voters have an opportunity to learn how to vote using a paper ballot, the Board of Elections in the City of New York will be holding demonstrations to teach voters the new voting system. Below you can find the dates & locations of demonstrations given in the 26th District, or to find out more information please visit: http://www.votethenewwayny.com/en/default.aspx

Date: 29 Aug, 2010
Time: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Organization: Big Apple Performing Arts
Location: Broadway, 47th to 57th Street, New York, NY 10036, Space #17 between 56th and 57th St.

Date: 31 Aug, 2010
Time: 1:15 PM
Organization: The Carter Burden Luncheon Club and Senior Program
Location: 351 East 74th street (between 1st and 2nd) New York, NY 10021

Each month Senator Krueger puts out a Free Events List to help people take advantage of the many wonderful and FREE events in the 26^th District and surrounding areas in New York City.

Click here for the September 2010 Free Events List.

Gustavo Rivera Picks Up Nine Progressive Electeds

A slew of progressive elected officials announced their support today for Gustavo Rivera, who is challenging Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada Jr. in the Bronx.

Least surprising might be Krueger, whose parents, husband, and campaign committee have been among Rivera’s biggest donors. “I would be proud to serve alongside Gustavo Rivera in the State Senate,” Krueger said in the statement. “Over the last decade I have seen Gustavo grow as a progressive leader in his community and I have no doubt that he will serve his constituents in the 33rd District with the strength and integrity that they deserve.”

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Earlier this month, a fledgling organization of New York City apartment owners launched a modest website with an Olympic-sized ambition:

“The Alliance of Condo & Co-op Owners aims to help owners achieve fair play, transparency, and accountability in condo and co-op governance and operations.”

Intrigued, we caught up with the ACCO’s president–Larry Simms, a 59-year-old ex- condo board president who consults with co-ops and condos on fiscal planning, communications, governance and ‘problem avoidance’—to find out more about the grassroots movement and its tactics.

Q.  How did the ACCO get started?

A.  The steering committee, 10 of us, met through a couple of public forums for Manhattan co-op and condo owners organized earlier this year by State Senator Liz Krueger and later State Assemblyman Brian Kavanagh. They had been organized in response to a deluge of calls from owners asking questions–some simple, some not.

These were standing-room-only forums. The breadth and diversity of the audience was stunning, and there was a lot of pent-up curiosity and frustration.

Q. What were some of the problems people complained about?

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