AN ATTACK ON DEMOCRACY?

Yetta Kurland 2009

Dear Friends and Supporters,

Below please see Yetta's response to City Council's recent efforts to eliminate the Office of Public Advocate.

Best,
Kate Frawley
Volunteer Coordinator

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YETTA KURLAND RESPONDS TO PROPOSED LEGISLATION TO ELIMINATE THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC ADVOCATE - CALLS IT AN ATTACK ON DEMOCRACY

Kurland condemns efforts to eliminate Office of Public Advocate calling on New Yorkers to stop these efforts by voting for new leadership to create local change in City Government in the Democratic Primary on September 15th

New York, NY. July 29, 2009. Yetta Kurland running to unseat Christine Quinn in the 3rd District in the upcoming Democratic Primary with a message of restoring the voice of her community to local government, blasted legislation proposed today to eliminate the position of Public Advocate from New York City Government.

"This is yet another insult to New Yorkers who deserve advocacy and public service in their government. It is also a serious blow to the democratic process in this City which has already been compromised by an uncomfortable closeness between the Mayor and the City Council Speaker. The Mayor represents the executive branch and the Speaker should represent the legislative branch. There should be a checks and balances between these branches, and the Public Advocate Office is another important check in the much needed balance of power in City Hall.

"It is no coincidence that this effort comes from the very same people who extended terms limits for their own self interest in stark opposition to public opinion last Fall."

The sponsor of the bill, Simcha Felder, is a close ally of Speaker Christine Quinn who lead the vote to extend term limits. Felder also voted to extend term limits. Betsy Gotbaum the current Public Advocate opposed the extension and then came out publicly to claim that the unprecedented cut of her budget by 40% was political retaliation for her stance on the term limits debate.

This is just another abuse of power by the political elite whose goal is to avoid the accountability and responsibility that the office advocates for. I call on Speaker Quinn to immediately denounce these efforts and I call on all New Yorkers to vote for a new voice in City Hall, by electing new faces and new representatives who will bring a breath of fresh air and our voice to local government.

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