Hell's Kitchen Journal: The Importance Of Being Corey

 

 

Former State Senator Thomas Duane and Candidate Corey Johnson

Ever have one of those days where unexpectedly a friend makes you extremely proud of them?

My dear friend Corey Johnson, who is running for New York City Council, gave me one of them this week. Corey has been an icon in the LGBT community since he came out to his high school football team in 2000.

Since then he has distinguished himself and those around him by his devoted work on behalf of full equality for LGBT Americans. He has been relentless in determination in this effort and pity the poor homophobic soul who met him in person. Corey does not tolerate fools easily.

When New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn decided to run for Mayor, Corey announced that he would seek her seat. Amazing political observers he raised all the money allowed for the race in record time! As a result of this achievement, his devoted allies and considerable political skills, Corey has been able to keep any serious competition out of the race.

Corey came out this week for the second time.

Known to most of his close friends was the fact that he was HIV positive. However this information has not been public knowledge. He tested positive nine years ago. In a New York Times article by Gina Bellafante:

I met Mr. Johnson one afternoon last week on the 12th anniversary of his move to New York, where he has pursued gay and community advocacy and made many friends, one of them former State Senator Thomas K. Duane, a particularly avuncular man who laughs robustly and cries easily. Under his tutelage, Mr. Johnson has learned a lot about politics and more about life, enough so that now, at 31, he is running for Mr. Duane’s former City Council seat.

Mr. Duane famously won the district that covers much of Manhattan’s West Side below 59th Street (currently represented by the mayoral candidate Christine C. Quinn) in 1991, during the height of the city’s AIDS panic, as one of the first openly H.I.V. positive political candidates in the country. Lending his friend his valuable endorsement, Mr. Duane told me he phoned Mr. Johnson not long ago to talk about the campaign, asking him first, “How are we going to handle your H.I.V. status? Have you told your mother?”

Mr. Johnson was diagnosed during a routine physical exam nine years ago, a revelation that shocked him, he said while seated across a desk from his mentor in Mr. Duane’s Midtown office.

In a sign of how much has changed over the past two decades, Mr. Johnson had not given much thought to his condition in the context of the Council race; in a sign of how little the emotional climate around the disease has altered, Mr. Johnson had not, as it happened, told his mother. “And I’m very, very, very close to my mother,” he said. (His father died of cancer last summer, a day before his paternal grandmother passed away.)

Similarly, Mr. Duane had forestalled telling his own family that he was H.I.V. positive until his nascent political career forced him to do it. “My mother said, ‘Don’t tell anybody,’ and I said, ‘I’m going to tell everybody,’ ” Mr. Duane recounted.

The conventional wisdom around H.I.V. and AIDS is that it is largely a disease of poverty, having migrated away from hubs of affluent gay life in New York to linger in places like central Brooklyn, the South Bronx and Harlem. This is both truth and obfuscation.

According to city statistics, the combined neighborhoods of Chelsea and Clinton have the highest per capita rate of new H.I.V. diagnoses in the city, and also the highest rate of people living with H.I.V. and AIDS. Mr. Johnson said that in his own Council district, which includes Chelsea, where he lives, he has watched the number of H.I.V. cases grow in recent years

When former Senator Tom Duane came out as a candidate who happened to be HIV positive in 1991 it was a major news story across the country. He broke down a barrier and gave HIV Americans new hope. Personally, I have had such awe and admiration for Senator Duane for his courage.

Corey's declaration of his HIV status will hopefully help end the closet that has developed around HIV. With new meds, it is possible to be HIV Positive and in the closet. If you think you don't know anyone with HIV/AIDS, then you are less likely to do battle against the disease. The more people that 'come out' with their status the better the odds of defeating this horrible epidemic.

Unlike Duane's announcement in 1991, Corey's will not send shockwave's across the country. What it will do is make it acceptable to come out of the closet with HIV/AIDS and help bring this ugly health crisis to a quicker end. Really very proud, Corey, to be your friend and thank you for sharing!

New York Mayor's Race: Conduct Unbecoming - Just Bash Chris!

 

 

 

"Members of the audience called her a “liar,” an opponent relentlessly attacked her, and the moderator at one point had to beg the scornful crowd to let her speak."

-New York Times (April 21, 2013)

Little did New Yorkers realize that Speaker Christine Quinn was such an evil person.

Forget her stellar record as Speaker of the New York City Council. Ignore the fact that she presented seven balance budgets on time. Put aside that she has fought for the rights of others even when it wasn't politically popular. Don't remember the times when she travel to poor neighborhoods and stood with the mothers of gun victims often without press and sometimes only seven or eight people standing with her. And, for God sakes, don't remember how day in and day out she was there and is still there for the victims of Hurricane Sandy.

Quinn's male opponents have crossed the line in their conduct with personality attacks, distorting her record and whipping up their supporters in a frenzy of 'hate Chris'. The well known mild mannered Alex Baldwin launch a vicious attack on her as he is supporting Public Advocate Bill de Blasio. Really, Alex, of all the evil in the world Christine Quinn deserves that kind of tirade?

They, with delight, proclaim that she is tough, cusses and plays a hard games of politics. In fact, if they described a male candidate with those attributes he would be call a decisive leader. Let's face it. These guys are having a hard time dealing with the fact that they might lose to open lesbian who would be the first woman Mayor of New York City.

Christine Quinn is an unapologetic tough daughter of Ireland who gets things done. She is tough. She does cuss. She doesn't put up with nonsense. She doesn't like delays when Hurricane Sandy victims aren't being helped. She has no patience for homophobia from anyone. She is a feminist who wears that badge with pride.

Christine Quinn is a strong powerful leader and is the perfect person to take over the City of New York.

Public Advocate Bill de Blasio and her Democratic opponents are good men. They have stood for good things. This kind of conduct is beneath them and they know better. It is simply conduct unbecoming.

More important, while these candidates are strong supporters of LGBT rights, these kind of angry attacks gives permission to the homophobic and misogynist crazies out there. Of course you have every right to challenge her on the issues. Quinn can handle it. She needs to handle it.

Hopefully you can stand for more then you are not Christine Quinn!  However don't tolerate the increasing anger, disruption and hatred that is taking place. Speak out against it. Tell Mr. Baldwin and others that their anger is misdirected.

For those of us fortunate enough to attend the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund brunch this past Sunday, we heard speaker after speaker talk about the difference having one of our own in office makes in protecting the right of LGBT Americans really struck home. Congressman Sean Maloney gave an eloquent speech how it has affected his colleagues on the floor of the House.

When it came Quinn's turn she was powerful, moving and a leader. She talked about young LGBT Americans and our obligations to them. She talked about her vision for the city. All I could think of as she was speaking was what an excellent tough and visionary Mayor she would make for the Big Apple.

Go get them Christine

Governor Cuomo Should Follow Colorado's Lead On Voting Rights

 

 

 

Long Lines In NYC At Last Election

Of all the states, New York needs desperately to reform it procedures for voting in the Empire State. Some of the rules and regulations go back to the days of Tammy Hall. The last election saw massive lines in many neighbors and people left in disgust without voting. Obtaining an absentee ballot is a major headache and even then they demand to know why you need it.

If a state makes it difficult for you to vote then it takes away part of your freedom.

Without question, the Western United States have the best voting procedures and access to the ballot.

Colorado is in the process of passing new legislation that will even make access to voting easier for its citizens.

The legislation that is currently moving through the legislature does three things:

-Allow Election Day Registration

-Send ballots by mail to every voter in the state.

-Create Statewide Voter Fraud Database.

The Denver Post reports:

Those promoting the changes said the bill is uniquely Colorado, and the state could take the lead nationally on making elections more convenient to voters. They are confident other states will follow — because voters like mail voting (74 percent in Colorado last November), while preserving in-person voting at a few early voting centers, and, eventually, saving millions of dollars for counties.

“We’ve managed to, I believe, put together a bill that I think is a model for the nation,” Rep. Dickey Lee Hullinghorst, one of the bill’s sponsors, told The Denver Post editorial board before Monday afternoon’s hearing.

Garett Reppenhagen of Colorado Springs, the Rocky Mountain West coordinator for the Vet Voice Foundation, said service members need as many options to register and vote as possible. He said military members fight for the right to vote, and increasing access is an important goal.

“if you vote for this bill you will be honoring the service of those who put on the uniform and made the decision to serve,” he told the committee.

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Other clerks, though, said switching to mail will mean buying less equipment to operate and maintain for a ever-shrinking number of people who still vote in person. That could save millions of dollars in some county over a longer period of time. Denver expects to save a total of about $730,000 in next year’s general election alone, director of elections Amber McReyholds said.

New Marist Poll Shows Anthony Weiner In Second Place Behind Strong Quinn

 

 

The first Marist poll was released since former Congressman Anthony Weiner started a firestorm of press by thinking of entering the Mayor's race. Weiner was forced to resign not only because of the photographs he sent out over Twitter but by lying about them for weeks.

A very high 46% of the voters do not want the disgraced Congressman to enter the race. Without Weiner in the race, Quinn polls 30% and is likely to face a run-off in September. She still holds a considerable lead after a series of brutal attack ads.

Nate Silver of the The New York Times said in a Tweet: "100% name recognition and just 15% ballot support? That's an ugly poll for Weiner, not an encouraging one."

Clearly his entry changes the dynamic of the race. Quinn still has a 11% lead over him. The other factor is that Weiner is detracting from the other candidates and slowing their momentum. 

Christine Quinn: 26%

Anthony Weiner: 15%

John Liu: 12%

Bill de Blasio: 11%

Bill Thompson: 11%

Sal Albanese: 3%

Undecided: 22%

New Poll Shows Quinn Holding Significant Lead In Mayor's Race Despite Attacks; Weiner Might Enter Race!

 

 

 

The new Quinnipiac University Poll shows City Council Speaker Christine Quinn is continuing to hold a solid lead with just five months until the Democratic primary.

Quinn has faced a barrage of attack ads by independent committees in an attempt to derail her campaign. The ads were inevitable since her lead continues to be strong and the only way to stop her march to City Hall is to diminish her accomplishments.

In another interesting development, a New York Sunday Times Magazine story has former Congressman Anthony Weiner considering entering the race. He has over $4 million in the bank from his previous campaigns. Weiner was forced from office for sending lewd photographs over the Internet. He is not included in this poll.

The new poll shows:

Christine Quinn: 32%
Bill de Blasio: 14%
William Thompson: 13%
John Liu: 7%

In race against likely Republican nominee Ray Lhota:

Quinn: 59%
Lhota: 19

New Yorkers approve of Quinn's by 59% to 22%.  

 

Transgender Candidate Attempts To Make History In New York City, Vote For Mel Wymore

 

 

 

Mel Wymore is seeking to be the first Transgender person to sit on the New York City Council. He has been a community activist on the upper Westside for over twenty-five years including serving on the local Community Board. The more than qualified candidate would be making history in this years election not only in New York but across the country.

The New York Times in a profile reports:

Zoning. School overcrowding. The design of New York’s transportation system.

These are just a few of the subjects that Mel Wymore, a candidate for City Council on the Upper West Side, brought up in an interview before addressing the elephant in the room: that, if elected, he would be the first transgender member of the Council.

“I’m not running because I’m transgender,” said Mr. Wymore, 50, who was born female but now, after testosterone therapy and top surgery, identifies as transgender. But, he said, that “doesn’t mean that being transgender doesn’t bring a certain perspective.”

Although gay men and lesbians have broken many electoral barriers — serving as mayors, state legislators and members of Congress — the same is not true of the transgender community. Only a few, including a Democratic district leader in Westchester County and a former member of the Hawaii Board of Education, have been elected to office around the country.

“I think there is a feeling that there is too much difference there,” Mr. Wymore said. But he said he believed: “This is the seat. This is the community that’s ready to go forward.”

****************************************

Mr. Wymore’s story is, naturally, complicated. As a child, growing up in Arizona, he recalled, he was always a tomboy and extremely happy. But in puberty, he said, “that started to fade.”

He had difficulty adjusting to playing the role of a young woman, and over the years — through falling in love and marrying a man, moving to New York and having two children — he felt ill at ease. Fifteen years ago, he became attracted to a woman and decided that he was a lesbian, so he came out and divorced. But relationships with women foundered.

Then, five years ago, a group called the Yes Institute, which teaches students about gender identity and sexual orientation in an effort to prevent suicide, came to his children’s school, and he observed. He was fascinated; still searching for clues to his unhappiness, he flew to the institute, in Miami. There, watching a clip of Oprah Winfrey interviewing an 8-year-old who was born a girl but had decided to live as a boy, he had a revelation.

“My jaw dropped, because I could have been that child,” he said.

At first, he was daunted by the prospect of confronting his family with another drastic change. But within a few months, he said, he knew that he wanted to begin exploring a more masculine identity.

“This was an opportunity to take off the gorilla suit I felt I’d been wearing all my life and really be myself,” he said.

Shortly after he made his decision in 2009, he was elected chairman of Community Board 7. At his first meeting, he told the board about his transition and received support, he said.

Much harder were the conversations with his son and daughter, now 18 and 15, although he said that they, too, had been understanding.

“We have had very deep conversations and some negotiations around what makes them comfortable,” he said, adding that they could still always call him “Mom.”

Among the things Mr. Wymore said he was proudest of from his term as community board chairman, which ended in 2011, were the negotiations over the coming Riverside Center, a major mixed-use development on the Upper West Side. As a result of pressure from the board and Ms. Brewer, the developer, Extell, agreed to build a 100,000-square-foot school and contribute $17.5 million toward renovating an adjacent park.

YOU CAN DONATE TO THE CAMPAIGN BY CLICKING HERE.....

BREAKING NEWS SHOCKER! CHRISTINE QUINN IS TOUGH! OH MY GOD!

 

 

 

The New York Times in a front page story broke the news to shocked New Yorkers's that City Council Speaker Christine Quinn is one tough elected official. They even accused her of losing her temper, shouting at people and God forbid, she even curses. Not sure if the citizens of the Big Apple will ever recover from such desvastating news. After all she isn't one of the good ole boys she is a woman.

Really folks? Really? This deserves a front page story in the New York Times?

Of course the media and her opponents are piling on as if she had been caught stealing millions of dollars.

Yea, I bet she can be a tough leader. Also believe she loses her temper every once in a while with some City Council members (have you met some of them?). She is Irish so I am sure she know how to play a perfect game of politics. Some officials actually made the stunning claim that she rewards friends and punishes her enemies. Well, that is certainly a new theory in politics.

Really folks this isn't news.

In William Manchester's The Last Lion he shares about Churchill's temper. President Clinton was known by his staff for his 'purple rages'. President Johnson had a temper and played for keeps when it came to distributing the goodies. President Nixon even had an enemies list.

Quinn has been tough and that is exactly why this City Council has been one of most productive in years. Quinn plays a hard game of politics in a tough city. That is exactly why she will be an excellent Mayor. Quinn remembers friends. Do we really want her to forget them?

If this is the biggest issue they have against Quinn then that in itself tells you something. Unfortunately the attacks against her will get uglier as desperation grows among her opponents. She is the first woman and first open LGBT American that could be Mayor of New York City. People just don't do well with 'firsts' as we saw with our President.

Quinn makes the Irish proud and she certainly makes me proud. After all, I have been known to spread around a few salty words myself.

Will This Tech Billionaire Be Mayor Of New York City Someday?

 

 

 

New York City already has its first billionaire mayor with Michael Bloomberg's fortune exceeding $20 billion dollars. There is another one who is interested in running someday for that cherished position. Jack Dorsey, the co-founder of Twitter, revealed in a 'Sixty Minutes' interview that someday he wants to be Mayor of the Big Apple. The tech billionaire calls it his 'dream job'.

Dorsey is estimated to be worth $1.2 billion and ranks number 392 on the Forbes Magazine billionaire list.

Dorsey calls Bloomberg his 'guiding light'. In a CNN interview, Dorsey, told Jake Tepper that:

"I think what he's done, he has actually continued to simplify city government in relationship to its people and provided simpler interfaces to go to government to get something done and vice versa," Dorsey said. "I think he's done an amazing job and in terms of design, not design being visual but design being this desire to find the quickest path to understanding and really indicating the function through the form. He's done that with the city, so he's really designed a great city and I hope it continues."

Here is Dorsey's 'Sixty Minutes Interview':

Returns On The Money Race For Mayor Of New York City

 

 

 

The primary election for the Mayor of New York is in September - just six months out. If someone is going to make a strong move on City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, they will have to move up soon. Increasingly the amount of money that candidates are able to raise takes on a new importance.

The January 12 to March 11 campaign filings gives us some hints about the race.

Christine Quinn: $510,000

Bill Thompson: $340,000

Bill de Blasio: $267,000

John Liu: $105,775

Sal Albanese: $51,000

As far as cash on hand after this reporting period here are the numbers:

Christine Quinn: $5.53 million

Bill De Blasio: $2.4 million

Bill Thompson: $2.0 plus

John Liu: $2.0 million

Carlos Manchaca For New York City Council

 

 

 

Every once in a great while a candidate emerges who represents the best in us all. Carlos Manchaca is running for New York City Council from Brooklyn's 38th District (Red Hook, Sunset Park, Windsor Terrace, Gowanus and parts of Bay Ridge and Park Slope). If you are a grassroots activist, supported the Occupy Wall Street movement or desire dramatic change in the way this city is governed, then Carlos is made for you.

Manchaca is challenging incumbent Sara M. Gonzalez, who while a good person, is invested in doing 'business as usual' in these critical times.

When Hurricane Sandy devastated sections of Brooklyn and particularly the Red Hook area, Carlos was among the leaders who organized thousands of volunteers to help their neighbors as government moved at a much slower pace. They canvassed the buildings to make sure the elderly were safe. They delivered food. The volunteers cleaned the streets and established a system of communications that enable people to be in contact in the middle of a national emergency.

From that effort, the citizens of Brooklyn turned to Carlos and asked him to run. His biography in itself explains why this young energetic grassroots activist is the perfect choice for New York City Council.

Born to a single immigrant mother in El Paso, Texas who taught him the love of the American dream. His mother, Magdalina Ortiz (Maggie) made sure he was in Head Start where he learned English. She supported his environmental activism at a young age. The family of seven children (Carlos was third!) lived in public housing, survived on food stamps and public assistance.

Carlos knows first hand how government programs can change citizens lives.

He attended the Jesuit University of San Francisco on a scholarship and Pell Grant. While at the University he continued his activism around the issues of social justice. The students elected him President of the Student Senate.

Carlos was accepted into the Coro Fellows Program and that brought him to New York City. He was hired by Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz to manage the Capital Budget and Economic Portfolios. From there he worked for City Council Speaker Christine Quinn being her outreach to the LGBT and HIV/AIDS community.

If Brooklyn was a city it would be the fourth largest in America and it has at the moment no representation for LGBT Americans. This is long overdue.

This week he received a major endorsement from Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez.

This is not going to be a campaign of big money and special interests. It is a true grassroots campaign of the people. If you are upset about the influence of money on politics then this is your moment to show how we can fight back and win.

Manchaca's story is America's story. He is the type of candidate that gives New Yorkers hope for the future and progressives a powerful voice.

Get busy and get him elected - donate now, join his Facebook page and fight back!

(Carlos appears in the opening section of the following video)