This Wednesday, March 4:

Upper West Side - 7:00pm, - The Parlour (back room) - 250 West 86th Street (btwn B'way and West End Ave.), with hosts Bernadette Evangelist and Sally Swisher, and special guest Michael LeBron of Damascus Citizens for Sustainability (www.damascuscitizens.org) and NYH2O, who will discuss environmental and health impacts of natural gas drilling.

Upper East Side - 7:00pm, - Molly Pitchers - 1641 2nd Ave (betw/ 85th and 86th St.), with host Jen Berkley.

West Village - 7:00pm, Kettle of Fish, 59 Christopher St. (near 7th Ave.) with hosts Josh Silverstein and Tracey Keij-Denton, and special guest and District 3 City Council candidate Yetta Kurland

Astoria, Queens - 7:30pm, - Ommonia Cafe 32-20 Broadway, with host Jeremiah Frei-Pearson and Costa Constantinides.

Sunnyside, Queens - 7:30pm, Bliss Street Station restaurant, 47-02 Greenpoint Ave., with host Dan Jacoby.

Bayside, Queens - 7:00pm, The First Edition, 41-08 Bell Blvd, right near the LIRR stop, with host Steve Behar of Democrats for New Politics.

Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn - 7:00pm, Wyckoff-Bennett Homestead 1669 E. 22nd St. with host Annette Mont and Estelle Glasser.

Democracy for NYC Early Candidate Endorsement is a process reserved for DFNYC members unique in their long-term commitment to the ideals, progressive grass roots activism, and dedication to the principles of Democracy for NYC.  We deem these candidates to be unsurpassed for the offices in which they seek election.

Norman Siegel for NYC Public Advocate

Steve Behar for City Council District 19 (Bayside, College Point, Auburndale, Beechhurst, Whitestone, Bay Terrace, Robinwood; parts of Flushing, Douglaston, Little Neck)

Josh Skaller for City Council District 39 (Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Columbia Street, Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Kensington, Boro Park)

The mail-in ballot can be downloaded HERE (pdf).

DFNYC members who have been to three events within the past year are eligible to vote. If you are not sure, you should vote, and we will determine your voting member status before counting your ballot.  For more on endorsement rules, visit this page at our website:  http://dfnyc.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2374

The state Senate is holding hearings on rules reform.

In 2004, the Brennan Center issued a report calling New York's state government "dysfunctional." Since then, there have been some minor changes (and DFNYC helped make that happen!), but little else. Now, the new Senate Majority Leader, Malcolm Smith, has created a committee to recommend specific reforms.

They're holding a hearing this Thursday evening, from 6-9, at 250 Broadway on the 19th floor (Senate hearing room).

Turnout is important, to let our elected officials know we want reform in Albany. So come on down to lower Manhattan this Thursday.