ACTION ALERT! January 26, 2010:

Jan Schakowsky (Rep-IL) has reintroduced the “Stop Outsourcing Security Act,” (H.R.4650) to responsibly phase out the use of private security contractors, such as Blackwater, for functions that should be reserved for U.S. military forces and for government personnel. Bernie Sanders (Sen-VT) has concurrently introduced a companion bill into the Senate (S.3023).

As Rep Schakowsky said in her letter to her fellow members of the house, “In 2009, the U.S. government employed well over 20,000 armed private security contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan, and there is every indication that these figures will continue to rise in 2010. These men and women are not part of the U.S. military or government. They do not wear the uniform of the United States, though their behavior has, on numerous occasions, severely damaged the credibility and security of our military and harmed our relationship with other governments.”

Rep. Schakowsky’s bill recognizes that with our military already so very overtaxed that it will take time to eliminate the use of private contractors for functions that should be reserved for U.S. military personnel. Her bill is also in keeping with the recommendations made in July of 2009 by the U.N. Working group on the Use of Mercenaries.

This bill puts our government back on the path of restoring military functions to the U.S. military. “The legislation would prohibit the use of private military contractors for military, security, law enforcement, intelligence, and armed rescue functions unless the President tells Congress why the military is unable to perform those functions. It would also increase the transparency over any remaining security contractors by increasing reporting requirements and giving Congress access to details about large contracts.”

Three New York reps have signed on so far. They are John Hall, Maurice Hinchey and Carolyn Maloney. Please contact your representative and ask him/her to sign on as an original co-sponsor of this bill. If your representative has already signed on, please contact him/her to say "thank you." Please email Bernadette with their response at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Democracy for NYC supports this bill and has sent this letter to each member of our NYC Congressional Delegation asking them to co-sponsor this bill.

 Call to Action: Rally at City Hall for Preservation, Wednesday, May 12

The Historic Districts Council urges you to come to City Hall on Wednesday, May 12 at 10am, stand with them and say “People Want Preservation!”  They ask you join them with your stories and your passion to demonstrate that preservation is something that the public wants.

What:  Rally for Preservation
When: Wednesday, May 12, 10 a.m. SHARP
Where: City Hall Steps ( 4,5,6, N or R Trains to City Hall)

For the past four years, HDC has helped organize a preservation day at City Hall that dozens of neighborhood preservationists have attended to show the strength of the preservation community. Through their efforts, the Landmarks Preservation Commission has grown in staff and has designated more properties in all five boroughs than ever – they designated more properties in 2008 than they had in any year since 1990. This record of accomplishment needs to continue; dozens of historic neighborhoods throughout New York City are still unprotected and prey to tear-downs and unregulated development. If we’ve learned one thing in 45 years of  preservation practice in New York, it’s that landmark protection is good for the city. Without landmark protection, SoHo and Tribeca wouldn’t exist, the theater district would be an office park and Brooklyn Heights would be filled with high-rises. But as much as the LPC has accomplished, there’s still much more to do.

Due in part to the fear engendered by the economic downturn, there’s been a recent cry in the press against preservation efforts – claiming they are “standing in the way of progress” and “NIMBY”ism sometimes reaching fever pitch. Our elected officials – some of whom are new to the job and others who have a long record of never “standing in the way of progress” – are beginning to listen.  New Yorkers care about their neighborhoods and want them preserved. We cherish our historic buildings, parks and streets and we know that preservation is good for the city.

This rally is rganized by The Advocate for New York City’s Historic Neighborhoods