Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." If this is true, then Senator Ted Kennedy never truly died. If there was one word to describe him, it would probably be "outspoken." From the time he became involved in politics to the time he passed away late Tuesday at the age of 77, he was always fighting hard for those less represented. His accomplishments are countless, dealing with everything from civil rights to health care reform.

   In memory of Senator Ted Kennedy, please visit his website: http://tedkennedy.org/. Thank you.

Saturday, August 29th, Walks Converge for a Rally in Times Square, NYC

On August 29th, 2009 hundreds—maybe thousands of people will march from different neighborhoods of New York City to rally in Times Square.

New Yorkers and people from all over the United States will gather to show Congress that we need meaningful healthcare reform with a strong public option. We believe that legislation with anything less than a strong public option is unacceptable. According to Howard Dean, "Any legislation without the choice of a public option is only insurance reform and not the healthcare reform America needs."

Join DFNYC and all these groups and individuals on Saturday.

11 am Walks start (See below for a location near you),
2 pm Unity Rally at 42nd Street and 7th Avenue

Hosted by NYCforChange in partnership with Organizing for America.  More than 50 grassroots and other organizations will be participating including Obama supporter groups, women's groups, immigrant right groups, health care worker unions, physician groups, faith based organizations, Democracy for NYC, and many more!

DFNYC will meet at 350 West 31st St. (between 8th and 9th Aves.) at 1:00 pm joining NY Metro Area Postal Union.  Contact: Bernadette at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or Chuck at  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Other UNITY Walk Start locations: 

MANHATTAN
Upper West Side: Meet at Ryan Health Clinic, 97th St. btwn Columbus & Amsterdam Aves. Hosted by Upper West Side Baby Boomers for Obama's Agenda. RSVP: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  

Upper East Side:
1. New York Presbyterian Medical Center, 1300 York Ave at 69th St.
Meet at 1 PM. RSVP: MYBO
2. Mt. Sinai Medical Center, 99th & Madison
3. Memorial Sloane Kettering, 1st Ave and 68th St.
4. Lenox Hill Hospital- Park Ave and 77th
RSVP: Jean Prendergast, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Midtown: Meet outside of Roosevelt Hospital, 10th Ave at 59th St. @ 12pm
Hosted by: Women's Contingent for Health Care Reform,
RSVP: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

ACORN & Make the Road walk—good for Spanish speakers!  Meet at 12:30 PM at Bryant Park, 6th Avenue & 42nd Street. RSVP to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Downtown West:
1. Meet outside of St. Vincent's Hospital, 170 West 12th St. @ 12pm
RSVP: MYBO  Coordinator: Alan Howard, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ; Hosted by Tribeca for Change, Asian Pacific Americans for Progress, Downtown East for Obama, South Asians for Opportunity.
2. Meet at Office of the Center for Independence of the Disabled of New York,  841 Broadway, Room 301 at 13th St. near Union Square at 1 PM;
RSVP:  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Kips Bay: Meet outside Bellevue Hospital, 1st Avenue @ 28th Street at 12 PM. RSVP MYBO. Contact: Elizabeth at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Harlem: Meet at Harlem Hospital, 2479 Frederick Douglass Blvd; RSVP: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

BROOKLYN
1. Contact: Jordan Thomas, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , Hosted by Brooklyn for Barack.
2. Flyer for the rallyat Grand Army Plaza, 10 AM - 12 PM. Hosted by  Prospectors for Change. RSVP: MYBO

QUEENS
Meet at Mary Immaculate hospital, 153 St & 89th Ave, Jamaica, NY @ 11 AM
RSVP:  Bonty Defoe, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or MYBO
Hosted by Queens County for Change

BRONX
Meet NW corner of 210th St & Bainbridge by Montefiore Hospital at 12:30 PM. RSVP to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or MYBO
Hosted by NW Bronx for Change, Jackie This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or Gene This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

STATEN ISLAND
Meet at the Staten Island Ferry at 11:30 AM
RSVP: MYBO

For more information check-in at www.nycforchange.org , or contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , 212-925-1829

Voting is now open for the DFNYC Endorsement in New York City's Mayoral Race

Voting opened at our Mayoral Forum on August 11, and will close on August 21.  Please download a ballot and mail it in. Mail-in ballots must be postmarked no later than August 21, 2009.

The following were invited to attend our forum on August 11 and are on the ballot for DFNYC's Mayoral endorsement. 

Tony Avella (D)
CLICK HERE TO VIEW STATEMENT
http://www.tonyavellaformayor.com/

Michael R. Bloomberg (I)
Not in attendance at forum and no statement submitted.
http://www.mikebloomberg.com
 
Billy Talen aka "Reverend Billy" (G)
CLICK HERE TO VIEW STATEMENT
http://www.voterevbilly.org/

William C. Thompson, Jr. (D)
CLICK HERE TO VIEW STATEMENT
http://www.thompson2009.com

The following were not invited to attend our forum on August 11.  They contacted DFNYC after the forum was scheduled and have submitted statements.  These candidates are not on the DFNYC endorsement ballot, but any candidate may be voted for on the write in line. 

Voting Info:
DFNYC members who have participated in three DFNYC meetings, events, or actions in the past year are eligible to vote. If you are not sure if you are a voting member, please vote, and your ballot will be counted if we determine you are eligible.  Instructions on how to cast your mail in ballot are included on the ballot.  If you have any other questions about voting, please email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , or call us at 646-219-8478.

Download ballot click here (pdf).

VIDEO OF THE FORUM WILL BE POSTED SOON.

 Click here to view the DFNYC endorsment rules.