Creative Campaign Literature of the Day
8:22 am • 12 September 2011
From the City Hall News morning newsletter today:
* What do you do when all the newspapers endorse one of your opponents? If you’re Assembly candidate Rafael Espinal, you start another newspaper. Residents of the 54th Assembly District got campaign mailings from the newly created “Prime Time News,” featuring articles about Espinal’s work in the community and how he won a recent debate. The crown jewel is the newspaper’s editorial evaluation of the three candidates for Tuesday’s special election. “We wanted to believe that her family name would allay our board’s fears of voting for an unproven entity,” the editorial board says about Deidra Towns. “But upon sending our investigative staff to Camp Towns, we were sadly disappointed.” The paper similarly finds Jesus Gonzalez unworthy, concluding that he “should seek to expand his horizons beyond that of political nonprofits and invisible political benefactors.” Shockingly, Prime Time News enthusiastically endorsed Espinal.
I actually picked up a copy of the literature in question while walking around Bushwick over the weekend. I transcribed the editorial below:
Many political insiders expected a sleepy summer. For after all, it is a once in a decade phenomenon for the city’s political junkies (and I am not talking about the Census). Which would be an action-less political summer given that there are no major elections. Campaign consultants were planning long trips to the Hamptons while printing companies were cutting back on their ink orders as late as June. Postal workers were jubilant on the decrease of campaign literature that seems to affix godlike status on some of the shabbiest candidates.
But have no fear folks, special elections have come to the rescue to bring some life to the streets of Bushwick, Cypress Hills, Bedford-Stuyvesant East New York and City Line. You see, our newly elected Governor, Andrew Cuomo, decided to appoint Assemblyman Darryl Towns as Housing Commissioner hence creating the need for a special election to fill his seat. After a heated debate, our editorial board decided not to elaborate on the qualifications of Mr. Towns for Housing Commissioner. Pardon the digression loyal readers. Lets focus on the candidates:
Deidra
A good portion of our editorial board fell in love with Ms. Towns. However, unlike in romance, love at first sight in politics is usually a disappointment. Ms. Towns appears bright and articulate. However, upon researching her community experience we were met with numerous blank stares when asked to associate Ms. Towns with any community causes. And now, family barbeques and yearly Christmas photo-op with family members don’t count towards community involvement. The reality is we gave Ms. Towns the benefit of the doubt. We wanted to believe she could serve the community just like her Dad, Congressman Towns and her big brother, Darryl Towns for many years. We wanted to believe that her family name would allay our board’s fears of voting for an unproven entity to go up to Albany and represent our interests. We wanted to believe that the 54th Assembly District could finally be represented by a woman. But upon sending our investigative staff to Camp Towns, we were sadly disappointed. Ms. Towns identifies herself as a business development professional, but was not aware of any businesses that benefited from her work. While we are not aware of any of her work with any of the local merchants associations, we do like her views on expanding green initiatives and her vow to bring more affordable day care slots to the 54th Assembly District. Now this is all fine and good. However, our investigative staff was a bit perplexed to understand her role as the Executive Director of the Versie B. Towns Foundation. This foundation came under scrutiny when the New York Post wrote an article stating “Deidra Towns is trumpeting her association with a dubious nonprofit that has no public record of its work as she runs for her brother Darryl’s vacant Assembly seat.” The nonprofit has no website, employees, board meetings, record of accomplishments, and lists its address as the home address of Ms. Towns. Our board found this as suspicious and lacking in good government principles of transparency and accountability. We urge Ms. Towns to make herself more well known in the communities of the 54th Assembly District and do a better job at advertising the record of the Versie B. Towns Foundation.Rafael Espinal Jr.
They say sunlight is the best disinfectant. During our research we found that Mr. Espinal was by far the most transparent and the one most likely to clean up Albany and reform the manner in which business is done in Albany.
A lifelong resident of Brooklyn, Rafael L. Espinal was born in Woodhull Hospital in Bedford Stuysvesant to Dominican immigrants. The third of six children, he was raised in Cypress Hills attending and graduating from New York City public schools P.S. 108, I.S. 302, and Franklin K. Lane High School. Following his primary education, Rafael attended Queens College and graduating with a Bachelors degree in English.
Mr. Espinal went on to teach in an adult literacy program at St. Rita’s Church before growing into a quality public servant while working as Chief of Staff to Council Member Erik Dilan. Numerous constituents shared with us how he worked with them on issues related to water bills, property taxes, social services, public safety and education. No press releases, rallies or facebook posts are necessary when doing the business of serving constituents. These constituents remember his work and are likely to remember that they have a friend in Rafael Espinal when they have an opportunity to choose from among the 3 candidates mentioned here.
Our conversation with Mr. Espinal demonstrate that he has a clear understanding of the issues that residents face in this tough economy. Yes, he is endorsed by a host of elected officials and labor unions. But to our board, his honesty and grass roots experience matter more than endorsements. He is probably the youngest candidate that we have endorsed, but is surely one that has proven himself to be a leader. For this and many other reasons, the editorial board wholeheartedly supports Rafael L. Espinal Jr. for Assembly in the 54th District.
Jesus
Mr. Gonzalez is a 26 year old community organizer with nonprofit organization Make The Road By Walking. He claims 13 years of community organizing experience which is quite impressive of a claim. This means he has been “organizing” for 50% of his life. Given the fact that our White House is occupied by a former community organizer, we decided to approach Mr. Gonzalez’s resume with all due consideration. This task was not as easy as we thought. Mr. Gonzalez as it turns out was a paid youth worker for Make The Road By Walking. His salary was paid for by grants from several Manhattan based foundations that have little to no relationship to the people of the 54th Assembly District. Make the ROoad By Walking, a nonprofit organization that has helped many individuals in Bushwick has compromised their non-political manner of advocating for immigrants, youth, and low income New Yorkers. It is the position of Prime Time News that nonprofit organizations should not profit from casting their lot with a given candidate. Mr. Gonzalez is the candidate of the Working Families Party. The party is under a cloud of suspicion due to inappropriate use of campaign funds.
We urge Mr. Gonzalez to continue being a community activist and organizer. However, he should seek to expand his horizons beyond that of political nonprofits and invisible political benefactors.
