Dear Crown Heights community,
As most of you probably know, this Tuesday there will be elections on citywide races including the Mayor, district attorney, judges, members of the City Council and more. In addition, there will be a proposition – as there is every twenty years in New York – on whether the state should hold a constitutional convention, which you may want to research to understand the pros and cons, as well as the implications of a “Yes” or “No” outcome.
In the past, many members of our community have not gone to vote either because they thought they were too busy, or they thought that their vote will not make a difference “since everyone knows already who is going to win”, or “it makes no difference which candidate wins anyway”.
I would like to explain why every vote from our community makes a massive difference irrespective of who wins and even who you vote for. While every candidate you fill in on your ballot remains confidential and no one will ever know who you selected, the fact that you voted gets recorded once you sign-in prior to being handed a ballot. Consequently, city officials and politicians know exactly how many people voted in each community, block and even household. This is very important as there are many issues where we as a community would like to be heard by our elected officials, and many of us feel that we aren’t being taken as seriously as we should be, whether it’s matters related to policing, security, crime, ticketing, taxation, and sanitation among others.
Naturally, politicians will respond more to communities with a higher election turnout and less to those with a lower turnout. For instance if a member of the City Council is being asked by a community to work on a certain need that they have or address a problem that they’re facing, the response can very well be determined by the percentage of the community that votes in elections. So if most people in the community vote the elected official will feel more pressure to listen to them so as not to lose their support, and if almost no one in the community votes, they are effectively throwing away any political power they would have because politicians will not care what they want. Until now Crown Heights has sadly belonged to the latter category, and we have unfortunately brought it upon ourselves.
The good news is that it’s in our hands to change it, but for that to happen it is crucially important that we ALL go out to vote on Tuesday, whether you work, learn in Kolel, or are a student. Employers are legally required to allow all of their employees to vote, even if that means letting them leave work for a bit to do so. And while I’m sure that for some parents it may be an inconvenience to arrange for a babysitter so that they can head out to the polls, it is an inconvenience very much worth enduring.
As believing Jews we know that while trust in Hashem comes above all else, He has commanded us to do our השתדלות in ways that accord with the natural order of things in this world and not to rely on miracles if we want something, whether for ourselves or for those around us. While we are blessed to live in a country where everyone has the right and privilege to vote, I would argue that it is also a responsibility, not in the sense that the law forces you to do so, but that one who doesn’t and subsequently complains about something related to the government or politics has only themselves to blame for not doing their part to change it.
Please also keep in mind that when it comes to local issues like tickets, communal quality of life and the safety of our children, these elections have a much more direct effect and bigger impact than even presidential and midterm elections, though the latter two generate more excitement and buzz in the media. In that sense this election isn’t any less important than the “bigger” ones (and maybe even more so).
I’ll conclude by once again urging each one of you to actually go out on Tuesday and vote, so that together as a community we WILL start making a difference and with Hashem’s help start noticing a better attitude towards us from our elected officials where we actually feel that when members of the community speak up on important communal issues to our representatives, our voices are heard in a much bigger way than it has been until now, and most importantly we get our desired results.
P.S. Those who haven’t registered to vote yet, please don’t delay in going through the extremely short and easy registration process so that you’ll be able to vote in the congressional, senatorial, gubernatorial and many statewide elections in November 2018, as well as the various primaries taking place before then.
A Constitutional convention would have the power to change the Constitution, so by definition it could not possibly be unconstitutional.
The Atheists are already forcing people out of business for not baking “wedding” cakes for alternative “marriages” which actually is, unconstitutional. So claiming that they won’t do anything “unconstitutional” at the Constitutional convention is just liberal propaganda and a strawman argument. And unions have opposed Religious schooling so they are not so friendly to Frum communities.
Unions have done a lot for many, including Jews. That does not give them a license to lie to the public, as they have in the campaign re: Proposition 1. It is not the Torah way to engage in lying tactics and to support that tactic. As already mentioned above, and as you know deep down, not even ONE state legislature will ever vote in term limits for themselves — let alone TWO successive state legislatures. You know that, but you keep honking the same horn anyway. Term limits would GREATLY benefit the Frum community, as already described above. SO:… Read more »
tried to vote , they told me i have to go to Medger Evers college so i gave up,
We all vote, and we also work to improve the community council and עסקנים.
Everyone’s happy.
Term limits and any other change to the state constitution can be effected by two successive legislatives voting for it and it then be presented to the public as a referendum. There is no public benefit in constitutional convention for the frum community. As many of the above commentators have stated the frum community does not have it’s needs met due to low voter turnout. Union membership is perhaps the single greatest factor in moving minorities including Jews into the middle class from poverty and should be supported and not distained.
Has any other state done what you predict? NO! WHY? The answer: What you predict is against the US CONSTITUTION, so it would not fly. As for “what exactly I think a convention would change that would benefit frum Yidden,” the answer is: EXACTLY THIS: More Term limits for our elected officials in Albany: Frum Yidden need for the status quo to never get too entrenched and comfy-cozy in Albany. Otherwise, we can get stuck with state senators and assembly people, for life, who don’t have our best interests at heart. Also, term limits make it harder for “machine politics”… Read more »
Has any other state done what you predict? NO! WHY? The answer: What you predict is against the US CONSTITUTION, so it would not fly. As for “what exactly I think a convention would change that would benefit frum Yidden,” the answer is: EXACTLY THIS: More Term limits for our elected officials in Albany: Frum Yidden need for the status quo to never get too entrenched and comfy-cozy in Albany. Otherwise, we can get stuck with state senators and assembly people, for life, who don’t have our best interests at heart. Also, term limits make it harder for “machine politics”… Read more »
The country (and the world) are becoming more and more atheist and anti G-d.
With a Constitutional convention they could for example take away our Constitutionally protected first Amendment rights to follow our religion, which radical atheists, say is ‘abusive to children’.
That is just one of many negative possibilities that could come from a Constitutional Convention.
What exactly do you think that a Constitutional Convention would change that would benefit Frum Yidden, that would outweigh the rights and freedoms we have now, under the Constitution, as it is?
We need to vote because it’s our civic duty and so that our community is taken seriously by the politicians.
If you have a problem with the community council you could write an article about it and clearly state what you think should be done to rectify the situation.
If everyone voted for the other candidate, the “Askon” will not have his connections anymore once his guy loses.
Now are you going to go vote?
Start your own advocacy groups and PACs.
Competition is good for everyone.
Problems solved?
Just look at who is against the constitutional convention: The Unions The Governor and other “career politicians” The Rich Special Interest Groups (both liberal and conservative!) ALSO don’t be so quick to say that “your civil servant neighbors” are all voting NO. AU CONTRAIRE! Many, many Union members use their critical thinking and research skills and know the game. As a result: anytime the Union says to vote a certain way, they know to vote the OTHER way! The myth about losing pensions is a bald-faced lie! Pensions are set by Union contract, between the union and the city/state/county, etc.… Read more »
Last I checked the District Attorney decides if and how to punish criminals who hurt our kids, and we decide who the DA should be. Last I checked the Mayor decides who and how competent the police commissioner as well as the force is, and we choose the Mayor.
This has nothing to do with the Askonim and how badly the community council is doing its job.
To those with legitimate complaints against the community council, if you vote for the other candidates they don’t endorse you can be taken seriously. If you sit home and do nothing, don’t expect anyone to take you seriously and rightfully so.
If WE had politicians who NEEDED our votes, THEY would change it.
To 31:
They worked hard to get where they are, and so can you.
To 32/”Cold winter”:
With a do-nothing defeatism like that we’re definitely screwed.
To 35:
Who you vote for is confidential.
To 37:
Of course, because by sitting home “the people” ask for nothing.
The reason the police won’t make a report is not necessarily because of how much they do or don’t care. The fewer reports of crime are filed, the lower the supposed statistics of how much crime there is, so that the Mayor can claim that “crime went down” under his leadership. This was true for Bloomberg, and it is true as well for DeBlasio. Both administrations have pressured the individual precincts to make as few formal “in the system” reports of crime as possible. This also explains why, even when they do make a report, they often seem to have… Read more »
EXACTLY. It’s like being dictator for life. Heaven only knows what kind of kickbacks & sweetheart deals they get from elected officials, but one thing is sure…we the people get nothing.
you can’t expect anyone else to pay attention to your issues
you wrote “While every candidate you fill in on your ballot remains confidential and no one will ever know who you selected” this is so untrue!
when you sign in, they write a number next to your name in the book, AND on the ballot. Any idiot can look at the ballot and compare the number to the book.
That said, I plan to vote – REPUBLICAN – all the way down.
Actually changed my party affiliation because I’m tired of the bleeding heart democrats who are anti what America has stood for untill about 8 – 16 years ago!
If you’re mad at the community council then vote for the candidates they’re not endorsing.
Not voting is just your unjustified laziness dressed up in deceptive excuses.
What’s the connection, and how did some commentors confuse the issue here from elections to the community council? The community council’s problems is another issue for another day.
I am going to be voting with my feet because I am disillusioned with the whole process we are screwed if we vote and scrowd if we don’t by the way in the past i did vote all i got was bupkes
“become one yourself” halevai. The people in these positions werent elected to be there. and when people try to get into positions of askonus, the current “askonim” fight them tooth and nail, lest they lose their positions. So dont make it sound as if it is that simple. Everyone knows the facts–that the askonim dont advocate for the community, rather they act out of their own interests–and voting wont change that. Ultimately, two wrongs dont make a right, and we should all vote anyway, but the point remains the same. To the guy who mentioned winterization–I had the same story.… Read more »
Complaining about Askonim? Become one yourself!
Complaining about police or the government? Vote!
Just complaining and not doing anything? Worthless!
You want the police to care? Vote, and then tell the politicians to make them care or they’ll lose your vote.
You don’t vote? Blame yourself and no one else!
So the conversation went from voting for politicians to Askonim and now to desk clerks in the community council!
If we vote, the politicians will feel pressure to listen to us and make the cops care about our safety. Because no one votes the cops have no one making them do their job.
Please share with us unenlightened ones,what is it that they do? My car has been broken into twice in the last six months, the cops wouldn’t even make a report. is it perhaps affordable housing ? no, that only takes place in Other Frum communities. Maybe it’s different grants that the gov makes available to say, homeowners? Well Bidid Havai Uvda, I walked into the community council to ask for help with a winterization grant, and to my dismay all the guy asked me (aggressively If I may add) “who told you about it?” Of course in the end they… Read more »
If you don’t like a candidate or his party, you vote for the other one.
You’re lazy and making believe you have a good reason.
A fine, ethical, politically savvy person.
Don’t do nothing and just complain.
Start following this:
!אמור מעט ועשה הרבה
They ONLY benefit themselves? They do NO advocating for the community!?
You guys are cynical ignoramuses looking for excuses to justify your laziness.
Many people’s polls have moved there.
That 95 percent of the community will not vote, and who can blame them, no one sees any benefit from any of the elected officials at any level of government, the fact that so few show up to the polls should serve as a wake up call to those who claim to “represent” us, Do you people realize how little faith the typical community member has in you guys!? They won’t even show up to the polls! We are talking about a community that gives and looks out for each other, yet when it comes to matters of politics, people… Read more »
When they said to vote certain candidate is because is good for the regular citizen,o because will benefit the big real estate families of crown heights?
Many voting places (incuding Brooklyn Ave & President) have changed to the public school next to Beth Rivkah on Crown Street near Nostrand. You have to be in the door before 9 pm tomorrow Tuesday.
It’s easy. Just do it.
Honestly there is no point–voting helps only in so far as we as a community get involved with politicians, and in CH the people who are responnsible for doing that (the CHJCC) use their connections for themselves. They dont help the community. So I dont think it will help to go vote, we wont gain from it–only those who are involved w politicians, aka the CHJCC people, will benefit, and I have no interest helping them further their personal agendas
That polling place was changed to the Public School near Bais Rivkah
No excuses
Besides NOT voting for Blasio I wouldnt know whom I should vote for in other words like # 7
It’s not about the Askonim, it’s about you having a say in your safety and pocketbook.
I guess you don’t want to.
If you are a small businesses owner who likes customers who pay their accounts promptly or a non profit who appreciates tuitions and donations (or a beneficiary of the above) stay strong with your civil servant neighbors and vote NO on proposition 1. This proposition benefits career politicians, is expensive to the tax payers and has slim chance of ever helping the yeshiva population.
I have no intention to go vote as my vote is taken for granted i will stay home tomorrow and vote with my feet.
To the so called leaders of crown heights do you live in a bubble of money that you have ignored the struggling families of crown heights i refuse to play a part of the games and will stay home tomorrow
Why should I go vote if the only outcome will be that the Askonim of our community will use any leeway they have to benefit themselves?! To be clear I’m referring to those at the CHJCC.
Vote for the republican for mayor.
I forgot her name..
Check out the Jewish press for the endorsements.
#3, that’s the tip of the iceberg in voter fraud. One of my kids who has always lived in CH has never managed to get on the electoral roll – on the other hand, his sister who went on Shlichus overseas over 10 years ago, is still registered. As are we, who moved away 4 years ago. Something is very wrong.
For those of us who are willing to vote – please let us know who would be in our best interest to vote for.
Why don’t you call voter registration to inquire as to your specific situation?
We should all go vote
No excuses
How do I get the name removed from the eligible voter rolls, of someone who has passed over? My relative in Israel died two years ago, but when he was in the US his address was at my house. We still of course get voter info. addressed to him, so I know that means he’s still considered “registered to vote”.
I am very concerned that his ongoing registration could be used for fraud.
PS: The only proof of death I have is a death certificate that’s all in Hebrew, from Israel! Will the city accept that?
Let’s take a stand!
BS”D I read that the voting place on the corner of President and Brooklyn closed, so where do we go