N e w s l i n e
Tompkins County
Tompkins County
Local Dems Talk Future Plans
A Candidate Sees Future In A New, Grassroots Political Movement
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n mid-December at a table i n t he dow ntow n C ollegetow n Bagels, Leslie Danks-Burke – a local attorney and onetime state senate candidate – laid out a vision of political action grounded in the grassroots. She expressed a desire for a progressively-backed populist movement, focusing her attention on building local campaigns from the ground up in the mold of the past several decades of conservative campaigns that had successfully changed the political culture of not just New York State, but of the nation itself. Her aim, she said, was to serve as advisor and mentor to prospective candidates looking to break into local politics, naming a “no race is too small mentality” as the key to long term political success. “It might take a while,” she said at the time. “But over an eight or 12 year period, you can build something like this to a place that’s capable of taking hold of an entire state.” As of this week, she now has
a plan and a vehicle she says will help accomplish this goal. On Tuesday, Danks-Burke formally announced the creation of Trailblazers PAC, a nonpartisan political action committee dedicated to the f unding a nd promotion of rookie candidates committed, first and foremost, to campaign finance transparency. Centered primarily in local races, Trailblazers PAC is pitched as a funding channel that “trains as it funds,” serving as a sort of farm program for ordinary citizens looking to take on more seasoned politicians. T he k e y to it s suc c e s s , Danks-Burke said, is changing the model of political fundraising. Noting many upstart local campaigns are often funded by a single donor and the candidates t hey support of ten lack experience, Danks-Burke wants to provide the resources, both fiscal and intangible, to compete at the same level as their opponents. All of this, she said, will be done while simultaneously setting an example for transpa renc y i n W h at is a PAC? campaign A Political Action Committee is a political committee organized finance. Only for the purpose of raising and spending money to elect and defeat candidates. Most PACs represent business, labor or ideologi- endorsing cal interests. PACs can give $5,000 to a candidate committee per candidates election (primary, general or special). They can also give up to deemed $15,000 annually to any national party committee, and $5,000 acceptable annually to any other PAC. PACs may receive up to $5,000 from by the PAC any one individual, PAC or party committee per calendar year. (si m i la r to other PACs (Source: Center For Responsive Politics) run by EmiSanctuary
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behavior,” the release states. Ithaca Mayor Svante Myrick has pledged his dedication to making Ithaca a sanctuary city, saying that the threat of cuts to federal funding is “not a big enough stick” to make the city back down. At Ithaca College, President Tom Rochon issued a statement announcing the college would be looking into a plan to maintain what it called a policy of inclusiveness. “As a result of this executive order we have students,
faculty, and staff at IC who are particularly vulnerable, and many who are fearful of what the future may hold for them or their friends and loved ones,” Rochon said in a statement, outlining various steps administration had taken to support the campus community. “Additional efforts and resources are being planned, and will be shared with you as soon as they are confirmed.” The resolution being drafted by Kelles is currently three pages long, the legislator said, but it’s main purpose will be to protect residents from the threat of deportation if their
Leslie Danks-Burke
ly’s List or the National Rif le Association) all funds raised must be clearly disclosed by the candidates and all donors to the PAC held to an elevated standard of transparency. To avoid pursuing a select few, influential donors, recipients of funds will be matched according to the amount raised through “small contributions,” the total amount donated determined by an algorithm set by New York State law, which dictates specific donor limits for races from the assembly to the senate. I n t he or y t h i s , D a n k s Burke said, will help diminish the need for candidates to be accountable to donors and instead stresses a populist, boots on the ground approach to campaign finance. “Our political system right now is corrupt and broken,” Danks-Burke said. “We’ve seen our leaders indicted and jailed for campaign finance corruption and we need to take our government back.” Though Danks-Burke said the PAC is nonpartisan and will support “any candidate” continued on page 10
only suspected crime is illegally immigrating to the United States, making Tomkins County a safer place for them to live. “The issue is that undocumented immigrants still have human rights,” she said, posing the question of what an undocumented person should do if he or she is mistreated or raped. “What if there’s wage docking at a restaurant, and she feels like she can’t tell anybody?” Kelles asked. “What are her rights? We would like to separate those two things, of human rights and immigration status.”
art-vent session, part call to action, Saturday’s Listening Meeting for Tompkins County Democrats was filled with the mix of angst and defiance that has been a trademark of liberals nationwide in the months since November’s presidential election. A s t a n d i n g-r o o m o n l y crowd of about 150 people at the Tompkins County Public Library voiced various frustrations with the opening moves of President Trump’s administra-
“Republicans have done a much better job of infiltrating these local or statewide elections over the last several years. They’ve been much better at communicating a simple, emotional message that appeals to those who are really disgusted at the state of affairs in this country.” tion, as well as local-level issues. As expected with a crowd that size, the meeting was at times unfocused, though consistently enthusiastic with calls for a single-payer healthcare system to election reforms. Trump, and Republicans in general, were not the only target at the meeting, as Governor Andrew Cuomo caught his fair share of criticism throughout the session. Anger over the failure of the local Democratic establishment to unseat Republican Congressman Tom Reed in November also led to a rather uncomfortable reckoning of local and national democratic strategy. Resentment lingered over the nomination of Hillary Clinton over Bernie Sanders, who had amassed significant support even in New York, widely considered a Clinton stronghold.
Ups&Downs ▶ Everybody For standing up to what is by all objective observation, an unjust ban on travellers from seven primarily Muslim countries. Cornell, Ithaca College and the City of Ithaca responded immediately, and there may be some legislative resistance in the works. A brave move by all in the face of discriminatory policies resulting from an unprecedented bulldozer of misplaced rage.
Heard&Seen ▶ The Fraternal Order Of Eagles which last weekend said it may be ending its Sunday brunch service, agreed to extend the tradition after a small contingent of locals lobbied them to keep it going. Located at 161 Cecil Malone Drive, breakfast is $6 and all you can eat from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Help them keep it going. If you aren’t free Sundays, the group also offers up a pretty generous Wednesday night meal for $8 a pop. According to their Facebook page, this week’s meal is roast turkey with all the fixins’, a salad bar and dessert. ▶ The Masonic Temple has been subject to some showings lately, raising some eyebrows in the Ithaca Times offices over the notion that one day, the long-vacant former nightclub will one day be host to something in its unique confines. We missed an opportunity to interrupt people working on a potential business transaction to flesh out the rumors, but will keep our eyes peeled.
If you care to respond to something in this column, or publish your own grievances or plaudits, write upsanddowns@ithacatimes. com, with a subject head “U&D.”
question OF THE WEEK
The Super Bowl is coming up. Is Ithaca a football town? Please respond at the Ithaca Times Web site www.ithacatimes.com. L ast Week ’s Q uestion : D o Tompkins County D emocrats need to make a change?
85 percent of respondents answered “Yes” and 15 percent answered “No.”
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–Jaime Cone
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