On the Upper West Side (UWS) of Manhattan there are several Democratic clubs. I'm a member of Community Free Democrats (CFD), the home club of Rep. Jerrold "Jerry" Nadler. It's hard for me to see a clear path for the evolution of Manhattan political clubs in the digital age. Sometimes I think they need to consolidate. (Dems don't do consolidation well though, do we? grin) In Manhattan, do they adapt or die? Or is that a false dichotomy? Will they continue to be a tool--relatively unadapted--for the sort of block-by-block, electoral district-by-electoral district, utterly volunteer-based/(exploited sometimes?), petition-weilding, storefront/streetcorner-visibility-enhancing, and essentially Party machine-driven entity that primarily, though not ultimately, expends its energy and time and money on backing particular local Dems against OTHER Dems in Party primaries, and not on backing the nominees against Republicans...because Republicans are so rare on the UWS that the General Election is not a real contest! I think CFD and the local clubs ARE still relevant, but they often do a poor job of explaining and promoting the VERY grassroot (asphalt?) work that they do.
I noted at the last endorsement vote meeting that attendance was strong. I noted some new young faces. More Internet-savvy meta-clubs (as I think of them) like DFNYC, an outgrowth of the Howard Dean movement, have energized some new young Dem talent in the last few years, and a fraction of those folks have trickled into the local clubs.
It's tempting to complain about the fact that so much local club energy is about Dems fighting Dems, but that IS part of the process! Just as I genuinely believe that the battle between Hillary and Barack was good for the Party, so I'd like to think that the local primary contests similarly can serve to bring the best Dem candidates to the forefront.
It's hard to know what the future of these local Manhattan--and in particular Upper West Side--clubs will be. I am told by veterans of CFD that the club has been small in the past and big in the past, that membership has always waxed and waned. So, my guess is that the local Democratic clubs' adaptations will mostly just be on the edges of their operations and structure--e.g., creating a website, sending out e-mails. They will continue to help get the required numbers of signatures on petitions to get Dems on the ballot (NYState's election laws are pretty unwieldy (sp?)), and use that process as a mechanism for maintaining Party visibility at the VERY local level. (Hey, it's a lot cheaper than a postcard mailing!) They'll organize trips to Pennsylvannia and canvas for the presidential candidate in the general elections. They'll provide a forum for local residents to hear from and talk to local politicians about local issues. They will continue to be the mechanism by which would-be delegates to the Judicial Convention campaign. They won't be going away--nor should they--anytime soon.
Below are links to a PDF (<1MB) of CFD's August 2008 newsletter. Take a look. Enjoy some of the local flavor. :)</p>
It's Summer, But No Meltdowns for Small Businesses!
Borough President Scott Stringer Reminds Us of the Peril Facing Some of Our Beloved Merchants....</span></span>
The Big Issues
Larry Hirsch, CFD President: The silly season has started in the Presidential campaign....</span></span>
A Birthday Pary, a Book Signing & Johnny's Fall From Grace
District Leader Report from Joan Paylo: I have this great pair of peeptoe coral-colored patent leather heels that receive many compliments as I make my political rounds. There's a story in their sensible spikes....</span></span>
The Cranes in Our Backyard
Community Board 7 Report From Helen Rosenthal, Board Chair: Before the recent crane collapses, construction, to many New Yorkers, was just a noisy neighbor- a consistent presence in an ever-changing city....</span></span>
Swinging the Vote
The Art of Politics: Two Reviews by David Matarasso: "Swing Vote" and Toobin's account in "The Nine."
Membership Update
Membership/Public Outreach Committee members have been working tirelessly throughout the year, and are doing a magnificent job....
In Memoriam
Remembering two members of our community: Former City Councilman Stan Michels. CFD Board Member Dorothea Hoskins.
On The Democratic Selection of Judges
A Primer for Primary Season from CFD Judiciary Cmte Chair Lloyd McAulay: In Manhattan, we have 84 supreme court justices. Less than half, specifically 37, were elected to the supreme court.
Letters to the Editor
Bernadette Evangelist, Past CFD VP and board member