Democracy in Action

Some New York City residents will be asked to come out to vote as many as four times this year: Queens citizens will face civic duty in the form of the March 24 special election for Queens Borough President, the April 28 presidential primary, the June 23 state and Congressional primary and the November 3 general election. A few will find all that voting a hassle, although the burdens associated with voting in many places around the world are, well, somewhat heavier.

Many readers probably already know when and where to vote, and even whom to vote for. There's still more to know, of course: What the candidates are proposing, where their campaign money is coming from, who actually makes it onto the ballot, and other parts of the picture that will solidify over the next few weeks and months.

For voters looking to learn more, or do more, here are some resources:

• Check if you are registered to vote

• Register to vote online (note that you might not be able to participate in some upcoming elections if you are not registered, or affiliated with a party, by now, but there is still time to participate in later 2020 contests.)

•Detailed voting calendar (including early voting dates)

• Early voting hours and locations for the Queens BP special election

• Who's running? Note that ballots for special elections on April 28 for Assembly (31^st district in Queens) and City Council (37^th District in Brooklyn) are not yet set, and that the fields for Congressional and State Assembly and State Senate races on June 23 are also unsettled.

• Who's donating? The FEC is your source for that info on the presidential and Congressional races. The State Board of Elections oversees financial reporting for State Assembly and State Senate. And for the Queens borough president and City Council special elections, your source is the New York City Campaign Finance Board.

When it comes to reading good reporting about the races, the candidates and the issues, City Limits' own Elections page is certainly worth bookmarking.

And I hope you will join City Limits and Gotham Gazette for a special live-audience episode of WBAI's Max & Murphy Show on Wednesday, February 26 featuring surrogates for all the Democratic presidential campaigns making their early case to New York City voters.

- Jarrett Murphy, executive editor

Max & Murphy: The Mike Bloomberg We Know (and Don't)
A journalist and a biographer discuss the lessons New York learned about the 12-year mayor, and the new questions that a presidential run is raising.

Fight Over Korean Shelter in Queens Spotlights Struggles of City’s Asian Americans
Nanoom House has converted a two-story single family home into a refuge for 20 or so homeless Korean immigrants. Facing an onslaught of pressure from neighbors, the city and their landlord, the shelter is fighting for its existence.

Re-emerging Demand Seen for City’s Afrocentric Schools
Although Afrocentric schools have been around since the 1970s, new ones have been popping up across the country in recent years, including in Brooklyn, as parents seek alternatives to the heavily-Eurocentric approach favored in mainstream schools.

A Subway Chat About NY-12 Candidate Harrison’s Transit Plan
What Pete Harrison lacks in money and name recognition he is hoping to make up with bold ideas, like a $1.7 trillion plan to provide free transit for all

Despite Broad Support, Albany Might Again Balk on Rental Help for the Homeless
Home Stability Support has the support of tenants’ rights advocates and the landlord lobby, but there’s a major snag: Gov. Andrew Cuomo has resisted it.

A Guide to Your Rights in Homeless Shelters
It covers everything from privacy to diet, voting to disabilities, public benefits to income savings; explains supportive housing and vouchers; talks about how to get a fair hearing and how to seek permanent affordable housing.

NY Must Invest in its Home-Care Workers
‘We’re experiencing a workforce shortage that’s preventing New Yorkers from accessing home-care services. And the shortage is expected to grow.’

Only Media Pressure Can Get State Elections Board to Change
In January, a federal judge concluded that the Board of Elections’ practice of rendering voters 'inactive' based on post office errors, and then keeping the names of these deactivated voters away from polling sites, is not just unlawful but unconstitutional.

Just Say No to the Roll-back of Criminal Justice Reforms
The tactics being employed to amend and roll back newly enacted changes to New York State’s bail laws are the same tactics used for decades to entrench racially discriminatory policies.'

NYC Latino Activists Volunteer for 'Tío' Sanders in Nevada
A contingent of activists with Make the Road Action joined the march for immigrant and housing rights held in Las Vegas in support of Bernie Sanders.

Q&A: Museum of the City of NY Curator on Making Census Data Fun
Exhibit curator Monxo López talks with El Correo about a new exhibit of works that use census data to tell stories of the city.

Many Latinos still believe that the citizenship question is in the 2020 Census
More than half of U.S. citizens of Latino descent believe that the 2020 Census includes a question about citizenship, a mistaken belief whose apparent popularity deeply troubles advocates and officials.

Community Board Approves Flushing Waterfront Plan, Despite Opposition
Despite loud chants of “no more luxury residential buildings” from opponents, Queens Community Board 7 approved a rezoning plan that would green light a waterfront development project by creating a Special Flushing Waterfront District.

Documental que enseña sobre la autodefensa contra el desplazamiento urbano
En un nuevo cortometraje llamado “Defending Your Block: How to Stay, Fight and Build” (Defendiendo tu cuadra: cómo quedarse, luchar y construir), Vivian Vázquez Irizarry y su equipo extraen lecciones de las experiencias de los defensores comunitarios del Bronx, Pittsburgh y Los Ángeles para informar sobre esos esfuerzos de supervivencia.

Lo que necesita saber: El plan final de rediseño de la red de autobuses del Bronx
La próxima audiencia pública será desarrollada el 20 de febrero en el Bronx Museum of the Arts a las de 6 pm a 8 pm.

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