Harlem4Landon

30th Birthday Party & Preserve Our Legacy Fundraiser

2011-03-28T11:32:00.002-04:00

On April 5th Harlem Activist Landon Dais turns 30 years old. Instead of having a big birthday party blow out Landon has decided to host a fundraiser for the inspiring non-profit Preserve Our Legacy. Your ticket purchases are tax deductible.

Preserve Our Legacy’s (http://www.preserveourlegacy.org) mission is to educate and create awareness amongst minorities about bone marrow, PBSC & Core Blood donation. There are 76 diseases that can be treated and cured with bone marrow, PBSC & Core Blood treatments. Sadly, African Americans have one of the lowest chances of finding a match in the National Registry, due to the lack of registered African Americans in the National Registry.

Currently POL is aggressively trying to find matches for 5 beautiful young children:

LJ Jones (10 years old, NY)

Nyiah Young (5 years old, IL)

Daylen Parrish (18 months, TX)

Shakobe Peters (13 years old, LA)

Isiah Platt (12 years old, NC)

To see pictures of these beautiful children please click here

A message from Landon:

"I thank God everyday that I have reached my 30th birthday! However, without our help, these beautiful kids will not reach their 30th birthdays…" Please join me on April 5th in celebration this milestone in my life and see how you can help save the lives of these beautiful children.

The Daily News Features a New Uptown Section

2011-03-08T17:35:00.002-05:00

Harlem has always held a special place in the Heart of New Yorkers. The Daily News has started a new Uptown Section, which will be dispersed three times a week. The Daily News held a breakfast on Thursday March 2nd, at Chocolate Restaurant located on 120th Street and 8th Ave.

The event was well attended by current and upcoming leaders in the Harlem Community. Even though the Daily News identified me as an actor instead of a community organizer, I found the article to be done in good taste. I will support the new Uptown Section in the Daily News, but I will continue to read the Amsterdam News because they always cover Harlem, the good and the bad.

Debate/Candidate Forum Tonight : UPDATE - cancelled

2009-09-08T11:03:00.002-04:00

669 Lenox Ave (Fred Samuels Community Center). Take some time and go show your support for Landon. Home stretch, folks!

UPDATE: The debate has been cancelled. Sorry for the inconvenience!

Are Americans Organizing Enough Behind our President

2009-08-17T17:12:00.003-04:00

We are in need for the American People to stand up and take a hold of our country's government. It is currently controlled by lobbyist and corporate america and I am concerned we are losing the foundation of our democracy. People accuse our President Barack Obama of being socialist for advocating for all Americans to obtain quality Health Care. Just because we are a capitalistic society does not mean we should allow corporate america to run our government.

We have to continue to organize as the people. We should not divide amongst party lines rather divide against good government or bad government. Together we can make our country better. It is time we put our differences to the side and work together to make our country better.

We have to fight for Health Care, We have to fight for better government, we have to be more active in our Democratic process. Together we can make our Country a better place.

Landon Speaks at the NAACP 100th Anniversary

2009-08-11T12:57:00.006-04:00

Landon gives a stirring speech to the youth of the NAACP. He understand how to connect to the youth. A candidate has to be able to speak to all levels of our community. But we need someone who can inspire the youth.

http://www.naacpwebcast.com/2009/naacp-09-watch.aspx

A Councilman who Speaks to all People

2009-08-05T13:17:00.002-04:00

One thing I have noticed with politicians in my area is that they are not very accessible. I promise I will be the most accessible candidate in Harlem. Weekly sit downs with the different communities of Harlem. It is important we improve the lines of communication. I want to help organize the people become a louder voice. So we can fight the mayor and state senate on the needs of our community. As a City Councilman I can do a lot of good, but an empowered people we can do a greater good.

Landon Dais Offically Makes the Ballot

2009-07-31T14:47:00.005-04:00

The Campaign Team and Landon worked tirelessly gathering signatures through out the community. 900 registered democrats are needed to get on the ballot. We handed in over 2400 signatures into the board of elections. The incumbent (Inez Dickens) challenged our petitions but they were not able to knock us off the ballot. We are second in the polls and our numbers our climbing.

To helps us win and bring change to Harlem we need you to donate to our campaign. Please donate to our cause and campaign. With your help we can make Harlem a better place.

Online Donation are Accepted now on the web site

2009-07-31T14:35:00.004-04:00

We are now are accepting online donations for the campaign. Please help create a better Harlem. Even if you only donate $10 it will go a long way towards the campaign.

Our Time is Now
New Leadership for a Better Community

Changes are needed in our Housing Policy

2009-07-22T10:13:00.007-04:00

Affordable housing is a serious issue in New York City. A major obstacle to affordable housing in New York City is the outdated NY State "Urstadt Law", which states city housing regulation cannot be more stringent than the states housing regulation. As your City Councilman, I would lobby to change this law in the State Senate. The New York State Senate is currently a debacle. Do you trust the NY Senate to create meaningful change through legislation? I didn't think so! Unfortunately as your City Councilman my powers would be limited in changing this law. I would organize and empower the community to lobby for repealing the Urstadt. The upstate senators and Republican senators are against repealing the Urstadt Law. The Real Estate Development & Landlord Lobbyist outspend affordable housing advocates by 20 folds. Once again money buys legislation in New York.

It is intriguing that Mayor Bloomberg is lobbying for Mayoral Control of our schools but has not lobbied for Mayoral control of our housing. Why doesn't Mayor Bloomberg care about helping the middle class of New York. Mayor Bloomberg commercials say he cares about the middle class but his actions say another.

Please see the below article written by Joe Lamport in the Gotham Gazette.

Repealing the Urstadt Law

by Joe Lamport
January 2005

Tern Limit Extension Vote

2009-07-21T12:21:00.005-04:00

This is a breakdown of the two votes the City Council voted on in reference to the Term Limit Extension. Transparency is key in todays Government.

Below if a list of who voted how for both the mayor’s bill and the Brewer-Gerson-Yassky amendment. The first vote listed is on the amendment. The second is on the bill.

Totals:
Mayor’s Bill - approved, 29 to 22
Amendment - defeated, 28 to 22, one abstention

Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. - yes, no
Maria del Carmen Arroyo - no, yes
Tony Avella -yes, no
Maria Baez - no, yes
Charles Barron - yes, no
Gale A. Brewer - yes, no
Anthony Como - no, no
Leroy G. Comrie, Jr. - no, yes
Bill de Blasio - yes, no

Inez E. Dickens - no, yes
Erik Martin Dilan - no, yes
Mathieu Eugene - yes, no
Simcha Felder - no, yes
Lewis A. Fidler - no, yes
Helen D. Foster - no, yes
Daniel R. Garodnick - yes, no
James F. Gennaro - yes, no
Vincent J. Gentile - yes, no
Alan J. Gerson - yes, yes
Eric N. Gioia - yes, no
Sara M. Gonzalez - no, yes
Vincent Ignizio - yes, no
Robert Jackson - no, yes
Letitia James - yes, no
Melinda R. Katz - no, yes
G. Oliver Koppell - no, yes
Jessica S. Lappin - no, no
John C. Liu - yes, no
Melissa Mark-Viverito - yes, no
Miguel Martinez - no, yes
Michael E. McMahon - yes, no
Darlene Mealy - no, yes
Rosie Mendez - yes, no
Hiram Monserrate - yes, no
Michael C. Nelson - no, yes
James S. Oddo - yes, no
Annabel Palma - yes, no
Christine C. Quinn - no, yes
Domenic M. Recchia, Jr. - no, yes
Diana Reyna - no, yes
Joel Rivera - no, yes
James Sanders, Jr. - abstain, yes
Larry B. Seabrook -no, yes
Helen Sears - no, yes
Kendall Stewart - no, yes
James Vacca - no, yes
Peter F. Vallone, Jr. - no, yes
Albert Vann - no, yes
David I. Weprin - yes, no
Thomas White, Jr. - no, yes
David Yassky - yes, yes

Miquel Martinez Resigns due to Slush Fund Investigation and Federal Charge

2009-07-21T11:36:00.004-04:00

Corruption once again has struck New York City's City Council. Miquel Martinez Councilman of the 10th District (Washington Heights), has resigned due to his involvement in the Slush Fund Scandal. The Slush Fund investigation is spreading amongst other members in the council. The question is how far will the scandal spread?

Please see the article below featured in the Gotham Gazette.

A little after 10 a.m. Monday, Miguel Martinez's re-election campaign conducted its last official duty: It delivered approximately 3,000 signatures to the city's Board of Elections, presumably to get the councilmember on the ballot for a third term.

Two days later, the campaign broke out the "white-out."

Sub in: former councilmember Guillermo Linares, freshly resigned as the city's commissioner for immigrant affairs, who swooped in a day after Martinez's resignation to take his signatures and, more importantly, his place on the ballot.

Martinez resigned on Tuesday and pleaded guilty on Thursday to fraud and money laundering, making him the first elected official to fall from the City Council's slush fund scandal. His abrupt departure triggered an obscure section of election law, which spurs a three-member committee, all appointed by Martinez, to select a replacement candidate.

Linares at an October 2007 event with adult education students and teachers at Lincoln Medical Center
The move in some areas of the Upper Manhattan district promises to create ballot warfare as opponents claim Linares' latest candidacy is illegal and misrepresents the intent of thousands of voters who signed petitions for the now shamed Martinez.

For more on how the city's petition process works, play Gotham Gazette's latest game: Bump.

A Legal Replacement?

About 306 pages, each with 10 John Hancocks, would now go to Linares. Representatives for the lead insurgent candidate, Ydanis Rodriguez, say they should all be thrown out.

"The petitions are circulated and they say Miguel Martinez on them," said Leo Glickman, Rodriguez's attorney. "No one that signed that petition was interested in putting Guillermo Linares on the ballot."

Reportedly, the Martinez camp was shopping for a new candidate last week, which could call into question the intent behind the campaign's petition filing on Monday -- three days before the deadline. Already his opponents are questioning whether the petitions filed early last week were ever meant to ensure a Martinez candidacy.

"Councilmember Martinez knew this was a possibility," said Glickman, referring to the former elected official's plea bargain on Thursday. "Rather than being honest they are trying to trick the public."

The Rodriguez campaign is formally challenging the petitions at the Board of Elections in hopes of getting Linares thrown off the ballot. Glickman said he expects the board will have a hearing on the challenge next month.

Other candidates in the district, which stretches across Inwood and Washington Heights, agree that the inclusion of Linares on the ballot makes the race unfair.

"This is not the right thing to do," said Cleofis Sarete, who had tried to get on the ballot. "If he wants to come back and run for City Council, he should go through the process. He should go and collect his own signatures."

But the state's election law may differ. According to the city Board of Elections, a selection committee is tapped if a vacancy occurs after a candidate's petitions have been filed (in Martinez's case it occurred a day later). As long as the petitions are accurate and there are enough valid signatures, this three-member committee can select anyone to fill the spot -- regardless of the circumstances triggering the vacancy.

Calls to Linares's reported spokesperson at the Mirram Group went unanswered, and his election lawyer, Henry Berger, refused to answer questions about his candidacy.

Linares Versus Martinez

Last triggered following the assassination of City Councilmember James Davis in 2003, this particular section of election law doesn't raise as much ire among good government groups as it does among the district's candidates. Though the circumstances revolving around this incident differ greatly from the Davis vacancy, some voting and good government organizations say there still should -- in all circumstances -- be a back-up plan in case a candidate can't run or, as in 2003, dies.

"There is always a committee on vacancy," said Gladys Krasner, co-chair of the League of Women Voters of the City of New York. "Anything can happen. They can drop dead. It doesn’t have to be a scandal."

Filling a vacancy on the ballot is not like filling a vacancy in office, advocates say. The final decision is still left up to voters.

That final decision may now be affected by the connection between Linares and Martinez. Even if Linares stays on the ballot, his road back to 250 Broadway could be a rocky one.

The vacancy committee that selected Linares, which includes Even Marie Santana, Placido Rodriguez and Agusto Diaz, was hand-picked by Martinez. The connection, some say, could taint the candidacy of Linares, who was the first Dominican elected to the City Council in 1991.

"There is certainly going to be an albatross around Linares's neck," said Gene Russianoff of the New York Public Interest Research Group.

BREAKING: Albany Circus shutting down?

2009-07-09T17:23:00.003-04:00

The folks in Albany may have finally ended the State Senate Stalemate from the NY Post:

ALBANY - Bronx state Sen. Pedro Espada, whose defection to the Republican camp helped trigger the current Senate crisis, will return to the Democratic fold and end the month-long Senate stalemate, The Post has learned...

The defection would bring a quick end to the Senate's current 31-31 vote stalemate, in which Espada has repeatedly joined with the 30 Republican members in opposition to the Democrats.

Folks, we need some serious reform up there. And it starts down here--send a message to the status-quo folks upstate by supporting reform candidates downstate. Landon Dais and his refreshing platform for the City via City Council is a good place to start. Right now he is undergoing the petition process, and he could definitely use your help. Go here for more info.

Field Day w/ the Dais Campaign

2009-07-05T07:44:00.004-04:00

We are hosting FIELD DAY 2.0 today (Sunday July 5th @ Morningside Park.) The first field day was a lot of fun. Please invite your friends and family. All you need to bring are blankets, games, food, drinks, ice, footballs, kickballs, cards, boardgames, iPODS, and positive energy.

Our campaign is about making a difference but also bringing the community together as one. So please join us today at 1:30pm.

See the video link of the first field day

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvxrsq2QLbc

Interview with All Things Harlem

2009-06-26T10:20:00.011-04:00

On June 14th Candidate Landon Dais attended the Children's Aid Community Service Celebration BBQ. Rev. Vernon Williams was being honored by the Children's Aid Society. Landon works very closely with Rev. Williams engaging the youth to discourage them from joining gangs. At the event Landon was interviewed by Jazz, of All Things Harlem. Jazz is well known for his online Harlem TV show. Please see the below video.

Please view the attached links.

Dancin' in the State Senate

2009-06-15T20:55:00.002-04:00

While we're working hard to get Landon elected in the city, That Coup in Albany gets murkier:

Sen. Hiram Monserrate has switched sides - again.

"I'm coming home," the Queens Democrat told the Daily News in an exclusive interview on Sunday.

Monserrate stunned the state's political establishment and paralyzed the Legislature a week ago when he rebelled against his own party and voted with fellow Democrat Sen. Pedro Espada Jr. of the Bronx to hand control of the Senate to the Republican minority.

The mercurial Monserrate is set to announce at a morning press conference on Monday that he is returning to the Democratic caucus - without Espada.

So he was for the Dems before he was against them before he was for them. Oh, and by the way, he still supports Democrat-turned-Republican Espasa for President of the senate, esentially giving the Republicans control of the Senate. Principled much?

So with a potential 31-31 split, what happens? What does it mean for us downstate? well, the Albany Project thinks it may lead to arbitration. So upstate is essentially gridlocked. Meanwhile, City Council Candidate Landon Dais is making moves for real reform. Check out the official site.

About that Coup in Albany

2009-06-10T15:20:00.002-04:00

Just when things appeared to be going in the right direction for Democrats in the New York State Senate (they held a slim 32-30 majority), we get this:

ALBANY – Republicans apparently seized control of the New York State Senate on Monday, in a stunning and sudden reversal of fortunes for the Democratic Party, which controlled the chamber for barely five months.

A raucous leadership fight erupted on the floor of the Senate around 3 p.m., with two Democrats, Pedro Espada Jr. of the Bronx and Hiram Monserrate of Queens, joining the 30 Senate Republicans in a motion that would displace Democrats as the party in control.

- via the NYT.

With the switch, these two (corrupt) Democrats have given power over to the Republicans in the name of reform. Just so we're clear:

Legal trouble has plagued Mr. Espada throughout his political career. He has been fined tens of thousands of dollars over several years for flouting state law by not disclosing political contributions. In 2005, three employees of a Bronx nonprofit health care company run by Mr. Espada, the Soundview HealthCare Network, pleaded guilty to diverting $30,000 from programs for family care and AIDS treatment to one of his campaigns. Mr. Espada was never charged.

As for Mr. Monserrate?

Mr. Monserrate is facing legal troubles. On March 23, 2009, a grand jury in Queens handed up a felony assault indictment against him, charging that he stabbed his companion, Karla Giraldo, in December 2008 with a drinking glass, leaving a gash that required 20 stitches to close, prosecutors said.

He faces felony charges of second-degree assault that could lead to a seven-year prison sentence.

Both quotes from the NYT.

Perhaps these two gentlemen here are heading to the party nationally known for corruption?

Let's continue to fight to get ethical leaders into to our national, state, and city government that are principled, and won't flee to another party out of partisan spite.

Volunteer Meet & Greet

2009-06-05T16:58:00.004-04:00

Hello Volunteers,

I'm really excited to have you come on board. And after speaking with you, I am determining how we can best utilize your talents and strengths, so I can assign you a role on my campaign staff. This Saturday we will be meeting at 10:45am, along with other volunteers in the community. Please come out and support.

Here is the address:

63 West124th St.

Bethany / Development Outreach HDFC

Between Lenox & 5th

Best,

Landon Dais

Candidate for City Council 9th District

Candidate Landon C. Dais Cleaning up Harlem 1 Block at a Time

2009-06-01T00:18:00.005-04:00

Candidate Landon C. Dais believes to make Harlem a better place we need a council person who will inspire the community to take a more proactive role in making Harlem a safer, cleaner and better place. On April 4th Landon and his team organized over 90 volunteers to participate in a block clean up, on a chilly Saturday Morning. He gave a riveting speech to rally the troops. Working together everyone brought a smile to the people of the community. Citizens constantly stopped the volunteers to say thank you. People were pleased to see a candidate who is not afraid to reach out to the community to help those in the community. Cast Members of the show Harlem Heights participated in the community service project.

Landon Dais Speaks out Against Gun Violence

2009-05-31T23:54:00.008-04:00

City Council Candidate Landon C. Dais and members of the Uptown Residents who Care hosts a rally against gun violence on 126th Street between Lenox Ave. and Adam Clayton Blvd. A great article was written up about the event in the Amsterdam News. Landon has continued to stand up against the senseless gang and gun violence in New York City. Every Tuesday at 5pm on 150th & 8th Ave. with Rev. Vernon Williams he proactively walks the community and engages the youth. He is the only Candidate who shows the youth in the community that someone cares by listening to their opinions on whats affecting them.

Page 34 May 14-May 20, 2009 THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

Josh Barker

(Excerpt from the Amsterdam News)

Williams also said that he wants to begin a movement that will continue through Harlem’s African-American Day Parade in September. Radio personality from Harlem-based radio station WHCR Iesha Sekou and Uptown Residents Who Care President Landon Dais served as emcees for Saturday’s event. Young people performed spoken word along with musical performances, including rap group T-Breezy, featured on BET’s “106th and Park.”

Several prominent Harlem political figures came out in support of the Harlem Unites Awareness Day, including Rep. Charlie Rangel and Assemblymen Keith Wright and Herman D. Ferrell Jr. Mothers from the organization Harlem Mothers SAVE were on hand to discuss their experience with violence in city streets. Members of the organization are made up of mothers who have lost children to gun violence.

Founder Jackie Rowe-Adams, who lost two children to gun violence, said that parents need to step up. “Parents need to stop trying to be their child’s friend and stop smoking weed with their kids,” she said. “They need to get their children involved in some of these programs and stop not knowing where their children are going. At Harlem Mothers SAVE, we can’t bring our children back, but maybe we can help another mother.”

Young Political Candidates Stepping Up (Amesterdam News Article)

2009-05-31T23:12:00.008-04:00

Here’s An excerpt from an article in the Amsterdam News from May 28th:

Young guns come on up
By CYRIL JOSH BARKER
Amsterdam News Staff
May 28-June 3, 2009

Going against the so-called “Harlem machine,” Dais is running for the District 9 council seat. While his campaign touches on issues that include affordable housing, health, education and environmental issues, he wants to start a revolution in New York City politics. He said, “Our time is now. We are at a crossroads where we need to change what our government is doing. It’s time we start thinking out of the box by coming together.”

Landon's Event Tonight

2009-05-11T07:16:00.004-04:00

Check it out, folks:

The campaign is heating up, so check it out!

Join Us Tomorrow!

2009-05-01T19:42:00.002-04:00

Landon and campaign supporters will be out in full effect tomorrow in Harlem. Here are the details:

Event: Community Canvassing in Harlem
"We are going out into the community to talk about the issues"
What: Rally
Host: Landon C. Dais for City Council
Start Time: Tomorrow, May 2 at 8:55am
End Time: Tomorrow, May 2 at 12:30pm
Where: Training @ Bethany Development Senior Housing

We look forward to seeing you there. Landon has hit the ground running, and her needs your help. Let's make it happen.

Post-Boom Days in Harlem

2009-04-14T20:43:00.003-04:00

Hi readers,

The following post below comes from a NYT interview with W. Franc Perry of CB 10.It's a good read. Below is only an excerpt; click here to read the whole thing.

Community Board 10, which represents the central core of Harlem, has been at the heart of the uptown building boom in recent years. The district, which stretches from 110th Street to 155th Street and between Fifth and Eight Avenues, is home to many of Harlem’s historic institutions like the Apollo Theater, as well as many of the newer condo projects that have attracted a diverse mix of residents to this historically black neighborhood. W. Franc Perry, chairman of Community Board 10, has begun seeing signs that the boom years have given way to recession.

Q. What are the biggest signs that Harlem has been affected by the recession?

A. We’ve had an upsurge of development for the past 10 years. If you walk down any of our streets and boulevards, you’ll be able to see a lot of new high-rise condominiums and co-ops that have been erected. The apartments aren’t selling as quickly. In a majority of these buildings, the first floors of these buildings are commercial space...

...We’re also seeing a rise in unemployment. A lot of people who live in Harlem are middle-class workers who worked in some of the financial houses. They were executive assistants. Whether they worked in maintenance, whether they worked in cafeterias, whether they provided support services to the major institutions, they’re no longer working. They’re showing up at community board meetings, and we get a lot of people who come to this office résumé in hand. We had a few yesterday who just came to the board office with their résumés, saying, “If you know anything, please pass my résumé along.”

Let's hope for better days guys. Boom times will return to Harlem. It takes competent leadership who don't owe their political status to entrenched, status-quo interests, but owe their status to the people.

Harlem Clean Up: Positive Community Impact

2009-04-07T23:33:00.002-04:00

So this past weekend we had our Block Clean Up. This is what we mean by Positive Community Impact.

Thanks everyone for coming out, and we hope to see you out there again next time. (Yes, this will be a regular event).

Harlem Development - Not Looking Good

2009-04-06T19:39:00.003-04:00

Hey readers,

So as many of you are aware, Harlem is undergoing rezoning, which unfortunately Councilwoman Dickens supported. The idea is that they were supposed to bring better development to the 125th St empowerment zone. How's that looking? Check out the article below (h/t Erica Nailor!)

HARLEM IS LOSING A BIT OF ITS $OUL
By SARAH RYLEY

April 5, 2009 --
Dreams of a Harlem renaissance have been deferred.

At least 14 projects along 10 blocks of 125th Street have been
delayed, mothballed, killed or downgraded as a much-heralded
development boom fails to materialize on uptown's iconic main street.

Instead of planned office and retail towers, a pro-sports television
station, high-rise hotels and a culinary-arts school, there are vacant
storefronts and trash-strewn lots.

Dozens of often bitter mom-and-pop businesses -- including
neighborhood staples like Bobby's Happy House, M&G Diner and Manna's
Soul Food -- were booted for high-rises that never rose.

The dormant development sites have doubled the retail-vacancy rate
along one five-block section of the strip to 16 percent, said Barbara
Askins, head of the 125th Street Business Improvement District.

"This is the grand letdown," said Evan Blum, owner of The Demolition
Depot salvage store.

He criticized the city for banking its redevelopment efforts on
corporations instead of local business owners.

"All they know is corporate America, and corporate America is kaput
now. It's us little guys that got kicked out, that are unique and
specialized, that bring people to New York," Blum said

The biggest blow to revamping 125th Street, also known as Martin
Luther King Jr. Boulevard, was the death of "Harlem Park," a proposed
$435 million tower at Park Avenue that at one point was to include TV
studios for the Major League Baseball Network.

That killed two projects on neighboring lots and fueled a 31 percent
decline in the asking price for one of the lots, said Randy Modell of
ABS Partners Real Estate.

Lawsuits have delayed at least three other projects: transformation of
the burned-out Corn Exchange building into a culinary school; a $40
million office and retail tower; and several phases of a planned
6-acre, city-administered entertainment and residential complex in
East Harlem.

We need new leaders with the foresight to not make us overly dependent on Big Business. Perhaps it's time to hire a councilperson who is wants to review this rezoning idea and make it actually work?

MTA's Runaway Rail Fares...

2009-03-25T20:30:00.004-04:00

How's it going, readers? Spring has arrived in the city, though it may be tough to tell. And the MTA has a special gift for us--they decided to raise rail fares across the board today. From the New York Daily News:

After a fiery hearing Wednesday, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority voted 12 to 1 to approve subway, bus and commuter train fare hikes from 25% to 30% and impose severe service cuts, including elimination of two subway lines and 21 local bus routes.

"Every single rider who rides or uses the system will be affected," MTA Chairman Dale Hemmerdinger said.

Several board members and many of the nearly 20 public speakers before the vote, blamed the state Legislature - the Senate in particular - for failing to agree on a revenue-raising rider rescue plan.

"Not only is this a sad day, it's a shameful day," board member Doreen Frasca said.

Starting May 31, the monthly MetroCard, now $81, will cost $103 and a weekly MetroCard, now $25, will cost $31. The one-way bus and subway fare will rise from $2 to $2.50, a whopping 25% increase.

Commuter train fares rise June 1, while MTA bridge and tunnel tolls jump July 11. Service cuts also include longer gaps between trains and the closure of a few stations overnight.

Here in District 9 including Harlem and Morningside Heights, we will be seriously affected. From the Spectator:

The approaching hike has been met criticism from Columbia students and residents of West Harlem and Morningside Heights. Several local politicians have come out in opposition to the proposed service cuts, which include reduced overnight service on the 1 train and the M96 and M104 bus lines and the elimination of the M10 line, which connects Harlem to Penn Station.

It's about to get tough in New York.

Around Harlem: Amy Ruth's in Trouble

2009-03-18T20:43:00.002-04:00

Small businesses are feeling the weight of the recession here in Harlem. Check out what our Communications Team has pulled up (thanks Erica):

Harlem eatery Amy Ruth’s files for bankruptcy
Popular restaurant has fallen behind on rent, taxes and other bills.
By Lisa Fickenscher

Popular Harlem eatery Amy Ruth’s filed for bankruptcy protection on Tuesday. Owner Lawrence Jordan said he will make an announcement today. The restaurant remains open—at least for now. The 11-year-old eatery on West 116th Street attracts celebrities and long lines of diners, but it has fallen behind on its rent, utilities, food bills and other obligations.

According to the filing, it owes $25,000 to Con Edison, $60,000 to its landlord and $734,000 in taxes to the state, though that amount is listed as “disputed.” In 2007, Mr. Jordan signed a lease to open a second location in downtown Brooklyn, in the space formerly occupied by 125-year-old Gage and Tollner restaurant. But in January, the landlord reclaimed the space after the restaurant failed to open. Famous for its comfort food, Amy Ruth’s was founded by Carl Redding, who named the eatery for his grandmother.

Mr. Redding reportedly sold his interest in the business within the past couple of years to a group of investors lead by Mr. Lawrence, who is listed in the filing as the managing partner of Morning Star Restaurant Group. Reached by phone today at the restaurant, Mr. Lawrence declined to discuss the bankruptcy, adding that an announcement would be forthcoming.

Let's hope that this Harlem staple, and other small businesses, can survive these trying times.

Landon Announces His Candidacy!

2009-03-17T20:21:00.002-04:00

Landon will officially announce his candidacy to the community on this Thursday, March 19th, 2009 at 17 Below (2163 Frederick Douglass Blvd @ 117th St). We start gathering at 7pm. Make some time to join us to hear what this brother is all about!

Better Know Your District: Intro

2009-03-09T20:38:00.002-04:00

So I've pulled some preliminary information about our district from this wonderful site called Gotham Gazette. From it, you can find just about any political information you need on New York Government. We'd like to start educating you about the district info. As Landon Dais' campaign is ramped up, we'd also like you to ramp up you knowledge about your neighborhood/district. So this week, we're covering introductory information.

Neighborhoods:
- Morningside Heights,
- Central Harlem
- Riverside Park

Here's a map, they've cut the district up in a weird way:

Source: http://www.gothamgazette.com/city/district/9

SECTION 1: LOCAL INFO DEMOGRAPHICS

Racial Demographics:

District 9 has 2 community boards, #9 and #10. Here are the Community Board Contacts:
Community Board No. 9
565 W. 125th St., NY, NY 10027
(212) 864- 6200/38
Mr. George Rodriguez, Chair
Mr. Lawrence McClean, District Manager

Community Board No. 10
215 W. 125th St., Ste. 340, NY, NY 10027
(212) 749- 3105
Mr. Stanley Gleaton, Chair
Mr. Richard Harley, District Manager

Next time we'll look at Community Boards--learning what they do, how they influence your neighborhood, and how you can be a part of it! Plus, we'll probably try to talk them into holding a few town halls this summer.

Join Our Cause..and hit the Streets with Us...

2009-03-05T23:54:00.005-05:00

So for those of you who have dutifully become a follower of our blog, thanks. If you haven't, scroll down to the right and click on the "Follow" button to stay in the loop on our events. We'd love to hear from you as we get closer to drafting Dais to challenge incumbent Dickens, and will also keep you informed of community developments.

In keeping with that spirit, the Uptown Dem Club is sponsoring a major community outreach event on April 4th--a community clean up. Several organizations have already stepped up, including several local churches, the Greek-Letter Organizations, and I'm getting my organization (NSBE) involved. We'll be meeting at 116th street and we're shooting for 500 strong. No, really--we're serious about this. Click here for details.

Welcome Hot 97, KISS Listeners, and Harlem Heights Watchers!

2009-02-28T18:32:00.002-05:00

If you stopped by after hearing Landon Dais's interview on Hot 97 and/or 98.7 KISS FM, or if you were directed here from searching the folks on Harlem Heights, thanks for stopping by! Take some time to go through the "Our Community Issues" to the right and let us know what you think. We also would love to hear what issues are important to you if you don't see what your issue below. This site is community-driven and dedicated to drafting Landon for the City Council District 9 Race.

Also, you can become a follower of this blog by clicking indicating your support in the "Keep Me Posted" section to the right. When important events, issues, and posts arise, you'll be the first to know.

UPDATE! >> I've enabled this post for comments from anyone, including unregistered users. Let's see how it goes. Too much spam, and I'll have to tighten the restrictions. And if you're watching the show tonight, let us know what you think!

Amsterdam News: Landon Dais Profile

2009-02-28T16:58:00.001-05:00

Check Out Landon's Press Release in the Amsterdam News:

Harlem Dais and Nights: Landon gives his all to the community

By CYRIL JOSH BARKER
Amsterdam News Staff
Published: Thursday, February 26, 2009 12:49 PM EST
Landon Dais knows that living in Harlem with his last name comes responsibility. The 27-year-old is son to longtime Harlem community leader Larry Dais and has the desire to live up to his family name by helping those in his community. “My father has expectations of his sons,” he said. “I think, unfortunately, in our community, we don’t put enough expectations on our sons. My father has done something that, to me, has more influence on Harlem than some of the people who get more recognition.” Just like his father, Dais wears many hats in the community, ranging from political volunteer to youth mentor. He serves as a consultant for Harlem Congregations For Community Improvement, Inc. (HCCI), where he works with the Construction Opportunities Program, he helps people obtain their GED, learn construction skills and get jobs. Clearly, Dais also doesn’t shy from giving back to his community.

He is the president of the Uptown Democratic Club, where he started the organization’s youth division. He’s also an advocate for education, working in the public schools with the organization City Year mentoring students. Born in Harlem, his family later moved to Mount Vernon, where he attended Fordham Preparatory School. He went on to Morehouse College, where he earned his degree in business management in 2003. While at Morehouse, Dais joined Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. He said, “I’m truly a Morehouse Man. Morehouse was a growing experience for me. Two of my biggest idols that I look up to went to Morehouse: my brother, Larik Dais, and my pastor, Dr. Rev. Calvin Butts of Abyssinian Baptist Church. I always knew I was going to Morehouse.”

After Morehouse, Dais followed his father’s footsteps by going to Columbia University to obtain his master’s degree in real estate development. He’s previously worked at Turner Construction as a purchasing agent, working on many projects, including the new Yankee Stadium.

During the presidential election, Dais worked closely with the Barack Obama campaign, mobilizing young people to register and vote. He also volunteered in many of the phone banks during the campaign and urged others to join him. And while working in Harlem as a Democratic Party leader, Dais is now considering a run for public office. He seeks change in several things in his community.

“I am against the current 125th Street rezoning and the current Columbia expansion plan,” he said. “We have to make sure that we negotiate something for the people. I also believe in mixed-income housing.” Dais added that he would like to see a change in education in the community. He notes that while there are some positives and negatives in public and charter schools, he believes the two should remain in separate buildings. He also wants to see better treatment and more help for small businesses.

In the past, Dais admits that what he wanted out of life was financial gain. But due to some life-changing experiences, including the deaths of two close friends of his, he came to the realization that helping out is more fulfilling. “When I look in the mirror, I want to see something that I’m proud of and something my parents and my family are proud of,” he said. “My dad could’ve worked for a Fortune 500 company. In reality, we might not have been rich in money, but we were wealthy in family and community, and that’s more important to me.”

In March, Dais’ life will be showcased on the new BET reality series “Harlem Heights.” The show features him and seven of his young professional friends as they live their lives working and dwelling in Harlem.

Landon has been making moves; let's keep up our support for him.

We're Up!

2009-02-19T20:34:00.001-05:00

Welcome Harlem residents and people around the globe--to our blog, Landon4Harlem. Our mission is simple: to work towards the draft of Landon Dais for District 9 of the New York City Council in the 2009 election. As President of the Uptown Democratic Club (UDC), Landon is a reform-minded visionary dedicated to representing the people of Harlem.

Click on the links to the right to get more details on Landon's Ideas. We will also be looking for volunteers and will be scheduling events all around the neighborhood (supporting Harlem businesses). As I mentioned before, our mission is simple, but not easy. We look forward to debating Inez Dickens on the issues and seek to provide a reform-driven Democratic agenda tailored to the Harlem community, and we look forward to your input and ideas.

Landon Dais on The Issues: A Healthy Community

2009-02-19T19:47:00.002-05:00

Landon Dais promotes a Healthy community--the issues expressed below are key ideas that Landon wants to raise to residents in our District.

1. Landon Dais will Combat Diabetes and Obesity
2. Landon Dais will Combat Asthma
3. Landon Dais will increase HIV & STI/STD Awareness Programs

Landon Takes Pride in our Community. If we want Harlem to be beautiful, we have to become more active as a people. We have to engage our public leaders, education facilities and community organization. If we can unite people to work together for the greater good, Harlem will improve for its residents. We have to find a balance of the New Harlem & the old Harlem so we can live together in a better Harlem.

Landon Dais on The Issues: An Engaged Community

2009-02-19T19:33:00.002-05:00

Landon Dais will be representing you in Harlem, but he believes that it's important that the citizens of Harlem step forward to invest in their community on an individual level. Landon will work to:

1. Promote civil & community service with a focus on all generations. He will do this by developing leadership skills amongst the youth who are willing to work in the community. Under Landon's plan, students can receive school credit for volunteering in local community programs.

2. Block Clean Up programs, which will involve people of all ages working to keep Harlem respectable and to connect citizens together as they work towards beautifying our community, Block by Block.

3. "My home is my castle." Using this theme, Dais wants to take community improvement to an individual level by Promoting cleaner living conditions.

4. Encourage Local Businesses to responsibly address school age children who cut school during school hours--(Truancy).

Landon truly believes in the idea that it takes a community to empower itself. Businesses, individuals must work together to keep our District clean, respected, and law-abiding.

Landon Dais on The Issues: Economic Fairness

2009-02-16T15:25:00.003-05:00

Economic Development

1. Reinforce the small businesses in Harlem with incentives.

2. Reform the empowerment zone to better suit the local & existing businesses, so they can grow. We have to strengthen the economic structure of 135th street through the 116th street between the 8th Ave and Lenox Ave. Corridors.

3. Job Development for those on Public Assistance or recently incarcerated.

Landon Dais on The Issues: An Educated Community

2009-02-16T15:03:00.002-05:00

# Education

Over 50% of Harlem High School Students drop out of School. That is an unacceptable number. Education is the key to our children’s future. Without a quality education to prepare them for the real world, they will not be able to succeed. There is no easy solution to this complicated and layered problem. However, there are some protocols we can put in place to increase their chances of success.

- Provide Education Options for the Entire Community

- Vocational Programs as an equal alternative to college-prep courses an post secondary training. Vocational training provides a viable solution to community residents and students.

- Upgrade the technology infrastructure of our schools so our kids will be competitive.

Landon's Education programs seek to reduce the time consuming, single-focus on improving test scores and more on the true education of the student. Test scores are important, but improving student performance for the long term is essential. These programs are a great start to place us on the path to a positive educational impact.

Landon Dais on The Issues: Responsible Community Development

2009-02-16T14:43:00.003-05:00

Responsible Community Development involves developers, small businesses,and community residents working together to improve the community in which district residents live, work, shop, and play.

1. Landon Stands Against the Current Plan of the Columbia University Manhantanville Expansion Plan.

- The Plan has to be reviewed. Columbia should offer more subsidies to the people of Harlem. Since Columbia is an education institution numerous public and charter schools should be built in the area to help alleviate congestion in Harlem Schools.

2. Landon Stands Against the Current 125th Street River to River redevelopment.

- The arguments made by City Council and Planning Commission were misleading. I believe that development is key for Harlem’s future; however a more comprehensive plan needs to be developed that will enhance the life of current Harlem residents and not those who have not moved into Harlem as of yet.

3. Landon Supports a Firm Tenants' Bill of Rights.

4. Landon Supports Construction in Harlem that Benefits Harlem, not just developers.

First Post

2009-02-16T14:19:00.000-05:00

This post lays the groundwork for the Landon4Harlem blog. The purpose of this site is to bring people together to generate ideas, actions, and events designed to elect Landon Dais as the representative of New York City Council District 9.