Calling Aisle 7

by Azi Paybarah
Wed, 9 Aug 2006 at 2:28 PM
updated Sun, 14 Jan 2007 at 1:48 PM

Quote of the day, from David Yasky's email to supporters: "I'm spending so much time on Flatbush Avenue that my campaign staff is now forwarding my calls to Aisle Seven at the Western Beef." The rest of the email is after the jump.

Grilled Cheese and Tomato Sandwiches

Dear Friend,

We're five weeks from the primary election on September 12th, and after months of preparation our campaign is in full swing. Even as temperatures reached triple digits, our volunteers, armed with ice-cold water, shining new campaign lit, and a fierce commitment to bring change to Washington, fanned out across the 11th Congressional district. To date, Team Yassky has greeted voters 153 times at subway stops, at 32 block parties, and at every street fair in the District. We talked to voters while watching the Fourth of July Fireworks on the Promenade, we grooved with Angie Stone at Wingate Park, and danced under the stars with Toshi Reagon in Prospect Park. I'm spending so much time on Flatbush Avenue that my campaign staff is now forwarding my calls to Aisle Seven at the Western Beef.

We intend to win this campaign the old-fashioned way: on the ground, with person-to-person contact and neighbors talking to neighbors. The campaign has attracted dozens of astonishingly dedicated volunteers. Don Martin, a retired police officer originally from Jamaica, has knocked on more than 500 doors with me. Julia Sherman, who fled violence in Liberia and became a librarian in Flatbush, brings a quiet but inspirational patriotism to her contact with voters -- no one who talks to her is going to stay home on Election Day. Meredith Epstein, a high school student, has staffed almost every phone bank, and can talk policy like a Political Science Ph.D. John Sharples and Alice Dietz -- former students of mine at Brooklyn Law School --collected hundreds of petition signatures. All told, Team Yassky collected over 8,000 signatures - thousands more than we needed to get on the ballot.

But to reach our goal of communicating with every single voter, we need more help - and we need it now. Whether it's handing out flyers in front of a supermarket, joining the nightly phone banks, or knocking on doors with me evenings and weekends, you can experience a grassroots campaign firsthand and make a real contribution to our victory. Help us bring change to Washington by dropping a line to our volunteer coordinator or stopping by our campaign office at 227 Flatbush -- or just keep an eye out for me next time you're shopping at the Western Beef.

I am very proud of the campaign we are running. So far, we have mailed out seven campaign flyers to voters-- you can see them on our website. They are very substantive and they clearly and crisply show both some of my accomplishments -- gun control, affordable housing, taking on polluters and getting junk food out of schools -- and my agenda for change in Washington.

The strength of our message has brought forward not just volunteers, but endorsements from community leaders across the District. The campaign recently received an endorsement from Sallie Bennett, President of the Brooklyn Chapter of Mothers Against Guns. Sallie is a giant of the gun control movement, and she realizes that the only way Congress will get serious about taking on the NRA is by sending a representative to Washington who has a solid record of accomplishment fighting for effective gun control legislation. Tenant leaders Charlene Nimmons (President of the Wyckoff Gardens Residents Association) and Lisa Kenner (President of the Van Dyke Houses Tenants Association) live on opposite sides of the district -- but they are united in their belief that my commitment to affordable housing merits their endorsement. In the coming weeks, some of the City's most respected advocacy and labor groups will endorse our campaign.

When you're on the campaign trail as much as I am, you find yourself engaged in some spirited conversations. And some less spirited. Sure, I share my ideas on issues that matter: affordable housing, health care, education and saving our environment, but I also find myself talking about things that have nothing to do with my ideas and experience that will help place Washington back on track. In the last few weeks alone, I've told at least six people that my favorite sandwich is Grilled Cheese and Tomato, and recently revealed to a reporter the secret ingredient to my French toast.

Voter contact and great food was certainly on tap during the Brownsville Old Timer's Day Celebration last weekend. I met and talked to Brownsville residents young and old about the ideas and experience I will take to Washington, and had a chance to campaign with my good friends District Leader Lisa Kenner, and former City Council Member Priscilla Wooten. And, for the record, I did overindulge at the Fish Fry at the Brownsville Recreation Center on Friday night. Overall, hearing the amazing stories of days past and of the excitement the future can bring, made it clear that this annual celebration is truly one of the reasons why Brooklyn's 11th is such a special place

Well, that's all for now. Before I head off to subway stop number 65, I want to remind you that September 12th is not only an important election, but also a real chance to make lasting changes. While I've had great success passing legislation in the City Council on gun control, affordable housing and environmental protection, the actions of the Republican Congress will continue to reverse all of our gains if we don't stand up and fight.

The time to act is now. The time to get involved in upon us. Join our campaign, and help us bring change to Washington.

David