US Ambassador to South Africa meddling in New York politics -- again

Patrick Gaspard is back to his old political tricks, with more possible violations of the Hatch Act

The unrelenting political activities of a U.S. State Department ambassador to prop up the Democratic Party's political machine in New York America's ambassador to the nation of South Africa, Patrick Gaspard, is once again engaging is political activities that some critics say may violate a federal law that prohibits such involvement by federal government employees. Ambassador Gaspard has been engaged in behind-the-scenes political machinations to support the candidacy of Michael Blake, who is campaigning to seek the New York State Assembly seat vacated by Eric Stevenson after he was convicted of bribery in January, The New York Post reports, adding that, Mr. Blake is a "protégé" of Mr. Gaspard. The federal Hatch Act aims to limit the ability of U.S. politicians to use federal employees for activities of political parties. This reform stemmed from allegations that Democratic Party officials exploited government employees for political gain during the New Deal, but the electioneering regulation restricts federal employees, with few exceptions, from all political parties from engaging in political activities. This isn't the first time that Ambassador Gaspard has flouted Hatch Act regulations. Today's article in The New York Post mentions that prior to reportedly lobbying the healthcare union SEIU 1199 into endorsing Mr. Blake, Ambassador Gaspard was engaged in political activities in support of the reelection campaign for Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY). Prior to that, a New York Republican Party political operative, E. O'Brien Murray, lodged a Hatch Act complaint with the State Department, accusing Ambassador Gaspard, a former top White House aide and the former top political operative with SEIU 1199, of violating restrictions on political activities by getting involved last year in Bill de Blasio's mayoral campaign. Ambassador Gaspard appeared to further flout the Hatch Act by reportedly lobbying in favor of City Councilmember Melissa Mark-Viverito's selection as the new Council speaker. All of Ambassador Gaspard's electioneering activities were conducted while serving as an ambassador under the U.S. State Department. How many times will prosecutors, intent on cleaning up corruption in New York politics, keep allowing Ambassador Gaspard a green light to exploit his office, position of influence, and federal resources accorded to him in relation to his position in the U.S. State Department, if any, for electioneering activities to benefit Democratic Party candidates for public office ?

RELATED State assembly candidate Michael Blake’s ‘ragged’ efforts for ‘hope and change’ (The New York Post) GOP Operative Files Hatch Act Complaint Against U.S. Ambassador Patrick Gaspard (The New York Daily News)

BOE Scandal in Charles Rangel and Adriano Espaillat Congressional Race

Board Of Elections Defends Its Work In Disputed Congressional Primary

From NY1 :

As State Senator Adriano Espaillat continues his legal challenge of his primary loss last week to incumbent Congressman Charles Rangel, the city Board Of Elections says it is not to blame for the disputed results.

Rangel reportedly had a 2,300-vote margin of victory on primary night, but that lead has since dwindled to just 802 votes. The Espaillat campaign says roughly 2,100 absentee and affidavit ballots still need to be counted.

Initially, 79 election districts reported a complete lack of votes in the Democratic primary.

Elections officials say the zero-vote tally was entered when police officers could not read the handwritten totals or election inspectors failed to add up the votes. The incomplete count was then shared with the media.

"There's a process that we have to follow in order to do the re-canvas and make sure that every vote is counted and that's what we are charged with," said Pamela Perkins of the Board of Elections. "We are not charged with explaining election night results, because they are not our results."

Espaillat also claims valid ballots are not being counted and some voting machines were broken.

These errors have made the BOE subject to criticism from Mayor Michael Bloomberg, good government groups and newspaper editorial boards, but the board's commissioner said the agency did its best.

"It's unfortunate, but I think that the campaigns are launching incredibly vicious attacks of the hardworking men and women of the Board Of Elections. They're based on absolutely nothing but a conspiracy theory," said BOE Commissioner J.C. Polanco. "The reality is that we have hardworking men and women at the Board Of Elections who work tirelessly to make sure that each one of these ballots gets counted."

Good government groups also question why the initial election results were so erroneous.

"Other states have managed to give unofficial results on election night that are darn close if not completely accurate to the end official tally because they use modern technology in a modern way. It's embarrassing that New York refuses to do that," said Susan Lerner of Common Cause New York.

The BOE is beginning its count of the remaining votes on Thursday.

Quinn Plaza Hotel Protest

Christine Quinn - Plaza Hotel - Gays Against Quinn (Protest Video)

Over 20 activists gathered outside the Plaza Hotel in a demonstration against City Council Speaker Christine Quinn. Watch as protesters speak against Christine Quinn to former Mayor David Dinkins' entourage and hand anti-Quinn literature to Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.

Some of us were there because of Speaker Quinn's use of a $50 million slush fund during a time when we live under constant threat by Mayor Bloomberg, that he is going to lay off teachers and close down fire houses. Others were there, because Speaker Quinn pushed through a controversial extension of term limits, allowing Mayor Bloomberg, herself, and others, to run for a third term in office. Still yet others were there because of Speaker Quinn's complete abdication of full civil rights for LGBT New Yorkers, do-nothing record over hospital closings, horrible animal rights record, and use of city staff for campaign work.

Please join us for a Third Anniversary Protest of the Term Limits Extension at 2 pm on Sunday, October 23, at City Hall.

Please also join our Facebook group : Gays Against Christine Quinn.