by alex davidson
The Irish did it. So did the Italians. Now it is time for another generation of immigrants to do it.
What is happening in the 22nd Assembly District in Flushing and the 25th Assembly District covering Richmond Hill, Ozone Park and Whitestone is old-fashioned political organizing, where voter registration drives and community meetings are the focus of a campaign to enlist the leaders of local ethnic communities.
The engine behind this organizing is the William Jefferson Clinton Democratic Club, and one of its founders, District 25 Assemblyman Brian McLaughlin, has used the club to recruit local community leaders to run for political office.
“We believe that all politics is local,” said President John Dorsa. “It’s important to show people that we’re as inclusive as possible, and so we’ve really gone the extra mile to reach out to the new immigrant community.”
The club, with more than 400 members, used to be called the New Century Democratic Association but changed its name in May to reflect the goals of former President Clinton, Dorsa said.
“We were looking for a figure who emphasized low crime, economic prosperity and other things that affected working people in our community,” he said. “We all have a stake in this community and we’re all in this together.”
So far, the club has been successful at registering new voters in traditionally non-voting communities and, equally as important, electing them to public office.
Rory Lancman, District 25 Democratic co-leader, said the club includes South Asians, Indians, Chinese, Koreans and Jewish members. But more importantly, Lancman said, is that these minorities are represented by elected officials.
“I think the club is so unique because it’s so diverse in its leadership,” he said.
The club is temporarily holding meetings in a Presbyterian church in Whitestone, but has not yet decided on a new location now that redistricting has brought in members from communities stretching from Ozone Park to College Point.
Councilman John Liu (D-Flushing), 25th Assembly District Democratic Leader Uma Sengupta, and former candidate for City Council Terence Park, who still is a district leader candidate in a Flushing race that remains undecided, belong to the club and have local ties to their respective ethnic communities.
Liu, who represents a large Chinese population in Flushing and is the first Asian elected to a citywide political office, said the club will have a great deal of influence because of its ties with the leaders of ethnic communities.
“This club is going to be a model as an organization that combines politics with community activism,” he said. “The focus of our club is to be common sense Democrats.”
But there still is a long way to go.
Dorsa said the club is trying to increase voter turnout and decrease general apathy toward the political process.
“I would like to see the club restore faith in our elected officials and community leaders,” he said. “People have the right to vote and if they see people they have an affinity to, it will help them to understand the process and want to become more involved in the process.”
Lancman said voter registration drives are more effective when local people go into their own communities and talk to people in their native languages.
“Because the club is so diverse and we have elected officials from the communities, we can energize and galvanize those communities in ways other Democratic clubs can’t.”
Reach reporter Alex Davidson by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 156.
