Gothamist: Norman Siegel, Candidate for Public Advocate

Lisa

Sat, 24 Feb 2007 15:16:41 -0500

NIGGER LOVER

american soldiers

Thu, 31 Aug 2006 13:17:05 -0500

Norman Seigal, you spineless piece of shit. You hate Bush so much that you would put american soldiers at risk, my friends, fuck you and the ACLU. You tired hippies, this is not the 60s, defending sexoffenders in cali. What is wrong with you. You are out off touch sitting in your ivory tower. Fuck you, God this country is going to hell. Plus, when you die, i'm going to throw a big as party.....u fuck head

Brooks Francis

Thu, 29 Sep 2005 22:34:42 -0500

Norman Seigal, you spineless piece of shit. There is nothing new thats going to come out of these new photos. You hate Bush so much that you would put american soldiers at risk, my friends, fuck you and the ACLU. You tired hippies, this is not the 60s, defending sexoffenders in cali. What is wrong with you. You are out off touch sitting in your ivory tower. Fuck you, God this country is going to hell. You guys gave an award to R Kelly last year, the guys a sex offender, don't say he is not. He's been in court over 13 time involving young under age Girls, You pagans, fuck you

rebecca

Fri, 22 Jul 2005 22:11:05 -0500

There's no doubt that Gotbaum is an ineffectual PA -- totally aligned with moneyed politicos. I think Norman Siegel is the best bet -- he has a proven track record of standing up for civil rights. Rasiej is interesting and progressive, but PA position should be more about consumer rights than expanding use of technology.

Joan Ferrato

Thu, 26 May 2005 19:09:45 -0500

Hello Mr. Siegal, I am writing to you because I feel a terrible injustice has been directed at my 14 yar old son. Today at school my son wore a white Nike T-shirt that said: U.B.A.L.L. United Ballers Local 001 Nike symbal on the front and on the back it states:United Ballers (Picture of a Basket Ball) All World League Ballers Unite for a Better tomorrow (Nike symbol). I needed to let you know what the shirt read so that you can better understand my anger. My son was placed into a suspension room from early morning untill 3PM because some dirty minded teacher thought his shirt was obscene. They told him to take it off and turn it inside out and he refused because it is a basket ball shirt. Because he didn't do as they said, they placed him in an in-school suspension room. I am livid. My son was denied an education today. I don't know what to do about this and that is why I am writing to you. Please guide me in the right direction. This is the straw that broke the camel's back. My son asked what was indecent about his shirt and they said that they couldn't tell him. They said that years ago it meant something evil and that is all they would say. How dare they!

Anthony

Mon, 23 May 2005 16:19:21 -0500

Andrew has done more for education in new york city than betsy and Norman combined. Instead of a career of issuing reports, press releases and superfluous legal briefs, there are over 100,000 new york city public school students who have received computers, internet access or training in high tech hardware maintenance through the non-profit organization M.O.U.S.E, founded by Andrew Rasiej. Andrew's idea of bringing low cost wireless internet communications to all new yorkers will create jobs, end the digital democracy divide and modernize our subway systems to make them more efficient and safe. Just because no one had the guts to run campaigns unbeholden to big money interests doesn't mean it cant be done. Andrew is proving this.

Matthew

Sun, 22 May 2005 18:44:45 -0500

Accepting only small contributions does not a grassroots candidate make. Inspiring the people on the ground and in the grass is what earns one that title. Will Rasiej be able to mobilize petitioners to get him on the ballot without paying for it? Will he get votes all over the city, from communities that don't look to the web for solutions to their problems? Rasiej's innovation does not address housing issues, development, education, jobs, environment, transportation, etc. etc. But those cute buttons on his website must have Apple's people interested..

anthony

Fri, 20 May 2005 14:21:01 -0500

I don't know, it seems to be that Norman wants to continue as head of the NYCLU just with a new title: "public advocate." He has done good things, don't get me wrong, but he doesn't have any fresh ideas. Rasiej on the other hand, has record for helping new York's (through M.O.U.S.E. in education and the National Tech Corp) and has fresh ideas that will lead New York into the future. NYC is falling behind with innovation among the worlds largest city's. He's also a true grassroots candidate, and will not accept more then $100 from anyone. Thats very commendable.

bob denver

Fri, 20 May 2005 02:46:42 -0500

Call Charles Saatchi. He has deep pockets.

Elana

Fri, 20 May 2005 02:37:49 -0500

oh and to answer the other guy's questions about what election this is. Norman is running in the Democratic Primary Election which is on Sept. 13. In NYC we have close primaries which means you have to be a registered Democrat in order to vote. Whoever wins the Dem Primary wins the general election (the mayoral race is the one exception). So all NYC elections are the Democratic Primary Elections. If you recently moved to NYC its not too late to register to vote in time for the Dem Primaries. However, if you are already a NY voter but aren't in the Dem party you won't be able to vote in the Dem Primary till next year. you can still help out the campaign. Norm needs money and volunteers.

Elana

Fri, 20 May 2005 02:34:38 -0500

I don't see how being willing to defend the KKK makes one rigid in viewpoint. It is the perfect example of Voltaire's quote "I disagree with what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it". I honestly can't figure out why you think its rigid to say you support EVERYONE's right to free speech. Isn't that being open? Allowing different viewpoints to come out? Norman was the lawyer for the families of America's Disapeared (the arab american men who the government arrested after 9/11 without telling their families where they went, and with out getting them a lawyer). This is a man who fights for the rights of the truely disempowered. When Gottbaum sent new yorkers away claiming she couldn't help them, they always called Norm and Norm always came through. And what has Rasiej being doing to help anyone lately?

bob denver

Fri, 20 May 2005 01:38:34 -0500

For a start, norm seems proud to have defended the brooklyn museum's "sensation" exhibit. The exhibit was comprised of the personal art collection of an advertising executive who paid off the museum to display his wares and significantly inflate their value. I have no objection to the nature of the art itself and if the curator had decided to display the show for aesthetic reasons with no money changing hands that would be fine. norm believes this is a first amendment issue. advocating for the renting out of the tax funded museum to millionaire advertising executives isn't my idea of public advocacy. norm still seems to be holding baggage from past decades that skews his ideas and they come off a bit grandiose. Looking at the NYCLU I don't see them as being particularly strong on free speech issues, only on free speech they agree with. All in all, I think the office of public advocate is a bit of a farce anyway, but you go ahead and team up with norm. Maybe norm can set you up with some exhibit space at the museum. If the price is right.

Raphie

Fri, 20 May 2005 00:52:43 -0500

And I believe you misread my comments, Bob. Reasonable people can disagree and so I apologize if my comments come off as unduly cutting or caustic. But where you see an attempt to divide I see an attempt to unite by pointing out divisions so that those divisions might be overcome. Where you see a hardened mindset I see a liberating one. What you see in the use of art as an attempt to control I see as an attempt to empower. .. I can't speak for Siegel, though I suspect he would agree, but were I ever to advocate for Lenny Bruce's right to use salty language, it would not necessarily be because I like it, but because I support freedom of expression -- not just his, but yours and mine also. Heck, even Antonin Scalia, the most conservative member of the Supreme Court, once voted that flag burning is protected under the U.S Constitution. He came downstairs the next day for breakfast and had to suffer his wife humming "It's a Grand Old Flag." Anyway, Bob, seriously: if I'm continuing to misread your comments, please do clarify. It's not at all my intention. Best, Raphie

bob denver

Fri, 20 May 2005 00:10:32 -0500

yeah, o.k. raphie. you completely misread my comment. you and norm can advocate for lenny bruce's right to use salty language. oh, the drama.

Raphie

Thu, 19 May 2005 23:29:39 -0500

Some more folks blasphemizing art by tainting it with political innuendo... Vaclav Havel, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, Milan Kundera, Salman Rushdie, any of those crazy colonists dressed up like indians and raged out throwing that nutty Tea Party in Boston (talk about street theater!), anyone who ever spray painted anything on the Berlin Wall... the list goes on and on. Make sure you never vote for such as these should they turn up from beyond the grave or move to Gotham and run for New York City Public Advocate! Look, Bob, I'm not saying it's always a good thing when art and politics get mixed together -- just ask anyone who ever had to live in a Le Corbusier inspired housing project, was force fed Leni Riefenstahl's "Triumph of the Will" or had to go to school every day and stare at classroom hung portraits of Stalin, Saddam or Chairman Mao. My point is that the use of art as political tool is unavoidable and anything but "unusual" as you posit. Better in my opinion to keep that tool -- a very powerful one -- in the hands of the people than cede its power to those who would use it against them. And I promise you, those who would use art as propaganda to repress people will do so without even momentary pause to consider its moral ramifications.

Raphie

Thu, 19 May 2005 20:54:44 -0500

You know, I was looking at Rasiej and really digging the truly fresh ideas he had to offer: free trade zones in personal parking spaces throughout the city, city-wide low cost internet access for all those poor people out there with nary a place to connect their personal laptops, free shuttles between Carroll Gardens, Park Slope and Gowanus! Wow, I was thinking, who cares about such arcane and outmoded notions as the freedom to assemble, the "right" to not be arrested without due process, education used to bridge racial and ethnic sterotypes -- this guy Rasiej is a keeper with radical and fresh ideas that''ll revitalize Gotham! Then I looked at Rasiej's blog, and -- not sure here -- but he seemed to bethrowing his weight behind the following idea submitted to his campaign... "Team up with PunkVoter.com and start a tour aimed at the youth. This of course, without the glitz and glamour that was associated with Springsteen. This would mostly consist of “punk rock” bands. Work with Mike from Punkvoter.com to help mainstain and stress the importance of education, housing, equality, social justice, the environment, etc." ... and I realized, oh man, nice little post modern twist to art as tool for social change, but at heart this guy is just another luddite stuck back in the 70's! More and more I'm thinking that potted plant has got my vote.

bob denver

Thu, 19 May 2005 18:01:56 -0500

o.k. Bassik - yeah, this Rasiej seems alright. I'd rather vote for him. Norm seems to just want to advocate for people that adhere to his own narrow mindset.

voter weighing options

Thu, 19 May 2005 15:57:25 -0500

Seems like this guy has done more as an unelected public advocate than the actual elected one has.

Raphie

Thu, 19 May 2005 15:56:29 -0500

If protecting first amendment rights, fighting to dissuade the police from exercising excessive and illegal force, advocating use of public domain for PUBLIC not private use, etc. etc.... wow, bob, you've certainly nailed Siegel on those concrete, hardened 1970's views he brings to the table. Would that we could all be so "hardened." And what could be more absurd than trying to use the arts to comment upon society, to persuade people or effect positive change? Much better to just put your potted plant on the wall inside a frame and call it "art". Meantime, I'll have to see who else is running as well, but I can think of much worse than having a public advocate committed to actually advocating for the public.

jacob

Thu, 19 May 2005 15:45:36 -0500

wow, what a thorough interview! I am going to vote for him! But, is he in the primary? general election? What is his party affiliation? This is not clear in the interview.

Michael Bassik

Thu, 19 May 2005 14:13:20 -0500

Bob, one of the other candidates running -- and the one I support and work for -- is Andrew Rasiej. He was recently interviewed by Gothamist, as well. Check it out the interview here.

bob denver

Thu, 19 May 2005 12:29:43 -0500

From reading the article is appears that Siegel's opinions are as hardened as concrete in a 1970's style mindset where any issue is seen through a prism of division whether it's ethnic or political. I also found his opinion of the arts unusual. He seems to think that the arts are simply a tool for social engineering. I'll wait to see who he's running against, but after reading this I'd rather vote for a potted plant.