The Manhattan Young Democrats, an organization whose mission is to educate and inspire the youth of New York City towards political action, held a public advocate debate at Pace University on August 19, 2009. Public advocate candidates Norman Siegel, Bill de Blasio and Eric Gioia participated. Noticeably absent was candidate for public advocate Mark Green - the presumed favorite. "Mark didn't miss anything and neither did anyone who didn't bother to attend", stated one member of the audience.
The event was not well attended by the public (or the candidates for that matter). Republican candidate for public advocate Alex Zablocki was denied a seat at the event. Siegel expressed his disapproval of Zablocki's absence in his opening statement. The Manhattan Young Democrats initially refused to allow the attending candidates to hand out literature at the event - inside the discussion hall. Again, Siegel voiced his dismay at this nonsensical policy. Prior to the end of the debate, representatives from the Manhattan Young Democrats organization relented and reversed the "no handing out of literature" policy.
Several audience members complained about the "uncomfortably cold" temperature in the room where the debate took place. And to make things worse, the moderator was extremely soft spoken. "We can barely hear the questions", complained one debate goer. Between the soft spoken moderator, the freezing room temperature, a few microphone problems, the Alex Zablocki attendance denial and the initial refusal to allow the candidates to hand out literature, this debate could be described as one large debacle. In fact, the word "debacle" was used to describe this failed attempt to hold a political debate by the Manhattan Young Democrats. Better luck next time.
Comments
you're a joke of a reporter. get your facts straight and start writing real stories that matter. you're too lazy and angry and biased to report on anything substantive. journalism? you make a mockery out of it. time to move onto your next profession.
@thisistoofunny By the tone of your comment, it sounds like your the one who is angry. Next time, get some event planning advice and stop whining because your event was a joke. Talk about biased, your organization was TOO BIASED to extend an invitation to the Republican candidate. Also, sentences start with a capital letter. Learn to write!!
@RepublicansCountToo, if you're going to rip on someone, please figure out how to use "your" and "you're." I think you need to learn to write. Hold your comments if you can't use a simple word correctly.
Clearly, these nasty comments are being made by someone inside the Manhattan Young Democrats organization. As a 51 year old voter, I can say that these comments don't reflect well on your membership.
You call yourselves YOUNG and now you have definitely proven it. Adults take criticism and learn from it. Children attack the speaker. Forget about the event, this organization should be embarrassed just based on these childish comments.
Since I'm not a writer then maybe you can concentrate on the message.
Phyllis Stewart
Soho
Nobody disputed the article. Only the writer was personally attacked as "lazy". Lazy? Are you young DEMOCRATS?
You sound like VERY YOUNG REPUBLICANS (from Alabama). Let's face it, your comments have racial undertones.
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