Young Democrats’ Deliberations: The Case for Kamala Harris

by Isabella Crow

As a Black and Indian-American woman, Kamala Harris has accumulated many firsts: she was the first Black woman to be elected district attorney in California, the first female California attorney general, and the first Indian-American senator. And now she is the first woman of color to be selected as the Vice-Presidential candidate of a major party. 

Democratic Presidential Candidate Joe Biden’s decision to pick a Black woman as his VP likely was intended, at least in part, to soothe the frustration that many young voters feel about the inevitability of electing yet another old, white, and male, president. However, his selection arguably embodies the assumption that identity politics—i.e., that all marginalized people vote the same, and within their demographic—will be enough to secure him the non-white, female, and/or young electorate. However, some are keenly aware that the admittedly revolutionary nature of Harris’ candidacy can, and does, coexist with a flawed political history, fraught with carceral policy. Her prosecutorial background, and the controversial policies she enforced during that tenure, are admittedly off-putting to some progressive voters. However, while Harris may not be the left-wing vice-presidential pick many had hoped for, she has given us ample cause to remain optimistic. 

Kamala Harris has one of the most liberal voting records of the 2019 senate. She has also teamed up with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to cosponsor a groundbreaking climate equity bill and has condemned no-knock warrants and chokeholds while calling for a reimagining of public safety. By all accounts, she is a bright and compassionate person, and her progression along the political spectrum should be cause for excitement among young Democratic voters, rather than apprehension. Harris and Biden can usher in a brighter future for America, and it’s time we give them our full support.

Be a Poll Worker – Save Democracy And Get Paid for It

Election Inspectors Needed

The Orange County Board of Elections is currently seeking registered voters who wish to work as Election Inspectors—the poll workers who identify voters and help you cast your ballot. “We depend on the election workers to help us conduct fair and secure elections each year,” stated Deputy Commissioner Courtney Canfield Greene.

Any registered voter or any seventeen-year-old who pre-registers with the Orange County Board of Elections is eligible. A seventeen-year-old would be required to pre-register to vote, turn eighteen by the General Election and have their parent or guardian’s written permission to work election day. Election workers would be assigned to a polling location in their community or in a neighboring area if they are willing to travel.

Election Workers are compensated for their training and can earn $250 on Election Day. Training will be available in early fall and will accommodate any schedule. Learn more here, or call the Orange County Board of Elections at (845) 360-6515 for Democratic inquiries or email them: elections@orangecountygov.com.

The Young Democrats’ Point of View

by Isabella Crow

As America enters the final hundred days before the 2020 presidential election, the right to vote has become more tenuous than ever. Since Shelby County v. Holder gutted the 1965 Civil Rights Act in 2013, voter suppression tactics have proliferated across the nation, primarily sabotaging would-be Democratic voting blocs. Voter ID laws, registration restrictions, closing polling sites in historically blue districts, felony disenfranchisement, and egregious gerrymandering have all contributed to a voting system rigged in favor of the Republican Party that crushes marginalized dissent under its heel.

These concerns have been amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic. As common sense public health guidelines warn that in-person voting would be detrimental to the nation’s coronavirus response, Republicans are staging coordinated attacks on the solvency of the USPS—the only agency with the power to ensure free and fair balloting in the largest mail-in election in US history. In addition, millions of Americans are faced with an eviction crisis of historic proportions, threatened with not only the loss of safe and secure housing but their right to vote. Statistically, those most vulnerable to homelessness are more likely to be people of color, and to cast a blue ballot.

Voter suppression is the lynchpin of the Republican machine. They cling to it so staunchly because they know their power depends upon it. Assemblyman Colin Schmitt’s vocal opposition to the redrawing of gerrymandered district lines and the automatic voter registration bill stems from his fear that extending accessible enfranchisement to all New Yorkers will lead to his, and his party’s, electoral demise.

Cornwall Young Democrats: Black Lives Matter

The Cornwall Young Democrats have always unequivocally supported the Black members of our community in advocating for the Black Lives Matter movement. Now, we stand with those who have chosen to protest. Furthermore, in light of the recent murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and countless other black people at the hands of racist police, we are imploring our elected officials to do the same. 

 Over the past ten days, Democratic governors have by and large condemned and repressed the protests that have taken place, prioritizing property over people and peace over progress. While the ballot box has been touted as our most effective tool in pushing for systemic change, the cry of “vote blue no matter who” falls short in consideration of recent events. It is Democratic mayors and Democratic governors who have responded to peaceful protests with heavily militarized police and draconian curfews, and who have defended the excessive force executed indiscriminately by cops upon dissidents as necessary.

The Cornwall Young Democrats are hopeful when we see the choices that young people have made in light of the tragedies of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Botham Jean, Eric Garner, Philando Castile, Walter Scott, Tamir Rice, Michael Brown, Sandra Bland, Alton Sterling, Freddie Gray, Laquan McDonald, and countless others, and contend that if the party is to survive in any kind of relevance, its response to the Black Lives Matter movement can no longer be a rain of rubber bullets, nor a cloud of tear gas, but meaningful systematic change that protects and values the lives of black Americans.

Young Dems Step up to Tutor

Some of the Cornwall Young Democrats are involved in a project that is providing virtual tutoring to students K-12 in Duchess and Orange county while school is closed. Duchess-Orange Tutoring, or DOT, was started by Jess Wu and has been running for roughly a month now. More information can be found here, https://dotutoring.wixsite.com/dotutoring.

Today, the DOT administrative team got to speak to Congressman Antonio Delgado; this weekend they will be included in his local hero's spotlight.

If you know a K-12 student in need of tutoring, or a college or high school aged student who would like to become a tutor, please visit the site where you can sign up via google form. The team wants to reach as many kids as possible, so please help them get out the word!

Uncertainty Reigns for Young Voters

By Isabella Crow and Alex Raposo

In the wake of the recent Presidential primaries, Gen Z democrats have expressed “dissatisfaction,” “concern,” “worry,” and, most overwhelmingly, a lack of confidence in the apparent frontrunner of the Democratic party. Notably, however, they have not been turning out in electoral support of the progressive candidate, either, which begs the question: what will get young people to the polls, if it’s not electability, and it’s not idealism?

This feeling of confusion has been permeating the political atmosphere, especially since the global outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), recently declared pandemic by the WHO. It remains too early to tell if coronavirus will ultimately eclipse the election season entirely or whether, at this crucial turning point, it will unify the party into a decisive faction by November.

Young Democrats, what does Public Service mean to you?

Cornwall Young Democrats Max Brooks and Alexandra Raposo offered The Cornwall Democrat their reflections on public service.

 “The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a community as ‘a group of people living in the same place,’ but we, Cornwall Young Democrats, believe that it is much, much more. We do indeed live in the same place, but that also means that we shop at the same grocery stores, drive the same roads, and see the same sights. To service your community is to service a greater good - it is meant to benefit you, everyone you know, and everyone you have yet to cross paths with. “But communities go beyond towns and villages and municipalities; they traverse the nation. Service to the American public creates an even greater good, one that benefits you, those you’ve met, those you haven’t, those on the other side of the political divide, the less fortunate, the extremely fortunate, the young, the old, and everyone in between.” 

The Future of the Cornwall Young Dems

By Jessica Wu

As my fellow high school seniors and I are frighteningly aware, we will be graduating in a few short weeks and pretty soon going away to college— leaving Cornwall to invest in relationships and projects in other communities. It is a bittersweet thing.

The good news is that we will still be young, and we will still be Democrats. Moreover, Cornwall will still be our home, the place which has shaped us into who we are today. And Cornwall will continue to influence who we become in the future. The politics of this town will always matter to us, as we reflect on who we are at our roots.

Before we all head off in August, we still have plans to recruit, anticipating hosting a “friendraiser.” We also want to work on creating presentations on climate change and the urgency of local environmental initiatives to present to the Village Board. These are our two concrete goals for the summer as school wraps up. And fear not— we will be back during breaks, armed with the knowledge we’ve learned from college to contribute to the Cornwall Young Dems. This year’s upcoming fall election season and the 2020 elections both promise opportunities for young political activism, where many of us first discovered our interest in politics.

The other good news is that the Cornwall Young Dems is already certain to be left in the mighty hands of two rising juniors who, in my humble opinion, show passion, leadership, and — perhaps most importantly for the continued existence of this group — dedication that will undoubtedly broaden the impact and reach of the CYD.

Editor’s Note: The CDC wishes Jessica all the best as she graduates at the top of the CCHS class of 2019.

Fighting for the Future

A young person writes about political engagement and backlash—but won’t back down.

(via @_jennachad_ on Twitter)

Cornwall High School Seniors: Apply for the Cornwall Dems Scholarship

Apply today for $500 toward college expenses for one applicant who demonstrates drive “to foster and advance the goals and ideals of our American democratic society through education and community involvement.”

Progressivism vs. Centrism

By Jessica Wu

The beginning of 2019 has already seen a number of Democrats officially put themselves in the race for 2020, with many more giving indications that they too plan to throw in their hats. Democrats are campaigning with several important issues on the line: universal healthcare, staggering personal and national debt, the opioid crisis, and zero hour of the climate change battle. The question becomes how each candidate will address each issue, or, rather, how voters will decide they want these issues to be resolved. It is very clearly going to be a race between progressivism and centrism. Some, like Amy Klobuchar, promise a moderate plan of leadership, whereas progressive candidates like Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren have declared they will demand rather drastic change, now.

Even within progressives, there are new and old faces. Sanders was really the one who led and popularized the conversation on single-payer healthcare back in 2016, but four years later, perhaps it is time for slightly younger faces like Warren and Harris to take over the movement. All things considered, maybe Democratic voters will decide that universal government programs for healthcare or education aren’t conducive to the national debt that just broke $22 trillion, and that things like Medicare-for-more might be a safer option.

The way the vote swings will say a lot: are we ready for a revolution, or are we desperate to get back to a sense of stability, even if it means remaining stagnant? Regardless, a lot is at stake, and all the 2020 candidates know this.

The Young Democrats Space

By Michael Kochler

This month’s column was not written by one of the Cornwall Young Democrats due to scheduling problems (the result of a late deadline by this publication’s editor) but by this publication’s editor. 

I have the pleasure, indeed honor, to be a liason and mentor for this group of amazing young ladies and men. Together they are educating and organizing their fellows. They are in fact the future of our community – and the communities they will spend time in - as they take their place among the leaders of society.

Galvanized by the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida and the March for Our Lives a number of students organized an event at Cornwall Central High School. This led to the formation of the Cornwall young Democrats.

The Cornwall young Democrats have identified the following goals: Advocating for affordable education and equal access to a quality education for all; Bringing an end to gun violence; Protecting the future of the environment; Raising awareness among their peers; Educating their peers about the electoral process; Protecting and expanding women's rights; and Promoting active participation in the political process at all levels. 

I for one feel heartened by their involvement.

Thanks to Jessica Wu and Katie Skoog for their contributions to this month’s column.

The Campaign for Our Future

By Jessica Wu

The beginning of this month saw what was one of the most exciting midterm elections in a very long time— certain the most exciting I’ve seen thus far in my own lifetime. Though the results of the election were not unanimously thrilling, there were absolutely several things to celebrate. To name a couple, it was incredibly motivating to see Skoufis, the first candidate I’ve ever campaigned for, emerge victorious against a block vote and Delgado take Faso’s seat.

Beyond these local victories, however, there was undeniably a national ripple across the demographic most personal to me: youth. Thirty-one percent of the youth base turned out to vote, up ten points from the 2014 midterms. Granted, we clearly still have a long way to go, but this change deserves adequate recognition.

These midterms were different for us. College campuses pushed voter registration like never before, and social media enabled us to access news at the tap of a button (for better or worse). This time around, we’ve got skin in the game. We haven’t forgotten the critical movement that followed after Parkland, the ongoing fight for LGBTQ+, gender, and racial equality, and, of course, the erratic man in the White House who’s still got two more years there. It’s our future that’s being shaped right now, and it only makes sense that we have a say in it.

Someone suggested to me last week that perhaps the apathy of youth is justified; we don’t have the lobbying power of corporate adults. Why would politicians prioritize our needs over theirs? It’s hard to argue with that. But Millennials are projected to surpass the Baby Boomers as the largest living adult generation by next year, with Gen X not too far behind— which means we have power at the polls, if we so choose. The harnessing of that undeniably begins in places like the Cornwall Young Democrats. 

We’ve got another upper hand too: passion. Coming of age during a political era that is so divided and new is admittedly scary, but in all truth, it is fire that drives fire. It is passion that drives passion, something I’ve experienced firsthand. We can keep the momentum driving ever-forward, but only if we’re willing to step up and turn those passions into action.

September 2018: The Wave We’ve Been Waiting For

By Callie Noland

At most democratic fundraisers, events, and, let’s face it, elections, young people are worryingly scarce. But no longer- The Young Democrats of Cornwall are here, and we plan to take President Obama’s advice to “show up, dive in, and stay at it.”

We will be meeting regularly to discuss ways that young people in Cornwall can learn about our systems of government, engage with our representatives, organize around issues that matter to us, and support candidates who will carry our interests forward.

Our group will focus on empowerment through engagement. We will create an environment where people can come to learn, and to find out what can be done- whether that be writing letters to representatives, creating a petition, organizing an event, or volunteering.

Get ready folks. The Youth are coming.