The New York State Working Families Party is not a true political
party. Its members do not control the party; rather, the Working
Families Party is actually run by the Working Families
Organization, a shadow group set up when the party was formed.
In order to be a member of the Working Families Party, one must
register in the party. In order to be a member of the Working
Families Organization, one must merely pay dues. Thus, paying
non-registrants of the Working Families Organization are part of
the Working Families hierarchy that controls the Working Families
Party. The State Committee of the Working Families Party has been
rendered irrelevant as the State Working Families Organization
makes all decisions which are then endorsed by the Working Families
Party State Executive Committee. Great confusion exists as to the
difference between Party and Organization and party members have
been barred from meetings and even conventions while paying
non-registrants are admitted and permitted to make policy
decisions. The Working Families Organization, not the Working
Families Party, screens candidates and makes endorsements.
Dan Cantor and the state party leadership have spent years
attempting to prevent legitimate control by party registrants. In
Suffolk County, party registrants formed a county committee, the
only constituted Working Families committee in the state. Cantor
and the party tri-chairs have repeatedly sued to prevent the
Suffolk County committee from exercising its Wilson-Pakula rights.
The Suffolk County committee has always prevailed. The current suit
is before the New York State Court of Appeals.
Comment statistics for Ilsa Beaulac on the Making Light blog
The most recent 20 comments posted to Making Light by Ilsa Beaulac:
Show all comments by Ilsa Beaulac.