Anthony R. Gaeta Democratic Club of S.I.
40 Holden Blvd.
New Look, More Content, YOUR Newsletter
In case you did not pick up on it right
off the bat, the newsletter looks
radically different. Thanks to a little help
from Microsoft Word we have been
able to revamp the entire newsletter to
give you more input, and content. In
this edition we have information on the
Census numbers, a look at our
upcoming dinner, news about the
website, upcoming events and more.
Our aim is to make this monthly
newsletter the best in the party and a
must-read for all our activists. Of
course it can only be as good as the
content within. For that reason we
would love to have member articles,
facts and trivia. To contribute simply
contact Kevin Elkins
A few mistakes were deliberately added in. See if you can find them!
Gaeta Newsletter ● April 2011
Staten Island, NY 10314
John Sollazzo, President
Meeting Details
On Monday April 11t, 2011
The Gaeta Club will hold its
monthly meeting at the
Manor House, located at
917 Manor Road, Staten
Island NY.
• April 10th: South Shore
Democratic Fashion Show.
Tickets are $55, contact
Rosemarie Cavanagh to
purchase tickets.
• April 14th: North Shore
Democratic Club 50th Dinner.
His contact information can be found Tickets are $85 per perso.
below. Your feedback on the new look Make checks payable to:
of the newsletter is also a much sought
North Shore Democratic Club
after commodity. So good or bad
Mail to: P.O. Box
please share with the executive board
140065, Staten Island,
so we can continue to improve this
unique feature of our organization. NY 10314. Please respond on
or before April 8, 2011.
We can’t wait to see you at the next
meeting!
• April 28th: 1st Annual “Yellow
Roses and Lemons Bals” to
benefit CURE. Honorees
include Sen. Diane Savino &
Mac O’Callahan. For more
information contact Carmen
Rivera at 917-292-7678.
“There are those
who look at the way
things are and ask
why? I dream of
things that never
were and ask why
not.” ~Robert
Kennedy
● Editor-in-Chief Kevin Elkins ● (646) 319-4797 / kevinelkinz@yahoo.com

Last year’s Co-chairs with President John
Sollazzo. From left to right: Dominick
DeRubbio, Samantha Giordano, John
Sollazzo, and Kevin Elkins
Date for Awards Dinner Set, Expectations Are High
On Thursday, June 23rd we will be holding The dinner also features an extensive
our 6th annual awards dinner and its committee of people dedicating to
making the evening a stunning
promising to be one of the most exciting
success. Rosemarie Cavanagh, Paul
and successful yet. Two of the party’s
Cinquemani and Priscilla Marco are
brightest prospects, Mark Murphy and
the dinner journal chairs.
Jessica Scarcella will be serving as the
dinner co-chairs. Dominick DeRubbio, Samantha
There is also an impressive list of honorees, Giordano, JoAnn Mardikos and
Matthew Signorile are also serving
detailed below:
on the dinner committee.
Democrat of The Year: Kevin Elkins
Labor Award: Vincent Polimeni
Business Award: Bill Fanning, Met Foods
Community Service Award: Keith Cummings
Humanitarian Award: Dr. Vincent Calamia

House Republicans Betting on Amnesia

By St. Jermaine Endeley
The House Republican agenda, supported by Rep. Michael Grimm, is the main
barrier slowing our economic recovery. Republicans now control half of Congress Have your own opinion on the
and no significant legislation can pass without their blessing. It is hard for them to issues of our day? Send it the
continue being the “party of no”. They can no longer claim to be left out of the
editors and we’ll publish it for
process, they can no longer blame Democrats for big government, and they
can no longer sit on their hands while President Obama and Democrats try to everyone to read!
jumpstart a recovery.

Instead of fixing the economy, like they promised to do, they have used their
control of the house to advance a radical social agenda that is supported by
the most extreme elements on the right. They’ve tried to redefine rape, and limit
women’s access to reproductive health services just to get started.

Republicans also are looking to cut education and investments that are key to
our economic recovery. Rep. Grimm says his goal is to reduce spending and cut
the deficit but he has done the exact opposite.

Rep. Grimm and House Republicans are simply being irresponsible. They
campaigned on cutting spending and reducing the deficit; they have done
neither. They campaigned on jobs yet have blocked every major jobs proposal
offered by President Obama. They claim to want to end wasteful spending but
do not want to cut defense spending or subsidies to big oil, their largest political
donors. They have allowed the extreme elements of the Tea Party to dictate their
agenda and are wasting taxpayer dollars to advance a radical social agenda
that hurts women, seniors, children, and students.

They are counting on voter amnesia. They are betting we will forget their
promises and not hold them accountable. It’s up to us, as Democrats, to hold
their feet to the fire- starting with Rep. Grimm. I hope everyone understands what
is at stake. The America we want for our children and grandchildren will not
happen unless we act now to make it a reality. We have got to tell Rep. Grimm
to get on board or out of the way. We cannot afford to gamble our future while
Rep. Grimm plays political games trying to defeat President Obama. Together,
lets show Rep. Grimm and the Tea Party that we can take a stand too.
Page 2 Gaeta Newsletter ● April 2011 ● Editor-in-Chief Kevin Elkins ● (646) 319-4797 / kevinelkinz@yahoo.com
 Two Rising Stars Elected to Young Dems Executive Board
Quick Facts: The Census

District Pop. Pop. .On March 31st the Young Democrats of

2011 2000 Richmond County held a special Have you liked us on Facebook yet?
election for two vacancies on their
13th CD 686,525 654,360 executive board. St. Jermaine Endeley,
Find us at “Gaeta Club”
and Andrew Savage were both elected Get important news and updates
23rd SD 332,657 311,259
unanimously. The Gaeta Club extends its
24TH SD 320,917 311,258 congratulations to these two rising stars.
while helping us to expand our
We know these two individuals will help online presence.
60th AD 126,132 121,213
the club become a strong, positive force
61st AD 130,360 121,214 for the Democratic Party.

62nd AD 127,763 121,213

63rd AD 125,373 121,214

This information was provided

by NYPIRG’s analysis of the
2010 New York Census data.
To see more districts check out
NYPIRG’s press release which
featured a detailed
breakdown of the results.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/5
1481683/NYPIRG-Census-
Release
Previous Meeting Recap
Last month’s meeting (pictured right)
saw an extremely informative
presentation on gun control legislation
currently in the halls of congress. Phil
Jonas was the speaker and spoke on
gun issues, especially after the Tuscon
shooting. He exhorted all club members
to call their federal representatives and
urge them to sign on the bill put forth by
Rep. McCarthy. Mark Muphy was also
recognized for his dedication to the
Democratic Party.

The Next Year and A Half

Following the 2010 elections
we are operating in a new
political reality here in Staten
Island. Unfortunately, we saw
the defeat of our
Congressman, and the loss
of the 60th Assembly District.
However, unlike years
previous we have resolved
not to engage in the typical
circular firing squads that
have accompanied Democr
atic defeats in the past.
Instead, we are moving
forward and doing so
aggressively. Over the next
two years we will be
launching dozens
of initiatives to lay the
groundwork for a stronger
Democratic Party here on
Staten Island. Even though
we have benefited
tremendously from our local
leadership, winning the
tough battles ahead will
require a lot of hard work
and dedication, something
each of us has the capacity
to supply.
For the next two years, the
Anthony R. Gaeta Club will
be at the forefront of every
battle. Yet, we will also play
a huge role in laying the
essential groundwork for the
triumphs ahead. Voter
registration, holding our
elected officials
accountable, engaging in
civic activism, and fighting
for the causes that burn
within our hearts will be only
a few of the actions we
undertake over the next two
years. But, we cannot do it
alone. We need each and
every Democrat, especially
those that are members of
this club to perform some of
the inglorious grunt work
such as phone calls,
canvassing, attending
demonstrations and rallies.
We also need your ideas. No
one person has a monopoly
on the path forward. We
have been soliciting ideas for
several months now, but
there is no deadline and we
never intend to stop doing
so.
It's important to state
however, our
political initiatives play but,
one small part in the Gaeta
Club's mission. Without a
doubt, any group dedicated
to political or civic activism
must also play a constructive
role in improving the
community.
We look forward to your
involvement, because
without it the victories of the
future are just figments of our
imagination. With your hard
work, dedication, and
energy however, they will
become a reality.
-The Gaeta Club Executive
Board

Page 3 Gaeta Newsletter ● April 2011 ● Editor-in-Chief Kevin Elkins ● (646) 319-4797 / kevinelkinz@yahoo.com
Executive Board Pictures From Last Meeting
PRESIDENT
John N. Sollazzo

VICE PRES.
Paul L. Cinquemani

REC.SECRETARY
Joanne Mardikos

CORRESPONDENCE
SECRETARY &
NEWSLETTER EDITOR
Kevin Elkins

TREASURER
Dominick DeRubbio

SGT. AT ARMS
Al Albanese
St. Jermaine Endeley

Page 2

Page 4 Gaeta Newsletter ● April 2011 ● Editor-in-Chief Kevin Elkins ● (646) 319-4797 / kevinelkinz@yahoo.com