OpEdNews » Tim Robbins: An Open Letter to the New York City Board of Elections

November 19, 2008 at 11:36:43

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Tim Robbins: An Open Letter to the New York City Board of Elections

by Tim Robbins Page 1 of 1 page(s)

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Mr. Gregory C. Soumas
Board of Elections in the City of New York
Executive Office
32 Broadway
New York, NY 10004-1609

November 17, 2008

Dear Mr. Soumas:

I would like to publicly apologize for being such a dim-witted dilettante on Election Day. I was under the naïve assumption that I could vote where I voted in the last two elections. Your thoughtful letter pointed out that if I had voted in the recent primary election in September I would have discovered that I was no longer registered in the polling place I have voted in since 2004. Considering your position at the Board of Elections and your deep respect for the democratic process I must assume that my local 14th St. poll worker, Betty J. Williamson's assertion that my name was on the active voter rolls for the primary in September of this year was erroneous and that she must be as confused and wrongheaded as I am. If Ms. Williamson saw my name in the book in September that would mean that you are lying. Certainly you wouldn't lie about a thing like that. That is unbecoming of a man of your bureaucratic stature. And why would anyone in the Board of Elections be eliminating legitimate voters from the rolls in late September and October of 2008? That's just crazy and un-democratic.

I should also apologize for the misguided actions of Justice Paul G. Feinman in issuing a court order on Election Day allowing me to vote on 14th St. He apparently thought that a printed out record from your own Board of Elections computer verifying my polling place as 14th St was justification for issuing the court order. If he had only thought to contact you, you could have helped him understand the logic and wisdom of eliminating my name from the book on 14th St. where I have always voted and leaving my name registered at a place I have never voted.

I must also thank you for sending your letter not to me but to all the major newspapers in the New York area and across the internet. I understand it was your way of clearing up this matter and for that I am grateful. I am particularly appreciative of your sending a copy of my voter registration card with my home address and driver's license number to all the newspapers and, by extension, to millions across the internet. What celebrity dilettante wouldn't want his private information made public? What kind of snob gets angry that his family's safety might be compromised? It comes with the territory, right?

I was thinking of returning that favor by publishing your home address in this letter but then I thought that maybe one of the thousands of New Yorkers that were taken off the voter rolls in the last two months might not understand what a patriotic upstanding man you are and might show up at your doorstep with the misguided assumption that you are a petty vindictive corrupt scumbag.

Tim Robbins
New Yorker since 1961
Voter since 1976

P.S. If anyone reading this letter had a similar experience on Election Day it can and should be reported at 866ourvote.org.

cc:
Commissioners of Elections
Marcus Cederqvist, Executive Director
George Gonzalez, Deputy Executive Director
Pamela Perkins, Administrative Manager
Beth Fossella, Coordinator, Voter Registration
Steven H. Richman, General Counsel
Troy Johnson, Chief Clerk
Timothy Gay, Deputy Chief Clerk

Posted November 17, 2008 | 02:48 PM (EST)

Tim Robbins has a long list of notable film credits as an actor, his career highlighted by writing, producing, and directorial accomplishments. In 2003, Robbins starred in "Mystic River," for which he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting (more...)

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4 comments

vin agamenone

Robbins - dilitante ?

great letter. I heard of your trouble & realized it was S.O.P. of the right wing-nut party. keep fighting. Susan also deserves credit.

by vin agamenone (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 20 comments) on Wednesday, Nov 19, 2008 at 2:46:42 PM

(0+)

Caronome

Thank you Tim Robbins

It is disgusting and infuriating that Tim Robbins suffered this attack against him on election day. Lucky for him, he is brilliant and got to the bottom of the issue and was "allowed" to vote. We had just seen him on Bill Maher's show and he predicted that this kind of thing could happen and that we should all be alert to that. Maybe this schmuck saw that show and just wanted Tim's prediction came true. We obviously have to watch out for the legions of criminals in the country.

We are so glad that Tim Robbins and his partner, Susan Sarandon, are in the world. We love their work and wouldn't miss any performance of theirs. They are both special people and artists and also special citizens. But isn't it a pain in the ass that we have to fight for our rights in this corrupt society?

Fortunately, the good guys prevailed this time. Isn't that nice for a change?

by Caronome (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 327 comments [15 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, Nov 19, 2008 at 3:14:01 PM

(0+)

Larry Retzack

Elections ripoffs

I've long admired Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon as superb actors as well as individuals concerned with civic responsibility. I'm just happy that Tim had the presence of mind to nail these bureaucratic jerks with the right legal moves to make sure his vote counted. Keep up the good work, Tim!

by Larry Retzack (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 43 comments) on Wednesday, Nov 19, 2008 at 10:33:31 PM

(0+)