[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 55 (Monday, May 8, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E665]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         IN HONOR OF THE LEXINGTON DEMOCRATIC CLUB OF MANHATTAN

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 8, 2000

  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay special 
tribute to the Lexington Democratic Club, a very special and important 
democratic organization in the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Over the 
fifty-one years of the club's existence, Mr. Speaker, the members of 
the Lexington Democratic Club have forged a more democratic, more 
inclusive form of civic participation in New York City.
  The ``Lex Club'' was the first Reform Club in Manhattan. Driven by 
the belief that openness and public deliberation are the key 
ingredients for a healthy democracy, the Lexington Democratic Club 
blazed a trail for opponents of top- down, closed-door decision making 
in the political process. Decisions at the Club are made at open 
meetings of the membership and patronage positions have been replaced 
with merit-based nomination systems.
  Furthermore, Mr. Speaker, the Lexington Democratic Club led the way 
in reforming the system for judicial appointments in New York. The Club 
spearheaded the creation of a system where independent experts screen 
applicants and recommend three candidates to the club for every open 
judicial seat. The Club then endorses a final candidate through open 
meetings.
  The Lexington Democratic Club has been graced with dynamic leaders 
since its inception. Jack Baltzell and Alice Sachs were the very first 
Reform District Leaders in the city and they helped make the reform 
movement a major political force in New York.
  Ken Mills, the current President of the Lex Club, has increased 
membership in the club, tripled its financial resources, and managed 
the club's monthly newsletter. More importantly, Mr. Mills has led the 
club's major civic efforts--including the successful election of 
candidates and the mobilization of major tenant protests against plans 
to abolish the city's rent control laws. In short, Ken Mills, aided by 
Niki Stern, the club's Executive Vice President, and all the club's 
members, has revitalized the Lex Club and returned it to its place as 
one of the most prestigious civic organizations in the city.
  Mr. Speaker, I salute the Lexington Democratic Club of Manhattan and 
I ask my fellow Members of Congress to join me in recognizing the great 
contributions of the club's membership to the New York community and to 
our democracy.

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