An Open Letter to the New York City Board of Elections

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

Comments

[OldPete]

Several weeks before the election I was at a New Yorker Festival event and lo and behold there was Tim Robbins (along with Susan Sarandon) working the Vote! booth. They just dropped in to encourage people to vote, talk about the issues, etc. My 22 year old daughter came away from her encounter with them impressed, invigorated and happy to be a new New Yorker.

How ironic that a few weeks later Tim Robbins would be one of those purged from the voter rolls!!

[trendier]

You go Tim!

[ladycubsfan]

Thank you for trying to keep them honest, Tim. I hope your letter makes its way around the world as well.

[IndependentMeans]

Love it, you go!!!

[mnhockeyfan]

Bravo ... Forget Oscar! I hereby nominate Tim Robbins for a Pulitzer for the quality of his writing. If he ever gives up on Hollywood, I think there's a career waiting as an editorial writer for one of those media elites we've heard so much about.

Only one tiny suggestion to Tim: I noted that on your list of people you copied the letter to, you did not mention Ms. Betty Williamson, the patriotic poll worker, or the judge who issued your court order. I'm sure they would appreciate receiving a copy ... just as a thank you for simply doing their job.

I can't wait until your mayoral race ... maybe they'll have moved you uptown by then!!!

[mlaiuppa]

I second!

[Jaxy]

Excellent use of sarcasm and irony, Tim! I foresee literary fame and acclaim in your future ...

[Chumleysmom]

Snark with style. Great letter,Tim.

How malicious and mean spirited for Soumas to publicize Robbins' personal data. IF he keeps his job (but why WOULD he?), Soumas should be denied access to ANYONE's personal information. FOREVER.

[CVN65]

Sort of like when Ken Bacon publicly released Linda Tripp's personal Federal work file, an illegal act that went unpunished.

[YellowDog4Ever]

Mr. Robbins, your letter was classic indeed! Hooray for you. I love it when, someone such as yourself, can point out the utter incompetence of some nimrod with such eloquent sarcasm -- and only sarcasm could get the point across so eloquently! well done!!!

[Dave-O]

This is why Tim Robbins is one of my favorite actors. He's is not only great on screen but he's a man of principle and is not afraid to take a stand. I think that this bureaucratic bonehead was totally out of line if he in fact posted the personal information on the internet. I hope that Robbins sues his vindictive little bureaucratic ass. Go for it Tim...

[llstudent]

This is an outrage for these election officials to do this-publish his home address and drivers liscense, he should go after this guy legally somehow. You go Tim.

[demfriend]

Did not care for the way this was handled. Too many celeb are stalked and people actually try to hurt them so it wasn't wise to broadcast anyones address and it was in Tim Robbins favor he didn't put up with it and if he had printed the address for the homes of the various people included on his list we could have all thanked them too. It's amazing what printing anyones address can lead. Just ask the celebs who go to court when they are stalked and scared out of their minds for their kids. Yep even those trying to make a cause by someone calling attention to a celebs address can share in the fellings when they get masses of mail teling them we all know where they live too.

[RaisingAwareness]

Lol, Oh that was classic!

[gallery]

Absolutely perfect Tim.

[gbht12]

Good for you Tim. If only more people stood up for themselves , this would be a better world.

[htd2009]

Brilliant. The letter lilts along like a handkerchief in the wind and ends like a boxing glove that's pushed by a freight train.

[haramagoti]

Don't sugar coat it, Tim, tell him how yoo really feel.