October General Meeting Recap

Current NYS Assemblymember and candidate for NYS Senate Grace Lee briefed us on the legislative status of bills that passed in the last session and are waiting for the Governor’s signature, and previewed bills that she is working on for the 2027 session. In particular, we discussed pending legislation to address the allegations of rape at Cornell.

Democratic candidate for NYS Assembly Illapa Sairitupac outlined his legislative priorities if he is elected to fill the seat next month (as expected), including expanding the supply of affordable housing statewide and strengthening protections against local and state law enforcement collaboration with ICE.

District Leader Joe Gordon reviewed the role of DL within the Manhattan Democratic Party and the community. Joe recently went through poll worker training so that he can advocate for poll workers with the Board of Elections and help ensure that poll sites are running smoothly in the neighborhood on Election Day.

Democratic State Committee Member Fannie Ip recapped the proceedings from her first State Committee meeting in September. Even though Fannie supported and voted for Caitlin Ogden from Otsego County for the role of Party Chair, Jay Jacobs won re-election by a large majority.

Brady Rice and Meghan Joye from the Lower East Side Partnership solicited input on the potential expansion of the LES Business Improvement District. The first step is a survey open to anyone who lives in, works in, owns property in, owns a business in, or just visits the lower east side. Take the survey!