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Grand Street Democrats

  • Caroline Laskow announces decision to not seek re-election in 2025

    Dear Grand Street Dems and friends,

    The next election cycle is already upon us and after 8 years as District Leader, I will not be running for re-election when my 4th term ends in 2025.

    Co-founding Grand Street Democrats and earning your support has been a profound honor. There is so much we have accomplished together, so much more still to do, and so much talent, energy, creativity, kindness and brilliance in our community.

    I look forward to continuing to work with you to increase our political engagement and activism, and to help the club grow even stronger. We will have the opportunity to endorse and elect a new District Leader – along with so many other positions, from Mayor on down – in the months ahead, so if anyone is interested in learning more, please get in touch!

    As I gear up for Hanukkah, as my family’s Latke-Fryer-in-Chief (Team Sour Cream, but applesauce is permitted) I wish you joyous and peaceful holidays in the days ahead.

    With my sincere gratitude,

    Caroline Laskow

  • Alvin Bragg for Manhattan District Attorney

  • Christopher Marte for City Council District 1

  • December Meeting Recap

    Grand Street Dems continued to hear from candidates for NYC 2025 — Jenifer Rajkumar for City Comptroller, Christopher Marte and Jess Coleman for City Council District 1, and Alvin Bragg for Manhattan District Attorney. (Elizabeth Lewinsohn, who recently announced her campaign for City Council District 1, was unable to accept our invitation.)

    We were also joined by our State Sen. Brian Kavanagh for an Albany legislative update.

    Following remarks and questions, GSD members met to discuss the races for City Council and D.A., and voted to endorse Christopher Marte and Alvin Bragg for re-election.

  • Join us for our 2025 Winter Party — January 23 at Donnybrook

    GSD Winter Party 2025
    Thursday, January 23, 2025
    6:30 – 8:30 pm
    Donnybrook
    35 Clinton Street

    Celebrate the new year with Grand Street Dems! All sponsors will be acknowledged, and all tickets include a free drink.

    Please RSVP through Paypal:

  • December Meeting — Candidate Forum and Endorsement Vote

    Join us monthly for a series of candidate forums for upcoming New York City primary races.

    On Wednesday, December 18th, we will hear from:

    • City Council D1 candidates Christopher Marte and Jess Coleman
    • Manhattan District Attorney candidate Alvin Bragg
    • NYC Comptroller candidate Jenifer Rakjumar

    Members with voting privileges will then vote for endorsements for City Council and District Attorney.

    Save the following dates for more candidate forums:

    • Tuesday, January 14th
    • Tuesday, February 11th

    We’ll also be joined by State Senator Brian Kavanagh for an update from Albany.

  • Annual Meeting Recap

    Annual Meeting

    We had a lively Annual Meeting with a number of special guests.

    Keith Powers

    Keith Powers joined us to discuss his tenure on the City Council and his 2025 campaign for Manhattan Borough President.

    Council member Justin Brannan from South Brooklyn is running city-wide in 2025 for New York City Comptroller.

    Justin Brannan
    Dan Goldman

    Rep. Dan Goldman joined us remotely from D.C. to discuss the considerable challenges facing Democrats in the upcoming administration.

    Assembly member Grace Lee invited us to volunteer on Saturday to distribute Thanksgiving turkeys to low-income families in the neighborhood.

    Grace Lee

    The club also elected new officers and passed an amendment to the bylaws to include on our executive committee a member of the Democratic State Committee if they are a voting member of GSD.

  • Proposed bylaws amendment — addition to Executive Committee

    Update: This amendment passed by a vote of members on 11/18/24.

    At our 11/18/24 Annual Meeting, voting members will be asked to approve a change to our bylaws that would make a member of the Democratic State Committee who is also a member of Grand Street Dems with voting privileges ex officio a member of GSD’s Executive Committee.

    From the start of the club, we have had the same accommodation for District Leaders. This is the first time we have had a State Committee member who is also a member of the club, so members of the Executive Committee proposed to extend that rule.

    Below is the section of the bylaws in question, with the proposed amendment highlighted:

    Article 6, Section 1

    Membership in the Executive Committee shall consist of the Officers and current District Leaders and State Committee members who are members of this Club with voting privileges.

  • 🍗 Turkey Drive 2024

    Vision Urbana Turkey Drive
    Saturday, November 23, 10:00 am
    65 Norfolk Street

    Join Assembly member Grace Lee, Congress member Dan Goldman, and City Council member Chris Marte for Vision Urbana‘s annual Turkey Drive.

    Volunteers of all ages are needed to bring 1,800 turkeys, chickens, and pernils to local public and subsidized housing residents.

    Grace Lee’s office is organizing volunteers: please call (646) 897-1741 to RSVP.

  • Annual Meeting — 11/18/24

    Annual Meeting
    November 18, 6:30 pm
    Seward Park Coop Community Room
    266 East Broadway

    Election for GSD officers (President, Vice President(s), Secretary, Treasurer, At-large) will be held. All members with voting privileges may stand for office. Votes must be cast in person or by proxy (any member may carry one proxy for a member with voting privileges with written authorization).

    Are you interested in running for office to help shape GSD’s 2025 agenda? Email president@grandstreetdems.nyc.

    We will also be joined by Coucilmembers Keith Powers and Justin Brennan as we turn our attention to city-wide primaries and elections in 2025.

    Rep. Dan Goldman, just re-elected for a second term to Congress, is expected to join us virtually.