At our next regular meeting we will:

• Discuss and vote on endorsements for NYS Assembly and NYS Senate elections.
• Nominate and select delegates to the NYS Democratic judicial convention.
• Discuss and vote on resolutions regarding the MTA’s current contingency plan for the L Train shutdown.

The meeting is open to the public. Only members with voting privileges* will be allowed to vote on endorsements and resolutions. (Members with voting privileges who cannot make the meeting may designate in writing any other member to vote on their behalf.)

* A member has voting privileges if they meet the following conditions:

1. is a registered Democrat;
2. has been a member for at least 90 days;
3. has completed a participation requirement as defined by the Executive Committee.

If you are unsure if you meet these requirements, please email hello@grandstreetdems.nyc.

If Democrats have any hope of gaining control of the New York State Senate this year — gaining an upper hand on progressive priorities like expanding voting rights, campaign finance reform, promoting reproductive justice, affordable housing, criminal justice reform, and gun control — then we have to win the April 24 special election in lower Westchester.

Volunteer with GSD President Jeremy Sherber in Westchester on Sunday, April 15 to canvass for Shelley Mayer. This will be classic campaign door-knocking: after a brief orientation, volunteers will be sent out in pairs with a list of target voters. (If you’ve never done this before, you’ll get the hang of it pretty quickly.)

Actor and public education advocate Cynthia Nixon is challenging Andrew Cuomo for Governor of New York this year. Grand Street Democrats has not yet had a chance to make an endorsement in this important race, but two GSD members in Seward Park are opening their home for a fundraiser and meet & greet for candidate Nixon this month. If you want to get a head start on understanding the issues and personalities that will dominate this year’s NYS political news, consider coming by.

Thursday, April 12
6:30 – 8:00 pm
at the home of Ella & Brett Leitner
417 Grand Street, Apt. D1704

RSVP and donate on ActBlue.

Grand Street Democrats made it to rallies in NYC and Washington, DC on Saturday. District Leader Caroline Laskow and her family and GSD President Jeremy Sherber and his family joined other members and neighbors on a bus to Washington. GSD Treasurer Daria Segalini with her family lead locals uptown to join the NYC rally.

Grand St Dems out in force at the #MarchForOurLives in DC & NYC! Inspired by the #Parkland Students, their allies & our students— together we can make change & #commonsensegunlaws a reality. #GSDMarches

A post shared by Grand Street Democrats (@grandstreetdems) on Mar 24, 2018 at 2:49pm PDT

America, finally, is at a turning point. Large majorities of us favor common-sense gun safety legislation, yet Washington has ignored even the most reasonable regulations because of the outsized influence of the NRA. Now there is a growing movement, inspired and led by the survivors of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, strong enough to take on the NRA.

Join that movement on March 24 for the March for Our Lives rally in Washington, DC. Sign up below for a spot on the Grand Street bus. Space is limited, cost is $50 per seat. (And thank you to East River cooperator Cynthia Pappas for chartering the bus and letting us team up.)

Let’s celebrate the 1-year anniversary of the start of Grand Street Democrats’ campaign to bring progressive, active, local politics back to the neighborhood! Join us Monday night for a drink at Lucky Jack’s and try your hand at our Civics Trivia Quiz.

No cover. Cash bar. $10 quiz entry. Kitschy prizes for the trivia-est in the neighborhood. See you there!

Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, who represents NY Congressional District 12, is being challenged this year by a first-time candidate, Suraj Patel. We will have a chance this Thursday to hear from both candidates, ask them questions, and then decide whom to endorse for the Democratic primary on June 26.

Please show up at 6:45 pm so we can get started with the first candidate promptly at 7:00 pm. (The meeting is open to everyone, but only GSD members with voting privileges will be allowed to vote on our endorsement.)

7:00 pm — Suraj Patel
Patel is an alumni of Obama campaigns in 2008 and 2012, president of his family’s hospitality company, and a lecturer at NYU’s business school.
Website: surajpatel.nyc

Sister District is a national organization created out of the ashes of the 2016 presidential election. Its goal is to harness Democratic energy from deep blue districts like ours to help get out the vote in truly swing districts around the country. Focused especially on state legislative races (which will help determine new congressional districts after the 2020 census), Sister District helped with the tremendous successes in Virginia in 2017, and now is resetting targets for 2018.

First up is a special election for Florida State House in February, where Democrat Margaret Good is hoping to flip this Sarasota District.

 

Grand Street Dems launches its 2018 partnership with Sister District with this phone bank for Margaret Good on February 12. Help us make calls and participate in this year’s Democratic #BlueWave across the country.

Our next regular meeting will kick off with a report from our state representatives, Assemblymember Yuh-Line Niou and State Senator Brian Kavanagh. They will be reporting, and taking your questions on, the 2018 legislative session and budget process.

Immediately following the Albany Report, GSD will hold its first regular meeting of the year.

Thanks @yuhline_niou @briankavanaghny & the great crowd of @grandstreetdems that came to hear their Albany Report and club updates! Next up: Phone Banking on 2/12 for @goodforflorida with @sisterdistrictny12. RSVP at link in bio. #gsdalbanyreport #stategovernment #bluewave

A post shared by Grand Street Democrats (@grandstreetdems) on Feb 9, 2018 at 4:21am PST

It was wonderful seeing so many of you this past weekend at the Women’s March. I hope you’re feeling energized and ready for more action.

And on that note …

I’m joining Planned Parenthood on Tuesday, March 13 for a Day of Action in Albany. We’ll be meeting state representatives to demand that New York State be a leader on reproductive rights by advancing access to sexual and reproductive health care in 2018.

Bus transportation is provided by Planned Parenthood from 26 Bleecker Street. Breakfast and lunch will also be provided, plus training for all attendees.

I’m going and would love to have you join me (I’ve never been to Albany!) for what sounds like a great day with an organization I enthusiastically support.

If you’re interested in coming to the Day of Action in Albany:

1. Please register yourself via this link; then
2. Email me directly to let me know you’re coming. I’m in touch with Planned Parenthood NYC and can make sure we’re on the same bus.

Spots on the bus are filling up — if you want to come, you need to RSVP to Planned Parenthood and to me by this Friday, January 26th.