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.
We had a lively Annual Meeting with a number of special guests.
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.
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.
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.
Election Day is finally (almost) here. Grand Street Dems has hosted phone banks and letter-writing events, knocked doors in Pennsylvania and New York state, and distributed a few thousand Vote Yes on Prop 1 flyers (3,200 to be exact). It’s been a busy, exciting, emotional time.
But right now, if you’re like me, you might be consumed with Election Day itself, so below are some recommendations for channeling that energy.
No matter the results, this community and our work continue after November 5. Please join us at our Fall Party on Thursday, Nov. 14 to reflect on this tumultuous election, and then come to our next General Meeting on Monday, Nov. 18 to start planning for all the big NYC primaries that are right around the corner!
In solidarity,
Caroline District Leader, AD 65 Part A
VOTE Seems obvious, but bears repeating. Check in on your neighbors, friends and family. I got a panic text yesterday from a Pennsylvania voter who thought it was too late to drop off her mail-in ballot. It’s not! I got her the correct address and that’s one more vote in a swing state.
If you encounter issues while voting, call 1-866-390-2992 and submit a complaint to the NY Attorney General.
THANK A POLL WORKER They are working a 15-hour day (not including travel time), and are essential to this whole process.
MAKE MORE CALLS (Why phone bank? A few observations from the past month right up to today’s NY For Harris phone bank: 1. People still need information – where to vote, where to drop off a ballot, who’s running for senate/state house/etc. 2. People who commit to a voting plan – like, saying it out loud to another person, even an anonymous caller – are more likely to follow through. 3. Having respectful, human contact from Harris volunteers leaves a good impression.)
NY For Harris in-person phone bank (near Penn Station, exact address with RSVP) – calling Pennsylvania to make sure every possible vote is cast for Kamala Harris and the entire Democratic ticket.
Statewide Vote Yes on Prop 1 virtual phone bank – calling voters throughout New York state to remind them to flip their ballot and vote YES on Prop 1. This is to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment in New York state and such an important issue
Sister District virtual phone bank – calling voters to flip the state house seat in one of their adopted districts (in WI, MI, PA, NC, MN, GA, AZ, or NV)
Everyone For Kamala – billing itself as “The Largest Phone Bank Ever.” Celebrities abound.
Sunday, October 6 12:00 – 2:00 pm Grand & Clinton (in front of Citibank) RSVP To volunteer: marion@grandstreetdems.nyc
Rescheduled from Sept 29th. Join GSD this Sunday in raising awareness for Prop 1, also referred to as the Equal Rights Amendment on November’s ballot. According to “Yes on Prop 1,” voting yes “would close those loopholes by prohibiting government discrimination based on a person’s ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, and sex—including LGBT, pregnancy, and abortion rights. It will ensure no one can be discriminated against for who they are.”
NY Dems Voter Protection initiative is still looking for election day hotline monitors, and any licensed attorney can be a poll observer. They offer free training for both.
Hotline Volunteers – Remote The NY Dems Voter Assistance Hotline provides personalized voting information and real-time support to voters experiencing issues. Hotline volunteers can answer calls remotely from the comfort of home! We provide training on voting procedures, deadlines, and hotline technology, and a hotline captain will always be available to support you and help you troubleshoot during your shift.
Poll Observer – In Person Poll observers are our eyes and ears at poll sites across the state, ensuring proper voting procedures are followed. Observers are trained to spot, report, and resolve voting issues in real-time and are always supported by a dedicated team of lawyers and experienced voter protectors. Poll observers must be registered voters in the county of assignment and complete virtual training.
This Sunday – Join GSD in raising awareness for Prop 1, also referred to as the Equal Rights Amendment on November’s ballot. According to “Yes on Prop 1,” voting yes “would close those loopholes by prohibiting government discrimination based on a person’s ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, and sex — including LGBT, pregnancy, and abortion rights. It will ensure no one can be discriminated against for who they are.”
Sunday, September 29 12:00 – 2:00 pm Grand & Clinton (in front of Citibank) RSVP To volunteer: marion@grandstreetdems.nyc
