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  • Joe Gordon seeks GSD endorsement for male Democratic District Leader

    Joe Gordon, a longtime resident of Hillman Coop, has thrown his hat in the ring for this year’s contest for Democratic District Leader.

    Joe is a GSD member and Democratic County Committee member; the founder of UpFor Consulting; a minority owner and board member of Akademisk Boldklub (Danish soccer team); and a founding team member of Local Blokery of the Gutter LES bowling league!

    Grand Street Dems members will meet on January 14 to hear from Joe and to vote on an endorsement for this Democratic party position. Please make sure to attend that meeting or designate in writing another GSD member to carry your proxy for that meeting. (Members may carry only one proxy, so be sure to arrange this ahead of time.)

    Joe Gordon

    With this past November’s election results fresh on my and many of our minds, it would be easy to retreat and retrench, to sit on the sidelines and let others do the heavy lifting. So, when the idea of running for District Leader was first mentioned to me, I was curious but hesitant. How could my involvement possibly impact things? As I thought about it more, I realized that the need for people to step up and positively contribute has never been more needed and perhaps there was an active role I could play. I’ve come to see the hyper-local role of District leader as the perfect opportunity to be in service to the community that I have lived in and loved for almost 30 years now – and whose family roots go back over 75 years.

    The things I will bring to the table are simple and straightforward: I will be an active listener and learner, taking great care to understand what matters most to the people of District 65 Part A and bring those concerns to our local elected officials. I will be present and accountable, a consistent and recognizable face and voice in our community who shows up for stuff – and who enrolls others to participate as well. I will be a thoughtful and collaborative contributor, working hard to build coalitions, find middle ground, and always treat people with respect – even when we disagree. Lastly, I will always put in the work to implement change, incremental as it may be, so that we all can continue to be proud of our vibrant and unique community.

    I care deeply about the Lower East Side and I very much look forward to being in service to it.

  • Nominations for District Leaders due January 7

    After 7 years, GSD will be endorsing two new District Leaders for the June 2025 election. Every two years, we must petition for District Leader and there will be no incumbents seeking the GSD endorsement this cycle.

    This is an exciting time for the club as we continue to grow our membership and influence in the neighborhood. We would like to encourage members to think about whether they are interested in being considered for GSD’s District Leader endorsement.

    • To be eligible for GSD’s endorsement, you must be a member of the club with voting privileges.
    • To be considered, submit a personal statement by January 7: https://forms.gle/5DNxjWAwsUByJQzD7. (This will be shared with club members ahead of our endorsement meeting.)
    • The endorsement meeting will be on January 14, 6:30 pm in the Seward Coop Community Room.

    The role of District Leader is often viewed as a volunteer entry level position to local politics and as an advocate for Grand Street. If you would like to learn about what a District Leader does, please email Kenneth Wind at president@grandstreetdems.nyc.

  • 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

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 🗳️ Election Day update

    Dear Friends,

    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.

    GET OUTSIDE – PROP 1 POLL SITE VISIBILITY
    https://www.mobilize.us/newyorkersforequalrights/event/701587/

    DONATE
    Pizza to the polls delivers food to people waiting on long lines to vote.

  • Check out your 2024 ballot

    Election Day this year is not just for President! Vote for:

    • President/Vice-President
    • U.S. Senator
    • N.Y State Supreme Court
    • N.Y. County Civil Court
    • U.S. Congress
    • N.Y. State Senator
    • N.Y. State Assembly Member
    • N.Y. County District Civil Court

    Also remember to turn your ballot over to vote on one state constitutional amendment and five other city charter amendments.

  • Early voting starts Saturday 10/26

    Early voting begins on Saturday, October 26 and continues for nine days through Sunday, November 3.

    You can vote at St. Augustine Episcopal Church at 290 Henry Street.

    Saturday, October 268:00 am – 5:00 pm
    Sunday, October 278:00 am – 5:00 pm
    Monday, October 288:00 am – 8:00 pm
    Tuesday, October 298:00 am – 8:00 pm
    Wednesday, October 308:00 am – 8:00 pm
    Thursday, October 318:00 am – 8:00 pm
    Friday, November 18:00 am – 8:00 pm
    Saturday, November 28:00 am – 5:00 pm
    Sunday, November 38:00 am – 5:00 pm

  • A message from the Second Gentleman

    Shana tova!

  • Sunday 10/6 — Yes on Prop 1

    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.”