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  • GSD Traffic Committee December 2023 Update

    DoT came to a CB3 Transportation Committee meeting on 12/5/2023 to discuss local traffic. Issues:

    • No Right Tu:rn from Grand to Clinton Pilot Program: There was a lot of discussion about the “No Right Turn from Grand to Clinton”
    • Impact at Grand Street traffic turning onto Clinton
    • Impact at Grand Street traffic at Norfork
    • Impact on Clinton Street traffic at E. Broadway
    • Other Intersections
    • Based on community input, DoT has since: Installed a promised stop light at Broome & Clinton; Clarified “No Left Turn” for eastbound traffic on Grand trying to turn onto Norfolk; Added more TEAs on Norfolk to enforce the turning regimen.

    DoT claims they are going to re-assess when the pilot is over after 1 year.

    If you want to join the Traffic Working Group, point your phone here …

  • GSD Party Rocks the Lower East Side

    This past Tuesday, GSD threw its annaul fall party. The bar was packed with members, district leaders, and judical candidates. All the pizza was eaten! Thank you to every local elected offical for sponsoring (CM Marte, Rep. Goldman, State Senator Kavanagh, Assemlymembers Lee and Epstein, District Leaders Laskow and Fariello, and State Committee Member Minsely). We were thrilled to present awards to amazing community leaders Debbie Cox, Don Hong and Eric Diaz. We look forward to another party in the near future.

  • Grand Street Dems’ Annual Fall Party

    Join us at Donnybrook NYC on Tuesday, October 17th. We will gather together for drinks, food and good conversation and to honor local activists. Tickets for non-GSD members and/or for sponsorship opportunities: purchase here.

    Thank you to our sponsors:

    • State Senator Brian Kavanagh – Sustaining Sponsor
    • Assemblymember Grace Lee – Sustaining Sponsor
    • Councilmember Christopher Marte
    • Assemblymember Harvey Epstein
    • Congressmember Dan Goldman
    • Scott Stringer
    • District Leader Caroline Laskow
    • District Leader Vittoria Fariello
    • State Committee Member Morton Minsley

    TICKETS FOR CURRENT MEMBERS: GSD membership has been renewed every two years since 2017. This October marks the renewal date. Membership is still $60 for two years (or “no pay” option for those who need). This year instead of a free t-shirt included, we are offering a free ticket (& drink) to the GSD Party on October 17. Renew membership here.

  • Elevators for All

    Join us one week from today for our September General Meeting on Thursday, September 28th, 7-9pm, in-person at the Seward Park Community Room on East Broadway. We plan to livestream the meeting on Facebook Live. We preemptively appreciate your patience and understanding as we navigate the technology!  On the agenda is a vote on a “Resolution for Making the Essex-Delancey Subway Station Fully ADA-Accessible”.

    Currently, the Essex-Delancey the subway station is not at all elevator accessible. The closest elevator accessible subway stations to our neighborhood are:

    • The L Train at First Avenue and 14th Street;
    • The Broadway-Lafayette Station (B, D, F, M, 6)
    • Canal Street (6 train only)
      All of these are far from the Lower East Side / Two Bridges neighborhood.

    We need to back up the politicians’ letter with more community support, partially to keep
    the elected officials convinced this is an important community issue. We also want to bring in Senators Schumer and Gillibrand to our effort. We need to talk it up as much as possible in the community. Resolution:
    1) The executive committee of the Grand Street Dems supports the community’s demand that the Essex-Delancey Subway Station be made fully ADA- accessible in the next immediate round of subway station modifications.
    2) We request that our elected officials bring their influence and authority to bear on the MTA, the DoT, and the management team of Essex Crossing to include plans for an elevator-accessible station in the upcoming re-design of the neighborhood transportation and traffic infrastructure;
    3) We request Community Board 3 bring its influence and authority to bear on the MTA, the DoT, and the management team of Essex Crossing to include plans for an elevator-accessible station in the upcoming re-design of the neighborhood transportation and traffic infrastructure.

  • Enjoy Your Summer, Save the Date for September

    Grand Street Dems will not hold a General Meeting in August but save the date for our upcoming September 28th meeting. We hope to be able to meet in person in the Seward Park Community Room.

  • Join GSD at the Why Not Care LES United Festival

    The annual Why Not Care Lower East Side Festival will take place August 27th. The festival is geared towards providing the community with schools supplies, program information and access to free resources throughout the Lower East Side, East Village and city of New York. So far they have given out over 12,000+ book bags in 5 years. With your help we can keep bringing these much needed resources into the community and help keep our youth stay equipped and ready to take on the world. GSD will be providing 168 book bags to children, including migrants. GSD will also be handing out the bags and we encourage members to volunteer.

  • Community fundraiser for Grace Lee

    Assemblymember Grace Lee is coming off of a very productive first legislative session, passing bills related to environmental conservation, justice reform, support for our Asian American community, healthcare, reproductive healthcare, community safety, and more!

    We are pleased and excited to share a community event in support of Assemblymember Lee taking place on Thursday, August 3rd, 6-8pm, at the Paul Taylor Dance Studio right here on Grand Street. The event was initially postponed, and we are thrilled that it is finally here. Please RSVP here or on the invitation below to RSVP and secure your tickets today!  Can’t make it? Please make a contribution to Grace Lee for New York here.

    Thanks to New York’s Matching Funds Program, your contribution, at all levels, goes a long way (see below)!

  • Marte Mandate Sweeps Across Part A

    This past Tuesday, June 27, Council Member Christopher Marte won re-election by an impressive margin with almost 65% of the vote. CM Marte explained “It’s been a really long day, a really long two weeks but I’m happy to get across the finish line and have so much support from the community,” Marte said from his victory celebration Tuesday night at Lee’s on Canal, “It feels like it’s a mandate to continue to advocate, to do the work that we’ve been doing for these 16 months and so it feels great.”  Marte called this victory “sweeter, because it was based on a track record.”

    In our neighborhood, CM Marte won the election districts in Part A with 65% of the vote. Overall, Part A accounted for about 20% of the total vote across the district. GSD attended the victory party and Marte expressed gratitude to the club for all their hard work and support. GSD is looking forward to continuing working with the Council Member!

  • Vote Early Conveniently

    Early voting will take place at JHS 56, 220 Henry Street, New York, NY 10002. The entrance is Madison Street Playground – Top of The Ramp and the accessible entrance is Montgomery Street (NYC Center for Aerospace). Lines should be short.

  • Dangerous Turf

    On May 30, Assembly Member Grace Lee joined Grand Street Democrats, local residents and activists to tour East River Park and discuss its synthetic turf fields and the dangers they pose to our local environment. The tour focused on the playing fields at Pier 42 and Corlears Hook. It’s blowing into the East River, potentially harming wildlife, gets hot in summer, off-gasses, traps bacteria, etc.