Kathryn Freed

I’ve spent my life working for our Downtown neighborhoods — I’m running for District Leader to continue to give back to our community and represent the Grand Street Democrats.

I am a long time Lower Manhattan resident and community activist; I moved into East River Coop just over 20 years ago.

• As an attorney, I represented tenants and tenant groups, and practiced employment discrimination law and election law, I helped write and pass the landmark Loft Law, protecting artist housing, and helped pass other tenant protections;
• I served as a member of CB 1 for over 15 years, two terms as its chair;
• I was City Councilmember for Downtown District # 1 for ten years, 1992-2001;
• I was elected to the Judiciary and served seventeen years as a New York Judge, retiring as a NY State Supreme Court Justice the end of 2020;
• I was appointed to the local Community Board 3, in 2022, where I still serve as a member of the Parks and the Landmarks Committees;
• I remain active in East River Park Action (ERPA) pushing for more living green plants in the Park including pushing for real grass not astroturf and more mature trees and more shade for the facilities;
• I am also working for air monitoring and environmental safeguards for all the Lower Manhattan Waterfront, and, of course, the East River Park site;
• I continue to call for effective resiliency measures and interim flood protection along the waterfront;
• I have opposed the Chinatown mega jail and spoken at and attended numerous rallies against it;
• I have spoken out against anti-semitism and anti-asian hate crimes;
• I have pushed for a comprehensive plan to deal with mental illness, including social services in court, homelessness and to provide more affordable housing, including supporting affordable housing at 5 World Trade Center;
• I support zoning changes that will protect communities, especially communities of color, from over development, while allowing growth that still protects middle- and lower-income housing and local businesses;
• I support and have spoken at Rallys for Councilmember Christopher Marte’s “No More 24” legislation to end home attendant’s being required to work a 24 hour day, but get paid for 13 hours;
• I worked very hard supporting the Democratic slate last year, campaigning in Bucks County, Pa. and Upstate for our candidates, as well as campaigning for Prop One;
• Have supported and been very vocal at CB3 pushing for additional mass transit for our community including more accessible stations, obviously also supporting Bill Ferns’ great work in this area;
• For the past three years, I, along with two others, have presented judicial forums for New York County for all eligible candidates, additionally we have also held forums to explain about why NY County’s independent screening panels are unique and important and about being judicial delegates;
• These are just a few of the things I have done since retiring as a Judge.

I would like to continue working to better our community and helping Grand Street Democrats grow by reaching out to more residents. I also believe we need to engage our elected officials more in our community’s concerns, which I believe will also encourage more people to become members.

I would love to have your support for Democratic District Leader.

Jessica Kramer

Hi, my name is Jessica Kramer and I am honored to announce my candidacy for District Leader. Our community is steeped in history, resilience, and diversity, and it has been my privilege to serve it in various capacities.

As the Secretary of the Seward Park Cooperative Board, I have worked tirelessly to ensure that the voices of our residents are heard and that our shared resources are managed responsibly and transparently. Specifically, I am passionate about transparent communication and effective action to resolve challenges being faced by both individuals and the broader community. As a startup and technology leader professionally, I am also passionate about leveraging technology and a mindset of innovation to approach problems in a novel way and implement digital solutions where helpful. I got involved with Grand Street Democrats because I saw a need for that same approach in the broader neighborhood and on the core political issues that affect our community, including affordable housing, the environment, traffic, sanitation, elections, neighborhood safety, hate crimes, and many other important issues.

My passion for civic engagement began early in life, inspired by my family’s commitment to voting rights. Since childhood, I’ve been deeply involved in initiatives aimed at expanding access to the ballot box and empowering communities to make their voices heard. These early experiences shaped my dedication to protecting and enhancing our democracy at every level. I was a member of Hilary Clinton’s campaign team and I have been doing GOTV work for over 30 years for federal and local candidates, as well as Democrats in highly contested races such as Grace Lee, Beto O’Rourke, and Katie Porter.

Most recently, I had the pleasure of working alongside Caroline Laskow and the Grand Street Democrats on the critical federal elections and successful campaign for Prop 1 in New York. Together, we mobilized voters, advocated for progressive change, and demonstrated the power of grassroots organizing to make a tangible difference. Caroline and I held weekly community room events that brought together activists from the coops and broader neighborhood and helped generate a sense of hope, action, and community. Being able to work with our current district leader was inspirational and educational. She encouraged me to get involved and run.

As District Leader, I will bring this same commitment to community involvement and advocacy. I will focus on amplifying the voices of all Lower East Side residents, ensuring that our local government is responsive, inclusive, and accountable. From increasing voter participation to supporting neighborhood initiatives, I will be a tireless advocate for our community’s needs and aspirations. The District Leader position was created to bring new people into the Democratic party. I represent a new generation and population of leaders on the Lower East Side with the ability to innovate and bring fresh ideas to the forefront.

I look forward to connecting with neighbors across the district to hear your concerns, share ideas, and work together to build a stronger, more vibrant Lower East Side. Thank you for your support — I am excited about the opportunity to serve.