News & Updates
  • Ice cream social in support of Brad Hoylman-Sigal for Borough President

    Ice cream social in support of Brad Hoylman-Sigal for Borough President
    Monday, May 12, 5:30 – 7:00 pm

    Join Caroline Laskow, Ella Leitner, Kate Nammacher, and Melissa Shiffman in support of GSD’s endorsed candidate for Manhattan Borough President, Brad Hoylman-Sigal.

    With NYC matching funds, your contribution is matched x8!

  • Bylaws amendment proposals

    At our May meeting, voting members of the club will have a chance to vote on a series of bylaws amendments proposed by a special bylaws committee and the Executive Committee.

    Below, Jeremy Sherber describes the proposals and explains the reasoning behind them.

  • GSD Meeting April 29th Recap

    Thanks to all for joining us on Tuesday night for an active, packed meeting.

    • Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado zoomed in to encourage everyone to stand up for our democracy, keep attending rallies, speaking up and resisting. We hope to hear more from him in the coming months on how he plans to lead Democrats in this endeavor.
    • MBP candidate Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Councilmember Chris Marte, District Leader candidates Joe Gordon and Jessica Kramer, staff from Mark Levine and Congressman Dan Goldman shared info to help them campaign.
    • Pat Arnow educated us on May Day history and rally.
    • Sommer Omar presented on a coalition to stop the destruction of the beloved Tony Dapolitano Recreation Center in the West Village. Members voted to join the coalition.
    • Mariama James and Barbara Capparelli presented the work of 9/11 Environmental Action World Trade Center Health Program Outreach, whose goal is to raise awareness of 9/11 health issues and options for treatment among community residents and those who worked, went to school or happened to be present in the area of the World Trade Center on September 11th. They service a continually growing list of health conditions and implore affected people to sign up for WTC coverage.
    • The club voted on a resolution “Don’t Rank Andrew Cuomo for Mayor” based on the 2021 sexual harrassment/retaliation findings, his violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and Congress finding him accountable for his tragic Covid-19 nursing home policy and cover up. Grand Street Democrats encourages voters in New York City to leave Andrew Cuomo off their ranked choice ballots in the Democratic primary for NYC Mayor.
  • Resolution: Don’t Rank Andrew Cuomo for Mayor

    Grand Street Democrats encourages voters in New York City to leave Andrew Cuomo off their ranked choice ballots in the Democratic primary for NYC Mayor.

    Former Governor Andrew Cuomo entered the mayoral race hoping that New Yorkers don’t recall why he resigned in 2021. But we remember:

    • Andrew Cuomo resigned as governor after a thorough investigation by the Office of the Attorney General found he sexually harassed and retaliated against at least 11 women, including government employees.
    • According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Andrew Cuomo and his senior staff discriminated against female government employees in violation of Title VII by subjecting them to, and tolerating, a sexually hostile work environment created by Cuomo for eight years.
    • A 2024 House Select Committee held Andrew Cuomo publicly accountable for his involvement in issuing the disastrous March 25 Directive — which forced nursing homes to accept COVID-19 positive patients — and publicly exposed his efforts to cover-up the tragic aftermath of his Administration’s deadly decision.

    New York City’s ranked choice voting system for primaries lets voters select up to five candidates for Mayor on June 24. Ranking Andrew Cuomo anywhere on your ballot (even last!) means that there’s a chance your vote will count for him. To make sure Andrew Cuomo does not win the Democratic primary, remember: Don’t rank Andrew Cuomo on June 24.

    Resolution adopted April 25, 2025

  • April 29 General Meeting

    April General Meeting
    Tuesday, April 29, 6:30 pm
    Seward Coop Community Room
    266 East Broadway

    Join us for pizza and cake celebrating the successful end to our spring petitioning!

    We have a full agenda Tuesday with in-person and remote guests starting at 6:30 pm:

    • Lt. Governor Antonio Delgado
    • District Leader candidates Jessica Kramer & Joe Gordon
    • Representative from the campaign of Mark Levine for Comptroller
    • State Senator Brian Kavanagh
    • Councilmember Chris Marte
    • Borough President candidate Brad Hoylman-Sigal

    We will also be discussing local, political, and club issues:

    • Fate of the Tony Dapolito Rec Center
    • World Trade Center health program
    • Mayoral primary
    • Presentation of proposed amendments to GSD bylaws
  • March meeting recap

    Councilmember Christopher Marte joined us to explain his bill — NYC Council Int 1096: Protecting the vested health insurance coverage and contributions of retired employees of the city of New York. Members voted in favor of a resolution supporting Int 1096.

    Desiree Gazzo of NYC DDC gave a presentation on the progression of East River Park and answered members’ questions and concerns. Projected opening of the Corlears Hook Bridge and amenities is late Spring/Summer 2025. Sign up for updates here. View the slide presentation here.

    Ain’t I a Woman visited us back in the Fall with home health attendants to share their stories of working 24 hour days, despite only being paid for 13 hours. They returned to ask for our support in pressuring elected officials to pass the No More 24 bill, enforce labor law, and pay back wages that are owed to them. They are holding a protest on Wed, March 12th, 11am in front of Governor Hochul’s NYC office (919 Third Avenue).

    Write 500 Postcards to Wisconsin Voters by March 14! Thank you to those who picked up postcards for the special election for Wisconsin State Supreme Court! Here is the script.

    • Mailing deadline: March 14
    • Postage: Volunteers are responsible for purchasing postcard stamps, and dropping cards off at any local post office.
    • Postcards to Swing States is an initiative of the Progressive Turnout Project.
  • Resolution to support retired municipal employees’ health care benefits

    Grand Street Democrats supports NYC Bill 1096-2024, which will protect the vested health insurance and contributions of retired employees of the City of New York.

    In 2021, New York City announced that it would stop paying for Medicare supplemental insurance for all retired municipal employees, including teachers, sanitation workers, police officers, and firefighters.

    In place of getting direct payments through Medicare, retirees would instead be enrolled in a private insurance plan called Medicare Advantage. Unlike Medicare supplemental insurance, Medicare Advantage plans limit access to certain doctors, regularly deny coverage for recommended care, and feature rising deductibles that retirees would have to pay out of pocket.

    In response, municipal retirees banded together and sued the City to protect their right to maintain the quality of healthcare they had been promised over decades of contractual negotiations.

    Retirees have won those lawsuits, over and over again, including ten favorable State Supreme Court decisions and two unanimous Appeals Court decisions in the State of New York.

    Nevertheless, the City of New York under Mayor Eric Adams persists in its plan to force retired city workers off of Medicare and onto privately-managed Medicare Advantage plans.

    Over the past 40 years, municipal employees have frequently accepted lower salaries in difficult contract negotiations in exchange for the promise of security in retirement through pensions and health insurance.

    Reneging on that promise now is a breach of contract. If enacted, Bill 1096-2024 would commit the City to honor its obligations to retirees and continue to give them the option of Medicare supplemental insurance.

    Grand Street Democrats urges all elected officials to publicly support this proposed legislation in order to maintain municipal retirees’ promised health insurance options, consistent with contractual and statutory obligations.

    Resolution adopted March 5, 2025

  • East River Park update from DDC

    Representatives from the City’s Department of Design and Construction (DDC) updated community members on the progress and challenges at East River Park during GSD’s March meeting this week.

    The slide deck from their presentation is below.

  • March meeting this Wednesday

    General Meeting
    Wednesday, March 5, 6:00 pm
    Seward Park Coop Community Room
    266 East Broadway

    Our March meeting features:

    • An update on East River Park by NYC Department of Design and Construction
    • Resolution on Councilmember Christopher Marte’s bill to protect retiree pensions
    • Update from Ain’t I a Woman on the No More 24 campaign
    • Postcards to Wisconsin voters

    We’ll also have an update on petitioning efforts to get our endorsed candidates on the ballot for June’s primary. (Spoiler alert: it’s going well but we still need your help.)

  • Democrats respond to Andrew Cuomo joining the mayoral race

    Andrew Cuomo’s long political career and near-universal name recognition may redraw the Democratic primary for NYC Mayor.

    But there are many who are ready to remind voters about Cuomo’s past misdeeds and policies targeting New York City commuters, homeless, public school students, and women.

    Scott Stringer

    Jessica Ramos

    “If New Yorkers want a corrupt bully with a record of alleged sexual misconduct, supporting Republicans, selling out to developers, and exacerbating crises, they can just stick with the current mayor. Andrew brings nothing to this race but baggage and an outstanding debt of $5 million. Hard pass.” (via Twitter)

    Brad Lander

    “Andrew Cuomo destroyed New York City by cutting $2.5 million in Medicaid and thousands of psychiatric beds, resulting in a crisis of homeless people with serious mental illness on our streets, and by cutting MTA funding, resulting in the ‘Summer of Hell.’” (via email blast)

    Zellnor Myrie

    “Andrew Cuomo is no friend to New York City. As Governor, Cuomo slashed funding from our schools and subways, closed our hospitals, hurt our tenants and seniors — and Black New Yorkers paid the price. Cuomo encourages corruption, silences accountability, and has stood by as Donald Trump conducts a hostile takeover of our local government.” (via statement)

    Lindsey Boylan

    “Attorneys tell me to keep my head down and my mouth shut, but that is precisely why and how powerful men believe they can continue to act with impunity. This is not who we are as Americans — and certainly not who we are as New Yorkers. If we see something, we are supposed to say something. And elections give us our loudest voices.” (via Vanity Fair)