Club presidents gain a large amount of knowledge in a short period of time about how our corner of the Lower East Side fits into the broader city political scene: process, personalities, policy, and more. In order to ensure their continued (voluntary) engagement, an amendment to the Grand Street Dems bylaws is proposed to expand the Executive Committee by two emeritus members, the most recent two club presidents.

The relevant passage is in Article 6, Section 1 – Executive Committee Composition:

Membership in the Executive Committee shall consist of the Officers and the current District Leaders and State Committee members who are members of this Club with voting privileges.

The proposed amendment would change that to:

Membership in the Executive Committee shall consist of:
  1. Elected Club Officers;
  2. Current District Leaders and State Committee members, provided they are members of this Club with voting privileges; and
  3. The previous two elected Club Presidents, provided they are members of this Club with voting privileges.

Update: this amendment passed on 11/10/26.

Officers of the Grand Street Dems Executive Committee will be elected by club members with voting privileges at our annual meeting on November 10. Below are the names and personal statements of the people who have entered their names into consideration.

President

Tony Alfieri

In 2026, under the guidance of Kenny Wind, the club put together fantastic programming: a record-breaking fundraiser, two candidate forums during the primaries, highly successful social events and informative presentations from local electeds and other leaders. Although the title is “president”, I’ve come to see the role as more as an administrative facilitator: providing a framework for a very diverse group of individuals to contribute their strengths to move the club and the party forward.

In my day job I’m an architect. It’s a collaborative process that involves assimilating contributions from a range of engineers, consultants, client stakeholders, and building contractors toward a common end. Each of these experts has a unique perspective and skill set, but respects and trusts their teammates to achieve tangible results. We do that most effectively when we set long-range plans and establish clear ground rules for working together.

With that in mind, I see this coming year as an opportunity to build on the strengths of 2026 to grow our coalition and build capacity for the 2028 general election. I’ve a strong interest in voter engagement and participation. That only 16% of registered Democrats in AD65 voted in the 2026 primary tells me we can do a better job of articulating how voting for Democrats in local races can materially benefit our neighbors. Currently, one half of our members reside in Seward Park Coops and I can imagine offering programming relevant to residents of Part A and neighbors that don’t normally attend our events. I think the club could be an agent that knits together a constituency that was deliberately fragmented historically and models the kind of multi-cultural and multi-ethnic coalition building to which the Democratic party broadly aspires.

Vice-President (up to 3)

Francisco Gonzalez

To act as a key strategic leader, external ambassador, and vital pillar of the club’s leadership team. This role is dedicated to elevating the club’s presence, expanding its active membership, and ensuring deep commUnity engagement while offering crucial representation within our diverse network.

Caroline Laskow

I would like to continue in the VP of Events position, which I have held since stepping down as district leader last year. GSD is well known for fun community engagement, and there’s always room to improve. I want everyone to feel welcomed and informed when they attend a GSD event, continuing and strengthening practices like using name tags, having clear agendas, attentive moderators, thoughtful food & drink choices, and respectful, productive debates. I hope to collaborate with other clubs and community groups, and continue to grow our membership (in numbers and activation) via all sorts of Parties with Purpose.

Kenny Wind

It’s been an honor and a pleasure serving on the executive board, first as treasurer and
then as president. I sincerely appreciate the vote of confidence and the opportunity to work
with many of you over the years. Organizing monthly meetings, being a liaison with our elected officials, representing GSD at external events, and working with other clubs on joint
forums have been fun.

I thank everyone for their kind words since I announced my intention not to run again
for president. I also want to thank all the executive board members I have served with over the years for their support. It’s been a pleasure to work with them. Their hard work advancing the club and its mission deserve to be acknowledged. While I am stepping back from being president, it would be another honor to serve as a vice president of the club.

I intend to assist the new president with a smooth transition and provide whatever
support is needed. I will also add value to the board by continuing to assist in organizing and participating in club events. Further, I will continue to utilize my relationships with elected officials and other clubs to advance GSD’s mission and priorities. This includes representing GSD at external events. I am also uniquely qualified to preside over meetings if the president cannot. Once the needs of that new board are determined, I look forward taking on a more specific role.

I hope to earn your support for VP of GSD.

Secretary

Katia Kubicek

My name is Katia Kubicek and I have lived in Seward Park with my husband and son since 2008. I’ve known various GSD members because we have children the same age and have also been members of the Grand Street CSA, of which I am a current core member. (Ask me all your pressing cabbage and winter squash questions!)

I joined GSD in dismay after Trump’s re-election and because, with my son off to college, I felt I had the time and the energy to join the resistance — yes, we are big Star Wars fans in my home. What I have enjoyed most is that GSD is a big tent, filled with people who may have differing opinions, yet who all want the best for our vibrant community and better — much, much better — for our country.

I am running for reelection as secretary, a position I hold because it’s never very popular — pretty much the same way I became secretary of my son’s High School Parents’ Association. In any case, I actually enjoy taking notes and making sure we have met quorum, so I hope to serve another year.

Treasurer

Jeremy Sherber

I’m proud to have helped found GSD ten years ago, serving four years as the club’s first president. Recently I have served two years as the club’s treasurer, and ask for approval to a repeat assignment.

The treasurer manages GSD’s bank account and, importantly, files biannual reports with the State Board of Elections recording every dollar raised and spent by the club. The job requires an unusual attraction to spreadsheet formulas and an explicit aversion to official reprimands; as it happens I have demonstrated both attributes since my youth.

The ten years since the club’s founding have been challenging politically. But the open and respectful conversations I’ve had with my neighbors at GSD have always been deeply rewarding, even and especially when we disagree. I’m convinced that direct, in-person dialogue can bridge differences and forge lasting bonds in our community. If I can assist that mission by occasionally reconciling debits and credits, I count myself lucky.

At-large (up to 3)

Ella Leitner

As a founding member of GSD and a Grand St resident for more than 40 years, I have deep roots in this neighborhood and a strong commitment to its future. I was proud to help establish a club that gives our community a voice in local politics. Now that my children are older, I have more time and energy to dedicate to civic engagement and am eager to take on a greater leadership role. As the parent of two teenagers, one who just voted for the first time and another who will turn 18 this summer, I appreciate the importance of engaging the next generation in our democracy. My perspective spans generations, from longtime residents to young people finding their political voices. Professionally, I bring decades of experience in communications, marketing, strategic planning and relationship building. I know how to bring people together, build consensus and turn ideas into action. As our neighborhood evolves, I believe it’s more important than ever to uphold democratic ideals, protect our community’s diversity and ensure every generation has a voice. I would welcome the opportunity to help strengthen the club’s engagement, outreach and impact. And as the saying goes, if you want something done, give it to a busy person!

Kim Sillen

I’d like to continue serving on the Executive Committee of Grand Street Dems as an At-Large member, because I believe I bring a pairing of creativity and a focus on progressive policy that benefits the club. I have a record of following through with my ideas for the community and launching them into reality. I’ve worked as an artist and designer all of my adult life, and I’ve been an activist and community advocate for the majority of that time. This combination of art and activism is a symbiotic fusion of what matters to me, and through this role with GSD, I can amplify my efforts for the community.

With an MFA in painting and an MPA in public administration, I have the policy-oriented ideas and the capacity to activate the community with compelling messaging. A few of the initiatives I helped spearhead this year were the Protect Your Neighbors/ICE-warning whistle distribution campaign that GSD rolled out on Grand Street; and with Tony Alfieri, the Get Out the Vote registration drive and the Student “I Voted” Sticker Contest. The latter was a project intended to boost voter turnout on two levels: creating future voters by forming persistent, positive associations with voting for our local kids, and serving as a call for the parents and surrounding community members to cast a vote. It culminated with a celebration for the kids at the New Museum, and with the distribution of thousands of vibrant stickers distributed during Early Voting.

Examples of my work within the community can be seen at: kimsillendesign.com/political-1 and kimsillendesign.com/public-art-1.

Thank you very much for considering me to continue serving on the Executive Committee!

Wei-Li Tjong

After having discussions with a few of the current members of the executive board, I am very interested in staying involved as a member-at-large of the board.

Having served for 2 years by dint of my being AD65’s male State Committee member, I enjoyed my role in this context grounding, and I want to continue to contribute to the direction and action of the club under its new leadership. I would like to continue advocating for the same things as I did in my campaign for Assembly — those goals have not changed, and I wish to drive engagement on such state and local policy issues affecting our neighbors in AD65.

I want to make sure the organization continues to stay relevant and evolve to meet the needs of a communities in and around “Part A” that are themselves in ever-accelerating conditions of change.