About Democracy for NYC
Democracy for NYC (DFNYC) is committed to the ideals espoused by Democracy for America, the organization founded by Howard Dean, and the national network of local coalition groups dedicated to the same.
We work both locally and nationally to ensure that fiscally responsible and socially progressive candidates are elected at all levels of government. We develop innovative ways to advocate for the issues that matter to our members and support legislation which has a positive effect in our communities. We promote transparency and ethical practices in government. We engage people in the political process and give them the tools to organize, communicate, mobilize, and enact change on the local, state, and national level.
You can download our bylaws here.
District Leader: Assembly District 50
- Published Date
- Written by Tracey Keij-Denton
- Category: Uncategorised
- Hits: 27085
Democracy for NYC has endorsed Lincoln Restler in this race!
Contact Nick at the Restler campaign to help out Wed. Sept. 12, or on election day, Thurs. Sept. 13, 2012: 646-594-454, nrizzo627-at-gmail.com (replace -at- w/@)
Lincoln Restler, incumbent Democratic District Leader in the 50th Assembly district (Williamsburg area) is being challenged by Chris Olechowski.
Click here to vote for DFNYC's endorsement in this race (until Thurs. July 19th, 2012).
Scroll down for candidate statements.
Links:
Colin Campbell's article on The Politicker
's article at the Greenpoint Gazette
Colin Campbell's article on The Politicker, May 16th
Candidate statements: (in alphabetical order)
Statement from Chris Olechowski's campaign:
I am a community leader who has been involved in grassroots organizing and activism in Greenpoint and Williamsburg since the 1980’s. Whether fighting to bring needed funding for programs to help children and senior citizens or working to ensure local decision-makers recognize the importance of preserving livable neighborhoods, I have committed myself to protecting the community of working and immigrant families where I live and raised my two daughters.
In 1986, I joined New York City’s most local form of government, and have been an active member of Brooklyn Community Board #1 for over 20 years. From 2000-2009, I was elected Member-at –Large. In 2004-05, I chaired the Rezoning Task Force of CB1, which tackled the monumental issues associated with residential development, open space, parks, and waterfront access along the Greenpoint/Williamsburg Waterfront. In 2009, I was elected Chair of CB1 and have been reelected annually.
My 25 years of leadership were not devoted to further a career in politics, but to strengthen my ability to be an effective advocate for my community. My career has been building and directing a Home Health Aide non-profit which provides needed medical services to the senior citizens and other residents of Williamsburg and Greenpoint that need supportive care and provides jobs that feed hundreds of local families.
I am now running for State Committee Member, District Leader in the 50th Assembly District because I believe that our community can and should be galvanized to advocate for themselves through their vote. I am dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of registering and voting in every election -- no matter how local -- for leaders who will support our schools, fight for affordable housing, protect our seniors, advocate for open space, and promote a greener and safer environment for our families and our children.
Statement from Lincoln Restler's Campaign:
Lincoln Restler was born and raised in Brooklyn, and is a proud product of the borough’s schools & community institutions. Growing up in Brooklyn gave Lincoln a firsthand understanding of the importance of community empowerment, which has driven him to become a tireless advocate for his neighbors on issues of social justice, affordable housing, and good government.
Lincoln won a grassroots campaign in 2010 to be the State Committeeman of the 50th Assembly District, and has been an outspoken advocate for the residents of Greenpoint, Williamsburg, Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, and Wallabout. As a strong progressive voice on development, school reform, and mass transit issues, Lincoln has been focused on engaging more neighborhood residents in community affairs.
In 2011, Lincoln took the lead in attracting a new supermarket to a food desert in Fort Greene and coordinated the hiring of residents from the local community. Lincoln has also helped spearhead efforts to realize new green spaces on Commercial Street and Java Street in Greenpoint and on Myrtle Avenue in Clinton Hill.
Having emerged as a key leader in the Brooklyn Reform Movement, Lincoln is leading the effort to clean up Brooklyn politics and build a new progressive Brooklyn Democratic Party. He is actively pursuing reforms to the judicial selection process and is striving to democratize the old Brooklyn Democratic machine. Lincoln is a leader of New Kings Democrats, a progressive organization committed to involving more Brooklynites in local politics and reforming the local political establishment.
Professionally, Lincoln is the Managing Director of the New York City Employment and Training Coalition, which is a citywide coalition of 200 workforce development organizations focused on connecting New Yorkers to training, education, and quality employment. Lincoln holds a bachelors degree in Africana Studies and Latin American Studies from Brown University and resides in Greenpoint.
Tell the GOP House members to stop having meaningless votes!
- Published Date
- Written by Richard Wallner
- Category: Uncategorised
- Hits: 58511
Later this week, more than likely on Wednesday, the Republicans in the House will again vote to repeal President Obama's Affordable Care Act. This will be another in a long line of bills that Boehner's House leadership puts up for a vote and passes that have no chance of making it into law. They are once again using the House floor, and the publicity of getting a vote passed to fire up the right wing base.
Nothing fires up the right wing these days more than appearing to fight the Health Care Law. This is the 31st vote they've taken to repeal or defund part or all of Obamacare in 18 months See the following link for the news story:
http://www.npr.org/2012/07/09/156474493/gop-to-make-31st-attempt-to-repeal-obamacare-act).
It is a waste of time and money, and a misuse of power for Boehner and his colleagues in the GOP leadership to continue puttng through what amount to protest bills. We need our lawmakers to focus on practical ways to solve our problems, not spending taxpayer money having meaningless votes.
Our friend Timothy Foley at Greater NYC For Change has created an online petition on Change.org to call out the House leadership on their continued use of pointless House votes for partisan purposes
We encourage our members to sign on and forward to people on your contact list who might be interested. Every signature will automatically cause a copy of the message to go to that persons House representative. It is time for our lawmakers to all act more responsibly.
As the President says, we must move forward in this country.
Assembly District 45: Brooklyn
- Published Date
- Written by Tracey Keij-Denton
- Category: Uncategorised
- Hits: 26874
In Assembly District 45 in Brooklyn, incumbent Democrat Steven Cymbrowitz faces a primary challenge from Ben Akselrod.
This is a race that could go Republican in November. Republicans that might run for the race include Russell Gallo and David Storobin. Storobin just won a special election in a state senate seat that was essentially eliminated in redistricting.
Here are some links about this race: (Please email us at info-at-dfnyc.org if you have more)
Steve Cymbrowitz campaign website
Steve Cymbrowitz Facebook page.
Youtube video of Akselrod announcement (skip to 20:00 for Akselrod)
http://politicker.com/2012/04/akselrod-takes-formal-step-in-cymbrowitz-challenge/
http://politicker.com/2012/06/head-of-brooklyn-young-republicans-eyes-assembly-campaign/
DFNYC Endorsement Vote Results
- Published Date
- Category: Uncategorised
- Hits: 59263
Democracy for NYC held endorsement voting for the primary races in four Congressional Districts where members expressed interest. The voting is finished, the votes are counted, and we have results:
CD 6 - Part of Queens, has four candidates in the Democratic Primary for US House Representative. The percentages they received of the DFNYC vote are as follows (percentages are rounded to the nearest whole number, which sometimes results in a total not exactly 100%):
Elizabeth Crowley - 4%
Rory Lancman - 12%
Grace Meng - 60%
Robert Mittman - 4%
No Endorsement - 20%
DFNYC endorses Grace Meng.
CD 7 - Parts of Brooklyn, Queens & Manhattan has four. The percentages they received of the DFNYC vote are (rounded to the nearest whole number):
Nydia Velazquez - 48%
Erik Martin Dilan - 4%
George Martinez - 40%
Daniel O'Connor - 4%
No endorsement - 4%
No candidate reached the threshold for endorsement
CD 13 - Parts of Manhattan & the Bronx has five. The percentages they received of the DFNYC vote are (rounded to the nearest whole number):
Adriano Espaillat - 48%
Joyce Johnson - 0%
Charles Rangel - 4%
Craig Schley - 0%
Clyde Williams - 16%
No Endorsement - 32%
No candidate reached the threshold for endorsement
CD 18 - Putnam & Orange, plus parts of Dutchess & Westchester Counties has five. The percentages they received of the DFNYC vote are (rounded to the nearest whole number):
Matt Alexander - 41%
Rich Becker - 18%
Duane Jackson - 0%
Sean Patrick Maloney - 5%
Tom Wilson - 14%
No Endorsement - 23%
No candidate reached the threshold for endorsement
We also held votes in the races for US Senate (Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's seat) and President of the United States.
In the Senatorial race, the percentages of the vote are as follows: Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D) - 69%
Wendy Long (R) - 0%
George Maragos (R) - 0%
Bob Turner (R) - 0%
Colia Clark (Green) - 23%
Scott Noren (progressive D running as an Independent) - 4%
No Endorsement At This Time - 4%
DFNYC endorses Senator Gillibrand
In the Presidential race, these are the vote percentages:
President Barack Obama (D) - 69%
Mitt Romney (R) - 0%
Roseanne Barr (G) - 4%
Kent Mesplay (G) - 0%
Jill Stein (G) - 4%
Rocky Anderson (Justice Party) - 12%
No Endorsement At This Time - 12%
DFNYC endorses President Obama.
Many thanks to all of you who voted and participated in our Big Linkup Candidate event!
Open Letter to the DFNYC Community and NYC Progressive Community
- Published Date
- Written by jmbnewsgirl
- Category: Uncategorised
- Hits: 46812
Dear Democracy for NYC members and friends,
You likely received an unexpected email from Josh Silverstein, now the former president of DFNYC, this morning. In this message, Josh announced that DFNYC has dissolved. Please know that this is most definitely not the case.
DFNYC remains the local coalition group of Democracy for America. Both DFA and DFNYC were founded in 2004 after Howard Dean's campaign for president.
We want to let you all know that DFNYC not only still exists, but is ready to take on the challenge of getting President Barack Obama re-elected in November. We remain committed to our progressive ideals and intend to work hard to send fellow progressives to Washington and Albany in the fall.
We look forward to working together.
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Contact Information
| Email: | info -at- dfnyc.org |
A local coalition group of Democracy for America since 2004
Democracy for NYC (DFNYC) is committed to the ideals espoused by Democracy for America, the organization founded by Howard Dean, and the national network of local coalition groups dedicated to the same.