What happened on Jan. 6 is an attack on our country, on our people, brought on by a president who refuses to accept that millions of us turned out to stand with and for each other and elect Joe Biden by overwhelming margins. This is what treason looks like: an angry mob of armed white vigilantes inside of our Capitol, threatening our government, including the very Republican leaders complicit in this attack. This is happening because of the encouragement of some Republicans and the silence of others who spread lies about this election in order to undermine the will of the people and desperately attempt to hold onto power they clearly do not deserve. Every Republican responsible, from the president to Senators, House Members to state legislators, who fed, fueled and fomented these attacks must be removed or resign. |
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In This Issue
Runoff Vote for the Club's Endorsement of a Candidate for Manhattan
District Attorney
President's Report
State Committee Report
Ongoing: Endorsement Votes for Mayor and Other NYC Offices. What You
Need to Know
Judicial Delegate Candidates Needed
What We Need to Hear About New York's Recovery: A Wish List for Candidates
Three Parks Congratulates
Georgia Winners
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STAY HEALTHY!
STAY SAFE!
For the latest official information from NYC
on the coronavirus, click here
or text COVID to 692-692
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ONLINE CLUB MEETING
Wednesday, January 27, 2021, at 8:00 pm
Candidates for
Mayor
Invited:
Eric Adams ● Shaun Donovan ● Kathryn Garcia
Zach Iscol ● Ray McGuire ● Carlos Menchaca
Dianne Morales ● Scott Stringer ● Loree Sutton
Maya Wiley ● Andrew Yang
More information for eligible voters can be found here.
Join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
Or paste this link into your browser:
Meeting ID: 824 6132 7320
Passcode: 746468
You may also join by using your phone to dial in.
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AGENDA
7:45--8:00 pm: Log On / Dial in
8:00 pm: Call to Order
Speakers: Candidates for Mayor
Questions and Answers
Adjourn
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There Will Be a Runoff Vote for the Club's Endorsement of a Candidate for Manhattan District Attorney
To Club members who are eligible to vote:
Because none of the candidates for the Club's endorsement for Manhattan District Attorney received 50% plus 1 of the votes, the Club's Constitution requires a runoff vote between candidates Alvin Bragg and Tali Farhadian Weinstein. None of the other candidates received at least 15% of the vote, which is the threshold for inclusion in the runoff.
On Tuesday, January 19, at 6:00 PM, you will receive a ballot in your email. You will have until Thursday, January 21, at 6:00 PM to vote. The subject line will be "Three Parks Democrats. Here is your Ballot." If you don't see it, please look in Spam, Junk Mail, Promotions or any other place your email program might have hidden it. If you can't find it, contact Steve Max.
As a refresher, a video of Mr. Bragg's and Ms. Weinstein's presentations to the Club on January 13 is here.
Additional candidate information is here.
Results of the first round of voting are here.
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By Lorraine Zamora
So far it’s been a Not-So-Happy New Year. In fact, as someone recently said, it feels more like the 54th week of 2020. Like so many of us at Three Parks and around the country, I am outraged at what’s happened in Washington, DC the past few weeks. I am heartened by the impeachment of Donald Trump, but worried about the attacks and violence that may yet take place between now and January 20.
Three Parks helps keep me centered and sane. Our local efforts continue despite the national assaults. Since Election Day, the club has endorsed Dan Cohen for Council District 7, Cynthia Doty and Bob Botfeld for District Leaders, Brian Benjamin for Comptroller, Mark Levine for Manhattan Boro President, Gale Brewer for Council District 6, and Jumaane Williams for Public Advocate. Currently we are holding a runoff vote for our endorsement of a candidate for Manhattan District Attorney.
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Don't Miss Out!
Renew Your Three Parks Membership Now for 2021
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Renew online by clicking here.
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Renew by mail by printing out and returning the 2021 membership form at the end of this newsletter.
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State Committee Report
By Daniel Marks Cohen
The State Party continues to be quiet, with attention earlier this year focused on Georgia and then on the storming of Capitol Hill by Trump supporters leading up to the inauguration of the Biden/Harris ticket on January 20. I imagine that once we get past petitioning in February, things will pick up again. It is a different era in New York politics now – with the legislature having achieved a veto-proof majority, the Governor is more isolated than ever before. There is a lot of energy, both hopeful and discontented, in the air, and what that means for the 2022 elections, and the Governor’s attempt at a record fourth term (something denied to his father Mario with the election of George Pataki in 1994), remains to be seen.
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Ongoing: Endorsement Votes for Mayor and Other NYC Offices. What You Need to Know
Starting back in November and continuing into March, Three Parks Independent Democrats is holding endorsement votes for Mayor, Comptroller, City Council, and other offices that are up for election in 2021.
Candidates for each office are invited to speak at our regular club meetings, now held via Zoom. Before each meeting, candidates are asked to submit a brief profile. At the Zoom meeting, each candidate will make brief remarks and take questions. Eligible voters may vote electronically during a set time period following the club meeting.
So far, Three Parks has voted to endorse the following candidates for the June 2021 primary:
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Gale Brewer: City Council Member, District 6
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Jumaane Williams: Public Advocate
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Brian Benjamin: Comptroller
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Mark Levine: Manhattan Borough President
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Daniel Marks Cohen: City Council Member, District 7
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Cynthia Doty: Female District Leader
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Bob Botfeld: Male District Leader
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Remaining Endorsement Schedule |
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Schedule of Candidates / Offices |
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January 27
February 10
March 11
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Mayor
Judges, judicial delegates
Three Parks Board
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NOTE: More information for eligible voters can be found here.
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Make Sure You Are Eligible to Vote!
In order to vote to endorse candidates and for the Board and officers, you must be a member of Three Parks Independent Democrats. In addition, you must have met the dues payment and meeting attendance requirements listed on the Rules page of the Endorsement Center on the Three Parks website here.
The list of club members eligible to vote following the January 27 meeting can be found here. If you have met the dues and attendance requirements but your name is not on the list, contact the club's Membership Director Theresa Canter by clicking here.
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For Jan. 27: Refresher on Duties of the Mayor
The Mayor of the City of New York is head of the executive branch of the government of New York City. The mayor's office administers all city services, public property, police and fire protection, most public agencies, and enforces all city and state laws within New York City.
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Judicial Delegate Candidates Needed
At the February 10 club meeting, Three Parks will be endorsing six judicial delegates and six alternate delegates.
Judicial delegates select the Democratic nominee for open New York County Supreme Court judgeships. Delegates must be available to attend the Judicial Nominating Convention, which will be held one evening, most likely in August (the date has not yet been set). At the convention the delegates will cast votes, by Assembly District, to determine which judicial candidates will appear as theparty’s nominees on the general election ballot in November. Delegates are also expected to meet the judicial candidates prior to the Convention. There will be Supreme Court Judicial Forums and receptions held by the candidates where delegates can meet the judges running for NYS Supreme Court.
If you want to run for judicial delegate, please email District Leader Bob Botfeld at rjbwteg@aol.com by January 29 so that your name will be included on the electronic ballot that will be distributed following the February meeting.
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What We Need to Hear About New York’s Recovery: A Wish List for Candidates
By Wendy Diller
Three Parks is maintaining an ongoing and fruitful dialog with candidates for political leadership positions about fiscal issues. Given the significance of this year’s elections, we need to press candidates as hard as possible beyond the slogans about their vision for New York’s economic recovery.
This means asking about complicated, sometimes conflicting priorities, such as taxing the rich while also encouraging businesses and residents to stay here. Job creation policies that promote a healthy and just working environment while addressing the concerns of employers who are weighing their options on whether to remain in New York or relocate are critical to preserving the economic foundations that New Yorkers rely on.
I am hoping that New Yorkers in general, most of whom do not keep up with politics in depth, can be reminded of the importance of this year’s elections to their future. Moreover, with the advent of ranked-choice voting, all New Yorkers need to know more about the nuances of policy proposals beyond slogans as they consider their options for ranking not just one, but up to five candidates in order of preference.
So I’ve compiled a list of questions that I hope will help shed light on candidates’ priorities. Our questions should include the following:
- What is your comprehensive vision for New York City’s economic recovery in ways that push hard for economic equality as well as job creation, corporate civic responsibility and community engagement, entrepreneurship and sustainability?
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Deadline to Switch Party Enrollment Is Feb. 14. Not a registered Democrat but want to vote in the June Democratic primary? If so, the deadline to switch your party affiliation is February 14. You can use the regular voter registration form to switch your party affiliation. Download the form at the BOE website vote.nyc. A change of enrollment received by the BOE not later than Feb. 14 will be effective immediately.
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Three Parks Congratulates Georgia Winners
Last month, Three Parks members made hundreds of phone calls and wrote thousands of postcards to support Democrats Rev. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff in the Georgia Senate run-off election. So following the Democratic sweep on January 6, which flipped control of the Senate to the Democrats, we were delighted to congratulate the winners. The Three Parks Board sent letters to both victorious candidates, as well as to Stacey Abrams, whose extraordinary organizing efforts helped make the win possible. The Board also wrote to Sen. Chuck Schumer to congratulate him on becoming Senate Majority Leader and to express our support for a progressive legislative agenda.
The letters to Warnock, Ossoff, and Abrams praised each of them as "a beacon of hope and a stellar example of what grassroots efforts can accomplish." Read the complete letter to Abrams by clicking here.
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Wednesday, Jan. 27, 7:00 PM
Three Parks Board Meeting
Wednesday, Jan. 27, 8:00 PM Three Parks Club Meeting
Endorsement Vote for Mayor
Wednesday, Feb. 10, 8:00 PM
Three Parks Club Meeting
Endorsement Vote for Judges and Judicial Delegates
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Wednesday, Feb. 24, 8:00 PM
Three Parks Board Meeting
Wednesday, Mar. 10, 8:00 PM
Three Parks Club Meeting
Election of Three Parks Board
Wednesday, Mar. 24, 8:00 PM
Three Parks Board Meeting
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The opinions expressed in this newsletter are those of the authors of the articles and are not necessarily representative of Three Parks.
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President
Lorraine Zamora
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District Leaders
Bob Botfeld
Cynthia Doty
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State Committee
Lynn Thomas
Daniel Marks Cohen
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Print, cut out, and mail this form.
2021 MEMBERSHIP FORM
New Member __________ Renewal __________
Membership Category(check one)
Individual ($25) __________
Family: two adults in the same household ($40) __________
Low Income ($15) __________ Low Income Family ($20) __________
Sponsor ($50) __________ Patron ($100) __________
Name _____________________________________________ Date __________________________
Address ____________________________________________________ Apt. # _______________
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Phone (Home) ________________________________ (Cell) ____________________________
Email _______________________________________________________________________________
Check here ______ if you prefer to receive the newsletter solely by email.
Please pay your dues with a check, money order or via PayPal by following this link to the Three Parks website. Please make out all checks to Three Parks Independent Democrats.
Mail to: Three Parks Independent Democrats
Cathedral Station, P.O. Box 1316
New York, NY 10025
Attention: Treasurer
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