Village Independent Democrats

Fair Wages for New Yorkers Act, City Council Intro 251-A

Zella Jones — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 04:43:40 +0000

At the January 12th membership meeting the Village Independent Democrats endorsed a letter to City Council Speaker Christine Quinn applauding support for the revised version of the Fair Wage for New Yorkers Act affecting about 1,000 workers in some companies doing business with the City of New York and urging its rapid passage.

VID also urged that the City Council pursue a wage guaranty bill to ensure that all New Yorkers who work earn enough to live.

Letter to Council Speaker Quinn

VID Calls Upon the President and Congress to Restore US Citizen Rights

Zella Jones — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 04:12:24 +0000

At the January 12th membership meeting, the Village Independent Democrats passed a resolution calling upon the US Senate and House of Representatives to repeal and remove the provision of the National Defense Administration Act (NDAA) that authorizes the President to indefinitely detain American Citizens arrested on U.S. soil.

NDAA Oppostion Cover Letter to President Obama

NDAA Opposition Cover Letter to Senators Schumer and Gillibrand

February 9th General Meeting – UPDATE

Zella Jones — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:42:14 +0000

Minister Michael Ellick of Judson Church

Village Independent Democrats February General Meeting will be held on Feb. 9th at 7:30 p.m. , at St John’s Lutheran Church, 83 Christopher Street (betw Bleecker and West 4th Streets).

Our speaker will be Minister Michael Ellick of Judson Church. He will be introduced by District Leader Keen Berger. His subject will include Occupy Wall Street, its relationship with Judson Church and the progressive religious community, and its future.

The Redistricting Dance

Zella Jones — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 19:59:15 +0000

Redistricting proposal for NYS has just been released, and has come under great criticism and a possible veto by Cuomo. There has been some coverage on The Cityroom blog at the NY Times and at DNA Info

You can see the proposed new lines and compare them to the old ones at the legislative redistrict website.

The just-released proposed district lines for the 66th AD can be seen here. For proposed 27th Senate District go here.

And here’s the schedule for Public Hearings.
In Manhattan the hearing is on Thursday, February 2nd at 10:30 am,
250 Broadway
Assembly Hearing Room, 19th Floor
New York, NY 10007

Jonathan

February 9th General Meeting – Save the Date

Zella Jones — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 05:54:20 +0000

St. John's Lutheran Church, 83 Christopher St.

The Village Independent Democrats February General Meeting will be held on Feb. 9th at 7:30 p.m. , at St John’s Lutheran Church, 83 Christopher Street (betw Bleecker and West 4th Streets).

The agenda and panel topic will be posted in an update.

January 12th Forum on Living Wage Legislation

Zella Jones — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 17:07:04 +0000

The speakers on the Living Wage Panel, Richard Brenner and Matt Klein

On Thursday, January 12th VID hosted a discussion on pending New York City Council Living Wage legislation. The speakers, Richard Brenner and Matt Klein representing the Housing Conservation Coordinators and the West Side Neighborhood Alliance provided a lively and informative presentation and handled a multitude of questions from the VID audience.

VID then passed a resolution supporting the Living Wage proposal and urging Council Speaker Christine Quinn to support the bill and to promptly take action to enact it.

For more background on the Living Wage campaign go to: http://www.livingwagenyc.org/

UPDATES – January 13, 2012:

Speaker Quinn Announces City Council Compromise on Wage, NY Times, Jan 13, 2012

Comments on legislation from Stuart Appelbaum, President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, and Council Members G. Oliver Koppell, Annabel Palma, Inez Dinckens and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr.

VID Elects New Officers and Executive Committee

Zella Jones — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 01:25:03 +0000

Here are the results from VID’s elections for the remaining 2012 Officers and Executive Committee:

Treasurer: Celia Wu

Recording Secretary: Katharine Wolpe will serve as Acting Recording Secretary

Corresponding Secretary: Annette Zaner

Executive Committee

Frieda Bradlow

Georgina Christ

Tom Connor

Peter Crosta

Eli Hausknecht

Nadine Hoffmann

Tony Hoffmann

Teresa Hommel

Kathy Jacobson

Nat Johnson

Rachel Lavine

Ellen Peterson-Lewis

Tim McNerney

Yvonne Sherwell

Yayoi Tsuchitani

VID General Membership Meeting, January 12, 2012

Celia Wu — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 20:08:35 +0000

St. John's Lutheran Church, 83 Christopher St.

VID’s next General Membership Meeting will be on on Thursday, January 12, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 83 Christopher Street (betw Bleecker and West 4th Streets).

Congratulations to our officers. Here are the results of VID electionss held on December 4, 2011.
President: Jonathan Geballe; Vice Presidents: Deley Gazinelli, Katharine Wolpe, Sharon Woolums.

JAN 12th AGENDA UPDATE:
1. District Leaders report.

2. Elections: Treasurer, Corresponding Sec,, Recording Sec., Executive Committee. Members are qualified to vote if they have been members in good standing for 90 days. Please arrive before 7:30 to sign in and get your ballot.

3. Living Wage Panel

4. Agenda items

V.I.D. General Membership Meeting, November 10, 2011

Celia Wu — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 12:58:26 +0000

Congressman Jerrold Nadler speaks about the economic crisis. Photographer: David Lin, Washington Square News

Forum on “THE U.S. ECONOMIC CRISES” Thursday, November 10, 2011, 8 p.m. with Congressman Jerrold Nadler and author Jeff Madrick, moderated by VID’s Tony Hoffman.

Please join us as Congressmen Nadler updates Democrats on what is going on in Washington as vital decisions are reached that will affect our economic future and the 2012 elections.

Jeff Madrick will provide incisive analysis of this Age of Greed. Washington Post Book Review, July 2011.

The free forum concludes with a question/answer period.

Date: Thursday, November 10, 2011
Time: General Membership Meeting is at 7:30. Forum starts at 8:00 p.m.
Location: Greenwich House, 27 Barrow Street (near 7th Ave.), 5th Floor.

UPDATE: Read coverage in The Villager here; See coverage in the Washington Square News, here or watch video coverage of Mr. Madrick’s remarks here.

VID Primary Voting Recommendations- September 13, 2011

Celia Wu — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 02:44:38 +0000

District Leaders Brad Hoyllman and Keen Berger with Assemblymember Deborah Glick at PS3 in 2006

To: VID
From: Brad Hoylman and Keen Berger, your District Leaders

Thanks to the wonderful petitioners, most of the 66th Assembly District has no Democratic Primary on September 13. That means we will be your District Leaders for two more years. We are very grateful.
Of all the 62 Election Districts on the 66th, Part A (our turf), only six will be open for voting on Primary day, Sept. 13.

County Committee – 073/66, vote for 3

Votes at the Brittany–VID endorsed Tom Connor and Teresa Hommel.
Harriet Fields, 644 Broadway, New York, NY 10012
Mary Ann Brady, 31 East 12th Street, New York, NY 10003
Tom Connor, 39 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10003–advocate for Seniors, among others.
Teresa Hommel. 10 St. Marks Place, New York, NY 10003–advocate for better voting procedures, and many community issues.
The next two, vote at PS 3

County Committee 87th Election district [vote for 2]
Irene Kaufman–40 Perry Street, NY, NY 10014. Endorsed by VID. Irene is a tireless and brilliant advocate for better, and less crowded schools.
Peter Falk
Yelena Falk

County Committee – 083/66. Vote for 2 [County Committee] 83th Election District The VID endorsed Joseph DiMattia.
Andrew D. Macvicar, 59 West 10th Street, New York, NY 10011
Sylvia DiPietro, 55 West 14th Street, 4H, New York, NY 10011
Joseph Dimattia, 156 Sullivan Street, 21, New York, NY 10012

There is also a Civil Court race(3rd District) in the north side of our district. Three of our EDs are involved: 102, 103 (voting at the LGBT center), and 116 (which votes at PS 70). This race is between Tony Cannataro and Sabrina Kraus. VID endorsed Tony Cannataro as did the New York Times.

Immediately downtown (66th Part B) all the EDs have a District Leader race between David Reck(incumbent, husband of VID, v.p., Eli Hausknecht) and John Scott. Many VID people will be involved.