At the May 11th meeting, VID endorsements for City-Wide candidates were voted upon after reports from the Voter Outreach, Environment, Affordable Housing and Gala Committees.
The VID endorsements for City-Wide candidates followed a highly successful and well-publicized Candidates Night at the LGBT Center on May 2nd [read The Villager’s coverage]and the general meeting’s focus on Club committee work and community issues.
You can read the full meeting minutes here.
The meeting began with a request from President Erik Coler to the membership to itemize a list of community concerns. The responses included tax issues, civil rights protections, parks, after school programs, a new bathroom in the Jefferson Market Library. Also mentioned were bike racks, broken sidewalks, potholes, “curb cut” ramps, less stop and frisk, noisy clubs, mental health care, more mom and pop stores and small business in general. Also traffic congestion, lack of coordination at construction sites, participatory budgeting, and fair wages for service employees, eliminating tipping. There was, additionally a big discussion about the coming work on the L train, and how that would affect the neighborhood, along with the need for more benches, elevators and escalators in the MTA.
Laurie Hardjowirogo, chair of the Voter Outreach Committee reported on their work to support Democratic candidates in Republican held Congressional Districts. CD 19 currently held by John Faso has been a target of their efforts. John Patrick Maloney’s Town Hall in Faso territory attracted over five hundred people, along with members of the activist group Indivisible. More of these will be held, with Kirsten Gillebrand, Chris Murphy, and others. The object is to raise money and attract volunteers to organize voters to overturn such Republican seats.
Nat Johnson’s Environment Committee reported on progress in curbside composting pick-up. Community Board #2 approved a resolution calling for this type of curb-side pick-up. He also reported that Deputy Commissioner Bridget Anderson had set goals for recycling, with zero waste going to landfills by 2030. Single stream recycling is targeted for 2020, but organic compost is contaminated with plastic bags and must be separated. But, for every ten buildings that commit to curbside composting, the city will send a truck for pickup. Already StuyTown is committing to organic recycling. This summer, on July 25, there will be a Food Waste Fair at the Brooklyn Expo Center.
Nadine Hoffman, co chair of the Gala Committee, announced that the event grossed $37,170.00, with over 150 attendees. Dr. Alec Pruchnicki donated $150 by selling 15 copies of his book for $10 each and donating the money.
In the Affordable Housing arena, Erik Coler gave an update on the 421a tenants initiative. You can read about in The Villager. In early June, he will be going to buildings where units have been illegally destabilized, and advise them to sign onto a lawsuit on a contingency basis.
And the winners of VID City-Wide endorsements were:
Borough President – Gale Brewer
Comptroller – Scott Stringer
Public Advocate– Letitia James
Mayor – Bill DeBlasio