Candidates for the 11th Congressional District:

Transcription

1 January 2018 Staten Island Democratic Association est as Staten Island s reform Democratic Club At our Next Meeting: Candidates for the 11th Congressional District: Michael DeCellis Paul Sperling Election of Executive Committee Candidates Tuesday, January 16, 2018, 8:00 P.M. ATU 726 Union Hall, 3948 Amboy Road (enter from Hillside Terrace) ** NOTE MEETING LOCATION* S.I.D.A. January 2018 Page 1

2 Editorial Policy Items for publication should be submitted to the newsletter no later than the last Friday of the month before the meeting. Please send items to: Unless explicitly stated, the views herein are those of the authors and not of S.I.D.A. Chris Bauer, Editor (917) Table of Contents S.I.D.A. President s Statement... 3 Michael DeCillis... 4 Paul Sperling... 6 December 2017 Minutes... 7 Executive Committee Candidate Statements Congressional Candidates Schedule Bulletin Board LVMSF Application Upcoming Meetings Renewal Form I hold it, that a little rebellion, now and then, is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms are in the physical. - Thomas Jefferson 1787 Submission Deadlines for the newsletter are: February... February 5 March... March 5 April... April 2 S.I.D.A. Executive Committee President... Bobby Digi Member at-large... Clara Ogburn Vice President... Radhakrishna Mohan Member at-large... Liz Price Executive Secretary... Dennis Brown Member at-large... Vacant Corresponding & Ex Officio... Michelle Akyempong Recording Secretary... Marie Dwyer Ex Officio... Belinda Dixon Treasurer... Bonita Rothman Ex Officio... Joann Olbrich Social Secretary... Sharon Santana Ex Officio... Rosemarie Mangano Member at-large... Pearl Minsky Ex Officio... John Mastellone Member at-large... Roy Moskowitz Ex Officio... Tom Shcherbenko S.I.D.A. January 2018 Page 2

3 S.I.D.A. President s Statement January 2018 T he past year has been nothing short of a roller coaster ride, one that has seen all of us scrambling to understand or keep up with President Trump and his ill thought-out policies. These policies are released randomly and sporadically, for instance the Muslim travel ban which has the country and the international community confused, with the courts still handling this issue. According to Vice News, our Democratic leaders promised activists that they would push Congress for a solution on deferred action for childhood arrivals (a.k.a. DACA) before the end of the year, and as of the last week of December that did not happen. Sadly, our Democratic leaders reneged on their promise, declining to fight for a DACA replacement in a year-end spending bill to avert a government shutdown - the only real opportunity they had to force the Republicans hand on the matter. In order to include the voices of our Dreamers or DACA recipients, I reached out to one of the movement s emerging leaders, Cesar Vargas, who is like a little brother to me. I wanted to understand how to be true allies and offer meaningful support, before President Trump succeeds in using them as bargaining chips. These are Cesar Vargas requests: 1) Become committed allies to support the immigrant community - hold fundraisers for families, volunteers. 2) District 11 Congressional candidates need to be vocal on DACA and immigration issues. 3) New York State Democratic leadership should be bold on state initiatives like drivers licenses and legal funding for immigrant communities 4) The $10 million that was secured for legal services in the budget needs to be renewed for Staten Island Democrats have been supportive but we need more action. The new tax laws are generating plenty of concerns amongst businesses who worry about attracting workers and homeowners, and there are changes in deductions and property taxes especially impacting New Yorkers. As the cities become even more expensive than lower tax areas, states are still figuring out their response to the new law. Thanks to Governor Cuomo of New York, and he is going to provide a more detailed plan when he presents the State Budget in mid-january. Recently the Governor communicated in the New York Times about a possible redesign of our tax law to get us out of the federal trap that the President set. It was nice to see that Governor Cuomo signed an Executive Order that let New Yorkers pre-pay their 2018 property taxes in 2017 before the new deduction formula takes effect; several other states and local governments followed suit. These are the types of radical progressive steps that we need from Albany, responding with fire for fire against a President who appears to be at war with his own people, constantly pandering to his smaller base, fueling a national divide in Let s see where we go in Speaking of Albany, corruption trials, presidential intrigue and plans to flip the Senate are all on the agenda as Albany's 2018 state legislative sessions begin this Wednesday, January 3, and continue into June. It is going to be messy in Albany according to New York lawmakers as reported in the Wall Street Journal. Stakes are high as 213 legislators are up for re-election this year. So what are we, as an association, to do, and where do we find ourselves in all of this. For starters, I have asked Tom Feeney, Governor Cuomo's representative to Staten Island, to present (at our January general meeting) a State of the State summary of what the governor will be S.I.D.A. January 2018 Page 3

4 presenting at his official State of the State Address. It is critical that,while we plan our 2018 approach and strategies, we have first-hand and accurate information from Albany. Many of our members have expressed unhappiness with Senator Diane Savino s involvement with the IDC, and she also has been very vocal about the successes of the IDC. However, it does appear that a deal may be in the works for reconciliation if a Democratic majority wins in upcoming special elections in the New York Senate. The Staten Island Democratic Association will be involved in all aspects of the battle to push our mission and vision for 2018; we have used all of 2017 to set the groundwork. I implore all of our members to get ready to be more active than they have ever been; there is a storm coming! Bobby Digi President Michael DeCillis Mike DeCellis is a candidate for the 11 th Congressional District and will be one of our guest speakers at our January 16 Annual Meeting. His campaign provided the following statement. In His Own Words I 'm moved and motivated by the people I meet daily throughout Staten Island and Brooklyn, who share serious common concerns about the direction we are headed as a nation, and how we are all personally affected-our jobs, our schools, our healthcare, our taxes, our civil rights. We need someone who will actually listen to the people in our district, and provide a clear voice in Washington. This is why I am running for Congress. I have spent over 25 years in public service, working as a paramedic, New York City police officer, attorney, and teacher. My experience leaves me uniquely qualified to take on the issues that matter most to our district. It s not about slogans - it s about experience. This district is my home.i'm from here, I live here, and I care deeply about how my family, friends and neighbors are affected by events in Washington. I will answer only to the people of the 11 th Congressional district, not special interests. If elected as your member of Congress I will fight for your family, as hard as I have fought my entire life for the communities I've served to ensure you have the best opportunities to earn a S.I.D.A. January 2018 Page 4

5 good living, take care of sick loved ones, have your children receive the best education possible, and retire with dignity. About Mike Born and raised on Staten Island, Mike grew up in the same neighborhoods that his grandparents and great-grandparents worked and lived for over a century. His parents, both public school teachers, instilled in Mike the drive to serve his community. Mike has spent over 25 years in public service, working as a paramedic, New York City police officer, attorney, and teacher. As a 9/11 first responder, he saw firsthand the terror that befell us all, and committed himself to the safety and security of New York City. As a decorated New York City police officer, Mike worked to build lasting relationships that promoted real communication between the department and the communities he served. As a civil litigation attorney, he studied our laws and our Constitution and recognizes the fragility of our democracy, and how we need true leadership to ensure that the rights of all people are respected and enforced. As a special education teacher, Mike works with students on the autism spectrum in District 75 schools, committed to ensuring all students, regardless of ability or disability, access meaningful, quality public education without restrictions. As a proud member of the Police Benevolence Association and the United Federation of Teachers, Mike stands with the men and women in unions as they fight the onslaught of right-towork legislation, outsourcing, dangerous workplace conditions, and the stripping away of their pensions. Mike has a B.A. from Kalamazoo College, an M.S.Ed. from Hunter College, and a J.D. from New York Law School. Mike will stand by his life-long convictions, and answer only to the residents of NY-11. As your Congressman, he will: Combat income inequality provide tax relief for middle and lower income earners; eliminate tax loopholes for the wealthy; simplify tax code; advocate for a living wage. Promote small business in the district - ensure infrastructure needs are met to accommodate businesses and traffic in the district. Protect unions - fight against Right to Work legislation, ensure NLRB remains intact, without changes to arbitration process making unfair labor practice claims more costly and difficult to file. Bring federal dollars into the district to fund infrastructure and transportation projects - we ve had the studies, now let s build the transportation network that will move people where they need to go. Focus on community policing - support police practices that reduce crime, while respecting the rights of residents. Work towards single-payer healthcare - fight against Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) to lower drug prices, improve the ACA while working towards providing health coverage to all Americans. Address the opioid crisis - increase mental health funding; ensure first-responder access to naloxone; work to fund in-patient and outpatient substance abuse facilities in the district; address pharmaceutical industry flooding of the market. Defend rights of the LGBTQ community - Ensure laws are enforced equally, work to promote understanding, and fight against hate, fear, and discrimination. S.I.D.A. January 2018 Page 5

6 Fight for disability rights - ensure disabled are provided equal access to schooling/vocational programs; ensure Medicaid remains fully funded, providing necessary services to ensure those who are disabled can remain independent. Fight for common-sense gun laws - as a gun owner, Mike is proud to fail every test the NRA gives. It s not about grades, it about saving American lives. Protect women s rights - protect the right to choose, and Planned Parenthood s mission to provide healthcare to millions; fight for equal pay, and paid family leave. Defend public education - ensure public schools remain funded and strong; fight against school voucher programs; promote more high school vocational programs. Protect the environment - ensure the EPA remains funded, promote green energy solutions, protect Staten Island and Brooklyn shorelines from erosion/storms; ensure building developments don t affect local ecosystem. Promote comprehensive immigration reform - work to retain DAPA/DACA; ensure NYC remains a sanctuary city; fight inhumane deportation programs. Protect veterans - ensure deployment funding includes money for care of veterans upon return; screen all returning veterans for PTSD services; increase access to mental health services; promote better VA system that eases access and treatment; work to end horrific suicide rate among veterans, currently 22 per day. Mike s campaign website is: Paul Sperling Paul Sperling is a candidate for the 11 th Congressional District and will be one of our guest speakers at our January 16 Annual Meeting. His campaign provided the following statement. P aul Sperling is a born and raised Staten Islander. A millennial, an organizer, a small businessman, and a political scientist, educated at Wagner High School and the College of Staten Island. Once elected, Paul will be the youngest member of Congress in the 21 st century. He is running to take a fresh eye to solve many of the longstanding problems plaguing our community and our country. As an organizer, Paul has worked on issues as simple as clean water, and as complex as civil rights. He worked with Clean Water Action to ban fracking and preserve clean tap water for thousands of people in the New York City region. S.I.D.A. January 2018 Page 6

7 Paul also fought to reduce discriminatory policing by helping to pass the NYC Community Safety Act. And fought to pass the USA Freedom Act, which makes it harder for the federal government to remotely check your phone or computer without a warrant. What ties these issues together, from his fight for clean water, to his fight against discriminatory policing and warrantless wiretapping, is Paul s strong conviction that America should secure the human rights of all of its people. For far too long, thousands in our community have gone without the essential healthcare that they need. Have gone without a career that can help sustain their family and community. Have gone without a raise that keeps up with the cost of living. Have gone without an effective public transit system. Have gone without an affordable education. And have gone without affordable childcare. The people of our community deserve better. But if we want better, we will have to stand up and demand a government and economy that works for us. The executives are in the board room, plotting to increase their profit margins by cutting salaries, cutting benefits, reducing corporate taxes, and raising prices. We see it all around us every day. Paul s campaign is fighting reverse the tide. By bringing working people together to demand an economy and a government that works for us, not just the executives in the boardroom. Paul is fighting to get the working class the raises we deserve. To bring careers to our island that will sustain our families and communities. To rebuild our infrastructure. To build new rail lines to Staten Island. To pass Medicare for All. To get money out of politics. To make unions strong again. To make public college free for all students. And to make childcare accessible for every parent. Paul s campaign website is December 2017 Minutes P General Meeting December 19, 2017 ATU 726 Union Hall resident Digi called the meeting to order at 8:25 p.m. at the ATU 726 Union Hall in Great Kills. He apologized for the fact that people had to wait to get into the hall and thanked them for their patience and thanked all those that helped set up. President Digi urged members to sign the attendance sheet and to consider contributing towards the refreshments and the use of the hall. Vice President s Report Vice President Radhakrishna Mohan provided members with the highlights from the recent Executive Committee meeting held on November 30. By-Laws Committee Committee Chair Joann Olbrich reported that she incorporated a recent revision to the club s bylaws. The revision, which the club members approved in the November meeting, was to increase S.I.D.A. January 2018 Page 7

8 the number of Members at-large from five to seven. The revision was published in the November newsletter and Joann also mentioned that the club s website will also be updated to reflect the change. Treasurer s Report Treasurer Bonnie Rothman provided members with the current treasurer s report. She reminded members that the usable funds is less than the actual balance on record since funds from the Prisco Essay contest are being held in S.I.D.A. s account and we have to keep $1,500 as a cushion in the account. Social Secretary s Report Social Secretary Sharon Santana reported that the All Dems Holiday Party was held on December 6 th and she thinks everyone enjoyed it. Monthly Minutes President Digi made a motion to accept the November minutes as published in the newsletter. Dennis Brown seconded the motion. The motion carried. Motion Voted On by Club Members at the October Meeting There are up to eight candidates who announced or plan to announce their intention to run on the Democratic line in the 11 th Congressional District. In order to give members a chance to hear from the candidates before the petition period begins, beginning with the November 17 meeting, the club will invite two announced candidates or more each month to address the club. Guest Speaker Zach Emig, a Democratic candidate for the 11 th Congressional District, was the guest speaker. Dennis Brown provided the speaker with guidelines regarding the amount of time he could speak. Mr. Emig, told members that we have made it through 2017, and he extended holiday greetings to everyone present. He explained that the central theme for his campaign for the congressional seat is Justice. He asked for the club s support, energy and their vote to tip the scales in Congress towards justice: economic, health care, and political. Mr. Emig said that he feels that is the message all Democrats should march under. Zach Emig, an S.I.D.A. member and bond trader, mentioned that justice is simple but not easy. He spoke about his education, and mentioned that he has four children. Mr. Emig told members his first act of campaigning was not to hire a consultant or polling firm but to publish a 30 page governing plan available at the next meeting and downloadable now which lays out exactly how he plans to get results. After speaking a bit about economic justice, healthcare justice, and political justice, Zach invited members to ask questions. Mr. Emig s website is In closing, Mr. Emig thanked the club for inviting him to speak. He said he hopes everyone will sign his petition, support his campaign and donate money. S.I.D.A. January 2018 Page 8

9 Executive Committee Candidates The following candidates running for Executive Committee officer positions briefly spoke to club members: President Bobby Digi Vice President Radhakrishna Mohan Executive Secretary Dennis Brown Social Secretary Sharon Santana Corresponding & Recording Secretary Marie Dwyer Treasurer Bonnie Rothman The following candidates running for Member at-large also briefly spoke to club members: Victoria Apostol-Marius Ruben Adeshuko Pat Kane Phil Marius Pearl Minsky Roy Moskowitz Clara Ogburn Liz Price Jasmine Robinson Michele Karlsberg and Dami-Jo Patterson were also running for Member -at Large but did not speak to members because they were not at the meeting. Michele Karlsberg has since withdrawn her name due to unforeseen circumstances. President Digi mentioned that 2018 is going to be a year for real work. He hopes to keep Trump from causing further problems. President Digi thanked the Nominating Committee for their work. He reminded all candidates running that the election will be held in January and asked them to dress for winning and a photo. Dennis reminded members that Chris Bauer puts together the monthly newsletter and it s important to get information to him on time. Deadline for January s newsletter is January 2, Candidates running for club office must by the end of December, 2017 a short statement to Chris (up to 200 words or less) discussing their ideas and what they feel they can contribute to the club. Cindy Voorspuy reminded members that the deadline for submitting an application for the Lathrope Voorspuy Memorial Scholarship is February 20. It is a non-partisian 501(c) (3) organization whose mission is to encourage grass-roots activism by underwriting the cost for students in programs to train for community organizing, or political candidacies. The awards are open to people of all ages. She explained that the application will be in the January newsletter and on the LVMS Facebook page. S.I.D.A. January 2018 Page 9

10 Joann Olbrich made a motion to take a full page ad ($150) in South Shore Dem s Sparkle of Winter Journal and also to purchase one ticket to send President Digi to the event which is scheduled for January 7, Dennis Brown seconded the motion. The motion carried. President Digi wished everyone a Happy Holiday. The meeting was adjourned at 10:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted by Marie Dwyer Corresponding & Recording Secretary Executive Committee Candidate Statements We will elect our Executive Committee at our January 16, 2018 Annual Membership Meeting. In addition to having had an opportunity to present themselves at the December 19, 2017 General Membership Meeting, the candidates were asked to submit a 200 word statement for publication in the newsletter. Here are those statements. Statements for contested seats are printed in order received. O ffice... President Candidate... Bobby Digi Greetings fellow S.I.D.A. members, I write to you all requesting your support for another term. We have laid the foundation to build our house and make a major mark in It's been tough rallying, advocating, posting, and contributing dollars for local races, and also towards advancing the message, vision and goals of our organization and the Democratic Party. I want to recap some of our 2017 gains and foundational work to build on for We have begun to engage a wider and younger base of grassroots progressive Democrats on Staten Island. It all started with our inaugural inauguration, which was a great platform and opportunity for us to launch our year-long campaign educating and engaging our Staten island progressive base that had lost interest in the democratic process given the win of President Trump. We planned and hosted a candidates forum that drew record numbers of voters for one of the most contested races in a while, the North Shore City Council race. There were many lessons and takeaways from this event: appearing on NY1 News allowed me to represent S.I.D.A. s view to a wider audience, while I discussed the forum I also shared my vision for the organization. Under the leadership of our Executive Secretary Dennis Brown and member Richard Reichard we have begun to focus on local candidacy training and education, an area we have discovered we can provide support and enlightenment to for the benefit of our Democratic Party. In 2018 we will advance this initiative initially by assisting our congressional candidates. We have also started our Congressional Candidates Forums ahead of the curve so that we can operate in a more strategic and decisive manner to have a better shot at the congressional seat in Brooklyn progressive groups and S.I.D.A., along with other newly-formed Staten Island grass-roots organizations have begun to interface more and more, a rarity in previous years. New York City stands united in defending the American dream not just for citizens but for our new immigrant brothers and sisters who are constantly being attacked and victimized by this administration and its hostile policies. On the issue of DACA, I have visited our current Republican Congressman Dan Donovan twice, both times with a group of active community S.I.D.A. January 2018 Page 10

11 leaders and organizations. These visits were set up to remind our Congressman to not only vote in favor of DACA but to take a leadership role instead of going along with the administration. Another visit was to push the vote on the Affordable Care Act. Again we saw the administration in its thirst to gut Obamacare, taking very unethical steps to repeal; fortunately we prevailed as we hope to do in the case of DACA. I want the Staten Island Democratic Association to be poised and focused to lead the charge in This means we need to capitalize on all our successes in 2017, and take into account any of our missteps, for the betterment of, and a more successful, 2018 when we hope to move onward to a congressional win, and then laying the groundwork for a great Office... Vice President Candidate... Radhakrishna Mohan I arrived in the United States as an immigrant in 1989, raised my family in Staten Island, and built a successful career with my union salary on the values of hard work. I became a Labor Union Leader, held and am holding various roles such as Council Leader, Board Member, Chair of Workers Compensation Committee and Statewide IT Committee member. I also spent the next two decades serving the Staten Island community in various roles: Community Board 1 Member Member, Police Precinct Community Council (successfully completing the Police Civilian Academy) to improve quality of life in Staten Island. Member of Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Member of the Interfaith group and Building Bridges, raised thousands of dollars for charities First Responder and Blood Captain at the workplace. As Director of Sports for Staten Island Cricket Club, conduct Youth Cricket coaching Executive Board Member, Lathorpe Voorspuy Memorial Scholarship Fund Executive Board Member, Alice Austen House Second Vice President, South Shore Democratic Club, Staten Island. I have a Master s Degree in Economics and an Associate Degree in Computer Science, and have been working as a New York State IT Specialist for the last 27 years. I am running for Congress as a candidate for the 11 th Congressional District comprising of Staten Island and part of Brooklyn in the upcoming 2018 elections. Office... Executive Secretary Candidate...Dennis Brown The Executive Secretary shall assist the President and Executive Committee in the administration of club activities and duties. Active in S.I.D.A. for many years, I ve served two terms as Vice President, two terms as President, three years as an Ex-Officio Member, and am now seeking a third term as Executive Secretary. Since 1973, I have participated in various S.I.D.A. activities and was later endorsed by S.I.D.A. as an insurgent Liberal- Democrat in the 1978 South Shore Assembly race. As well, I ve been an Executive Committee Member of the Richmond County Democratic Party for over 15 years. This past year, I faithfully served as Executive Secretary, pro-actively supported the mission of S.I.D.A. and facilitated the excellent leadership of President Bobby Digi and S.I.D.A. s Executive Committee. I pledge to assist S.I.D.A. as we go forward into the 2018 local and national political contests. We have much to do to sharpen our focus on issues, to reorganize, and S.I.D.A. January 2018 Page 11

12 to keep S.I.D.A. in the forefront of political relevance, activism and positive results. We must all continue our fight for justice, peace, health care, education, dignity and equality for everyone, in the time-honored tradition of S.I.D.A. Office... Corresponding and Recording Secretary Candidate... Marie Dwyer I feel very honored to be nominated to run for the position of Corresponding & Recording Secretary again this year. I have served in this position for many years, and I would like to continue to work with S.I.D.A. s Executive Committee this coming year. I find reporting on the various General and Executive Committee meetings both challenging and rewarding as I strive to do the best job I can. I plan to help the club in any way I can. I really enjoy working with S.I.D.A. s Executive Committee to help plan interesting meetings and events, but most importantly uniting to help get more Democratic candidates elected to public office on Staten Island and in Brooklyn. I feel that I have learned so much about grassroots activism and politics as an S.I.D.A. member and officer, and there is always more to learn. I believe that that each of our voices count, and that we all need to take a stand in what we believe in. I am very concerned by the current state of affairs in this country and realize now more than ever it is important to keep on working together to help bring about positive changes which ultimately affect the lives of so many people. I like to be part of paving the way for our young people because the future lies in the hands of our children and grandchildren. I look forward to the coming year and wish all the members and my fellow officers good health and happiness. Office... Social Secretary Candidate...Sharon Santana I am Sharon Santana and am running for a second term as Social Secretary. I would like to thank the nominating committee for putting my name forward for this position. I believe I have proven this past year that I have the ability to organize successful social functions for our club. I am a proud mom of two young men (and S.I.D.A. members as well) and a retired high school assistant principal (CSI HS). I spent the first sixteen years of my career teaching biology in an alternative high school in Brooklyn, working with students mainly from low income areas, many who were faced with challenges in life that made education a lower priority. In 1994, I became an Assistant Principal at Concord HS, another alternative school. In 1999, I asked for a transfer back to a Brooklyn school, where I lived at that time, when the cost of the bridge became too much and accepted an alternative school position in East New York. I am currently employed part-time by the Department of Education, mentoring/evaluating assistant principals and teachers. Dealing with the struggles of so many of my students and the issues they faced in their lives has only helped deepen my sense of responsibility and my desire to make a difference. I am an active member of the board of my temple, Congregation Ohel Abraham, for which I have organized several fundraisers. I am also a board member for my condominium development. I entered the political world was as a teenager, collecting signatures at the Avenue M station in Brooklyn and hanging campaign signs on lampposts around my neighborhood. After college, I became a Board of Elections poll worker for several years. S.I.D.A. January 2018 Page 12

13 Our club is so important to ensuring that the Progressive Democrats of the island get their views heard and considered, as well as getting our endorsed candidates elected. Following our last election, it is evident that this is more essential than ever. I look forward to having a bigger hand in that as a board member of S.I.D.A. Thank you for your consideration when casting your ballot at our January meeting. Office... Treasurer Candidate... Bonnie Rothman I am running for S.I.D.A. Treasurer because keeping track of your money provides you with a way to empower what you want to accomplish, once you decide what you want to do. I have been a member of S.I.D.A. for at least ten years during which time I attended meetings and slowly became more involved in activities. I think that it s important to hear about and to discuss political issues with others and not to be a citizen in isolation. I believe that Democrats must get back to being more assertive about the civil and economic rights of working people because democracy can only flourish from the bottom up. Right now we are in the process of losing our democracy because too many people voted from their anger and resentment and not with wisdom. Democrats also got lazy in 2010, a census year and an off-year election. They didn t turn out to vote and the resultant gerrymandering has caused, and will continue to cause, ordinary people tremendous suffering. The most important thing that citizens do is to vote intelligently, and not enough of us do it in every election. The statements for Members at-large are printed in the order they were received. There are eleven candidates running for seven positions. Office...Member at-large Candidate... Pearl Minsky Having served as a Member at-large on the Executive Committee for the last year, I feel more equipped to hold the position than I did when I was elected to the Executive Committee last year. I believe I did the job well as I was nominated to hold the position for another term. But, allow me to offer some more personal things to point out my qualifications. I have been a member of Democratic Clubs for approximately 50 years and have worked very hard on behalf of our candidates. One special experience was when I ran the campaign for a congressman who was running in the primary against our congressman who was indicted and was awaiting a trial. It was a sure thing that he would be convicted, however, the party decided to run him again. I did not believe he should run and, if he did win, he would be unable to serve the community for his full term because he would be jailed. (Does this sound familiar?) We won! At his request, I spent his first term working for him as his aide. I resigned for his second term. It was an informative and interesting experience, but it began to take up too much of my time with my children. P.S. His opponent was convicted, served time in prison and never ran for an office again. Currently, I am writing a column for the Advance in which I interview movers and doers on Staten Island. It has given me the opportunity to interview Bobby Diji, Mohan and Chris Bauer, three significant members of our club, who have served our community well. It has, also, given me the opportunity to meet with many significant and interesting people. I hope to do more in the future, but, I have to let you know that I will not ask someone I interview to which party that S.I.D.A. January 2018 Page 13

14 person belongs. I am knowledgeable about what is relevant to our community, as I am a member of Community Board 1, and would be able to bring good ideas, that would be helpful, from S.I.D.A. to the Executive Committee and vice versa. Office...Member at-large Candidate... Victoria Apostol-Marius I am interested in becoming a Member at-large because I believe in the potential of S.I.D.A. as a political democratic club to impact positively and progressively local politics. I am a new member of S.I.D.A., but I managed to learn the law of the land of the club and to familiarize myself with internal procedures and rules. I want to contribute with ideas, direct involvement, actions and voting power to advance S.I.D.A. s mission and goals, and being a Member at-large will allow me to do exactly that. I have experience in organizing and leading social movements, coordinating events and political campaigns, as well as public speaking, and writing and drafting articles and position papers. I hold two Master degrees, first in Gender, Policies and Minorities from the National University of Political and Administrative Studies, and second in Human Rights from the Central European University. I would like to thank the S.I.D.A. Nominating Committee for proposing my candidacy for the member at large position, and I hope to obtain your vote at the January Annual Meeting. Office...Member at-large Candidate... Jasmine Robinson Why choose me amongst the new and previous candidates? Besides being the prettiest (just a joke), I will attend the meetings and step up. Honestly, the same individuals keep getting elected and it is time for an upgrade! I would like to propose the following: some meetings on the weekends so we can accommodate people who work, and expanding our appeal to younger voters, women of color especially Black and Latino, and people who are disenfranchised. We should host town halls to become more involved with our communities. We could host forums or events so people can have a less apathetic view about politics. These forums may appeal to new voters who want to find their voice. I would like for S.I.D.A. to invite other democratic, independent and progressive groups so we can have one big meeting to discuss various issues and unite. Collectively we will build a stronger coalition to win North Shore, Mid-Island, and South Shore races. Let s carry that same energy that got Debi Rose re-elected, caused the great Alabama defeat, and will propel Adam Baumel to victory against Malliotakis and one of our democratic challengers to defeat Donovan! Office...Member at-large Candidate... Ruben Adeshuko I am a Staten Islander for over thirty years. I graduated from Baruch College, CUNY, BBA and MBA degrees from Wagner College, Staten Island. Earned a postgraduate diploma from Cornell University for Industrial Labor Relations with concentrations in Labor/Management Issues, Conflicts & Grievances Resolution, Organizing, and Mediation. I am married and blessed with three wonderful children. I worked in various employments but currently for the City of New York, HRA/DSS in a supervisory capacity. While my employment remains intact with the City of New York, I became an active Union Rep with Social Services Employees Union, Local rd largest local within the District Council 37 that oversees approximately 125,000 members. S.I.D.A. January 2018 Page 14

15 My community activities include but are not limited to organizing and participation in the birth of the 1 st Staten Island Black Heritage parade on Staten Island with Bobby Digi. I was politically engaged with the successful campaign and election of State Senator Diane Savino, Michael McMahon for the U.S. Congress, and Debi Rose for City Council. In this progressive Association I aspire to work as a team member to enhance the political objectives that enable various advancements in our community as well as to encourage interested candidates from within. Thanks. Office...Member at-large Candidate... Liz Price My 5 years of experience as S.I.D.A. Social Secretary enabled me to be a resourceful At- Large member of last year's Executive Committee, and I hope you will vote to let me continue that work. I have been an activist all my life. I remember going to "Ban the Bomb" rallies with my mother when I was a little girl. I've spent my life working for non-profit organizations that ranged from community circus and theatre to providing legal assistance for immigrants and people affected by HIV. I fought to protect tenants from condo conversions in Chicago, was the business manager for a multi-lingual community newspaper in San Francisco, and currently do legal research for the elderly and disabled. I worked for the Mobilization for Peace, Jobs, and Justice, and picked coffee in Nicaragua in response to Reagan's attacks on working people around the world. I see S.I.D.A. as the club that can do the most good for the progressive liberal democrats on Staten Island. I hope that you will re-elect me so that I can use my club experience and community organizing skills to make our club bigger and stronger. Office...Member at-large Candidate... Roy Moskowitz I d like to thank the Nominating Committee for considering me for an At-Large Executive Committee position. I m a 12 year S.I.D.A. member and am closing out my sixth year on the Executive Committee, which includes a Social Secretary stint. I volunteered for my first political campaign when I was 14 and was Syracuse University coordinator for California Senator Alan Cranston s 1984 Presidential run. I managed Richard Reichard s Congressional Campaign, was Communications Director for both of Steve Harrison s Congressional runs, and for Debi Rose in I ve also planned and bought media for many political campaigns. Since 1997, I ve owned Reciprocal Results, an ad agency and political consultancy. I am also Assemblymember Matt Titone s part-time Press Secretary and serve on the Richmond County Democratic County Committee. I have previously been the County Committee s webmaster and took over the S.I.D.A. website in I am also among our Facebook page s many administrators and set up both S.I.D.A. and County s credit card payment systems. I ve generated print and broadcast media coverage for S I D A, booked famous journalists as club meeting speakers and convinced MSNBC s Lawrence O Donnell to accept an honor and be our keynote speaker at our annual dinner. I am also a Club Service Award and Lathrope Voorspuy Scholarship winner. Over the last 56 years S.I.D.A. has been the Staten Island Democratic Party s pragmatic conscious. I would like to position us as the liberal counterpart to the heartless Tea Party and S.I.D.A. January 2018 Page 15

16 Trumpites, advancing progressive policy and causes, while still realizing we accomplish nothing if we don t win elections. Office...Member at-large Candidate... Phil Marius Our Democratic Party struggles today to recruit and retain members; and political and civic participation among us registered Democrats is low, even when our candidates and elected officials most need us. If this does not let Republicans win, it at least lets them lose by margins small enough to keep their hopes for future victory high. Such crisis calls for us Democrats at the local level to each adopt as a proud mission the revival of our Party. Following suit, I am pursuing a position of influence in our Club to see that this becomes the mission of S.I.D.A. I ask that you vote me into our Executive Committee, so that I may influence leadership decisions in ways that grow both our membership and our progressive prestige. This statement, I hope, will motivate you to support me for a Member at-large seat. If elected, I will work with my colleagues to organize a recruiting program. This program I envision will involve defining the progressive agenda concretely in partnership with our neighborhoods. This partnership would manifest itself as a series of discussion events (panels, roundtables, debates) or in-the- community actions such as door-to-door interviews. This way, our Party will become relevant again. Office...Member at-large Candidate... Patricia Kane Now more than ever, I believe S.I.D.A. has an important role in our community must indeed be a year of focused collective action. We must work to elect candidates who represent our values and can get the job done. Perhaps even more importantly, we must work to continue to build our progressive movement. S.I.D.A. has a tradition of educating, organizing and empowering its members and the community toward these goals. Working together, we can expand on that tradition. I believe our success depends on building unity both in our party and in our broader community. Through S.I.D.A.'s tradition of leadership, we can build unity by bringing people together over issues we all care about regardless of where we are on the political spectrum. We can further expand our outreach by building on S.I.D.A. s tradition of service by engaging with our community in activities like voter registration drives, campaign workshops, and Narcan training. S.I.D.A. made great strides in I ask for your support to serve as a Member at-large to build on that momentum. As an RN and current treasurer of the New York State Nurses Association, I will bring to this office practical skills and a commitment to service. Office...Member at-large Candidate...Clara Ogburn Again thank you to the S.I.D.A. Nominating Committee for allowing opportunity for me to be re-elected again to continue works begun with the S.I.D.A. Executive Committee for our S.I.D.A.. As a progressive organization we are expanding and aiming to mentor and contribute strongly towards the growth of membership and goals. As chairr of the S.I.D.A. Human Rights Committee we are planning to work with the advisement/direction of Steve Harrison, Esq. in undertaking the ambitious endeavor of amending S.I.D.A. January 2018 Page 16

17 the Articles concerning the Electoral College in our U.S. Constitution. Several S.I.D.A. members have already joined. Besides my other efforts within S.I.D.A., I also intend working with S.I.D.A. in reviewing and updating our S.I.D.A. by-laws as warranted by S.I.D.A. growth and needs over recent years. I appreciate your consideration in re-electing me again so I may continue contributing towards the growth and progression of our S.I.D.A. Office...Member at-large Candidate... Emanuel Dami Ojo-Patterson II It s truly an honor to be nominated to be a part of the Executive Committee for the Staten Island Democratic Association, which has been in existence for almost 57 years. Why I should be a part of the Executive Committee? I have a few reasons here: to show work ethic, leadership, supporting my fellow members in bringing change into the organization, and to bring in more people who want to see positive changes in the organization. I believe that S.I.D.A. can make a very strong difference not only locally, but domestically as well. As a young man, I have great ideas that can help improve the great work that S.I.D.A. is currently doing. I believe in empowering our local democratic officials in getting our voice to be heard on the challenges that the communities are facing. Being nominated for the Executive Committee requires patience, listening, teamwork, and having a great sense of understanding of what the organization needs to be very successful and for it to grow. I am ready to take in the responsibilities that lie ahead with being a part of the Executive Committee. Like what my parents always tell me, Humility is the best policy possible made for everyone. Office...Member at-large Candidate... Michele Karlsberg [Michele was nominated by the Nominating Committee but intervening events have led her to the decision to withdraw her candidacy.] Paid Advertising Paid Advertising Paid Advertising Paid Advertising WANTED Signs, posters, flyers, hats, buttons, t-shirts, etc. for an upcoming exhibit called: #art of the protest February 2018, at CANVAS Institute, 150 Victory Blvd. The show is a thematic collection of items used in the current resistance as well as an action center to continue the dialogue. Please contact Teresa Caliari at: olyas2000@hotmail.com to arrange for pick-up! S.I.D.A. January 2018 Page 17

18 Congressional Candidate Schedule H ere is the schedule for club appearances by Democratic candidates for the 11 th Congressional District: November 21, 2017 Michael DeVito Max Rose December 19, 2017 Zach Emig January 16, 2018 Paul Sperling Michael DeCillis February 20, 2018 Omar Vaid Radhakrishna Mohan Note Meeting Location: ATU 726 Union Hall 3948 Amboy Road (enter from Hillside Terrace) S.I.D.A. January 2018 Page 18

19 Bulletin Board Register at Bulletin Board Policy Items posted on the Bulletin Board are done so at the request of an S.I.D.A. member and are for informational purposes only. A posting on the Bulletin Board does not imply endorsement by S.I.D.A. S.I.D.A. January 2018 Page 19

20 Women's March Alliance Organizer of 2018 Women's March on NYC Join the world! On January 20 th NYC will raise its voice again to demand equality for all humans at the 2018 Women s March on NYC. Over the past year, basic rights for women, immigrants, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, the religious and nonreligious, people of color and even Mother Earth have struggled to survive under the weight of the current administration. America s First Amendment has been challenged and healthcare for millions has been threatened. We must stand together to demand and defend our rights. Let your voice echo from the streets of New York City to the capital city. Show the world that red, white and blue are colors of tolerance. The main entrance point will be between at 72nd & Central Park West. The rally (starting at 11:30EST) will be at Central Park West & 61st/62nd street. The full block in front of the stage (61st to 62nd on Central Park West) will be reserved for those with disabilities. The march (starting around 12:30EST) will go past Columbus Circle, East on 59th Street, and South on 6th Avenue with exits at 45th/44th/43rd streets. S.I.D.A. January 2018 Page 20

21 S.I.D.A. January 2018 Page 21

22 January 16, 2018 Annual Meeting 8:00p.m. ATU 726 Union Hall, 3948 Amboy Road (enter from Hillside Terrace) Candidates for 11 th Congressional District: o Michael DeCillis o Paul Sperling Executive Committee Election February 20, 2018 General Meeting 8:00p.m. ATU 726 Union Hall, 3948 Amboy Road (enter from Hillside Terrace) Candidates for 11 th Congressional District: o Omar Vaid o Radhakrishna Mohan It s Time to Join or Renew Your S.I.D.A. Membership! To become a member, renew membership, or make a donation, call Bonita Rothman at (917) , or complete and return the coupon. Voting privileges begin 45 days after joining DUES DONATION $25 - Family $5 $20 - Individual $50 $15 - Senior, Student, or Unemployed $100 Other Check (payable to: S.I.D.A.) Cash I understand SIDA is a Democratic Party club. I (or we, if this is a Family Membership) am (are) at least 17 years of age and an enrolled Democrat, or intend to enroll as a Democrat upon becoming eligible. Signature Name(s) Address Apt # City State Zip Phone Make checks payable S.I.D.A. to S.I.D.A. and send to: P.O. Box Staten Island, NY For internal use only: Comp: Received $: Deposited $: Entered Sht: Computer: S.I.D.A. January 2018 Page 22