Blog
Allies in Pride
Posted August 14th, 2009 by bradOver the past week or two, I’ve been thinking about where we stand on LGBT issues.
While I still hold out hope, I’m nervous that the disaster in the State Senate will derail marriage equality for another year. There’s been an important debate about whether President Obama needs to move more quickly and forthrightly on LGBT issues. And last week, a masked gunman walked into a community center for gay Israeli youth in Tel Aviv and opened fire, killing two and wounding ten more.
We’ve just posted a new platform on LGBT issues on the campaign website – the only detailed platform of all the candidates running in the 39th Council district. Throughout this campaign, I’ve shared my unequivocal support for equal marriage including an online action on our campaign website, that enabled people to contact their State Senators.
But I also wanted to take a minute to reflect more personally on these issues, and the ways in which I incorporate my beliefs into the way Meg & I raise our children and lead our lives.
Like everyone else, my heart goes out to the victims of the tragedy in Tel Aviv and their families. It is critical to stand up in solidarity to condemn hatred and violence, just as it was last year when Ecuadorian immigrant Jose Sucuzhanay was murdered in Bushwick for walking down the street arm-in-arm with his brother.
For me, my neighborhood are places of pride and diversity.
I’m also proud of the commitment to equality in the neighborhood where we live. For many years, LGBTQ folks have chosen to live here, in a mixed, but predominantly straight, set of neighborhoods. They value straight neighbors who are fierce activists, who take up the challenge to support queers and their families, and who choose to live in neighborhoods where their own children will know LGBT people and be friends with kids raised in LGBT families.Last week, I was pleased to be endorsed by Christine Marinoni, known both for her action in pursuit of educational justice (in her work forming the Alliance for Quality Education and efforts as part of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity) … and as the partner of Cynthia Nixon from Sex & the City. I had the chance to work with Christine when she was the owner of the Rising Café, which was on Fifth Avenue in the north Slope, a few blocks away from my office at the Fifth Avenue Committee office. We worked together to make sure that various parts of our community – including lesbians who went to Rising and low-income residents of color who worked with FAC – saw each other as parts of the same community, with a shared commitment to values of diversity, equality, and opportunity.
These are values that I work to hold myself accountable to, and which Meg and I work to teach our kids – love, acceptance, and understanding. Not discrimination, and certainly not violence.
I share this with you because history teaches us that it is not enough to remain silent in the face of discrimination. As we voice our support, sorrow, and outrage over the tragedy in Israel, we reaffirm our commitment to gay rights and to equality, not just as a political platform but as a deeply held belief.
Spotlight on a Volunteer: Caron Atlas
Posted August 10th, 2009 by michaelfs
When not writing blog entries for us, Caron Atlas is pounding the pavement and talking to voters about the election. Caron is a super-volunteer who knocks doors an average of once a week. She also trains other volunteers, leads canvasses throughout the community, and consults on policy! Hear in Caron’s words why she volunteers for Brad and why you should too.
Campaign Manager Nancy Leeds put down her Diet Coke and took a few minutes to interview Caron.
NL: How did you get involved in the campaign?
Caron: Two years ago Brad asked me if I would join a core group of volunteers and I immediately agreed. For the past 10 years I’ve seen first hand how Brad has made an impact -- developing affordable housing at the Fifth Avenue Committee and connecting organizing and policy change at the Pratt Center, where I've worked with him as a consultant. First I co-hosted a house party, than I participated in campaign service projects including food stamp outreach and helping seniors make the DTV transition. I spent the early part of the summer petitioning, and now, in the final stretch, am knocking on doors. Its been fascinating to go through all the phases of the campaign!
NL: What was has been the most exciting moment in the campaign so far?
Caron: I’m active in the Freelancers Union, so was very excited when they endorsed Brad in a district that has more than 4,000 of their members. Brad has worked many years on behalf of freelance workers, most recently testifying against the Unincorporated Business Tax, an unfair double tax. (If you are a Freelancer, I hope you will join Freelancers for Lander or join us for a Freelancers Canvass on the 13th) But it goes beyond exciting moments. At a time of great hope for change and great disgust with political corruption – its incredibly satisfying to work on behalf of a candidate who has integrity, does what he promises, is accountable and willing to listen and learn. Brad cares deeply about his community and city and his thoughtful and imaginative ideas are just what New York City needs.
NL: What should other people know about volunteering?
Caron: Even if you’re super busy like I am, you won’t regret committing time to the campaign. How often do you get a chance to work on behalf of something you really believe in and know that your work will make a difference? In this low turn out primary, your volunteering will directly affect the outcome of the election! And its fun! I was initially hesitant about knocking on people’s doors, but soon came to enjoy meeting my neighbors and hearing what’s on their minds. People value being asked what they think, and you get to make grassroots democracy work! What more could you ask?
You can join Caron and other volunteers any day of the week by calling 718-499-1090 to schedule a shift.
Why We Are Endorsing Brad Lander
Posted August 7th, 2009 by SaraHorowitzDear Friends,
As the founder and executive director of Freelancers Union, I was thrilled this week to announce our endorsements of an exceptional crop of candidates. These candidates share our commitment to accessible health care, retirement security, fair taxation, and unemployment protection for independent workers. For a full list of the Freelancer's Union endorsements, click here.
I am particularly excited about one endorsed candidate: Brad Lander. Not only will Brad be an ally to freelancers and working families across the city, he will be my City Councilmember – since I live in the 39th District … along with over 4,000 members of the Freelancers Union.
Brad understands the issues facing independent workers, he has stood with us, and he has a record of results on issues we care about. Brad is one of the city’s leading advocates for affordable housing, having worked to preserve and create thousands of units for the past twenty years, in his positions as director of the Fifth Avenue Committee and the Pratt Center for Community Development. Brad joined us at a City Council hearing earlier this year to testify as part of our successful campaign to repeal the Unincorporated Business Tax, an unfair double tax on Freelancers.
Click here to join me as a Freelancer for Brad.
Or click here to join the “Freelancers for Brad" Facebook group.
On the City Council, Brad will:
- Work to establish an office within City government that supports independent workers.
- Help address the problem of unpaid claims.
- Work with us to create unemployment insurance for freelancers.
- Help create affordable workspace.
From my own past work with him, I know that Brad not only understands our issues, but knows how to get things done. I believe that he will be a leader at City Hall on issues that matter to independent workers.
Now, we need your help to get him there. Over the next few weeks, Freelancers Union members will knock on doors, make phone calls, and host an event to make sure Brad gets elected.
Please join us! Click here to become a Freelancer for Brad, and we’ll keep you posted on upcoming events. Or join the “Freelancers for Brad” Facebook group.
We need Brad in City Hall, fighting for independent workers. With your help, we can get him there.
Best,
Sara Horowitz
Founder & Executive Director
Freelancers Union
Educational Justice PAC endorses Brad
Posted July 24th, 2009 by brad
Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending a press conference to accept the endorsement of the newly formed Educational Justice PAC.
Educational Justice PAC (EJ PAC) is a Political Action Committee initiated by parents and community residents to put a focus on educational equality for low-income communities, students of color, and students with special needs ... all of whom face unique challenges and are too often underserved by our city’s schools.
Standing with a crowd of fellow public school parents and community activists, I was struck by the power of the coalition, and the opportunities that access to excellent and equitable education can provide. Here were seven effective and highly regarded City Council members, (including campaign supporters Rosie Mendez and Melissa Mark Viverito), four first time candidates, and dozens of parent leaders. I was proud to share the stage with these passionate, progressive leaders, not only because we share the goals of more excellent, more equal education for all kids ... but because the smarts, values, and diversity of this coalition represents what it is best about city.
This new organization has its work cut out for it, though. There is still so much work to be done to ensure access and quality of education for minority, low-income and special needs students in our city. For example, fewer than one in four Black and Latino students graduate high school in four years with a Regents diploma. And only one in five special education students and one in four English Language Learners graduate in four years.
I urge you to join me in this fight and to learn more about this important new organization, that is fighting for smaller class size, educating the whole child (instead of focusing overwhelmingly on high-stakes testing), and involving parents in their kids' education.
For me, the bottom line is simple. NYC public schools MUST do two things:
1. They must make it possible for low-income and working class kids to learn, grow, and lead full & equal lives in our city.
2. They must make it possible for middle-class families to stay in NYC, knowing that their kids will receive an excellent education.
We cannot, and I will not, compromise on either of these goals.
The people you meet knocking on doors
Posted July 6th, 2009 by Caron Atlas
Anybody who thinks that New Yorkers aren’t neighborly should come door knocking in the 39th district of Brooklyn. It quickly becomes clear that the greatest asset of our neighborhood is the people who live here:
-- They talk about their hopes and concerns, the beautiful metal work on their doors, and the small businesses down the street that are closing.
-- They worry about a neighbor whose house was foreclosed and introduce us with pride to their daughter who got into Stuyvesant.
-- A woman in her 80s describes the horse drawn merry-go-round that her father drove around Windsor Terrace. The horse lived behind the house and the ride cost only 2 cents!
-- A family thanks us for being the first people to come to their door to ask them what they think.
-- And in one of the most beautiful rose gardens I have ever seen, a man who has lived here for 35 years shares his dream of voting once he gets his citizenship.
Initially hesitant about knocking on people’s doors, I soon found that talking to neighbors about what they care about is a very rewarding part of volunteering on the campaign.
Caron Atlas
Women for Lander
At the home of Jackie Sherman
Park Slope, Brooklyn
RSVP for address at nancy [at] bradlander [dot] com
You + Commonwealth Bar + Brad = Fun on Sept 2
Commonwealth Bar, 497 12th Street (at 5th Avenue), Brooklyn
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Honor Julian Brennan by Helping Build Schools in Afghanistan
Marine Lance Corporal Julian Brennan, who grew up on 15th Street in Park Slope, was 25 when he was killed in Afghanistan on January 24, 2009. In a remarkable act of compassion, his parents Bill and Thya Brennan are asking us to make contributions to the Central Asia Institute, which builds schools in Afghanistan.