Three Parks January 2023 Newsletter

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Monthly Newsletter

January 2023

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Best wishes for a happy and healthy 2023!

In This Issue

President's Report

Coming Up: Endorsement Votes

for NY City Council and

for District Leaders.

What You Need to Know

The DCCC Oppo Reseach Report

on George Santos

How to Solidify NY's True Blue Status

City to Slash Retirees' Health Benefits

STAY HEALTHY!

STAY SAFE!

For the latest official information on the coronavirus, click here

or text COVID to 692-692

To see the percentage of the residents in our area who have been vaccinated, click here. (data updated daily)

ONLINE CLUB MEETING

Wednesday, January 11, 2023, at 8:00 pm

Candidates for Endorsement

Candidates for

City Council Districts 6 and 7

Gale Brewer ● Shaun Abreu

Keith Harris

Candidates for

Democratic District Leaders

Cynthia Doty ● Daniel Marks Cohen

Endorsement voting will take place following the February 8 Club meeting

Join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.

Click here

You may also either click on the link below or paste it

into your browser:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85218451373?pwd=WXVPMWFqaTRaRVd2Z0NTYnBwVFVxUT09

If you are asked for a PASSWORD, enter:

096637

You may also join by using your phone to dial in.

Phone-in number: 1 929 205 6099

Meeting ID: 852 1845 1373

AGENDA

7:45--8:00 pm: Log On / Dial in

8:00 pm: Call to Order

City Council candidates

Questions and Answers

District Leader candidates

Questions and Answers

District Leader Report

State Committee Report

Adjourn

Don't Miss Out! Renew Your Three Parks Membership Now for 2023

Click here or mail in the membership form at the end of

this newsletter.

President's Report

By Lorraine Zamora

Where did 2022 go? At times, this past year seemed endless. At other times, it seemed fleeting. Yet here we are, almost one quarter of the way through the century!

It’s a good thing that I have Three Parks to keep me on track. And keep me sane! I say that sincerely. When my family and friends wonder how we will get through, and how Democrats will win, I find comfort in saying, “Stay with Three Parks.” Three Parks has given me the faith and strength to believe that our city, and our country, will do the right thing. That will not change – despite all the challenges we face, in this new year and beyond.

Thanks to all Three Parks club members for working so tirelessly to champion our progressive values, and for taking on the unending grassroots tasks that are the key to success for our Democratic candidates and officeholders.

Happy New Year to all.

Coming Up: Endorsement Votes for NY City Council and for District Leaders.

What You Need to Know

Because of redistricting, there will be an election this year for NY City Council members. In preparation for that event, at the January 11 Club meeting, Three Parks will hear from candidates for the newly redrawn Council Districts 6 and 7. You can see the new district lines here. Each candidate will make brief remarks and take questions. Then in February, we will hold an endorsement vote.

On the same schedule, we will also hear from candidates for Democratic District Leader and then hold an endorsement vote.

Starting later in February, we will petition for our endorsed candidates. The Primary election will be held in June.

NOTE: Information for eligible voters can be found her e.

Make Sure You Are Eligible to Vote!

In order to vote to endorse candidates, 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 DCCC Oppo Research Report

on George Santos

If you're wondering why it took so long to publicize Congressman-elect George Santos's life of lies and fabrications, take a look at the background research report on him done by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. It lacks an executive summary of the major facts, and while it features his right-wing credentials, which were already well known and on which he was proudly campaigning, it never questioned his employment or educational claims, nor his claim of Jewish ancestry.

To see the report, click here.

Congratulations to Club members Aaron Mendelsohn and Aviva Tropp on the birth of their son Ari.

How to Solidify NY’s True Blue Status: Advice from Successful Campaign Manager Chris Walsh and NYS State Committee Experts

By Wendy Diller

Aside from learning lessons from the travesty of Republican George Santos on Long Island, many NYS Democrats are now focusing on getting an early start on plans for across-the-board victories in 2024, with an eye on what works in the state's purple districts and how grassroots groups, including political clubs, should engage, beginning now.

These topics were the agenda for Three Parks' December 14 monthly meeting, where the principal speaker was Chris Walsh, the former director for Democratic Congressman Pat Ryan's two successful campaigns in 2022 in CD-18 and CD-19. Walsh, who also previously led Brad Lander's upset victory in a 10-way ranked choice primary for NYC comptroller in 2021 and before that founded Flippable, a PAC dedicated to turning red state legislatures blue, spoke about what works for purple districts as well as the crucial role of grassroots groups in fast-paced, nimble political campaigns.

Chris Walsh, campaign director for Dem. Congressman

Pat Ryan and NYC Comptroller Brad Lander.

His talk was followed by a panel discussion on reforming the state’s Democratic Party. State Committee member Erica Vladimer and Hunter College Roosevelt Institute of Public Policy Director Basil Smikle Jr. discussed the need for reforms, with moderation provided by Three Parks Board member and State Committee member Daniel Marks Cohen

In his talk, Walsh stressed that winning campaigns have “authentic” candidates who deliver strong, principled messages. Most important is the absolute need for candidates to take the offensive in messaging and tone and “define the field on their own terms” – something that NYS Democrats did not do in 2022 when they completely ceded the conversation to Republican concerns about rising crime and inflation. To prep for 2024, Walsh continued, Democratic candidates will need to be bold about their messaging and hold elected officials accountable...

City to Slash Retirees’ Health Benefits

By Lynn & Steve Max

12/31/2022

As we go to press, the NYC Organization of Public Service Retirees has announced that next week, legislation will be introduced in the City Council stripping retired City workers of their Medicare benefits. An amendment to the Administrative Code (12-126) will allow the City to put retirees in an as yet unspecified, for-profit Medicare Advantage plan while relieving the City of its legal obligation to provide Medigap insurance for those wishing to remain in traditional Medicare.

(To take action, go to the end of this article.)

Not only are over 250,000 retired workers impacted, but so are their immediate families. Another 330,000 current employees will be in the same situation when they retire. The move has been strongly criticized by Council Member Gale Brewer. (Scroll down in her newsletter here.)

The Amsterdam News explained how higher-paid retirees with larger pensions will be able to remain in traditional Medicare by paying for their own Medigap insurance. Those with smaller pensions will have no choice but to accept an inferior plan with long waits for preapproval of life-saving tests and procedures, and often denial of care. The new plan replaces an equitable system for all City workers with a two-tiered system. Often, those in the lower tier will be people of color. Many studies, including one by the Inspector General of the US Department of Health and Human Services show that for-profit Medicare Advantage Plans offer inferior care.

Our condolences to Club member Stephanie Tegnasian, whose beloved mother, Adeline Tegnasian, 91 years old, passed away in December following hip replacement surgery.

Call for Judicial Delegate Candidates

This coming February, Three Parks members will vote to endorse judicial delegates and 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 is typically held in August. At the Convention, the delegates will cast votes, by Assembly District, to determine which judicial candidates will appear as the party'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 New York State Supreme Court.

If you want to run for judicial delegate, please email District Leader Cynthia Doty at cldoty@aol.com by January 29 so that your name will be included on the election ballot in February.