In 2017, in response to the widespread disaffection with current 3rd Council District - West SoHo/Greenwich Village Harvard Law School grad and Rhodes Scholar at Oxford, councilmember Margaret Chin, Marte challenged her, losing by Erik Bottcher for 3rd Council District Brad is a former board member of the Empire State Pride a mere 220 votes — fewer than 1% of the total cast. That was Agenda, Tenants & Neighbors, Class Size Matters, and the closest any challenger in the entire city came to defeating an Six candidates are vying, several with excellent credentials. Citizen Action. However, one stands out. incumbent that year, a testimony to the popular support and en- Vittoria Fariello thusiasm Chris engenders among voters. Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Hoylman champions Jonathan Gardenhire Megg Pascarella Erik Bottcher is a Westside public servant and community Richard Corman a wide range of issues, such as housing, transportation, public Paul Newell Secretary leader who served as chief-of-staff to Council Speaker District Leaders President Since then, Marte has spearheaded numerous community actions. th Jeanne Wilcke education, environmental conservation, and seniors. 65 Assembly District Corey Johnson, where he fought for additional green space, Sean Sweeney Treasurer He co-founded Neighbors United Below Canal, which opposed the Dennis Gault Sheezan Bakali better schools, affordable housing, senior services, LGBT Jeannine Kiely Christopher Marte siting of a mega-jail in Chinatown. He educated neighbors not just Hoylman has passed over 100 bills in the Senate, including Vice Presidents rights, and more. District Leaders Benjamin Yee about alternatives to mass incarceration, but also how land-use the Child Victims Act, which enabled adult survivors of child 66th Assembly District NYS Democratic Committee procedures can be weaponized against vulnerable communities. In his free time, Bottcher is a fierce fighter for progressive sexual abuse to revive legal claims against their abusers;
values in nationwide electoral politics. Eric is the clear choice, the TRUST Act, which permitted Congress to review the Chris organized neighbors to promote community-based zoning 1st Council District - Lower Manhattan - East/West Side due to his governmental experience, activism, community state taxes of elected officials like Donald Trump, and the Christopher Marte for 1st Council District. plans for Chinatown, Lower East Side, Little Italy, the Seaport, commitment, and energy. Tenant Safe Harbor Act to keep tenants in their homes and SoHo/NoHo. Despite the media’s focus on the mayoral race, arguably the most during Covid. He sponsored the Climate Leadership and DID endorses Erik Bottcher in the 3rd Council District important election for Lower Manhattan directly affecting our Marte worked with the wrongfully evicted tenants of 85 Bowery Community Protection Act to protect our climate, move daily lives is who will represent us in the City Council. through their hunger strike, assisting with logistics and strategy, toward clean energy, and uphold labor standards and worker resulting in the tenants finally returning to their homes. Brad Hoylman for Borough President protections.
One candidate, Christopher Marte, stands head and shoulders The borough president weighs in on all borough land-use and He organized and filed a lawsuit against the Two Bridges mega- above them all. development proposals, advocates for us in the budget process, DID endorses Brad Hoylman for borough president. towers on the East River. appoints our community board members, and controls a sizable Chris worked with parents and students to successfully demand budget to fund local initiatives and projects. Eight candidates are amnesty for pandemic driven public school debt. running to replace term-limited Gale Brewer. Dianne Morales for Mayor
In the crowded field for mayor, several candidates stood out: Once elected, Marte will develop and promote community-based Notable are councilmember Mark Levine, who focuses on Scott Stringer, Eric Adams, Kathryn Garcia, Andrew Yang, rezoning plans, ending the developer-driven rezonings that tenants rights, public health and housing, councilmember Ben Shaun Donovan, Ray McGuire. displace neighbors and small businesses. His neighborhood plans Kallos, and Lindsey Boylan, who has worked in both the
will expand housing affordability, protect existing immigrant public and private sector. Dianne Morales was easily our first choice.
communities, and defend residents from displacement.
However, the candidate best suited for this important position is Morales is a former teacher and a longtime nonprofit Marte has long supported protections for small businesses, recogniz- Downtown’s own, State Senator Brad Hoylman. executive heading youth and family programs. She backs ing their essential contribution to the fabric of our neighborhoods. a rent rollback on rent-stabilized apartments, advocates
Chris has pledged to fight for more funding for NYCHA and for basic income relief for every household, calls for a Born and raised on the Lower East Side, Chris stacked cans in ensure a larger percentage of Council discretionary funds goes citywide rent moratorium, and promises a green jobs his father’s bodega, attended local public schools, and wound to NYCHA for safer and cleaner facilities. agenda. Importantly, she commits to more housing to up completing his education at the prestigious London School It is for these reasons and more that DID endorses Christopher end homelessness – including using underutilized hotels of Economics. and vacant City properties. Marte for 1st Council District. DID endorses Dianne Morales for mayor. Marte began his career managing IBM retirement funds, while 2nd Council District - NoHo/East Village also serving on the Young Professionals Board of Defy Carlina Rivera for 2nd Council District Ventures – where he guided formerly incarcerated people Jumaane Williams for Public Advocate through the process of starting their own small businesses. Two candidates are contending. At our endorsement meeting Incumbent Jumaane Williams is doing a fine job and his Most recently, Marte served as the New York State Director at in December, DID endorsed incumbent Councilmember sole opponent has insufficient experience to fill this Arena, whose mission is to train and support the next Carlina Rivera. Subsequently, in March Erin Hussein, important position. generation of progressive candidates. a lawyer and tenant advocate, entered the race. DID endorses Jumaane Williams for public advocate. David Weprin for Comptroller What is the DID? New York, NY 10012 125 Greene Street #5 Downtown Independent Democrats The comptroller is the City’s chief financial officer and The Downtown Independent Democrats reform auditor. The office reviews all city contracts, handles the political club was established in 1972. We are settlement of litigation claims, issues municipal bonds and committed to a progressive and transparent democratic manages the city's pension fund. government that serves the concerns, needs and interests of our Lower Manhattan community. Vittoria Fariello Jonathan Gardenhire Megg Pascarella Richard Corman At our endorsement meeting in February, State Senator Brian Endorsements of candidates are made by our members, Paul Newell Secretary District Leaders President th Jeanne Wilcke Benjamin was well received due to his efforts in criminal jus- often after lively debate and discussion of the issues with 65 Assembly District Sean Sweeney Treasurer tice reform and tenant protections. State Senator Kevin Parker the candidates themselves. Dennis Gault Sheezan Bakali and Councilmember Brad Lander received notice as well. Christopher Marte Jeannine Kiely Vice Presidents We serve the Lower East Side, Battery Park City, District Leaders Benjamin Yee However, State Assemblymember David Weprin scored our the Financial District, the South Street Seaport, 66th Assembly District NYS Democratic Committee support. He has a long history of progressive pubic service – Little Italy, Nolita, parts of the East Village and not only in Albany but in the City Council, where he spent Greenwich Village, as well as TriBeCa, SoHo, NoHo, st eight years as the chairman of the Finance Committee. and Governors and Liberty Islands. To join or for 1 Council District Subsequent to our endorsement meeting in February, Speaker more information, visit: didnyc.org or email us at Christopher Marte [email protected] Corey Johnson announced his candidacy. 2nd Council District DID endorses David Weprin for Comptroller. Carlina Rivera Important Dates for the June 22 Primary Eliza Orlins for District Attorney 3rd Council District We urge you to vote early. Current district attorney Cy Vance’s decision not to run has left Erik Bottcher an opening for the top prosecutor job in Manhattan. Absentee Ballot Application Mayor Last day to apply by mail for an absentee ballot: Alvin Bragg, a former federal prosecutor, received support from our Dianne Morales Tuesday, June 15 members, as did Lucy Lang, a former prosecutor in the Manhattan Public Advocate DA’s office. Several other candidates received minor backing. Last day to apply in person for an absentee ballot: Jumaane Williams Monday, June 21 Our overwhelming choice, Eliza Orlins, was never a prosecutor. Comptroller Instead, Orlins worked as a criminal defense attorney for the To apply online for an absentee ballot, Legal Aid Society, representing our city’s most vulnerable. We David Weprin visit: nycabsentee.com feel that a new approach to criminal justice is needed and Eliza Borough President Orlins is the person to accomplish that. Early voting: Saturday, June 12 through Sunday, June 20 We endorse Eliza Orlins for District Attorney. Election day: Tuesday, June 22. Polls open 6:00 am to 9:00 pm Brad Hoylman
To find your poll site: voterlookup.elections.ny.gov District Attorney Civil Court Judge - 2nd Municipal Court District On the East Side’s 2nd Municipal Court District, two Eliza Orlins For further information, call the Board of Elections at Permit No. 757 New York,NY PRSRT. STD. candidates are competing for Civil Court Judge. U.S. Postage 866-VOTE-NYC. Or call us at 201-513-8897 or email us at Civil Court Judge Edward Irizarry currently has his own law firm and was a 2nd Municipal Court District [email protected] PAID former Queens assistant district attorney, as well a counsel to Edward Irizarry the State Senate and the City Council. Betty Lugo, a defense attorney and former prosecutor, was a
life-long Republican who decided to switch to Democrat Paid for by Downtown Independent Democrats. Jeanne Wilcke, You can bring this pamphlet into Treasurer. Not authorized or requested by any candidate or the in 2018. candidate committee. More information at nyc.gov/FollowTheMoney. the poll site with you. We endorse Edward Irizarry for Civil Court Judge. Learn more at didnyc.org