Right now, we are petitioning to get on the ballot and need signatures. The petitioning is due the beginning of April. We have very little time!
Tonight, we are holding a petition-signing event at the Sr. Center- at 546 Main Street, from 5:30 to 9:30.
Our election will put Roosevelt Island on the political map of NY State! History has shown us that without Island representatives who can input the policies and platform of the Democratic party, Roosevelt Island’s interests are overlooked. We aim to change that. Signing our petition helps us get the community the attention it needs!
Rebecca Weintraub is a candidate to represent Roosevelt Island and the Upper
East Side as
Democratic Party 76 Assembly District Part A Leader.
Last Saturday, April 16, Ms Weintraub was at the Roosevelt Island Farmers market
meeting and speaking with residents about her campaign and local issues of
concern.
A great day campaigning at the Roosevelt Island Farmers Market with
@tricia4nyc
and an amazing time at the grand Reopening of the absolutely incredible
Roosevelt Island Youth Center with
@CarolynBMaloney
and @kallos.
pic.twitter.com/J0oW1HtxeM
As your District Leader, Rebecca will work to ensure that the New York County
Democratic Party remains transparent, accountable, and responsive to our
community’s needs. She will advocate for building a diverse and inclusive
county leadership structure that stays true to our Party’s core progressive
values. The position of District Leader is especially important in Part A of
the 76th Assembly District because Roosevelt Island is controlled by the New
York State government through the Roosevelt Island Operating Company
(RIOC)....
A District Leader is an unpaid volunteer elected official. All formal
parties in New York State are required to have at least one District Leader
(DL) per Assembly District (AD). These positions are subject to primary
elections every two years. This ostensibly guarantees that any party with
formal status in New York State (e.g. a permanent ballot line) is
democratically governed by its members. In essence, the District Leader is
the representative of the party members in their district to that political
party’s apparatus.
A District Leader is an unpaid volunteer elected official. All formal
parties in New York State are required to have at least one District Leader
(DL) per Assembly District (AD). These positions are subject to primary
elections every two years. This ostensibly guarantees that any party with
formal status in New York State (e.g. a permanent ballot line) is
democratically governed by its members. In essence, the District Leader is
the representative of the party members in their district to that political
party’s apparatus.
Roosevelt Island residents Joyce Short, Nikki Leopold and Naomi Imbrogno will share with you Roosevelt Island History and Fun Facts at a free virtual community forum hosted by Esther Yang on Thursday February 11 from 7-8pm.
I’m Adam Roberts, a candidate for Democratic State Committee in the 76th district.
Though only 26 years old, I’ve built up a great amount of public service experience over the past decade. This includes, working for Council Member Ben Kallos, producing a documentary for PBS, working for UJA-Federation, and serving as the Democratic District Leader for Yorkville.
As Democratic State Committee Member, I’d represent Roosevelt Island and the Upper East Side. The Democratic State Committee is the governing body of the New York State Democratic Party. Responsibilities of the Democratic State Committee include determining the party’s platform and positions, which races resources are allocated to, who our Democratic National Committee (DNC) Members are, and who the party endorses in statewide races.
Right now, the New York State Democratic Party needs to undergo major changes. Corruption in Albany is rampant, while the state party is disorganized and ineffective. This is all to the detriment of Roosevelt Island.
We need to make sure the Democratic Party works for Roosevelt Island. A fractured and corrupt party hinders the passage of important legislation regarding those issues most important to Roosevelt Island. Improvements in affordable housing, transportation, and healthcare all get stalled because of widespread corruption and disorganization.
We need the Democratic State Committee to stand up to bad actors and hold them accountable. Myself and Lauren Trapanotto, my running mate, are seeking to reform the New York State Democratic Party. If elected, I’ll fight for the State Committee to:
Clean up corruption in Albany
Make the Democratic Party more progressive
Build up local Democratic organizations
Stay neutral in Democratic primaries
Allow for the election of DNC Members
Investigate corruption and sexual harassment
We need change in Albany for Roosevelt Island to prosper. Most crucially, we need new leadership to make these changes. In the Democratic Primary on Thursday, September 13, please be sure to vote for me, Adam Roberts, and my running mate Lauren Trapanotto.
Here's Mr Roberts, Ms Trapanotto (on right) and their colleagues petitioning during Roosevelt Island Day
and Ms Trapanotto is running against the incumbent, Ruth Halberg.
VOTE FOR Ruth she tells the Truth, My name is Ruth Halberg. I'm a progressive Democrat, and running in the Primary. I am the incumbent NYS Committeewoman for the 76AD, a neighborhood including the Upper East Side, Yorkville & Roosevelt Island. #RuthHalberg
A District Leader is an unpaid volunteer elected official. All formal parties in New York State are required to have at least one District Leader (DL) per Assembly District (AD). These positions are subject to primary elections every two years. This ostensibly guarantees that any party with formal status in New York State (e.g. a permanent ballot line) is democratically governed by its members. In essence, the District Leader is the representative of the party members in their district to that political party’s apparatus.
is a Democratic Party District Leader candidate for the 76 Assembly District Part A which includes Roosevelt Island. Mr. Wetzler spoke to the June 7 Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) June 7 Public Session
and reports:
My name is Ben Wetzler and I am a candidate for Democratic Party District Leader looking to bring change to local politics here on Roosevelt Island. I am challenging the sitting party leader in the September primary in order to build a more active, grassroots Democratic Party and end practices that allow communities like ours to be neglected in city hall and Albany. If elected, I hope to organize volunteers to support Democratic candidates in other districts currently held by the breakaway "Independent" Democrats who have hindered progressive priorities in Albany, and plan to establish a stronger line of communication between local block and residents' associations and their Democratic elected officials.
I am running in the 76th Assembly District, Part A, which covers the Island and a portion of the Upper East Side near the river. Though this is my first time running for office, I have an extensive history of public service, working to develop affordable housing strategies and improve enforcement of the rent stabilization law. I am endorsed and supported by the Four Freedoms Democratic Club, which has been successful in opening up the Party to new voices that had previously been shut out of local affairs since it broke from the neighborhood's official Democratic organization in 2014.
I will be at Good Shepherd Plaza this Saturday for Roosevelt Island Day. If you would like to learn more about my campaign, you can stop by, or check out my website www.voteben.nyc and Facebook page.
Mike Dillon is one of the candidates running for Male District 76 Part A Leader. He sent the following statement and flyer to the Roosevelt Island community.
Have you ever heard of a District Leader?
On Thursday, September 10th, for the first time in decades, you'll be asked to vote for District Leader, and I want you to vote for me, Mike Dillon.
District Leader is an unpaid party position within the local Democratic Party that you might not be familiar with. It's the person you can reach out to if you have questions about local candidates or elections. It's someone who represents Roosevelt Island to the New York County Democratic Party.
I'm an active member in the community and within the Democratic Party. For the last several years, I've been a board member of the East Sixties Neighborhood Association, and last year, I was a member of the Participatory Budgeting Committee for Roosevelt Island. I currently serve as the President of the Four Freedoms Democratic Club, the largest and most active Democratic Club in our assembly district.
I know I will be a great District Leader, but you don't have to take my word for it; In addition to being endorsed by a number of local community and political leaders, I've been endorsed by our Assemblywoman, Rebecca Seawright.
On Thursday, September 10th, I would deeply appreciate your vote. If you have any questions about me, what a District Leader does, the Four Freedoms Democratic Club, or anything else that’s happening in the neighborhood, feel free to give me a call at 646-616-7526 or send me an email at mike@dillon.nyc. I've included a flyer on the other candidates endorsed by the club, I hope you'll consider supporting them as well.
Thank you for your support,
This is not an endorsement but intended for informational purposes only. I have not received information from any of the other candidates.
Roosevelt Island polling locations are at PS/IS 217 (645 Main Street) for all eligible voters except Octagon residents who vote at Coler Hospital (900 Main Street).
UPDATE 10:20 PM - Barbara Rudder is one of the candidates for Female District Leader. During tonight's Roosevelt Island Residents Association Public Session (RIRA), RIRA Common Council member Ellen Polivy thanked Ms. Rudder for her assistance securing an anonymous $150 thousand donation to the FDR Hope Memorial.
Here's what Ms Polivy said.
Ms. Polivy adds:
Dear Neighbor,
On Thursday, September 10, from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 pm, please join us in voting for our friend Barbara Rudder as our Democratic District Leader. This is a volunteer position that serves as a link between our neighborhood and our elected officials.
We are voting for Barbara Rudder because she is a strong advocate and a proven successful worker for our neighborhood, the Upper East Side and Roosevelt Island.
Barbara Rudder has been endorsed by our Assemblywoman Rebecca Seawright.
Barbara Rudder has served on our Community Board 8 for the last seven years:
Co-chair of the Health, Seniors and Social Services Committee, fighting to keep senior centers open, active and fully funded.
Co-chair of the Parks Committee, fighting for open green space and redevelopment of the East River Esplanade.
Assisted district and community leaders’ efforts in securing the release of vital grant funding for the FDR Hope Memorial Project of the Roosevelt Island Disabled Association.
Active member of the Second Avenue Subway Task Force fighting for a unique Second Avenue corridor.
Organizing a Quality of Life Symposium to ensure responsible development of our community.
Co-chair of the Rockefeller University Task Force ensuring a positive outcome for the East River Esplanade redevelopment.
Barbara Rudder is a founding member of Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney’s East River Esplanade Task Force.
Please join us in voting for our friend Barbara Rudder for Democratic District Leader on Thursday, September 10th.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Lorraine Altman, resident since 1989 - Dolores Green, resident since 1997
Marilyn Atkins, resident since 1977 - Judith Quintana, resident since 1975
Nancy Brown, resident since 1976 - Gloria Narduzzo, resident since 1979
Irene Clark, resident since 1995 - Manuela Ocampo, resident since 1989
Hope Dietsch, resident since 1984 - Rebecca Ocampo, resident since 1989
Georganna Galateau, resident since 1976 - Ellen Polivy, resident since 2004
Frank Gibbs, resident since 1975 - Linda Warren, resident since 1989
UPDATE 9/15 - John Halebian and Jill Eisner won the election for Male and Female Democratic Party District Leaders Part 76 A respectively.
Candidate Barbara Rudder writes:
On Thursday, I lost in an election for Democratic District Leader, although I won on Roosevelt Island. I want to thank all of Roosevelt Island for their friendship and support. It is very apparent to me that your small island, made up of such passionate, knowledgeable residents, has the muscle and fight to affect great change. Although I am disappointed with the results of the election, I plan on working with you to help solve the issues that affect Roosevelt Island and the Upper East Side.
Roosevelt Island is a mixed income, racially diverse waterfront community situated in the East River of New York City between Manhattan and Queens and is jurisdictionally part of Manhattan. The Roosevelt Island Tramway, which connects Roosevelt Island to the rest of Manhattan, has become the iconic symbol of Roosevelt Island to its residents.
The Purpose of this Blog is to provide accurate and timely information about Roosevelt Island as well as a forum for residents to express opinions and engage in a dialogue to improve our community.
