March General Meeting

Thursday, March 16, 2023

Location: The Church of the Holy Trinity and on zoom 

Agenda and meeting notes: 

• • Welcome from Jerry Ferguson, Club President  
  • Update on recent club activities: 
    • Ben Akselrod, endorsed candidate for District Leader 
      • Petitioning / pizza party Saturday, March 18th at 10am to 12pm at 67th St Green Market and 1pm to 3pm in St. Catherine's Park
      • Assembly Member Alex Bores to join. 
  • State Committee report (Jeremy Berman) 
    • Update on the efforts to replace Jay Jacobson current head of the NY State Democratic Party. 
    • On the news Erica https://bit.ly/RJJwnyc 
    • Email Erica Vladimer to get involved [email protected]
    • Q&A with the audience
      • Background on Jay Jacobs and the State Committee – getting someone who is more responsive to the party. 
      • National Dems set up a “war room” to deal with the dysfunction of the Dems Party – is this effort involved; no – we’re not involved, but what we’re doing involves a broad coalition. 
  • Spring Fundraiser announcement 
    • Thursday, May 4th at 73rd 7-10 PM; ticket tiers to be sent out via the newsletter. 

• Resolution in support of arts education in New York City Public Schools [link] 

• Arts Education in NYC Public Schools and Q&A – organized by the Education Working Group co-chaired by Amy Schwartz and Debra Freeman. [link to the FB / zoom recording] 
  • Kimberly Olsen, Executive Director of the NYC Arts in Education Roundtable
  • Lucy Sexton, Executive Director, New Yorkers for Culture & Arts
  • Mark Levine, Manhattan Borough President
• Discussion on the resolution and club vote 
  • Discussion to add a statement including advocacy for after school education. 
    • Motion did not pass. 
  • Main resolution passed. 
• Remarks from Borough President Mark Levine, focused on the Affordable Housing crisis. 
• Meeting adjourned