Ady Barkan · [email protected]

December 30, 2019 at 11:47 PM

My friend Brad

Dear John,  I first met Brad Lander 7 years ago. He was organizing a broad coalition to craft a platform of 13 bold progressive policy ideas for the 2013 New York City elections. Of course, it turned into more like 130 bold ideas.  Looking back, it’s amazing how many of those id…

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  Councilmember Brad Lander · [email protected]

December 24, 2019 at 6:18 PM

A real miracle this holiday season

Dear John,  It can be hard these days to focus on what is really important. Amidst the daily onslaught of horrors both real and Tweeted, sometimes I find myself losing sight. Or getting so tangled up in my own outrage that I can’t tell whether a particular fight is really a m…

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  Brad Lander · [email protected]

December 19, 2019 at 1:30 PM

Next up, the Senate

Dear John, Yesterday’s vote by the U.S. House of Representatives to impeach Donald Trump for abuse of power was historic. The impeachment is a pledge not to allow Trump’s self-serving corruption to become normalized, that we will not be desensitized to the corrosion of our democ…

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  Brad Lander · [email protected]

December 16, 2019 at 5:30 PM

No One Is Above the Law

Dear John, Three years ago, in the dark days after the 2016 election, we channeled our outrage and despair into organizing and came together to create Get Organized BK.  As the Trump administration fulfilled our worst nightmares, tearing children away from their families, weaponi…

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  Team Lander · [email protected]

December 5, 2019 at 1:01 PM

Wreaking immense havoc

Dear John, In the brownstone-lined streets of Park Slope, Brooklyn … the progressive flame burned on. Brad Lander had long before realized that Democratic domination in Washington would never lead to radical transformation. On the federal level, there would always be pushback f…

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  Brad Lander · [email protected]

November 30, 2019 at 12:01 PM

Small businesses need rent stabilization

Dear John,  Today is Small Business Saturday. Created as a counter to the mass consumerism rush that is Black Friday, it’s a day to celebrate and invest in our local communities.  Small businesses are getting squeezed by skyrocketing rents, and we have a chance to do something a…

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  Brad Lander · [email protected]

November 27, 2019 at 1:15 PM

#LoveYourLocal

Dear John,  It’s no secret that small businesses are struggling to pay rent. The boarded up storefronts and empty windows we walk past every day remind us of how skyrocketing rents are squeezing local businesses out of our communities.  Over 1000 people have already signed our p…

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  Brad Lander · [email protected]

November 26, 2019 at 6:31 PM

The washerwomen had a plan. Let’s make ours.

Dear John, The washerwomen in Atlanta had a plan when they went on strike in 1881, demanding higher wages and a little dignity. So did the garment workers in Lawrence, Massachusetts, as they demanded bread and roses. And so did the immigrant women who formed the “Uprising of the…

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  Brad Lander · [email protected]

November 20, 2019 at 6:02 PM

The most encouraging thing happening in NYC this fall

Dear John, “If someone’s looking down, I’ll go up to them and I’ll ask them if they need a friend. If they say yes, I’ll be that friend.”  That’s what Angel said on his first day of school at MS 447. Angel, a 6th grader from Sunset Park, was profiled along with Sophie, a 6th gra…

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  Brad Lander · [email protected]

November 16, 2019 at 2:00 PM

Save our small businesses

Dear John,  Almost everyone has a favorite local store or restaurant in our neighborhood. For some, it might be the corner bodega that only closed the day of the #BodegaStrike. Others the hole-in-the wall serving spicy tacos or piping-hot momos. The independent bookstore. I love …

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  Brad Lander · [email protected]

November 6, 2019 at 1:40 PM

More democratic. And more effective too.

Dear John, New York City’s elections just got more democratic. And more effective, too, as NYC voters overwhelmingly voted to bring Ranked Choice Voting to NYC.  Will you chip in to celebrate our victory — and help me prepare to run in NYC’s first ranked-choice election?  More t…

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  Brad Lander · [email protected]

November 4, 2019 at 5:14 PM

My recommendations for Election Day

Dear John,  Although it may not seem like it, tomorrow is Election Day in NYC! Polls are open tomorrow from 6 am to 9 pm. You can check your poll site or registration status at voting.nyc. On Sunday, I was delighted to vote early at the Park Slope Armory (which served as a power…

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  Brad Lander · [email protected]

October 30, 2019 at 12:58 PM

Next week, flip your ballot to vote for better democracy!

Dear John, Election Day is coming up (and early voting is already underway!). On the ballot this year are critical improvements to the way elections work in NYC.  Ballot Proposal #1 will establish a Ranked Choice Voting system for all primary and special local elections. Rather …

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  Brad Lander · [email protected]

October 21, 2019 at 1:00 PM

Early voting starts this Saturday

Dear John, For the first time, New Yorkers have the opportunity to head to the polls early this year, due to historic voting reforms passed by the State Legislature in Albany.  Out of town on November 5? Know that it will be hard to make it to the polls during a work day? This y…

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  Councilmember Brad Lander · [email protected]

October 3, 2019 at 12:00 PM

Last chance to submit your idea for participatory budgeting

Dear John,  Watching the news these days, it’s hard not to be reminded that our democracy is only as strong as we make it. Participatory Budgeting is one of the things that gives me hope about the possibility of bringing grassroots democracy, real participation and accountabi…

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  Brad Lander · [email protected]

September 27, 2019 at 12:00 PM

The People's Advocate

Dear John I’ve always admired Jumaane’s ability to plainly call out the wrongs that many ignore or sweep under the rug. I couldn’t be prouder to endorse my friend Jumaane Williams for re-election this November 5th -- and if you know him like I do, you understand why. Long before …

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  Councilmember Brad Lander · [email protected]

September 22, 2019 at 1:00 PM

Reminder: Bring your Participatory Budgeting ideas this week!

Dear John,  I wanted to remind you that we have two opportunities this week to bring your Participatory Budgeting ideas and brainstorm with your neighbors about how to improve our community, Monday night in Kensington at P.S. 230 and Wednesday night at the Park Slope library,…

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  Councilmember Brad Lander · [email protected]

September 18, 2019 at 4:13 PM

Striking for our future

Dear John,  On Friday, thousands of students -- hopefully hundreds of thousands -- will take the streets for a massive demonstration to confront the climate crisis. Young people are striking from school, leading the way for the rest of us to make bolder demands and take more …

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  Brad Lander · [email protected]

September 14, 2019 at 2:21 PM

Elizabeth Warren in NYC this week!

Dear John Are you excited about the idea of a President of the United States who has made it her life’s work to take on powerful interests and entrenched inequality? Who is equal measures tough, compassionate, and smart? Who’s a former public school teacher, and committed to hire…

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  Councilmember Brad Lander · [email protected]

September 13, 2019 at 11:34 AM

We want your ideas!

Dear John,  School isn’t the only thing back in session this September -- Participatory Budgeting (PB) cycle 9 is underway and ideas are already flowing in!  Are you a fan of the Park Slope Library reading garden? Bus countdown clocks? Supporting Spanish-speaking teens to bec…

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  Brad Lander · [email protected]

September 12, 2019 at 10:35 PM

Closing the loopholes to protect freelance workers

DearJohn When the booking agent that freelance stylist Angela Ivana contracted with for work on ad campaigns and TV productions told her that he wouldn't put her headshot on the website because he “didn’t want his clients seeing that I was black” she didn’t have an HR department…

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  Councilmember Brad Lander · [email protected]

September 5, 2019 at 3:02 PM

The first day of (less segregated) school

Dear John,  The first day of school always brings the thrill of the new, and the anxiety of the unfamiliar. It requires some courage, but it’s got such bright promise. On this first day of school, thousands of 6th graders in our community are embarking on a new and courageous e…

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  Councilmember Brad Lander · [email protected]

July 31, 2019 at 5:00 PM

Flooded streets, blackouts, overheated jails...

Dear John,  Last week, amidst flooded streets, blackouts, overheated jails, and subway failures, New Yorkers saw some of the consequences that have resulted from a failure to engage in strategic long-term planning for the future of our city. The dangers of failing to invest st…

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