MYD | the Manhattan Young Democrats

Tomorrow morning the state will be holding a hearing on the proposed district lines released by LATFOR last week.  As we’ve mentioned, MYD vehemently opposes the lines as drawn as signed on this Downstate Young Democrats statement calling on Governor Cuomo to veto the proposal.

If you would like to make your voice heard on this matter, you can sign up to attend the hearing and offer testimony:

http://www.latfor.state.ny.us/hearings/20120125_manhattan/

The following people have been selected to serve on MYD’s 2012 Executive Board. Congratulations to everyone, I know this is going to be an amazing year!

Campaigns Director – Robin Brown
Communications Director – Kat Kane
Community Service Director – Jordan Reisner
Creative Director – Chris Baily
Development Director – Dan Lewkowicz
Events Director – Veronica Libman
Finance Director – Alex Leopold
New Media Director – Jon Reznick
Political Director – Andrew Goldston

“To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

In 2011 the Manhattan Young Democrats set out to meet several goals:

• Get Marriage Equality passed in New York State (check!)
• Create a robust Women’s Issues Committee (check!)
• Run even more young people for Democratic County Committee and re-establish the County Youth Committee (check!)
• Pass a Living Wage bill (still working on it, but closer than ever!)

I think it’s safe to say we had a pretty good 2011.  We built up our membership and we raised some serious cash.  We got nearly 100 young people elected to positions within the Democratic Party, and we once again came home from the national Young Democrats of America convention with the title “Chapter of the Year!”

I am so proud of everything we accomplished last year, but I know that 2012 will be even better.  This is the year all of our hard work pays off.  This is the year we reach out to every person who ever attended a happy hour event, or community service activity or holiday party, and get them engaged.  This is the year we get them plugged into local campaigns, into their local Democratic clubs and their community boards.  This is the year we ORGANIZE.  And not just in midtown and downtown Manhattan, but in Harlem and Inwood and Washington Heights.

This is the year we show everyone that 2008 wasn’t a fluke; that young people still care about their country and still want to work to make it better.  This is the year we prove that young really can get it done.

But don’t worry, we’re still going to have fun!  The truth is, collecting signatures and making phone calls is a hell of a lot easier if you’re doing it with friends and you can go out and grab a beer afterwards.  So join us tonight as we have a few drinks and watch President Obama deliver his State of the Union speech.

Tonight, we celebrate.  Tomorrow, we get to work.