corey johnson for city council

7/28/2019 Corey Johnson for City Council

1/3

Dear Stonewall Democrats of New York City member,

I am writing to ask for your vote at the Stonewall Democrats of New York endorsement

meeting on Wednesday

night.

As many of you know, my LGBT activism began when I came out publicly as captain of

my high school football team. In the years since, I have fought on nearly every LGBTissue that has arisen both locally and nationally, serving as National Finance Director of

the Gay and Lesbian Leadership Council (GLLC) at the Democratic National Committee

and in various roles at Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD),eventually becoming the Director of Media Programs. In our local community, I was the

lead organizer for a ten thousand person march after Proposition 8 passed and I serve on

the Board of Directors of the Ali Forney Center which provides shelter and supporter

services to homeless LGBT youth in New York City.

I want to be a City Council Member for all New Yorkers, particularly theunderrepresented. Our campaign started as a grassroots effort made up of senior activists,block and tenant association heads, PTA presidents, community and LGBT leaders, and

in the past two weeks its no surprise that we have been endorsed by five of the

democratic clubs to weigh in on the 3rd Council District race: the Village IndependentDemocrats (VID), the Lower Manhattan Democrats (LMD), the Village Reform

Democratic Club (VRDC), the Park River Independent Democrats (PRID), and the

Chelsea Reform Democratic Club (CRDC).

As a resident of Chelsea for the last decade, I have been deeply involved in our

community. Ive served for eight years on Community Board 4 and I was honored to be

elected Chairperson by my peers two years ago. I am now ready to take my experienceand effective leadership to the City Council as your representative.

But I can't do this without you. Stonewall Democrats of New York City has always beenconsidered a leader in providing critical support for progressive candidacies and ideals,

and I would be humbled by your support.

We share many of the same hopes and dreams for this community, and I have theexperience to turn them into reality.

I oppose the reliance on the policy of Stop, Question and Frisk, which dividescommunities and breeds distrust.

Condoms are evidence of good behavior, not bad. I oppose using condoms as evidence ofcriminal prostitution.

Under my leadership on Community Board 4, thousands of affordable housing units havebeen created to ensure that seniors, working families, artists, and people with disabilities

can continue to live in our community.


2/3

I spoke at numerous rallies and public hearings in opposition of NYU's plan to radicallyalter the already overburdened neighborhoods of Greenwich Village.

I believe that New York City should have oversight over its own rent regulation laws and

support the repeal of vacancy decontrol.

As Chair of Community Board 4 I opposed the Chelsea Market development planbecause I believed it was inappropriate and desecrated a historic landmark in our

residential community.

I oppose residential construction in parks and specifically at Pier 40 in the Hudson River

Park. I applaud Assemblymember Deborah Glicks leadership in advocating for alternate

ways in getting the Hudson River Park Trust on sounder financial footing.

I stood with parent leaders and PTAs against the Department of Educations contentious

rezoning proposals and I will continue to advocate for increased funding for education,smaller class sizes, and more middle school seats on the West Side.

As Chair of Community Board 4, I helped lead the fight in asking our elected officials to

completely ban hydrofracking and protect New Yorks vitally important watershed.

I strongly support Participatory Budgeting, which puts the power and decision making

process back in the hands of the public by giving them control of discretionary funds in

the city budget.

The closure of St. Vincents Hospital was an enormous loss for the entire West Side. I

testified before the City Council in favor of bringing a fully functional hospital with aLevel-1 trauma center back to our community.

I believe that healthcare is a civil right and I will be a voice for those who need it most.

I would truly be honored to have your support, and hope you will join me in advocating

for our progressive agenda on the New York City Council.

Sincerely,

Corey Johnson

Our campaign has been endorsed by the following progressive elected officials, unions,

and clubs:

US Congressman Jerrold Jerry Nadler (NY-10)

Former State Senator Tom Duane

State Senator Brad HoylmanAssembly Member Dick Gottfried


3/3

Working Families Party (WFP)

United Federation of Teachers (UFT)32BJ SEIU

New York Hotel and Motel Trades Council (HMTC)

United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1500

Retail, Wholesale, and Department Storeworkers Union (RWDSU)Teamsters Joint Council 16

American Federation of Musicians Local 802Uniformed Fire Officers Association (UFOA)

Mason Tenders District Council (MTDC)

Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 1101International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 3

Village Reform Democratic Club (VRDC)

Village Independent Democrats (VID)Chelsea Reform Democratic Club (CRDC)

Park River Independent Democrats (PRID)Lower Manhattan Democrats (LMD)

RJ Jordan

Campaign Manager

Corey Johnson for City Council

P. 917.767.5329

www.corey2013.com

corey johnson for city council

Documents