December 2016 Citizen
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The Citizen
Newsletter of the Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats


President's Message
 

You are amazing. All of you reading this, all of you that have been turning out by the 100s and 1000s over the last few weeks, and all of you that won't accept hate and division in our neighborhoods and our country. November 8 was more than a wake up call, it was cold water splashed on our face while in a deep sleep. We knew our country's legacy of racism was alive, we knew being an immigrant here was hard,  and we knew that economic inequality was causing fractures in our society but we often let others deal those issues while we signed petitions and gave money.

Now we are awake and facing our demons and the reality of centuries of division. 

Our country is no different then it was two months ago but we are. We will no longer just talk about the issues and we will take action. We will no longer accept that some people are worse off than others and we will work for everyone. We will stand for love, equity and equality for all.

There are several things CBID is doing that you can read about below, and we will spread the word about other peoples actions as much as we can, just send us the information. We are stronger together!

In solidarity and please have a happy holiday season!

Benjamin Solotaire, President CBID    

Last week, Councilmember Brad Lander held a second community meeting geared towards creating a response to the Trump administration.  Like the first meeting, over 1000 people attended with ideas, passion, and a willingness to help.  Club members Benjamin Solotaire and Asher Novek both led breakout sessions designed to identify clear actionable items to begin working on.  These efforts are building towards a stronger community.  

The next meeting will be on December 20th.  For more info, reach out to Councilmember Lander, or ask Ben or Asher.  

Special Meeting
CBID will be holding a special meeting for members who want to join us in a planning session on partnering with a red district and working with them over the coming months. 

Why did some red districts vote the way they did?  What is the best way for us, in the heart of Democratic Brooklyn, to learn from and engage with those districts? Are there organizations or people in those districts we can partner with and find progressive candidates for 2018 and 2020?

There are districts in New York City, elsewhere in New York State, and in the Mid-West that we could adopt and learn from. Let's start working on which districts to partner with and how to most effectively do that. We need to start bridging the gap, come join us and together we can begin to take action.

The meeting will be on Monday December 12 at 7:00pm at the Park Slope United Methodist Church, 410 6th Ave in the basement, you can RSVP here
The World-Wide Refugee Crisis: Syria and Beyond
Wednesday, December 7th at 7:00pm  ●  Doors open at 6:30pm
Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church
85 So Oxford St (btw Fulton St. & Lafayette Ave)
Fort Greene, Brooklyn

 
Speakers:
Sarab Al-Jijakli, Syrian-American activist and President, Network of Arab-American Professionals
Flora Mejzinolli, Kosovo Refugee and Amnesty International USA Public Outreach Representative
Audu Kadiri, Nigerian Asylum Seeker and Community Organizer, African Communities Together
Loubna Mrie, Syrian Asylum Seeker, activist and photo journalist
 
 
Performances:


Polybe + Seats presents an excerpt from Sarah Badiyah Sakaan's Anna Asli Suriyah (I Come from Syria), directed by Jessica Brater
Faton Macula Kosovar Albanian Jazz guitarist

Q&A will follow the panel with an opportunity to meet and speak with organizers working with refugee organizations & panelists before and after the forum.

Free admission.   Light refreshments will be served. 
 
Sponsored by: Fort Greene Peace with Brooklyn For Peace, LAPC Social Justice Committee
 
 For more information: email fortgreenepeace@gmail.com or call 718-624-5921 
Find Fort Greene Peace and Brooklyn For peace on Facebook or BrooklynFor Peace at BrooklynPeace.org

Million Women March
 
CBID has reserved two buses to go to the Women's March on Washington on January 21. Tickets will go on sale soon but you can let us know if you are interested here and we will email you the ticket link when it's live. The bus will leave from the Park Slope area at about 4:30am and bring us back that night. Ticket prices are as follows:

One Round Trip Ticket: $55.00
CBID Member Rate: $45.00
Student/Low Income/Senior: $35.00

2017 Club Elections
The Nominating Committee for the 2017 Club Elections will meet on December 12th at 6:30pm at 1205 8th Ave. (in the basement).

This is a public meeting, so if you would like to attend to discuss the nomination slate, you are free to do so.  

The slate of offices available are: 

Officers
President 
First VP 
2nd VP 
Treasurer 
Corresponding Secretary 
Recording Secretary 

We will also have 20 Executive Committee positions available.  

If you would like to be nominated but cannot attend this meeting, please email:

Lucy Koteen - lucy.koteen@gmail.com or
Dan Wise - dnljwise45@gmail.com

There will also be an opportunity at the January meeting (1/26) to take nominations on the floor.  

December Meeting Agenda:
  • Jim Brennan
  • Katy Rubin - Theater of the Oppressed
  • Caron Atlas - Arts & Democracy
  • 350.org discussion about offshore energy petition
  • Election discussion
  • CBID constitution discussion.
Upcoming Meeting Schedule:

** December 15th (date change): Holiday general meeting @ 7pm
December 19th: Ex Comm meeting @ 7:30pm
January 26th: General Meeting @ 7pm (Club Elections held)
January 30th:  Ex comm meeting
February 23rd: General meeting 
February 27th: Ex Comm meeting
President's Picture of the Month
Jean-Michel Basquiat, The Nile 1983
CBID Executive Committee

Officers
President - Benjamin Solotaire
First VP - Joy Romanski
2nd VP - Eric Fields
Treasurer - Marty Bernstein
Corresponding Secretary - Asher Novek
Recording Secretary - Tom Carroll

Executive Committee
Richard Bruce, Dan Campanelli, Robert Carroll, Fathi Hegazy, Nosheen Hussain, Mohammed Hussain, Lucy Koteen, Cheryl Krauss, David Michaelson, Warren Miner, Sean Robertson, Louis Schwartz, Josh Silverstein, Cheryl Wertz, Peter Zessos

Ex-Officio:  
Hon. Jake Gold, Hon. Lori Citron Knipel, Hon. Josh Skaller, Hon. Anne Swern

Follow us on Twitter @cbidems and Facebook 
Copyright © 2016 Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats, All rights reserved.


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