The Citizen - January 2017

Statements of Candidates for Executive Committee
(*Denotes Incumbents)

Joanne Boger: I come from northern Virginia originally and moved to Park Slope in the 1970s after graduate school at University of Buffalo. The community's diversity was very appealing and I settled in to raise two daughters here. I got a chance to help rebuild the park at 5th Avenue and 4th Street with the 5th Avenue Committee, and later worked at Neighborhood Housing Services and the City's HPD on affordable housing. My most interesting work was managing housing for formerly homeless people in a not for profit, Community Access. So housing has been my cause. I'm glad CBID is here and I joined after this election to work for a progressive agenda.

Richard Bruce*: I have been active in the Labour Party and Labour movement all of my adult life and before moving to the US I served two terms as a labour councillor on Hacney council and then for ten years as secretary of the Mount Pleasant Branch of the British CWU. When we moved to Brooklyn in 2005 I joined CBID and, since 2006 I have been a member at large of the Executive committee and assist Marty with his chores as Treasurer.

Thomas Carroll*: will speak at January meeting

Wolfe Courtney: I have been a resident of Park Slope for 31 years. I work on computer networks for the MTA, where I am a shop steward for the Transportation Workers' Union. Working at the MTA has not only been professionally fulfilling, but it has given me the opportunity to work with a wide cross section of New Yorkers. I have done some political advocacy in the past, from women's rights in my youth in London, to organizing trips to Pennsylvania for Obama, to my current project of youth group and faith group outreach to conservative areas.

Fathi Hegazy*: I am running for reelection to the EXCOM so I can hear what other people are saying and serve them.

Nosheen Hussain*: I am currently an ex-comm member, for many years. I want to work for democracy. Where I came from, there is no such a thing. I would like to serve the community again. Could you give me another chance.
Vote for Nosheen Hussain.

Mohammed Hussain*: My purpose is to help improve people’s lives through democracy. I believe the best way to achieve this goal is by serving as a CBID Member-at-Large Board member. So kindly vote for Mohammed Hussain

Lucy Koteen*: I have been a member of CBID for over ten years serving as President of the club for two years, 2008-2010 and a member of the ex-com ever since. I have been politically active in Brooklyn since 2004. I am most concerned about the over-development that is taking place all around us without regard for infrastructure or for creating an over dense city. For the last two years I have served as the co-chair of the Brooklyn Bridge Park Community Advisory Council. I am involved with local associations in the area where I live, Fort Greene. I will be away for the Jan 26th vote and meeting. I'm sorry to miss it.

Hillary Keitel: I'm from Chicago and moved to New York in 2015, where I work at an investment research firm called Morningstar. A combination of my liberal upbringing in the Midwest and financial services work experience motivated me to volunteer for the Hillary Clinton campaign in 2016. I spent the fall canvassing for Hillary in PA and found the experience to be eye opening. One of my main goals moving forward is to motivate my generation (millennials) to care more about community, democratic values, and building meaningful, non digital relationships. I’m hoping my mixture of Midwest/east coast experiences can bring a unique perspective to CBID.

Ben Karl: I believe that preserving our institutions for social, economic and environmental justice will require daily effort to educate ourselves and engage with our community and lawmakers. We face a staggering challenge and I take my role in the process very seriously. I'm eager to contribute my time and energy to the perpetuation of our collective efforts.

Cheryl Krauss*: I've been a member of CBID for 10 years, and a member of the Exec Committee and the Kings County Democratic Committee for most of that time. CBID is my chosen outlet for activism because it is consistently progressive on both national and local issues, and because we work to make the Democratic Party more honest, responsive, and transparent.
My practical contribution to the club has been as the chair (and sole member, I hope to change that!) of the Hospitality Committee, which provides snacks at most meetings. I also make our political buttons.

David Michaelson*: I am running for re-election for the executive board. I became involved in Brooklyn politics in 2004 in the aftermath of the Bush re-election. Since then I have fought both for reform within the Democratic Party and against the regressive right wing agenda. As a board member of CBID I wish to see us reach out more to organizations that focus on women's rights and minority rights and to become a part of a larger coalition to oppose the oncoming storm of a Trump regime.

Richard Morrell:

"we're still here"

lived through Vietnam, Nixon, Reagan and 2 Bushs and..

"we're still here:

I’m a long-time member of CBID - not so active in the past, but now that i'm fully retired, would like to spend my time in a more productive manner. Standing up for liberal principles is very important if we are to save the republic.
Be strong.

"we're still here"

David Pechefsky*: I have been a CBID member since 2010 and served as club President (2015). I live in Park Slope with my family, have worked as staff for the NYC Council, consulted on democratic governance in Liberia and Somalia, and currently work for a nonprofit devoted to youth civic education. I am especially proud that during my time as President the club held its first ever strategic planning retreat for the executive committee and continued its tradition of independence by endorsing Bernie Sanders! I hope to continue to play a constructive role on the Executive Committee and am especially interested in seeing the club be more active in candidate development.

Warren Radford: While I am new to the club, I am an experienced community organizer on issues in alignment with its core values. I currently work for the city, developing and implementing family engagement policies for our schools. I also design and conduct leadership trainings on direct mobilization and outreach strategies and will bring those skills to support CBID in meeting its goals. Some of my political priorities are fully and fairly funded public schools, and addressing the extreme degree of racial and economic segregation in our city. I very much look forward to working with everyone at CBID!

Nathan Rubin: In August 2015, Nathan and his fiancé, Arielle moved to the neighborhood (4th Ave & 12th Street). They met at NYU where Nathan earned his Master’s Degree in Organizational Behavior and Arielle studied Education & Theatre.

During the day, Nathan works at an insurance company, AXIS Capital, focusing on Human Capital Analytics in their HR department, and outside of work, Nathan is serving a three-year term on the NYU Alumni Association Board of Directors. He also recently founded www.MillennialPolitics.co, an organization and platform that strives to shine a spotlight on the latest activists, startups, and news in the next generation political space."

Louis Schwartz*: I've been a member of CBID for at least ten years. This is the first year that I've served on the excomm. Although I've always been Liberal. My activism exploded when Bush stole the election from Gore. I'm a Criminal Defense attorney with 40 years of experience (unbelievable), 13 of which were as a staff attorney for the Criminal Defense Division of the Legal Aid Society. Membership on the Executive Committee is crucial in setting CBID policy, a role I embrace. A very significant role played by CBID is insuring that fair minded progressive judges are put on the bench.

Matt Shahabian: My wife and I are new to CBID and to Brooklyn, but we’re committed to organizing locally for progressive reform. I want to push our party and our elected officials to make it easier for everyone to vote, to improve public transportation and education, to fix our criminal justice system, and to protect our immigrant friends and neighbors. As a lawyer, I use the law to protect my clients. But as a citizen, I want to work together to use the law to protect our community, and to advocate for better laws and reforms where we need them.

Cheryl Wertz*: I have been an political advocate for 15 years and a resident of Brooklyn for 10. After working for a Council Member and getting a degree in Human Rights, I founded the campaign to reinstate voting rights for non-citizens in NYC elections. (Yes, RE-instate. Yes, it's legal. Yes, it's an awesome idea and I would love to chat with you about it sometime!) Then I spent a few years as the Executive Director of a great grassroots peace organization before becoming the Director of Language Access at HRA. I have been on the Ex-Comm for a few years now, juggling meetings with diapers baths and bedtimes for 2 kids in 2 years. They are older now (kindergarten and 1st grade) so I'll see you all on the bus to DC!

Dan Wise: I have been a journalist covering legal affairs in NYC for many years, and have had a blog since 2011, which has a major focus on the handling of foreclosure cases in Brooklyn. Trump’s unexpected defeat of Hillary impelled me to join the club and work as hard as I can with like-minded persons to counter the threat he poses to decency, common sense, peace, civilized society and the planet. I recently underwent elective surgery and hope my recovery enables me to attend the meeting on Jan. 26.

Peter Zessos:* Over the past seven years I have had the privilege of serving on the executive committee of CBID including two as the corresponding secretary. Additionally I was previously a member of Community Board 2 where I was the recording secretary for the Health Environment and Social Services Committee. I love Brooklyn and CBID and hope to continue to serve on the executive committee. I am looking forward to all of the work and events we will need to focus on in the next several years. Thank you for your vote!