Friend,

Beyond wishing you a safe & healthy holiday filled with love, there are a few other things on my wish list for you this year. The 2020 holiday season feels different. It has been an incredibly challenging year, filled with uncertainty, loss and disappointment. Many who were already living on the brink were pushed further into despair, and the leaders who were positioned to provide some relief have largely turned a blind eye.

But even in these difficult times, I am inspired by the community that has come together in resistance, demanding equity and justice for all. I am hopeful that together we can build a New York City that is centered on caring for one another and fulfilling our potential to truly be the greatest city in the world. And, I am committed to the ideals of a democracy that reflects the voices of all communities and works in the best interests of all.

 

In 2021, my wish list for all New Yorkers includes:

 

·Recognition of the rights of excluded workers, BIPOC, immigrants and the working poor;

·Free and unqualified access to the Covid-19 vaccine;

·Housing for All;

·An economic relief package that provides opportunity for everyone to live in dignity;

·A focus on equity and justice against racism and white supremacy, and;

·Environmental justice to save the planet from climate change.

 

And that’s just the beginning. New Yorkers are too smart to settle for systems that don’t work for everyone. We recognize that the well-being of our collective is inextricably linked with that of those who struggle the most. We acknowledge our inter-dependence. Together, we will fight against the injustices of poverty, racism and inequity. This fight is centered in love. We love our community. We love New York. And we love the possibility of what it can become.

 

Together we can reimagine and create a city that has never existed before. One that insures everyone can live in dignity. A new New York City that really is the greatest city in the world!

 

Happy Holidays, mi gente. Please be safe.

 

Pa’lante, in solidarity,

Dianne