Councilmember Brad Lander · [email protected]

March 20, 2020 at 9:50 PM

Resources for Parents of School Children During COVID19 School Closures

In the past 24 hours DOE has updated their online tools for everyone in the NYC public school community -- parents, students, teachers and school staff, so first and foremost we want to get those links out so you can begin this new educational journey we are all on together. Dear John, While …

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  Councilmember Brad Lander · [email protected]

March 19, 2020 at 4:45 PM

COVID-19: Thursday 3/19 update: Settling in and gearing up together

We’re going to start including a few quick things at the top of these long update emails that you might be able to do, help with, or sign up for. Dear John, It’s not easy to settle into new routines so suddenly, with so much uncertainty about what is happening now and what the next few week…

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  Team Lander · [email protected]

March 18, 2020 at 7:34 PM

Our jails are a public health and moral disaster waiting to happen

Thousands of New Yorkers are currently detained in overcrowded, unsanitary, and unsafe conditions in our city’s jails -- and thousands of correctional staff come and go from those jails every day. Dear John: Thousands of New Yorkers are currently detained in overcrowded, unsanitary, and unsafe…

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  Councilmember Brad Lander · [email protected]

March 17, 2020 at 6:25 PM

COVID-19: Strengthening our social safety net.

Now, as we settle into the shutdown, it’s time to work quickly to strengthen our social safety net.  This email includes information about broader efforts, and some local opportunities to help make sure the most vulnerable New Yorkers are protected, as best we can Dear John, As you know, Ne…

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  Councilmember Brad Lander · [email protected]

March 16, 2020 at 10:00 PM

Stay Home and Be Counted: Census 2020

It couldn't be more important for everyone to be counted. Thankfully, filling out the Census only takes a few minutes and is easy to do from home! Dear John, It’s really hard to think about the next 10 years while we are in the middle of a crisis and taking it day by day. But the 2020 Census …

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  Councilmember Brad Lander · [email protected]

March 15, 2020 at 3:47 PM

COVID-19: It’s time to close NYC schools & all non-essential businesses

It’s time for New York to move much more aggressively to implement social distancing. Dear John, It’s time for New York to move much more aggressively to implement social distancing. I have called on Governor Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio (as I know many of you have) to order a thoughtful closure …

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  Brad Lander · [email protected]

March 14, 2020 at 3:57 PM

I stand with Yuh-Line (online and off)

In a time of historic upheaval and massive challenges, I’m especially glad to work alongside leaders like Yuh-Line Niou. Dear John: In a time of historic upheaval and massive challenges, I’m especially glad to work alongside leaders like Yuh-Line Niou. Assemblywoman Yuh-Line Niou has been a pow…

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  Councilmember Brad Lander · [email protected]

March 13, 2020 at 7:31 PM

COVID-19: Friday updates and next steps on supporting each other

As the coronavirus outbreak and response continue to escalate, we wanted to keep you as informed as possible about what we are doing to keep people safe and healthy, and also how we can work together (virtually) as neighbors to help out Dear John, As the coronavirus outbreak and response conti…

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  Brad Lander · [email protected]

March 12, 2020 at 4:43 PM

Are you BYOB -- bringing your own bag? A quick plastic bag-related survey:

With the first few days of the bag waste reduction law behind us, we wanted to get your thoughts. Can you take one minute and fill out this survey about NYC’s new plastic bag policy? Dear John: Coronavirus is the crisis of the present moment, but climate change is the crisis of our future. So …

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  Councilmember Brad Lander · [email protected]

March 11, 2020 at 3:45 PM

Coronavirus: What kinds of resources & mutual support do you want?

We can’t come together in person to confront the coronavirus. But maybe we can come together to do some of that organizing and community building online.  Dear John, Our community comes together during times of crisis. After Hurricane Sandy, we did all we could to take care of the frail elderl…

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  Councilmember Brad Lander · [email protected]

March 9, 2020 at 12:03 AM

Coronavirus: taking smart precautions

While more COVID-19 cases have been identified in New York, the advice from public health officials has not dramatically changed. Dear John, Late last week I wrote to urge everyone to take reasonable precautions and not panic at the spread of coronavirus. While more COVID-19 cases have been …

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  Brad Lander · [email protected]

March 7, 2020 at 3:47 PM

What Uber, Lyft, and Seamless can do RIGHT NOW to fight Coronavirus

When gig workers can't take paid sick days, it puts ALL of us at risk. Dear John: I know many of you are preparing for the spread of coronavirus, trying to balance precaution and anxiety. I found this Q and A from Gothamist very helpful. There’s good reason to wash our hands more often, be mor…

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  Brad Lander · [email protected]

March 5, 2020 at 6:06 PM

Continuing the fight for our democracy in 2020

Dear John, My deepest gratitude and admiration go to Elizabeth Warren. We’re sad in my house today, for sure. But I really could not be prouder to have supported her in this campaign, and to have been part of her compassionate, smart, progressive, diverse, hardworking team.  I love the way sh…

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  Councilmember Brad Lander · [email protected]

March 2, 2020 at 7:01 PM

Wash your hands. Take precautions. Don’t panic. And be kind to your neighbors.

New York City and State are taking the threat of coronavirus very seriously. There is reason to be aware, to take precautions, but also, not to panic. Dear John, Over the weekend, New York City confirmed the first local case of coronavirus. A woman in her late thirties, who contracted COVID-1…

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  Brad Lander · [email protected]

February 27, 2020 at 5:27 PM

How we took on outside election spending -- and won!

New York Times: “Outside money has been almost nonexistent” Dear John: In the 10 years since the disastrous Citizens United decision opened the door for unlimited campaign spending, more than $1 billion has flooded our political system. A lot of this money is completely unaccountable. In most o…

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  Team Lander · [email protected]

February 24, 2020 at 6:17 PM

Brad is debating TONIGHT! (plus, our 2020 poll results)

You saw the Nevada caucus results, and now we’re sure you’re waiting with bated breath for the Very Unofficial Brad Lander for NYC 2020 Presidential Poll Results! Dear John: You saw the Nevada caucus results, and now we’re sure you’re waiting with bated breath for the Very Unofficial Brad Land…

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  Brad Lander · [email protected]

February 21, 2020 at 7:05 PM

Quick poll: Who are your top TWO choices for President?

Did you watch Wednesday night’s debate? **QUICK POLL** Who are your current first and second choices for President? Dear John: Did you watch Wednesday night's debate? I watched with Warren supporters uptown -- and if my Twitter feed is any indication, a whole lot of you were eagerly watching to…

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  Councilmember Brad Lander · [email protected]

February 19, 2020 at 5:15 PM

An unusual project brought to you by participatory budgeting

New York City’s capital projects management system is in need of improvement. Here's some good news: An online public capital projects tracker will help improve accountability, transparency, and project management so that we can better keep pace with needed investments in our City’s future.  De…

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  Team Lander · [email protected]

February 14, 2020 at 8:28 PM

Brad vs. Bloomberg

Brad is going head-to-head with former Mayor Mike Bloomberg. No, not in the presidential race. Dear John, Brad is going head-to-head with former Mayor Michael Bloomberg.  No, not in the presidential race. But in the City & State’s contest over the week’s biggest winners and losers in New …

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  Brad Lander · [email protected]

February 13, 2020 at 10:55 PM

The two scariest words

For too many people, and especially for low-wage workers, two of the scariest words in the English language are: “you’re fired.” Dear John, For too many people, and especially for low-wage workers, two of the scariest words in the English language are: “you’re fired.”  Right now, tens of thous…

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  Team Lander · [email protected]

February 11, 2020 at 11:03 PM

Winning safer streets

Dear John, Today, New York City took a huge step forward towards making our streets safer.  The NY City Council voted to pass Brad’s groundbreaking legislation to combat reckless driving, launching a first-of-its-kind program to require owners of the most dangerous vehicles in the City to cha…

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  Brad Lander · [email protected]

February 10, 2020 at 1:30 PM

Reckless drivers are finally getting the boot!

Dear John, After two years of advocacy, I’m thrilled to report that we’ve reached a deal with City Hall on my legislation to hold the city’s most reckless drivers accountable. The City Council will be voting on the bill this Tuesday! Check out the story in The New York Times today on our firs…

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  Councilmember Brad Lander · [email protected]

February 6, 2020 at 4:45 PM

Join us for the Day Against Hate 2/13

Dear John, In the last few months, New York has seen an alarming rise in anti-Semitism that is echoed in the rise of hate and division nationwide. Jewish, Muslim, Black and Brown, immigrant, and LGBTQ communities — all of us have a shared interest in defeating Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, xen…

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  Brad Lander · [email protected]

February 3, 2020 at 10:01 PM

Plastic bags are (finally!) on their way out of New York

Dear John, Over 7 years ago, we began our campaign to get rid of the plastic bags that clog our storm drains, catch on our trees, and litter our streets and oceans. We joined with students, seniors, surfers, public housing residents, and environmental activists to do something about the 10 bi…

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  Brad Lander · [email protected]

January 29, 2020 at 10:06 PM

“Anything deemed inappropriate is inappropriate”

Dear John, “Anything deemed inappropriate by the staff is inappropriate.” That’s the Orwellian rule laid down by administrators at one New York City high school for what students can wear. When the advocacy group Girls for Gender Equity (GGE) surveyed 100 dress codes in NYC schools this year,…

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  Brad Lander · [email protected]

January 27, 2020 at 10:15 PM

Please join me, Diane Ravitch, Helen Gym, and fellow education reformers

Dear John, I’m excited to invite you to an important conversation about the future of public education and its role in fostering multiracial democracy with a very special group of education reform advocates and thinkers.  Please join me, education reformer and historian Diane Ravitch, Philade…

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  Brad Lander · [email protected]

January 25, 2020 at 2:10 PM

Help me meet your neighbors?

Dear John, Running for citywide office in a city as large and diverse as New York is one of the most humbling and inspiring things I’ve ever done.  I’ve met neighborhood leaders in living rooms in Jamaica, Queens, parents fighting for educational equity in backyards in Bushwick, and advocate…

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  Brad Lander · [email protected]

January 13, 2020 at 4:11 PM

How can NYC make life better for freelancers?

Dear John, Freelance work offers the flexibility to develop one’s own schedule, work on different projects, and build new skills and experiences. But for many freelancers, the cost of flexible hours and autonomy has been instability, late payments, lack of benefits, and vulnerab…

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  Brad Lander · [email protected]

January 11, 2020 at 11:01 PM

In the next 6 hours

Dear John,  In the next 6 hours the books will close on the biggest filing period of this race so far.  Here’s the thing: We need just $2,289 more to reach our goal of $200,000 in matchable, small-dollar contributions from NYC residents. (Through NYC’s campaign finance program, t…

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  Brad Lander · [email protected]

January 11, 2020 at 2:56 PM

Today’s deadline

Dear John, The outpouring of support for this race has really been uplifting. I’m looking forward to working with you to bring our values to the Comptroller’s office. Will you join activist Ady Barkan, State Senators Alessandra Biaggi and Julia Salazar, and hundreds of other New …

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  Brad Lander · [email protected]

January 10, 2020 at 2:31 PM

Why I am running for NYC Comptroller

   Dear John, We are living in a time of peril for our democratic institutions and rapidly eroding trust in government. People doubt that our government will do what it promises, that it will spend our money wisely, that it can serve as a vehicle for people to come together with…

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  Alessandra Biaggi and Julia Salazar · [email protected]

January 9, 2020 at 5:31 PM

Will you join us?

  Dear John, This past year, our first as state senators in Albany, we passed major progressive legislative reforms to make New York State a leader in protecting tenants, immigrants, and reproductive rights in the face of ongoing attacks from Washington. None of this would have…

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  Councilmember Brad Lander · [email protected]

January 8, 2020 at 6:40 PM

#NoWarOnIran: Rally Tomorrow 6 PM

Dear John,  Our planet is burning, inequality is skyrocketing, Puerto Rico is trembling. Another destructive, endless war is the last thing we need.  Join New Yorkers rallying against war with Iran and in solidarity with our Iranian-American neighbors: Thursday, January 9. 6 …

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  Brad Lander · [email protected]

January 7, 2020 at 1:50 PM

Our first two endorsements!

Dear John, It’s not an overstatement to say that Alessandra Biaggi and Julia Salazar have fundamentally transformed New York State politics and made millions of lives better.  Thanks in no small part to their leadership in Albany (and the work we did together to help elect them …

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  Brad Lander · [email protected]

January 5, 2020 at 10:05 PM

Happy New Year???

Dear John, I’ve been saying “Happy New Year” a lot this week, but it sure hasn’t been a happy one so far. We’re on the brink of war. Huge parts of Australia are on fire. Anti-Semitic attacks continue. And the President has been impeached for abuse of power, but the GOP Senate Ma…

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  Brad Lander · [email protected]

January 1, 2020 at 4:50 PM

Some year-end accounting

Dear John, The end of the year is always a good opportunity to do some accounting. Too often, we think of accounting as a narrow, technical function. But really, it’s just asking: Did we hit the goals we set together? Are we honest about what we achieved, and what we did not? Th…

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  Ady Barkan · [email protected]

December 30, 2019 at 11:47 PM

My friend Brad

Dear John,  I first met Brad Lander 7 years ago. He was organizing a broad coalition to craft a platform of 13 bold progressive policy ideas for the 2013 New York City elections. Of course, it turned into more like 130 bold ideas.  Looking back, it’s amazing how many of those id…

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  Councilmember Brad Lander · [email protected]

December 24, 2019 at 6:18 PM

A real miracle this holiday season

Dear John,  It can be hard these days to focus on what is really important. Amidst the daily onslaught of horrors both real and Tweeted, sometimes I find myself losing sight. Or getting so tangled up in my own outrage that I can’t tell whether a particular fight is really a m…

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  Brad Lander · [email protected]

December 19, 2019 at 1:30 PM

Next up, the Senate

Dear John, Yesterday’s vote by the U.S. House of Representatives to impeach Donald Trump for abuse of power was historic. The impeachment is a pledge not to allow Trump’s self-serving corruption to become normalized, that we will not be desensitized to the corrosion of our democ…

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  Brad Lander · [email protected]

December 16, 2019 at 5:30 PM

No One Is Above the Law

Dear John, Three years ago, in the dark days after the 2016 election, we channeled our outrage and despair into organizing and came together to create Get Organized BK.  As the Trump administration fulfilled our worst nightmares, tearing children away from their families, weaponi…

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  Team Lander · [email protected]

December 5, 2019 at 1:01 PM

Wreaking immense havoc

Dear John, In the brownstone-lined streets of Park Slope, Brooklyn … the progressive flame burned on. Brad Lander had long before realized that Democratic domination in Washington would never lead to radical transformation. On the federal level, there would always be pushback f…

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  Brad Lander · [email protected]

November 30, 2019 at 12:01 PM

Small businesses need rent stabilization

Dear John,  Today is Small Business Saturday. Created as a counter to the mass consumerism rush that is Black Friday, it’s a day to celebrate and invest in our local communities.  Small businesses are getting squeezed by skyrocketing rents, and we have a chance to do something a…

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  Brad Lander · [email protected]

November 27, 2019 at 1:15 PM

#LoveYourLocal

Dear John,  It’s no secret that small businesses are struggling to pay rent. The boarded up storefronts and empty windows we walk past every day remind us of how skyrocketing rents are squeezing local businesses out of our communities.  Over 1000 people have already signed our p…

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  Brad Lander · [email protected]

November 26, 2019 at 6:31 PM

The washerwomen had a plan. Let’s make ours.

Dear John, The washerwomen in Atlanta had a plan when they went on strike in 1881, demanding higher wages and a little dignity. So did the garment workers in Lawrence, Massachusetts, as they demanded bread and roses. And so did the immigrant women who formed the “Uprising of the…

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  Brad Lander · [email protected]

November 20, 2019 at 6:02 PM

The most encouraging thing happening in NYC this fall

Dear John, “If someone’s looking down, I’ll go up to them and I’ll ask them if they need a friend. If they say yes, I’ll be that friend.”  That’s what Angel said on his first day of school at MS 447. Angel, a 6th grader from Sunset Park, was profiled along with Sophie, a 6th gra…

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  Brad Lander · [email protected]

November 16, 2019 at 2:00 PM

Save our small businesses

Dear John,  Almost everyone has a favorite local store or restaurant in our neighborhood. For some, it might be the corner bodega that only closed the day of the #BodegaStrike. Others the hole-in-the wall serving spicy tacos or piping-hot momos. The independent bookstore. I love …

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  Brad Lander · [email protected]

November 6, 2019 at 1:40 PM

More democratic. And more effective too.

Dear John, New York City’s elections just got more democratic. And more effective, too, as NYC voters overwhelmingly voted to bring Ranked Choice Voting to NYC.  Will you chip in to celebrate our victory — and help me prepare to run in NYC’s first ranked-choice election?  More t…

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  Brad Lander · [email protected]

November 4, 2019 at 5:14 PM

My recommendations for Election Day

Dear John,  Although it may not seem like it, tomorrow is Election Day in NYC! Polls are open tomorrow from 6 am to 9 pm. You can check your poll site or registration status at voting.nyc. On Sunday, I was delighted to vote early at the Park Slope Armory (which served as a power…

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  Brad Lander · [email protected]

October 30, 2019 at 12:58 PM

Next week, flip your ballot to vote for better democracy!

Dear John, Election Day is coming up (and early voting is already underway!). On the ballot this year are critical improvements to the way elections work in NYC.  Ballot Proposal #1 will establish a Ranked Choice Voting system for all primary and special local elections. Rather …

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  Brad Lander · [email protected]

October 21, 2019 at 1:00 PM

Early voting starts this Saturday

Dear John, For the first time, New Yorkers have the opportunity to head to the polls early this year, due to historic voting reforms passed by the State Legislature in Albany.  Out of town on November 5? Know that it will be hard to make it to the polls during a work day? This y…

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