September 11, 2017

Updated September 15, 2017 to add more signatories

VIA EMAIL

The Honorable Keith L.T. Wright

New York County Democratic Committee
108 West 39th Street
Suite 1201
New York, NY 10018

The Honorable Frank Seddio

Kings County Democratic Committee
16 Court Street
Suite 1016
Brooklyn, NY 11241

Dear County Leader Wright and County Leader Seddio,

True Blue NY, NY Indivisible, Indivisible Brooklyn, Indivisible Harlem, Indivisible Heights
of Resistance, Action Potluck NYC, Rockland United, Rockland Citizen Action Network,
NoIDCNY, Rise and Resist, Code Blue, All Hands on Deck NYC, Indivisible Nation BK,
Bagels and Resistance, True Blue-53, Indivisible We Stand, IDC Action Group of NYCD16
Indivisible, Lead Blue, Sunset Park Latino Democrats, NYC Indivisible, Inwood Indivisible,
Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats, Ernest Skinner Political Association, Southern
Brooklyn Democrats are a coalition of groups working together to move New York State left
and to support progressive candidates. We represent tens of thousands of voters and activists
across New York State, many newly awakened by the 2016 elections, and all of whom are
now focused on certain issues in state government that had formerly passed by with much
less notice.

facebook.com/makeNYtrueblue | @makeNYtrueblue | 4true.blue.ny@gmail.com

With that in mind, we write today about the State Senate seat made vacant in District 26
(which covers lower Manhattan and the Brooklyn waterfront) by Senator Daniel Squadrons
recent resignation. We urge the New York County and Kings County Democratic
Committees to ensure that the selected candidate for the special election to fill this vacant
seat will not now or in the future join the Independent Democratic Conference (IDC).

As you know, there are currently eight members of the IDC, all of who ran as Democrats,
but are now in a "majority coalition" with the Republicans. The effect of the IDC's alliance
with the Senate Republicans is to hold back or water down progressive legislation that
would benefit voters in District 26 and beyond. Some examples of important pieces of
legislation that are being held up by the IDC's empowerment of the Republicans are the NY
Liberty Act, GENDA, the strengthening of rent regulations and tenant protections,
single-payer health care for all New Yorkers, and the Reproductive Health Act.

The County Committees must take measures to prevent the election of an IDC Senator in
District 26. We recommend the Committees thoroughly question all potential candidates on:
(1) who will fund their campaign (the IDC being largely funded by real estate and charter
school interests); (2) whether they have accepted or will accept donations from the Senate
Independent Campaign Committee Account or any other IDC PAC, housekeeping account,
or personal campaign account of an IDC or Republican Senator; (3) require disclosure of
any professional and/or personal ties they have to the IDC and/or any of the individual
members of the IDC; (4) whether they have been approached by Senator Jeff Klein, or by
any other IDC or Republican Senators, or by any IDC or Republican staff members or
representatives in order to seek their participation in IDC; (5) their personal beliefs
concerning the role of the IDC in the Senate; and (6) their plans for how best to oppose the
IDC and how to strengthen the Democratic Caucus in the New York State Senate and the
Democratic Party overall.

We firmly recommend that only candidates who have pledged to the Committees and to the
public that they will not join the IDC at any point in their Senate careers should be
considered for the Democratic Party nomination.

facebook.com/makeNYtrueblue | @makeNYtrueblue | 4true.blue.ny@gmail.com

Thank you very much for your consideration. We look forward to supporting a strong
progressive candidate in District 26, who is steadfast in her or his opposition to IDC and
completely committed to good government.

Sincerely,

True Blue NY
NY Indivisible
Indivisible Brooklyn
Indivisible Harlem
Indivisible Heights of Resistance
Action Potluck NYC
Rockland United
Rockland Citizen Action Network
NoIDCNY
Rise and Resist
Code Blue
All Hands on Deck NYC
Indivisible Nation BK
Bagels and Resistance
True Blue-53
Indivisible We Stand
IDC Action Group of NYCD16 Indivisible
Lead Blue
Sunset Park Latino Democrats
NYC Indivisible
Inwood Indivisible
Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats
Ernest Skinner Political Association
Southern Brooklyn Democrats

facebook.com/makeNYtrueblue | @makeNYtrueblue | 4true.blue.ny@gmail.com

facebook.com/makeNYtrueblue | @makeNYtrueblue | 4true.blue.ny@gmail.com