Potential candidates for a Democratic District Leader seat, an assembly seat and a Congressional seat in next year’s came to the New Kings Democrats (NKD) meeting last night in Boerum Hill to introduce themselves.
The NKD is easily the most “progressive” Democratic Party club in Brooklyn, has close ties with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), is alleged to perpetuate political gentrification, and has been a virtual patronage mill for jobs in the de Blasio Administration. That said, recent elections have shown they are a growing and organized faction of the Democratic Party, particularly in elections.
Kristina Naplatarski, the communications director for City Council Member Antonio Reynoso – who himself is a member of the NKD – expressed her interest in running for the female Democratic District leader seat in the 50th Assembly district, which covers the Greenpoint and Williamsburg neighborhoods while Edwin Delgado expressed his interest in running against incumbent Assemblymember Erik Dilan (D-Bushwick, Cypress Hills, parts of Bedford -Stuyvesant) in the 54th Assembly District.
In the upcoming 12th NY district Democratic Congressional primary, Lauren Ashcroft introduced her self as a candidate to challenge U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-Greenpoint, Eastern Manhattan, Western Queens).
NKD Vice President Emily Hoffman discussed the NKD endorsement process and handed out questionnaires inviting members to form small groups that would have potential candidates speak in front of them and decide whether they would endorse them or not.
In October there will be meetings regarding the Assembly races for the 50th District (Lentol), 51st district (Assemblymember Felix Ortiz) and the and the female Democratic District Leader race in the 52nd Assembly District, said Hoffman.
In other news from the meeting, NKD Executive Committee members organized and submitted a resolution to require the Brooklyn Democratic Party to form a sub-committee that would provide more accountability and oversight over the Party’s finances.
NKD Chief of Operations Jessica Baker Vodoor discussed the results of surveys they handed out in communities across the borough where there was a total of 124 responses; 94 members, 17 non-members and 13 “maybe-members” with 50% of them being members for two to three years.
Vodoor also announced how the club wanted to add diversity questions on the next survey because they wanted to change the organization from being less of a white club and wanting an increase in age range. She asked members to divide into groups of four or more to converse and discuss ideas of how to structure meetings that would allow general participation for all members of the community as mentioned above.
