Bootcamp Launch Party April 14! 🎉 RSVP here!
Plus: life updates!
NYC June Primary Bootcamp Launch Party 🎉
Ready to level up your political influence—and have fun doing it? Join the NYC June Primary Bootcamp Launch Party to build community, find new conspirators, and lock down an accountabilibuddy to help you reach your Bootcamp goals💪
The launch party isn’t just about having fun—it’s your chance to meet other engaged New Yorkers, swap strategies for getting involved, and kick off your Bootcamp goals with momentum.
Whether you’re a seasoned advocate or just starting your civic engagement journey, you’ll leave with a gameplan for your next steps.
📅 Date: Monday, April 14 at 6:30pm
📍 Venue: Finback in Brooklyn - 545 President St, Brooklyn, NY
💡 What to Expect:
✅ Meet like-minded New Yorkers who care about local politics
✅ Structured activities to connect with people in your neighborhood and those with similar interests/goals
✅ First reveal of some Bootcamp prizes
✅ Leave with a gameplan for your next steps
Also, in case you need a refresher on what this Bootcamp thing is again:
Here’s what I’ve been doing this week instead of writing…
Packing!
My husband and I are moving to Crown Heights. Our lease in Manhattan is up April 1. That also means I’m not applying for another term on my community board in Manhattan.😭 It’s bittersweet— I’ll miss the friends I’ve made on CB5, I’ll miss the Landmarks committee. I’m sad that I won’t be as in tune with this part of the city. But I’m also excited for a new chapter.
Rezoning!
There are exciting updates from Manhattan CB5 from this week too. CB5’s land use and zoning committee voted to approve a proposal to build more housing in midtown 🎉.
Some context: there are a couple neighborhoods in the Garment District that currently do not allow housing. They’re currently zoned for manufacturing and commercial development only— because the city was trying to support the garment manufacturing industry. But those manufacturing jobs have largely left NYC, and so it makes sense to ask: how do we want this neighborhood to evolve? The Department of City Planning did a ton of listening sessions with residents and businesses and brought forward the Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan (MSMX) to rezone these areas for more housing. And not just a little more housing. A lot more housing! This is the first rezoning that would take advantage of new state policy and city policy to build more housing per lot— which will require building affordable units as well as market rate units.
The chair of CB5’s land use committee led a very transparent and inclusive process to hear from neighbors and CB5 members and compile their perspectives into the committee’s approval. We had a long committee meeting on Wednesday, and rightfully so, given the complexity of the rezoning and the many perspectives in the room. Personally, I’m excited to have been part of the process to allow housing in this neighborhood that I loved living in🗽. The next step is for the full community board to vote on the committee’s recommendation on April 10. Then it’ll go to the borough president and city council (who makes the actual decision).
Speaking!
I gave a lightning talk at this How to do Abundance event last weekend. Over 100 people took their Sunday afternoon to learn how they could make a difference on issues they care about in New York City. Daniel from Maximum New York made it a welcoming and inspiring space. Instead of the usual frustration or complaints about how hard it is to create change, the energy in the room was positive and action-oriented. People weren’t venting; they were asking smart questions, sharing resources, and looking for real ways to get involved. It was a room full of problem-solvers, ready to take the next step.
In my quick presentation, I made a case for where New Yorkers should put their energy between now and June 24 (The Primary!).
I started with a little background on how to influence the issues you care about. Power in politics isn’t just held by elected officials—in fact, I argued that elected officials do not have the most influence. Politicians make policy decisions, but they serve at the pleasure of voters. For every decision that an elected official makes, they have to think: how will this impact me with my voters? It’s really hard for them to take brave stances on issues that are controversial, even if they know the brave thing to do is the right thing to do. It’s much easier for them to say what voters want to hear and just perpetuate the status quo. So elected officials are influenced by voters. Who are voters influenced by?
I argue that groups have the most power in this equation, because they directly influence elected officials and they directly influence voters. There’s lots of types of groups: advocacy organizations, labor unions, tenant associations, and Democratic Clubs just to name a few. They directly influence elected officials by giving campaign donations, turning out volunteers, and influencing messaging (e.g. writing op-eds, conducting polls). They directly influence voters by shifting the narrative on issues (e.g. how LGBTQ+ advocates effectively shifted the narrative on gay marriage in the early 2000s).
Understanding these dynamics is key to making an impact. Knowing where power lives helps citizens navigate how to influence the issues they care about. You too can influence elected officials. You too can influence voters. The June Primary Bootcamp is your playbook for how.
Learn – Understand who represents you, how policies are made, and where decisions happen.
Build Community – Think about it: how do you make decisions about who to vote for? You follow the recommendations of people you trust. The Bootcamp is setting you up to be one of those trusted people. Your neighbors should be asking you: “who should I vote for for Comptroller?”
Influence Politics – The most powerful political influence comes from collective action. Join or lead a group that aligns with your values. Share your personal voter guide with 20 friends. Introduce your city councilmember to someone that can help them get things done in the neighborhood.
