I. Candidate Interviews (in order of interview)

1. Assemblymember Alicia Hyndman (29th Assembly District)

2. Dion Powell (79th Assembly District)

3. Assemblymember Ron Kim (40th Assembly District)

4. Phara Souffrant Forrest (57th Assembly District)

5. Jesse Pierce (District Leader 52nd Assembly District)

6. Assemblymember Walter T. Mosley (57th Assembly District)

7. Elvis Santana (79th Assembly District)

8. John Zhuo Wang (Civil Court Judge, Manhattan)

II. Candidates Endorsed

1. 29th Assembly District – Alicia Hyndman 

2. 40th Assembly District – Ron Kim 

3. 57th Assembly District – Walter  Mosley 

4. 79th Assembly District – Elvis Santana 

5. 25th State Senate District – Jason Salmon  

6. Civil Court Judge, Manhattan – John Zhuo Wang 

III. State Senators Julia Salazar and Gustavo Rivera report

Senator Rivera discussed the NYS budget. He voiced concerns about the budget cuts to the public hospital system and Medicaid and the Governor’s using his popularity to increase control over the budget in inhumane ways. Senator Salazar expressed concerns about the roll-backs on bail and criminal justice reforms passed by the State Senate, as well as the slowness of the penal system to release older and COVID-19 virus vulnerable people from prisons. Neither of the State Senators were optimistic about the prospects for further action on Clemency or release of parolees or prisoners, given the Governor’s resistance (though he committed to releasing parolees, there has been limited action) to it and his popularity. There was also discussion of how the Attorney General could play a positive roll, particularly in releasing parolees, though she has not been receptive to date.      

IV. Allen made a motion to add Erik H, Zella Jones and Mitch Nowicki to the Board of Governors. He also moved for Louis Cholden-Brown to become Vice President in William Gerlich’s stead.  Gerlich was then voted unto the Board of Governors. These actions were approved unanimously. 

V. City Council Speaker Corey Johnson discussed three City wide priorities, 1) Getting to zero transmission; 2) Building hospital beds and accessing ventilators and other equipment required to provide urgent COVID-19 health care; 3) Starting to rebuild the city economy. He discussed various steps being taken on these initiatives including Federal funds for economic development and a City/State/Foundation initiative to increase shrunken food bank capacity. He also discussed the difficult choses that will be required due to the severe reduction on revenue for the city and indicated his focus will be to ensure the safety net for the most vulnerable. 

VI. Stuart Appelbaum, President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union pointed out that the current COVID-19 crisis has showcased the value of the most underpaid workers – cashiers, grocery and delivery workers. He condemned Amazon’s poor treatment of the whistle blower worker who exposed the unsafe working conditions at a New York Amazon warehouse. He discussed the RWDSU’s emphasis on organizing car workers, where exploitation of undocumented workers has been prevalent, and the poor conditions and extremely low wages for those workers. He also discussed the difficulties the Union has had in organizing the workers at the nonprofit Housing Works.

VII. Treasurer’s report

VIII. Vice President Louis Cholden-Brown reported on the consolidation of primary and special election to June 23 and that there are no contested Judicial delegates races.