March 8, 2017

VIA EMAIL

The Honorable Keith L.T. Wright

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

Dear County Leader Wright,

True Blue NY, Code Blue, Swing Left NY, Indivisible Harlem, Morningside Heights
Resistance, All Hands on Deck NY, Rise and Resist, Rockland United, Rockland Citizens
Action Network and No IDC NY 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. With that in mind, we write today to urge the New York
County Democratic Committee to ensure that the selected candidate for the special election
for the State Senate seat in District 30 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 30 and beyond. Some examples of important pieces of
legislation that are being held up by the IDC's empowerment of the Republicans are the
Liberty Act, GENDA, the strengthening of rent regulations and tenant protections,
single-payer health care for all New Yorkers, and criminal justice reforms including Raise
the Age.

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

The County Committee must take measures to prevent the election of an IDC Senator in
District 30. We recommend the Committee 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) 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; (4) their personal beliefs concerning the role of the IDC in the Senate; and (5) 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 Committee 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.

Thank you very much for your consideration. We look forward to supporting a strong
progressive candidate in District 30, who is steadfast in her or his opposition to IDC and
completely committed to good government.

Sincerely,
The Members of True Blue NY, Code Blue, Swing Left NY, Indivisible Harlem,
Morningside Heights Resistance, All Hands on Deck NY, Rise and Resist, Rockland United,
Rockland Citizens Action Network, and No IDC NY

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