NY Congressional Reps with NRA "A" Ratings ... and Flippable Seats

We aren't safe at churches.

We aren't safe at concerts.

We aren't safe at LGBTQ nightclubs.

We aren't safe at mosques.

We aren't safe at the movies.

We aren't safe in parking lots.

We aren't safe at schools.

We aren't safe at synagogues.

We aren't safe at work.


Gun violence is the favored form of terrorism for white supremacist bigots and others, and that's an LGBTQ issue.  FBI statistics make it clear that hate crimes target mostly on race (47%), sexual or gender orientation (20.4%), or religion (18.6%) and The Center for Study of Hate and Extremism points to a four year increase in the number of hate crimes committed.

Despite the evidence and the carnage, there has been no significant national legislation on gun control since 1994.  While we've made real and recent progress in New York, Congress has maintained easy national access to guns as the norm, and the United State now holds the title of the most homicidal nation in the developed world.

So let's take a look at the New York Congressional delegation and see who is empowering terror and hate crimes by being soft of gun violence.  It's as easy as reviewing their relationship (via ratings, endorsements, and contributions) with the National Rifle Association.  

No one in the New York City Congressional delegation is rated "A" with the NRA and none of them have been endorsed by or received money from the NRA.  Outside of New York, it's a different story as there are many Republican incumbents who fully embrace the NRA and happily receive their cash.  Of those, there are a few of them in what are eminently flippable races:

Long Island, US House, District 1
Incumbent:  Lee Zeldin 
NRA Rating: A     /     NRA Endorsed: Yes     /     NRA Contributions: $9,900
Challenger:  Perry Gershon
NRA Rating: F     /     NRA Endorsed: No     /     NRA Contributions:  $0
FLIP THIS SEAT: Website - Volunteer - Donate - Facebook - Twitter

Hudson Valley & Catskills, US House, District 19
Incumbent:  John Faso
NRA Rating: A     /     NRA Endorsed: Yes     /     NRA Contributions: $9,900
Challenger: Antonio Delgado
NRA Rating: F     /     NRA Endorsed: No     /     NRA Contributions:  $0
FLIP THIS SEAT: Website - Volunteer - Donate - Facebook - Twitter

Southern Tier, US House, District 22
Incumbent:  Claudia Tenney
NRA Rating: A     /     NRA Endorsed: Yes     /     NRA Contributions: $9,900
Challenger: Anthony Brindisi
NRA Rating: F     /     NRA Endorsed: No     /     NRA Contributions:  $0
FLIP THIS SEAT: Website - Volunteer - Donate - Facebook - Twitter

Central NY, US House, District 24
Incumbent:  John Katko
NRA Rating: A     /     NRA Endorsed: Yes     /     NRA Contributions: $2,000
Challenger: Dana Balter
NRA Rating: F     /     NRA Endorsed: No     /     NRA Contributions:  $0
FLIP THIS SEAT: Website - Volunteer - Donate - Facebook - Twitter
PHONEBANK FROM HOME

Western NY, US House, District 27
Incumbent:  Chris Collins
NRA Rating: A+     /     NRA Endorsed: Yes     /     NRA Contributions: $2,000
Challenger: Nate McMurray
NRA Rating: F     /     NRA Endorsed: No     /     NRA Contributions:  $0
FLIP THIS SEAT: Website - Volunteer - Donate - Facebook - Twitter

To see other races in New York, including Statewide and legislative races, it's easy to use the NRA's own tool against it.  Just enter your address to find out if the NRA endorses any candidates on your ballot:  https://www.nrapvf.org/grades/New-York

Speaking of candidates endorsed by the NRA ...

Marc Molinaro is the GOP candidate for Governor.  He's endorsed by the NRA and has received their "A" rating.  And this past week during the gubernatorial debate he tried to tell LGBTQ New Yorkers he was their friend.  His record tells us otherwise.  

Time after time he voted against Marriage Equality: 2007, 2009 (twice), and 2011. 

He stood the party line against the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA) each and every year he was in the legislature.

Molinaro voted against same-sex adoptions and against allowing health insurance to be shared in domestic partnerships in the years before marriage was made legal.  As is typical, the candidate that is bad on guns is bad on LGBTQ, but in this case he's lying about his record. We couldn't not point that out

MORE MIDTERM ACTIONS

There are phone banks, busses, and more happening every day, including today!  Throughout the city and set up by multiple organizations, all are listed in our regularly updated Facebook Events. If you've never canvassed or called before, you aren't alone, and there is training available.  Bring a friend an make a day of it!

Here's a few specific actions worth checking out:

Phonebank in support of flipping Congressional and State Senate seats blue with the NY State Democratic Party.  There are multiple locations and dates thoughout the city (and state).  Search to find the action that best suits you:  
https://events.mobilizeamerica.io/nydems/

SDNYC has joined the Vote Blue 2018 Coalition!
Jump on a bus to flip a seat blue!  
Details and RSVP here:  
https://www.votebluenyc.com

State Senator Brian Benjamin is been leading trips upstate supporting State Senate races leaving from 125th St. & Adam Clayton Powell Blvd. Join them:
https://events.mobilizeamerica.io/benjaminfornewyork/

The Bronx Democratic Party is hosting phone banks Monday through Thursday throughout The Bronx.  Click here for dates and locations:
https://www.facebook.com/BronxDems/
For more information, reach out to Daniel Johnson:
dajohnson@bronxdems.org

SDNYC is joining Gay & Lesbian Independent Democrats and community leaders to support the next State Senator from District 34 in the Bronx, Alessandra Biaggi!
Join us Tuesday, October 30 at Flaming Saddles in Hell's Kitchen:  https://www.facebook.com/events/268054923845245/


If none of the actions listed above work for you, there are more ways to help!  Look through the list of flippable seats below, learn about the candidates and find the best way(s) for you to support them:

FLIPPABLE SEATS IN NYC & NEW YORK
There is only one Republican-held Congressional seat in New York City and only one Republican-held State Senate seat in New York City, but many more outside the city.  The races listed below have fantastic candidates we can support to flip these seats blue.  

CONGRESS

Max Rose
Staten Island/Brooklyn
US House, District 11
Website - Volunteer - Donate
Facebook - Twitter
PHONEBANK FROM HOME

Perry Gershon
Long Island
US House, District 1
Website - Volunteer - Donate
Facebook - Twitter

Liuba Grechen Shirley
Long Island
US House, District 2
Website - Volunteer - Donate
Facebook - Twitter

Antonio Delgado
Hudson Valley & Catskills
US House, District 19
Website - Volunteer - Donate
Facebook - Twitter

Anthony Brindisi
Southern Tier
US House, District 22
Website - Volunteer - Donate
Facebook - Twitter

Dana Balter
Central NY
US House, District 24
Website - Volunteer - Donate
Facebook - Twitter
PHONEBANK FROM HOME

Nate McMurray
Western NY, US House, District 27
Website - Volunteer - Donate
Facebook - Twitter
 

STATE SENATE

Andrew Gounardes
Brooklyn
NY Senate, District 22
Website - Volunteer - Donate
Facebook - Twitter
PHONEBANK FROM HOME

Anna Kaplan
Nassau County
Senate District 7
Website - Volunteer - Donate
Facebook - Twitter

Senator John Brooks
Nassau County
Senate District 8
Website - Volunteer - Donate
Facebook - Twitter

Assemblymember James Skoufis
Rockland County
District 39
Website - Volunteer - Donate
Facebook - Twitter
PHONEBANK FROM HOME

Aaron Gladd
Columbia County
District 43
Website - Volunteer - Donate
Facebook - Twitter

John Mannion
Syracuse
District 50
Website - Volunteer - Donate
Facebook - Twitter

Jeremy Cooney
Rochester
District 56
Website - Volunteer - Donate
Facebook - Twitter

Effective January 1: Gender Markers on NYC-Issued Birth Certificates Can Be Edited Via Self-Attestation

This afternoon, Mayor Bill de Blasio will sign legislation sponsored by Speaker Corey Johnson that will "allow individuals to change the sex designation on their birth record to conform to the individual’s gender identity" and allow people not identifying as male or female to obtain a gender-neutral “X” on their New York City birth certificates through self-attestation. Under current law individuals correcting their birth certificate gender must submit affidavits from doctors/medical professionals which presents unnecessary financial and bureaucratic hurdles. Introduced by the Mayor and Speaker in June and passed by the Council in September, the new law will go into effect on January 1, 2019 and is an important step forward for the city at a time when non-binary and all LGBTQ people are seeing regressive, threatening moves on the federal level.

We applaud the work of the Mayor and Speaker to help all New Yorkers live their best and healthiest lives as well as the community advocates whose work and testimony helped move this into law. We further applaud the bill co-sponsors: Karen Koslowitz, Ben Kallos, Carlina Rivera, Brad S. Lander, Daniel Dromm, Helen K. Rosenthal, Costa G. Constantinides, Stephen T. Levin and Health Committee Chairperson Mark Levine. It should be noted that this bill did not pass unanimously and that there are Democrats that voted against the bill. To see how your Councilmember voted, click here, then click "Action Details" in the "Approved by Council" line.

There is more work to do on this issue on the state and federal levels. Legislation to improve the process for New York Driver's Licenses remains unpassed by the Senate in Albany, and the progress made under President Obama for US Passports has stalled under the current administration. All the more reason to flip them Blue in November.

This progress set in motion by the Mayor, Speaker, and Members of the Council underlines support for our community and highlights the amazing work by advocates in these arenas. While there will always be more needs for the future, let's be proud of the progress and promise this legislation represents today.