On Sunday, April 14, State Sen. Daniel Squadron held his 7th annual community convention at Lower East Side Preparatory High School on Stanton Street.
Squadron, who represents the 26th Senate District, uses feedback from the event to help set his legislative priorities for the coming year. About 350 activists from Lower Manhattan and neighborhoods in Brooklyn represented by the senator came to hear several speeches by local elected officials and to take part in break-out sessions.
“The more that people of goodwill engage,” said Squadron in opening remarks, “and take back the public square on days like this, and all year round, the better we will all be.” The featured address was delivered by U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, Squadron’s mentor and close political ally.
Schumer said Lower Manhattan has risen to confront major challenges in recent years (9/11, the 2008 economic crisis and Hurricane Sandy). Thanks to billions of dollars from the federal government following the superstorm, he asserted, downtown neighborhoods will see “the greatest infusion of infrastructure since the New Deal.” Schumer, poised to become the next Senate minority leader, rattled off a list of priorities, including equal pay, a higher minimum wage, making college affordable for more Americans and immigration reform.
Other elected officials in attendance included: Congressmember Jerrold Nadler, Public Advocate Letitia James, Comptroller Scott Stringer, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon and Councilmember Corey Johnson.
