By Gus Saltonstall
The publication City & State recently put together a ranking of “New York’s Top 50 Political Clubs,” and a Democratic club on the Upper West Side was named the most powerful in the entire state.
“While it has been perhaps a century since political clubs were at their zenith, these organizations remain quietly formidable, especially on the local level,” City & State wrote in its introduction to the ranking. “They can still elevate a club’s founder or leader or other key members into elected office.”
The introduction to the ranking began with Micah Lasher crediting his recent victory in the Democratic primary to succeed Assemblymember Danny O’Donnell to securing the coveted endorsements from three local Upper West Side and Morningside Heights political clubs.
West Side Democrats. Three Parks Independent Democrats. Broadway Democrats.
“These are three very independent-minded, activist organizations that don’t always agree, and so having them unify in support of my candidacy sent a real message that there was broad support at the local level throughout the district,” Lasher told City & State.
Political clubs are membership-based organization with missions that involve promoting their political beliefs on multiple levels of government, along with encouraging people to get involved in politics and vote. Different clubs have different guidelines on how to become members, but, generally, anybody who lives within the geographical border of the political club is free to apply.
In most cases, it is not a requirement to be a registered voter. There are also membership dues.
The Upper West Side political club named the most powerful in New York?
West Side Democrats.
Its key members include Rep. Jerry Nadler, Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal, Councilmember Gale Brewer, Assemblymember-elect Micah Lasher, Scott Stringer, and multiple district leaders.
“Rep. Jerry Nadler is the godfather of Manhattan’s West Side, and a source of his clout has long been his local political club,” City & State wrote. “Before his Assembly tenure began in 1977, Nadler was a member – and, briefly, executive director – of the Community Free Democrats, which in 2020 merged with the venerable Ansonia Independent Democrats and Park River Independent Democrats to form the West Side Democrats, covering the Upper West Side’s Assembly Districts 67 and 69.”
In terms of West Side Democrats members that might be next on the ballot, Stringer is exploring a run for mayor and is expected to seek political office in general over the next couple of years.
Polly Spain, who is a special education teacher who has served on Community Board 7 and as a NYCHA tenant leader, is the president of the club.
West Side Democrats was not the only Upper West Side political club to make the ranking. Three Parks Independent Democrats was named as the 36th most powerful political club in New York.
You can check out the full ranking — HERE.
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I always wondered what was larger: the UWS Republican club or the Staten Island Democratic club.
HA-HA! Good one!
The North Shore of Staten Island has a lot of Democrats.
True – they even helped get Max Rose elected. But I assume they’re on the north shore in case they need to make a quick escape to Manhattan.
Open borders, record inflation, War in Europe, War in Israel, The world economy in crisis. The media and the entire Democratic establishment hiding Biden’s cognitive disaster. This is the Democratic Party. Own it, wear it like a hat.
Trump had record unemployment, an economy that wasn’t growing, China and Russia owning us. He zoomed taxes on northeast states and middle class, removed the SALT deductions, He was a complete disaster.
Gladly. There are no open borders, fewer people are coming in now than when Trump was in office. There’s no economic crisis, that’s a lie. Trump enabled the war in Europe, he practically encouraged it. Biden is defending Israel. He stepped down and there’s a new candidate who’s younger and more dynamic than either of the geriatric white men who were the nominees before. Should I go on?
Sal, To begin, I have to tread lightly if I hope to make it past the censer, so here is a softball question. You Really stated fewer people are coming in under Biden than Trump? Really? and to the person who blocked my last response, come on be fair. Do a little fact check on Sal.
A censer is a container for incense.
Sal > OPOD. Facts are facts. And as was said in Monty Python and the Holy Grail, “Help, help. I’m being repressed”!
You never miss a window to post your agenda. All the Fox News / Newsmax talking points. You’re consistent – I’ll give you that!
They would also be MSNBC/CNN/ABC/CBS/NBC talking points if those media outlets weren’t afraid to report news that reflects badly on the Democrat Party.
LOL. Okay, Boris. Or, maybe it’s that all those points are false. How about that?
I would suggest that they work hard to find a good replacement for Adams’. He’s no Democrat or democrat. He doesn’t agree with separation of church and state. He doesn’t like public involvement in landuse decisions…. He is a miniature version Trump. He needs to go.
How about a mayor who will support arresting farebeaters and implementing some real enforcement of traffic laws, especially as they relate to e-bikes?
This is where most of NYC’s political and media class lives or wants to live in. I am not surprised.
More like political gangsters.
If they’re so powerful why aren’t they using that power to improve the quality of life around here?
Just focus on what can be, why do you have to be burdened by what has been?
The rule of the elites sold to us under the guise of democracy
This was the benefit of the Nassau County GOP system back then where people donated 1% of their annual salary to the county GOP in exchange for representation that was representative of everyone, not just a few rich people. Nassau County Democrats tried to take 3% of people’s annual salary back then. Too bad this was made illegal in the 1970s.
Right on! We have the Old Boys Club, who decided Micah Lasher would succeed Danny O”Donnell; just as the Dems decided on who would be the choice for our Democratic presidential candidate.
We need a third party! A labor party! But the duopoly won’t allow it.
Maybe this won’t pass the censor here, either?
Judging by the number of published comments, I can only assume how many voiced dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs. But of course WSR will censor all of them. Maybe will let through a couple to show that they are “independent “
So many angry comments claiming censorship that aren’t censored. Must be hard to live life constantly thinking you’re being persecuted when you’re not.
Sadly, my UWS Democrat Club does not have the clout to stop the onslaught of luxury housing without garage space, stop , and keep mom and pop stores from leaving because of outrageous commercial rentss. Currently, its elected representatives support citibikes owned by Lyft and the Open Streets program that is closing streets is one of the wealthiest zip codes in the U.S. for frivolous activities. They have bought into the Transportation Alternatives playbbok to rid our community of private car ownership and make us dependent on rental cars. We are paying milllions for these programs through DOT.
Note that the dues amount to $30 annually.
Lasher had SIGNIFICANT funding from real estate industry. His election is a travesty for a once progressive neighborhood.
Melissa Rosenberg was supposed to be the real estate candidate but flopped.
What is glaringly obvious is that it’s acts as a self serving entitlement to occupy political positions by the same group of individuals who selfishly see no value in putting forth fresh faces and ideas. Many of them have spent a career/lifetime being initially mentored (ironic) and then succeeding into political positions. Their stronghold and economic power closely tied to NP’s who support their campaigns in kind for long term lucrative contracts running social welfare services (ie shelters, after school programs etc that are never held accountable to any metric of success & some rewarded despite their incompetence). When will they give voters a real choice instead of playing musical chairs? The UWS DESERVES better.