August 5, 2024
By JONATHAN LENTZ | The Downtown Independent Democrats has been a progressive force in lower Manhattan since its founding in 1972, with a long history of advocating for protections for tenants, low-income residents and small businesses. In recent years, it has provided critical support to Assembly Member Grace Lee and New York City Council Member Christopher Marte, and it's now in the midst of the fight to keep Mount Sinai’s Beth Israel hospital open. The club has seven district leaders, including Paul Newell, who sought then-Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver’s seat twice.