WestView Letter September 2014: The residents of the 66th district need to cast their vote for me on November 4th because the system in Albany is rigged, and Deborah Glick is part of the broken system. New York can have a government that works for all of us, not one that works only for the wealthy and well connected. It is clear to me that this culture of intimidation, back room deals, and working for your largest donors is the biggest problem facing our democracy.

The residents of the 66th district need to cast their vote for me on November 4th because the system in Albany is rigged, and Deborah Glick is part of the broken system. New York can have a government that works for all of us, not one that works only for the wealthy and well connected. It is clear to me that this culture of intimidation, back room deals, and working for your largest donors is the biggest problem facing our democracy.

I envision a New York where salaries are rising because the minimum wage is a living wage and it’s tied to inflation. The cost of living isn’t something we should have to justify over and over every couple of years to upstate politicians. A New York where we keep neighborhoods affordable with mandatory inclusionary zoning and renew and revive the rent laws that made New York great: bring back stabilization and rent controls.

I am not an Albany insider, but I believe Deborah Glick can be beat, and must be challenged. The voters of the West Village, Tribeca, and Downtown are severely underrepresented and despite her many years in office, she failed to pass any meaningful reforms in this last decade.

I will force Glick to defend her record of selling away the Hudson River Park Trust’s air rights without considering long term revenue streams that will sustain this critical resource for decades to come, her failure to stop co-locations of charter school, and her failure to lead on the Women’s Equality Act. We need full passage of Women’s Equality Act. I will protect our water by fighting everyday I am in office until we have banned fracking in NYS, while also fighting for community solar and other initiatives that reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and keep our neighborhoods cleaner.

All of these issues are challenges that I see as opportunities for us. I am ready to face these head on because I know I am not alone. The people of this district want more and, with you behind me, I am ready to make our presence felt and voices heard in Albany once again.

I respectfully ask for your vote on November 4th.

Alexander Meadows