We the undersigned members of the steering committee of Northwest Bronx Indivisible are deeply offended by the Ben Franklin Democratic Reform Club’s 81st A.D. mailer. As community members, voters, and activists, we care about truth and decency in political discourse. The mailer violates both principles through its inflammatory accusations that the Unity (Democratic) Club candidates use antisemitic tropes and disregard public safety. We condemn the mailer. We believe it distorts truth.

 

Inflammatory political advertising causes real harm to our community. Such rhetoric divides us when it implies that Unity Democratic Club candidates don’t share “North Bronx values.” We believe North Bronx values include truth and democracy, not innuendo and demonization. The members of the Unity Democratic Club slate have consistently campaigned for Democratic candidates’ ballot access – U.S. President Joe Biden, Democratic Congressman Pat Ryan (NY-18), and Anthony Parisi, the (latter, the) first-ever Democrat elected as Dutchess County DA.

 

We call on all candidates to refrain from negative campaigning.

 

Helen Krim, Ellen Tremper, Silvia Blumenfeld, Betty Golomb, Dan Guenzburger, Stephen Real, Kathryn Solomon, Carol Foresta, Ellen Tremper

 

Editor’s Note: Norwood News has reached out to the Benjamin Franklin Democratic Reform Club and Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz (A.D. 81) and Councilman Eric Dinowitz (C.D. 11) for comment. The councilman and assemblyman have endorsed the Benjamin Franklin Democratic Reform Club slate of candidates. We will publish any feedback we receive. Read a separate related story here and a separate related op-ed here.

 

Election Day is Tuesday, June 25, and polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. To find your polling site, as well as additional information on the election and candidates, visit the New York City Board of Elections website at: www.vote.nyc/elections.