Dear Friends,
Our communities are crying out for more vocal leadership and visible resistance. The chaos and cruelty unfolding in this country demand that we act—even if we know it won’t be enough on its own.
At the national level, it’s no secret that the Democratic Party is not where we need it to be. The party’s leadership, agency, strength, and effectiveness are being questioned, especially by the next generation. We have to do better. But progress is only possible if we work together. While elected Democrats fight to mitigate the harm caused by the Trump/Musk administration, we, Ulster County Democrats, are taking action right now:
- Providing continuous feedback to our elected officials and Democratic Party leaders about what our communities need—whether they welcome it or not.
- Supporting candidates for local office to ensure we elect qualified, principled leaders close to home.
- Organizing targeted voter outreach at UCDC Headquarters.
- Hosting Democracy Tent events.
- Updating our website and public materials to promote protests led by local elected officials.
- Expanding our communication with voters who are disconnected from traditional media and political institutions.
As I said at the outset, this is not enough. But waiting for the “perfect” response or giving in to despair is not an option. No elected official—current or future—has a silver bullet for this moment of national crisis. That said, Ulster County has the power to model the change we need to see throughout the Democratic Party.
No matter what happens in Washington, our committee members are out knocking on doors in ‘Neighbor to Neighbor’ programs, building connections with voters. Our town board and Common Council members continue to serve the public responsibly. Our county leaders are working collaboratively to assess federal funding cuts and reduce their impact. We are electing judges who will uphold the Constitution, and we are registering new voters to ensure our government truly represents the people.
Watch your inbox for details on upcoming events, and join us in turning outrage into action!
Best,
Barbara
Barbara Graves-Poller, UCDC Chair
chair@ucdems.org
