Press conference on the steps of NY City Hall on Wednesday 11/29. Pictured are Councilwoman Rosie Mendez, Councilman Robert Jackson, Congressman Jose Serrano’s District Director Cheryl Simmons-Oliver, Dot Maver and the NY Dept. of Peace crew.

An update message from NY coordinator Carol Hillson about their positive meeting with the NY City Council and a press conference beforehand (which got some good local coverage).

Hello NY-DOP Team!

For those of you who may or may not  know, today was an exceptional day for NY-DOP and the Department of Peace Campaign. A resolution was introduced to the New York City Council by Council Member Rosie Mendez calling for a U.S. Department of Peace and Nonviolence. The press conference held this morning played at 6 pm on WFUV radio out of Fordam University.  Local TV station, Channel 9, broadcast a 30 second segment during the 10 pm news as well. Both outlets represented the campaign favorably. This is exceptional!

My deepest appreciation to all who worked tirelessly on this with very short notice – I think there was all of 3 weeks to plan! Thanks to Kevin Fagan, our illustrious Legislative Coordinator, Karen Murphy for her extraordinary efforts helping organize the day and acting as MC, to Marianne Perez for her incredible media and stage managing skills, to Joe Allegro, Charlene Barker, Adriana, Susan Cushman and Marni Goldner for helping contact the press, to Eileen Ilardo in helping contact endorsers and to Norma Loeb for initiating the idea and as always alerting the NY Times reporters to this event.

And thanks to all who showed up to support the campaign and be ON TV! Liz Graydon is always willing to travel in from LI, Ellen Jaedicke ferried over from SI and Dawn came down from mid-town! We have a dedicated and amazing team and we are doing great work together.

We are also grateful to Lindsey and Ken Neal who have been providing us with professional PR advise and counseling. Its definitely working!

We are so grateful that Dot Maver was in town and willing to stand with us and speak about the importance of this effort on behalf of New Yorkers as well as people all across this nation. Her words were stirring and so fitting.

If I’ve neglected to thank anyone for a particular job well done, please forgive me and let me know.  Celebrate and enjoy a job well done.

Carol