Upper West Side Community Forum to Focus on Post-Election Concerns

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — The post-election dread in New York City is real. The Upper West Side community will come together for a post-election forum on Thursday, hosted by elected officials and city agencies, to help deal with the realization that Donald Trump will be the 45th president of the United States.

New York City — with the exception of Staten Island — has long been a liberal stronghold. With nearly 86 percent of voters in Manhattan casting their ballot for Hillary Clinton, according to state board of elections data, the city held true to form in the 2016 presidential election.

The forum is being co-sponsored by the offices of Rosenthal, Congressman Jerry Nadler, State Senator Brad Hoylman, Public Advocate Letitia James and Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, according to a flyer.

Also present at the meeting will be Commissioner Nisha Agarwal of the Mayor’ s Office of Immigrant Affairs, civil rights lawyer Norman Siegel and representatives from organizations such as the New York Civil Liberties Union, Planned Parenthood, the NY Immigration Coalition, 350NYC and organizations for religious freedom and LGBT rights.

"Many of you have reached out to express concerns given the unexpected outcome of the presidential election and also a desire to get engaged. This Community Forum will be an opportunity to come together, hear from organizations that are expert in issues of concern, and to start organizing," said an emailed statement from City Council Member Helen Rosenthal.

Photo by Gage Skidmore via Flickr/Creative Commons