Ilyssa Meyer for District Leader

Hi, I’m Ilyssa

My Brooklyn story began seventy years ago on Park Place, in the very same building where I live today. After my grandfather passed away suddenly, my grandmother became a single mother in that building. To provide for her family, she broke barriers as the first woman admitted to the bookbinder’s union—a feminist before her time who fought for her place in this borough.

I chose to return to this building because Brooklyn represents the same energy and resilience my grandmother carried into that union hall. Professionally, I work at the intersection of healthcare, technology, and public policy. Locally, I have spent years doing the hard, unglamorous work of party reform, including serving two terms as President of the Independent Neighborhood Democrats (IND). I’ve also served as a County Committee member, the NY-10 Captain for the Biden-Harris campaign, and an Elected Delegate to the 2024 Democratic National Convention.

I’m running for District Leader.

The District Leader should be the bridge between our neighborhood and the party. It’s a grassroots, unpaid official who serves as a vital link between our community and the Democratic Party infrastructure. They are responsible for:

Democratic Representation: Serving as a member of the New York State Democratic Committee to shape party leadership and policy.
Judicial Selection: Helping to vet and select the judges who serve in our local courts.
Community Organizing: Ensuring our neighborhood is heard, poll sites are accessible, and residents are empowered to participate in the democratic process.Poll Worker Hiring: Recruiting and ensuring the fair hiring of the neighbors who run our elections.

The role is truly what you make of it, and I plan to make it future-oriented. Let’s build a better Brooklyn Democratic Party, together.

Here’s what I want to do.

I am running to ensure the Brooklyn Democratic Party is a year-round organizing force, not a gatekeeper for the status quo.

End “Backroom” Politics: I will work with the Brooklyn Can’t Wait coalition to bring transparency to judicial selections and poll worker hiring so the party serves the people, not a political machine.
Abundance for Families: I will push the party to champion policies that allow Brooklyn families to thrive, including building more affordable housing, modernizing transit, and achieving universal childcare.
Empowering the Grassroots: I will help to organize our Assembly District Committee to give County Committee members real roles in voter outreach and vacancy processes, ensuring the community – not just party bosses – will have a voice.
A Modern Party: Following my work rebranding IND, I will focus on recruiting the next generation of leadership to build a more inclusive and modern Democratic brand.

I’m proud of my support.

I’ve earned the endorsements of stalwart political clubs, local elected officials, and community leaders who share my vision for a transparent and effective Democratic Party. These partnerships are a testament to my years of work on the ground—from the boardrooms of our local clubs to the doorsteps of our neighbors.

Jo Anne Simon