The Village Independent Democrats are a trailblazing reform Democratic club founded in 1956, perhaps best known for helping to end Tammany Hall control of Democratic politics in Manhattan, shaping progressive political thought and practice in NYC in the late 20th century, and launching the career of notable NYC politicians including Ed Koch. In 2023, the club donated their archives to Village Preservation. This is the second part of the collection, featuring their archives from the 1970s. This collection highlights their work on issues ranging from the opposition to the Vietnam War to fighting the proposed Westway project along the Hudson River waterfront.  

See Village Independent Democrats Collection: 1955-1969

Table of Contents

1970 Meetings and Issues 

Ed Koch for Congress Packet. View as PDF.

  • Page 2: Vietnam War, and Manhattan House of Detention
  • Page 3: Vietnam War protest
  • Page 4: DeSapio, Civilian Review Board, Public Transit

Bella Abzug for Congress Flyer. View PDF. Includes information on support for Israel. 

November 1970 VID Newsletter. View as PDF.
Topics include families on welfare at living at Village Hotels, Village piers, ex-convicts living in Village hotels, Ed Koch and the House of Un-American Activity Committee, squatters organizing to create public housing, SRO Housing, a United Farm Workers of America boycott, Crime and Prison Reform.

1971 Meetings and Issues 

April 29, 1971 letter from Congressman Charles B. Rangel to Herman Gerson of VID. View as PDF. Discusses the Indo-China War, and drug abuse in Central Harlem and other urban areas. 

List of VID Club Officers, Party Officials and Elected Officials. View as PDF. 

Letter from Ed Koch requesting donations for VID. View as PDF.

February 1971 Newsletter. View as PDF.
Topics include rent referendum, St. Vincent’s Hospital lawsuit, eviction proceedings at 310 West 18th Street, Hudson Towers tenants rights, tenant harassment on Grove Street, New Democratic Coalition Convention, Ed Koch supporting vacancy tax for apartments, families on welfare living in hotels, the lower west side health coalition, proposed halfway house on King Street, Beverly Moss Spatt to speak at VID, toy drive and daycare for children at Broadway Central, legalization of trash bags, Carol Greitzer visiting Women’s House of Detention, lead poisoning, VID treasury report, Village block associations, and fortune food drive.

March 1971 Newsletter. View as PDF.
Topics include welfare clients at Broadway Central, protests against Mayor Lindsay, STOLport in Chelsea, the phone Ttax, NY Radical Feminist bills, Congresswoman Bella Abzug report, P.S. 41 Charette, a rent control law referendum, a peace offensive by Vietnam Veterans for Peace, A&P Supermarkets and Operation Breadbasket, Chelsea tenants, welfare, and housing activists, live a week on welfare fundraising event, and prison reform. 

April 1971 Newsletter. View as PDF.
Topics include closing the Greenwich Hotel, Earth Day celebrations, Jewish people in the Soviet Union, rent increases for residential hotels, a peace demonstration in Washinghton D.C., the 1971 campaign for district leader, health care bills, HDA eviction regulations, squatters, and Nixon’s comments on abortion.

May-June 1971 Newsletter. View as PDF.
Topics include Bella Abzug pushing for New York City as 51st state, Greenwich Hotel, vacancy decontrol, rent control, opposition of H.R. 1 the Family Assistance Plan, the surrogate’s court, bills that lost in Albany, college courses on Rikers Island, anti-war actions, and P.S. 3 to separate from P.S. 41. 

July-August 1971 Newsletter. View as PDF.
Topics include requirements for welfare eligibility, Greenwich Village Women’s House of Detention, Koch’s bike lane bill, NY Radical Feminist bills, primary election, legal standing for tenants related to zoning laws, parking meters, the Lead Poisoning Act, and the VID block party

April 28, 1971 VID Annual Dinner Program. View as PDF. 

1972 Meetings and Issues 

Letter from Presidential Candidate George McGovern to Herman Gerson of VID, thanking Gerson for his work carrying petitions to qualify delegate slates for campaign. View as PDF.

May 8, 1971 letter from Assembly Member William F. Passannante thanking Herman Gerson for work as a Petition Witness. View as PDF. 

March 14, 1972 VID Annual Dinner Program. View as PDF.

1973 Meetings and Issues

March 15th, 1973 VID Annual Dinner Program. View as PDF. Program for 1973 VID Annual Dinner, March 15th, 1973. View as PDF. Program from 1973 VID annual dinner at the Downbeat restaurant, guest speaker was Senator Eugene J. McCarthy.

September 22nd, 1973 program for Testimonial Dinner Dance Honoring Anthony Dapolito. View as PDF. Includes biography of Anthony Dapolito, list of speakers, participating organizations, dinner committee, and dinner menu. 

Constitution of Village Independent Democrats from December, 1973. View as PDF. 

1973 Statement regarding Councilman Eldon Clingam’s support of Intro 475, Gay Civil Rights Bill. View as PDF.

1975 Meetings and Issues 

Democratic Party – New York County Designating Petitions, 1975. View as PDF. 

July 10th, 1975 Mass Mailing Letter from Tamawa Club. View as PDF.

VID Flyer Encouraging Voter Registration. View as PDF. 

VID Campaign Status Report for District Leader Election. View as PDF. 

List of VID Executive Committee Members. View as PDF. 

VID Executive Committee Duty Nights July-December 1975. View as PDF. 

VID Register to Vote for Equal Rights Amendment Flyer. View as PDF.

March 19th, 1975 VID Membership Meeting Agenda and schedule for upcoming meetings. View as PDF. 

March 6, 1975 VID Annual Dinner. View as PDF. Program for 1975 VID annual dinner at the Downbeat restaurant, guest speaker was Representative Morris K. Udall. 

1976 Meetings and Issues 

Correspondence and Documents related to the New Democratic Coalition (NDC). View as PDF.

  • Page 1: 3/12/76 List of elected NDC delegates and alternate delegates
  • Page 2: 5/11/76 Letter from NYC City Council President Paul O’Dwyer asking for N.D.C’s support for his campaign for US Senate
  • Page 3: 6/24/76 Note by Mary Dickas of a delegate resignation and replacement
  • Page 4: Letter from US Senate candidate Ramsey Clark to Club President asking for an endorsement by the N.D.C
  • Page 5: Blank ballot for choosing N.D.C delegates and an endorsement for a Democratic presidential candidate 

Documents related to endorsement of Mo Udall for United States President. View as PDF. 

  • Page 1: 3/6/76 Letter from VID delegates to VID requesting they vote to endorse Mo Udall at 3/10 meeting. 
  • Page 2: Handwritten notes state votes from 3/10 membership meeting. Members Voted to Endorse Udall as Candidate for president. 
  • Page 3: 3/11 Press release summarizing results of vote for presidential endorsement at 3/10 VID Membership meeting
  • Page 3: 3/30/76 Letter from VID to residents of the Village requesting  support of Congressman Mo Udall for US President 

1976 Documents Related Education. View as PDF.

  • Page 1: 5/11/1976 letter to Isiah Robinson at the NYC Board of Education from VID President Mary Dickas requesting background information on school zoning 
  • Page 2: 6/23/1976 Letter to Mary Dickas regarding zoning for High Schools in Manhattan and Seward Park High School. 
  • Page 3: 11/23/76 Charles Evans Hughes High School Resolution, in which VID calls on the NYC Board of education to change the high school from boroughwide to a zoned school

Civil Court Judge Vacancy. View as PDF.

  • Page 1: 5/11/76 Letter from Mary B Dickas to Professor Norman Dorsen at NYU asking if the New York County Judicial screening panel would be able to screen candidates to fill a vacancy for the First Judicial District’s Civil Court
  • Page 2: 5/12/76 Letter from Mary B Dickas to Fred Samuels of New York County Democratic Committee asking if the New York County Judicial screening panel would be available to screen candidates to fill a vacancy for the First Judicial District’s Civil Court
  • Page 3: 5/24/76 Note that all interested registered Democrats of the 62/64th Assembly district are welcome to apply to the vacancy
  • Page 4: 5/26/76 Letter from Mary B Dickas to Professor Norman Dorsen at NYU noting that the VID Executive Committee passed a resolution agreeing to endorse a candidate screened by the Independent Democratic Judicial Screening Panel
  • Page 5: June 3rd, 1976 letter to Mary Dickas of VID from Norman Dorsen about results of Judicial Civil Court Judge Screening Panel. 
  • Page 6: Notice from Board of Elections that objections have been filed against the designating petition for Judge in the Civil Court 
  • Page 7: Letter to Herman Gerson about Stanley Sklars campaign to Civil Court from Paul H. Asofsky 

VID Membership Flyers. View as PDF.  

  • 6/5/76 VID Membership Renewal Reminder Letter
  • Letter urging people to enroll as Democrats to vote in the Democratic primary. Also lists candidates endorsed by VID, VID’s stance on various issues, and VID’s services to the community. 
  • 10/8/76 VID Fundraising letter requesting money to support democrats in 1976 Presidential Election
  • Letter to VID Members from Denise LaPrade Rini of the Membership Committee which accompanied VID Membership card 

Office Administrative Documents. View as PDF. 

  • Page 1: 5/12/76 Letter from Bob Schwartz of DISARM: A Campaign for National Firearms Control to Mary Dickas with suggestions to help VID’s fundraising efforts
  • Page 2: 5/11/76 Letter from Mary Dickas to Postmaster John Strachan calling for investigation into the late delivery of over 400 pieces of mail
  • Page 3: 6/9/76 Response from post office regarding late delivery 
  • Page 4: 8/2/76 Letter from Margot Algase Sklar to Mr. Irwin Rosenberg asking for a rebate from the petitions printed the prior year that had defects
  • Page 5: 8/3/76 Letter to Ms Illene Barth of The Villager asking for a news item about needed election inspectors to be included in the paper.

1976 Village Independent Democrats Events. View as PDF. 

  • Page 1: Poster for Washington Square Park Outing and Cleanup on June 27
  • Page 2: Note advertising September 14th Primary Campaign Committee meeting
  • Page 3: Letter from Mary Dickas to Representative John M. Murphy informing him that VID will endorse a candidate for the 17th congressional district
  • Page 4: Flyer for US Senate Candidates’ Night 

Election Materials. View as PDF. 

  • Page 1: Tally Sheet for Election Day 11/2/76
  • Page 2: Political Calendar for 1976 fall primary and general election 

Designating Petitions. View as PDF. 

  • Page 1: NY County Democratic Party designating petition-Assembly District Leader
  • Page 2:NY County Democratic Party designating petition- Member of the Democratic State Committee
  • Page 3: List of 17th, 18th and 20th C.D Delegate Candidates

Raymond S. Rubinow related documents. Views as PDF. Raymond S. Rubinow was a local civic leader who helped to preserve Carnegie Hall and to prevent the expansion of Fifth Avenue through Washington Square Park. Rubinow was also a  founding member of VID in 1956. 

  • Page 1: 2/25/76 Letter from Raymond S. Rubinow noting his early work in V.I.D, a description of plaque. 
  • Page 2: Plaque that was enclosed with the letter from his time, recognizing his time as a Stevenson Lieutenant

Election Results from Newspaper Clippings. View as PDF. 

  • Page 1: Congressional Vote results New York City 
  • Page 2: 9/6/76 Democratic Senate Race Results 
  • Page 3: 11/3/76 Election results in city for Presidential and Senate races
  • Page 4: 9/16/76 Election results for U.S Senate and House Democratic primaries

Political Rights Defense Fund letter. View as PDF.

  • Page 1: Cover, “Help Stop FBI & CIA Attacks on Civil Liberties”
  • Page 2-3: Letter outlining a court case against civil liberties violations during the investigation of the Socialist Workers Party with signatures by Dennis J. Banks, Noam Chomsky, Henry Steele Commager, Ronald V. Dellums, Daniel Ellsburg, Francine du Plessix Gray, Robert Heilbroner, and Gloria Steinem
  • Page 4: Quotes about the suit by prominent political figures and newspapers
  • Page 5: List of Political Rights Defense Fund sponsors
  • Page 6: Back of the letter with quotes from the New York Times and The Nation

List of Delegates and Alternative Delegates. View as PDF.  

The Charlton-King-Vandam Historic District Block Association statement regarding the “Alien Detention Center at 201 Varick” Views as PDF.  The statement opposes a potential detention center for illegal aliens that was under the auspices of the Immigration and Naturalization Service of the Department of Justice and was to be located at 201 Varick Street. 

Flyer Bread for the World Regarding Food Stamp Legislation. View as PDF.

VID Statement in opposition to Chilean Warship Esmeralda docking in NYC for Bicentennial celebration. View as PDF.  

Voting lists from meetings. View as PDF.    

  • Page 1: Votes for the U.S Senate and Civil Court candidates
  • Page 2: 6/3/76 Votes for 17th, 18th, and 20th Congressional District
  • Page 3: 9/14/76 Total votes for US Senate, NY Surrogate Court, House of Representatives, State Assembly, and District Civil Court. 

Membership Meeting Notes and Information. View as PDF.

  • Page 1-5: 3/10/76 Membership meeting notes and agenda. Including list of those elected to the V.I.D Executive Committee, District Leaders Report, rent control bill, notes on a “Library Crisis”, support of Ed Koch and the work of the Community Affairs Committee and list of nominees for New Democratic Coalition delegates
  • Page 6: 5/19/76 Agenda for membership meeting noting that expenses are greater than the organization’s income
  • Page 7: 6/3/76 Agenda for membership meeting, including endorsements for representatives from the 17th, 18th and 20th congressional districts
  • Page 8-20: 6/24/76 Membership meeting minutes, including info about Park Cleanup, Seward Park High School, reforming the Surrogate Court,  support of the construction of a wall on W 12th and 6th Ave, candidates for VID executive committee and a motion to oppose approval of Westway funds,  rent strike, rent/housing in the city, a candidate timeline, the Mayor’s conference and tees for sale
  • Page 21-22: 8/30/76 Membership meeting agenda and minutes. Update on campaign, upcoming debate for local elections. District leaders report on demolition of West Side Highway, postcard drive to President Carter, Alan Roskoff on Senate Race, Democratic national Convention, Stanley Sklar Civil Court, Abzug literature in VID Mailing. 
  • Page 23-31: 9/30/76 Agenda for membership meeting, requesting contributions, announcing the Greenwich Village Cookbook by Vivian Kramer and the Carter-Ford debate. Meeting minutes, libraries and Gateway National Park, questions about “Washington Square Park incident” (the race riot in WSP 9/8/76,  demolition of  7 W 8th street, a campaign report of the primary, an upcoming debate party and endorsements of various candidates.
  • Page 32: 11/23/76 Agenda for membership meeting including a speaker from the Political Rights Defense Fund
  • Page 33-34: Undated meeting minutes describing including updates on local elections. 

Executive Committee Meeting Notes. View as PDF.

  • Page 1-4: 2/9/76 Executive committee minutes, scheduling membership meeting, requesting that the Board of Elections require delegate candidates to identify presidential candidates they support, and clean air act resolution. 
  • Page 5-8: 2/23/76 meeting minutes, conversation about closing parks at midnight, branch libraries, a rent control study and candidate signatures. 
  • Page 9-11: 3/22/76 meeting minutes, picnic in Washington Square Park, and the West Side Highway
  • Page 12: Letter by Elizabeth Naylor announcing her resignation from the Executive Committee
  • Page 13-14: 5/10/76 meeting minutes about fundraising, candidate endorsement meeting, Washington Square Park Picnic, Zoned Public High School and IS 70, and library closure. 
  • Page 15-17: 5/24/76 meeting minutes including resolution on IS 70 as feeder school for Seward Park.
  • Page 18: 7/6/76 Letter by Mary Dickas to the Executive Committee listing responsibilities of committee members and a focus on needing more fundraising efforts.
  • Page 19: 7/26/76 Resolution calling for newspaper advertisements for the Tenant-Landlord Clinic be paid for through the Consumer Affairs Committee
  • Page 20-21: 7/26/76 meeting minutes referencing medicaid funding for abortions and the passing of the aforementioned resolution
  • Page 22: 8/22/76 meeting minutes including the formation of a committee to study an equitable way to distribute jobs
  • Page 23: Letter by Maxine Phillips announcing her resignation from the Executive Committee
  • Page 24-25: 11/22/76 meeting minutes including the use of the building by Alcoholics Anonymous and use of a historic building as a detention center 
  • Page 26-42: 11/23/76 meeting minutes discussing Charles Evans Hughes High school, reappointing reform candidates, bail system, detention center in area, council members report, pregnant students, the league of women voters and the bail system. 
  • Page 43: Executive Committee duty nights

March 5, 1976 VID Annual Dinner. View as PDF. Program for 1976 VID Annual Dinner at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, guest speaker was Deputy Mayor John E. Zuccotti.

Treasurer’s report, January-June 1976. View as PDF. Including VID membership dues, receipts, expenditures and bank balances.

1977 Meetings and Issues 

Instructions for Circulating Designating Petitions and Membership Meeting Attendance. View as PDF. 

  • Page 1-2: Instructions on how to approach signers and how the petitions should be signed
  • Page 3-4: 10/25/77 General membership meeting attendance list

Blank VID Letterhead. View as PDF. 

VID Membership Flyer. View as PDF. 

Herman Gerson Profile. View as PDF. 

  • Page 1: Profile of Gerson including his volunteer work for Village Green Recycling Center and endorsement by Mayor Ed Koch
  • Page 2: Image of Gerson cleaning up Washington Square 

Letter from Bella Abzug congratulating Herman Gerson on District leader election. View as PDF. 

April 1, 1977 Program for VID Annual Dinner. View as PDF. Guest speaker was Hon. Margaret (Midge) Costanza, Assistant to the President for Public Liaison.

1978 Meetings and Issues 

February 12th, 1978 VID Vote count for New Democratic Coalition Delegates. View as PDF. 

Letter from Ed Koch Supporting District Leader Herman Gerson and Phil Schwartz as State Committeeman, September 5th, 1978. View as PDF. 

Flyer for Westway Will Never Be Built Rally, Thursday May 25th, 1978. View as PDF. 

Press release from City Councilmember Miriam Friedlander about fire safety, hot water service, access to formula. October 13th, 1978. View as PDF. 

Letter Criticizing VID from John Peter Flynn, May 24th, 1978. View as PDF. 

Tony Hoffman for VID President Letter. View as PDF. 

VID Candidate Endorsement Flyers. View as PDF. 

  • Page 1: Flyer showing a ballot urging voters to choose 
  • Page 2: Descriptions of VID endorsed candidates Hugh L Carey, Mario Cuomo, Harrison J. Goldin, Bob Abrams, Tom Stokes, Manfred Ohrenstein, Bill Passanante
  • Page 3: Flyer asking reader to vote for Congresswoman Bella Abzug
  • Page 4: Flyer urging reader to re-elect Herman Gerson, Esther Smith, and Phil Schwartz
  • Page 5-7:  VID Candidate endorsement flyer for Herman Gerson, Esther Smith and Phil Schwartz. Includes information on Housing and Tenant Rights, Public Safety, Environmental Protection, Human Rights, and Community Health

1978 VID Campaign Updates. View as PDF. 

  • Page 1: October 1978 letter from VID asking for contributions to The Caring Community to save the Village Nursing Home
  • Pages 2-3: 10/21/78 letter to VID members with updates on, election campaigns including, coffee klatches, campaign literature, Subway tabling, Election Inspectors, and requesting volunteers.  

1978 Flyers for Congressional Elections. View as PDF. 

  • Page 1-3: Ted Weiss for Congress Pamphlet, summarizes his work as a community leader in Upper Manhattan, mentioning Westway, nuclear waste, mental health and parks. Also includes ratings by organizations such as the National Organization for Women and the League of Conservation Voters
  • Page 4-5: Carter Burden for Congress flyer, describes positions on foreign affairs, political endorsements, stances on Conflicts of Interest, Health care, Social Security, Military Spending and Taxes/Inflation. 
  • Page 6: Tom Stokes for Congress flyer running against incumbent John Murphy, noting Stokes’ stances on the environment and civil liberties. 

1978 Flyers for Herman Gerson for District Leader. View as PDF. 

  • Page 1: Flyer explaining how Gerson has supported tenant’s rights state comptroller Harrison J. Goldin for State Comptroller, Robert Abrams for State Attorney General, Bill Passannante for State Assembly, Herman Gerson for District Leader, Esther Smith for Female State Committee, and Phillip Schwartz for Male State Committee.
  • Page 2: Flyer advertising endorsements of Gerson by City Council men and women
  • Page 3: Flyer urging reader to re-elect Herman Gerson, Esther Smith, and Phil Schwartz, with a summary of Gerson’s background
  • Page 4: Flyer listing Gerson’s positions against Westway and cutting police precincts and for tenants rights, human rights and Village Nursing Home

Youth Committee. View as PDF.

  • Page 1: Minutes from December 5, 1978 meeting, the first meeting where the goals of the committee were discussed and subcommittees were formed
  • Page 2: List of Youth Committee members 

64th Assembly District Map. View as PDF. 

February 1978 Newsletter. View as PDF. Topics include Herman Gerson, Congresswoman Bella Abzug, the VID Ad Hoc Committee to Save the Village Nursing Home, and a VID officer election.

March 1978 Newsletter. View as PDF. Topics include the New Democratic Coalition, the VID Annual Dinner, VID President Richard Kelmans, Charles Evans Hughes High School, Carmine Street pool and updates from various VID committees.

August 1978 Newsletter. View as PDF. Topics include a March on Washington for the Equal Rights Amendment, Federal Criminal Code Reform Act, and updates from various VID committees.

March 31, 1978 Annual Dinner Program View as PDF.  Located at the Downbeat Restaurant, guest speaker was Mayor Ed Koch.

April 6th, 1978 Villager Gossip Column describing 1978 VID Campaign Dinner. View as PDF. 

“VID the DeSapio Years”, booklet describing early years of VID and takedown of DeSapio and Tammany Hall. View as PDF. 

1978 VID Reunion. View as PDF. List of early members that were expected to attend.

Event Flyers. View as PDF. 

  • Page 1: Flyer for June 10, 1978 VID Block Party on West 4th Street 
  • Page 2: Flyer for January 29,1978 “Brunch with Bella” campaign fundraiser for Congresswoman Bella Abzug 

1978 VID Membership Meetings. View as PDF. 

  • Pages 1-2: 1/12/78 Meeting minutes including information on dues, County Committee, club membership, treasurer’s report, Nursing home campaign fundraising, State committeeman,  the election of various board and executive committee members. 
  • Pages 3-4: 1/18/78 Meeting minutes VID Committee updates, Carter Burden’s congressional nomination and a vote to endorse Bella Abzug 
  • Pages 5-9: 2/21/78 Meeting minutes including information on early release of mental health patients on the Upper West Side, Nursing Home fundraising deadline, Abzug and the Special Congressional Election, Community Issues on the Lower East Side, Methadone Clinic on 14th Street, Davis Cup and ERA Boycotts, Updates from Councilmembers, draft resistance during the Vietnam War and support for a resolution calling for NYC guidelines on sterilization to the basis for federal guidelines.
  • Pages 10-13: 3/22/78 Meeting minutes including information updates from elected officials, opposition to death penalty, Medicaid-funded abortions, and for Westway. Also includes an attendance sheet
  • Page 14: VID Volunteer duty night list for January
  • Pages 15-19: 4/25/78 Meeting Minutes (incomplete) including information on the Democratic mini-convention and a call for book donations for the VID Block Party. Also includes an attendance sheet.
  • Pages 20-32: 5/25/78 Meeting Minutes including the information on West 4th Street Block Party, the Mobilization for Survival demonstration, Congressional Delegate conferences, and campaign endorsement votes, . Also includes an attendance sheet.
  • Pages 33-38: 6/6/78 Meeting Minutes including County Committee Fundraiser, Candidates for 17th CD in midterm Elections, and Block Party Preparations. Updates from Council Member Greitzer who is working to allocate funds for Community Development, the Carmine Street Pool and for study of West 8th Street commercial corridor, budget for libraries and potential completion of Westway. Information on VID Vacancies, Statewide office endorsement votes, extension of time requirement for ERA, Manhattan Young Democrats, social budget being cut by City Council, Dan Roskoff about 17th CD election, and potential for 24 hour security of Washington Square Park.  
  • Pages 39-44: 6/14/78 Meeting Minutes including information on community planning boards, profit of the VID Block Party, a motion to raise the dues rate, local office endorsements and the election for VID executive committee. Also includes an attendance sheet.
  • Pages 45-49: 7/5/78 Meeting minutes including information on NDC Meeting, pro-ERA Demonstration,  the anti-dog litter law, the J51 Housing Program, a proposal which would allow community members to have a say on advertisements in subways and at bus stops, “3 by 2” play fundraiser, federal criminal reform act of 1978. Also includes an attendance sheet.
  • Pages 50-55: 8/9/78 Meeting Minutes including a call for campaign volunteers, NAACP endorsements in Community School Board #2 and endorsement for Lieutenant Governor. Also includes an attendance sheet.
  • Pages 56-61: 9/7/78 Meeting Minutes including information on the distribution of posters near polling places, the gay rights bill, resolutions on legislative proposals, and V.I.D withdrawing its funds from Chemical Bank due to the bank offering loans to South Africa. Also includes an attendance sheet.
  • Page 62: 9/20/78 Meeting Minutes (incomplete) including updates from various committees and the endorsement of Hugh Carey for Governor. 
  • Pages 63-68: 10/24/78 Meeting Minutes including information on the pro-abortion movement, the formation of the Washington Place and Park Block Association, updates from elected officials, Village Nursing Home, Candidate Endorsements. Also includes an attendance sheet
  • Pages 69-74: 12/14/78 Meeting minutes including information on VID Holiday Party, a bomb scare at a City Council Health Committee meeting,  Updates from elected officials, VID elections, and a speaker calling for support of an imminent SAG and Aftra strike. Also includes an attendance sheet and tally marks for V.I.D’s vice-presidential nominees Bob Cohen, Bob Ortiz, Esta Schultz and Ed Schneider. Includes attendance and vote sheet. 

1978 VID Executive Committee Notes. View as PDF.

  • Pages 1-2: 1/9/78 Meeting minutes, including new committee assignments, items to be discussed at membership meeting. 
  • Page 3: VID Executive Committee List of members. 
  • Page 4-5: Calendar of VID meetings January and February with tally marks on back
  • Page 6-7: 2/21/78 Meeting minutes about planning the VID Annual Dinner
  • Pages 8-9: 2/27/78 Meeting minutes draft and final, information on decline in Village Police Problems, VID referral service for tax problems, orchestra fundraiser for Village nursing home, Joan Little, Block Party Planning, Westbeth Forum, and abolishing New York Board of Water Supply.
  • Pages 10-12: 3/13/78 Meeting minutes including NDC meeting date, district leader report, Greitzer Cash Deposit Bottle Bill, Greenwich Village Chamber of Commerce, Federal Archives Building, Block Party, Humphrey Hawkins Unemployment Bill, installing an answering machine, Nursing Home Committee, Charles Evan Hughes High School, Carmine Street Pool, and the poor condition of VID Clubhouse, and Wilmington 10. 
  • Pages 13-15: 3/27/78 Meeting minutes including repair of VIDs club window, Village Nursing Home Fundraising, NDC Delegates, Transition Task Force on Libraries, discussion of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Sunday Park Clean Up Program and members seeking funding for renovation of the Carmine Street Recreational Facility
  • Pages 16-18: 4/10/78 Meeting minutes including issues regarding the Chelsea Club, criticism of Jimmy Carter, Westway, and plans for dinner parties/block parties. 
  • Pages 19-21: 5/8/78 Meeting minutes including J.P. Stevens Company Boycott, an anti-Westway rally, MacDougal Street landlord arson, men’s shelter on Lower East Side, Charles Evans Hughes High School, VID clubhouse lease, an increase in dues and an arrangement concerning the Chelsea Club’s delegates
  • Pages 22-23: 5/22/78 Meeting minutes including a men’s shelter on the Lower East Side, Criminal Justice Reform, motion to approve to an anti-public smoking bill, New building for City University Yorke College, NDC Convention, and support for an extension to the time allotted for the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment
  • Pages 24-25: 6/5/78 Meeting minutes including information on reform caucus, meeting with Governor Carey, Albany bills to strengthen landlord tenant disputes, a movement to abolish the Board of Water Supply, plans to discuss the proposed Federal Criminal Code Reform Act of 1978, and a demonstration against the Hyde Amendment. 
  • Page 26: Attendance record for Executive Committee meetings January-June
  • Page 27-28: 7/10/78 Meeting minutes including Candidate Tom Stokes to use VID office as campaign headquarters,  calls for volunteers to canvas, ERA march on capitol, and reconsideration of NDC endorsement of Hugh L. Carey.
  • Pages 29-30: 7/24/78 Meeting minutes including update on campaign committee petition drive, Tom Stokes Campaign Party, Village Nursing Home, Henry Tompkins Children’s Theater, NDC endorsement of Mario Cuomo, and Anti Public Smoking Bill. 
  • Page 31: 8/21/78 Meeting minutes including fundraising efforts, peddlers on 6th Avenue, city charter reform bill, and a motion to disband the Legislative Committee
  • Pages 32-33: 9/18/76 Meeting minutes including the ACLU’s use of the VID mailing list, Westway, posting landlords phone number, and extension for the ERA deadline.
  • Pages 34-35: 10/9/78 Meeting minutes including safety of Washington Square Park, the renewal of the Friends of Christopher Park, VID’s political strength in the 64th Assembly District, VID financial state and fundraising efforts. 
  • Pages 36-37: 10/23/78 Handwritten meeting minutes including information on the upcoming election day and candidates
  • Page 38: 11/6/78 Meeting minutes including Alcoholics Anonymous meetings being held in the clubhouse, continued concerns about street peddlers and East 12th Street landlord wishing to convert manufacturing building to luxury housing. 
  • Page 39: 11/20/78 Meeting minutes including a demonstration against J.P. Stevens, Westway, and community opposition to a gay bar opening on West 10th Street. 
  • Pages 40-41: 12/15/78 Meeting minutes including Westway Board of Estimate meeting, Gay Rights, a Christmas tree lighting in Washington Square Park, and Chemical Bank.
  • Page 41: Attendance for the 12/18/78 meeting
  • Pages 42: Attendance record for Executive Committee Meeting July-December 1978

1979 Meetings and Issues 

1979 District Leadership Elections. View as PDF. Democratic Party Designating and petition and flyer from VID encouraging voting and listing endorsements.

Documents related to Herman Gerson District Leadership Election. View as PDF.

  • Page 1: Profile on Herman Gerson
  • Page 2: Pro Gerson flyer from Village Independent Democrats and Gay independent Democrats 

Community Board 2 Info. View as PDF.

  • Page 1: Blank Complaint Form
  • Page 2: Letter from Manhattan Community Board 2 regarding 1975 changes to the City Charter that gave the Community Boards additional responsibility and Community Board 2 Schedule. 

Invitation from Mayor Ed Koch for August 16th Reception at Gracie Mansion. View as PDF.

VID Valentines Day Disco Event flyer. View as PDF.

Dave Stadtmauer resume. View Flyer as PDF.  Stadtmauer was a Civil Court Judge and Commissioner of the New York City Civil Service Commission. The back has vote tallies from 4/1/1979.

January-February 1979 Newsletter. View as PDF. Topics include re-election of district leaders, Tony Hoffman Elected VID President, Housing Committee update, legislative committee, sanitation committee workshop, reinstatement of the VID Consumer Affairs Committee, district leaders report and fundraising Valentines Day disco. 

1979 VID Annual Dinner Program. View as PDF. Guest speaker was Hon. Elizabeth Holtzman, member of Congress. 

Executive Committee Notes. View as PDF.

  • Pages 1-2: 1/8/79 Meeting minutes including Valentines Disco, nominees for Committee chairs, and Westway. 
  • Pages 3-4: 1/22/79 Meeting minutes including County Dinner, NYU Development of Dog Run, Anti-Abortion movement, formation of an “Anti-Green Movement”, a forum on nuclear power and opposition to a raise in the Staten Island ferry fare.
  • Pages 5-6: 2/5/79 Meeting minutes including an investigation on higher milk prices, abortion legislation, Land use Decision Bedford-Barrow-Commerce Streets Block Association, Valentines Disco Dance, White House 11, Charles Evans Hughes High School, Westway, Carter’s Federal Budget, forum on future of hospital system, Anti-Abortion movement, and Emigrant and Prudential Bank Merger. 
  • Page 7: 2/20/79 Meeting minutes including Annual Dinner planning,  proposed resolutions on a tax rebate proposal, recycling, and a welfare grant increase bill
  • Pages 8-9: 3/5/79 Meeting minutes including letter to the editor about the 9th Precinct,  contest for monument at Greenwich and 6th Avenue triangle, a pro-peddler stance, reconsideration of a vote for NDC delegates, and nuclear waste bill.
  • Page 10: 4/2/79 Meeting minutes including voter registration tables, nuclear power forum, fundraising results of the VID Dinner, support of Robert Garwyn vietnam Marine, inflation, Westway, disarmament movement, milk strike, 
  • Pages 11-12: 4/16/79 Meeting minutes including sanitation prices, Village Plaza Tenants, SALT II, anti-nuclear demonstrations, Manhattan refrigeration closing, Village zoning laws, block party, protest for closing of hospitals, 
  • Page 13: 4/30/79 Meeting minutes including Christopher Street Celebration, noise level laws, Manhattan Caucus being set up, national NARAL meeting and Clean-up-your-street day.
  • Page 14: 5/29/79 Meeting minutes including Casino Gambling forum, saving local clockmaker on Thompson Street, Village Plaza Hotel, looking for volunteer tutors for High School competency test. 
  • Pages 15-16: 6/11/79 Meeting minutes including voter registration at block party, the City’s noise unit, and a mobile unit for Congressman Ted Weiss, Volunteer petitioners, an upcoming Gay and Lesbian March on Washington and NDC Petitioning. 
  • Page 17: 6/25/79 Meeting minutes including celebrations for 100 year clockmaker,  letters to school chancellor, Archives building, ADA Convention, and NDC Resolutions. 
  • Pages 18-19: 7/9/79 Meeting minutes including VID Financial troubles, Clockmaker birthday, Indian Point Demonstration, noise abatement laws, CETA Program funding, Charles Evan Hughes High School, Archives building, West Village Community Street Fair, FCC Requirements for  EEO, Judicial reform committee resolutions, Gay and Lesbian rights March on Washington, and a bill to promote lower electricity use. 
  • Page 20: 7/23/79 Meeting minutes including the SALT treaty, more litter baskets, efforts to clean Washington Square Park, Archives Building, Pier 42,  bus audit, Indian Point Demonstration, UN Rally and opposition to president Carter.
  • Page 21: 8/6/79 Meeting minutes including District Leader Election, Wetlands for Westway, using alternate fuels for energy, and screening for Civil Court Judges. 
  • Pages 22-23: 11/19/79 Meeting Minutes including endorsement of US Presidential Candidate, school board election, Roller Rink plan for Pier 42, Better Sanitation efforts in the Village, Charles Evan Hughes High School, NYS Property Tax Polls, DNC national polls, FTC consumer advocates, and IRS Vita program. 
  • Page 24: 12/3/79 Meeting minutes including new Campaign Chair Phil Wood, Petition for School board elections, SALT, the 1980 census and discussion over community use of funding. 
  • Pages 25-29: 12/11/79 Meeting minutes including 6th Police Precinct, UDC Project, Holiday party, Proposals, block And-Consumer legislation. Also includes vote sheets for President and VP endorsements. 

1979 Membership Meeting Notes. View as PDF.

  • Pages 1-5: 1/10/79 Meeting minutes reorganizing assembly, gay rights, controversy with Community Board Appointments, UFT Contract, NYPD Field Control Unit, VID Annual Dinner, Council supporting Westway, Panel Discussion on the City Council, Members nominated to VID Committees, and approved statement on Hospitals. An attendance sheet is also included. 
  • Pages 6-9: 2/20/79 Meeting minutes including regulation of street peddlers, Milk Prices, Charles Evans Hughes High School, Village Sanitation, cabs, press conference on Astor Place and Broadway building, training session for income tax helpers, Shoreham Demonstration, Housing forums, Human rights committee, changes to health delivery NYC,  right on red proposal, Police and fire pension systems, taxi cab hearings, library school cuts, and NDC Delegates. Includes vote sheets for NDC Representatives and for the Executive Committee. 
  • Pages 10-11: 3/22/1976 Membership meeting attendance sheet
  • Pages 12-16: 4/24/79 meeting minutes including city hospitals, nuclear power, annual dinner, district leader endorsements, civil court vacancies, possible evictions at Village Plaza Hotel, Charles Evan Hughs High School, NYU facility for community use, Food and Maritime HS closing,  a milk strike, attendance sheet and ballot.
  • Pages 17-21: 5/23/1979 Meeting minutes including bus to state parks, Nuclear Energy Forum, march at Sheridan Square protesting the lax sentencing of Dan White (following the murder of Harvey Milk), changes regarding the Livingston School, casino gambling, half fare for disabled users of public transit, attendance and vote sheet.
  • Pages 22-24: 6/13/79 meeting minutes including archives building, passing stopped school buses, block party, Livingston school on King Street, Parks Department funding for piers, Charles Evans Hughes High School, and candidate endorsement. 
  • Pages 25-26: 7/16/79 meeting minutes including 100th birthday for Clockmaker, new NYU Gym, Sanitation effort, funds for Astor place subway/ Washington Square, ad hoc archives building, gay and lesbian march on Washington, NDC meeting, St. Josephs Library and Noise Abatement Program.  
  • Pages 27-28: 8/13/1979 meeting minutes including closing of hospitals, CETA Artists Program, improved sanitation, City Council pay increases, County Committee, SALT II, Casino Gambling,  Cruising movie filming, and energy crisis. 
  • Pages 29-30: Notes against the movie “Cruising”, its depiction of gay people, and its use of Christopher Street as a filming location.
  • Page 31: 9/5/79 meeting minutes including, Anti Stephens rally, district leaders report, March on Washington for Gay and Lesbian Rights, Rent Control, 
  • Pages 32-33: 11/1/79 meeting minutes including march on Washington for Gay and Lesbian rights,  the sale of the Archives building, police precincts, census, and the presidential preference primary for NY convention delegates.