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SDWNY Meeting, July 24th, 2012, held at El Museo Art Gallery, 91 Allen Street,

Buffalo, NY 14202.

Attendance: Lisbeth Ball, Bruce Kogan, Cory Promowicz, Cheryl and Kitty

Lambert-Rudd, Tom Gleed, Jeremy Zellner, Jim Kirkwood, Chris Puchalski, PaulMorgan, Errin Doyle (representing Sen. Kennedys Ofc), Melissa Breckenridge,

Carol Speser, Geoff Nelley (Artvoice), Ari Moore, Neal Flaig, Cory Tuck, Mark

Nowak, Cindy Manarina, and Bryan Ball.

Meeting called to order at 7:15 PM Jeremy Zellner spoke

o Asked for SDWNYs support for his candidacy for Erie CountyDemocratic Party Chairman.

o As Chair, his aim is to put two SDWNY members on the ExecutiveCommittee.

o Would like to complete a survey if we put one together about what hecan do for us.

Tim Kennedy, NYS Senator, 63rd District (formerly 58th District), spoke.o

Thanked SDWNY for advocacy and support.o Believed his work in the Senate gave voice to WNY again.o Credited his staff as the best and most hard-working in all of NYS.o Worked 6 months convincing three democrats to support marriage

equality.

o Bruce Kogan suggested he work on Gabrysak.o Tom Gleed asked where he stands on fracking. Kennedy said hell be

against it if it causes harm to the environment.

o Cindy Manarina asked him about supporting or advertising on anyhomophobic Websites. He reiterated same points as he answered on

our questionnairethat he does advertise on politicsny.net for a

variety of reasons, but does not agree with everything that is published

on the Site. He has advertised, supported, or intends to advertise on

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such Websites for re-election, and lastly, he does not intend to cease

advertising or supporting such Websites.

Mike Amodeo (NY Senate, 60th District candidate) spoke.o He is running against Chuck Swanick in the Primary. Swanick

accepted $7,000 from National Organization for Marriage (NOM).

o Amodeo has a 3 yr old son and 1 mo. old daughter.o Has a relative in NYC who is gay.o Campaign headquarters are 6000 South Park St., Hamburg, NY.o Ari Moore asked about his familiarity with GENDA. Amodeo stated

hes very familiar, - knows it passed in the Assembly and not in the

Senate.

o Will appear Aug. 9th at Kogies on Sheridan Dr. in Tonawanda.o Against fracking in NYS.o Paul Morgan asked if he has a 1 mo. old baby at home, how hell be

if away from home so much. He said hell be okay. Hes passionate

about public service.

Amy Witryol represented by Kitty Lambert-Rudd.o Has no moneyo

Rcvd Working Families Party endorsement.o Against frackingo Hates pay for play politics.o Rcvd Niagara County Dems endorsement.o Comes from a financial backgroundsaving businesses and creating

jobs.

Sean Ryan, NYS Assembly, 149th District.o Elected 10 months agofirst election.o Reform to the Industrial Development Agencies (IDAs).o Appointed himself watchdog over Cuomos $1billion for Buffalo.o Watching NFTA and their routes. Busses go to the Outer Harbor

now. Trains and airport continue to be a concern. Howard Zemsky

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recognized theyre in transportation business, not development

business. Let Outer Harbor development go to developers.

o BPS advocatelobbied for $1 million for BPS.o Advocate for marriage equality.o GENDA sponsor.

Disappointed in how the debate went on the floor. Bathroomsbecame the issue, which poisons the argument.

Committed to bring it again. Need to send a strong message about it. Ari Moore stated, Keep doing what youre doing. Carol Speser added, Keep hustling.

Kevin Gaughan, challenger to Sean Ryan for 149th Assembly Dist. seat.o Humanitys most important cause equal justice for all.o Running against Sean Ryan.o Idea for an American idealBeau Fleuveo Wants the city and region to be great again.

The Erie Canal was the Internet of its time The Underground Railroad led slaves to freedom here. Sent two presidents to the White House

oRegarding public servants

Since the 1970s, weve lost 240,000 people. Since 1990, lost 91,000 people. We lose 1 person every 1 hr and 40 minutes (every 100

minutes).

But somehow weve added 71,000 public service jobs. We breathe the most toxic air in NYS. Birth defects are 1 in 5 in WNY. We are the 3rd most impoverished city in America = low

literacy.

We pay the highest corporate and individual taxes in NYS. We pay the highest sales tax in the country. Wants us to understand the power of a citizens coalition. We have a friend in him.

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Cindy Manarina asked how hes different from Sean Ryan.Gaughan said Ryans not much on policy but they both worked

for county govt. 35 years ago. He said assemblyman should be

completely independent and that the system tends to take care

of itself better than its people. Ari Moore asked how to chg top-heavy Albany if elected.

Gaughan said, Let people decide. Volunteers distribute

petitions, organization will get proposition on the state

convention.

Bruce Kogan asked if hes not running in the wrong race,against Chuck Swanick instead. Gaughan said he thought about

it but wants to win and has lived in the Elmwood Village for 10

years, moving from Hamburg. Kitty Lambert-Rudd asked him about referendum voting, which

has failed LGBT citizens across the country. Gaughan said

NYS is the most regressive state on peoples choices. There are

27 school districtspeople should be allowed to vote on

consolidation. So we need to go slowly but smart.

Chris Puchalski asked about his ability to build relationshipswith other politicians. Gaughan said he knows more than half

of NYS legislation in Albany. Never saw WNY delegates

utilize their (notes incomplete).

Al Coppola (running for NYS Senate, 60th District)o Got into politics because he questioned policies.o In early 1980s, we paid $600 million for six miles of rapid transit up

Main Street and lost his business, Shanes Bar, that he had since the

1960s, because of that political decision to close Main to vehicle

traffic. All 12 of his employees, including a gay bartender, lost their

jobs. So he collected 500 signatures in 1983 and ran for Common

Council and won because he questioned authority.

o Served 15 years on the Board of Benedict House.o Against fracking.o Supports West Side Preservation.o Advocates for health.

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o Advocates for clean air.o Advocates for Roswell.o Advocates for Benedict House.

Bryan Ball asked membership to consider any endorsement.o Neal Flaig motioned for Amy Witryol. Carol Speser seconded.

Unanimous support for Amy Witryol. SDWNY endorse Amy Witryol

o Regarding the 149th Assembly District, the candidates are Sean Ryan,Kevin Gaughan, and Joe Mascia. Discussion was as follows:

Bruce K. said K. Gaughan wouldnt meet with the ExecutiveCommittee. Bruce said Gaughan wanted Lenihan to give him a

clean slate and he didnt get it. So Gaughan now is running

against Ryan, who is already our advocate. Neal Flaig stated Gaughan is a very good orator/speaker but he

essentially admitted youve got to take the good with the bad.

His primary agenda is a referendum agenda.

Cheryl Lambert-Rudd motions to endorse Sean Ryan, AriMoore seconds. Endorsement motion passes with 13 for, 1

abstention so as a quorum, it passes. SDWNY endorses Sean

Ryan.

oRegarding Tim Kennedy endorsement, members discussed our Bylawof not endorsing any candidate who advertises or supports

homophobic Websites. Members voted to suspend the Bylaw until

the November meeting. Kitty motioned, Tom Gleed seconded, voted

unanimously. Then Cindy Manarina motioned for endorsing Tim

Kennedy, Bruce Kogan seconded, and by a 14:3 quorum, the motion

passes. SDWNY endorses Tim Kennedy for NYS Senate, 63rd Dist.

o Mike Amodeo VS. Al Coppola, NY Senate, 60th District Kitty Lambert-Rudd motions to not endorse for this district

because it is Republican Mark Grisantis district and he already

supports us completely. Neal Flaig seconds. Discussion

ensues. Carol Speser said we are an LGBT community in an

unusual position. Republicans have a 33:29 majority. Theres

too much at stake. Bruce Kogan said its too important a race

to not endorse a democrat. Tom Gleed asked that we keep in

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mind that were only endorsing for the Primary. Its important

that we stand behind a candidate for the Primary. Vote on

Kittys motion for NOT endorsing was 5 for the motion, 10

Opposed, 1 Abstain. So SDWNY WILL endorse for this

district. Bruce Kogan motions to endorse Mike Amodeo, Tom Gleed

seconded, Carol Speser said Coppola supported us in 1984.

Chris Puchalski added that Coppola has a track record of

support. Vote ensued for the motion of Amodeo for the district

= 11 in favor, 0 opposed, 3 abstain. SDWNY endorses Mike

Amodeo for NYS Senate, 60th District.

Meeting adjourned at 9:45 PM.