New York

Letitia James

Letitia “Tish” James

New York Attorney General

Letitia “Tish” James is the 67th Attorney General for the State of New York. With decades of work, she is an experienced attorney and public servant with a long record of accomplishments. She is the first woman of color to hold statewide office in New York and the first woman to be elected Attorney General. 

In 2013, Ms. James was elected Public Advocate for the City of New York and became the first woman of color to hold citywide office. As Public Advocate, Ms. James served as a watchdog over New York City government agencies and as an advocate for the City’s most vulnerable communities. She Transformed the Public Advocate’s office to be a formidable engine for change.

Prior to serving as Public Advocate, Tish James represented the 35th Council District in Brooklyn in the New York City Council for ten years. As a council Member, she passed the Safe Housing Act, legislation that forced landlords to improve living conditions for tenants in New York City’s worst building. She also pushed through a revolutionary recycling package that included expanding plastic recycling, a new clothing and textile recycling program, and increased access to recycling in public spaces.

Tish James began her career as a public defender at the Legal Aid Society. A proud Brooklynite, she is a graduate of Lehman College and Howard University School of Law.

On November 11, 2021, Letitia “Tish” James participated in Meet Letitia James, New York's Attorney General

Alvin Bragg

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Alvin Bragg

Former Chief Deputy Attorney General

Alvin Bragg has spent the better two decades in the courtroom, standing up to the powerful and fighting to get justice. Recently, Alvin Bragg served as the Chief Deputy Attorney General for New York State where he oversaw some of the office’s biggest cases, including suing Harvey Weinstein and his company for the existence of a hostile work environment; challenging the Trump administration over the census for its inclusion of a citizenship question; and bringing significant criminal charges in bribery, securities fraud, and Medicaid fraud matters.

Prior to the Attorney General’s Office, Alvin served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. He successfully prosecuted corrupt politicians, both Democrat and Republican, and obtained trial verdicts convicting the owner of a multi-million dollar business for laundering millions of dollars for an international drug cartel, an FBI agent for making false statements, and individuals blocking a reproductive health facility in violation of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act.

Alvin Bragg has spent the better part of two decades in the courtroom, standing up to the powerful and fighting to get justice. He is now running for Manhattan District Attorney.

On October 15, 2021, Alvin Bragg participated in the Meet Alvin Bragg with Tom Allon

Kurt Anderson

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Kurt Anderson

Writer

Kurt Andersen is a remarkable writer who is known for his work as the host of the erstwhile Peabody-winning public radio program Studio 360. He regularly appears as a commentator on MSNBC, and has delivered TED talks. He served as a summer guest Op-Ed columnist for The New York Times, and still contributes regularly to the Times. He has also been a regular columnist and critic for New York, The New Yorker and TIME.


As an editor, Kurt co-founded the transformative satirical magazine Spy and served as editor-in-chief of New York. He also co-founded Inside, a digital and print publication covering the media and entertainment industries, oversaw a relaunch of Colors magazine, co-founded the online newsletter Very Short List, and served as editor-at- large for Random House.


His writings have been praised with awards including forTurn of the Century which won the New York Times Notable Book of the Year, Heyday which won the Langum Prize for the best American historical fiction.


Kurt Anderson participated in Evil Geniuses: The Unmaking of America: A Recent History on November 18, 2020. Anderson and Hagan trace where America went wrong, what exactly happened and how we can get back to a more equitable, prosperous and ultimately more sane America.

David A. Paterson

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Governor David A. Paterson

55th Governor of New York

David Paterson served as New York’s 55th Governor from 2008 to 2010 following the resignation of former Governor Eliot Spitzer. During his tenure as Governor, Paterson is credited for drawing attention to New York’s fiscal woes, stretching the budget-drafting powers of his office, and enacting sweeping reforms on a wide range of issues facing New Yorkers. 

In 1985, at the age of 31, David A. Paterson was elected to represent Harlem in the New York State Senate, becoming the youngest Senator in Albany at the time. In 2003, he became the first non-white legislative leader in New York’s history when he was elevated to Minority Leader of the Senate. The former Governor, who is legally blind, made history again in 2004 when he became the first visually impaired person to address the Democratic National Convention, and again in 2007 when he became New York’s first African-American Lieutenant Governor. As Lieutenant Governor, he led the charge on several crucial issues for New York’s future including achieving legislation for stem cell research, working to prevent domestic violence, putting forth a statewide renewable energy strategy and championing the expansion of minority and women owned businesses in New York. The former Governor led the movement to create permanent reforms to health care in New York State, successfully negotiated an MTA bailout plan, and introduced landmark legislation to end legal discrimination against same-sex couples in New York.

Paterson was hosted by The Common Good in 2010: Leadership Series: David Paterson on New York Past and Present.

Twitter: @NYGovPaterson55

Cong. Nita Lowey

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representative Nita Lowey

U.S. Representative for 17th district of New York

Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey is currently serving her sixteenth term in Congress, representing parts of Westchester and Rockland Counties. She was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1988 and served in the Democratic Leadership in 2001 and 2002 as the first woman and the first New Yorker to chair the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. She is also the first woman to chair the powerful House Appropriations Committee.

Lowey is a leading Congressional proponent of educational opportunity, health care quality and biomedical research, improved homeland security preparedness, stricter public safety laws, environmental protection, women's issues, a leading international role for the United States, and national security. An outspoken supporter of transportation, nuclear, and infrastructure security, Lowey was appointed to the Select Committee on Homeland Security and recognized by the New York Post as “a key general in the battle to rebuild New York” for her leadership in securing over $20 billion for recovery efforts after September 11, 2001. She has been a champion of education throughout her career, fighting for school modernization, teacher development, and literacy programs. Under Lowey’s leadership, federal funding for after-school programs has increased from $1 million in 1996 to $1 billion today.

Twitter: @NitaLowey

Steve Levy

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Steve Levy

Politician

Steve Levy was the seventh County Executive of Suffolk County, New York, elected on November 4, 2003. Originally a fiscally conservative Democrat, Levy joined the Republican Party in an unsuccessful bid for the Republican nomination for governor.

Levy has promoted strict anti-immigrant policies and has supported employer verification efforts and restrictions on drivers licenses for undocumented immigrants. On March 19, 2010, Levy announced that he would seek the Republican Party’s nomination for New York Governor, competing with former New York Congressman Rick Lazio and Buffalo developer Carl Paladino for the party nomination. Levy’s platform focused on getting the state’s financial house in order and reining in spending while decreasing property taxes. He also called for the creation of an independent control board, much like the ones formed by the state for counties who are in financial crisis, to help address New York’s fiscal woes.

Twitter: @SteveLevyNY

William Hubbard

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William Hubbard

American lawyer

William N. Hubbard III is Chairman and President of Center Development Corporation, and served in similar capacities with its predecessor, Center Housing Partnerships.

Hubbard served in the Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) program and is a former Associate of the Wall Street law firm of Thatcher Profitt & Wood. He is also co-founder of the Environmental Action Coalition. Hubbard served as General Counsel to New York State Senator Thomas Bartosiewicz, was a member of the State Democratic Senator Advisory Committee; and was Finance Chairman for Assemblyman Peter Grannis, Chairman of the New York State Assembly Insurance Committee.

Hubbard is currently a Trustee of Citizens Housing Planning Council and the Citizens Budget Commission, a Director of the State Council on Waterways, and a Trustee of Trees New York. He serves on the National Governing Board of Common Cause.

Hubbard convened a panel on The Primaries and the Presidential Election at The Common Good in 2008.

Twitter: @williamChubbard