ACTivists,

We’d like to congratulate you on a job well done these last several months. Due to the work of people like you, who have contributed endless energy to making positive change in our state and country, we have two very big victories to celebrate — the special election for New York State Senate that ended in the ousting of the notorious Hiram Monserrate and the historic passage of a health care reform bill.

In Queens, in the space of just a few weeks, we spoke face-to-face with hundreds of voters to raise awareness of Hiram Monserrate’s obstructionist record in Albany, his recent conviction for domestic abuse and expulsion from the State Senate, as well as the promise of progressive Democratic candidate, Jose Peralta. This ended in a sweeping victory for Jose Peralta as well as a resounding message that Queens voters will not tolerate politicians like Monserrate.

Although this has been a particularly low point for Albany politics (and that’s saying a lot!), we found it heartening to see so many of our ACTivists out in the streets rallying for such a good cause — and we know you’ll be with us as we work even harder to clean up Albany and turn it into a place where progressive legislation on issues like affordable housing, health care, and marriage equality is passed.

Speaking of progressive legislation, did you hear that both chambers of Congress passed health care reform?