Downtown Independent Democrats had their holiday party at La Mela Ristorante, at 167 Mulberry St., on Tues., Dec. 18. Neighbors, local activists, elected officials, a slew of judges and candidates, rubbed shoulders, as they noshed on the restaurant’s pasta, calamari and salad, washed down with beer and wine. Among those who hung out at the D.I.D. to-do or made an appearance were borough president candidate Julie Menin, City Council candidate Yetta Kurland, state Senators Dan Squadron and Brad Hoylman, Councilmember Margaret Chin, D.I.D. power broker Sean Sweeney, mayoral candidate Comptroller John Liu and comptroller candidate Borough President Scott Stringer, District Leader Paul Newell, many local community board members and other politically active locals.
