Electoral
The Brooklyn Electoral Working Group has two upcoming meetings for those interested in getting involved. In its first meeting since Julie Salazar’s victory in the NYS Democratic primaries, the Research Team will hold a post-Salazar campaign debrief and discuss strategy for future campaigns and projects on Sunday, October 28 (sign up here), . The next Brooklyn Electoral general meeting will be held on Thursday, November 1 (sign up here).
The Queens Electoral Working Group organized the town hall with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on October 17, and is exploring ways to make criminal justice reform central to the election of a new District Attorney, expected next year. The group decided not to pursue involvement in a Green Party challenge to US Rep. Grace Meng in November.
Ecosocialist (formerly Climate Justice)
The Climate Justice Working Group is now the Ecosocialist Working Group, after the working group membership voted to change its name on October 5. The change aligns the working group’s name with the national working group and the core mission and values of eco-socialism. The working group will be selecting new campaigns and an organizing committee in the coming months.
The Disaster Relief Subcommittee has been working on developing neighborhood and community board maps; coordinating with existing city programs to, among other things, limit building in floodplains and protect workers from layoffs during emergencies; and developing skills in health care and how to “muck-and-gut” disaster-damaged property.
The working group is also working with the CUNY Climate Action Lab and allies in socialist and community organizations to develop a NYC DSA Ecosocialist program, in addition to municipal, state, federal, and international programs. Issues include transitioning to clean energy, including grid transformation and municipal or state ownership; a carbon tax or regulatory scheme; and food justice.
The Ecosocialist Working Group is participating in the New York Renews campaign across the city and state. The working group is exploring how to shorten the time frame to introduce a non-carbon tax framework, possibly in line with a state version of the federal Off Fossil Fuels for a Better Future bill currently before Congress.
Immigrant Justice
The Immigrant Justice Working Group delivered around 4,000 petitions to Janet DiFiore, the Chief Judge of the State of New York, demanding that she remove ICE agents from NY courts. Afterwards, Immigrant Justice joined coalition partners for a “Speak Out on ICE Out of the Courts” demonstration in Foley Square. To join in the campaign or get involved with the working group, email immigrant.justice@socialists.nyc.
Tech Action
On October 11, the Tech Action Working Group held a candidate forum and proceeded to seat a new Organizing Committee. We’re excited to continue—and expand—the work we have been doing to apply a socialist analysis to technology and its structural power in the year ahead. The newly seated OC members are:
Colin B, Scott L.K., Will L, Charlie M, Miko, Colin M, Alex S
Housing
There’s a huge march coming up with the rest of the Upstate-Downstate Housing Coalition on Nov 15th. Please join us on Thursday, November 15, 2018 at 4:30 PM – 7:30 PM at Bowling Grn, New York, NY 10004, for a march on our city leadership, asking them Who’s Side Are You On?
The BUM Housing WG has started doing shifts with Right to Counsel’s Court Watch program, acting as observers in Bronx Housing Court and helping to organize tenants there.
Religious Socialism
The next Religious Socialism group meeting is Nov. 13, at CWA, 80 Pine Street, 37th Floor.