02.07 Black History, Herstory, Theirstory
BHM events and actions, Special Election season, and Barkley Hendricks
BLACK HISTORY MONTH, LIFE, ETERNITY! As we near the one year anniversary of the pandemic, society’s routine monthly calendar rituals feel different this year, heavier, more deliberate, less apologetic. Black History MONTH? Nah, it’s every day. Right now. ¡ P r e s e n t e ! We highlight some great Black-led BHM programming and actions.
We go heavy with hearings on NYPD accountability. The NYC Council is trying to make-up for its failure to divest from the NYPD in last year’s budget, by introducing an 11-bill bundle with some landmark changes to policing in NYC. Hearings begin this week!
We’re stoked to share the Soft Power Vote Community Folder, where we’ll put infographics and text, and we encourage you to share and spread the word.
CD-24 Special Election brings up some interesting points about Ranked Choice Voting and these Special Elections. 1) All of the winners will have to run again in the June Primary. 2) Why not have all Special Elections on the same day? This would generate local buzz bc one-offs have notoriously LOW VOTER TURNOUT. 3) Your vote is louder in local races! Only 6,000 votes were cast in the CD-24 special.
Got questions? Drop a comment or email us at softpowervote@gmail.com and we’ll answer them in our next newsletter.
ON THE RADAR
ACTION: Sunday, 02.14, 2 pm Give Back to the Community March
Meet at 110th st. Cathedral Parkway in Harlem. Updates via @theundergroundshadows + @WarriorsintheGarden
WATCH: Monday, 02.08, 1 pm. Hearing on investigating police officers with a history of bias.
Heard by the Committee on Civil and Human Rights
WATCH: Monday, February 8, 2021, 6 - 8 PM. Teach-in on NYPD Sexual & Gender-Based Violence
Organized by Interrupting Criminalization and Communities United for Police Reform REGISTER
WATCH: Tuesday, 02.09, 10 am. Hearing on NYPD involvement in press credentials, Int. 2118
Gives Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) sole authority.
WATCH: Tuesday, February 9, 2021, 6 - 8 PM. Redefining Community Safety: Debunking the Myth of NYPD Discipline. REGISTER
Hearings on City Council introduces 11 bills on public safety and police reform! Hearings begin on 02.08-02.24
WATCH: Wednesday, February 10, 6 - 8 PM. Mayoral forum with Muslim Communities and Allies
Register HERE! Co-Sponsored by @muslimsforprogress, @thejewishvote, @bappnyc, @appac.usa
NYC Votes civic engagement opportunities! Apply by 02.12
PARTY AFFILIATION DEADLINE: Valentine’s Day (2/14) is the last day to switch your party affiliation before the city-wide primary Update your party!
NYC has closed primaries——Democrats can only vote in Dem Primaries and so on. So all you “Independents” out there who want to participate in the Primary (and the city’s transformation) change your party affiliation to “Democrat” by 2/14. Update your party!
ACTION: Join Assemblyperson Phara Souffrant Forrest’s outreach week (02.22-02.28) in AD-57 Sign up!
PUBLIC COMMENT: NYPD Use Policy of Surveillance Tech
Deadline to submit: 02.25 Make your voice heard on everything from NYPD use of facial recognition to x-ray and more. Let’s make some noise!
CULTURAL WORK
Incredible Black Womxn in History series by @blackwomxnsmarch.
Features on icons like Sojourner Truth and Gwendolyn Brooks
Ethel’s Club’s BLM programming centers well being, art, stories, and joy. Ethel’s Club is a Black-owned social and wellness club designed to celebrate people of color, online and IRL. JOIN ETHEL’S CLUB!
The Black School (TBS) teaches Black/PoC students and allies to become agents of change through art workshops on radical Black politics and public interventions that address local community needs. Sign up for TBS newsletter! Founders, @josephcuillier and @shanipeters, recently received a Creative Capital award! SUPPORT TBS!
FLAVA IN YA EAR, the St. James Joy DJs have been cranking it in Clinton Hill/Ft Greene during the pandemic. Press Play on St. James Joy!
Ridgewood Mutual Aid Woodbine moving fund. Help this community hub in Queens settle into their new spot. Support!
SOFT POWER VOTE
SPV Community Folder! We’re putting our IG graphics and text in a community folder so you can spread the word. REMINDER: Bring that Georgia energy to our own city, so we don’t keep electing regressive NYPD-supporting politicians (like Gennaro in CD-24).
CD-24 SPECIAL ELECTION UPDATE: Former Council Member James Gennaro takes Commanding Lead.
With 98% of early and Election Day in-person ballots tabulated former City Council Member James Gennaro has nearly 60% of the vote (LAME!). Read up!
Moumita Ahmed (our #1 pick) will hopefully run again for CD-24 in the June primary!
CD-31 (Queens) 02.23, SPECIAL ELECTION on deck!
QUEENS: Arverne, Brookville, Edgemere, Far Rockaway, Laurelton, Rosedale, Springfield Gardens
Candidate recommendations coming soon!
General rundown of special elections.
Manhattan DA race is our chance to TRULY shape criminal justice in NYC. Read a primer on the candidates.
Mayoral Candidate Dianne Morales New Year New Look! Released “Dignity Now” First Hundred Days
Morales campaign re-brands with a fresh new look and a platform roll-out of the first 100 days in office that defunds the NYPD by at least 50%, advocates for basic income relief, desegregated schools, FREE CUNY for NYC, and more! Check her platform out!
CD-22 Candidate Tiffany Cabán’s New Vision of Public Safety
The former candidate for Queens DA and current candidate for CD-22 (also rad human!), unveiled a comprehensive public safety plan that divests from the NYPD and INVESTS in communities! Read up!
Remember Robinhood? Well AOC hosted a great convo on all the drama that dominated last week.
Did we miss something? Let us know by commenting below or dropping a quick email at softpowevote@gmail.com