03.21 C.R.E.A.M. Politicians are temporary, but money + politics are forever
Safe Streets Mayoral Forum, Black Future’s Symposium, and Dianne Morales gets public funds!
This week we wanted to spend a little time on campaign finance. From public funds to daddy-Super PACs, money plays a major role in politics. As the Campaign Finance Board (CFB) of NYC says: FOLLOW THE MONEY.
CFB is also the org behind NYC Votes, separate from the Board of Elections, and strives to be THE resource on voting for NYC. The matching-funds program is supposed to mitigate big money from dominating while amplifying “the voice of average New Yorkers in city elections by matching their small contributions with public funds,” but only recently have Dianne Morales and Maya Wiley, our two faves, unlocked public funds.
Why are we focussing on money in politics? Because it unfairly sways public opinion and outcomes! We recently learned that Shaun Donovan’s dad gave him a $1million Super PAC to “even the playing field.” NY law states that Super PACs and campaigns can’t work together, but c’mon, it's his DAD. Shaun had some good ideas, but play fair my dude, or at the very least, don’t waste our taxpayer money by participating in the matching-funds program. In the Soft Power Vote section below, catch up on how Walmart and Real Estate corp donations have swayed the recent Queens and BX special elections.
ON THE RADAR
ACTION: Monday, 03.22 ALL DAY Petition for Dianne Morales (various shifts and throughout NYC)
WATCH: Thursday 03.25 6:30pm: Safe, Equitable, and Accessible Streets: A Mayoral Forum on the Future of Transportation in NYC
Hosted by a who’s who of transit and safe/liveable streets orgs including Riders Alliance and Transportation Alternatives
WATCH: Fri-Sun 03.26-28: The Underground Museum Presents Black Futures Symposium
Jenna Wortham and Kimberly Drew consider what it means to be Black and alive right now and will expand on the constellation of offerings and provocations found in BLACK FUTURES.
The Symposium is a weekend full of music, meditation, film screenings, and moderated conversations.
WATCH: Monday 03.29 3pm HOLLABACK Intervention bystander Training
Help mitigate and stop street harassment and learn Hollaback’s five helpful techniques.
ACTION: Public Comment on the Police Reform and Reinvention Draft Plan
It’s crucial that we seize this moment to weigh in on the future of the NYPD. The plan, as it stands, is lacking in accountability and transformation. Read each part:
WATCH: Caring & Compassionate NYC - VOCAL-NY’s Mayoral Candidate Forum. Voices Of Community Activists & Leaders (VOCAL-NY) is a statewide grassroots membership organization that builds power among low-income people affected by HIV/AIDS, the drug war, mass incarceration, and homelessness in order to create healthy and just communities.
CULTURAL WORK
Paul Chan, in collaboration with Printed Matter, has produced this sign in solidarity with the grassroots and legislative movements confronting white supremacy across the country. Proceeds of the sign will be donated to Heart of Dinner, a non-profit in New York dedicated to combating food insecurity and isolation within NYC’s elderly Asian American community. The signs will also be available at Printed Matter for use by protesters throughout the New York area.
Black Reconstructive Collective
Founded by a group of Black architects, artists, designers, and scholars, the BRC aims to amplify knowledge production and spatial practices by individuals and organizations that further the reconstruction project. Currently, on view at MoMA, the group was founded in part to protest MoMA’s lack of collecting and celebrating Black design and architecture. (NYTimes)
03.24, 6-8 pm: "Black Joy" | The Black Reconstruction Collective at Penn State
SOFT POWER VOTE
Cash Rules Everything Around Me
10 Things to Know About The Latest Campaign Finance Filing
Dianne Morales has the most donors with NYC Addresses… let’s do this NYC!
Andrew Yang and Maya Wiley have the most total donors.
Eric Adams has the most $$.
Super PACs are infusing $$$ into the election / Why we need campaign finance reform:
Walmart $ in Bronx Special Election (note: John Sanchez, who we like, did not seek the Walmart heir help)
Real Estate Ranks a #1 and #2 in the Bronx (note: Eric Dinowitz says he’s not aligned with the PAC that’s endorsing him)
Stephen Ross (Hudson Yards) Spent Big Money to Smear Moumita Ahmed in CD-24 (Queens)
NYC Campaign Finance Board has all the financials for every candidate online. Plus you can see who your crush donated to… Dive in!
NYC Primary Races
Dianne Morales is our #1 choice for Mayor and her platform is speaking to us! Find out more about her:
Where Do Mayoral Candidates Stand on the Future of Policing?
Manhattan DA, what’s good? Cy Vance will not run for another term (hallelujah), but there are a few good candidates running to transform criminal justice in the city. Gotham Gazette and Manhattan News Network are interviewing them:
Our second choice, civil rights lawyer Tahanie Aboushi, has the WFP and Cynthia Nixon endorsements but has a caveat in her decriminalization of sex work that is no good.
Manhattan DA will NOT use Ranked Choice Voting. There can be only one.
Ranked Choice Voting
