NYC Primaries: The Main Event
Mark your calendars for the Primary Pull-up! Code Switch and Rest in Power, DMX.
THE CITY-WIDE PRIMARY ELECTION ON JUNE 22 IS THE MAIN EVENT!
We’re used to general elections being where it’s at in our 2 party democratic system—when Dems and Republicans go head to head—but in NYC, where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by over 3 million voters, the Dem primaries are often where fights for political office are won or lost. After the primary dust settles many Dems don’t even face Republican challengers in the general election, and those that do typically blow 'em out (South BK, Middle Village Queens, and SI are a different story—more on that soon).
This means that June 22 is when our entire NYC government will be chosen, including our next mayor, comptroller, borough presidents, and ALL city council seats! June 22 is our opportunity to achieve positive change in this city. June 22 is when we can chart a truly equitable Covid recovery. More below on what’s at stake for our city in the upcoming primary election.
Be sure to check out the Martin Wong & Aaron Gilbert show, a LIVE TAPING of everybody’s favorite podcast on race and identity, Code Switch, participatory budgets, and mark your calendars for the June 22 Primary!
Wanna put something on our radar? Leave a comment!
ON THE RADAR
WATCH: Monday 04.12 10am: Meeting of the Independent Redistricting Commission
This is the NEW independent commission that will draw the congressional and legislative district lines in NY based on the 2020 census.
It is expected that the new lines will only bolster Dem control of NYS.
Is this just Dem gerrymandering? Well, the creation of an INDEPENDENT commission is to combat partisan gerrymandering. The Dem slant is just the way the NYer ideological cookie crumbles. Watch here!
WATCH: Monday 04.12 6:30pm: Dianne Morales Excluded & Essential Workers Town Hall
The Morales campaign will be holding space for essential workers from the front-line medical community and excluded workers in the Taxi service and sex trades. Register here!
WATCH: Wednesday 04.14 1pm: Local Elections: How and Why to Vote.
Government, advocacy, and non-profit leaders cover topics like Ranked Choice Voting, Our City, Our Vote, and the importance of voting in local elections.
WATCH: Thursday 04.15 8 pm: Code Switch LIVE episode!
Hosts Gene Demby and Shereen Marisol Meraji will discuss race and identify with actress, activist, media maven and podcast host Erika Alexander, and additional special guests.
WATCH: Wednesday 04.21 6pm: A People’s Economy: Spotlight on Public Banking and Community Land Trusts
Learn about Public Banking and Community Land Trusts and how they advance racial, economic and housing justice! Register here!
PARTICIPATORY BUDGET SEASON!
Through Participatory Budgeting, community members - like you - directly decide how to spend at least $1,000,000 of the public budget in participating Council Districts.
CULTURAL WORK
Rest in Power to DMX, def one of the most prolific, passionate, and powerful voices in Hip Hop. Born in Mount Vernon and raised in Yonkers, New York, he was very open about his struggle with drug addiction. In a 2020 interview with Talib Kweli, he shared,
“Drugs were a symptom of a bigger problem. There were things that I went through in my childhood where I just blocked it out—but there’s only so much you can block out before you run out of space,” he said. “I really didn’t have anybody to talk to about it. So often talking about your problems is viewed as a sign of weakness. When it’s actually one of the bravest things you can do.”
As we ponder who we’ll choose to lead NYC in this year’s citywide election, it’s URGENT we decriminalize drug use and provide the support our neighbors deserve. This is why we support Dianne Morales for Mayor because she calls for the decriminalization of all drug use. Please re-visit the VOCAL-NY mayoral forum.
READ: A letter to PBS from Viewers Like Us, by Beyond Inclusion. An open letter to the president of PBS in response to her public response to Grace Lee’s essay for the Ford Foundation’s Creative Futures series. Beyond Inclusion is a BIPOC-led collective of non-fiction makers, executives, and field builders. Important convo about documentarians and authorship!
SIP Fellowship Exhibition: Part II | April 17th - May 9th Featuring the work of four amazing artists: Devin N. Morris; Shellyne Rodriguez; Adreinne Waheed; and Rachel Eulena Williams.
Aaron Gilbert explains his work as embodying “symbolic and psychological narratives.”
One painting shows a bus driver on a night shift during the COVID era, with a rider reaching through the plastic veil. Another, a couple in a warm embrace while the male figure washes a baby bottle, and hidden stacks of cash are on display; the viewer is the voyeur. Lastly, a monumental man stands tall with three children swinging from his limbs (pictured above). Gilbert pulls from NYC life, mixing vernacular and whimsical. His work is now on view at PPOW Gallery with that of Martin Wong, the iconic visual artist we featured last year, and who also depicts the complexity of NYC life and those who inhabit it.
SOFT POWER VOTE
PULL UP to the Primary!
As we mentioned up top, NYC is a one-party town with just a smattering of red in a sea of blue. This means that the Democratic primary is where things are decided and the general election is almost a formality. This is where we get Dem socialists vs dusty moderate Dems. This is where we can choose who will #defundthepolice, pass #NYHealth, and make a #GreenNewDeal for NYC. This is when we can elect a city government that will make affordable housing and liveable streets a priority. This is where we really get a chance to remake this city.
Our primary elections also suffer from extremely low voter turnout—more on that in next week’s newsletter! Mayor de Blasio won the 2017 Dem primary by getting 326,361 total votes—essentially only 3.8% of NYers elected him mayor...what?!? Only 440,000 people submitted ballots in that primary too, which was roughly 14% of the 3.6 million active registered Dems. This means that EVERY SINGLE VOTE COUNTS and if we pull up, we can sway the election!
Also, we’ve got your back! We’ll be releasing our voter guide in time for mail-in voting. Stay tuned!
In the meantime, have a look at this handy election resource with ballot info and more from ElectNYC.
What’s on the ballot for June 22:
🔑 Mayor
🗣 Public Advocate
💰 Comptroller
🗽 Borough Presidents - All 5 Boroughs
🧩 City Council Members - All 51 Council Seats
🚨 Manhattan District Attorney - No Ranked Choice Voting
Important Dates Leading Up to the Primary:
05.28 Last Day to Postmark Voter Registration/Last Day To Register In-Person
06.02 Last Day for BOE to Receive Voter Registration Through Mail
06.02 Last Day for BOE to Receive Change of Address
06.15 Last Day to Apply for Absentee/Mail-in Ballot
06.21 Last Day to Apply In-Person for Absentee/Mail-in Ballot
06.22 Last Day to Postmark/Deliver to BOE Absentee/Mail-in Ballot
06.12 - 06.20 Early Voting for Primary
06.22 Primary Election Day
Soft Power Vote SPV Community Folder is still a thing!