ALBANY LEGISLATIVE SESSION 2015

ALBANY LEGISLATIVE SESSION ENDSTime to Unite the People’s Forces

Statement by the New York District, Communist Party USA

The challenge now is to unite the various people’s forces into a vibrant working class-led coalition and to actively participate in the legislative and electoral process around a number of key issues, such as mass incarceration and police brutality, the DREAM Act, quality public education, the enactment of a $15 an hour minimum wage, affordable housing, and an expansion of labor rights. The strength of a united, militant, and well-organized movement shook Albany and forced a conservative retreat on a number of issues. That in itself must be seen as a people’s victory. 

The Communist Party of New York is in full accord with and active in these broad people’s movements.   

Raising the Minimum Wage - Governor Cuomo won reelection in part based upon a “good faith” commitment both to raise New York’s $8.75 an hour minimum wage and to allow high-cost cities to set wages that reflect local costs of living. However the governor’s eventual proposal of $10.50 an hour statewide and $11.50 an hour in New York City fell well short of a living wage. The governor backed down in the face of Wall Street and its Senate Republicans whose majority he helped ensure, and no action on the minimum wage was taken. While the broad public movement of fast-food workers, other low-wage workers and allies forced the governor to request a wage board for fast-food workers, his lack of leadership during the past term has left millions of working families in poverty.

Rent Regulations - The rent regulation laws, which expired on June 15, were extended for four years. The rent laws govern rents of some 1 million apartments in New York City and its suburbs. The renewal slightly increased the threshold rent, from $2,500 to $2,700 a month. The threshold is indexed to local Rent Guideline Board (RGB) increases. Vacated apartments reaching that limit can be deregulated. 

The tenants’ movement wanted vacancy deregulation and other tools used to gut the rent regulated stock eliminated altogether but the powerful real estate/Wall Street forces lobbied to further weaken regulations. While the law that finally passed represents a stalemate, a million residencies continue to be threatened. Without the militant organized tenants’ campaign, there is every indication that the rent regulation laws would have been gutted. 

Tax Abatements for Developers - The 421-a program, which grants large tax abatements for real estate developers, was renewed again. The tax abatement is designed to incentivize developers to build more affordable housing, but has not resulted in significant affordable unit construction and costs the city over a billion dollars in lost revenue each year. As amended the law raised the “affordability” requirement from 20% to 25-30% of units in new construction for developers to qualify.  In the end, the new law basically retains the provisions of the old law, with some major anti-tenant changes: the 25-year tax abatement was extended for another 10 years, making it a 35-year tax break; the definition of “affordable” was increased from those making 60% of Area Median Income (AMI) to include those making up to 130% of the AMI; and finally developers and representatives of state construction unions must, within six months, negotiate an agreement regarding wages on 421-a projects. If no agreement is reached, the entire program will be repealed.

The tenants’ movement had wanted to stop the million-dollar giveaways to developers and instead have the city invest its increased tax revenues to build affordable housing. Because the people’s progressive forces could not find common ground on some elements of their opposition to the tax abatements, we could not win more. 

Mayoral Control of New York City Board of Education - When a progressive-leaning slate assumed the reins of city government, control of education became a contentious issue between Governor Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio. Instead of granting the mayor extended control of the Board of Education, as de Blasio had sought, the law passed in Albany only provides for one year of control. This limits the mayor’s power to enact the people’s agenda in public schools while expanding that of for-profit charter schools. The corporate attack on public education continues. 

Education Tax Credit - Governor Cuomo had initially proposed a $150 million tax credit to individuals and corporations who finance scholarships and tuition fees. Faced with mounting opposition to that giveaway while public education is shortchanged, Cuomo backed off. The legislature nevertheless provided $250 million in new public funding for private education to finance programs mandated by the state.     

      

Police Accountability - The struggle to hold law enforcement accountable to the communities it serves continues. Bills granting individuals the “right to know” by whom and why they are stopped during a police encounter and for a special prosecutor in police-involved shootings were supported by the NYS Assembly. Gov. Cuomo promised to support these initiatives but reneged during negotiations. In response to pressure from the movement for police accountability Gov. Cuomo has used executive power to appoint New York Attorney General as special prosecutor. This is a temporary measure and legislative action is necessary to make the reform permanent.

  

Criminal Justice - Some 30,000 adolescents are confined as adults in New York State prisons and are extremely vulnerable, as was dramatically shown by the death of Kahlif Browder who languished for three years on Rikers Island. The City Council and State Assembly passed bills to “raise the age” and leave North Carolina as the only state to incarcerate children with adults. Opposition from Senate Republicans together with inaction by Gov. Cuomo caused this bill to fall short of legislation.

In the session just ended, the legislature failed to enact a number of vital bills, including, in particular, the provision of any increase in statewide and local minimum wages, removal of children from adult prisons and the adoption of tuition assistance to undocumented students.

In evaluating the gains and losses for the people of New York State in the 2015 legislative session, we should take into account the strength of the opposing constituencies. 

The majority of people living in the state of New York are working class while racially and nationally oppressed people are the fastest growing sector. The people of New York are electing to office more candidates who reflect this. Seeing the writing on the wall, the real estate/Wall Street forces were desperate for the Legislature to gut rent regulations, as well as to keep tax breaks and subsidies for themselves and to continue to shortchange public education. The warnings posted on that wall:

• The pushback against right-wing policies, especially from the financial and real estate industries, over the nation’s largest city by the 2013 election of a new progressive-leaning New York City government.

• A serious challenge to the vacillating Andrew Cuomo in the 2014 Democratic gubernatorial primary from Zephyr Teachout, independent progressive and anti-monopoly candidate.

• A strong showing by Working Families Party candidates in November 2014 including strong vote totals in upstate races and the recent election to the Assembly of Diana Richardson in Brooklyn. 

• Sheldon Silver’s loss of the Assembly speakership following his indictment for corruption and the resulting increased importance of progressive forces in that chamber.

• Removal of Republican Dean Skelos from his position as majority leader of the State Senate, weakening the control his party holds in that chamber. 

           

Dr. Martin Luther King said “the moral arc of history is long but bends towards justice”. The Communist Party USA (CPUSA) has a 95 year history of bending that arc.  The struggle continues and the New York District, CPUSA is committed to being an active and unifying force in it.  

Presupuesto Estatal para Inmigrantes en NY

por Sara Ladino Cano


En la temporada en que el gobierno del estado de Nueva York toma decisivas resoluciones

sobre el presupuesto estatal, organizaciones como Se Hace Camino Nueva York (MRNY,

por sus siglas en inglés) cuestionan las decisiones llevadas a cabo en la capital. Tanto

jóvenes como adultos demandan mejores determinaciones a nivel gubernamental.


La organización Se Hace Camino Nueva York ha demandado al gobierno un presupuesto

para inmigrantes en Nueva York. Donde no menos del veintitrés por ciento de la población

que normalmente es olvidada tendría un espacio que ocupar en el presupuesto. Las

propuestas incluidas en el presupuesto figuran temas tan importantes como la educación,

trabajo, y salud. El área de educación contiene el Acta del Sueño (DREAM Act), un asunto

que fue debatido y llevado a voto el año pasado en la capital. Sin embargo, se ha

transmitido en noticias locales que esta cuestión ha sido excluida del presupuesto estatal.

Miembros del grupo de jóvenes de Se Hace Camino Nueva York han respondido

disgustados a estas aclamaciones “Esta noticia rompe mi corazón. Justo después de la

semana de Somos el Futuro, cuando todo Albany estuvo hablando sobre pasar el Acta del

Sueño (DREAM Act), el gobernador publicó un op-ed en New York Post comprometiéndose

a pasarlo. Ahora, el mismo día, entendemos que él está retirando el Acta del Sueño del

presupuesto. La noticia de hoy me hace pensar que el gobernador sólo nos hace promesas

vacías, y no está realmente defendiendo nuestros sueños. Pero no nos detendremos –

vamos a seguir presionando al gobernador y a sus senadores para asegurarnos de que el

Acta del Sueño en Nueva York se haga realidad este año.” Así como los sueños

destrozados de muchos jóvenes, las necesidades y derechos de muchos otros inmigrantes

están siendo igualmente olvidados, es por esto que SHCNY solicita al gobierno un

presupuesto que incluya toda la población de Nueva York. Los trabajadores han sido

incorporados al presupuesto para inmigrantes, en éste se cubren las necesidades en el

trabajo como el aumento del saldo mínimo a 15 dólares la hora. Esta propuesta no es sólo

demandada por SHCNY, ni es una necesidad exclusiva de los inmigrantes, esta propuesta

ha sido demandada por diferentes conjuntos de la población Neoyorquina y es una

necesidad de gran importancia. Si el gobernador decide derrumbar esta propuesta, no serán

los sueños de tantos inmigrantes que serán destrozados la única consecuencia sino también

el quebrantamiento de las esperanzas de millones de familias. En el área de salud, una

materia no de necesidad sino de derecho, el presupuesto de inmigrantes en Nueva York

determina la urgencia en asegurar un sistema de salud comprensible para todos los

inmigrantes. Es de suma importancia reconocer esta significativa instancia, el derecho a la

salud es imprescindible e inalienable, no puede pasar por alto la relevancia que significa

incorporar el tema de salud a inmigrantes en el presupuesto estatal.


“El acta de sueño (DREAM Act) es una legislación que le provee las herramientas a

jóvenes indocumentados para poder realizar sus sueños educativos e igualmente beneficiar

al estado de Nueva York con un grupo de jóvenes graduados talentosos que llevarán a NY

a un nivel más alto en tecnología, arte, ciencia, escritura, entre otras carreras. Al pasar

esta legislación el estado estaría invirtiendo en un futuro más progresivo que fomenta la

educación sin barreras y que al mismo tiempo obtendrá beneficios económicos por medios

de taxes en los cuales una persona graduada de la universal provee más dinero por taxes

que una persona graduada de la preparatoria. Pasar esta legislación va a motivar a

muchos más jóvenes indocumentados que están en la escuela a terminar su educación y a

las personas que han tenido que dejar de estudiar por condiciones y experiencias únicas, el

acta del sueño los podría motivar para retomar su educación y obtener un mejor futuro. Se

dice que 9 de cada 10 latinos prioriza educación pero solamente 42% continúan

estudiando porque barreras económicas, al pasar esta ley, se estaría balanceando esta

barrera.” La opinión de activistas como Mateo Tabares, líder y organizador en la SHCNY

del grupo de jóvenes, no es normalmente bien atendida por las cúpulas del gobierno

Estadounidense. Como es normal en países como Estados Unidos, donde prevalecen las

ganancias y el beneficio de pocos, la opinión pública es manipulada y controlada por

gobiernos como el que ahora gobierna en el estado de Nueva York. En ocasiones como las

que ahora viven los inmigrantes estadounidenses de todas las edades, y no solo ahora sino

desde hace varias décadas atrás, criticismo nace en las comunidades más vulneradas y de

allí mismo se construye conciencia social. Es entonces cuando las poblaciones más

desfavorecidas se encaminan hacia un cambio social demandando a su gobierno por una

vida digna con justicia social; lo cual tendría que ser demandado al Estado como una

responsabilidad social que este mismo debería de asumir.

Minimum Wage March: NYC FIGHT FOR $15 In Pictures

This is a section from Tyko's Wassup this Week blog posted April 29th 2015. Link to complete Minimum Wage March: NYC FIGHT FOR $15 In Pictures 
http://tykos-wassupthisweek.blogspot.com/ 

America always has had a troubled relationship to the Communist Party, particularly after the onset of the Cold War.  Nevertheless, the Communist Party USA, which was established in 1919, played a not insignificant role during its first twenty years in the expansion of the American middle class. The Communist Party was a major actor in the founding of the first industrial unions which succeeded in raising wages for all workers;  it was a major defender of the civil rights of black Americans;  it opposed racism and pushed for integration in the workplace and in the community; and it was among the first organizations to push for women's equality and what today would be called "comparable worth" in the workplace.

However, after the late 1940s, a form of virulent anti-Communism emerged in America, characterized by the paranoid, demagogic and reckless Joseph McCarthy. From this time forward, words like "communism" and "socialism" would become interchangeable and synonymous with something "anti-American."  Americans of a wide range of political persuasion found it difficult to simply use these terms in any neutral way.

Even today, we encounter the distortion of political discourse begun by Joseph McCarthy in regard to words like "communism" and "socialism."   Take Aaron Klein's 2010 book on Obama, The Manchurian President: Barack Obama's Ties to Communists, Socialists and Other Anti-American Extremists.  Take the several examples of anti-Communist political rhetoric from a 2013 article by Marc Brodine.   Take Elspeth Reeve's 2013 article in The Wire on Ted Cruz (who I think sounds like McCarthy reborn), "Ted Cruz Sees Communists." 

Today's Communist Party USA is based in New York City, and its presence can be seen at most every social and political demonstration. Yet, in past blog posts in which I have covered demonstrations, I was conscious of a reluctance to focus on them. Such was the effectiveness of seventy years of conservative political demagoguery and its abuse of words like "socialism" and "communism."  Even I, a liberal and progressive, felt cowed and chose to avoid "conflict."

So in this, my extended commentary below my photograph of the flag of the New York State Communist Party, I begin to make amends.  The Communists belong to us and with us as much as anybody else.  I invite you to open this link to the Party's Constitution and read its Preamble. With the exception of our most rigid Republicans and conservatives, few could argue with what it says.  I conclude with the opening sentence of its final paragraph: "Our organizational practices are based on democracy, equality, unity of action and transparency."

“Peace and planet” marchers at UN: “No more nukes!”

NEW YORK - It was a picture perfect Sunday here on Apr. 26 for a peaceful march against the most violent instruments of war ever created by humanity: nuclear weapons. The demonstration was sponsored by Peace and Planet: Mobilization for a Nuclear-Free, Peaceful, Just & Sustainable World.

Nearly 8,000 thousand activists assembled at Union Squares Park's north side on Broadway at E 17th St. to listen to speakers and then marched up Third Ave. to the United Nations to deliver eight million signatures.

I walked through the crowds and talked with people from all parts of the world who all had one thing on their minds: peace.

Here is what they said,  in many cases, with passionate exhortation.

A retired New Yorker: "I am here to add my voice to this movement to abolish nuclear weapons...and I think it should start here in the United States." Standing next to him was a young woman from Kyoto, Japan. She knew very little English, but she uttered with great confidence, "No Nukes" and "Peace!"

Coyd, a young African American, taking pictures with his camera,said he was there "to make sure the world knows that we are all here!"

And Brooks Kelly, who was balancing his young daughter on his shoulders as he marched with a delegation from the U.S. Peace Council said, "I'm here for my children and their future." His friend, Joe, standing with him, added, "Yes! And it seems like the United States enters a new war every week."

Howard, another retired New Yorker, who said he wanted to put an end to defense spending, noted that "we need money for education, health care and a long list of other human needs..."

Gary, from Massachusetts Peace Action, which advocates the abolishment of nuclear weapons, said that on the day of his son's birth, June 12, 1982, the largest demonstration against nuclear weapons in United States history was held here in New York City and that following that demonstration there were treaties that limited the proliferation of nuclear weapons. "So,"  he continued, "protesting is worth it!"

Punctuating Gary's story later in the day was Diane Beeny from a New Jersey group called "The Hiroshima/Nagasaki Remembrance Committee." She was wearing  a vintage t-shirt distributed at the June 12, 1982 event. "I have been active in the anti-nuclear movement a long time," she said with obvious pride, adding, "For a peaceful, just and sustainable world we also need to fight against racism and economic inequality."

As the marchers assembled for their parade to the United Nations I spotted Vinie Burrows, the award-winning Broadway actress and women's activist, helping her peace associates hold up a huge banner. Burrows, who has fought innumerable battles for social justice, said it was "wonderful to be in solidarity with our Japanese brothers and sisters demanding no more war, no more nuclear weapons which result in human catastrophe like Hiroshima and Nagasaki."

Kasuya Takako from Shizuoka, Japan was helping to carry a huge, beautifully colored banner with her associates from the organization, "Shizuoka Mothers' Congress Liaison Committee."

Ms. Takako is its chairperson.

She described how her two grandchildren, Ririha, 10, and Honoba, 8, drew some of the lovely pictures featured on their banner.

Dancing to a disco beat in the middle of Union Square and enjoying the celebratory atmosphere with her fellow unionists, I met "Cettina." She is Vice-President of Local 255 of the United Electrical workers (UE) from Vermont. She said  they had come to New York to be "in solidarity with the Zenroren delegates from Japan" and her message was simply "No More Nukes!We are here especially because it is the 70th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima."

Another UE worker, Gary DeLuke from Local 170 in West Virginia, felt very strongly about his presence at the march:

"I am here to connect with my fellow workers around the world-to find common ground with them-peace is important for working people because war means workers are fighting workers-war is very rarely in their interest."

Listening attentively to the speakers was a young Japanese man from Tokyo. His name was

Yohei Nakamura, a 23-year old chairperson of a student committee from Tokyo. "I am here for peace," he said, as he handed me a bouquet of tiny paper hand-crafted origami peace doves which were omnipresent throughout the event.

Resting on a bench in Dag Hammarskjold plaza, a park near the United Nations where the march ended, I met Franco Omar, holding on to a pole with a poster from the Peace and Planet Mobilization. Omar is from the Dominican Republic and lives here in the city. "I am here because nuclear weapons scare me," he said. "We not only have to worry about the violent potential of nuclear weapons, but also about the serious problem of the disposal of nuclear waste. I believe nuclear waste causes cancer."

A French delegation from Marseille included 80 members wearing straw hats and carrying blue banners that read, "Le mouvement De La Paix (peace); Empechons Les Guerres, Cultivons La Paix (prevent wars, cultivate peace). Radia and her husband Michel, were especially concerned that support is generated for NPR-the non-proliferaion treaty.

Jarvis Tyner, New York District chair of the CPUSA was standing tall throughout the march, greeting demonstrators and observing the dynamics of this international outpouring for peace and against nuclear weapons. Tyner, who is  originally from Philadelphia and is a former union activist for the Teamsters, has just completed a pamphlet, "Black Lives Matter." For copies: NY@cpusa.org.

He said: "The ultimate weapon of terrorism is nuclear weapons. The Obama administration is fighting nuclear terrorism by negotiating with Iran."  He asked, "So, when are we-the United States-going to take the necessary steps to rid ourselves of nuclear weapons? How are you going to eliminate terrorism if we don't eliminate nuclear weapons?"

As the day wore on the weather became cloudy and cool with marchers drifting home to well-deserved dinners and  places to sit and relax. But one leaves such an event heavy with thoughts and understanding of what can be accomplished when people come together for a good purpose. One of the origami "birds" thrust into my hand had a message printed in it. It read,

"There is no excuse for nuclear weapons. Weapons of mass destruction can't be necessary for world peace.  From Japan, the only country to be hit by nuclear bombs."

Thousands in Harlem rally against gun violence

NEW YORK -
More than 2,000 predominantly Black and Latino working people gathered March 21 on Adam Clayton Powell Blvd. in Harlem in a militant protest against gun violence.

Organized by a broad coalition of labor and people's organizations, it was a powerful grassroots protest against the National Riffle Association and a warning to Congress that it must pass strong gun control legislation, including a ban on assault weapons.

George Gresham, president of Local 1199 of the Service Workers, captured the fighting spirit of the rally. In a message to all elected officials, Gresham said, "We are the people; do the right thing and we got your back. Do the wrong thing, we got your job."

MSNBC commentator, the Rev. Al Sharpton, addressing the NRA, declared: "We have the right to bear arms but we do not have the right to kill babies. The second amendment does not give you the right to have guns that can hold 30 rounds. We have to take back our streets here in New York and beyond."

When I asked a retired New York State Superior Court Judge-turned- community-organizer why she was attending the rally, she said, "The failure to pass a bill against gun violence is an acceptance of a policy of genocide against Blacks and Latinos by the authorities."

Leslie Cagan, who was part of the organizing team for the rally, said that the demonstration was particularly important in light of the Senate leadership having announced that day that the assault weapons ban would be left out of the legislative package. "We need Congress to find the backbone to stand up for communities and families here in Harlem and all over the country," Cagan declared.
The gathering took place in the shadow of the Adam Clayton Powell Harlem State office building and across the street from the historic Teresa Hotel where, in 1960, Fidel Castro stayed after having been offended by downtown hotels. Hundreds of workers representing many of the key unions in New York, were represented.

Among them were Local 1199, 32BJ of the SEIU. There was a contingent from Local 1180 of the Communications Workers of America. The Transport Workers Union, the United Federation of Teachers and the Professional Staff Congress were also there.

There were signs from "Nurses and Caregivers United to Stop Gun Violence. Other signs included, "Moms demand action to protect our kids," and a contingent of youth wearing t-shirts emblazoned with "I Am a Peace Movement" and "Youth Against Gun Violence."

Jackie Rowe Adams from Harlem Mothers S.A.V.E spoke with great passion about losing two of her children to gun violence. "I am in pain," she said tearfully. "Put the guns down and pick up the peace sign." There were several mothers who told heartfelt stories of how they lost their sons to gun violence.

There was also Darren Wagner, from Newton, Conn. expressing his community's full support to the people of New York in their fight for gun control.

Hazel Dukes, president of New York State's NAACP, spoke and called for the unity of black, brown and white, Jews, Gentiles, Protestants, and Muslims. "We all have to get ready for a real fight."
Shannon Watts, the founder of "Moms Demand Action," a national group of 80,000 advocating strong gun control, talked about her activities.

Michael Mulgrew, president of New York's UFT, told the crowd that his union was divesting from any stocks that have anything to do with guns.

An emergency room doctor from Harlem Hospital, Dr. Vanessa Gorospe, said, "Gun violence is second only to auto accidents as a cause of death. The number of children below five years old killed by guns are four times the number of police killed by guns."

Refusing to buy into attempts by the NRA and some other groups to scapegoat the mentally ill, she declared: "The mentally ill are four times more likely to be victims of violence rather than purveyors of violence."

The surprise guest at the rally who received a warm welcome was legendary jazz singer Tony Bennett. He spoke of how Harry Belafonte had convinced him to march in Selma and how it had a big impact on him. Bennett is now an outspoken advocate of an assault weapons ban.

The chair of the rally. the Rev. Jacque DeGraff of the Cannan Baptist Church, aroused the crowd as he introduced speakers. He emphasized, as did many other speakers, that it was necessary to keep pushing to pass Gov. Cuomo's gun control bill and that it is necessary to carry the fight to Washington. "We are going to change America, starting right here in Harlem," he declared.

There were many elected officials at the rally including two running for mayor. None were allowed to speak but their names were mentioned, John Lui, the first Chinese-American to run for Mayor, received the loudest applause.

In a related development, Mayor Bloomberg has announced that he is prepared to spend millions to run ads against those running for office who are opposed to gun control. One person at the rally told me that, in addition to controlling guns, Bloomberg needs to control the New York Police Department.

The department has come under heavy criticism for carrying out a notorious "stop and frisk" program which critics note singles out Blacks and Latinos but does nothing to control crime.

Estevan Nembhard, Manhattan organizer for the Communist Party, pointed out that "it is common knowledge in Harlem and in ghettos and barrios across the country; when the unemployment rate and drop-out rate goes up, so does desperation and violence. This rally is very important and will help but not enough was said about the root causes of violence; the lack of jobs, education, the presence of drugs and the absence of a real future for our youth."

Nembhard agreed that "Mayor Bloomberg is doing a good thing placing ads against the anti-gun control politicians across the country." But he took issue with the mayor on a host of what he considers related issues: "His (Bloomberg's) cut backs and policy of economic austerity for the working class, along with 'stop and frisk' and his sanction of brutality and high incarceration for youth instead of jobs and education, will continue to get the same negative results."

People at the rally like most New Yorkers, seemed to agree that good jobs and good quality education for all are necessary steps to ending gun violence on the streets.