This is a version of the Campaigner Update from 2/26/09. It has been modified from the original email for your convenience.
Anyone reading the news about our economic situation has to be nervous. Billions of dollars are flowing from Washington DC, and much of it is sticking to the bank executives who got us in this mess in the first place. Across the country, state houses and local governments are trying to address massive deficits that threaten to gut essential services and throw many more people out of work. At the very time when government services and our social safety net are crucial to helping people, business lobbies and Republicans are pushing for reducing government spending.
Good think we in New York have the Working Families Party on our side. Not a day goes by without another article complaining about our ability to get things done. The truth is that we are an incredible success story, because of our ability to set the terms of debate on issues crucial to our members and allies. It is also true that the elections of 2009 will be a major test. To pass it, we need to expand the circle of members, supporters, and activists willing to build the WFP. Thank you for being one of them.
Contents
1. Keeping Score: Julissa Ferreras Wins, Debi Rose Uncertain
2. Bread & Butter: The Budget Fight, Saving Affordable Housing
3. Press Hits: WFP in the News
4. Survey Time: Your Opinions Count
1. Keeping Score: Julissa Ferreras Wins, Debi Rose Uncertain
It was celebration time in Queens this week as city council candidate Julissa Ferreras won in the Special Election for the 21st district. We played a crucial rule, leding our staff to help elect the first Latina elected official in Queens.
“Julissa Ferreras will be a force for New York’s working families in the City Council,” said a jubilant Jose Schiffino, member of the Queens Chapter of the Working Families Party. “We endorsed Ferreras because of her tireless work fighting for responsible development and better schools, and we’re proud to have helped put her over the top.”
Organizer Ted Fertik deserves special mention for his hard work as the campaign manager. Congratulations Ted! The WFP and its affiliates, including ACORN, the Hotel Trades Council, and SEIU locals 1199 and 32BJ, together knocked on over 20,000 doors to help put Ferreras across the finish line.
Julissa Ferreras said: “Without the Working Families Party, I never would have been able to get out my message of uniting our communities. This campaign was about fighting for all of us, and I was proud to have the WFP with me every step of the way.”
Meanwhile, the outcome of the Staten Island race for the 46th City Council District is still in doubt. Rose is 90 votes behind, but hundreds of ballots still remain to be counted. The final results are due to be released next Wednesday.
That being said, the campaign has brought together a an amazing group of campaign staff and volunteers. One of the key volunteers was Leticia Remauro the former Chair of the Staten Island Republican Party. WFP staff helped run the effort, led by Rachel Goodman. The spirit of this campaign was tremendous; hundreds of volunteers are waiting with bated breath for the final outcome.
2. Bread & Butter: The Budget Fight, Saving Affordable Housing
Support is building for Fair Share Tax Reform. A Siena College poll found that 77 percent support proposals “would raise the income tax rate on those making $1 million or more a year, while 59 percent support raising the rate for New Yorkers making $250,000 or more a year. Just 22 percent prefer additional budget cuts in education and health care over raising the rate.” The bill in support of FSTR has 18 co-sponsors in the State Senate. However, Governor Paterson and Senate Majority Leader Smith have mostly spoken against the plan to raise taxes on the wealthiest New Yorkers.
On March 5th rallies will be taking place across the state in support of FSTR. More than fifteen local coalitions are working through the www.fairsharereform.com site to coordinate efforts. The largest rally, to be held in Manhattan, will likely have more than 50,000 attendees. Please sign up for the event in your area here.
Why My School Should Not Close
One of the highlights of the campaign so far is an excellent video created by the Alliance for Quality Education: Why My School Should Not Close: Asia’s Story.
The Nation’s Katrina Vanden Heuvel wrote an excellent blog post connecting New York’s budget fight to similar struggles around the country:
[W]ith 46 states facing budget shortfalls it is clear that conservative orthodoxy is still alive and holding sway in too many statehouses. Too often, the emphasis isn’t on change we can believe in — but on the same old cutting of services that people need rather than raising taxes on the rich who have disproportionately benefited from fiscal policy over these many decades.
Budget pain might exist across the nation, but the New York Working Families Party is still the best model for how to fight unfair budget cuts: with a successful fusion party able to fight on the issues and electorally, twelve months a year.
3. Press Hits: WFP in the News
Dan – can you pick 2-3 items from bacon and eggs that make is look good?
4. Survey Time: Your Opinions Count
The Working Families Party is focused on three main issues right now, in addition to our election work. They are: Fair Share Tax Reform, Green Jobs/Green Homes, and the repeal of vacancy decontrol.
Please let us know which of these issues is highest on YOUR list of priorities, and what other issues we should be taking a look at. Take our Campaigner Update survey now.
