Passing the New York Health Act

Maribel Tineo speaks with Susan Beckley about the New York Health Act, which would establish single-payer health insurance in New York State, benefiting counties, school districts, small businesses, the uninsured, the underinsured, and anyone in danger of losing their coverage. We need to tell all our state elected officials that it is time to pass it. Recorded October 19, 2020.

Organizing Workers

Ellen David Friedman tells David Foote that Marx helps a labor organizer focus on reality. The nature of work is changing worldwide. A workforce constantly switching jobs presents a challenge for organizing. Both Ellen and David are involved with the new Emergency Workplace Organizing Committee. Recorded September 2, 2020.

Teachers Organize

David Foote interviews lifelong labor organizer Ellen David Friedman focusing on teachers’ struggles. A decade ago in Chicago the teachers’ union, led by the rank and file caucus, instead of just bargaining about salaries and working conditions turned to addressing social justice issues as well. The movement has spread around the country. In New York City the rank and file caucus has led the drive to keep schools closed while COVID-19 presents a danger to teachers, staff and pupils and their families alike. Ellen has also been working with workers locally, who are trying to organize in many sectors. Recorded September 2, 2020.

Housing People Can Afford

Theresa Alt and Conor Bednarski talk about their visions for affordable housing. Examples really exist. In the 20th century until the 1970s unions supported housing construction in New York City. The state gave money for mixed-income housing through Mitchell-Lama. Community land trusts allow people to buy their dwellings but not hugely profit when they sell them, so that the homes remain affordable. Vienna has been using tax money to build attractive housing since the 1920s. Recorded August 17, 2020.

Police Abolition

David Foote and Theresa Alt look at DSA’s support for police abolition. The endorsed website #8toAbolition gives a good framework: 1) Defund the police; 2) Demilitarize communities; 3) Remove police from schools; 4) Free people from prisons & jails; 5) Repeal laws criminalizing survival; 6) Invest in community self-governance; 7) Provide safe housing for everyone; 8) Invest in care, not cops. Some of these, like housing, represent big local problems. Recorded August 7, 2020.

Police Issues: Where We Go Next

René Rojas reemphasizes that people who emigrated from the South to Northern cities and faced unemployment were forced to turn to crime to survive. Policing and incarceration are a cheap response to lack of a safety net. Abolition will get rid of the symptom of racist policing; it will not improve the quality of life in poor communities. Shift money from police budgets to address the underlying problems, but police budgets won’t yield enough money. Recorded July 16, 2020.

Police Issues: How We Got Here

René Rojas tells Deirdre Silverman that today’s protests are much larger and more widespread than those of the civil rights era. They involve all levels of society, urban & rural. Police are not just doing what they always have done but are responding an economic crisis caused by deindustrialization and lack of jobs. Recorded July 8, 2020.

Tenants: Know Your Rights

Attorney Bill Niebel tells Theresa Alt what tenants should be aware of even before they sign a lease, as well as what their rights are to privacy and a habitable place to live while they are renting. If it should come to the threat of an eviction, there are many ways to forestall that. Help can come from the Ithaca Tenants Union and other sources Recorded June 22, 2020.

Kerala: People's Movement

Barbara Chasin and Dick Franke tell David Foote about the State of Kerala in southern India. For a few decades a communist party has been in charge. Health and literacy statistics are excellent for a low-income area. Power has devolved to local governments and assemblies. Food is grown locally and necessities manufactured locally, often by cooperatives. Both existing health clinics and trust in local government has helped Kerala weather the COVID-19 crisis. Recorded June 2, 2020.

Mutual Aid Tompkins

Juliana Garcia and Matt Stupak tell David Foote about Mutual Aid Tompkins. Volunteer community members help fill basic needs of nearby neighbors. Donations keep 31+ food cabinets throughout the county filled and provide direct cash aid. Just go to the website with needs or offers. It’s not charity but political work: making visible the oppressive structures that create food, health, financial and housing insecurity. Recorded May 10, 2020.

Rent Freeze in Ithaca

Genevieve Rand tells Aurora Rojer about the campaign to get Ithaca Common Council to ensure that renters who have lost their jobs will not owe back rent when the eviction moratorium ends in June. The main tactic was a phone zap with over 100 people calling Council for 3 days. However, Council refused to vote for it. The Ithaca Tenants Union was instrumental and is renters' best hope for the future. Recorded April 22, 2020.

COVID-19: Socialist Solution

Theresa Alt tells David Foote about what the country need before the next epidemic. Medicare for All would cover everyone for all medical, dental, vision and mental needs at less cost than the present system. Savings come from eliminating waste. The New York Health Act would do similar things in this state. Recorded April 11, 2020.

COVID-19: Socialist Response

René Rojas and Wayles Browne discuss the COVID-19 crisis. What has gone wrong? The crisis exposed the weaknesses of free markets. The housing and financial crisis of 2008 was another example. Will the government again bail out corporations? Or will it finally adopt a real solution — Medicare for All? Recorded March 21, 2020.