Palestine Flares Up Again

Maribel Tineo interviews Nada Matta. Israel has been illegally driving Palestinians out of East Jerusalem. Palestinians have become more unified in their resistance to Israeli colonization. The recent violence began with Israel blocking the Damascus Gate and attacking worshippers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Palestinians launched rockets into Israel, and Israel responded by massively bombing Gaza. The best solution would be a single democratic state, but it might be more possible to achieve two states under international law. Recorded June 2, 2021.

Public Broadband

Ethan Oro and Daeha Ko of the NYC DSA Tech Action Group tell Maribel Tineo why they pursue broadband that is publicly owned and publicly operated. Internet is infrastructure. Private providers have done a bad job; they give their best services to wealthy areas and neglect poor ones. Public-private partnerships too have failed in NYC. Governance must be inclusive. A public system can bring fiber to all areas and into every home. Recorded May 27, 2021.

New York Health Albany Action

David Foote and Theresa Alt were among the seven from Tompkins County who drove to Albany to rally for passing the New York Health Act. We assembled in a park, held up traffic, marched to the legislature, and the bravest “died” on the hot pavement of the street. Both movement spokespeople and friendly legislators addressed us, including our Assemblymember Anna Kelles. Alas, the bill did not come to a vote, but there have been lively discussions among the advocates. Recorded June 7 and 24, 2021.

Schools Reopen in Ithaca

David Foote interviews Aurora Rojer. Middle and high school teachers are required to teach classes with some students in the room and others online — frustrating. This has motivated teachers to get more involved in their union. The union has been at the decision-making table, but it could be more effective. Standardized tests, cancelled last year, are coming back, but maybe could be eliminated in the future. Students are becoming more radical. Aurora is also chair of Ithaca DSA, which has groups working on multiple projects. Recorded April 16, 2021.

ETPA Comes to Council

Ithaca City Alderperson Ducson Nguyen discusses with Theresa Alt approaches to getting affordable housing in the City. The State now offers municipalities the right to opt in to rent stabilization for certain older, larger buildings. It’s called ETPA. The Planning and Economic Development Committee will vote on the first step, a study to prove we have the crisis we all know about. Recorded May 11, 2021.

Living Wage: Is It Feasible?

Ian Greer tells Theresa Alt how the Co-Lab at ILR mobilizes research resources at Cornell to work on practical matters. They include the question of setting the minimum wage in Tompkins County at the level of the local living wage. Big employers mostly oppose it, but a few favor it. Some small employers are for it, most are not. Most really don’t know what it will cost them. Economists show that raising minimum wages leads to little reduction in jobs. Raising them would especially help people of color. Loss of benefits is a smaller problem with a bigger raise in the minimum wage than with a stingy one. Recorded March 5, 2021.

New York City Reopens Schools

New York City teacher Daniel Jerome tells Maribel Tineo about reopening schools after COVID. The pandemic has hurt the mental health of teachers and especially pupils. As of early March elementary and middle schools are open 2 or 3 days a week. High Schools are still closed. Parents and teachers are being left out of the conversation. There is a push to increase distance learning permanently. The Movement of Rank & File Educators - MORE - addresses school issues but also social ones. Recorded March 4, 2021.

Immigrant Rights & Labor Success

David Foote interviews Suzy Lee. She sees the prevalent view of immigration policy as exaggerating the power of racism and nativism. The vast majority of Americans support policies like amnesty and are quite open to immigration. Historically borders were opened and closed in response to the needs of capital. Conservatives want flows of people without rights. Socialists are OK with flows of people but want rights for all. Labor needs to support immigrant rights, because only with such rights can immigrants be part of workplace organizing, and only when organized labor hits the bottom line will capital be forced to demand policy changes, including rights for immigrants. Recorded February 18, 2021. Aired February 23, 2021 -- 6:30-7:00 pm

Broadband for Everyone

Jason Leifer tells Maribel Tineo that there are two models of municipal broadband. A town can provide it or just own the infrastructure. The barriers are political. Dryden Town will own and operate its broadband. People will be able to take their complaints to the Town Board. Such new systems bring superior fiber technology to the home, not just on the road. Raleigh NC has such successful public broadband that private companies got the State legislature to prohibit other cities from doing it. Recorded April 23, 2021.

EcoSocialists Push Public Power

Augie Faller tells Theresa Alt how the EcoSocialist Working Group of Ithaca DSA is in a statewide coalition to push a NYS bill that would let the State generate power and supply it to customers. Another bill would ensure that this Power Authority is democratically run. It would move quickly to renewables, caring for the planet and the people rather than profit. Jason Cortell tells about existing municipal power systems such as in the Village of Groton, his home. The Working Group also will help people facing shutoffs. Recorded March 31, 2021.

Bronx Hunts Point Workers Win

René Rojas interviews Alex Hastings. Hunts Point is the biggest fruit and vegetable market in the country. Workers there struck over $1/hour and won. New York City DSA supported by joining the picket line and bringing needed supplies. Other workplaces too are organizing. The Biden administration and Democratic majorities may present opportunities for better labor legislation like the PRO Act and a better NLRB. Recorded February 5, 2021.

Taxing the Rich

Maribel Tineo interviews Jeremy Cohan about the campaign to levy higher taxes on the rich and especially on the super-rich in New York State’s budget. The increased revenue is necessary to achieve everything we want the state to do. People love the idea. The campaign is also a chance to build socialist power. Recorded January 17, 2021.

Tax the Rich

Tax fairness activist John Paraskevopoulos tells Theresa Alt about New York City DSA’s Tax the Rich campaign and the broader statewide coalition Invest in Our NY. The campaign aims to tax high incomes with a state income tax that is higher for the very rich and to tax investment income the same as wages. It would tax wealth by taxing inheritances as well as extending the property tax to property other than people’s homes. It would put more taxes on Wall Street. Recorded January 8, 2021.

ICE Gets Nasty: Immigrants in Danger

Patricia Rodriguez of the Tompkins County Immigrant Rights Coalition tells David Foote about ICE detention at Batavia near Buffalo. It has long been an unpleasant place, especially since COVID-19. However, ICE has recently used trickery to deport detainees surreptitiously. Only intervention from outside activists can win releases. Recorded December 21, 2020.

First Steps to Rent Control

Rebecca Garrard tells David Foote about New York State housing laws. New York City tenants had won protections long ago, but only in 2019 were upstate cities allowed to opt in to ETPA to win limits on rent increases, though only for buildings with six or more units built before 1974. It was a great step forward, but yet more laws are needed to protect tenants. Recorded December 8, 2020.

New York Health: Inside View

Maribel Tineo talks about the importance of passing the New York Health Act. She interviews Scott Marsland, a registered nurse, who talks about the interest nurses and all healthcare workers have in passing that bill. He has seen first hand the strengths of US healthcare, e.g. in trauma medicine, but also the weaknesses in primary care. Recorded October 23, 2020.