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.

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.