1 00:00:01,680 --> 00:00:16,040 Speaker 1: Cool Zone media. 2 00:00:19,040 --> 00:00:22,880 Speaker 2: This is it could happen here. I'm Garrison Davis, reporting 3 00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:27,520 Speaker 2: from the New York State Capital. In the early early 4 00:00:27,640 --> 00:00:30,960 Speaker 2: morning of Wednesday, February twenty fifth, I rode on a 5 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:33,720 Speaker 2: bus from the snowy streets of the Financial District in 6 00:00:33,720 --> 00:00:37,479 Speaker 2: Lower Manhattan up to Albany, the New York State Capitol. 7 00:00:38,280 --> 00:00:42,360 Speaker 2: The bus arrived at the Armory Arena shortly before ten am. 8 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:47,200 Speaker 2: Inside there was coffee and breakfast, signs and posters tax 9 00:00:47,280 --> 00:00:50,800 Speaker 2: the Rich, embroidered beanies, and over a thousand New Yorkers 10 00:00:51,040 --> 00:00:53,680 Speaker 2: gathered to tell Kathy Hochel and the New York State 11 00:00:53,760 --> 00:00:58,480 Speaker 2: Legislature that it's time to tax the rich. After recovering 12 00:00:58,600 --> 00:01:01,800 Speaker 2: from the morning bus ride, a rally was held in 13 00:01:01,880 --> 00:01:06,480 Speaker 2: the Armory Arena hosted by New York City councilmench Osay, 14 00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:11,560 Speaker 2: with speakers from local unions like the Nurses Association ten 15 00:01:11,640 --> 00:01:17,399 Speaker 2: ninety nine SCIU, the Taxi Workers Alliance, Immigrant Justice organizations, childcare, 16 00:01:17,520 --> 00:01:21,120 Speaker 2: housing and education advocates, as well as the co chair 17 00:01:21,240 --> 00:01:25,560 Speaker 2: of the New York City DSA. Following the speeches, the 18 00:01:25,600 --> 00:01:30,119 Speaker 2: crowd practiced chants and protest songs ahead of the march 19 00:01:30,280 --> 00:01:34,840 Speaker 2: to the Capitol. The rally at the Armory just wrapped up. 20 00:01:35,840 --> 00:01:39,920 Speaker 2: Now a thousand or so people are marching on Washington 21 00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:58,760 Speaker 2: towards the State Capitol Building in Albany. 22 00:01:48,360 --> 00:02:01,320 Speaker 3: The crowd is. 23 00:02:01,280 --> 00:02:04,560 Speaker 2: Now in front of the Legislative building. There's some New 24 00:02:04,640 --> 00:02:08,519 Speaker 2: York taxi cabs honking outside. The New York d Essay 25 00:02:08,639 --> 00:02:09,360 Speaker 2: marching band. 26 00:02:10,280 --> 00:02:19,560 Speaker 3: Why we are in, we need, I need, we are 27 00:02:19,639 --> 00:02:23,720 Speaker 3: the workers, A little bit matter we need. 28 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:30,880 Speaker 2: Wound is twelve thirty and the crowd is now approaching 29 00:02:30,919 --> 00:02:34,680 Speaker 2: the New York State Capitol Building. The crowd is stretching 30 00:02:34,760 --> 00:02:38,480 Speaker 2: halfway around the square in front of all these government buildings, 31 00:02:38,880 --> 00:02:43,320 Speaker 2: and still marching forward. I'm about to enter the State 32 00:02:43,639 --> 00:02:47,560 Speaker 2: Capitol Building. After about a twenty five thirty minute march 33 00:02:48,160 --> 00:02:52,520 Speaker 2: and some chanting outside, A steady stream of people are 34 00:02:52,720 --> 00:02:55,399 Speaker 2: now flowing into the Capitol. 35 00:03:00,280 --> 00:03:03,200 Speaker 1: You guys got the exit. We cannot take any more. 36 00:03:04,880 --> 00:03:05,240 Speaker 3: Okay. 37 00:03:05,320 --> 00:03:08,120 Speaker 2: I have made it inside the Capitol building barely. The 38 00:03:08,200 --> 00:03:12,000 Speaker 2: last person omitted in the top security section by the 39 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:14,760 Speaker 2: main entrance. But now I'm down at the lower level, 40 00:03:14,919 --> 00:03:18,400 Speaker 2: the concourse, and as you can hear, a massive crowd 41 00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:24,280 Speaker 2: is approaching the security gate in the lower concourse, taking 42 00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:29,960 Speaker 2: up the entirety of that corridor and just now have 43 00:03:30,600 --> 00:03:38,240 Speaker 2: entered the security gate area of the capital. We'll return 44 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:42,600 Speaker 2: to Socialist January sixth later this episode, but first some 45 00:03:42,720 --> 00:03:46,160 Speaker 2: context on why this protest is happening and what it's 46 00:03:46,280 --> 00:03:50,320 Speaker 2: hoping to achieve. On January first, Democratic Socialists or On 47 00:03:50,440 --> 00:03:53,640 Speaker 2: Mamdani was sworn in as mayor of New York City. 48 00:03:54,080 --> 00:03:57,880 Speaker 2: But you don't magically get your social democracy paradise once 49 00:03:57,920 --> 00:04:01,040 Speaker 2: a new mayor is sworn in. Getting elected and taking 50 00:04:01,080 --> 00:04:04,200 Speaker 2: power is just the first step. Governor Hokel has been 51 00:04:04,280 --> 00:04:08,400 Speaker 2: resistant to raising taxes, and Zoron has said he's open 52 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:12,120 Speaker 2: to other funding avenues, but that a small tax increase 53 00:04:12,160 --> 00:04:15,320 Speaker 2: on the wealthiest New Yorkers and corporations would be the 54 00:04:15,320 --> 00:04:19,960 Speaker 2: fairest method of funding his agenda. Since taking office, Mayor 55 00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:24,000 Speaker 2: Mamdani has decided to focus on governing and fostering a 56 00:04:24,080 --> 00:04:28,720 Speaker 2: working relationship with Kathy Hokeel, rather than directing energy towards 57 00:04:28,760 --> 00:04:33,640 Speaker 2: another uphill electoral battle that would create a purely adversarial 58 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:37,760 Speaker 2: relationship between the mayor and the Governor, making any concessions 59 00:04:37,880 --> 00:04:42,320 Speaker 2: much more difficult in the interim. But external pressure still 60 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:45,240 Speaker 2: must be applied. To Governor Hokel in order to secure 61 00:04:45,279 --> 00:04:49,279 Speaker 2: the funding for the Mamdani mandate that voters delivered in 62 00:04:49,360 --> 00:04:53,760 Speaker 2: the twenty twenty five election. So rather than discarding the 63 00:04:53,800 --> 00:04:58,680 Speaker 2: grassroots organizing apparatus that got Mamdani elected, after the election, 64 00:04:59,160 --> 00:05:02,679 Speaker 2: that apparatus and its network of volunteers spun off into 65 00:05:02,720 --> 00:05:07,279 Speaker 2: a new organization called Our Time, which, in coordination with 66 00:05:07,320 --> 00:05:10,839 Speaker 2: the New York City DSA, organizes door to door canvassing, 67 00:05:10,960 --> 00:05:14,560 Speaker 2: phone banking, community events, and rallies to win an affordable 68 00:05:14,640 --> 00:05:20,279 Speaker 2: New York City and help enact Mamdani's policy agenda. Achieving 69 00:05:20,400 --> 00:05:24,880 Speaker 2: Mamdani's campaign promises was already going to be a tall task, 70 00:05:25,480 --> 00:05:29,440 Speaker 2: but then early into the new administration, the Mayor's office 71 00:05:29,440 --> 00:05:33,880 Speaker 2: and comptroller discovered the city was facing an unexpected financial 72 00:05:33,920 --> 00:05:38,000 Speaker 2: crisis in the form of a twelve billion dollar deficit 73 00:05:38,360 --> 00:05:42,680 Speaker 2: left by former Mayor Eric Adams. This budget crisis was 74 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:46,400 Speaker 2: due to years of financial mismanagement and the under budgeting 75 00:05:46,480 --> 00:05:51,919 Speaker 2: of essential services like rental and cash assistance, shelters, health insurance, 76 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:56,280 Speaker 2: and special education. While in office, Eric Adams covered up 77 00:05:56,320 --> 00:05:59,839 Speaker 2: this massive budget deficit, leaving the gaps grossly under stated. 78 00:06:00,680 --> 00:06:03,320 Speaker 2: Gaps that were made worse by divestment in New York 79 00:06:03,360 --> 00:06:07,560 Speaker 2: City by the state under former Governor Andrew Cuomo. Since 80 00:06:07,600 --> 00:06:10,520 Speaker 2: the financial crisis of the seventies, the New York City 81 00:06:10,520 --> 00:06:14,120 Speaker 2: mayor has been required by law to have a balanced budget. 82 00:06:14,839 --> 00:06:18,599 Speaker 2: So rather than sweeping this under the rug by continuing 83 00:06:18,600 --> 00:06:22,520 Speaker 2: to cook the city's books like his predecessor, Zoron chose 84 00:06:22,560 --> 00:06:26,159 Speaker 2: complete transparency about the crisis he has inherited and how 85 00:06:26,200 --> 00:06:29,719 Speaker 2: his administration will attempt to solve it. Zoron signed an 86 00:06:29,760 --> 00:06:33,359 Speaker 2: executive order to designate chief savings officers in every city 87 00:06:33,400 --> 00:06:39,200 Speaker 2: agency to quote streamlined processes and eliminate waste. Through his 88 00:06:39,279 --> 00:06:43,240 Speaker 2: relationship with Governor Kathy Hockel, the mayor secured one point 89 00:06:43,279 --> 00:06:47,640 Speaker 2: five billion dollars in state aid last month. That money, 90 00:06:47,760 --> 00:06:52,359 Speaker 2: combined with higher than expected Wall Street revenues, new savings measures, 91 00:06:52,400 --> 00:06:56,440 Speaker 2: and eliminating inefficiencies and bureaucratic waste, have shrunk the deficit 92 00:06:56,680 --> 00:07:01,279 Speaker 2: to five point five billion, still a painful gap to fill. 93 00:07:02,120 --> 00:07:06,560 Speaker 2: In the preliminary budget unveiled February seventeenth, the mayor laid 94 00:07:06,560 --> 00:07:10,600 Speaker 2: out two paths to close this gap. The first is 95 00:07:10,640 --> 00:07:14,520 Speaker 2: a two percent income tax increase on new Yorker's making 96 00:07:14,600 --> 00:07:17,640 Speaker 2: over a million dollars a year, as well as a 97 00:07:17,760 --> 00:07:21,640 Speaker 2: tax on the most profitable corporations. If that doesn't happen, 98 00:07:22,080 --> 00:07:24,240 Speaker 2: the city will be forced to use the limited tools 99 00:07:24,240 --> 00:07:27,240 Speaker 2: at its disposal by rating the Rainy Day Fund and 100 00:07:27,320 --> 00:07:31,800 Speaker 2: raising city property tax by nine point five percent. Mayor 101 00:07:31,840 --> 00:07:35,320 Speaker 2: Mamdani says this second option is one of last resort, 102 00:07:35,920 --> 00:07:39,000 Speaker 2: as the property tax is the only mechanism for revenue 103 00:07:39,120 --> 00:07:43,480 Speaker 2: the city has complete control of. The preliminary budget has 104 00:07:43,480 --> 00:07:47,040 Speaker 2: face criticism for falling short of promises to increase funding 105 00:07:47,160 --> 00:07:50,440 Speaker 2: to parks and libraries. The library budget is zero point 106 00:07:50,640 --> 00:07:54,920 Speaker 2: one point one percent less than Mamdani campaigned on, and 107 00:07:54,960 --> 00:07:58,200 Speaker 2: the park budget remains flat rather than boosting it to 108 00:07:58,320 --> 00:08:01,120 Speaker 2: one percent of the total budget as hope. Though this 109 00:08:01,240 --> 00:08:05,400 Speaker 2: is still preliminary and subject to change. This budget does 110 00:08:05,440 --> 00:08:10,040 Speaker 2: contain five hundred million dollars for new programmatic spending, including 111 00:08:10,160 --> 00:08:12,920 Speaker 2: new funding for shelter services, mental health care, and the 112 00:08:12,960 --> 00:08:17,200 Speaker 2: Emergency Food program, and cancels in Eric Adams's plan to 113 00:08:17,240 --> 00:08:22,040 Speaker 2: add five thousand more NYPD officers, though as promised, their 114 00:08:22,080 --> 00:08:26,600 Speaker 2: budget remains effectively the same. Mayor Mumdani says that funding 115 00:08:26,680 --> 00:08:29,960 Speaker 2: for His proposed Department of Community Safety will be covered 116 00:08:30,040 --> 00:08:34,160 Speaker 2: in the executive budget later this April. A number of 117 00:08:34,240 --> 00:08:38,360 Speaker 2: Mamdani's key policies don't relate to the city budget. For example, 118 00:08:38,679 --> 00:08:41,480 Speaker 2: making buses free will require deals with the state and 119 00:08:41,520 --> 00:08:45,640 Speaker 2: the MTA, But Mamdani just appointed six new people to 120 00:08:45,760 --> 00:08:49,320 Speaker 2: the Rent Guidelines Board, making a rent freeze more likely. 121 00:08:50,000 --> 00:08:52,480 Speaker 2: In his second week in office, Mdonnie announced a partnership 122 00:08:52,480 --> 00:08:55,440 Speaker 2: with the governor to provide universal childcare for kids under 123 00:08:55,520 --> 00:08:58,000 Speaker 2: five in New York State and in New York City, 124 00:08:58,320 --> 00:09:02,120 Speaker 2: expand pre K, the free the three K program, and 125 00:09:02,280 --> 00:09:05,760 Speaker 2: free childcare for two year olds, which the state will 126 00:09:05,760 --> 00:09:26,280 Speaker 2: fully fund for the first two years. On top of 127 00:09:26,320 --> 00:09:29,360 Speaker 2: the city budget crisis, the tax the Rich protests are 128 00:09:29,480 --> 00:09:32,560 Speaker 2: also in the backdrop of Trump's tax cuts and the 129 00:09:32,600 --> 00:09:36,960 Speaker 2: dismantling of the social safety net, Calls to tax the richer, 130 00:09:37,320 --> 00:09:40,440 Speaker 2: calls to fund local services, and whether the massive cuts 131 00:09:40,520 --> 00:09:44,760 Speaker 2: to snap food stamps and Medicaid in Trump's One Big, 132 00:09:44,840 --> 00:09:48,679 Speaker 2: Beautiful Bill. The Tax the Rich campaign writes, quote, if 133 00:09:48,679 --> 00:09:51,560 Speaker 2: we don't tax the writch, millions of New Yorkers will 134 00:09:51,559 --> 00:09:55,400 Speaker 2: lose healthcare or go hungry. New York can afford to 135 00:09:55,480 --> 00:10:00,559 Speaker 2: stand up to Trump's agenda. At the Albany rally, City 136 00:10:00,600 --> 00:10:05,120 Speaker 2: Councilman gi Osa spoke about how New York State has 137 00:10:05,200 --> 00:10:10,920 Speaker 2: over one hundred billionaires and New York actually gained thirteen 138 00:10:11,080 --> 00:10:16,120 Speaker 2: thousand millionaires in twenty twenty four alone. This fight to 139 00:10:16,280 --> 00:10:19,120 Speaker 2: tax the rich is a fight that the unions are 140 00:10:19,320 --> 00:10:23,559 Speaker 2: united on, as demonstrated by the attendees and representatives present 141 00:10:23,720 --> 00:10:25,000 Speaker 2: at the Albany rally. 142 00:10:25,280 --> 00:10:29,040 Speaker 4: Everyone needs to feel the love. United Auto Orders Region 143 00:10:29,160 --> 00:10:40,000 Speaker 4: nine a professional sagress day. We gotta give this one 144 00:10:40,000 --> 00:10:41,640 Speaker 4: a shout out because they tails came off of a 145 00:10:41,880 --> 00:10:46,520 Speaker 4: historic strike and a huge, huge Contractman New York State 146 00:10:46,640 --> 00:11:00,640 Speaker 4: Nurses is a maidan Jesseiuni network that Soctor's Council, the 147 00:11:00,800 --> 00:11:05,120 Speaker 4: New York taxi order, five milli Yorkers and nine of 148 00:11:05,160 --> 00:11:11,000 Speaker 4: your child here fully education the new are earning dam 149 00:11:11,200 --> 00:11:14,120 Speaker 4: with Martre, but we really appreciate your here. And when 150 00:11:14,160 --> 00:11:18,559 Speaker 4: the coalition this strong made no mistake. We are not 151 00:11:18,720 --> 00:11:23,439 Speaker 4: to overcome the political power of the billionaire class. 152 00:11:25,800 --> 00:11:30,080 Speaker 1: Are not saferish or millionar we get more. 153 00:11:33,640 --> 00:11:36,559 Speaker 2: This coalition went up to Albany pushing for a handful 154 00:11:36,640 --> 00:11:41,319 Speaker 2: of bills currently under consideration. The first is a progressive 155 00:11:41,440 --> 00:11:45,200 Speaker 2: state income tax bill, which will create new tax brackets 156 00:11:45,240 --> 00:11:48,640 Speaker 2: starting at one million dollars, so that as people earn 157 00:11:48,920 --> 00:11:52,240 Speaker 2: millions more dollars in income, they pay a slightly higher 158 00:11:52,280 --> 00:11:55,880 Speaker 2: share in taxes. This would raise an estimated twenty one 159 00:11:56,040 --> 00:12:00,480 Speaker 2: billion dollars annually. The second bill is called the Fair 160 00:12:00,640 --> 00:12:04,480 Speaker 2: Share Act, which seeks to address how New York City 161 00:12:04,800 --> 00:12:08,760 Speaker 2: essentially charges a flat income tax if you earn fifty 162 00:12:08,800 --> 00:12:13,040 Speaker 2: thousand dollars or five million dollars, where you pay practically 163 00:12:13,120 --> 00:12:17,360 Speaker 2: the same rate of roughly three point nine percent. The 164 00:12:17,400 --> 00:12:20,880 Speaker 2: Fair Share Act seeks to add a two percent surcharge 165 00:12:21,000 --> 00:12:24,760 Speaker 2: to those with incomes of over one million dollars per year, 166 00:12:25,120 --> 00:12:29,480 Speaker 2: which would raise about four billion dollars annually. The third 167 00:12:29,480 --> 00:12:32,520 Speaker 2: bill is a tax on the most profitable corporations, a 168 00:12:32,559 --> 00:12:35,720 Speaker 2: corporate tax bill ensuring companies doing business in New York 169 00:12:35,760 --> 00:12:40,200 Speaker 2: State with over two point five million in profits pay 170 00:12:40,240 --> 00:12:43,560 Speaker 2: what they owe in taxes. This proposal would raise seven 171 00:12:43,720 --> 00:12:47,679 Speaker 2: billion dollars annually. And finally, a bill which could be 172 00:12:47,720 --> 00:12:50,400 Speaker 2: funded by some of the former tax bills, is the 173 00:12:50,559 --> 00:12:54,800 Speaker 2: Universal Childcare Act, which would ensure free, year round, full 174 00:12:54,920 --> 00:12:59,280 Speaker 2: day childcare without means testing and guarantee that all childcare 175 00:12:59,320 --> 00:13:03,160 Speaker 2: workers are paid a genuine living wage. As of now, 176 00:13:03,280 --> 00:13:06,760 Speaker 2: twenty two New York City Council people have signed on 177 00:13:07,000 --> 00:13:10,360 Speaker 2: to tax the rich by supporting the Fair Share Act. 178 00:13:11,000 --> 00:13:15,320 Speaker 2: Only four more council people are needed to reach a majority. 179 00:13:15,600 --> 00:13:19,440 Speaker 2: So with that context, let's return to the Albany protest, 180 00:13:19,920 --> 00:13:23,960 Speaker 2: both outside and inside the New York Capitol Building. 181 00:13:24,360 --> 00:13:29,200 Speaker 3: Why theyres make them pay, we pay taxes? Why don't 182 00:13:29,240 --> 00:13:33,559 Speaker 3: pay billionaires? Make them pay we pay taxes? Why all 183 00:13:33,640 --> 00:13:38,600 Speaker 3: day billionaires? 184 00:13:40,320 --> 00:13:44,920 Speaker 2: I was the last person to be allowed into the 185 00:13:45,000 --> 00:13:50,160 Speaker 2: Capitol building. There is hundreds, hundreds and hundreds of people 186 00:13:50,640 --> 00:13:56,480 Speaker 2: outside now trying to get in to tell the politicians, representatives, 187 00:13:56,520 --> 00:13:59,960 Speaker 2: and the governor that they want to tax the rich. 188 00:14:01,440 --> 00:14:04,720 Speaker 2: I am in the lower concourse of the Capitol Building, 189 00:14:05,640 --> 00:14:08,960 Speaker 2: barely getting through security on the top floor because there's 190 00:14:08,960 --> 00:14:12,320 Speaker 2: so many people, not because I was inherently dangerous, But 191 00:14:12,440 --> 00:14:15,200 Speaker 2: now a large, large group of people are coming in 192 00:14:15,320 --> 00:14:19,320 Speaker 2: via the lower concourse, about to reach the main security 193 00:14:19,320 --> 00:14:22,840 Speaker 2: gate at the lower level. Looks like a few hundred 194 00:14:22,880 --> 00:14:28,520 Speaker 2: down this corridor about to enter the Capitol, holding signs 195 00:14:28,560 --> 00:14:34,560 Speaker 2: taking up the entire entire passageway. It's the Cooney group. 196 00:14:34,680 --> 00:14:44,200 Speaker 2: It is the public University Union that has appeared. Later 197 00:14:44,280 --> 00:14:48,360 Speaker 2: that day, I interviewed someone with PSC, the Cooney staff Union. 198 00:14:48,880 --> 00:14:52,800 Speaker 5: I'm Liz Stevenson. I am an academic advisor at City Tech, 199 00:14:52,840 --> 00:14:55,840 Speaker 5: which means I'm a member of the Psquney Union. 200 00:14:56,640 --> 00:14:58,640 Speaker 2: Why is a PC here in Alminy today? 201 00:14:59,200 --> 00:15:02,880 Speaker 5: So PSC, I'm on the Legislative Committee of the PSC, 202 00:15:03,040 --> 00:15:05,320 Speaker 5: and many folks from our committee as well as other 203 00:15:05,400 --> 00:15:08,360 Speaker 5: PSC members have come to Albany because we really want 204 00:15:08,400 --> 00:15:11,240 Speaker 5: to see fair taxation in New York State. You know, 205 00:15:11,320 --> 00:15:14,520 Speaker 5: right now, a lot of millionaires and billionaires are not 206 00:15:14,640 --> 00:15:17,880 Speaker 5: paying their fair share, especially as a result of Trump's 207 00:15:17,960 --> 00:15:20,880 Speaker 5: tax cuts, and that means that we're not seeing the 208 00:15:20,920 --> 00:15:23,840 Speaker 5: services we need, and certainly at CuNi, we're not seeing 209 00:15:23,880 --> 00:15:26,800 Speaker 5: the funding that we need to make our schools quality 210 00:15:26,840 --> 00:15:31,840 Speaker 5: schools with safe and healthy facilities. Students are not getting 211 00:15:31,880 --> 00:15:35,480 Speaker 5: the services that they need. Class sizes are large, so 212 00:15:35,600 --> 00:15:37,600 Speaker 5: we want to see more full time faculty. We want 213 00:15:37,640 --> 00:15:40,000 Speaker 5: to see more academic advisors, we want to see more 214 00:15:40,000 --> 00:15:42,840 Speaker 5: mental health counselors, and just generally we want to see 215 00:15:42,840 --> 00:15:45,600 Speaker 5: better facilities for CuNi. And we know that the only 216 00:15:45,640 --> 00:15:48,800 Speaker 5: way that we can get the funding that we need 217 00:15:49,280 --> 00:15:52,280 Speaker 5: for many services, including CuNi, is by taxing the rich. 218 00:15:52,360 --> 00:15:54,000 Speaker 5: We really need to raise revenue in the state. 219 00:15:55,040 --> 00:15:59,280 Speaker 2: So there's the three tax bills, the income, the corporate, 220 00:15:59,720 --> 00:16:02,840 Speaker 2: and the New York City specific one. But on the 221 00:16:03,600 --> 00:16:06,880 Speaker 2: PC flyers, it's also another bill or act that is 222 00:16:06,920 --> 00:16:10,080 Speaker 2: being pushed for specifically to help Kooney get more funding. 223 00:16:10,200 --> 00:16:12,640 Speaker 2: Could you talk about that aspect of the fight here. 224 00:16:12,960 --> 00:16:13,280 Speaker 3: Sure. 225 00:16:13,520 --> 00:16:17,840 Speaker 5: A little known former state legislator named Zoron Mamdani wrote 226 00:16:17,880 --> 00:16:21,040 Speaker 5: this bill called the Repair Act. And what the Repair 227 00:16:21,120 --> 00:16:24,640 Speaker 5: Act would do is allow the state to collect property 228 00:16:24,680 --> 00:16:29,320 Speaker 5: taxes from NYU and Colombia and then use that money 229 00:16:29,360 --> 00:16:34,760 Speaker 5: to fund public higher education like QUNI. So right now, 230 00:16:34,800 --> 00:16:38,480 Speaker 5: as technically as nonprofits, NYU and Colombia do not pay 231 00:16:38,520 --> 00:16:42,320 Speaker 5: any property tax. In many places around the country, there 232 00:16:42,320 --> 00:16:45,840 Speaker 5: are similar institutions that still make what we call pilots, 233 00:16:45,880 --> 00:16:48,960 Speaker 5: so payments in lieu of taxes, and Hyun Columbia don't 234 00:16:49,000 --> 00:16:53,119 Speaker 5: even do that. So it would take a constitutional amendment 235 00:16:53,200 --> 00:16:57,040 Speaker 5: at the state level to require them to pay property taxes, 236 00:16:57,240 --> 00:16:59,720 Speaker 5: and that's what the Repair Act would allow us to do. 237 00:17:00,240 --> 00:17:03,000 Speaker 5: Have to go through multiple legislatures in order to get 238 00:17:03,000 --> 00:17:06,840 Speaker 5: a constitutional amendment that would require them to pay property taxes. 239 00:17:06,920 --> 00:17:08,760 Speaker 5: That's another way to raise revenue for CUNY. 240 00:17:09,920 --> 00:17:12,960 Speaker 2: Liz also told me that PSC is fighting for a 241 00:17:13,040 --> 00:17:16,440 Speaker 2: quote unquote new deal for Cooney because for the past 242 00:17:16,440 --> 00:17:21,280 Speaker 2: few decades there's been divestment in public higher education across 243 00:17:21,320 --> 00:17:24,800 Speaker 2: the country and especially in New York. Under Cuomo, Cooney 244 00:17:24,880 --> 00:17:28,479 Speaker 2: suffered from defunding and is now currently suffering from chronic 245 00:17:28,600 --> 00:17:34,280 Speaker 2: understaffing and facilities in decay. All while student enrollment has increased, 246 00:17:34,800 --> 00:17:38,600 Speaker 2: teachers have resigned or retired and not been replaced, and 247 00:17:38,720 --> 00:17:42,320 Speaker 2: so PSC is fighting for a renewed investment to hire 248 00:17:42,359 --> 00:17:45,960 Speaker 2: more full time staff and repair and maintain facilities to 249 00:17:46,040 --> 00:17:50,159 Speaker 2: improve not just their working conditions but their students' learning conditions. 250 00:17:50,720 --> 00:17:52,680 Speaker 2: A part of the new deal for Cooney, is also 251 00:17:52,800 --> 00:17:55,720 Speaker 2: fighting for the first sixty credits to be free for 252 00:17:55,840 --> 00:18:16,760 Speaker 2: all students. Once the crowd outside managed to find a 253 00:18:16,800 --> 00:18:21,040 Speaker 2: way to enter the Capitol through the alternative entrances, groups 254 00:18:21,160 --> 00:18:25,240 Speaker 2: split off to march around the interior perimeter while others 255 00:18:25,400 --> 00:18:28,719 Speaker 2: lobbied legislators. Lunch was set up on the third floor. 256 00:18:29,119 --> 00:18:32,000 Speaker 2: After a quick bite, even more people dispersed through the 257 00:18:32,040 --> 00:18:35,440 Speaker 2: Capital Complex to hand out flyers to legislators and their staff, 258 00:18:35,840 --> 00:18:38,520 Speaker 2: while small groups lobbied door to door in the Legislative 259 00:18:38,560 --> 00:18:43,560 Speaker 2: Office building and organizers attended private meetings. The action was 260 00:18:43,600 --> 00:18:47,240 Speaker 2: timed to catch politicians and Capital staff while they were 261 00:18:47,320 --> 00:18:50,280 Speaker 2: on their own lunch break as they walked around the 262 00:18:50,320 --> 00:18:54,280 Speaker 2: Empire State Plaza and eventually back to the chambers. By 263 00:18:54,320 --> 00:18:59,479 Speaker 2: early afternoon, as a grand finale, hundreds of people packed 264 00:18:59,480 --> 00:19:02,600 Speaker 2: the core door or from the Legislative Offices to the 265 00:19:02,680 --> 00:19:06,359 Speaker 2: Assembly and Senate, lining both sides of the hallway with 266 00:19:06,800 --> 00:19:11,080 Speaker 2: chanting union members and organizers handing flyers to politicians and 267 00:19:11,119 --> 00:19:16,399 Speaker 2: staff who hurried through the corridor. Supportive Assembly members cheered 268 00:19:16,440 --> 00:19:31,639 Speaker 2: on the protest as they walked through the tunnel. That 269 00:19:31,800 --> 00:19:38,040 Speaker 2: is the current state of the tax the rich corridors. 270 00:19:39,040 --> 00:19:39,760 Speaker 1: Inside? 271 00:19:39,920 --> 00:19:42,960 Speaker 3: Are you onside? 272 00:19:43,160 --> 00:19:44,320 Speaker 1: Are you on. 273 00:19:45,960 --> 00:19:49,560 Speaker 6: Side side? 274 00:19:49,720 --> 00:19:56,120 Speaker 2: Are you? Around three pm, the crowd left the corridor, 275 00:19:56,600 --> 00:20:00,159 Speaker 2: boarded buses outside the Capital Complex and rode back to 276 00:20:00,240 --> 00:20:05,119 Speaker 2: New York City, just in time to catch the sunset. Meanwhile, 277 00:20:05,320 --> 00:20:09,000 Speaker 2: at a press conference on pre K and three K enrollment, 278 00:20:09,680 --> 00:20:14,119 Speaker 2: Mayor Zoron Mamdani was asked about his absence from the 279 00:20:14,200 --> 00:20:16,199 Speaker 2: Albany Tax the Rich rally? 280 00:20:16,720 --> 00:20:18,399 Speaker 7: Hey may Or how you doing, Hey Jay? There's a 281 00:20:18,520 --> 00:20:21,760 Speaker 7: tax the Rich rally today in Aubany. You're not there, obviously, 282 00:20:22,240 --> 00:20:24,640 Speaker 7: even though taxing the rich has been one of your 283 00:20:24,840 --> 00:20:27,800 Speaker 7: consistent calls to raise revenue for the city. So I 284 00:20:27,880 --> 00:20:29,360 Speaker 7: wondering if you could talk a little bit about why 285 00:20:29,400 --> 00:20:31,840 Speaker 7: you decided not to be there. Were you worried about 286 00:20:31,880 --> 00:20:35,560 Speaker 7: irking the governor on this issue? And secondly, do you 287 00:20:35,640 --> 00:20:39,280 Speaker 7: think it disappoints people in this movement that you've called 288 00:20:39,320 --> 00:20:42,280 Speaker 7: for that, but you're not necessarily at this rally. 289 00:20:42,400 --> 00:20:45,119 Speaker 6: So I make it clear time and time again that 290 00:20:45,200 --> 00:20:47,800 Speaker 6: I believe in the importance of taxing the wealthiest New 291 00:20:47,840 --> 00:20:49,400 Speaker 6: Yorkers that little bit more, as well as the most 292 00:20:49,440 --> 00:20:52,480 Speaker 6: profitable corporations, and doing so while also ending the drain 293 00:20:52,560 --> 00:20:56,160 Speaker 6: that has long characterized our city's fiscal relationship with the state. 294 00:20:56,520 --> 00:20:58,879 Speaker 6: And I've said this both because it's important to create 295 00:20:58,920 --> 00:21:01,360 Speaker 6: a fair tax system and also because of the fact 296 00:21:01,400 --> 00:21:04,400 Speaker 6: that we're facing a five point four billion dollar fiscal 297 00:21:04,440 --> 00:21:06,800 Speaker 6: deficit at this time, the likes of which we haven't 298 00:21:06,800 --> 00:21:09,880 Speaker 6: seen since the Great Recession, and my not attending one 299 00:21:09,920 --> 00:21:12,720 Speaker 6: event does not change in any way the strength with 300 00:21:12,760 --> 00:21:14,840 Speaker 6: which I believe this the urgency with which I believe 301 00:21:14,880 --> 00:21:17,199 Speaker 6: we have to respond to it. And I'm thankful for 302 00:21:17,280 --> 00:21:20,560 Speaker 6: New Yorkers who continue to make it clear that they 303 00:21:20,600 --> 00:21:22,320 Speaker 6: too want to build a city that everyone who calls 304 00:21:22,320 --> 00:21:24,080 Speaker 6: it home can afford. The Governor and I are in 305 00:21:24,119 --> 00:21:28,360 Speaker 6: constant communication, and we are always looking to build a healthier, 306 00:21:28,480 --> 00:21:31,080 Speaker 6: stronger city. I'm appreciative of our partnership in that, and 307 00:21:31,119 --> 00:21:33,280 Speaker 6: I know we have a long budget process to go through, 308 00:21:33,320 --> 00:21:34,760 Speaker 6: and I'm encouraged by the beginnings of it. 309 00:21:35,680 --> 00:21:40,200 Speaker 2: Rally, attendance was lower than organizers hoped. The early morning 310 00:21:40,280 --> 00:21:44,080 Speaker 2: start and blizzard a few days prior likely affected turnout, 311 00:21:44,640 --> 00:21:47,919 Speaker 2: though as already discussed, many unions did sign on to 312 00:21:48,040 --> 00:21:52,359 Speaker 2: the action and send representative members. Organizing on a grand 313 00:21:52,400 --> 00:21:56,159 Speaker 2: scale right after what's perceived as a huge victory like 314 00:21:56,240 --> 00:22:00,560 Speaker 2: winning an election can actually be difficult for a group 315 00:22:00,680 --> 00:22:04,480 Speaker 2: like Our Time that's working to use the organizing apparatus 316 00:22:04,480 --> 00:22:07,960 Speaker 2: that got Mamdani elected to help enact his policy agenda. 317 00:22:08,600 --> 00:22:11,520 Speaker 2: Not as many people will be keen on canvassing right 318 00:22:11,560 --> 00:22:15,640 Speaker 2: after spending six months canvassing for an election, even if 319 00:22:15,760 --> 00:22:19,840 Speaker 2: the election was a victory. Our Time aimed to send 320 00:22:19,920 --> 00:22:23,719 Speaker 2: twenty five thousand tax the Rich letters to state legislators 321 00:22:23,720 --> 00:22:26,720 Speaker 2: by the end of January, but as of now the 322 00:22:26,800 --> 00:22:31,640 Speaker 2: website lists under seven thousand letters sent. But the Albany 323 00:22:31,760 --> 00:22:35,960 Speaker 2: takeover protest was just the opening act. The state budget 324 00:22:36,000 --> 00:22:39,280 Speaker 2: is set to be finalized by March thirty first, and 325 00:22:39,320 --> 00:22:41,800 Speaker 2: there will be tax the Rich events across the state 326 00:22:42,119 --> 00:22:45,040 Speaker 2: leading up to the end of the month. This next 327 00:22:45,080 --> 00:22:47,640 Speaker 2: week and a half, New York City, DSA and Our 328 00:22:47,720 --> 00:22:51,359 Speaker 2: Time will host a Week of Action or a Week 329 00:22:51,440 --> 00:22:56,240 Speaker 2: of tax shin to increase pressure on the legislature and 330 00:22:56,320 --> 00:23:01,040 Speaker 2: the governor as they head into budget negotiations, proving the 331 00:23:01,080 --> 00:23:05,800 Speaker 2: diversity of this coalition. Confusingly, there are two different time 332 00:23:05,880 --> 00:23:09,040 Speaker 2: spans listed for the Week of Action across the social 333 00:23:09,080 --> 00:23:12,959 Speaker 2: media and org websites March fifth through the tenth or 334 00:23:13,160 --> 00:23:17,600 Speaker 2: March seventh through the fourteenth, but regardless. Between the fifth 335 00:23:17,600 --> 00:23:21,000 Speaker 2: and the fourteenth, there are organized actions happening across the 336 00:23:21,040 --> 00:23:27,120 Speaker 2: five boroughs and statewide in Buffalo, Hudson Valley, Ithaca, Rochester, Syracuse, 337 00:23:27,160 --> 00:23:32,159 Speaker 2: and Westchester. There'll be door knocking, phone banking, collecting petition signatures, 338 00:23:32,480 --> 00:23:36,159 Speaker 2: and a kickoff happy hour social at Solus in the 339 00:23:36,240 --> 00:23:41,280 Speaker 2: East Village on Thursday, March fifth, to quote from our 340 00:23:41,400 --> 00:23:45,240 Speaker 2: time quote, what happens in Albany this winter will shape 341 00:23:45,320 --> 00:23:49,080 Speaker 2: Zorn's first year in office and determine whether working families 342 00:23:49,080 --> 00:23:51,879 Speaker 2: get the relief they need. We have until March to 343 00:23:51,920 --> 00:23:54,760 Speaker 2: build enough pressure to win a state budget that funds 344 00:23:54,760 --> 00:23:59,240 Speaker 2: free childcare, backfills the cuts, and secures resources to do 345 00:23:59,480 --> 00:24:05,000 Speaker 2: so much more Beyond running the biggest city in the 346 00:24:05,040 --> 00:24:09,040 Speaker 2: country as a secondary goal, Mom Donnie seeks to provide 347 00:24:09,080 --> 00:24:13,280 Speaker 2: an example that left wing politicians can responsibly govern and 348 00:24:13,320 --> 00:24:15,719 Speaker 2: that left wing policies can make people's lives better and 349 00:24:15,760 --> 00:24:19,800 Speaker 2: more affordable, and New Yorkers are organizing to make that 350 00:24:19,920 --> 00:24:25,800 Speaker 2: example as strong as it can be. 351 00:24:30,400 --> 00:24:55,960 Speaker 4: Where you are, It Could Happen Here is a production 352 00:24:56,000 --> 00:24:57,000 Speaker 4: of Cool Zone Media. 353 00:24:57,160 --> 00:24:59,960 Speaker 2: For more podcasts from cool Zone Media, visit our websit 354 00:25:00,320 --> 00:25:02,879 Speaker 2: Polson Media dot com, or check us out on the 355 00:25:02,880 --> 00:25:07,000 Speaker 2: iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts. 356 00:25:07,280 --> 00:25:09,200 Speaker 2: You can now find sources for It Could Happen here, 357 00:25:09,240 --> 00:25:11,080 Speaker 2: listed directly in episode descriptions. 358 00:25:11,400 --> 00:25:12,199 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening.