Progressive Caucus Consolidates Against NYPD Funding + City & DC 37 Reach Deal

Feb 20, 2023

The NYC Thorn is a weekly roundup of local political news compiled by members of NYC-DSA.

Local News

The newly shrunk 20-person City Council Progressive Caucus is now actively threatening a battle over the role of the NYPD and Department of Correction in City budget negotiations this spring.
In response to the lawsuit filed by State Senate Republicans, the full State Senate held a vote to reject Governor Kathy Hochul's nominee for Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals, Hector LaSalle, even though LaSalle was already rejected by the Judiciary Committee last month.
The City reached a deal with DC 37, the City’s largest union of municipal workers, granting 3% raises over the next five years.
New York landlords want the US Supreme Court to hear a challenge of the state's rent regulations.
Community board applications are being accepted throughout the boroughs. Considered the entry-level position to government, community boards advise on issues from liquor licenses to land use cases.
A new program developed through collaboration between several NYC colleges will help New Yorkers track flood risks.
MTA has greenlit Governor Hochul's Interborough Express Line, which will connect the southern and eastern portions of Brooklyn with Eastern Queens. This plan leaves out the Bronx, despite pushback from advocates.

Elections:

The New Majority NYC, the group dedicated to electing women to the City Council and formerly known as 21 in '21, issued 27 endorsements for the 2023 Council primaries, 23 of which were for incumbents. While the group did not endorse any women challenging male incumbents, it did endorse Inez Dickens, who is challenging socialist Kristin Richardson Johnson (Council District 9, Harlem).
Former City Council Member Andy King (Council District 12, Baychester), who was expelled from office in 2020 for ethics violations, has filed to run again in 2023, even though he is barred from office because of term limits.
Michael Lange broke down the City's seven major electoral factions on his Substack.

Subscribe to the NYC Local, a publication of the Legislative Committee of the NYC-DSA Labor Branch.

Listen to NYC-DSA's weekly radio show Revolutions Per Minute. Check out the show here.