Fresh off of surprising upset victories in this summer’s Democratic primaries for state Assembly and Senate, the city’s Democratic socialists are targeting the City Council primaries next year, when 35 of the 51 seats will be without an incumbent.
The Democratic Socialists of America-NYC is planning to back a slate of council candidates who, if elected, would create a “socialist caucus” down at City Hall.
According to the strategy document obtained by The Post, one litmus test will be agreement to “defund the police” by 50 percent, slashing the NYPD’s budget by $3 billion.
Will they succeed? Well, it’s not as though the city has lacked for left-leaning, socialist and even Marxist elected officials. Retiring Bronx Rep. Jose Serrano has famously feted both Cuban dictator Fidel Castro and Venezuelan strongman Hugo Chavez in his congressional district. Brooklyn Assemblyman Charles Barron and his wife, Councilwoman Inez Barron, are black nationalists who have spoken admiringly of Castro.
Meanwhile, the highest-ranking DSA-aligned elected official, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, appears to have given her blessings to the effort. And Tiffany Cabán, who came close to winning the special election for Queens district attorney, announced her decision to run for City Council.
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https://nypost.com/2020/09/21/new-yorks-democratic-socialists-want-a-revolution-does-anyone-else/
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