Seattle voters passed Initiative 135 in February, creating the only radically democratic, tenant-led, publicly-owned social housing developer in the country. I sat down with Tiffani McCoy, Co-Chair of House Our Neighbors, the coalition who led the fight. Then I interviewed two leaders of Seattle DSA, Sydney Province and Ramy Khalil, to get their perspective on the fight ahead to fully fund social housing in Seattle. Both interviews were excellent, but went long, so we split this into a two-parter. Thanks to Luke Wigren for help recording this episode and to Jason Corey for editing it. Subscribe to get an alert when future episodes drop.

Although New York just became the 13th state to pass a bill designating this a sanctuary state for trans and nonbinary people and protecting gender-affirming care patients and providers, the attacks on trans youth and adults are only escalating nationwide. Media establishments like the New York Times are covering "debates" around access to gender-affirming care using bad science and faulty logic and without respecting the direct experience and analysis of trans people themselves. What are the social and political forces that are seeking to legitimize transphobia in the public sphere and restrict access to healthcare for gender non-conforming people? Join us for a panel discussion with Alex, a researcher and journalist, Quinnehtukqut, a social psychologist, and Jess, a therapist, on gender-affirming care and how Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminists (TERFs) have partnered with the far-right to advance bigotry and restrict trans people's human rights. 

Hamilton College Young Democratic Socialists of American (HC-YDSA) officially became a branch of Syracuse DSA at our Sunday, June 18th General Meeting. HC-YDSA applied to become a branch earlier in May. Our Steering Committee unanimously recommended that general membership vote to accept their application. Our membership then approved their application at the June General Meeting

We are extremely excited to partner with HC-YDSA as we fight to bring socialism to The Hill and the rest of the Central New York.

Below you can find photos from HC-YDSA events below.

The post Welcome Hamilton College YDSA! appeared first on Syracuse DSA.

By Cameron Orr

I applaud the city council for passing ordinances on Wednesday that establish the Right To Counsel and fees on developers to fund affordable housing and free legal representation for tenants. This is a big step forward, and will contribute to a more humane city and economy. I hope that the city will demonstrate urgency in fully implementing this program as soon as possible, rather than considering it satisfactory to simply meet the 2026 deadline.

However, I want to express my concern that while all our city council members ultimately made the right decision in passing these ordinances, some were upset that real-estate investors weren’t adequately consulted, or were worried about the effect these reforms will have on the “market” and developers’ “right” to make a return on their investment.

I’m afraid this shows a certain level of confusion. Perhaps we have allowed a corporate-dominated political environment to warp our mindset. Nobody has a “right” to make a profit. That’s a risk you take when you make an investment. But people should have the right to a home.

Property rights are not sacrosanct; human lives are. Housing, food, clothing, a quality education, healthcare — these things are basic needs and should be considered human rights. Many countries with far less resources than ours provide these things. The United States has more than enough resources to make them available to everyone; we simply choose not to. That shows who is really in control.

If those who control immense resources can be compelled by city, state, and federal government to make these basic human needs accessible to the general public, that is well and fine and good. But when those who control basic resources like land and housing fail to make them available to people, and even stand in the way of government measures to improve people’s lives, they prove themselves to be bad stewards and deserve to lose those privileges. If a slumlord or big developer is suddenly unable to collect huge rent checks, they’re still in a much better position than the ordinary worker who just lost their job. Many of us have already been there at some point in our lives, with little to no help on the way; so, it’s hard for us to show much sympathy for those with great wealth who cry poor.

Read “Letter: On Right to Counsel, Jersey City Made The Right Choice” at Jersey City Times

Jersey City renters can’t keep up with a housing crisis fueled by proximity to New York City. A new right to counsel program, funded by development fees, could help.

“Two ordinances creating a new right to counsel program and new fees on development to fund affordable housing were approved by the Jersey City Council on Wednesday, June 14. The first ordinance allows tenants in eviction proceedings who make less than 80 percent of the area median income to receive a pro bono attorney. The second ordinance establishes a new fee for development.”

Read “Jersey City Grants Free Counsel to Renters Facing Eviction” at shelterforce.org

“The ordinance was the result of a year-long campaign by the Coalition for Right to Counsel Jersey City, and the campaign was recently endorsed by Jersey City Together. In New Jersey dot com, an opinion piece from a New Jersey City resident urged the passage of right to counsel, calling it a ‘moral imperative’ and saying, ‘Housing should not be a commodity to be traded and speculated on, but a basic human right. A right to counsel places us in the right direction.’”

Read “Jersey City Grants Free Counsel to Renters Facing Eviction” at civilrighttocounsel.org

By Mark Koosau

In a place that’s become known for its sky high rents and cost of living, Jersey City finally has a free program in place that will help tenants facing illegal evictions, funded by the landlords themselves, developers in the city.

The city council voted unanimously Wednesday night in adopting a right-to-counsel program, in which the city will provide free legal representation for tenants facing evictions, and a 1.5-2.5% fee on new developments that would fund its budget.

“You would be hard-pressed to find another city that is doing more on this front than Jersey City, as we have made meaningful policy changes when it comes to affordability and protecting our most vulnerable populations,” Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop said of the new program.

The program, which will be housed under the Department of Housing, Economic Development and Commerce, will allow tenants who are at 80% or below the area median income to seek representation in court if they are served an eviction notice. Attorneys will be either staff employees or a contracted firm.

It will also require the program’s director to compile a tenants’ rights and resources document, which must then be presented to tenants during a leasing, rent demand, or eviction, as well as to tenants of the Jersey City Housing Authority and affordable housing units.

“It’s a huge step for Jersey City working families,” said Councilman James Solomon, who was one of the sponsors of the legislation. “It’s going to level the playing field and ensure thousands of tenants stay in their home when facing illegal and unfair eviction.”

Read “Jersey City approves right-to-counsel program to help tenants facing illegal evictions” at nj.com

Right to Counsel Jersey City’s Coalition Chair, Isaac Jimenez, chatted with Hudson County View about how only a mass movement of tenants can win RTC JC, make sure it’s implemented fairly and justly, and fight back against landlord and developer interference.

Watch “Hudson County View Live - 06-13-2023 Guest: Isaac Jimenez” on YouTube