For immediate release: September 5, 2018

Workers World Today, Brooklyn: September 5, 2018

Socialist Worker: September 5, 2018

New York Workers Need a Raise

by Howie Hawkins

One big reason I am the Green Party candidate for Governor of New York is because New Yorkers need a raise. I am not the only worker losing ground. Wages are low and stuck in place. Pensions are disappearing. But rent, health care, college, and property taxes keep going up and up. The rich get richer while the rest of struggle to pay our bills and even stay in our homes.

I’m a Teamster who had his pension cut 20% with the approval of the U.S Treasury Department just before I retired. Existing retirees were cut 30%. These cuts were made by a bipartisan act of Congress in 2014. The consolation prize for my pension cut is that I can go back to work for up to 1000 hours a year at UPS unloading trucks while still receiving my diminished pension. But I lose my seniority and start over at the state minimum wage of $10.40 an hour.

The average American wage today ($22.65/hour) is less than it was in January 1973 ($23.68/hour) when adjusted for inflation. Over these last 45 years, productivity – the amount we produce per hour as workers – is up 217%. But our wages remain flat.

All this growth in the economy has accrued to the top 10% and especially the top 1%. The ratio of CEO to average worker pay was 22-to-1 in 1973. In 2017, it was 312-to-1.

New York State has the most unequal income distribution in the nation. The share of income going to the top 1% has increased from 12% in 1980 to 31% in 2015.

The Sun (North Country): September 5, 2018

Both Cuomo and Nixon will be on the ballot in November regardless of next week’s results.

The now-settled pack of gubernatorial hopefuls — including Republican Marc Molinaro, Green Howie Hawkins, Libertarian Larry Sharpe and independent candidate Stephanie Miner — should hold regional forums across the state to ensure no New Yorker feels left behind.

Capitol Pressroom, September 3, 2018

Audio

Green Party gubernatorial nominee Howie Hawkins stopped by for a conversation on the state of unions in New York, NYCHA, and more.

For immediate release: September 3, 2018

Notice of Media Availability

Labor Day Statement

by Howie Hawkins

I’m a Teamster who had his pension cut 20% with the approval of the U.S Treasury Department just before I retired. Existing retirees were cut 30%. These cuts were made by a bipartisan act of Congress in 2014 that removed the guarantee in the 1974 Employment Retirement Income Security Act that earned pensions could not be cut. I planned my retirement on that guarantee. The consolation prize for my pension cut is that I can go back to work for up to 1000 hours a year at UPS unloading trucks while still receiving my diminished pension. But I lose my seniority and start over at the state minimum wage of $10.40 an hour.

One big reason I am the Green Party candidate for Governor of New York is because New Yorkers need a raise. I am not the only worker losing ground. Wages are low and stuck in place. Pensions are disappearing. But rent, health care, college, and property taxes keep going up and up. The rich get richer while the rest of struggle to pay our bills and even stay in our homes.

Workers World Today (Brooklyn), September 1, 2018

"The Green Party has been campaigning for a Green New Deal that would be the fulfillment of the original New Deal’s aspiration for an Economic Bill of Rights – with added right to a clean and sustainable environment, particularly to address the mounting climate crisis." - Howie Hawkins, the 2018 Green Party candidate for Governor of New York.

Jimmy Buff Loves You, WKNY Radio, Kingston: August 31, 2018

Howie Hawkins joins Buff to talk about the Green Party platform, his candidacy for Governor, the myth of the 3rd party spoiler and why Democrats don't vote for a party often more aligned with their beliefs than the mainstream party.

NY State of Politics, August 31, 2018

Count Green Party candidate Howie Hawkins among those not being impressed with the lack of upstate issues aired in this week’s gubernatorial primary debate.

“Most of the debate was about New York City,” said Hawkins, a Syracuse resident. “Those of us upstate were wondering if we’re watching an election about where we live.”

Hawkins is making his third run for governor on the Green Party line this year. He’s participated in debates in 2010 and 2014 and expects to do so again, with the public backing of Gov. Andrew Cuomo, when the time comes for a general election debate.

But Hawkins said there should be multiple debates to cover more issues, including those close to upstaters.

“What I hope and I hope the media will push this is that we have more than one debate,” he said. “We should have a series around the state and let the voters really get a chance to hear what we all have to offer.”

A multiple candidate forum would likely include additional general election gubernatorial hopefuls like Larry Sharpe, the Libertarian Party candidate, as well as former Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner, who is running an independent bid.

But a crowded forum could be at the detriment of Republican Marc Molinaro, the Dutchess County executive, who likely would want a one-on-one chance to debate Cuomo ahead of the November election.

Spectrum News, August 30, 2018

Video

The first and only Democratic primary debate between Gov. Andrew Cuomo and his opponent Cynthia Nixon covered a lot of topics of interest for New York City residents. Geographically, the furthest upstate the debate got was the Tappan Zee Bridge....

Other candidates for governor, like the Green Party's Howie Hawkins, took notice.

“Most of the debate was about New York City. Those of us upstate were wondering if we're watching an election about where we live,” said gubernatorial candidate Howie Hawkins....

Hawkins says he would have liked to have seen more discussion on how property taxes should be reduced.

“They've been going up and up. The state is balancing the budget on the backs of local property taxpayers. Taxes upstate are the highest in the nation,” said Hawkins.

And Hawkins hopes that once attention turns to the general election, he and his fellow candidates from outside the two-party system will be invited to participate.

“What I hope and I hope the media will push this is that we have more than one debate. We should have a series around the state and let the voters really get a chance to hear what we all have to offer," said Hawkins.