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Public Bank, Democratic Socialism
For immediate release: July 13, 2018
Green Candidates Call for Social Ownership of Economy, Democratic Socialism
Support a Public Bank, Expanded Public Ownership of Energy, Public Housing, Single-Payer Health Care and Cooperatives
The Green Party candidates for Governor and State Comptroller called today for a variety of democratic-ownership initiatives, including a public bank, public ownership of the energy system, public broadband utility and worker cooperatives.
Howie Hawkins, the Green gubernatorial candidate and a long-time member of the Socialist Party, noted that “socialism is back on the table for public discussion after the broad support for self-styled democratic socialists in recent elections since Bernie Sanders’ presidential run. But as a long-time democratic socialist, I believe that the agenda needs to start with social ownership and democratic control of the key sectors of our economy, combined with a much expanded public housing program and creation of a single-payer health care system.”
Dunlea said expanding public ownership of energy was critical to winning the fight against climate change. The Governor did propose allowing the NY Power Authority to build and own renewables but this was rejected by the state legislature. Public ownership and control would increase community support and speed up local siting of projects, as has been true in Germany. NY presently only gets 4% of its electricity from wind and solar.
Read moreNY is 'ripe for abuse,' critics say after convictions in Kaloyeros corruption trial
Syracuse Post-Standard, July 12, 2018
Howie Hawkins, the Green Party candidate for governor, said the state needs a new Moreland Commission to investigate corruption. Former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara launched the federal investigation that led to Kaloyeros' trial after Cuomo shut down a previous Moreland Commission.
"It is time to reopen a Moreland Commission on Public Corruption and let it do its work without the governor shutting it down when it gets close to him," Hawkins said. "I believe Preet Bharara might be available."
Alain Kaloyeros, former SUNY Polytechnic Institute president, was convicted today in a bid-rigging trial along with two Cor Development executives and a Buffalo builder. (Ellen M. Blalock)
Read moreCynthia Nixon Left Out “Most Pervasive Form of Voter Suppression” Says Hawkins
Howie Hawkins responded to fellow candidate for Governor of New York Cynthia Nixon’s plan for ending voter suppression with support for her proposals but serious concern for what was left out.
“Early voting, automatic and same-day voter registration are important steps toward real democracy, but the most pervasive form of voter suppression is our ‘winner-take-all’ electoral system that silences many of those who manage to vote, and discourages millions from voting at all. Why vote when most districts are non-competitive because they are dominated by one party in our single-member-district, winner-take-all system,” said Hawkins.
The Hawkins campaign and the Green Party support Ranked-Choice Instant-Runoff Voting for single-member executive offices and Proportional Representation in legislative bodies. These voting systems are common in most of the world’s democracies.
Read moreHawkins on Guilty Verdicts in Buffalo Billion
For immediate release: July 12, 2018
Statement of Howie Hawkins on Guilty Verdicts in Buffalo Billion Trial
We Need an Independent Moreland Commission to Investigate Corruption within the Cuomo Administration
The guilty verdicts in the Buffalo Billion Trial are no surprise. The bid-rigging was obvious from the media reports on the trial.
Along with the Percocco conviction, it shows a systemic pattern of corruption within the Cuomo administration that demands an outside independent investigation. When the Moreland Commission began to ask questions about the relationship between his many major donors, especially from the real estate industry, and the contracts, subsidies, and regulatory favors he issued, he immediately moved to shut it down.
The pattern of bid rigging in the recent trial raises grave concerns about how many other bids were rigged by these and other pay-to-play contributors to Cuomo. For example, why did Cor Development’s Aiello and Gerardi, guilty in this case, get the former public housing project Kennedy Square in Syracuse in a no-bid, no-money-down transfer from ESD to SUNY Upstate Medical to Cor Development? All the people guilty in this trial, plus Cuomo and Percoco, were here in Syracuse to tout that deal.
It is time to reopen a Moreland Commission on Public Corruption and let it do its work without the governor shutting it down when it gets close to him. I believe Preet Bharara might be available.
Nixon Ignored Most Pervasive Form of Voter Suppression (Need IRV)
For immediate release: July 12, 2018
Howie Hawkins responded to fellow candidate for Governor of New York Cynthia Nixon’s plan for ending voter suppression with support for her proposals but serious concern for what was left out.
“Early voting, automatic and same-day voter registration are important steps toward real democracy, but the most pervasive form of voter suppression is our ‘winner-take-all’ electoral system that silences many of those who manage to vote, and discourages millions from voting at all. Why vote when most districts are non-competitive because they are dominated by one party in our single-member-district, winner-take-all system,” said Hawkins.
The Hawkins campaign and the Green Party support Ranked-Choice Instant-Runoff Voting for single-member executive offices and Proportional Representation in legislative bodies. These voting systems are common in most of the world’s democracies.
Read moreHowie Hawkins Interview on Real Left Politics
Real Left Politics with Stewart Alexander, July 11, 2018
Stewart Alexander talks with Howie Hawkins about his run for governor of New York.
Socialists divided over Nixon
Politico New York, July 11, 2018
Howie Hawkins, the Green Party gubernatorial candidate, has reached out to the NYC-DSA seeking its endorsement.
“As someone who came up in the McCarthy and Cold War eras, it is fascinating to see the word socialism coming back into mainstream public discourse — if not the distinguishing programmatic feature of the socialist tradition: a new democratic mode of production based on social ownership of the major means of production,” Hawkins wrote in an email that measured recent DSA endorsees’ definition of socialism.
“But I’m happy they have opened up a discussion of socialism,” he said.
Read moreHawkins to Cuomo: Repeal DOL Regulation Allowing Unpaid Labor on 24-Hour Shifts
For immediate release: July 11, 2018
Howie Hawkins called on Governor Cuomo today to immediately repeal the NYS Department of Labor (DOL) regulation permitting employers to pay home care attendants on 24-hour shifts for only 13 of their hours on the job.
The DOL is holding a public hearing today on whether to make permanent the emergency regulation it issued last October in response to state court rulings calling the 24 hours work for 13 hours pay illegal.
Read moreTrump protesters trying to 'protect freedoms' in CNY
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Chanting and waving signs, dozens of protesters gathered outside at each stop, speaking out against the Trump administration and Congressman Katko.
From immigration, to trade and taxes, there were a number of issues mentioned by demonstrators. But, some demonstrators wanted their message to be heard by a larger audience.
"We all need to look at what's happening to this beautiful, wonderful country that we all came to as immigrants for the most part, I know I did in the mid-1800s. So we need to protect the freedoms we have come to be able to just assume, because they're going away day-by-day,” said Stephanie Ladd, a protester.
Politicians joined the protestors in Syracuse.
Katko's opponent, Democrat Dana Balter and Green Party gubernatorial candidate Howie Hawkins both stood with the crowd.