Out with the Albany Establishment, in with the New Year!

Transcription

1 ROSH HASHANAH DISCUSSION GUIDE Out with the Albany Establishment, in with the New Year! Rosh Hashanah is a time of reflection, intention, and building anew. We reflect on what we've wanted to change. We set our intentions of bettering ourselves and our communities. Then, we take steps to build the world we wish to see in our new year. The Jewish Vote is pleased to offer you a discussion guide for use at your Rosh Hashanah dinner. Given that the holiday falls right before the primary election, it s a great time to engage friends, family, and loved ones about what s at stake. Most of all, remind everyone to create a plan to vote on Thursday, September 13th! We re taking stock of a year of #JewishResistance and setting our intentions to bring change to From the airports, to the streets, to the border, to the ballot box we are taking action. Sign up with The Jewish Vote to receive your discussion guide!

2 What s at stake in this year s New York primary election? What are the most important decisions facing voters? Albany is broken and it s hurting New Yorkers. Nothing happens in the state capitol without the agreement of Governor Cuomo, the Assembly Speaker, and the head of the State Senate (and in the last 7 years, the head of the IDC.) These four men go behind closed doors and make deals for our future. For decades, the Republican-led Senate has been able to block progressive laws and budgets. And they ve been the Governor s convenient excuse for inaction. This corrupt system has benefited developers and Wall Street, and left New Yorkers behind. Drivers licenses for undocumented immigrants, reforming New York s notoriously restrictive elections, codifying Roe v. Wade protections, getting big money out of politics, funding public education for all, expanding rent protections and funding housing, passing healthcare for all, police reform, and more have all languished. Critical tools to protect our people from Trump are blocked! We have a chance to turn the Senate around, electing not just Democrats, but progressive organizing candidates who have rejected corporate and developer dollars.

3 What s the IDC? Since 2012, a group of State Senators who were elected as Democrats have aligned themselves with Senate Republicans, working with them to keep Republicans in power and thereby blocking legislation that New Yorkers need to protect people against Trump s attacks and fight for equity in our state. Led by Jeff Klein, these 8 senators traded away the future of New Yorkers for perks. On September 13, we have the chance to cast away the IDC by supporting the grassroots community leaders who are running to replace them. Who s Jumaane Williams? Jumaane Williams is a New York City Council member running for Lieutenant Governor. We ve marched with Jumaane, been arrested with him in civil disobedience, and worked with him for years. Jumaane led the New York City Council push to end stopand-frisk and has been a vocal advocate for police accountability. In Albany, he s committed to make the Lieutenant Governor s office into the people s advocate.

4 What makes Cynthia Nixon the right person to govern our state? Cynthia Nixon is a long-time activist and New Yorker running for us. From housing to healthcare to education to fixing the MTA, Nixon has taken the leadership of the advocates and communities who have been working for change for decades. Her platform is filled with our solutions. And she s committed to partnering with us - to organizing inside and outside Albany- to make it happen. That s the leadership and vision we need. Cynthia has committed to: statewide rent control and an end to the landlord loopholes; equity in education; the NY State of Health Act (healthcare for all with long-term care); investment in the MTA; an end to money bail ; support for public workers and the right to strike; action on the stalled DREAM Act, drivers licenses for immigrants and more. We ve seen what Andrew Cuomo s wheeling and dealing gets us: an MTA in crisis, a housing crisis, an impoverished democracy, a state that s should be leading on justice and progressive policy but is instead far behind.

5 What is The Jewish Vote, and what are their endorsements for this year? The Jewish Vote is a new organization mobilizing a movement of thousands of progressive Jewish New Yorkers committed to fighting for a just and equitable New York, a sustainable world, and a vibrant popular democracy. The Jewish Vote has endorsed grassroots candidates committed to partnering with us to build a New York for the many, not the few. Cynthia Nixon for Governor [Statewide] Jumaane Williams for Lieutenant Governor [Statewide] Jessica Ramos for State Senate District 13 in Queens Julia Salazar for State Senate District 18 in Brooklyn Zellnor Myrie for State Senate District 20 in Brooklyn Robert Jackson for State Senate District 31 in North Brooklyn Alessandra Biaggi for State Senate District 34 in the Bronx What can I do to help Schlep Out the Vote between now and Thursday? Talk to your neighbors. Remind them the election is on THURSDAY this year! Volunteer with the Jewish Vote! [Link to sign up]