February, 13 2019, 11:00pm EDT
NYC-DSA on Amazon: "Billionaires Can't Buy Our City"
Today, the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (NYC-DSA) issued the following statement on Amazon's decision to abandon their plan to build HQ2 in Queens, New York. NYC-DSA has been part of a coalition of local community groups opposing HQ2, including Queens Neighborhoods United, Desis Rising Up and Moving, CAAAV, Chhaya, Centro Corona, Hate Free Zone, New York Communities for Change, Make the Road NY, Ridgewood Tenants Union, the Justice for All Coalition, and more.
NYC-DSA statement:
WASHINGTON
Today, the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (NYC-DSA) issued the following statement on Amazon's decision to abandon their plan to build HQ2 in Queens, New York. NYC-DSA has been part of a coalition of local community groups opposing HQ2, including Queens Neighborhoods United, Desis Rising Up and Moving, CAAAV, Chhaya, Centro Corona, Hate Free Zone, New York Communities for Change, Make the Road NY, Ridgewood Tenants Union, the Justice for All Coalition, and more.
NYC-DSA statement:
"Today New York's working class showed that big business and billionaires can't buy our city. New York belongs to the many, not the few.
"In Queens and across New York City, ordinary people have led an unprecedented mobilization against Amazon's plan to take billions in public money, as they crack down on unions and workers' rights, increase deportations of our immigrant neighbors, and fuel gentrification and rising rents.
"The impending Amazon deal was far from the only way capitalism is oppressing working class Queens residents and New Yorkers. Millions of New Yorkers still lack any basic tenants' rights and live with the threat of rent hikes, displacement, and evictions every day. Our transit system is still broken; our public housing is still owed billions. Residents of color face systematic targeting by the police and ICE. These crises persist.
"We are going to continue to fight for good union jobs for working class New Yorkers, and for universal rent control in 2019. Our fight is stronger than ever. Governor Cuomo and the State Legislature should take note of what can happen when working people stand up to corporate power."
The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) has over 55,000 members and 200 local groups (as of November 2018) building working class power while establishing an openly democratic socialist presence in American communities and politics.
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