Alex’s lefty group dials up tax-the-rich bid
The city chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America is calling 225,000 registered voters in the Big Apple as part of its tax-the-rich lobbying campaign.
The group championed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is trying to pressure Gov. Cuomo and state lawmakers to approve up to $50 billion in tax hikes on the wealthy to avoid deep service cuts to schools and the needy and to close projected COVID-19-related deficits.
The phone-banking operation is the most extensive ever undertaken by the DSA, whose clout has increased following the election of AOC in 2018 and six DSA-backed candidates who won state legislative seats this year.
The proposals the DSA back include: additional tax increases on those earning above $1 million a year; making billionaires pay income tax on their investment gains; a pied-à-terre tax on nonprimary residences worth more than $5 million and stock transfer and buyback taxes.
“We have over 1,700 shifts for door hangers and phone banking this week,” said Chi Anunwa, the city DSA’s campaign co-chair.
“Last night alone, we dialed over 10,000 numbers and spoke to hundreds of people,” she said.
Volunteers making the calls are urging voters to call their state lawmakers to back the effort.
Anunwa said the city DSA’s “week of action” campaign is being coordinated with upstate chapters and other organizations. Cuomo has resisted tax hikes, fearing wealthy New Yorkers will flee the state, but hasn’t ruled them out.
An elderly man was struck by a stray bullet — while sleeping in his Queens nursing home, police said Tuesday.
The near-fatal incident unfolded in Corona at around 11:15 p.m. on Saturday night when the 76-year-old man woke up bleeding from the right side of his neck and was rushed to Northwell Hospital, according to cops.
The man was treated and sent back to Madison York Assisted Living — but the cause of his injury remained a mystery.
It wasn’t until Monday night when an employee pulled up the blinds in the room and found a bullet hole in the window, cops said. The shooting is the latest in the surging gun violence in New York City.