What does Bill de Blasio really stand for? While his rhetoric continues to inspire the possibility of change, his actions seem otherwise. It may be premature to cast a shadow on his promises but let’s take a look at some of de Blasio’s behavior.
During a luncheon held at Viacom’s headquarters last October, de Blasio declared that, “Wall Street is our hometown industry.” Those in attendance were Lloyd Blankfein, chief executive of Goldman Sachs, bankers from Blackstone and other private equity firms, and Rupert Murdoch. One could argue that de Blasio was using this opportunity to placate these people who had the money and power to create havoc for him. On the other hand, Keith Johnson of the American Free Press, discloses that some of his earliest supporters included George Soros, Goldman Sachs general counsel Robert Katz, as well as several other executives from prominent New York City hedge funds.
Another item to focus on is whom he chooses to surround himself with. His transition team included Michael Schlein, a former top executive with Citigroup, and Peter Madonia, former chief of staff for Mayor Bloomberg and current chief operating officer of the Rockefeller Foundation. There was no one on his transition team who has ever shown a willingness to confront Wall Street’s excesses.
Unfortunately, we have seen President Obama use this strategy and it worked. You run on a progressive agenda and when elected, you go on with business as usual or worse.
It is clear that the natives are restless and becoming more aware of the unjustified disparities between the haves and have-nots. The haves may realize the need for a de Blasio in order to quiet the masses. I am concerned that, as we have seen in the past, we progressives will be allowed to win some battles but the essence and core of our problems will remain untouched. We do not need more Band Aids on a system whose core is corrupt and rotted. We need fundamental change in how we conduct business and how our people are cared for.
Bill de Blasio has close connections to the Clintons, who participated in his swearing in ceremony. It is clear that he will pull the liberal or progressive segment of the Democratic Party to support Hillary in 2016, hoping that we will not remember her leadership support for the war in Libya which cost 30,000 lives and destroyed that country.
Will de Blasio be a force for real change or will he, like Democrats before him, merely be a temporary sedative, distracting us from the war the haves are waging against us?
What might he do as mayor of New York City?
The following list was compiled by Cliff Conner and Michael Steven Smith:
Launch a mass action campaign for single-payer health care, “Medicare for All,” free for everyone, recognizing health as a human right.
Put the city’s resources on the side of the poorest workers, like those in the food chains and garment shops, and demand a $15-an-hour minimum wage, sick days, pensions and vacations with pay.
Find or build housing for every homeless person.
Support tenants defending rent controls and extend rent control to small businesses as well.
End the illegal stop-and-frisk practice of the Police Department by withdrawing Bloomberg’s court appeal and abiding by Judge Scheindlin’s decision that 600,000 people a year, mostly young people of color, had their 4th and 14th amendment rights violated.
Dismantle the police state surveillance of New Yorkers. Take the street cameras down. Get the police spies out of the mosques and Muslim communities. Stop police collaboration and office-sharing with Wall Street bankers. Get the police out of our grassroots political organizations.
Allow for street protests without pens and nets and videotaping of activists. Apologize for collaboration with the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security in raiding and breaking up the Occupy Wall Street encampment. Restore the Handschu consent decree limiting how police can spy on New Yorkers.
Prosecute the banksters who crashed the economy in 2008 and then got bailed out with our money.
Work to implement a municipal tax code that eliminates all regressive taxes like the sales tax. Replace them with taxes on Wall Street financial transactions and support higher corporate taxes.
March on picket lines with teachers and students to roll back cuts in education financing and tuition.
Make education and actions about human-caused climate change the number-one priority which, if not controlled, will doom us.
Every American has a human right to employment, to health care and a free and full education; to breathe clean air, drink clean water and eat safe food; and to be cared for with dignity and respect in their old age.
Dave Alpert has masters degrees in social work, educational administration, and psychology. He spent his career working with troubled inner city adolescents.
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Is Bill de Blasio a true liberal or a Wall St. puppet in sheep’s clothing?
Posted on January 16, 2014 by Dave Alpert
What does Bill de Blasio really stand for? While his rhetoric continues to inspire the possibility of change, his actions seem otherwise. It may be premature to cast a shadow on his promises but let’s take a look at some of de Blasio’s behavior.
During a luncheon held at Viacom’s headquarters last October, de Blasio declared that, “Wall Street is our hometown industry.” Those in attendance were Lloyd Blankfein, chief executive of Goldman Sachs, bankers from Blackstone and other private equity firms, and Rupert Murdoch. One could argue that de Blasio was using this opportunity to placate these people who had the money and power to create havoc for him. On the other hand, Keith Johnson of the American Free Press, discloses that some of his earliest supporters included George Soros, Goldman Sachs general counsel Robert Katz, as well as several other executives from prominent New York City hedge funds.
Another item to focus on is whom he chooses to surround himself with. His transition team included Michael Schlein, a former top executive with Citigroup, and Peter Madonia, former chief of staff for Mayor Bloomberg and current chief operating officer of the Rockefeller Foundation. There was no one on his transition team who has ever shown a willingness to confront Wall Street’s excesses.
Unfortunately, we have seen President Obama use this strategy and it worked. You run on a progressive agenda and when elected, you go on with business as usual or worse.
It is clear that the natives are restless and becoming more aware of the unjustified disparities between the haves and have-nots. The haves may realize the need for a de Blasio in order to quiet the masses. I am concerned that, as we have seen in the past, we progressives will be allowed to win some battles but the essence and core of our problems will remain untouched. We do not need more Band Aids on a system whose core is corrupt and rotted. We need fundamental change in how we conduct business and how our people are cared for.
Bill de Blasio has close connections to the Clintons, who participated in his swearing in ceremony. It is clear that he will pull the liberal or progressive segment of the Democratic Party to support Hillary in 2016, hoping that we will not remember her leadership support for the war in Libya which cost 30,000 lives and destroyed that country.
Will de Blasio be a force for real change or will he, like Democrats before him, merely be a temporary sedative, distracting us from the war the haves are waging against us?
What might he do as mayor of New York City?
The following list was compiled by Cliff Conner and Michael Steven Smith:
Every American has a human right to employment, to health care and a free and full education; to breathe clean air, drink clean water and eat safe food; and to be cared for with dignity and respect in their old age.
Dave Alpert has masters degrees in social work, educational administration, and psychology. He spent his career working with troubled inner city adolescents.