We had the DSA try to takeover our City Council and mayor's office in 2021. (In Somerville, MA) It did not go particularly well for them, though they did end up netting 1 more Socialist councilor. (4 out of 11 to 5 out of 11) This was in part because they brought in a bunch of outside volunteers who didn't understand the city and ended u…
We had the DSA try to takeover our City Council and mayor's office in 2021. (In Somerville, MA) It did not go particularly well for them, though they did end up netting 1 more Socialist councilor. (4 out of 11 to 5 out of 11) This was in part because they brought in a bunch of outside volunteers who didn't understand the city and ended up alienating people, but also because they had a rather incoherent agenda. In particular, it wasn't really clear what distinguished them as socialists from the progressive-leaning Democrats we usually elect, other than saying that they would cut the police budget by at least 10%. There was also some talk of rent control (illegal under State law) and expanding social housing (illegal under Federal law), but nothing actionable.
This focus on policing as the distinguishing campaign plank, plus vagueness about the details, led opponents to say that they actually wanted to abolish the Somerville Police Department and were hiding this fact. My sense was that their vagueness was a result of compromising between the more radical defund the police types in their base (which included police abolitionists) and what the candidates themselves felt was possible and politically feasible.
Needless to say, I was sufficiently unimpressed that vague promises of police reform was what constituted socialism in the 21st century, that I made this meme:
For those who don't feel like clicking on the link: it's a "swole doge meme". The muscular anthro-dog has that text "Socialists 1848: Workers of the word unite! You have nothing to lose but your chains!" and the derpy shibu has the text "Socialists 2021: I want to cut the police budget by 10%"
Public Housing agencies aren't allowed any net increase in the number of units. (Since 1999) Hence why all these weird incentives to get private developers to build low income housing are the norm now.
Thanks. So if I understand correctly, Federal law prohibits federal funding of the expansion of public housing unit count, since 1998. That doesn’t actually make it illegal to create additional social housing, it just means that the main funding mechanism is off the table. Funding an expansion of social (governmental or otherwise) housing via other means is perfectly legal, it’s just seen as cost-prohibitive.
Another thing is that a lot of public housing authorities are well under their Faircloth limits, so money is often the principal barrier more than the law.
We had the DSA try to takeover our City Council and mayor's office in 2021. (In Somerville, MA) It did not go particularly well for them, though they did end up netting 1 more Socialist councilor. (4 out of 11 to 5 out of 11) This was in part because they brought in a bunch of outside volunteers who didn't understand the city and ended up alienating people, but also because they had a rather incoherent agenda. In particular, it wasn't really clear what distinguished them as socialists from the progressive-leaning Democrats we usually elect, other than saying that they would cut the police budget by at least 10%. There was also some talk of rent control (illegal under State law) and expanding social housing (illegal under Federal law), but nothing actionable.
This focus on policing as the distinguishing campaign plank, plus vagueness about the details, led opponents to say that they actually wanted to abolish the Somerville Police Department and were hiding this fact. My sense was that their vagueness was a result of compromising between the more radical defund the police types in their base (which included police abolitionists) and what the candidates themselves felt was possible and politically feasible.
Needless to say, I was sufficiently unimpressed that vague promises of police reform was what constituted socialism in the 21st century, that I made this meme:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/wMwi9kcgjJuz498j6
For those who don't feel like clicking on the link: it's a "swole doge meme". The muscular anthro-dog has that text "Socialists 1848: Workers of the word unite! You have nothing to lose but your chains!" and the derpy shibu has the text "Socialists 2021: I want to cut the police budget by 10%"
What do you mean by saying that expanding social housing would be illegal under federal law?
Faircloth Amendment
https://nationalhomeless.org/repeal-faircloth-amendment/
Public Housing agencies aren't allowed any net increase in the number of units. (Since 1999) Hence why all these weird incentives to get private developers to build low income housing are the norm now.
Thanks. So if I understand correctly, Federal law prohibits federal funding of the expansion of public housing unit count, since 1998. That doesn’t actually make it illegal to create additional social housing, it just means that the main funding mechanism is off the table. Funding an expansion of social (governmental or otherwise) housing via other means is perfectly legal, it’s just seen as cost-prohibitive.
Yes, the HUD website seems to support that view
Another thing is that a lot of public housing authorities are well under their Faircloth limits, so money is often the principal barrier more than the law.