September 2023 Newsletter
Hey y’all, Happy Fall! As the seasons change, we’re digging into our local organizing to expand rent stabilization, regulate Airbnbs, and take on Poughkeepsie’s lead poisoning crisis.
And, we’re playing a lead role in the Claire Cousin for Assembly campaign! She’s a longtime housing and youth advocate challenging conservative Democrat Didi Barrett in next year’s primary for Assembly District 106, which includes large portions of Dutchess and Columbia Counties.
Organizing
Poughkeepsie is facing a dire lead poisoning crisis due to negligence from the city’s past two conservative mayors, outgoing Mayor Marc Nelson and current State Senator Rob Rolison. We’re organizing Poughkeepsie residents to support Councilwoman Megan Deichler’s “Get the Lead Out!” ordinance that would mandate that the city replace all of its lead pipes in the next 10 years. Come to the Common Council Meeting on October 2 to show your support for the bill!
Newburgh and the Village of New Paltz are close to opting into rent stabilization! Once these municipalities opt-in, we’ll need all hands on deck to canvass tenants and let them know their rights. Sign up to chat with our Newburgh organizer, Rene Mejia, or our Ulster County organizer, Diana Lopez!
We’re also launching a rent stabilization campaign in Middletown! Sign up to chat with our Middletown organizer, Vanessa Cid, about getting involved.Last month, the Kingston Common Council responded to our Homes Are Not Hotels campaign by passing a new zoning code that could cut the number of vacation rentals in Kingston by HALF. Now we’re organizing to keep the pressure up on the county legislature to pass their own housing justice bills. If you want to get involved, sign up to chat with our Ulster County organizer, Diana Lopez!
Claire Cousin
We’ve endorsed longtime housing and youth advocate Claire Cousin for Assembly District 106 against conservative Democrat Didi Barrett, and we’ve already started organizing!
Come to our Hudson Organizing Meeting every Tuesday from 6-8pm at Lil’ Deb’s Oasis or knock doors with us in the Town of Poughkeepsie on Saturdays from 2-5pm!
