By Hadassa Kalatizadeh
A group of New York’s left, including the NYC chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), is on a mission to pressure local Democratic politicians into joining a bid to aggressively increase taxes for the upper classes.
As reported by the NY Post, the progressive group aligned with US Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, is looking to coerce Sen. Liz Krueger, the powerful Upper East Side liberal, to support the extra taxes. Krueger, 63, represents District 28 comprised of Manhattan’s East Side which has more millionaires and billionaires than anywhere else in NY. Krueger, first elected in 2002, chairs the state Senate Finance Committee. So far, the senator has declined to help them with their tax agenda, as per a report by the DSA chapter, New York Communities for Change and other left groups. “With responsibility comes accountability,” said NYCC head Jonathan Westin. “Sen. Krueger has been back-tracking on her commitments.”
“Sen. Krueger holds a lot of power. She’s in a unique position”, added DSA-NYC co-chair Chi Anuwa. “We have not seen the political will to push Gov. Cuomo on the tax issue.” The DSA likely feels a rush of confidence, after gaining clout when six of its candidates won seats in the state Legislature this year. The group also endorsed six NYC Council candidates, which it hopes will be elected next year to aid them in pushing their agendas.
The group’s plans include: tax increases on residents earning above $1 million annually; making billionaires pay income tax on their investment gains; a pied-a-terre tax on non-primary residences worth over $5 million; and stock transfer and buyback taxes. “As the threat of 20 percent cuts loom across localities, the chairwoman has yet to support a package of measures that would raise much-needed revenue for the state by taxing the ultra-rich,” the activists said in their report on Krueger obtained by The Post. The leftist coalition admits that Krueger has been a committed liberal during her extensive political career, but complains about her failure to push for more taxes on the wealthy.
“I have not been silent and have met with many groups supporting many different revenue proposals,’’ Krueger told The Post, responding to the criticism. “I always make clear publicly and privately that I support progressive taxation which means those who can pay more should pay more.” She added, “I am proud of my liberal record and commitments throughout my life, long before I was a senator. I know who I am, I know what I’m doing”.
