Nov 10, 2024: Queens Mutual Aid & Reflection

Veggie Nuggets, Kaleidospace, and Street Works/MJN held a small potluck on Sunday @ 4:30pm @ 2nd Story Pilates and Yoga Studio (between 81st and 82nd on 37th ave in Jackson Heights) to start brainstorming what a local mutual aid network could look like, hold space for voter education, and generally just be together as we think about what our communities need to support justice, including climate justice, in 2025 and beyond.

• 4:30-5:30 Share & mingle

• 5:30-5:35 Welcome

• 5:35-6:05: Round Robin: Rose, thorn, & bud; Group norms

• 6:05-6:45: Breakouts

• Mutual aid brainstorm

• Political education- Post election propositions 1-6 info share

• 6:45-7:15: Group debrief & next steps

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Mutual Aid

• How should we stay focused? Manageable projects over short timeframes to start; commit to regular meetings; collaborate on setting priorities

• What should we focus on? Protecting vendors; sharing resources; info on rights & public services; affordable housing; protect Roosevelt Ave; work on Roosevelt Ave; opportunities for paid/dignified labor; supplies for children; seasonal supplies (eg, coats in winter, back to school)

• Next step: look into contributing to an existing coat drive effort

Political Education

• What do you want to stay updated on? How do we combat disinformation and misinterpretation?

• What topics do we want to activate around?

• Update on propositions 1-6, on the November 2024 ballot

  • Proposition 1 (NY state): passed: to support a constitutional amendment protecting reproductive rights. Supported by justice organization; enshrines reproductive rights in constitution.

  • Proposition 2 (NYC only): passed: to give the New York City Department of Sanitation jurisdiction over public spaces like parks and highway medians, in addition to the streets and sidewalks already under its purview. Not supported by justice organization. Will likely increase abusive and violent enforcement actions against street vendors.

  • Proposition 3: passed: to require the Council to release fiscal impact statements earlier, before it holds public hearings on a bill and require the Council notify the mayor 8 days before public hearings or votes on new legislation and enable the Mayor’s Office of Management and Budget to draft its own financial assessments of Council bills. Not supported by justice organizations, as it was largely seen part as a power grab by mayoral branch.

  • Proposition 4: passed: to require the City Council to give at least 30 days’ notice before it votes on changes to the public safety operations of the Police, Fire and Correction Dept and allow the mayor and public safety agencies to hold their own hearings on public safety bills proposed by the Council. Not supported by justice organizations as granting mayor’s office too much power over legislation meant to keep the Police, Fire & Correction in check.

  • Proposition 5: passed: to require the city to include more info about the condition of city-owned facilities and require the city to consider the maintenance needs of its facilities when it publishes annual reports every two years. Not supported by justice organizations.

  • Proposition 6: did not pass: to codify the chief business diversity officer position filled by Mr. Adams last year and give the mayor the power to change which city office issues film permits, and combine two city boards that deal with municipal archives. Not supported by justice organizations as granting more power by Mayor’s office.