Democratic Socialists in NYC intend to ‘cancel rent’

In New York City this movement is led by Democratic socialist tenant organizer Phara Souffrant Forrest, who is running for State Assembly and declared victory today over incumbent Walter Mosley in the 57th District primary.

"Together, we made history by electing a socialist nurse in the middle of the worst pandemic in 100 years," Souffrant Forrest wrote.

"I’m a tenant and believe that tenants, not landlords, should democratically control their apartment buildings," Souffrant Forrest wrote on her official campaign website. "This is what it means to make housing a human right. And it’s why I’m rejecting all money from landlords and real estate interests."

Souffrant Forrest said she wants to make rent control universal for all tenants "by passing good-cause eviction and eliminating the Major Capital Improvement loophole."

Her plan is to allow tenants to collectively purchase and run their buildings as needed, "not line their landlord’s pockets."

This "community ownership" is practiced in the Washington, DC, neighbourhood of Columbia Heights where the local ordinance, the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act, stipulates that when the owner of a rental property wants to sell, they must first give tenants the opportunity to match the third-party offer and purchase with capital.

In addition, Souffrant Forrest plans to house the homeless by funding 20,000 units for those leaving shelters.

While her Democratic opponent Mosley is a co-chair of the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic, and Asian Legislative Caucus, the Democratic Socialists of America criticized the "establishment" for underestimating a "working class woman of color."

Marcela Mitaynes, another Democratic Socialist for State Assembly who defeated a long-standing incumbent in the election for the District 51 seat, congratulated Souffrant Forrest.

"The socialists are coming to Albany!" Mitaynes captioned a picture of the duo wearing #CANCELRENT masks.

It's no surprise that Green Deal economic extremist and US Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez endorsed Souffrant Forrest.

Fellow progressive "squad" member Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts jumped on the cancel culture bandwagon, further advocating for the cancellation of rent, mortgage, and student debt—essentially "cancel the economy."

However, Souffrant Forrest's own nurses' union had backed Mosley, according to Kings County Politics.