New York Green Party

New York Green Party. The New York Green Party is a Green Party (United States) affiliate and has been active in New York State politics since its founding in 1992 by Howie Hawkins and other Green Party of the United States members, including John Rensenbrink and Murray Bookchin. The party has run candidates in various elections, including United States presidential elections, United States Senate elections, and New York State Assembly elections, often with the support of other progressive organizations like the Working Families Party and the Democratic Socialists of America. The party's ideology is rooted in Green politics, Eco-socialism, and Progressivism, and is affiliated with the Global Greens.

● History

The New York Green Party was founded in 1992 by a group of activists, including Howie Hawkins, who would later become a prominent figure in the party, running for Governor of New York and United States President on the Green Party (United States) ticket, with the support of Ralph Nader and Winona LaDuke. The party's early years were marked by a focus on environmentalism and social justice, with candidates like Al Lewis running for Governor of New York and United States Senate on a platform of progressive policies, including support for the African National Congress and opposition to the North American Free Trade Agreement. The party has also been involved in various social movements, including the anti-war movement and the labor movement, with connections to organizations like the AFL-CIO and the Teamsters.

● Platform

The New York Green Party platform is based on the Ten Key Values of the Green Party (United States), which include grassroots democracy, social justice, ecological wisdom, and nonviolence, as outlined by Charlene Spretnak and Fritjof Capra. The party supports a range of policies, including single-payer healthcare, free public education, and renewable energy, with inspiration from the work of Noam Chomsky and Naomi Klein. The party also advocates for workers' rights, immigrant rights, and LGBTQ+ rights, with connections to organizations like the Service Employees International Union and the Human Rights Campaign. The party's platform is influenced by the work of Murray Bookchin and other eco-socialist thinkers, as well as the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.

● Elections

The New York Green Party has run candidates in various elections, including United States presidential elections, United States Senate elections, and New York State Assembly elections, often with the support of other progressive organizations like the Working Families Party and the Democratic Socialists of America. In 2010, Howie Hawkins ran for Governor of New York on the Green Party (United States) ticket, receiving over 59,000 votes, with endorsements from Ralph Nader and Cornel West. In 2014, Hawkins ran again for Governor of New York, this time receiving over 184,000 votes, with support from Bernie Sanders and the Vermont Progressive Party. The party has also run candidates for United States Congress, including Matt Funiciello and Daniel Vila Rivera, with connections to organizations like the Progressive Democrats of America.

● Organization

The New York Green Party is a grassroots organization with a decentralized structure, inspired by the work of Caroline Lucas and the Green Party of England and Wales. The party has a state committee that coordinates the party's activities and makes decisions on party policy, with input from Green Party (United States) leaders like Jill Stein and Cheri Honkala. The party also has local chapters and committees that organize and run campaigns at the local level, with connections to organizations like the National Organization for Women and the Sierra Club. The party's organization is influenced by the principles of participatory democracy and consensus decision-making, as outlined by Jo Freeman and Starhawk.

● Notable_members

The New York Green Party has a number of notable members, including Howie Hawkins, who has run for Governor of New York and United States President on the Green Party (United States) ticket, with endorsements from Noam Chomsky and Oliver Stone. Other notable members include Peter LaVenia, who has run for United States Congress and New York State Assembly, with support from The Nation and the Progressive Change Campaign Committee. The party has also been supported by notable figures like Ralph Nader, Winona LaDuke, and Cornel West, who have spoken at party events and endorsed party candidates, along with Medea Benjamin and the Code Pink organization.

● Local_chapters

The New York Green Party has local chapters and committees throughout the state, including in New York City, Buffalo, New York, and Rochester, New York, with connections to organizations like the New York City Central Labor Council and the Buffalo Teachers Federation. These local chapters and committees organize and run campaigns at the local level, often in coalition with other progressive organizations like the Working Families Party and the Democratic Socialists of America. The party's local chapters are also involved in various social movements, including the anti-war movement and the labor movement, with inspiration from the work of Howard Zinn and the Zapatista Army of National Liberation. The party's local chapters are an important part of the party's grassroots structure, allowing the party to build support and organize campaigns at the local level, with support from organizations like the AFL-CIO and the National Education Association.