THE BRONX – With state budget negotiations underway, Assemblywoman Sarahana Shrestha (D, Esopus) joined Senator Bernie Sanders and the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) on Sunday to press Governor Hochul to raise takes and large corporations.
The rally at Lehman College was organized by New York City DSA, New York State Nurses Association, PSC-CUNY, United Auto Workers, Invest in Our New York and Desis Rising Up & Moving. Approximately 2,000 people attended the rally.
“It should be obvious to anyone paying attention that the outright dismantling of democracy that’s happening in this country, and the rise of fascism, has everything to do with lack of economic justice,” Shrestha said. “What we have is a red alert crisis of our democracy, where the rejection of the status quo is so high, it has led to apathy and an alarming shift to the right wing.”
Sanders, who represents Vermont, noted at the event that billionaires currently pay a lower effective tax rate, taxes paid as a percentage of income, than the average worker. Elon Musk, the wealthiest man on the planet, paid an effective tax rate of less than 3.3 percent, while the average truck driver paid an effective tax rate of 8.4 percent. Jeff Bezos, the fourth wealthiest man alive, paid an effective tax rate of less than one percent, while the average firefighter paid a tax rate of 8.7 percent. Michael Bloomberg, the wealthiest man in New York, paid an effective tax rate of just 1.3 percent, while the average registered nurse paid a tax rate of 13.3 percent.
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