Mike Drop: WHO, WHAT, WHEN, HOW, by Mike Racioppo

Based on President Obama’s approval rating (in the mid 50’s), the shrinking unemployment rate (now 4.6%), other positive factors, and the vulgar and unqualified bigot the Republicans had nominated, I figured election night would be one of celebration for progressives such as myself. Clearly, despite Hillary Clinton receiving 2.5 million more votes than Donald Trump,  I was wrong. We now have President-Elect Trump.

The next few years are going to be a pretty rough stretch. For anyone thinking “give Trump a chance,” I’d suggest looking at the fact that avowed Nazis and White Supremacists are celebrating the people, such as Steve Bannon, that Trump has asked to serve in his administration.

So what to do now?  I have a few ideas.

When it all boils down, as Harold Lawell said, politics is “who gets what, when, and how.” In the Trump era, especially as Republicans have complete control of congress, progressives are not going to be the ”who”  in determining the what, when or how. Let’s also not forget that the Republican Party has won the popular vote in a presidential election only once since 1988 (Bush in 2004 in the midst of war).

For this reason we have to fight from the ground up, organize better than ever, and do it everywhere possible.

I have a few suggestions for how to do that here in Brooklyn.

First, join a political club. Political clubs are organizations that work to bring together  likeminded people, or at least those with overlapping goals such as electing a specific candidate, through necessary work  and involvement such as petitioning, phone banking and other activities.

I’m biased, but I’d say the Independent Neighborhood Democrats is amongst the best to join. Sign up for the email notifications of meetings and other news. If you read this prior to December 5, send an email to INDbrooklyn.org@gmail.com and find out how you can phone bank with IND to help Foster Campbell, who is challenging Republican John Kennedy for Louisiana’s Senate seat. If Campbell wins, he’d push the ratio of Senate Republicans to Democrats from 52–48 to 51–49, no small feat. You can be sure Trump and his allies are going to do all they can to make sure the GOP keeps that seat. We may not win, but better results will come from persistent communication and organization.

For a list of clubs around the city – check out Gotham Gazette’s comprehensive list.

In the same vein, I’d recommend signing up for the #getorganizedbk meetings Councilman Lander has put together in the wake of the election.

Engagement in the more local and civic sphere is a great way of moving forward. I’d say getting involved with your local Community Board is an excellent start. This is another instance in which I am biased (as it says below, I am the vice chair of Brooklyn Community Board 6). Community boards are official advisory bodies that weigh in on issues such as granting liquor licenses, transportation issues, public safety and land use issues such as rezonings and variances.

Find your community board here.

And speaking of land use, the last, but by no means least, recommendation I’d make is to sign up and get involved with the NYC Department of Planning’s Gowanus Neighborhood Planning Study.  The next meeting is on December 8 at Wyckoff Gardens at 6:30PM with a focus on resiliency and sustainability.

I didn’t think my post-election column was going to be a to do list for resistance. I thought I’d be writing with pride about how as a country, we had elected our first female president and that the future of our life on this planet, while at risk, was on a sustainable path. Until the next election we may not be able to affect the “who” “how,” or “what” of politics and policies, but I can tell you when we must start resisting and fighting back – NOW.

Michael Racioppo is the Executive Director of Gowanus Canal Community Development Corporation and Vice Chair of Community Board 6