Above Photo: From erikmcgregorphotography.blogspot.com
New York, NY – Hundreds of New Yorkers joined NYC progressive groups on a mock “Voters Over Donors” birthday party outside Governor Cuomo’s 60th birthday fundraiser event on December 14, 2017 at Cipriani Wall Street, demanding he puts renewable energy, affordable housing, and voters over his Wall Street donors.
The “Voters Over Donors” event highlights how Cuomo’s failure to enact major legislation is hurting New Yorkers. Cuomo’s Voters called on the governor to strengthen rent laws and invest in housing for the homeless; halt all fracking infrastructure, move to 100% renewable energy and institute a fee on corporate climate polluters; and fix New York’s democracy by passing a true voting rights agenda and immediately ending the IDC’s collusion with Senate Republicans.
The climate crisis and the housing crisis are linked. Rising sea levels will displace over 400,000 New Yorkers in the next thirty years. Homelessness is already at historic highs. Rising rents are forcing people out of their homes. Cuomo isn’t doing enough to stop it. 
Prominent NYC progressive groups such as 350BK, 350NYC, Democratic Socialists of America, Food and Water Watch, NY Communities for Change (NYCC), NY Progressive Action Network (NYPAN), NY Renews, NYS Tenants and Neighbors, Sane Energy Project, and VOCAL-NY hosted a mock 60th birthday celebration outside Governor Cuomo’s fundraiser to denounce his policies focused on only benefiting his wealthy real estate donors over the people of New York State.
Organizers stated: “We’ll be calling on Cuomo to walk the talk on climate change by stopping fossil fuel infrastructure and leading a transition to 100 percent renewable energy. We’ll demand he radically expand tenant protections across the state by closing loopholes in rent regulation laws and passing statewide just cause eviction bills. We call for a pathway out of the homeless shelters by providing real voucher programs for the most economically vulnerable New Yorkers. “
Participants wore birthday hats, delivered large birthday presents containing banners with their demands, delivered also a large replica “Voters Over Donors” birthday cake, and sang birthday songs w/lyrics focused on climate and housing.