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As @NYCMayor declares #austerity & puts forth the possibility of tens of thousands of layoffs, it's worth noting austerity is a political choice, not destiny.
For example, instead of cutting teachers or health workers, #DefundNYPD by billions. They can spare it.
![[]As @NYCMayor declares #austerity & puts forth the possibility of tens of thousands of layoffs, it's worth noting austerity is a political choice, not destiny.For example, instead of cutting teachers or health workers, #DefundNYPD by billions. They can spare it.](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EbSMfQNXsAAWRgf.png "[]As @NYCMayor declares #austerity & puts forth the possibility of tens of thousands of layoffs, it's worth noting austerity is a political choice, not destiny.For example, instead of cutting teachers or health workers, #DefundNYPD by billions. They can spare it.")
]As @NYCMayor declares #austerity & puts forth the possibility of tens of thousands of layoffs, it's worth noting austerity is a political choice, not destiny.
For example, instead of cutting teachers or health workers, #DefundNYPD by billions. They can spare it.
NYC's 1975-1976 fiscal crisis is instructive for recalling the violent history of politicians choosing austerity.
Austerity decimated working class communities of color in NYC in the '70s, with impacts that continue to this day.
Here's some things worth reading/watching:
Austerity decimated working class communities of color in NYC in the '70s, with impacts that continue to this day.
Here's some things worth reading/watching:
Eric Lichten's book gives a movement-centered analysis of how austerity became a political choice in context of struggles in communities in the 1970s.
This book gives a key history of the Emergency Financial Control Board and theorizes the emergence of the "austerity state."
This book gives a key history of the Emergency Financial Control Board and theorizes the emergence of the "austerity state."
Mindy Fullilove and Rodrick Wallace's article on the 'serial forced displacement' discusses planned shrinkage in NYC surrounding the fiscal crisis and periodizes forced displacement, particularly as it has impacted communities of color. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3126925/
Rodrick & Deborah Wallace's 'A Plague on Your Houses: How New York City was Burned Down & National Public Health Crumbled' (pub by @VersoBooks) is the definitive chronicle of planned shrinkage in NYC.
Highlight: Their discussion of Nixons' 'benign neglect' & planned shrinkage
Highlight: Their discussion of Nixons' 'benign neglect' & planned shrinkage
For more on 'the fires' that (by policy) decimated the South Bronx in the years surrounding the Fiscal Crisis, the documentary @decadeoffire is exceptionally powerful and educational.
It's available for viewing through @PBS https://www.pbs.org/independentlens/films/decade-of-fire/
It's available for viewing through @PBS https://www.pbs.org/independentlens/films/decade-of-fire/
Rosenthal's 'In the South Bronx of America' shows both devastation faced by the South Bronx in context of austerity and community-led efforts to rebuild a neighborhood City Hall abandoned.
The introduction provides direct discussion of planned shrinkage in this context.
The introduction provides direct discussion of planned shrinkage in this context.
. @WinCurran's article on the development of Atlantic Terminal in Fort Greene in context of austerity and planned shrinkage is also an important piece.
It's available free online: https://msaag.aag.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/8_Curran.pdf
It's available free online: https://msaag.aag.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/8_Curran.pdf
Ida Susser's 'Norman Street' tells an incredible story of the (successful) struggles to save a fire house in Greenpoint, which was closed as NYC made austerity cuts and imposed shrinkage of vital services in poor and working class neighborhoods.
Roger Sanjek's book 'The Future of Us All: Race and Neighborhood Politics in Queens" looks at Corona, Queens, connecting historic austerity to the re-emergence of planned shrinkage under Giuliani.
Finally, Kim Phillips-Fein's book 'Fear City: New York's Fiscal Crisis & the Rise of Austerity Politics' is the best available overview of how austerity developed through the fiscal crisis in NYC. If there's one place to start, it's here.
