Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s squad could be expanding into the City Council.
The Democratic Socialists of America on Saturday endorsed six candidates for Council seats in a bid to “take over” the city.
The biggest name of the six is former public defender and Queens District Attorney candidate Tiffany Caban, who nearly upset then-Borough President Melinda Katz in the Democratic primary.
Caban and others endorsed by the NYC-DSA had to answer a detailed questionnaire covering the group’s platform, which was shared with The Post.
The platform includes efforts to defund the police, curb or eliminate “broken windows” and community policing, decriminalizing sex work and reduce the number of jails, prisons and inmates, an effort they’re labeling “decarceration.”
The group also seeks to raise city income taxes on the wealthy; limit charter schools; allow illegal immigrants the right to vote; scrapping tax breaks for developers and supports the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement against Israel.
If elected, its candidates would be discouraged from taking paid trips to the Jewish state.
In addition to Caban, the other candidates endorsed by NYC-DSA are Adolfo Abreu in District 14 in the Bronx; Jaslin Kaur in Queens’ District 22 and 23 in Queens respectively; and in Brooklyn, Michael Hollingsworth District 35, Alexa Aviles in District 38 and Brandon West in District 39.
“Last week, we elected a slate of socialist legislators to represent working people up in Albany,” said Sumathy Kumar, NYC-DSA Co-Chair. “Now we’re doing the same right here in New York City.”
“The six members of the NYC-DSA City Council slate are the leaders this city needs as we continue to face the devastating fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Chi Anunwa, NYC-DSA Co-Chair.
“They all have deep ties to their communities and an absolute commitment to fighting alongside working New Yorkers for a democratic socialist agenda, including defunding the NYPD and funding the social infrastructure we actually need — education, healthcare and housing.”
Because of term limits, there will be a big turnover in the council, with 35 of the 51 Council seats being vacated and open to newcomers.
The DSA increased its clout in the state Legislature, with five of its endorsed candidates or DSA members winning seats: Jabari Brisport in the Senate, and Phara Souffrant Forrest, Marcela Mitaynes, Zohran Mamdani and Emily Gallagher in the Assembly.