What is NYC-DSA?
NYC-DSA is the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America – the largest socialist organization in the US. We are a democratic, mass member organization which uses a variety of tactics to fight for reforms that empower working people.
If you want to get more involved with NYC-DSA you can join here, or sign up for a DSA 101 here. If you are a member and have more questions, you can sign up for an onboarding reach out below.
For a full list of upcoming events, check out our chapter calendar.
About Us
Victories
when we fight, we win
NYC-DSA has won major victories for working people at the city and state level.
Electing Socialists
NYC-DSA has endorsed eleven elected officials in total, including one House of Representatives Member, three New York State Senators, five New York State Assembly members and two New York City Council Members.
Most recently, our endorsed candidate Zohran Mamdani won the Democratic primary for mayor.
Passing Major Climate Legislation
After a multi-year campaign led by NYC-DSA & the Public Power Coalition, New York passed the Build Public Renewables Act (BPRA) in 2023 – the biggest Green New Deal victory in US history and labeled ‘the biggest challenge yet to the fossil fuel industry.
Strengthening Rent Laws
NYC-DSA, working with the Housing Justice For All (HJ4A) coalition, was a major figure in the fight to pass a set of rent laws in 2019. These included limits on security deposits, restrictions on landlords’ ability to revert rent stabilized apartments to market rate and protections against evictions.
Stopping Dirty Gas Plants
In 2021 NYC-DSA organizers were able to block the company NRG from opening a dirty gas plant in Astoria. The campaign included rallies, getting local politicians to sign onto letters against the plant and thousands of comments sent in by community members against the project during the approval process.
Fighting Austerity
In 2021 NYC-DSA campaigned against the threat of an austerity budget and won billions of dollars of tax and spending increases. Included in the budget was a millionaires tax, $2.4 billion dollars of rent relief and a $2.1 billion ‘excluded workers fund’ constituting relief for undocumented workers not covered by Federal COVID stimulus.
Our Structure
Our structure
For a more comprehensive understanding of our structure, especially our leadership, read our bylaws and consult our structure page as an additional resource.
Leadership
Our chapter leadership bodies are the Steering Committee (SC) and the Citywide Leadership Committee (CLC). The Steering Committee is responsible for the day to day administration of the chapter and overseeing campaigns, as well as supporting the branches. The Citywide Leadership Committee sets the political strategy for the organization.
To contact the NYC-DSA Steering Committee, email info@socialists.nyc.
We also run bi-annual chapter conventions which are considered our highest leadership body and may vote to amend our bylaws, among other powers.
Branches
Branches are subdivisions of the chapter created to facilitate our internal democracy, but are not considered independent organizations. Branches are tasked with holding regular meetings, and provide a local way for members to engage with the organization.
You can learn more about our branches and sign up for an upcoming social or meeting here.
Working Groups & Campaigns
Working Groups organize around specific issues or affinity groups and they usually have their own elected Organizing Committees (OCs). Working groups often organize or help contribute to chapter campaigns.
A partial list of active working groups can be found here.
Clubs & Culture
As a community-oriented, mass membership organization we pride ourselves on our internal life and social culture. As such, we sponsor numerous clubs, shows, town halls and other community events. Most of our events are open to non-members and can be located on our chapter calendar.
A partial list of active affinity groups, clubs and cultural organizations can be found here.
YDSA
YDSA is our youth section focused on organizing on college campuses. We have several YDSA chapters throughout the city – check out their website to see if there is a chapter at your school.
Behavior & Expectations
Behavior and Expectations
NYC-DSA strictly enforces its Code of Conduct and has high expectations for member behavior. The chapter is also compliant with national DSA’s harassment policy.
Conflict Resolution
Our Grievance Committee offers facilitated conversations and consultations to help mediate conflict between comrades or groups of members. They are also responsible for handling more significant issues such as Code of Conduct violations and grievances.
Reach out to the Grievance Committee at mediation@socialists.nyc for consultation on any conflicts that may arise and to request mediation. Reach out at grievance@socialists.nyc to initiate the Grievance process or the Code of Conduct violation process.
Acronyms & Glossary
As a large, highly-active organization NYC-DSA has many sub-groups and campaigns. As such, our conversations can sometimes be difficult to follow. This is a list of common abbreviations and a glossary of common terms which may be useful for new members.
Acronyms & Abbreviations
Structure
- SC: Steering Committee (Local Leadership)
- CLC: Citywide Leadership Committee (Local Leadership)
- SIO: Socialists in Office Committee
- MC: Membership Committee
- OC: Organizing Committee (General Term)
- WG: Working Group (General Term)
- B/UM: Bronx / Upper Manhattan Branch
- NBK: North Brooklyn Branch
- CBK: Central Brooklyn Branch
- SBK: South Brooklyn Branch
- LowMan: Lower Manhattan Branch
campaigns, Strategies & Legislation
- NOOD: Not on Our Dime
- NMFM: No Money For Massacres
- BTC: Break The Chain
- TTR: Tax The Rich
- RnF/R&F: Rank And File (Strategy)
- M4A: Medicare For All
- BPRA: Build Public Renewables Act (Legislation)
National Bodies & Related Organizations
- NPC: National Political Committee (National Leadership)
- NEC: National Electoral Committee
- NLC: National Labor Commission
- GNDCC: Green New Deal Campaign Committee
- IC: International Committee
- EWOC: Emergency Workplace Organizing Committee
Organizing Terms Glossary
Bottom-lining: Making sure a task is accomplished. A ‘bottom liner’ may not necessarily be the person doing the task, and may delegate it or portions of it.
One-on-one (1:1/1-1): A conversation between members intended to inform or organize.
Rank and file: Membership of an organization (such as DSA or unions), as distinct from leadership.
Organizing Conversation: Another term for a 1-1.
Stack: In a meeting, “stack” refers to the queue or order of individuals waiting to make comments or contributions. It determines the sequence in which people will speak, ensuring everyone gets a chance to participate.
Taking Stack: Setting the stack order.
Progressive stack: Prioritizing individuals from marginalized or underrepresented groups when taking stack. May also include de-prioritizing individuals who have already spoken in a meeting.