Finally!
February is over, and I've been anxious about it because, for the next 60 days, we candidates needs to hit the pavement and collect signatures—the only true measure of support.
This is the time when we petition our fellow New Yorkers for the right to have our names on the ballot.
This is an all-hands-on-deck moment to rally the Social Democrats of America and our allies!For the first day of petitioning, we set up our Social Democratic table in Times Square, where many comrades from around the world stopped by to say hello.
You can find the names of the candidates as they join our Progressive Alliance here and Social Democrats of America here.
For the first day of petitioning we placed our Social Democratic table on Time Square and many comrades from around the world came to say hello.
It was a fitting tribute to our comrade from the Austrian SPÖ who designed the SDA and RepMyBlock logos. She was a student of Bronx native Milton Glaser, the designer of the iconic I ♥ NY logo.
We also displayed our Draft AOC sign, and many passersby were receptive to the idea of drafting Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for president in 2028.
Several distinguished guests stopped by our table, including Michaël Delafosse, Mayor of Montpellier from the French Socialist Party, and City Councilwoman Stephania Duarte Federico of Hermosillo, Sonora, from the Morena Party, along with many other comrades.
A special surprise was meeting the brother of the creator of my first computer game, L’Aigle d’Or (The Golden Eagle).
He told me about the game they are developing, Geo-Political Simulator, and we discussed how the SDA, as the Socialist Caucus within the Democratic Party, could be included as a small faction in the next release of game.
You can check it out at https://www.geo-political-simulator-5.com.
Learn from my mistakes!
I want to say to every candidate for Mayor out there: learn from my mistakes and consider an alternative path.
I’ll be honest—I was ignorant when I first got involved in U.S. politics.
I didn’t know who Michael Harrington or Kwame Ture were. In fact, I only discovered Kwame Ture yesterday when I stumbled upon his lecture at the University of Georgia.
This highlights my ignorance of many of the people who followed my grandfather, James Farmer, and the other co-founders of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE).
But I’ve been politically active, knocking on doors since 1986.
I think I understand why you're out there—it’s what I did in 2005. But back then, I was collecting signatures in August, not in the frigid cold of February.
Registering with the CFB and declaring your candidacy is easy. Collecting 3,750 signatures? That’s the real challenge.
When I ran for Mayor in 2005 as a Green Party candidate, I collected 6,000 signatures.
My focus was on exposing the corruption in the Democratic or Republican Party, because that was what the Leftist told me to do.
None of those leftists told me about Michael Harrington.
Instead, they told me how my French Socialist Party wasn’t actually a Socialist party despite the name being Socialist Party.
I even debated Jimmy “The Rent is Too Damn High” McMillan. As a young 30-something Socialist, I thought he was a fool.
Now, I realize I was the fool, but he was wrong in working only outside the party system.
Kwame Ture put it perfectly:
“Once you go in there, and you know properly the truth, and you have an organization which continues to aid you in your ideological struggle—because if you are going by yourself, with all the honesty and integrity, you will come out probably corrupt. The best you can do is maybe walk out without being corrupted.”
Jimmy succumbed to the weight of the system. Power and fame corrupt. I see that in our own SDA candidates like Paperboy Love Prince, and myself.
But the organization that supports me in my ideological struggle is the Socialist International—the same one that supports Pedro Sánchez and countless others.
As candidates for office, I’m not asking you to join my organization.
I’m asking that we work together using the Rep My Block tools inside both the Democratic and Republican parties.
When I ran in 2005, I chose the Green Party because, on paper, it aligned with my values. But I didn’t realize how toxic that environment was—and still is.
Their manipulation even caused a rift with my brother that lasted ten years. The truth is, they aren’t even recognized by the Global Greens.
I also collected 6,000 signatures on the New York Independence line, believing they understood the New York Democratic system. Twenty years later, I realize they didn’t.
Michael Harrington figured it out, but unlike me, he didn’t have a Bernie or an AOC to blaze the trail.
You’re running to be a leader—so lead.
Learn from my mistakes. That’s what this message is about.
As the leader of the Socialist Faction in the Democratic Party, it’s my job to show the way. For six years, I’ve been paving the path to build a real Socialist movement in the United States, using every crumb left by American Socialists before me.
We even created this manifesto: https://www.socialists.us/docs/2022-09-21-SocialistManifesto.pdf.
I wouldn’t have seen the path clearly without the guidance of Michael Harrington—discovered late in my journey because many so-called Socialist groups, including DSA, hid his writings from me.
To every mayoral candidate: learn from my mistakes. Listen carefully to the words of Michael Harrington.
You don’t have to sacrifice your independent values to work within the Democratic or Republican parties. Rep My Block ensures that. It also connects you with others who share your values.
But beware—some will try to weaponize the system, just like Gregory Meeks uses New York’s electoral system to silence opponents.
This month’s call to action is simple:
If you know an activist in NYC, have them email progressive@register.repmyblock.org and follow the instructions. Everything they need is on there and follow the instructions they’ll receive. Everything they need to know is posted on the Rep My Block website.
The core problem—and the solution—is simple.
Activist leaders worldwide have criticized me because I didn’t “kiss asses” to get here. I saw an opening in NYC and declared myself the leader of the Socialists in the Democratic Party.
When grassroots Liberal activists face demands for transparency, they often respond dismissively.
What gives me legitimacy?
Over 20 years of membership and active participation in the French Socialist Party.
I didn’t ask for permission to run for leadership within the Democratic Party.
Liberals have tried to smear me, but I’ve been at this too long to care.
The worst kinds of Liberals—just like Communists—spread rumors and lies with false authority when they dislike someone.
Listen to the full podcast on SoundCloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/nSEFMVafWoEky4f79.
Yes, I’ve been terrorizing Liberals and Communists—and I’m proud because they did it to me first.
I took a page from Steve Bannon’s playbook. I’m doing what he did—but inside the Democratic Party.
Think Bannon failed?
Consider this: he managed to win the Presidency, the House, the Senate, the Supreme Court, 27 out of 50 governorship, and control over 27 state legislatures.
The Right controls everything, and now Liberals want us to protest under the 50501 movement? Protest what?
The global Left needs to wake up, stop whining, and figure out how to mobilize people in Manhattan and Staten Island.
I spent hours with Liberal Ben Yee dissecting the County Committee. Our conclusion? We need to de-weaponize the Board of Elections.
The Democratic Party is a big tent.
In blue states, it stretches from Conservatives to Anarchists. In red states, it includes Left-wing Socialists to Anarchists.
Despite what people think, the Democratic and Republican parties are the most democratic grassroots organizations—if you know where to look.
An ideological faction’s strength isn’t measured by fundraising. It’s measured by how many activists run for the Democratic Party’s Board.
What’s next?
On April 4th, I will submit all the SDA petitions to the Board of Elections.
I’ll use the tool I built — Rep My Block — grab my clipboard, and knock on thousands of doors, inviting others to do the same.
As a candidate for Public Advocate, I recently spoke for 15 minutes about Socialism in front of the a group of various Brooklyn Reform Democrats.
How can you help?
Share the Rep My Block link with the PBS documentary any friend or family member living in New York City.
Convince them to run for the Board of the Manhattan or Staten Island Democratic Party, or the New York City Republican Party.
Have them follow the instructions here: https://repmyblock.org/howto and email progressive@register.repmyblock.org — I’ll take care of the rest.
If Socialists keep bickering over scraps instead of uniting, we’ll never move forward.
I’ll evaluate activists based on their willingness to learn and do the work.
MAGA started on February 19, 2009.
I followed on November 18, 2015.
The question is:
Will you help me recruit for the County Committee, or will you just talk, talk, and talk?
All that is needed to start is to email to progressive@register.repmyblock.org ! (check your spam box.)
If you managed to get to the end, I leave you with this anti-fascist rendition of Bella Ciao by Palestinian performer Azza Zarour.
In solidarity,
Hasta la victoria, ¡siempre!
Theo
PS: to get involved, watch this documentary on PBS https://pbs.org/show/county
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Theo Chino
Acting First National Secretary of the Social Democrats of America
Committee of the Second Socialist International