Last month, some Greater NYC for Change members jumped into a uniquely independent, collaborative political action project at Occupy Wall Street.  We encourage you to join this group Tuesday to deliver petition signatures at “Occupy for Education.”  Help send a strong message to Cuomo on the Millionaire’s Tax!

WHEN:            Tuesday, November 8, 3:30-5:30

New Yorkers To Deliver Petition to Governor Cuomo on Election Day. Over 2,000 New Yorkers Signed Petition for Millionaire’s Tax at Occupy Wall Street.

On Election Day, Tuesday, November 8 at his New York City office, Governor Andrew Cuomo will receive over 2,000 signatures from constituents arguing for extending the Millionaire’s Tax beyond December 31, 2011.

The signatures were collected by an unaffiliated group of activists at a “Political Action Table” in Zuccotti Park, the heart of the Occupy Wall Street protests. The table occupied a spot in the park from October 2 through October 30, and volunteers gathered signatures for fair taxation and against hydro-fracking, offered voter registration forms, and provided phone numbers for constituents to speak out to elected officials.

While Occupy Wall Street has no legislative agenda, activists at the Political Action Table found themselves welcomed and encouraged by the culture of free speech and community engagement at Zuccotti Park. A diverse group of volunteers, occupiers, and curious newcomers engaged in passionate conversations about rising economic disparity and tax policy. The overwhelming sentiment favoring the existing millionaire’s tax is a limited but vital and immediate response to the international movement for solidarity with the 99%. Many who signed the petitions expressed deep concern for school children, seniors, the disabled, and public sector employees who face almost $5 billion in additional budget cuts if the tax ends as planned.

The Millionaire’s Tax, once thought a dead issue, has been revived by voices rising from the Occupy Wall Street movement. At the now-daily marches and rallies throughout New York, slogans against “Governor 1%” have framed a stark contrast between the governor’s position on the Millionaire’s Tax and the views of the majority of his constituents. A recent Siena poll found that 72% of New Yorkers prefer that the Governor set aside political pressure from the richest taxpayers and uphold his responsibility to all New Yorkers by extending the tax surcharge.

The unaffiliated group who collected the signatures will deliver them while joining the “Occupy for Education” event at Governor Cuomo’s New York City office at 633 Third Avenue this Tuesday, Election Day, at 3:30 p.m. The event is intended to raise awareness of the $1.4 billion in cuts for New York City schools alone that will result from the tax cut for the most affluent taxpayers. The event organizers point out that budget cuts will further deprive students of their basic right to education promised by elected leaders so as to ensure a stable and thriving society.

The letter accompanying the petitions calls on the governor to “act as you have in the past, as a leader who responds to the needs of constituents, even when that means going against a powerful minority.” “Your constituents,” it continues, “overwhelmingly support a continuation of the “Millionaire’s Tax” surcharge that allows New York State to uphold its obligations to fund vital services, avoid further job losses in the public sector, and respond to the needs of the 99%.”

Further information about the Political Action Table at Occupy Wall Street can be found at www.occupywallstreetkit.com.

Contact: amymiller3@gmail.com.