AHC: The Red Apple

What would it take for New York City to have a record for radical left wing, if not socialist, politics with Radical mayors and left wing policies? This would be similar to Red Berlin and Red Vienna in the 1920s and early 1930s. I will also accept answers set in the future with a DSA backer mayor and DSA councilmembers and borough presidents.
 

nbcman

Donor
OTL NYC wobbles close to there with the Bloomberg attempted Soda Ban to the De Blasio Green New Deal. NYC relative to a substantial portion of the US has been seen for many years as a left leaning if not downright socialist.
 
OTL NYC wobbles close to there with the Bloomberg attempted Soda Ban to the De Blasio Green New Deal. NYC relative to a substantial portion of the US has been seen for many years as a left leaning if not downright socialist.

Careful or you might step in current politics.

As for my answer...NYC has been a big blob of immigration and people moving there for a better life. The right mix of disaffected workers and people disillusioned with the political establishment could easily make NYC a hotbed of communism, especially during the 1930s when the US had more communist sympathizers...y’know, Depression and all.
 
A good start would be preventing the expulsion of the Socialist assemblymen of the New York State Assembly. All five were re-elected in special elections following their expulsion, which would indicate a degree of popular support for them, though they were eventually expelled and/or resigned in protest soon after. Having them retain their seats, whilst still having a large and public battle over their right to sit, would be a good start for building up a lasting base.
 

nbcman

Donor
Careful or you might step in current politics.

As for my answer...NYC has been a big blob of immigration and people moving there for a better life. The right mix of disaffected workers and people disillusioned with the political establishment could easily make NYC a hotbed of communism, especially during the 1930s when the US had more communist sympathizers...y’know, Depression and all.
Yes, it is difficult to discuss the Politics of NYC in the past, present or future without going into current politics which is why the discussion thread should be in the Chat forum.

I like your time frame for a POD. Maybe if Stalin didn't cut off collaboration with western socialists in the late 1920s the number of communists would remain higher. Plus US communist membership took a blow due to the M-R pact and their agitation against the US assisting the western countries before 22 June 1941.
 
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