Socialists hoping to unseat Democrats in Albany want to abolish private property

A slate of democratic socialists hoping to bring their anti-capitalist agenda to Albany have some thought-provoking proposals — like doing away with private property.

Boris Santos, who is mounting a primary challenge against Assemblyman Erik Dilan (D-Bushwick), floated the notion of purging private ownership of apartment buildings as a way of alleviating the city’s affordable housing crisis at a packed Crown Heights bar Saturday night as a pair of Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidates launched campaigns for state offices.

“We believe that we should eradicate private property and go to a model of collective ownership,” the 29-year-old told the crowd. “That’s why we will invest in things like community land trusts.”

Santos recently stepped down as chief of staff to state Sen. Julia Salazar (D-Brooklyn), who became the first Democratic Socialist elected to the Legislature last year. He and other DSA-endorsed candidates are trying to unseat Democrats they feel aren’t far left enough or have served for too long in Albany.

Read more: https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/ny-democratic-socialists-abolish-private-property-albany-primaries-20191007-gtpqefrosrfybpdul4dbvaf6ym-story.html