Double points for this 5-minute action, but only for the next two days
Instead of 10 points, it’s now 20 points for sharing an article and tagging your city council member
We’re 2 days away from early voting for the NYC June Primary, which also means 2 days away from the end of the Primary Bootcamp. If you haven’t gotten to 70 points yet, it’s not too late.
Reminder: once you hit 70 points, you'll get a beautiful print by a local artist and an invitation to join the Bootcamp Awards Party on July 12.
It’s now worth 20(!) Bootcamp points to tag your Council Member in a post
Why is this a Bootcamp action?
Because ultimately I want you to get on a texting basis with your Council Member. If you can do that, you can offer support for policies they’re working on, thank them for taking bold stances, and build a real line of communication. It’s like lobbying on a small scale, but more personal.
There’s no one formula for building that relationship, but showing up and showing you care is a great start. Tagging them on social media is one small step that gets you on their radar.
Easy, impactful, and now worth 20 points. Let’s go.
You can do this however you want. Write a post and tag your council member. But I’m here to make it easy for you. Here’s an article you can use, and language you can copy and paste. The finished product will look something like this:
For more information on the “moving NYC elections to even years” policy, see City and State’s article here. This isn’t actually a City Council decision– right now, it’s something that the Charter Revision Commission is considering. If they move it forward, it’ll go to us, the voters. Sharing your support for the policy is powerful, and so is nudging your City Council Member to do the same if they haven’t already! Here’s the policy details if you need more convincing:
If the commission decides to introduce proposals to shift city elections to even years and to open up primaries, the impacts could be far-reaching. City elections are currently plagued by low turnout, which has steadily dropped for more than three decades. As it stands, only a small minority of New Yorkers are having any say in who leads their city – in the case of the 2021 mayoral race, a mere 23% voted in the general election. Participation in smaller races like City Council is even lower. Aligning city elections with federal and statewide elections would also save the city an estimated $42 million every other year, according to a recent report from the city’s Independent Budget Office.
Your next steps:
Step 1. Find your City Council Member by putting your address in here.
Step 2. Find out if your Council Member supports the policy. Are they in this list?
Step 3. Repost the article with one of these messages, tagging your Council Member. You can use Twitter, BlueSky, Threads, whatever you like.
It’s a no-brainer to move our local elections to even years. It’ll save money and increase voter turnout. Grateful to my Council Member NAME for advocating for this critical reform.
It’s a no-brainer to move our local elections to even years. It’ll save money and increase voter turnout. My Council Member isn’t on the list of those who support the reform (yet!)– NAME, tagging you here so you can get on the list!
And here’s how to get credit for your work:
Step 1. Post.
Step 2. Register for the Bootcamp if you haven’t already (link here).
Step 3. Log your points (link here).
Step 4. Check your points (Unreviewed Points here | Reviewed Points here)
Shout out to the Bootcampers who hit 70 points this week!
👏
kicked off the Bootcamp strong- showing up to the Launch Party, volunteering on a campaign, and taking action at every level. She called 311 about a dangerous manhole cover (local hero alert!) and wrote to her City Councilmember to share why she’s supporting their re-election. That’s what it looks like to turn awareness into action.👏
is leveling up his civic game! He registered to vote, subscribed to New York Focus and his Community Board newsletter, researched the Comptroller race, and attended a mayoral forum at The Public Theater. Informed and engaged- Andrew is ready to vote smart.👏
is digging deep into local politics. She subscribed to New York Focus, followed her reps on social media, and looked up the bills her Councilmember is sponsoring. She’s been following the Comptroller race closely—watching debates, reading candidate platforms, and tracking endorsements to form her own opinion. Here’s her post on Bluesky tagging Mark Levine and voicing her support for his proposals!That’s it for today. I’ll be back soon with more ways to get points, learn about local issues, build community, and influence politics. 💪In the meantime, some additional resources:
On a roll logging points? Here’s the rest of the Primary Bootcamp Actions, many with how-to guides to make it easy.
Want to meet other New Yorkers that are getting involved ahead of the election? Check out the Primary Bootcamp Calendar here and even more volunteering opportunities with abundance candidates here.
Need help? Consult the Primary Bootcamp community! Join the chat: