Lauren Ashcraft: “This is the home of billionaire row and thousands of people are sleeping on the street”

Lauren Ashcraft is running for the US House to represent New York’s 12th congressional district. The district encompasses the wealthiest zip code in the United States – the Upper East Side – as well as parts of lower Manhattan and western Queens. She is primarying Rep. Carolyn Maloney, who is serving her 14th term in Congress and is the current chair of the House Oversight Committee. A comedian and former project manager for JP Morgan Chase, Ashcraft identifies as a democratic socialist, advocating for a Green New Deal, Medicare-for-All, canceling student debt and universal child care. She has been endorsed by Brand New Congress, former presidential candidate Marianne Williamson, and the New York chapter of US Youth Climate Strike. We interviewed Lauren several months ago in Long Island City, Queens where we discussed the staggering levels of wealth inequality within the district and her top legislative priorities if she were to win her race.  openDemocracy is a small non-profit journalism outfit, not funded by dark money or lucrative sponsorship, so we depend on regular donations from our listeners. If you enjoyed this podcast and would like to donate, click here: http://bit.ly/3bb06Os