To be powerful as an organization, JFREJ plans our campaigns strategically. One strategic consideration is the passion and level of commitment within our membership base. If you are brimming with capacity and/or excitement (that might become capacity in the future) to work on these strategic campaigns, tell us about it!
This information from you will help us to plan. After this temp check by membership, JFREJ member leadership will bring a final proposal to be voted on by the full membership at the January Membership assembly.
JFREJ went through a campaign selection process in the fall of 2024 and decided that one of our 5785/2025 goals was electing a progressive mayor – someone with the power to help us achieve our vision of a New York for all. And we succeeded! As we begin 5786 and gear up for 2026, we’re going through another campaign selection process to determine JFREJ’s organizing priorities starting in January, when Zohran Mamdani will be the mayor of New York City.
We are thinking about four possible priority campaigns for this upcoming year, and as we go through this process of engaging wider membership, we will continue to refine our plan and assess our capacity. These potential campaigns were identified from a wider set of options by JFREJ members who are in formal leadership roles in our various teams and campaign working groups (WGs). They were selected based on conversations with movement partners, and where members felt JFREJ would be able to make the most unique impact.
This is where you come in. We want to know which of these campaigns most resonate for you as a JFREJer, and what you’d be most excited to help shape and make happen. When selecting, therefore, think about the campaign(s) that you think are most strategic for JFREJ to be involved in, and also the campaign(s) that you personally would volunteer your time to work on.
Each member gets two chips. You can spread your chip-energy across two campaigns, or throw all your chips in one basket. You must be a dues paying member to participate in this temp check.
The four potential campaigns are:
END Deportations / ICE out of NY
Problem: Deportation of our neighbors, increased presence of ICE/National Guard as a militarized police force.
Campaign: Passing legislation that strengthens protections for immigrants in NYC and across the state while building up teams to protect immigrants locally and in the courts.
Tax the Rich to Fund Childcare & Defend Care from Trump’s Cuts
Problem: Rising cost of childcare, massive cuts to healthcare
Campaign: Tax the rich to fund universal childcare & defend care from Trump’s cuts.
Elect Progressive Champions to Office*
Problem: Lack of action from Centrist Dems, ongoing starvation and genocide in Gaza backed by millions of US dollars, rise of fascism here and abroad, expanding federal budget for ICE operations
Campaign: Supporting values aligned progressive candidates who are primarying centrist, Corporate- backed Democratic candidates in Congressional races.
* Because JFREJ is a 501(c)(4) organization, intervening in elections cannot be our primary purpose, but we still hope to determine if the membership wants this to be one of our goals
Non-Police Hate Violence Prevention in NYC
Problem: Rise in antisemitism and other hate violence; bad faith accusations of antisemitism directed at Zohran and his administration.
Campaign: Pass a strong budget for non-carceral, community-based Hate Violence Prevention work in NYC CIty Council & help shape what that work looks like