Nov. 3 will be a reckoning. One of many things could happen. There could be a blue tsunami with Democrats gaining control of not only the House of Representatives, but the U.S. Senate as well — ushering in a moment of entrenched divided government between Congress and the president.
But a blue wave could also occur with Democrats gaining control of the House, but not the Senate and, with a limited margin, will likely be able to pass little (if any legislation) with a Republican-controlled Senate.
A blue stream could happen as well, where Democrats pick up only a few seats and have little power to even begin a legislative agenda in the House due to slim margins and the occasional defecting Democrat.
Then there is the red river/wave scenario where Republicans not only keep seats that seem in jeopardy, but they also gain seats in places like Michigan and Georgia, further weakening a Democratic legislative agenda.
No matter the scenario, New Yorkers will be affected and it is imperative we pay attention to what is happening not only in our respective boroughs, but also in the state and the nation more broadly.
As the inaugural visiting scholar at Brooklyn Org, I have been tasked to think broadly about how these election results will affect New Yorkers, and Brooklynites more specifically. I am constantly thinking of the power of localism and the necessity for all of us to become more active in our own communities.
Brooklyn Org is a model of an organization working to connect residents to ways to make change for the borough and the city, through philanthropy, volunteerism, and deepening understanding of local issues and local solutions. If we are to undo some of the regressive and draconian policies of the last two years, it will be a group effort and a multi-pronged approach to right some of the wrongs that have occurred at the federal level.
This type of hands-on civic involvement ultimately strengthens the social fabric and builds resilience in the face of national change. While we don’t know what the election will hold, we do know that focusing on our own communities is always critical to ensuring we weather political change.
We can all do something to contribute to our communities and our democracy more broadly, despite what occurs at the national level. We must not only vote, but we must also get more involved in organizations in our community, support local businesses, inform ourselves about politics at the granular local levels, and build relationships with small organizations working toward substantive change in their respective boroughs.
Besides voting, what steps will you take to strengthen your community, your borough, and democracy more broadly? We are all capable of creating the change we want to see. Life consists of small building blocks that ultimately create the gorgeous mosaic former Mayor David Dinkins often spoke about. It is not too late to make a plan to contribute to the local fabric in your community.
Christina Greer, Ph.D., is a professor at Fordham University; author; senior policy fellow at Brooklyn Org; and co-host of the podcast FAQ-NYC.
