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Cea Weaver — Executive Director of Housing Justice for All and New York State Tenant Bloc, a longtime tenant activist, and a housing policy advisor to Zohran Mamdani — joined the show to discuss renters' political power, Mamdani's housing agenda including his pledge to freeze rents on rent-stabilized housing, and more on housing policy and politics. Weaver's organizations "work together to strengthen tenant organizing, advocate pro-tenant legislation, and elect tenants and their allies to public office in New York." She has run winning campaigns to expand rent stabilization and protect rent-stabilized housing, pass "good cause eviction," and more. (Ep 536)

Cea Weaver on Tenants' Electoral Power, Mamdani's Rent Freeze Pledge, & Housing Policy

Kenny Burgos, CEO of the New York Apartment Association and former State Assembly member from the Bronx, joined the show to discuss the challenges in rent-stabilized housing, the perspective of landlords and building managers, the prospects of a Mayor Mamdani and the candidate's promise to freeze stabilized rents for four years, and much more about housing policy. (Ep 538)

Kenny Burgos on Rent Stabilized Housing, Mamdani's Rent Freeze Pledge, & More

Alex Armlovich, a member of the New York City Rent Guidelines Board (RGB) and Senior Housing Policy Analyst at the Niskanen Center, joined the show to discuss the work of the RGB, Zohran Mamdani's rent-freeze pledge, how to help struggling rent-stabilized buildings and apartments, and much more. (Ep 539)

Alex Armlovich on the Rent Guidelines Board, Mamdani's Rent Freeze Pledge, & Housing Policy


Indymedia's Joni Boyd chats with William and Mia from the growing WA branch of the Renters and Housing Union about the rapidly worsening rental crisis and the branch's upcoming protest outside the WA Labor conference this Saturday the 8th November.

Originally broadcast on RTRFM92.1 on 03/11/2025

Banner image via RAHU's national facebook page - 21/12/2020

Collective Bargaining for Renters - RAHU Protest WA Labor Conference

RENT

Nowa ustawa o najemcach w Wielkiej Brytanii

Since I wrote this song the bill was passed it contains many terrible things for Canadians already reeling from a collapse of jobs and hiring, a collapsing housing and condo industry, declining infrastructure, and soaring crime, food prices and homelessness and more - putting many renters in dire straights, particularly low income and the most vulnerable in society.  We'll cover other horrific aspects of Bill C60 such as the privatization of Ontario's water.  The bill was passed.

Shadows of Bill 60

So you want to know more about the mysterious (and handsome if I do say so myself) Rainforest Cowboy?, eh,

In school I majored in music for four years playing in an orchestra and a band.  Specifically, I played a western brass instrument called a "Tuba" - it's a bass instrument and like drums carries the beat for a composition.  My instructor was a traditional German composer/conductor .. and they love Tuba's so it was a lot of fun.  I also played early keyboards and organs getting into the nascent MIDI interfaces of the day with an Atari ST.

I attended many orchestras at this time and got into early New Age type music such as Fresh Aiire (which I consider experimental). This really kicked off my interest in traditional instruments around the world, languages (even spoken languages are essentially musical), cultures - why I really enjoy fusion mixes.

My father had cancer during my school days, I worked those years in addition to taking care of my father.  When he passed in my final year I left music as I have to work very hard in order to survive.

I volunteer at various places as time permits, at one I pick up food for elderly women.  Seeing how hard the staff and volunteers worked helping so many I decided to try to create a song for them, my way of saying thank-you and also encouraging them.  Some people had suggested I go public .. in fact the same people suggested I start a Sound Cloud site .. which I knew very little about (just a few weeks ago).

It's been great fun.  Here is the process:

I start with an idea, then research for days to several weeks for accuracy and depth.  

Once researched I create a shot story based upon the original idea/concept.  I love true life stories, emotions, passions and work hard to get that into the lyrics (which is basically poetry).  When younger I was the #1 author in my field, worldwide, so for me writing has been a lifetime passion and poetry (lyrics) is the dessert.

Once I have it all 'fleshed out' I get into my nerdy-tech interests.  I've been involved in PC's since an Apple ][ back in 1977.  I also, as CIO, took a company from 10K in sales to over 2-Billion within 10-years and doing all aspects of IT and robotics was so so much fun.  This is why I love the AI side .. I'm getting into the LLM and really merging it with music.  For example, I'll specify (say) G Minor, the tempo (timing, beats), vocals, languages, instruments and so forth ... it's almost like C++ programming.  From there I take the lyrics and clothe it in song.  So I'm basically merging musical theory and tech.  Again, the story/lyrics are the most important aspect but the tech side sure is fun.

Finally, as I was an artist as well, I spend a lot of time doing the various track covers(which are all custom made my me, only, I tend to do them at 4K or 8K.  Then there's last but not least, organization and all the background work to keep it organized.

I'll get an email address up - if you have a story to tell let the ole Rainforest Cowboy know.  I love to write about peoples' experiences, their cities and nations, hobbies, hopes and fears.  Maybe you're in love, promoting a charity, or missing a lost one - if you would like to share, I'll make a song about it.

Max Politics is a New York politics podcast hosted by journalist Ben Max featuring in-depth interviews with elected and appointed officials, candidates, advocates, and others about New York City and State politics and policy. Produced at New York Law School and its Center for New York Law. Get in touch: benmax25@gmail.com
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Intro/outro music is Live-It by <a href="https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/as-above-so-below/live-it-instrumental/">Ketsa</a>. source (Free Music Archive) and license type (CC BY-NC-ND)

Radical activist citizen journalism.  A weekly radio programme on RTRFM (92.1FM), a community radio station based in Perth, the capital city of Western Australia.  We bring an independent perspective to the analysis of news and issues and provide a forum for activists, campaigners, academics, advocates and workers denied a voice by the mainstream media. Covering indigenous issues, post-capitalist/anti-capitalist analysis, refugee rights, antifa and all the important environmental, economic and social justice issues of the day. Don’t hate the media, become the media!! - http://perthindymedia.net/

New tracks tagged #RENT