New York Communities for Change


New York Communities for Change is a 501 nonprofit focused on issues including housing, education, and wages for low-income New Yorkers.

History

In 2010, Jon Kest, previously the lead organizer for New York's affiliate of the national Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now organization, started New York Communities for Change after ACORN's demise. After Kest's death in 2012, Jonathan Westin succeeded him and currently serves as the executive director.

Issues and actions

Push for NYC pension funds to invest in environmentally friendly assets

NYCC representatives have voiced their frustration with Brad Lander and the New [York City Comptroller]s Office in regards to helping keep solvent 3 pension funds for retirees of various New York City employees: New York City Employees Retirement System, New York City Teachers Retirement System, and New York City Board of Education Retirement System. The Comptroller's office is suppose to determine which asset management companies are environmentally friendly and reject investing City employees' retirement funds in those companies that do not have a good record on saving the earth. BlackRock is one of the companies that Lander's office is researching to determine whether or not to dismiss of the list. NYCC and other environmental groups think Lander is stalling to divest from BlackRock. NYCC is threatening to stop endorsing Lander for his next possible office run because he missed a September 2025 deadline to give them an answer.