Christian Celeste Tate a/k/a “CCT!” is an anti-poverty activist, and Mamdani campaign field leader. He is the fresh new energy badly needed in AD54. CCT is a DSA-endorsed progressive Democratic Socialist candidate taking on the big money real estate interests as represented by Assemblymember Erik Dilan. In this interview, we cover the key issues of affordability for NYC. With the “volunteer army” of DSA, CCT is sure to be a potent challenge to the status quo.

In this extended interview, CCT lays out a clear vision for what real representation in AD54 should look like—one rooted in community needs, not developer influence. He discusses the economic pressures driving displacement, the structural inequality families face, and why affordable housing is the defining issue of the district. CCT connects his personal background, his organizing work, and his anti-poverty activism to the broader political movement reshaping New York City.

We also break down the dynamics of running against Erik Dilan, a long-time incumbent backed by real estate interests. CCT speaks candidly about voter outreach, diversity within the district, and the lessons organizers learned from the Mamdani campaign. From East New York to Bushwick, he outlines a strategy centered on direct engagement, multilingual outreach, and the consistent presence that residents have been demanding for years.

This conversation goes deeper than a typical political interview. It highlights how DSA campaigns are powered by grassroots volunteers, mutual aid energy, and a shared belief in transforming local politics. CCT explains why democratic socialism resonates in working-class communities, why investment in housing and public safety must be community-driven, and how structural fairness—not charity—is the foundation for long-term change.

For viewers who care about affordability, housing justice, immigrant rights, and progressive political organizing, this interview offers a grounded and realistic look at what it takes to challenge entrenched power in New York.

Get Involved with this Campaign!

https://www.cct4nyc.com/

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Sander and Sophie have a good chat with Professor Linda Rabben, an activist anthropologist who writes about sanctuary and human rights movements. Meet and hear Linda and other great immigration rights activists this Sunday, 9/28, at a free event at the Quaker Meetinghouse, 1-4 PM.

Author, anthropologist and human rights activist, Linda Rabben is the author of Sanctuary and Asylum: A Social and Political History, My Brazil: Reports from the Interior, Journeywoman: A Writer’s Story, and other books and articles on human rights and related subjects. She has written and published poems for more than 50 years. Since 2015 she has been an associate research professor of anthropology at the University of Maryland.

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Join us on Monks and Punks as we sit down with Dr. Sophie Gonick to discuss immigrant rights, sanctuary, and human rights in New York City. From historical Quaker traditions of sanctuary to modern grassroots activism, this conversation dives deep into the challenges and opportunities faced by immigrants in today’s political climate.

Learn about the September 28th free event in Manhattan featuring experts like Professor Linda Rabben, Nuala O'Doherty-Naranjo, Alexa Aviles, and Ravi Ragbir, and discover how you can get involved in supporting immigrant communities.

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