This fall, it’s not just the autumn leaves turning red in the northern states.
Following Zoran Mamdani’s recent win in New York’s mayoral race, Ithaca took another step by electing a full-on communist to its city council.
Hannah Shvetz, a 20-year-old student and member of the Communist Party of America, secured her seat on the council from the Democratic-leaning Ward 5, which includes part of the Cornell University campus.
Shvetz, a sophomore at Cornell, won against GP Zulenda, who was an independent candidate and had previously run in the Democratic primary. Her victory was bolstered by support from groups like the Ithaca chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America and the Ithaca Tenants Union.
The young political newcomer, seen here with a cutout of Mamdani, makes history as the youngest candidate elected under the party’s banner.
Since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, Shvetz has participated in various anti-Israel protests. A left-wing media outlet celebrated her win.
As the November 4 election approached, it’s worth noting that among the ten seats on the Ithaca City Council, four are held by Cornell students.
Shvetz has ambitious plans, including raising the minimum wage to $25 per hour—just a bit less than the $30 per hour proposed by Mamdani. She also aims to implement a cause-hire policy to strengthen protections for employees against unjust firings.
Her campaign echoed Mamdani’s promise to safeguard rent-stabilized tenants from evictions unless legally justified.
“I think it’s crucial to link affordability issues with justice,” Shvetz noted. “We have to make Ithaca a place where both locals and students can live comfortably and flourish,” she added, sharing her roots from Austin, Texas.
The response from Shvetz’s team was not immediate following this announcement.
