A look at how safe-streets and transit-focused political action groups formed to directly influence elections. Conversations about founding local PACs in New York, New Jersey, and Chicago. Tales of campaign fundraising chaos, strategic endorsements, and using support as leverage to win policy commitments.
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insights INSIGHT
PACs Emerged To Fill Nonprofit Endorsement Gap
Nonprofit advocacy groups have legal limits on endorsing candidates, which created a space for transit-focused PACs and lobbying groups.
Streets PAC, Streets PAC NJ, and Better Streets Chicago Action Fund emerged to explicitly influence endorsements and elections.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Streets PAC Backed Catherine Garcia Then Endorsed Eric Adams
Streets PAC endorsed Catherine Garcia in the 2021 Democratic primary after strong questionnaire responses and an impressive interview.
She lost by about 7,900 ranked-choice votes, which led Streets PAC to endorse Eric Adams in the general election.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Vet Candidates With Questionnaires And Interviews
Use candidate questionnaires and interviews to gauge genuine commitment before endorsing.
Streets PAC used questionnaire responses and a strong interview performance to select Catherine Garcia as their primary pick.
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For a long time, safe streets and transit advocacy organizations have had to play a careful game. While non-profit organizations can advocate for policies and infrastructure changes that protect pedestrians and cyclists and make transit more efficient and accessible, they can't endorse candidates for office or otherwise throw their weight around when another election rolls around.
Thankfully, that's changing. There are now a growing number of safe-streets and transit-focused political action committees and lobbying groups that have sprung up to explicitly influence and endorse candidates that they see as friendly to the cause. How did they get started? How have they wielded their influence to elect good people who will enact good policies? Does it take a lot of money to make a difference? If ordinary people want to start their own PAC or lobbying group, where do they begin? We talk to the founders of StreetsPAC in New York, Streets PAC NJ, and the Better Streets Chicago Action Fund to find out how to win elections and influence politicians.
The War on Cars 
