In most American cities, real estate and development companies own the city council and mayor (if there is one) thoroughly. Yet people like Kshama Sawant have managed to get on the local government and make effective changes. Any socialist electoralist strategy in America has to successful start at the local level, so I'm asking if there's any stratagies we should employ to build labor power and/or effect local legislation. Of course direct action strategies like the Young Lords did in the 60s is effective, but I am thinking more electorally here. Direct action and electoralism can, and should, be in concert.
I'll seriously take any thoughts. Mine so far is to literally copy the Young Lords and do a mini garbage offensive by cleaning trash off of urban corridors in my city. Then just be like "we're socialists, wanna help?" Obviously electoralism isn't the end all, but city council is selling out land and pricing out working class people every year. Getting at least one comrade on the council would be able to materially help people.