What Happens If New York Runs Out of Money?
Many are concerned with AA New York office’s finances. Heated controversy over spending, declining revenues, and a lack of transparency is heard at meetings and conferences. Meanwhile, the calls for donations are growing louder.
These mounting tensions got me thinking about the unthinkable: What actually happens if we hit rock bottom? What does a New York bankruptcy look like?
Call me an optimist, but as you dive into these materials, you might be surprised to find that the ultimate outcome could actually be good news.
A NOTE TO THE READER
This is speculative fiction — an imagined future history created for discussion and reflection. The bankruptcy, surveys, gatherings, and organizational changes described here are not presented as actual events.
🖨️ Download the pdf file to print the brochure. If you are trying to print it and your printer won’t let you choose to flip on the short side, so the second image prints upside down, try “Brochure flipped page 2” instead.
(Print currently out of stock. Coming soon.)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this about something that really happened?
No. This is speculative fiction—an imagined future history created for discussion and reflection. The bankruptcy, surveys, gatherings, and organizational changes described in these materials are fictional and are not presented as actual events.
Why imagine AA’s New York office running out of money?
Many people are concerned about finances, transparency, spending, and declining revenues at AA’s New York office. This project explores a “what if?” scenario: what might happen if the financial situation reached a breaking point?
Is this an attack on Alcoholics Anonymous?
No. The purpose is not to attack AA, its members, its groups, or its service structure. The project is intended to encourage discussion about resilience, decentralization, accountability, and what might remain strong even if an institution faced collapse.
What does “New York” mean in this context?
“New York” refers to AA’s central service office and corporate/service structure, not to AA meetings or members in New York City. Local AA groups, meetings, intergroups, districts, areas, and individual members are separate from the imagined events in this fictional scenario.
Does AA depend on New York to survive?
That is one of the questions this project asks. AA’s strength has always lived in its groups, meetings, members, service work, and Twelve Step practice. This speculative story imagines what might happen if those local and spiritual foundations had to stand without the current central structure.
What is “The Day AA Fell”?
“The Day AA Fell” is the fictional future-history story connected to this page. It imagines a dramatic organizational crisis and explores what might happen afterward. You can read either the short version or the long version from the links on this page.
Why are there both short and long versions?
The short version gives the core scenario quickly. The long version provides more detail, context, and development for readers who want to think through the implications more deeply.
What is the brochure for?
The brochure presents the core idea in a printable format. It is designed for reading, sharing, and discussion. A flipped-page version is included for printers that have trouble printing the trifold correctly.
What is the audio file?
The audio file is a spoken version or companion piece for the project. It is included for readers who prefer listening or who want a different way to engage with the material.
Are the financial concerns mentioned on this page factual?
The page refers generally to concerns being discussed by AA members and observers, including spending, revenue, donations, and transparency. However, the bankruptcy scenario itself is fictional. Readers should not treat the imagined future events as news or as claims about what has actually happened.
What is the hopeful part of this scenario?
The hopeful idea is that a collapse of centralized structures would not necessarily mean the end of recovery, meetings, fellowship, or service. It could force a return to essentials: local groups, direct responsibility, spiritual principles, and renewed clarity about what AA is really for.
Can I share this with my group?
Yes, if you think it would be useful for discussion. Because the subject is sensitive, it may help to make clear that the material is speculative fiction and not a report of actual bankruptcy or official AA action.
Is this official AA material?
No. This is independent material and is not official Alcoholics Anonymous literature. It is not approved, endorsed, or published by AA World Services, the General Service Office, or any AA service body.
What should readers take away from this?
The central question is not whether the fictional events will happen. The better question is: if AA lost its institutional supports, what principles, practices, and responsibilities would still matter most?