August 2023
Hi,
Welcome to the first issue of the revived East Bay DSA Newsletter!
Our goals:
- Strengthen chapter democracy with links to regular notes from the Steering Committee and General Meetings.
- Improve internal communication and help new members find where they fit in.
- Share significant chapter news with each other, and with our allies.
Initially, we’ll be sending the newsletter out once a month. We are hoping to strike the right length that allows for both readability and information-sharing.
Elected leaders are welcome to submit material for us to include. We are especially eager to let people know about successful actions and wins, but any news about your work is welcome. We may not have room for all contributions, but don’t let that stop you: we will usually have room for a teaser sentence, and a link to a Google Doc where you can say more.
Have feedback for us instead? You can submit that here.
We look forward to hearing from you!
— The Newsletter Working Group
"We can build a grassroots movement to counter the sleaze, the distortions, and the mind-numbing materialism of our unaccountable and corporate-dominated media." - Barbara Ehrenreich (Foreword to Our Media, Not Theirs by Robert W. McChesney and John Nichols)
Chapter highlights
Our East Bay elected delegates traveled to Chicago earlier this month for the DSA National Convention, where one of our members, Renée Paradis, was elected to the National Political Committee that steers our work across the country. At the convention, our delegates helped set priorities in labor organizing and electoral work for the largest socialist organization in the US in over a century.
Some of EBDSA's delegates at DSA's 2023 National Convention
Our chapter endorsed local candidates and led in national labor campaigns:
- At our August General Meeting, East Bay DSA voted to endorse Sasha Ritzie-Hernandez in her bid for the open Oakland Unified school board seat in District 5, covering the Fruitvale area. Our Electoral Politics Committee and Oakland Schools for All working group is committed to supporting Sasha in running a class struggle campaign against her opponent. Join our first canvas for Sasha on Saturday, September 2 at 10:00 AM.
- We also voted to endorse our member Jovanka Beckles in her run for State Senate in District 7 (which covers much of the East Bay, from north of Hercules to just south of Oakland). Join the Electoral Politics committee meetings to get involved.
- EBDSA organized poster canvasses and stood on practice pickets in solidarity for the UPS Teamsters campaign that won a contract earlier this month with significant gains in wages and an end to many of the particularly exploitative lower-tier job titles. To get involved in future labor solidarity campaigns, please join our next Labor Committee meeting.
UPS solidarity, jointly with SF DSA
Finally, a special shout out to the People’s Transit Alliance (PTA), a coalition of riders and transit workers organized by our chapter to fight for a truly public AC Transit. PTA is canvassing to improve conditions for drivers and service for riders. PTA has been circulating a petition calling on the AC Transit management to address the high turnover and understaffing that affects riders across the East Bay by meeting demands voiced by members of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) 192. Workers called for more say in scheduling and training as well as investment in wages and childcare to attract and keep drivers, mechanics, service workers and other frontline staffs. PTA has canvassed riders at transit centers in Hayward in June and Richmond earlier this month to talk about what they’d like to see changed in AC Transit and to get them involved in the campaign. Sign the petition and join the campaign for public transit that serves the working class!
The People's Transit Alliance (PTA) canvasses East Bay
Upcoming events
For a complete list, check out our events calendar where new-member-friendly events are marked with a rose (🌹)
- 📖 Socialist Night Schools
- 🎓 Sasha for Schoolboard Canvas Launch - 9/2
- ✊ Rally to Support Harriet Tubman Terrace Tenants - 9/9
- 🆕 New Member kick-off - 9/10
- 📖 What the Hell Happened? Labor in the Neoliberal Era - 9/11
- 📣 End of Summer General Meeting - 9/24
Join us today
Democratic socialists believe that our economy should be built democratically, by and for working people, not by billionaires for profit. Contribute nationally and locally so that we can continue our work. We're stronger together.
Democratic highlights
🙋 Our next General Membership Meeting will be held on Sunday, September 24, 2023 from 11:00-1:00.
✍️ Find minutes from our Chapter General Membership meetings here.
✍️ Find minutes from our Steering Committee meetings here.
🌟 New to EBDSA? Here's a handy get-started guide.
Until next month,
EBDSA's Newsletter Working Group