Steering Committee Meeting Agenda April 10th, 2022

https://docs.google.com/document/d/17igZDczG7cn12kW9pkhyWtAmkLh_6kTZDF-Oln4MCAU/edit

Steering Committee Agenda

1. Settle in [3 minutes] 
2. Carlos
3. Annika
4. SHane
5. Maddy GW
6. ANDREW
7. Hasan
8. Benny Z
9. Max Z
10. Graham
11. Neder GS

1. Zach W
2. MichaeL K
3. Susan k
4. Matthew L
5. Approval of Agenda [3 minutes]
6. Consent Agenda
7. GM Debate on National BDS WG

Some clarification on if the resolution would be discussed for the GM; clarity would be made. 

MOtion to pull BDS from the consent agenda to discuss it here, seconded. BDS resolution is pulled for discussion. 

Agenda is approved via acclimation

1. Committee Reports [30 minutes] (Annika)
2. Recording Secretary (Carlos)

• Resolution to Plan for June 12th Convention - approved via acclimation
• Motion to Reimburse East Bay YDSA Members’ Winter Conference Costs - was amended - passed: 9 yes and 3 no, 1 abstain.

1. Treasurer - Staff Pilot (Lindsey)

• Treasurer is sick

1. Electoral (Neder) - Tax the Rich

• Big launch last saturday good turn out. Next Saturday will be a big canvas. 
• First electoral committee forum as a our new endorsement process. 

1. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oPyjOVvEdzLrq-6y646goB52J9rzdyhixfKSEwIkHBw/edit
2. Reoort ^^^
3. Willing to have a GM chapter debate over the candidates. 
4. Labor Solidarity (Maddy Grace)

• Regular weekly meeting forthcoming
• THree things: Rapid Response networking via whatsapp; The CHildren’s hospital solidarity campaign, and Unite Summit campaign - will be talked about at GM. 

1. El Cerrito - Fair Budget [Zach W]

• Police budget campaign
• Dealing with middle class liberals
• Strategy from the next steps for raising DSA presence in El Cerrito.
• Also involved in Unite Summit as well - their schools are in the Richmond and El Cerrito Area

1. Discussion: Should Tax the Rich be a Chapter Priority and what does that mean? 
2. Good turn out for the launch - what role does small businesses play?
3. Stone walled from OPA

1. New Business [30 minutes]
2. Plan for EBDSA Convention Debate
3. Resolution for GM Endormsent of Living Wage Ballot Initative
4. Funds for Berkeley/Albany/Emeryville Events

NEW BUSINESS

Resolution for 2022 EBDSA Convention

Submitted by Annika B, Shane R, and Andrew R

Whereas at our 2021 convention, East Bay DSA Ratified a platform containing the following four organizational priorities for our chapter: 

1. Center Black & Brown Liberation Movements
2. Class Struggle Elections
3. Focus on Onboarding and Providing Tools for Membership Empowerment
4. Rank-and File Labor Support & Solidarity;

Whereas the chairs believe that our priorities remain largely the same for this upcoming year, with an emphasis on building out our capabilities and capacity for ongoing member engagement in each priority area;

Therefore be it resolved that the Steering Committee recommends that the membership vote on re-ratifying our four priorities from the 2021 platform at the upcoming 2022 convention; 

Therefore be it further resolved that the Steering Committee recommends that the general membership vote on and pass concrete priority campaigns at the 2022 convention, in the scope of the four priority areas;

Therefore be it further resolved that in order to qualify for consideration at the convention, a priority campaign plan must include:

1. A list of concrete, achievable tasks/goals
2. A plan to achieve those goals including, if possible, who will be responsible for organizing each task
3. Request for resources from chapter, if necessary
4. A fundraising plan, if significant monetary resources are needed
5. 10 signatures of members who are interested in organizing the campaign

MOTIVATED BY ANNIKA B

Q&A - 

Q: Amendment for these campaign priorities? A: Could be possible.

Shane moves to Committee as a whole. 

Concerns about the possibility of having too many priorities and what it means to be a priority. 

Debate:

MOTION TO AMEND - Benny, SECONDED- Neder

•  At the end of the frith therefore, “ amendments to the four priorities are allowed and will be considered ar convention if submitted.”

Amendment Q&A - Q:REplacing a priorities or adjusting already established? A: the latter

Amendment DEBATE

AMENDMENT approved via Acclimation

REsolution Debate

Resolution passes via acclimation

Resolution for GM Endorsement of Living Wage Act of 2022

Submitted by Fred Glass

Whereas the minimum wage in California is $15 an hour as of January 1, 2022 and no further increases through the legislature are currently scheduled, and

Whereas the Living Wage Act of 2022 proposes to raise the minimum wage by a dollar an hour each year for three years to become $18 an hour January 1, 2025, and

Whereas the Living Wage Act of 2022 is currently in signature gathering for the November 2022 California general election, and

Whereas the coalition supporting the Living Wage Act includes several labor councils, UNITE-HERE locals, California Calls, and 

Whereas the outgoing and incoming leadership of the California Labor Federation are in support while the endorsement moves through their process, indicating a likely endorsement, and

Whereas the main financial backer, Joe Sanberg, has publicly stated that he will spend whatever it takes to get the measure on the ballot, and

Whereas the pollster for the campaign, Ben Tulchin, who served as Bernie Sanders's pollster, has conducted initial research with likely voters indicating solid support, and 

Whereas the working class of California could use a raise, and

Whereas the lowest-paid workers in the state would gain $6,000 per year in full time employment if the measure passes, and 

Whereas endorsement by EBDSA offers an opportunity for our chapter and members to strengthen our ties to and work together with organized labor on the campaign, and 

Whereas California DSA's support resolution will take effect when two or more chapters support the measure, 

Therefore be it resolved that EBDSA we recommend the General Membership endorse the Living Wage Act of 2022 and become actively involved in the campaign to pass it.

REMOVED - because Fred agreed to do the forum

East Bay DSA Steering Committee

Berkeley/Albany/Emeryville Proto-Branch Petition\

Submitted by:

 Matthew L

WHEREAS, in February 2022 the East Bay DSA general membership overwhelmingly adopted the resolution “East Bay DSA Resolution on Branches;” and

WHEREAS, that resolution laid out a process for the creation of branches, the first step of which is submitting a specific proposal for the geographic area to be covered listing at least three people intending to run for leadership positions; and

WHEREAS, that resolution provides that “if such an initial petition is in order, and a branch with materially similar geographic area has not previously been rejected or dissolved by the general membership, the Steering Committee shall direct the petitioners to hold two to three local events (either socials or campaign events) over the course of the next three months; the SC shall allocate a total of $300 to be used for the events; the SC shall also designate a liaison to support the petitioners;” and

WHEREAS, the aforementioned conditions have been met for funding a Berkeley/Albany/Emeryville proto-branch; and

THEREFORE, be it resolved that a proto-branch be created to cover the cities of Berkeley, Albany, and Emeryville; an area which currently has at least 50 East Bay DSA members as residents; and

THEREFORE, be it resolved that East Bay DSA approves $300 for holding at least 2 events to assess feasibility and begin organizing a potential branch in the area laid out above; and

THEREFORE, be it resolved that [NAME TO BE FILLED IN BY STEERING COMMITTEE] is appointed as the liaison for the aforementioned proto-branch.

PERSONS INTENDING TO RUN FOR THE BRANCH LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE

Matthew Lewis Ashish Dixit Negeene Mosaed

Motivated by Matthew L

Motion to strike that first therefore be it resolve by Shane

...WHEREAS, the aforementioned conditions have been met for funding a Berkeley/Albany/Emeryville proto-branch; and

THEREFORE, be it resolved that a proto-branch be created to cover the cities of Berkeley, Albany, and Emeryville; an area which currently has at least 50 East Bay DSA members as residents; and

-

THEREFORE, be it resolved that East Bay DSA approves $300 for holding at least 2 events to assess feasibility and begin organizing a potential branch in the area laid out above; and

THEREFORE, be it resolved that [NAME TO BE FILLED IN BY STEERING COMMITTEE] is appointed as the liaison for the aforementioned proto-branch.

PERSONS INTENDING TO RUN FOR THE BRANCH LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE

Matthew Lewis Ashish Dixit Negeene Mosaed

...

Benny nominates Max for liaison, Max accepts

Q&A

DEBATE - the region is too big, emeryville resident is closer to oakland. The redistricting also affect the regions.

They are the northernmost cities by Alameda COunties that are not Oakland. 

There are no politics in Emeryville in the foreseeable future. An active campaign for region branches. 

THis is just to agree with funding for a social which leads to a branches. 

VOTE: PASSED

6 yes; 2 no; 1 abstain. 

EBDSA Resolution Dissenting from NPC Decision to Decharter Palestine/BDS Working Group and Ban the Working Group's SC members from Leadership Positions.

Whereas socialists in the US have the necessity and responsibility to oppose imperialism, racism & settler colonialism; and

Whereas the struggle of the Palestinian people for liberation & self-determination is a cutting edge of the struggle against Imperialism; and

Whereas the US plays the major international role in the perpetuation of Israeli apartheid; and

Whereas DSA’s National Committee has de-chartered the National Palestine/BDS Working Group, and barred the Working Group’s Steering Committee from any and all national leadership roles for one year; and

Whereas the NPC has subsequently re-chartered the national Palestine / PDS working group but has not reversed its ban on the the working group steering committee members from leadership roles (effectively creating a group without leadership)and

Whereas the Palestine/BDS Working Group was created by a democratically decided resolution at DSA’s National Political Convention and the NPC did not have the authority to de-charter it nor to determine its democratically-elected leadership and

Whereas 3 members of the NPC issued a dissenting statement from the NPC majority’s decision that urged DSA members to “remain true to our anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist values and support us in standing with our Palestinian and Palestinian-allied comrades against censorship;” and

Whereas the NPC opposed the call of the Working Group to expel Congressman Jamaal Bowman for his vote for billions of dollar in military aid to apartheid Israel and his violation of BDS with his propaganda trip to Israel and meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and refused to discipline Bowman in any way; and

Whereas East Bay DSA passed a resolution calling for Bowman’s expulsion along with over 50 chapters who dissented from the NPC decision on that matter; and

Whereas many members of the chapter joined with AROC, ILWU workers and the Palestine solidarity movement in the Block the Boat actions at the Port of Oakland that blocked an Israeli ship from docking; and

Whereas over 30 chapter members and 1200 DSA members signed the statement dissenting from the NPCs decision and calling for For an Internationalist DSA; and

Whereas the NPC’s action is seen by the outside world as a rebuke of solidarity with Palestine and the BDS Movement and does harm to the Palestine freedom struggle and the reputation and credibility of DSA as an organization.,,,,,, Multiple organizations have already explicitly stated that they will not work with DSA unless all of the NPC’s actions are reversed, imperiling our ability to do BDS/Palestine solidarity work at both the local and national level,, 

Therefore be it resolved that East Bay DSA:

1. Condemns the actions of the NPC and demands the full reinstatement of the BDS WG, with its current leadership, including the lifting of sanctions placed on the steering committee; and
2. Asserts that committees and working groups should be able to criticize and discuss issues without censorship. Disciplined messaging comes out of building a culture of trust and shared responsibility, through the comradeship of leaders working together to accomplish our common goals even as we may continue to debate other issues – not by undemocratically silencing opposition; and
3. Commits to the struggle for a liberated and democratic Palestine, and to the merger of socialism and anti-imperialist movements across the world. We will work toward a DSA that lives up to this commitment; and 
4. Endorses the For an Internationalist DSA statement; and
5. Will promptly publicly communicate our position via our social media and other external communication channels, as well as include it in the next chapter newsletter; 
6. Will redouble our efforts toward building the BDS movement & for Palestine liberation by working with local Bay Area allies including AROC, the Palestine Youth Movement, Jewish Voice for Peace, and the Palestine Action Network in common cause.

MOTIVATED BY MAX M

Q: What BDS campaigns can we do to affirm our support? A: A BDS pledge card drive.

MOtion to refere to the GM, Seconded.

Debate: A: was hoping to update the content of the resolution; doesn’t see thin in DSA’s purview.

MOtion to extend time by 15; seconded

PASSES 7 yes, 1 no, 1 abstain. 

DEBATE: 

MOTION TO REFER REZ TO GM

6 yes, 3 abstain. 

ADJORNED: