In budget vote, DC Council surrenders District to the wealthy — billionaires, landlords, and the restaurant industry loot the working class; MDC DSA-endorsed Frankie Santos Fritz kicks off campaign with weekend canvass — August 2 & August 3; Fund schools, not cops — Abolition backpack drive on August 9, wheatpasting on August 3
This is the weekly newsletter of the Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America (MDC DSA), which is
produced by local members of the chapter's Publications Working Group. The Weekly Update publishes every
Friday at 9am. Want to fight fascism from the heart of empire? Join DSA and fight to build socialism!
Paid for by Metro DC DSA (mdcdsa.org). Not authorized by any candidate or committee.
UP FRONT
In budget vote, DC Council surrenders District to the wealthy — billionaires, landlords, and the restaurant industry loot the working class
On Monday, all eyes converged on the DC Council as it took up debate on the city budget. A left-labor alliance, organized by Fair Price Fair Wage, DSA, the Fair Budget Coalition and a smattering of left-cadre formations, assembled into the DC Council building to persuade a majority on the Council to step away from the austerity regime contained in the planning document. Despite spirited and militant tactics, the left-labor alliance failed. The budget approved by the DC Council subordinates the people of DC to the wealthy and powerful. Read a fuller analysis on the web copy of this week's update.
TOPA gutted: In a surprise move, the Council held its first vote on the RENTAL Act on Monday before discussing the budget. It passed 10 – 2, with only CMs Nadeau and Lewis George voting not to strip DC tenants of their rights under the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA). The RENTAL Act as passed shortens the eviction timeline, reducing the prefiling notice period for nonpayment cases from 30 to 10 days and the hearing summons period from 30 to 14 days. The legislation exempts newly constructed buildings from TOPA for 15 years and exempts buildings from TOPA where buyers commit to an affordability covenant that keeps most of the rents affordable to people who make up to 80 percent of the area median income (AMI). Despite this setback, the fight is not over. The Council will hold a second vote on the RENTAL Act in September. Until then, Metro DC DSA will be organizing against this legislation. Email and call the Council, and join Stomp Out Slumlords to mobilize tenant voices across the District at their TOPA canvass TOMORROW, on Saturday, August 2.
Voters ignored: An overcomplicated amendment to weaken and delay I82, copy and pasted from a Michigan repeal law by CM Christina Henderson’s legislative director (and VP of the Ward 1 Democrats…), narrowly passed in a 7 – 5 vote. Liberal traitors Henderson (at-large) and Charles Allen (Ward 6) — despite campaigning on the promise to respect the will of voters — called their about-face a “compromise.” By maintaining the subminimum wage and spreading out the timeline over a decade, this is a direct repudiation of what DC voters voted for in 2022. Like the rest of the budget, the repeal plot is a windfall to wealthy capitalists in the city. Councilmembers Lewis George, Frumin, Nadeau, Parker and White stood with workers and voters in opposing Henderson and Allen’s betrayal. As the amendment was approved, tipped workers and their allies in the Fair Budget Coalition led a raucous uprising in the Council chamber. When the halls were cleared, the alliance amassed in the hallway in outrage. Tipped workers are vowing political vengeance, and are regrouping to determine their counter-mobilization.
Billionaires rewarded? Across days of testimony regarding RFK Stadium, one central underlying tension remains: whether true investments in District residents can come from a billionaire like Josh Harris. Socialists know and say, NO. Though residents are united in support of more affordable housing, third spaces, good jobs, and environmental protections — especially in Ward 7 — a bloc of the city, and those in power, would rather “bargain” with capitalists than trust in alternative solutions that already exist. This is why the RFK deal follows the same District playbook of leasing the stadium, and the land surrounding it, to the Commanders for the bargain bin price of $1/year. And why Mayor Bowser thinks it’s not ‘fair’ to extend Project Labor Agreements throughout the site. When even the Washington Post’s compromised editorial board calls this “corporate welfare,” something is clearly wrong. The Council takes its first vote on the deal today — CMs Parker and Lewis George are standing firm on labor and Nadeau is against the rushed deal. Though Chairman Mendelson confirmed this past Tuesday’s farce of a public hearing will not “change the financials of the deal,” residents suspect we can do better. The No Billionaire’s Playground Coalition will continue to advocate before the Council’s final vote on September 17. Homes Not Stadiums is also seeking a ballot initiative to ensure the Mayor does not have authority to make such stadium deals with taxpayer money on public land.
With the left-liberal Alliance destroyed on the Council, a positive vision for the city has been sacrificed. The coming year will test the community building, labor and political organizing networks of honest residents like never before. Washington, DC has surrendered to Capital — only a united working-class resistance will correct this.
Democratic Socialists kick off Greenbelt City Council campaign for Frankie Santos Fritz this weekend — August 2 & August 3
As the people of DC brace for a new austerity regime, a resistance strategy may be charted to the city’s surrounding jurisdictions.
Chapter stalwart Frankie Santos Fritz, fresh off his endorsement by Metro DC DSA (see below in Briefs) is running for election to the Greenbelt City Council. This weekend a kickoff canvass for Frankie’s campaign starts from the Greenbelt Metrorail Station, with more canvasses to follow on August 9, 10 and 16.
Frankie has been a member of Metro DC DSA since 2016 where, in addition to a number of other leadership roles, he served as Interim Chair of the Steering Committee of the Prince George’s County Branch. Frankie has worked extensively on both electoral and non-electoral organizing at both the chapter and branch level, including the recent Uncommitted, Question 1, and Shayla Adams-Stafford campaigns.
On Greenbelt’s City Council, Frankie plans to fight for Greenbelt’s workers; quality and affordable housing; improved public transportation; a stronger democracy in Greenbelt; a diverse, equitable, and inclusive Greenbelt; and fairer taxation to support strong public services. Frankie’s love for Greenbelt’s often-radical origin and history is well known and he will bring that to the Council and public. To help Frankie bring transformative, grassroots change to Greenbelt, chapter members are encouraged to attend the DSA kickoff canvass weekend Saturday, August 2 and Sunday August 3. Members can learn about and engage with the campaign in #electoral or by asking to join their campaign’s Slack.
Fund schools, not cops — Abolition backpack drive on August 9, wheatpasting on August 3
Metro DC DSA’s Abolition Working Group is hosting their 2nd Annual Free Backpack Distribution starting at 10am on Saturday, August 9. Attendees will distribute backpacks filled with school supplies to ALL students — no questions asked, no barriers. Support will directly purchase backpacks and essential school supplies (notebooks, pencils, crayons, glue, etc.) for students in the community. Donations are currently being accepted through GoFundMe; over $6 thousand has been raised so far.
The Abolition Working Group is also hosting a wheatpasting expedition to promote the distribution on August 3. Attendees will meet at Southern Ave. Metro Station, do a quick poster tutorial, and then disperse to locations along the Metro to wheatpaste posters everywhere. RSVP to wheatpaste here and for the distribution here.
BRIEFS
Metro DC DSA votes to endorse two members for local office, amend upcoming resolution for internal resolutions
Resolution 2025-06-EER01: Endorse Frankie Santos Fritz PASSES with 98% in favor
Resolution 2025-06-EER02: Endorse Omodamola Williams for Gaithersburg CC PASSES with 74% in favor
Amendment 1 2025-GR07-A01: Standing Rules for Internal Elections (STV/Approval) PASSES with 57% in favor
Amendment 2, 2025-GR07-A02: Standing Rules for Internal Elections (Above the line) PASSES with 87% in favor
The deadline to submit member statements for or against the newly-amended Resolution 2025-06-GR07-A01: For Ranked Choice Voting in MDC “Standing Rules for Internal Elections” is TONIGHT at 11:59pm. To submit a statement, submit a RedDesk ticket under "Agenda Item / Submit Member Statement." It is recommended to write your statement in a Google document and then submit a link to said document to avoid the webpage timing out while writing. Make sure to check your email inbox for confirmation once you submit.
Street Team monthly meeting and training: How to Table — Tomorrow, August 2 at 3:30pm
Build power in the DMV and join the Metro DC DSA Street Team by attending their next monthly meeting at MLK Memorial Library (901 G St NW DC, room 401-F) on Saturday, August 2 from 3:30 to 5pm. This month’s meeting will be a training session on How To Table from start to finish, how Street Team plans for events, an overview of tabling materials, frequently asked questions at the table, and effective follow-up. This training is intended for those who recently joined the Street Team Working Group as well as representatives from other parts of DSA looking to incorporate outreach into their campaigns. All are encouraged to attend in-person. RSVP to attend the Street Team monthly meeting.
NoVA socialists organizing fiber arts group — first meeting on August 2 at 10:30am
Join fellow fiber arts comrades — no experience required — at NoVA DSA’s first fiber arts group meeting on August 2. This group aims to promote, celebrate, and build community around the fiber arts, including knitting, crocheting, sewing, embroidering, felting, and needle-punching. This group is a way for members to develop fiber skills, mitigate burnout, and connect organizers who normally work in different realms. Organizers believe having a fiber arts community strengthens socialists’ bonds as organizers and community members while also curating a low-barrier space where organizers can exchange ideas and be creative. Attendees at the inaugural meeting will discuss plans for skill building and projects for helping the community. RSVP here.
Pre-convention pin-making with the Internationalism Working Group — August 2 at 7pm
Gather with Internationalism Working Group comrades at Aslin Beer Garden on Saturday, August 2 from 7 – 9pm for a night of making pins, commiseration, and sending off delegates to go and represent Metro DC DSA at the National DSA Convention in Chicago next week. RSVP for IG pin making here.
Northern Virginia socialists prepare for mutual aid organizing — August 21 at 7pm
The NoVA Mutual Aid Working Group will be holding its next virtual meeting on August 21 at 7pm. Join comrades interested in directly improving the material conditions of workers in Northern Virginia in ways that challenge and replace capitalist exploitation. Anyone interested in attending is free to add items to the agenda, which currently includes organizing a recurring mutual aid distro, creating an intra-DSA timebank, and researching and compiling existing mutual aid projects in the area. RSVP for the NOVA mutual aid meeting here.
New to the DSA and want to connect with others? Next New Member Cohort starting in September
Anyone new to Metro DC DSA is invited to apply to join the Fall 2025 New Member Cohort. The cohort will participate in weekly sessions throughout September on Wednesday evenings. The first session covers the concept of organizing, the second provides an overview of socialism and capitalism, and the final session explains how MDC DSA works and provides opportunities to talk to people who run chapter campaigns. At least one session will be followed by a social outing. Applications are due by August 30.
New in Washington Socialist: Ahead of National Convention: More Dues to Local DSA Chapters
In a new piece for the Washington Socialist, local comrade and DSA National Political Committee candidate Nell G. elaborates on a resolution they co-wrote, which will be considered next month at DSA’s National Convention. “If local DSA chapters have access to a greater share of our collective resources, we can more effectively build on the foundation of our local organizing. But today, locals receive an effective dues share of only 21%! This is out of step with many democratic unions and socialist parties…. As DSA grows and pursues sustainability as a mass organization, it is vital that we equip chapters with the necessary resources to fulfill their potential and the incentives to expand our membership.” Read their editorial here. The author is running on the Springs of Revolution slate for the DSA National Political Committee. Opinions expressed on the Washington Socialist do not reflect the views or opinion of the chapter, but that of the writer.
Want to stay current? Weekly Updates, like the one you are reading, are scheduled and emailed on Fridays; current and past Updates are available on our website. Not subscribed? DSA member or not, sign up to get the Update, the go-to source for the DMV Left. The MDC Dispatch is the chapter’s new video news series, published on the first and third Sunday of each month. Subscribe to our YouTube channel and submit your Update or Dispatch suggestions or DMV scandal tips to our tip line. The Washington Socialist, published since the 1970s, offers in-depth analytical/opinion articles on a quarterly schedule; the Summer 2025 issue is available here. Check out the Socialist’stopic-indexed and searchable archive to see what we write — and what you can write. Anyone, MDC DSA member or not, interested in contributing to the Washington Socialist can email submissions or questions to [email protected].
Members — want to stay updated in our local chapter workspace? MDC DSA members are encouraged to join our all-member Slack for real-time info on working group and campaign events, strategy/tactic exchange, and inspiration. Email [email protected] with your most recent DSA dues receipt to get Slack access.
DMV LEFT COMMUNITY BULLETIN
Beyond the Hill on August 3 | Bol Coop and Ward 2 Mutual Aid
This Sunday, August 3, from 4 – 6pm, Bol Coop and Ward 2 Mutual Aid are inviting DC summer interns to meet at Malcolm X Park for a picnic. Hear from speakers about DC’s long history of organizing and draw connections between what’s happening in our city and the world-at-large. RSVP here.
5th Birthday Party + Fundraiser on August 7 | Ward 1 Mutual Aid
Ward 1 Mutual Aid has been doing grassroots community organizing for five years! On Thursday, August 7, from 6 – 9pm at Lyman’s Tavern, celebrate this milestone at their party and fundraiser. Join to play birthday games, learn about W1MA's ongoing projects and meet neighbors. Order a DC Brau beer and have 100% of sales go straight to W1MA. RSVP here.
Intro to Restorative Practices and Emotional Intelligence on August 9 | DC Peace Team
On Saturday, August 9, from 10am – 12pm online, join the DC Peace Team to create space for reflection and growth, and gain practical tools to build emotional resilience, listen with heart, recognize emotional triggers, and practice active listening with presence and care. Emotional awareness and restorative practices are essential, not only for personal well-being, but also for building meaningful and compassionate connections within our communities. Sign up here.
ESSENTIAL PERSPECTIVES
ESSENTIAL PERSPECTIVES are articles and opinion pieces of
interest to DMV leftists but not, generally, appearing in local media.
They should have links without paywalls. Readers are invited to submit
candidates at our tip line.
The Drying Planet
As the climate warms, new data shows huge swaths of land across the globe are quickly drying, threatening humanity’s supply of fresh water. As the planet gets hotter and its reservoirs shrink and its glaciers melt, people have increasingly drilled into a largely ungoverned, invisible cache of fresh water: the vast, hidden pools found deep underground. Now, a new study that examines the world’s total supply of fresh water — accounting for its rivers and rain, ice and aquifers together — warns that Earth’s most essential resource is quickly disappearing. Pro Publica via Portside
US government may be abandoning the global climate fight, but new leaders are filling the void — including China
Now, with Trump pulling the U.S. out [of the Paris Agreement] again — and taking steps to eliminate U.S. climate policies, boost fossil fuels and slow the growth of clean energy at home — other countries are stepping up, [as are 24 states and cities, regionally including: Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, and Delaware but not Virginia]. In the past week, on July 24, China and the European Union issued a joint statement vowing to strengthen their climate targets and meet them. They alluded to the U.S., referring to “the fluid and turbulent international situation today” in saying that “the major economies … must step up efforts to address climate change.” Even though the PRC makes the best and cheapest solar panels, US tariffs hype their costs, on the premise that if we can’t make them here, everyone must fry. The Conversation
The Local Angle — politics and football in DC; I82 weakened; Pr. George’s fights data centers; unhoused under threat
Politics in the District seem to go from bad to worse — developers and restaurant owners get what they want, realities that make the need for a greater socialist presence on the City Council and a stronger statehood movement all the more important. Darius Baxter, in an article in the Washington Informer, talks about his love of football, its meaning to him growing up — and yet how the deal to bring the Commanders back to the District is bad is another giveaway to developers. See his Bring the Commanders Home — But Not at the Expense of Our Community.
We see the same in the City Council's decision to not listen to District residents who — for the second time — voted to end the tipped minimum wage. Martin Austermuhle's account in the 51st provides a good account of this anti-worker, anti-democratic action by city leaders.
DC Voted to Raise Wages. The Restaurant Lobby Said No. The tipped worker subminimum wage keeps service employees’ livelihoods subject to the whims of bosses and customers. Momentum to end that subminimum wage is growing in cities like Washington, DC, but industry groups are mobilizing to maintain the status quo. Jacobin
Meanwhile, Prince George's is facing its own looming battle — the march of data centers to destroy the environment using false promises of jobs. Jalen Wade's article in Intersection Magazinereports on a community meeting in South County where opponents were in the majority.
All this is hardly the way to resist Trump — witness how easily the Bowser Administration has caved in to cruel federal demands to criminalize people without homes. Shameka Parrish-Wright, a member of the Louisville Metro Council, recounts Kentucky's experience ticketing and arresting unhoused people. See her article in Z
A more long-run view of D.C. by a sometimes-unruly native of the town unloads with essays about the sometimes-unruly culture of the natives here, in an unexpected reverence for the ugly parts of life in the Last Colony: Rax King’s Sloppy speaks "To the people who are here and feel like they want to leave because the vibes are so fucked right now: Maybe don't."
This is the weekly newsletter of the Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America (MDC DSA), which is produced by
local members of the chapter's Publications working group. The Weekly Update publishes every Friday at
9am.
Paid for by Metro DC DSA (mdcdsa.org). Not authorized by any candidate or committee.
Thinking about it, but want to get this email Update every Friday? SIGN UP
HERE
The flame of thought, the magnificence of art, the wonder of discovery, and the audacity of invention
all belong to revolutionary periods when humanity, tired of its chains, shatters them and stops inebriated to
breathe the breeze of a vast and free horizon. - Virgilia D'Andrea
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