The risk of exposure to COVID-19 is still very real -- especially out in the streets! Consider getting tested for peace of mind, collect data on this virus, and keep our communities as safe and healthy as we can right now. Be sure to wait at least 5 days after attending a protest to get tested for a more accurate result (false negative rates average 20%, so if you feel even the slightest bit sick please STAY HOME). And when you show up, mask up!
|
Tenants across CA have been hanging on by a thread since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic — and that thread has been Emergency Rule 1, which prohibits courts from issuing eviction summons. The Rule was adopted by a lesser known policymaking body, the Judicial Council, that oversees California’s court system. Without Rule 1, evictions would have skyrocketed, displacement and homelessness would have surged and infection rates would be worse than they are today. But now, the Judicial Council voted to LIFT Rule 1 on September 1 and put millions of tenants at imminent risk of eviction (including 365K LA County households) if something isn’t passed by the legislature before then.
If our electeds don’t take action, we must —
and prepare to take to the streets if evictions resume.
In the meantime, we’re ramping up the pressure to fight for AB 1436, the COVID-19 Eviction Prevention and Housing Stability Act. This bill would protect renters from being evicted because of their inability to pay rent due to COVID-related loss of income.
*Click here to tweet, call, and email representatives to pass the bill!*
|
Sunday: Special Meeting: South Central & Inglewood Branch Debate
|
The Steering Committee voted to hold a special meeting on Sunday, August 23rd at 3 PM – 5 PM to debate a member petition for the establishment of a South Central & Inglewood Branch. At the conclusion of this meeting all members in good standing (you can check your membership status here) will be sent a ballot to vote on whether to establish the branch. The ballot will remain open for 1 week.
The member petition that was submitted regarding the establishment of this branch can be read here.
|
Thursday: Yes On 15 Big Ass Phone Bank Party!
|
Join us on Thursday, August 20th at 6:00pm for DSA LA’s kickoff phone banking party in support of Proposition 15, aka The Schools and Communities First Act! Prop 15 is a crucial piece of legislation that, if passed, will reclaim ten to twelve BILLION dollars a year for California’s public schools and services by closing a commercial property tax loophole that has been benefiting only a fraction of corporations and wealthy investors for decades.
How the state spends our money is a reflection of its priorities. Every year the state of California spends nearly 7x more per incarcerated person than we do per student — demonstrating a bigger commitment to imprisoning us than to educating us. Proposition 15 is a chance for us to set our priorities straight by putting our schools and communities first, not corporations.
This proposition is a crucial step towards redistributing the wealth and resources that corporations have been hoarding for years back to the working-class public. So join us to help spread the word. Together we can build a California that works for all of us, not just the wealthy few.
|
Friday: Growing the Movement with DSA!
|
To close out the week of the Democratic National Convention (but be sure to watch Bernie's keynote address tonight on TV at 7:36 PM PST / 10:36 PM EST), DSA-LA is hosting a livestream this Friday, August 21, for rank-and-file DSA members from across the country called Growing the Movement with DSA. This event will highlight the experiences of DSA members who are Bernie delegates to the Democratic National Convention, organizing inside and outside electoral politics. Delegates will be in conversation about the DNC, abolishing ICE, being young democratic socialists, and helping win class-struggle elections.
Special guests include Memphis-Midsouth DSA-endorsed, US Senate Candidate Marquita Bradshaw, and Medicare for All advocate and Bernie Sanders surrogate, Dr. Victoria Dooley. See you on YouTube this Friday, August 21st at 5:00pm!
|
With a pandemic raging, an economic recession picking up speed, and uprisings for racial justice all in progress this year, it is time for the Chapter membership to convene and vote on new political priorities and updates to our bylaws as the membership sees fit.
This year, our Convention keynote will be delivered by actor, writer, unionist, and activist Bill Fletcher Jr.
|
Check out our online calendar for full list of committee meetings and chapter events. Be sure to follow our Instagram & Twitter for real-time announcements and calls-to-action!
|
TONIGHT: DSA-LA Nithya Campaign Working Group Meeting
|
Monday, August 17th @ 7:00pm – 8:30pm
|
Join the DSA-LA for Nithya Campaign Working Group to help elect Nithya Raman to Los Angeles City Council! If you’d like to sign up to learn more, please fill out this form here!
|
Mutual Aid Book Club: Seize the Time, Pt. 4
|
Tuesday, August 18th @ 7:00pm – 9:00pm PST
|
For this Mutual Aid Book Club series, we will be discussing Seize The Time: The Story of The Black Panther Party and Huey P. Newton, by Bobby Seale. At this meeting, we’ll be wrapping up the book! Discussion will be pretty informal, and folks of all levels of involvement are encouraged to join! We’re also encouraging folks to check out the documentary Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution for some additional historical context.
Physical copies of the book can be pretty hard to come by, but you can find a digital copy on The Internet Archive by clicking here.
|
|
A People’s History of Neighborhood Councils
|
Wednesday, August 19th @ 7:00pm – 8:30pm PST
|
Los Angeles has 99 Neighborhood Councils. What are they? What do they do? Who’s on them? Why does any of this matter for socialists? Come find out at our introductory meeting on Neighborhood Councils.
|
Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA) is the youth and student section of the Democratic Socialists of America, and a national organization of recognized campus chapters and several hundred activists. We are students organizing in our universities, colleges, and high schools to fight for the immediate needs of workers and students while building our capacity to fight for more radical and structural changes. Find your school's YDSA chapter here. If your school doesn't have a YDSA chapter, you can start one! And even if there is one, you're still welcome to attend DSA-LA events!
|
Strike School Session II: How Does a Strike Work?
|
Tuesday, August 18th @ 5:00pm – 9:00pm PST
|
DSA-LA’s YDSA Summer School is a series of political education sessions and organizer trainings by and for students and campus workers across Los Angeles. The theme of this summer’s political education sessions is Strike School: How Collective Action Gets the Goods. The purpose of these three sessions is to provide a basic overview of unions, strikes, and how we as socialists fit into the picture. No previous experience in political education is required!
Session II of Strike School—How Does a Strike Work?—uses the Winnipeg General Strike as a case study of the challenges and possibilities offered by militant labor action, and as an opportunity to discuss the mechanics of a strike. We will also discuss why we no longer see the same degree of labor militancy today as we did in the first half of the 20th century.
Please RSVP to get access to the short readings and Zoom information.
|
YDSA-Los Angeles Prop 15 PolEd
|
Friday, August 21st @ 4:00pm – 5:00pm
|
This November, Californians will have the opportunity to transfer billions of dollars from capitalists to the working class. But what is Prop 15 exactly, and why should socialists care about tax reform?
On Friday, August 21 at 4pm, join YDSAers from across Los Angeles to learn more about Prop 15: Schools and Communities First. We will discuss how this ballot measure fits into YDSA’s national priorities and socialist strategy in general, and how we can use this campaign to strengthen our chapters and build new ones across Los Angeles.
Co-hosted by: Santa Monica College Democratic Socialist Club, Occidental YDSA, UCLA YDSA, and Agoura High School YDSA.
Questions? Contact Michael S., YDSA Coordinator: [email protected]
|
Summer School II: How to Run a Meeting
|
Sunday, August 23rd @ 4:00pm – 5:30pm
|
DSA-LA’s YDSA Summer School is a series of political education sessions and organizer trainings by and for students and campus workers across Los Angeles. Our organizer trainings are geared toward people who are newer to organized socialism, but anyone is welcome to come.
The reality of socialist organizing is that we spend a lot of time in meetings, and there is a clear difference between good meetings and bad meetings. Join us to build the toolkit necessary to run successful meetings in your YDSA chapter!
Please RSVP to get access to the Zoom information.
|
JOIN US & FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL:
INSTAGRAM // TWITTER // FACEBOOK // YOUTUBE
|
|
