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Message From The Executive Board:
Let's Talk at Our Next General Meeting About Our Housing & Homelessness Strategy
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Housing and homelessness has reached an even greater crisis point than usual in Sacramento -- a COVID eviction wave, unhoused folks freezing and dying in the storms, and the planned destruction of low-cost housing. Our state and city government only listens to real-estate and business interests when "dealing" with this crisis. At our February 20 general meeting, we want to strategize as a chapter about our goals and principles for fighting back. But first, a little bit of background:
The COVID unemployment crisis -- and lack of financial support from the government -- means that more and more people are unable to pay rent. Advocates pushed governor Newsom to pass an eviction moratorium through the end of the year, and forgive enormous back rents that people would be unable to pay. Instead, Newsom worked with the real-estate industry to propose a loophole-ridden half-measure that would leave it up to landlords whether to participate.
More and more people are living on the street, and dying in the recent storms. The CDC has urged cities not to "sweep" encampments during COVID, and the Biden administration offered to reimburse cities 100% of the costs of finding "non-aggregate" shelter through September (such as hotels or empty college dorms). Instead, the City of Sacramento has continued with sweeps (such as the Stockton Boulevard camp) and has dragged its feet on taking advantage of federal money. Their "solution" so far has been to look for small outdoor spaces where people can pitch tents, purchase a measly sixty "tiny homes" (little more than sheds) for a homeless population of thousands, and open a grand total of one overnight warming center downtown.
With rents continuing to rise, the City of Sacramento is prioritizing the destruction of public housing and the creation of high-priced units for professionals, real-estate investors, and illegal AirBnb hosts. The City recently passed a downtown area plan that would allow for the destruction of the New Helvetia/Seavey Circle public housing community and its replacement with gentrifier housing, and a city-wide plan that would eliminate single-family housing (potentially a good first step) to allow the construction of unaffordable "market-rate" housing (which only helps those who already have money).
Sac DSA is committed to fighting for housing and homeless policies that prioritize the needs of workers, long-term residents who have built their community here, and our unhoused neighbors who need shelter now. At our next general meeting, we want to talk as an organization about what our goals and strategy should be in this rapidly-evolving crisis.
Please come to our general meeting on February 20 as we discuss these and other issues. We want to work out our strategy together. Don't worry if you feel uninformed or powerless about these issues; we all have our own experience and insight, and it's by brainstorming and organizing together that we can devise a socialist plan of action to keep hope alive in these barbaric times.
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Upcoming at our General Meeting |
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Co-Chair Election!
DSA Sacramento is electing a new chapter co-chair at our next general meeting (February 20)! Under our bylaws, the new co-chair must be a self-identified woman.
Any interested member may run, or nominate someone they think would make an ideal co-chair. This is a great opportunity to get more involved with Sac DSA and start putting your ideas for organizing into action! No particular experience is required, other than a passion for socialism and working with others.
We strongly encourage all members to consider running, even if you haven't thought of yourself as a leader before -- part of what makes DSA great is that we are made up of ordinary people who are unlocking their talents and learning through collective action. Your fellow board members will be there to support you, and we are planning to host leadership and organizer trainings over the coming months.
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The co-chair position requires about a five-hour commitment each week, including biweekly board meetings that are held on Tuesday evenings for about an hour and a half (though meeting times can be changed to accommodate your schedule). Nominations will remain open right up until the general meeting on February 20.
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Want to Help Plan the Next Steps in DSA's Medicare For All Campaign?
This Saturday (January 30) from 11AM-2PM, representatives from DSA chapters across California will be meeting (via Zoom) to review the current state of the Medicare For All campaign, and plan our next steps in the fight. Sac DSA still has room for one or two more delegates if you would like to attend!
No prior experience necessary, just a passion for fighting for universal healthcare. Preference will be given to members that represent the diverse multiracial membership of DSA and the working class. To request a spot at the meeting, please email [email protected].
This is an especially important time for universal healthcare organizing, because Bernie Sanders might be trying to include at least a temporary Medicare For All program in the upcoming stimulus bill -- setting up a fight with establishment Democrats who can't hide behind Republicans anymore. You can read more about Bernie's possible plan here.
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What Sac DSA's Been Up To This Week |
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Sac DSA Says No More War on Yemen!
Monday, January 25, was a global day of action to end the bombing and mass starvation of Yemen -- a horrific humanitarian crisis executed by Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and others' bombs, with support from the U.S. since 2015 (yep, under Obama) and escalated ever since.
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As one of many worldwide actions taking place that day, Sac DSA's International Committee held a vigil at the federal courthouse in Sacramento (where our senators have their offices). We were joined by comrades from organizations such as Sacramento Peace Action and Veterans For Peace.
To get involved with these and similar solidarity actions, consider joining Sac DSA's International Committee!
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Pressuring the City of Sacramento to Put our Unhoused Neighbors in Hotels
As huge storms raged in Sacramento this week, Sac DSA mobilized to pressure the City Council to find hotel rooms for our thousands of unhoused neighbors. This was not out of the blue -- the Biden administration had just promised to reimburse cities for 100% of the cost of sheltering the unhoused in "non-aggregate" housing (such as hotels or dorms). The City could no longer pretend that this was a financial issue; it was a nakedly moral one.
Sac DSA urged our members and the public to call their councilmembers and give public comments during the two meetings this week that the Council held on the subject. Socialist councilmember Katie Valenzuela was urging the City to take advantage of this unprecedented opportunity, and needed all of the public support she could get. Apparently the City is now forming a commission to "investigate" the idea.
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Upcoming Meeting Announcements:
International Committee, 1/28/21 (Thurs) @ 7PM
Executive Board Meeting, 2/2/21 (Tues) @ 7PM
These meetings are open to any DSA member. The executive board meeting just requires prior registration so that we can verify your membership.
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Missed a Meeting?
Minutes of our past meetings are hosted online.
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What We're Reading (Or Viewing, Or Listening To...)
"For anyone interested, there was a good interview with folks from the Socialist Rifle Association with Its Going Down."
"Spadework: On Political Organizing" by Alyssa Battistoni
"I was reminded this morning of this fantastic piece on organizing by Alyssa Battistoni. It’s one of the most honest pieces I’ve read on the subject. P.S. - This hits a lot harder than the first time I read it."
"State of the Union" by Marlon Craft (song)
"Oof. Lots of truth here."
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"Everything you need to know about the stock market, in one Marxist meme." |
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