Hi Everyone! We hope to see you all at our social this Saturday! Below are some of our upcoming events and updates.

We also have an announcement from our chapter co-chair, Jeff B. Jeff has taken a job that will require him to move out of state. This development merits a chapter discussion about what leadership will look like going forward. Jeff has written some thoughts about his time organizing with us and his hopes for our chapter's future. You can read Jeff's letter here.

• BRAKE LIGHT CLINIC & HEALTH FAIR + BBQ SOCIAL | THIS SATURDAY!
  Join us this Saturday from 12-4pm at St. Roch Park for a community social and help out with our Health Fair and Free Brake Light Changes. No experience required! Sign up here to volunteer.
  
  As usual, we'll provide free brake light changes, blood pressure checks, NARCAN from Trystereo and other resources. With an added bonus this time of grilling and serving up hot meals! All are welcome!
  
  Our brake light clinics are political agitation. They're an opportunity to build relationships with neighbors and have discussions about personal experiences with police and listen to others’ stories.
  
  
• COP WATCH NOLA: CALL TO ACTION TO SUBMIT PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY! (No Later than Tomorrow, Thursday, December 1st at 9AM)
  This Thursday, December 1st at 10 am, the New Orleans City Council will vote on the 2023-2024 fiscal budget for our city. The Mayor has proposed an annual budget of $155 million for the NOPD in 2023. This is even after the NOPD is set to end the year with a $70 million surplus. The fact that 1/5 officers have been accused of sexual and/or intimate partner violence has not come up even once in the budget discussions. We can demand that the City stop funding NOPD pay increases and new hiring -- and instead invest into numerous programs for our communities, including for survivors of sexual violence.
  
  As a matter of public safety, City Council must defund and disarm the police, and shift our budget priorities to universal measures designed to uplift the working class.
  
  Instructions for Submitting Public Comment:
  1. Visit this link >>>>>> https://council.nola.gov/meetings/2022/20221201-regular-meeting/ to find the City Council Meeting Page
  2. Click the link towards the middle of the page that says “Submit Public Comment”
  3. A second window will open, this is the form for comments to be made.
  4. Select the agenda item CONSENT 02, COMMUNICATION – FROM AMY B. TREPAGNIER, PERSONNEL DIRECTOR, CITY OF NEW ORLEANS, DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL SERVICE
  5. Then type your comment - We recommend taking inspiration from our Chapter Resolution towards police abolition.
  6. Then submit!
     
     

• MAKE ENTERGY PAY CAMPAIGN MEETING TOMORROW AT 7PM
  DSA New Orleans has launched the ambitious campaign to Make Entergy Pay. In short, we're preparing for a debt strike of 10,000 New Orleans ratepayers who are fed up with Entergy's greed and mismanagement of our utilities. We are putting forward our demands for (1) No more shutoffs; and (2) Cancellation of all residential utility debts. Join us TODAY as we onboard volunteers for our Make Entergy Pay campaign
  

  Our members working on the Make Entergy Pay Campaign meet every Thursday at 7pm for a weekly Zoom Call. Click here to tune in for the call tomorrow at 7pm.
  
  And sign the pledge if you haven't already!
  
  
• ELECTION RUNOFF | SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10TH (EARLY VOTING ENDS THIS SATURDAY AT 6PM)
  Baton Rouge DSA Member Davante Lewis has pushed incumbent Lambert Boissiere into a runoff for Public Service Commissioner. We made a recommendation to vote for anyone but Boissiere in the primary, and our recommendation stands for the Runoff election on December 10th. Our comrades with Baton Rouge DSA and Sunrise Movement New Orleans have endorsed Davante Lewis.
  
  Sunrise Movement New Orleans is hosting phonebanks for Lewis.
  
  This race has major implications for climate action in Louisiana.
  
  Check your ballot. Early voting ends this Saturday, December 3rd at 6pm. The following are locations for Early Voting in New Orleans:
  City Hall: 1300 Perdido Street, Room 1W24, New Orleans, LA 70112
  Algiers Courthouse: 225 Morgan Street, Room 105, New Orleans, LA 70114
  Chef Menteur Voting Machine Warehouse Site: 8870 Chef Menteur Highway, New Orleans, LA 70126
  Lake Vista Community Center: 6500 Spanish Fort Blvd.,New Orleans, LA 70124
  
  
• JANE PLACE FUNDRAISER AND HOLIDAY PARTY | TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6TH, 6PM TO 8PM AT TWELVE MILE LIMIT, 500 S. TELEMACHUS STREET
  Next week, Tuesday December 6th is Jane Place's annual fundraiser and holiday party at Twelve Mile Limit from 6pm to 8pm. They'll have drinks, free t-shirts, free food (first come, first serve).
  
  
• LOYOLA YDSA MOVIE NIGHT | TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6TH
  Are you a student at Loyola or know any students? Our comrades with Loyola YDSA are hosting a Matrix Movie Night this Tuesday at 6pm on campus.
  
  
• UPDATE FROM LOWE'S WORKERS UNITED NOLA
  In October 13th, Lowes Workers at Store 2470 in New Orleans filed their petition to unionize. On November 18th, Lowes retaliated by targeting and firing an 18 year veteran of the store who was outspoken in her support of the union effort. She lost healthcare coverage on Thanksgiving Day. She was eligible for full retirement on January 7th. Her family asked that Lowe's Workers United NOLA share this GoFundMe for her.
  
  

Love and Solidarity Forever,

New Orleans DSA Local Council