Happy New Year from Philly DSA! 🎉 | Bulletin

Friend —

Happy New Year! 🎉 In 2021, we welcomed more than 300 new members, hosted over 200 meetings and events, sent 25 delegates to the DSA National Convention, wrote upward of 30 email bulletins, passed 11 resolutions, engaged hundreds of people in campaigns like Stomp Out Slumlords, created a Racial Justice Committee, endorsed our first-ever cadre DSA candidate, elected a new Steering Committee, and chose new chapter priorities. Phew! We couldn’t have done it without each of you in this fight with us. Thank you. 

We’re also extending gratitude to our Vice Chair, Khalil, who is stepping down after more than two years of tireless work on our Steering Committee. We will hold an election for a new Vice Chair at the February General Meeting. If you’re interested in running for this position, please contact Shawn H. via Slack or email [email protected]. 

On the calendar
Unless otherwise specified, all events are held via Zoom. 

Green New Deal Commission Meeting, tonight at 6:30pm
Hear updates on the chapter's Green New Deal campaign and ways to get involved in our exciting work! 

Defund the Police Campaign Meeting, January 7 at 6pm
Join us as we report back from the National Abolitionist Working Group's Defund the Police Summit, share our plans for 2022, and discuss the path to a police-free state. 

Racial Justice Committee Open Meeting, January 8 at 12pm
Join us for our first weekend edition of the RJC! We'll give updates on our Ben Fletcher and Defund the Police Campaigns and have a discussion about our goals for 2022. 

Housing Committee Open Meeting, January 10 at 6:30pm
Join us to discuss our ongoing projects, such as our Stomp Out Slumlords tenant organizing campaign and the city-wide legislative campaign for rent control.

Night School: What is Socialism? January 12 at 7pm
Night Schools are free and open to all, regardless of previous experience. Join us, whether you're new to DSA or an expert Marxologist! 🤓 

Member Engagement Committee Meeting, January 13 at 7pm
Come help us plan upcoming social events, recruitment, and get fellow members connected to our work. 

Medicare for All Interest Meeting, January 20 at 7pm
Our membership voted to make fighting for Medicare for All a priority at our 2021 Local Convention. If you’re interested in working on strategic campaign planning related to Medicare for All and healthcare justice in the age of COVID-19, please attend the meeting and fill out this interest form.

Canvass for Paul Prescod! Saturday, January 22
Mark your calendars! The Electoral Committee invites you to our first canvass for endorsed candidate Paul Prescod for State Senate. The time and location are to be determined. RSVP for updates. 

If you’d like to get a head start on knocking doors in this race, the Prescod campaign is hosting a canvass at Clark Park this Sunday, December 9 at noon.

View the full calendar.

Updates from the branches

Delco DSA
Justice for Fanta, January 13 at 10am in Springfield, PA
Rally for justice for Fanta Bility, an 8-year-old tragically murdered by Sharon Hill police, organized by UDTJ and Delco Resists.

Delco Reading Group: Alternatives to Policing, January 13 at 7:30pm
Discuss alternatives to policing in the community, dispelling the “bad apples” myth, and more. 

BuxMont DSA
Political Education: Strategy Meeting, January 10 at 7pm
Help plan the future of BuxMont’s Political Education sessions!

Towamencin Sewer Anti-Privatization Strategy, January 11 at 7pm
Discuss how to expand on the work coalition partners with NOPE have been doing to stop Aqua PA from buying sewer plants in the area. 

View all events

This week in unions

Omicron continues to wreak havoc on people and, of course, their workplaces. Your Labor Branch Organizing Committee encourages you to either get active in your union or try to organize one in your workplace as your best line of defense against the coronavirus. Here are some stories of workers taking action around Covid:

• Chicago teachers voted to teach remotely, but Mayor Lori Lightfoot and the school district chose to cancel school instead, and lock the teachers out.
• The AFL-CIO and many of their affiliate unions have asked a federal court to force OSHA to adopt a permanent health care COVID rule. (The admin just withdrew most of its temporary one.)
• Starbucks workers who are organizing with Workers United walked off the job due to safety issues and understaffing.

Unfortunately, many more workers are going into work sick, due to how rampant the coronavirus is, along with lack of paid sick time or any Covid accommodations. It’s disheartening and infuriating. But we’re trying to heed Bernie’s advice as we enter the new year: “And here is our new year’s resolution. Like the thousands of workers who stood up and fought courageously in 2021, we will do the same. No one individual is going to save us. We must rise up together.”

To get involved: If you’re interested in supporting workers who want to organize, organizing your workplace, supporting workers and unions taking collective action, or in building relationships with rank and file union members and leaders, email [email protected]. 

On the bulletin

• Our hearts go out to the families and victims of the Fairmount rowhome fire yesterday. Consider donating to those affected. While we aren’t sure what led to this fire, we know that by providing everyone with a safe, affordable home with up-to-date repairs and functioning utilities, we can prevent future tragedies.
• Donate to the Philly DSA PAC! This is how we fund our electoral campaigns. Contribute here. 
• The Housing Committee is still collecting survey responses to help identify landlord and property management companies that DSA members have in common. Please fill it out to aid future tenant organizing. 🏡
• Join us on Slack: If you’re a Philly DSA member and you’d like to join our Slack workspace, please fill out this form.
• Harassment and Grievance Process: Read about the process to file a grievance here.

In solidarity,

Philly DSA

http://www.phillydsa.org/

"If Chile was the cradle of neoliberalism, it will also be its grave. Do not be afraid of the youth changing this country," - Gabriel Boric, newly elected socialist President of Chile