Green schools, public banking, and better buses... | Bulletin

Comrades - 

The time to escalate the Green New Deal for Public Schools campaign is now! The House and Senate Committees are voting on how to allocate the $3.5 trillion slated for the reconciliation package, with a final vote on the package taking place on 9/27. So far, there are 49 co-signers of Rep. Jamaal Bowman’s Green New Deal for Public Schools bill, but only Rep. Boyle from Philly has signed on to it. That means we’ve got to keep up the pressure on Rep. Dwight Evans to do his part and sign the bill, and continue pushing Democratic leadership to ensure it isn’t watered down. 

To pressure Rep. Evans, we’ve set a goal of 1000 signatures for our petition. It sounds like a big number, but we can do it together! Have you signed yet? After that, you can sign up to help us text and call our comrades in Philly DSA this Sunday at 2pm and this Wednesday at 7pm. 

If you’re all fired up, don’t miss out on the national phonebanks starting on 9/16 at 8pm. Lastly, get involved with the campaign to stay updated on upcoming actions and events! Email [email protected] to stay in the loop.

-Nafis H., Green New Deal for Public Schools campaign

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

Philadelphia Public Bank Visioning Summit, September 18 at 1pm
Join Philadelphia's Public Banking Coalition to discuss the legislation in City Council that would make Philly the first city to create a public bank, and help develop our collective vision for how the bank can break the power of Wall Street while investing in projects that benefit local communities. Register for the virtual summit for a Zoom link.

Green New Deal for Public Schools Phonebank, September 19 at 2pm and September 22 at 7pm
Call and text parents, teachers, and DSA members to support Jamaal Bowman's Green New Deal for Public Schools legislation. RSVP

Communications Committee Meeting, September 20 at 7pm
Join to hear about the committee’s subgroups including design and writing; discuss how best to communicate the chapter’s projects and vision. RSVP

Housing Committee Meeting, September 23 at 8pm
Discuss our ongoing tenant organizing through the Stomp Out Slumlords campaign, think through new canvasses for the fall, plan a new housing reading group, and more! RSVP

LILAC x Philly Bail Fund Expungement Clinic Call-a-thon, September 21 at 6pm
Join members of the Racial Justice Committee to make calls to people with withdrawn or dismissed cases to promote an expungement clinic run by the Philly Bail Fund. RSVP

Better Busses Canvasses, September 19th (Pier 70) & September 23rd (Frankford)
Join members of the Green New Deal Commission and Transit Forward Philadelphia to canvass riders at the bus stop about their SEPTA experiences and collect responses for the Better Busses survey. Learn more here, and email [email protected] to sign up for a two-hour shift. 

General Meeting, September 26 at noon
Join the Philly DSA membership to vote on the political direction of our organization. View the resolutions up for consideration here and RSVP

Defund the Police Campaign Meeting, October 1 at 6pm
Join this monthly meeting to discuss an upcoming Red Rabbits Training, possible involvement in an upcoming referendum on policing, and the latest news from around the country. RSVP

New Member Meeting, October 14 at 6:30pm
An introduction to Philly DSA for new members and people thinking about joining the local. Learn about the local and the many ways you can get involved! RSVP

View the full calendar

Updates from the branches

Delco DSA
Reading Group, October 14 at 7pm
Read and discuss an essay published in Racecraft: The Soul of Inequality in American Life. RSVP
View all events

BuxMont DSA
Socialist Social, September 17 at 7pm
New members are especially encouraged to join a discussion of socialism in the suburbs and virtual games. RSVP

Political Education, September 22 at 7pm
A regular meeting of the Political Education program. Check back for reading materials and RSVP

BuxMont General Meeting, September 24 at 7pm
Hear reports from working groups and committees, discuss and debate the upcoming actions and events of the branch, and vote on resolutions proposed by the membership. RSVP
View all events

This week in unions

• The WHYY Union has ratified a contract that includes raises, paid parental leave (from nothing to six weeks paid in full), and fair severance and layoff procedures. 
• Striking Nabisco workers will soon be presented with a tentative agreement, but we can still support them through the negotiation process. You can donate to strike support funds for Nabisco workers across four locals and sign up for further updates.

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 & file union members and leaders, email [email protected]. 

On the bulletin

• Housing Survey: Please fill out the Housing Committee’s survey to map shared landlords and property management companies. Responses will help future tenant organizing efforts.
• #Boycott Puma: The Steering Committee voted to support the BDS & Palestine Solidarity Working Group’s efforts to #BoycottPuma. Read the statement and review suggested action to take on the International Day of Action (September 18) to “Give Puma the Boot.”
  

• Bylaws Reform Commission: The Philly DSA Steering Committee recently created a Bylaws Commission, which is tasked with creating and implementing a process for reforming the Philly DSA bylaws. If you’re interested in being part of the Commission, please apply here.
  • If you have questions, please email the Commission’s chair, Sam Datlof ([email protected]).
• Access our Google Calendar: This public calendar is updated regularly with our chapter’s events.
• Interested in data? Contact our Secretary, Harinee, at [email protected] to talk about managing our internal data. Those with CRM and data system experience are highly encouraged to reach out!
• Harassment and Grievance Process: In accordance with Article XIII of our Bylaws, a commission has been formed to receive, process, and review grievances for disciplinary action. To read more about the process or to file a grievance you can do so here.
• Support Philly DSA! 
  • Support our Local chapter by paying local dues
  • Moved away from Philly? Update your address on the DSA national database

What we’re reading

• Revolt of the Delivery Workers | Curbed
• The Emotional Toll of Dirty Work | The New Republic
• In the Fight For a Green New Deal, Schools Are the New Front Lines | Jacobin
• Tackling Philly’s high energy burden can help shore up against stormers (opinion) | The Philadelphia Inquirer 

In solidarity,

Philly DSA

“It is not enough to say that we support equity, diversity, and progress, it is time for us to invest in these values. We are facing multiple crises - including climate, housing, COVID, and white-supremacy - and we need transformational policies to meet the urgency of the moment.” - Boston DSA member and candidate for Somerville City Council, Tessa Bridge