Sheriff Sales are public auctions of foreclosed homes and lots, seized when homeowners can’t pay their mortgages or property taxes. Many of these lots provide green space, play areas, and community gardens throughout neglected parts of our city. This process is one of the principal ways the ruling class seizes homes and community spaces that belong to Black and Brown, working-class Philadelphians.
Important note about our General Meeting this Sunday, 9/26: If you have not received an email with your member ID and ballot, stack, and support links (subject line “General Meeting Important Links”), and you are a member in good standing, email [email protected] ASAP. You must RSVP online to receive a Zoom link for the GM.
Friend --
The Sheriff Sale moratorium expired earlier this month, and with that comes the sale of empty lots to for-profit developers in an unjust, opaque process. Sheriff Sales are public auctions of foreclosed homes and lots, seized when homeowners can’t pay their mortgages or property taxes. Many of these lots provide green space, play areas, and community gardens throughout neglected parts of our city. This process is one of the principal ways the ruling class seizes homes and community spaces that belong to Black and Brown, working-class Philadelphians.
Organizers from the Iglesias Garden in Kensington delivered a petition to reinstate the moratorium in a basket of tomatoes and basil grown in the garden. The City responded with laughably disproportionate force. At least 18 cops arrived to block these organizers from delivering their symbolic basket. After a long standoff, the cops finally let the lead organizer enter; they reported after that the City had claimed this issue was “out of their jurisdiction.”
As democratic socialists, we must defend the rights of Philadelphians to their land, homes and communities. You can sign this petition to show your support for the Iglesias Garden’s demand to extend the Sheriff Sales Moratorium. You can also attend the Housing Committee meeting tonight at 8pm, where we’ll hear from a guest speaker about community land trusts and discuss how to win democratic control over community land.
-Luke Mills, Philly DSA memberRead the full essay
On the calendarUnless otherwise specified, all events are held via Zoom. Due to the weather, the SEPTA bus canvass scheduled for today has been canceled.
Green New Deal for Public Schools Phonebank, today at 4:30pmCall and text parents, teachers, and DSA members to support Jamaal Bowman's Green New Deal for Public Schools legislation. RSVP
Rent Control Coalition Phonebank, today at 5:30pm Join the Rent Control Coalition to call petition signers and update them on ways to get involved with the Coalition. RSVP
Housing Committee Meeting, today at 8pmHear from a guest speaker on community land trusts, discuss our ongoing tenant organizing through the Stomp Out Slumlords campaign, and more! RSVP
General Meeting, September 26 at noonJoin the Philly DSA membership to decide on the political direction of our organization. View the resolutions up for consideration here and RSVP.
Green New Deal Commission Meeting, September 27 at 6:30pmJoin this regular meeting to hear about current projects, including updates from the Green New Deal for Public Schools and Better Buses campaigns. RSVP
Defund the Police Campaign Meeting, October 1 at 6pmJoin this monthly meeting to discuss an upcoming Red Rabbits Training, an upcoming referendum on policing, and more. RSVP
Worker Cooperatives: Worker Power and Autonomy, October 1 at 7pmThe Political Education Committee will explore the basic ideas and theory behind worker co-ops in this discussion with Dr. Shahram Azhar, Assistant Professor of Economics at Bucknell University. RSVP
National Convention Report-back, October 3 at 4pmJoin our 2021 NatCon delegation for a report on how DSA’s highest deliberative body made important political decisions for the organization back in August. RSVP
Structured Organizing Conversations Training, October 7 at 6pmThe Member Engagement Committee will train you on how to have organizing conversations essential to labor, housing, and other deep-organizing work. RSVPFall (of Capitalism) Fest, October 9 at 3pmCelebrate fall with Philly DSA at this family-friendly outdoor event! Events will include pumpkin painting and carving, face-painting, food, and games. RSVP
Political Education: Liberation Theology, October 13 at 7pmLiberation theology changed the politics of Latin America by merging Christian faith with socialist understanding of the world. Join us to learn this history with the host of the Liberation Theology podcast, Fr. David Inczauskis, SJ. RSVP
New Member Meeting, October 14 at 6:30pmAn introduction to Philly DSA for new members and people thinking about joining. Learn about the local and the many ways you can get involved! RSVP
View the full calendar
Updates from the branches
Delco DSAReading Group, October 14 at 7pmRead and discuss an essay published in Racecraft: The Soul of Inequality in American Life. RSVPPublic Hearing on County Waste Policy, September 30 at 6pmAttend or send comments to stop the Covanta contract. The hearing is in person at the Government Center, 201 W. Front St. in Media, PA. RSVPView all events
BuxMont DSAWhat a GND for Public Schools Would Mean for MontCo, today at 7pmJoin Dr. Akira Drake Rodriguez, Sen. Katie Muth, and more panelists for a discussion on investing in green schools in Montgomery County. RSVP
BuxMont DSA General Meeting, September 24 at 7pmHear 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. RSVPView all events
This week in unions
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
What we’re reading
In solidarity,
Philly DSAhttp://www.phillydsa.org/
“I want to affect people like a clap of thunder, to inflame their minds with the breadth of my vision, the strength of my conviction and the power of my expression” - Rosa Luxemburg, socialist theoretician and organizer
Isn’t it time to do something? Get involved with the Local.
