Unplug, recharge, and fight fascism with a screening of “The Trial of the Chicago 7.” (TW/Rated R: Explicit language, Some violence, Bloody images, Drug use)
Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021 Vista, CA (Chill 4:00pm; Screening 6pmish-9:00pm PST)
Take a breather and watch a movie in your neighbors’ backyard. Kickback with folx who share your progressive values.
Bring blankets, chairs, and snacks to share, if you’re able. If you’re feeling ill, we strongly recommend please staying home. Social-distancing and masks for unvaccinated still apply.
***We may ask for vaccination cards. Not vaccinated? We can help.***
http://bit.ly/ncsdmovienight2021fall
Category: News
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NCSD Movie Night and Potluck
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San Diego needs a Green New Deal for Public Schools
Public schools across the nation have suffered from decades of disinvestment, redlining and cycles of poverty and trauma. The Green New Deal for Public Schools Act is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to meet the moment and prioritize our students. Every student, regardless of background, should be able to enjoy clean air and learn in a safe school environment, free from mold or broken windows. The Democratic Socialists of America launched our Green New Deal for Public Schools (GND4PS) campaign to support this act nationally, with DSA San Diego supporting the effort locally.
The ambitious new legislation — which aims to invest $1.43 trillion over 10 years in public schools and infrastructure to combat climate change — would make a transformative and unprecedented investment in public school infrastructure by upgrading every public school building in the country, addressing historical harms and inequities by focusing support on high-need schools, and hiring and training hundreds of thousands of additional educators and support staff. If enacted, the legislation would fund 1.3 million jobs per year and eliminate 78 million metric tons of CO2 annually, the equivalent of taking 17 million cars off the road.
The climate crisis continues to worsen as the government fails to reel in corporate greed. We need to put our children and their futures at the forefront of our decision-making. The Green New Deal for Public Schools Act represents the level of school infrastructure investment that is urgent and necessary. What this comes down to is whether we’re willing to provide our kids with the resources they need to realize their brilliance and have a livable planet. To win it, we need to organize communities, educators, parents, and students. Join us!
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HGO Member Accountability Case Ends
In January a process was created to deal with a case of harassment and manipulative behavior from former Co-chair Nate R.
Nate was a member of DSA SD (co-chair until October 2020) and a member of the Revolutionary Marxist Caucus (RMC) within DSA SD.
The subject of his harassment (hereafter called the ORP, short for “original reporting person”) confronted Nate about his actions and shortly after he resigned from DSA. Soon after this, his actions came to light and he was expelled from RMC. The chapter Harassment and Grievance Officer (HGO) was informed and investigated his actions. This investigation concluded with Nate being barred from rejoining DSA. An internal announcement was made of this decision.
Nate agreed to engage in a restorative justice process to address his behavior, created by the HGO with input from the ORP and RMC. Within this process Nate drafted a statement of accountability (attached) and worked on requests from RMC such as writing a code of conduct for engaging with comrades, and requests from the ORP, such as analyzing how his behaviors were influenced by the works of Robert Greene.
Nate’s statement can be accessed here.
While the process was originally planned to be one year long, all involved have decided it is best to end it with Nate’s statement. Nate was barred from rejoining DSA, and the process was created to give him a possible pathway back to membership. However, Nate has stated that he doesn’t intend to come back to DSA at this time. The process is left without a goal. Additionally it was not designed to take into account new mental health diagnosis and treatment he is undergoing and is inadequate to address this in a way that supports Nate and doesn’t put undue labor on others in the process.
Those involved in the process do not believe Nate is irredeemable. Nate has made strides in the process and we hope he continues to do the work of unlearning toxic behavior.
The ORP has asked that the specifics not be discussed and we choose to honor that. If there are other questions or concerns the HGO can be contacted at sandiegohgo@gmail.com
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To San Diego City Council re: 5/25 Franchise Agreement Vote
Sent by email to each member 5/23
To the president, president pro tem, and members of the San Diego City Council,
On Tuesday, May 25, you will cast your votes on the proposed energy and gas franchise agreements with SDG&E, shepherded by Mayor Todd Gloria. As we have requested in communications across multiple media and as you’ve heard from hundreds of our members, the Democratic Socialists of America San Diego chapter urges you to vote no. Those of you who have already committed to vote against the agreement – we respect and appreciate your conviction. To those who are not yet decided, we urge you to consider the inescapable contradictions posed by signing a 10-20 year binding agreement with an investor-owned utility staked in the long-term combustion of fossil fuels.
There has been a lot of discussion during this renewal process about the future of workers, as well there should be. No matter who owns and manages our utility infrastructure, workers on the lines and building upgraded systems are vital to assuring strong energy service we can rely on, day after day. Yet we are accelerating into a future that will render untenable a business model like Sempra Energy’s, anchored as it is on combusting the liquid natural gas it stores and transports northward from Baja California. Theirs won’t be an orderly, stable transition. If the fate of the coal industry is any predictor, our utility is likely to be sold off as its distressed corporate parent salvages parts, leaving workers in the lurch. If the distress reaches the point of bankruptcy, workers may well be the first parties to be left high and dry — paychecks and pensions in question.
There has also been a lot of discussion during the renewal process about SDG&E’s sky-high rates. Members of our chapter have talked extensively to our neighbors in Barrio Logan and Rancho Bernardo, and have gathered tenants and workers together in community forums. There is no scenario featuring SDG&E as the franchisee that rates will become lower, lessening the burden on already burdened households. Members of underserved communities in San Diego are squeezed by the forces of gentrification and low wages — high energy rates put them at risk of service shutdowns that will become increasingly deadly as global warming continues.
Please stop kicking the can down the road. Vote no for another franchise agreement with SDG&E and immediately begin the process of transitioning to publicly owned and operated power, serviced by workers with accountable union representation and a contract worthy of their contributions.
Sincerely,
DSA San Diego
Energy Democracy Campaign
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Statement on Mediation with San Diego Tenants Union
It’s important to note the documents/social media in question are run by an independent group, some not even affiliated with our chapter. We have no authority to remove the Instagram or any other document not released on official DSA channels.
– – – –In recent days, the leadership of the Democratic Socialists of America-San Diego (DSA-SD) has been informed of allegations of online harassment between members of our organization and members of the San Diego Tenants Union (SDTU). SDTU has attracted members from many external organizations in its pursuit to build tenant power, including a significant membership from DSA-SD. As we take all accusations of harassment seriously, an immediate internal inquiry into the matter was launched.
The processes in place allow us to investigate issues of harassment to hold our membership accountable for abuses and to protect members from bullying and intimidation when participating in coalition work. DSA-SD has consulted directly with our National Harassment and Grievance Officer (HGO) on this matter: on March 19th, 2021 an external complaint was sent to our National HGO from a member of the SDTU. A response was filed stating that National does not conduct regional investigations. In this instance, mediating members of SDTU reached out to DSA-SD directly to investigate and address these allegations on the 10th of May, 2021. DSA-SD has convened a special committee to review the background and veracity of the claims of harassment made both against our chapter members and against founding members of the SDTU. The National HGO has requested information as to the outcome of the investigation. After a thorough inquest, this body finds that there is disproportionate harm perpetrated by the members of the SDTU to members of DSA-SD. DSA-SD stands in solidarity with its membership that has been doxxed and harassed, while calling strongly for implicated members of SDTU to cease its campaign of harassment and intimidation against DSA-SD members.
Democratic Socialists of America-San Diego has worked in good-faith partnership with The San Diego Tenants Union over the past 18 months to join SDTU in building working class power. We have engaged in numerous struggles to prevent eviction, fight for better living conditions, and secure resettlement dollars for members being displaced alongside the SDTU.
On May 12, 2021, an SDTU Arbitration Committee consisting of four SDTU members (two of whom are also members of DSA-SD), released their findings.Reviewing both the arbitration and testimony, this conflict has two broad terms:
- a. A group including members of DSA-SD released an Instagram statement asking for accountability in a matter of harassment from a person associated with members of SDTU. After the Instagram page was posted, it was presented to the Leadership Council (LC) of DSA-SD on March 4th, 2021 for acknowledgement. DSA-SD has no authority to coerce members of the IG page to remove its contents.
- b. Subsequently, members associated with SDTU asked for the removal of this Instagram page and engaged in defamatory accusations and online harassment of multiple DSA-SD members on both social media and SDTU Slack workspaces, including the release of full names, addresses and partner names of DSA-SD members (doxxing) to SDTU workspaces and social media. This harassment includes the reposting of information from Keywiki, a right-wing website which maintains intimate lists of leftist organizers.
The SDTU arbiters have recommended four concrete actions to ease tensions within SDTU. The DSA-SD calls on its membership within SDTU to follow these terms while continuing their work within the community. The DSA-SD also calls on implicated members of SDTU to act as good-faith partners and to cease the harassment of DSA-SD members in both online and physical spaces. DSA-SD finds the treatment of our members by members of SDTU unacceptable and we stand in solidarity with our membership and their right to complete work in a healthy environment.
The DSA-SD is committed to creating a safe environment that empowers the important work of our membership and collaborating organizations. We appreciate all those who bring allegations of harassment to our attention so these serious matters can be investigated. It remains our highest priority to maintain a harassment-free space where members and comrades alike are able to devote their focus to building strength in unity. We have a world to win.
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Tell City Council to vote NO on 20 more years of fossil fuel control of our energy grid!
The Mayor’s office is pushing forward a plan that would mean 20 more years of SDG&E – a subsidiary of Sempra Energy, a multinational fossil fuel conglomerate – as the utility with exclusive rights to provide San Diego’s electric and gas services.
Under SDG&E, San Diegans pay the highest rates for electricity in the continental US, while SDG&E rakes in hundreds of millions in profit per year. With SDG&E as our utility, there is no chance of San Diego taking the decisive action required to prevent the worst effects of climate change.
Thankfully, City Council can put a stop to this deal. This is where you come in – we need YOU to send a message to your council member, demanding they vote NO on this new deal!
Fill out the form below to send a message to your council member.
If you would prefer to call your council member, you can find your City Council district and contact information using this interactive map.
Below is an example of a call script you could use when contacting your council member:
Hi my name is ____, and I’m a constituent of District ____ calling to urge Councilmember _____ to vote NO on Mayor Gloria’s new deal with SDG&E. For decades SDG&E shareholders and executives have profited at the expense of San Diego ratepayers. It is unjust for San Diegans to be forced to pay the highest rates in the continental United States, while Sempra profits more than $1,000,000 each day. We should not have to pay twice as much as Sacramento and 50% more than Los Angeles. You have the opportunity to reject profits being pulled from our pockets by an unaccountable corporation. Please fight for your constituents and reject Mayor Gloria’s flawed agreement. Thank you.
You can find more background information on our main campaign page: https://dsasandiego.org/energy-democracy
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Tell City Council: San Diego Deserves a Public Energy Utility
The City of San Diego’s 50-year franchise agreement with SDG&E for electric and gas services is set to expire in June. This is a once-in-a-century opportunity to change the direction of San Diego’s energy future, to turn away from a private company owned by a fossil fuel conglomerate, towards a publicly owned and operated utility responsive to the people’s demands for lower utility bills, climate justice, and clean energy.
We don’t want a new franchise agreement with any private company – so we need our City Council members to vote NO on any bids, and to start working on establishing a public energy utility immediately!
For more information on how to take action, visit https://dsasandiego.org/energy-democracy
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Pass the PRO Act campaign launch!
Join us Sunday, March 7th at 2 pm PST to kick off DSA’s “Pass the PRO Act” campaign, along with Naomi Klein, author of This Changes Everything, Jamaal Bowman, squad member and US Rep for NY-16, and Sara Nelson, president of AFA-CWA, and other special guests.
RSVP: bit.ly/dsaproactlaunch
The “Protecting the Right to Organize” (PRO) Act reverses decades of corporate assaults on our labor rights, like so-called “right to work” laws, clearing the way to an expanded labor movement with power to transform the economy and protect our planet. We will only win this sweeping pro-worker legislation by making bold demands and putting the pressure on policymakers to stand up to corporate interests. We need all hands on deck in this struggle!
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Call in for Public Power: Thursday, Dec 17, 10 am
This Thursday, December 17 at 10 am newly elected Council President Jennifer Campbell has called a special meeting to open the electricity and gas franchise agreement bids that her predecessor refused to docket due to a deeply flawed process. We encourage all members and supporters of our public power fight to please call in to offer your public comment.
Phone in Testimony
After the meeting begins at 10 am, when the Clerk introduces either the item you would like to comment on or the comment period for, Non-Agenda Public Comment or Closed Session Public Comment, follow the instructions within the “Public Comment Instructions” by dialing the number below to be placed in the queue.- DIAL 619-541-6310
- Enter the Access Code: 877861 then press ‘#’.
Proposed talking points – personalize for greater effect:
- The last council president refused to docket the opening of these bids for good reason. The process for developing the invitation to bid and determining the city’s best course of action was extremely flawed, with members of the community given almost no time to absorb and respond to the report prepared by the city-contracted consultants. The advisory body focused on sustainable energy could not meet quorum most of the year given the last mayor’s failure to fill vacancies, and ergo never discussed or provided their advice to council on the merits of the consultant’s report, recommendations, and potential opportunities.
- It is clear that in an economic crisis where thousands of San Diegans are experiencing heightened instability that the best path forward for utility service most just and equitable to members of our community is the path away from corporations who extract the City’s franchise fee from our pockets and build their own profits into the revenue model. The City should not be balancing its budget on the backs of the working class.
- We urge members of City Council to position any next steps within the context of a binding commitment to public operation of our electricity and gas utilities. Interest rates are at an historic low, there is no better time to begin this transition.
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December 12: Demand Scott Peters Fight for Our Lives
On Saturday, December 12, DSA San Diego will join more than 20 DSA chapters in a Fight for Our Lives coordinated action to 1) highlight establishment Democrats’ failure to support the working class and 2) advance our real solutions that have broad popular support. We’re fighting for a COVID-19 and economic recovery response that centers the working class and can serve as a launchpad for the decade of the Green New Deal.
Establishment Democrats, like our very own Scott Peters, have consistently failed to support broadly popular policies that benefit the working class, and now they’re blaming the left for the center’s losses. This action is designed to help shift the national narrative and put the failure on Peters, Biden, Pelosi, Schumer and the bipartisan neoliberal consensus that will consign us to climate catastrophe and working class misery unless we organize the power we need to change course. We believe sustained, organized movement pressure can move us closer to a people’s agenda—or, at the very least, further delegitimize the center in the eyes of the working class left base we’re helping to build in the longer-term.
WHERE: Gather at 1 pm at Mandell-Weiss Eastgate Park in La Jolla for a socially-distanced walk to Representative Peters’ office in UTC. Masks are required, and participants will need to stay six feet apart while walking and stopped. We will put Peters “on notice” that we demand so much more than what he’s got on offer.