Dear comrades, As AAPI Heritage Month comes to a close, we acknowledge the exacerbated anti-Asian sentiments that are deeply rooted in white supremacy, leading to violence, imperialism, and colonialism that are still pervading the Asian diaspora today. Unfortunately, the violence is ongoing. But we can’t fight racism with carcerality. We believe in fighting against violence through continuous organizing outside of the carceral system. The system itself was designed to make marginalized communities more vulnerable, not safer. Part of the ongoing violence also stems from the US exploiting Asian women and immigrants while excluding them from participating in Western society and maintaining the status quo under the guise of a “free market”. That is why we can’t just demand to #StopAsianHate, especially when it comes to hate crime laws. We can’t dismantle racism with more criminalization while also maintaining racial capitalism. The antiquated approach to criminalization will not heal the pain, trauma, and violence that communities are coping with. That is why we support prison and police abolition, and more investment in our communities. To learn more about this historical context, join us for DSA SF’s reading group, “Making Asian America”, for the last session (Empire) this Saturday, May 29 at 2:30 p.m. We must end racism through collective solidarity for liberation and healing from all forms of violence. Sincerely, DSA SF Communications Team

Upcoming Events

Neighborhood Outreach to Renters in District 5

Join us this week for neighborhood organizing in District 5! Electoral Committee is working with Neighbors United, a new community group, to connect renters in District 5 with resources available to them for rent relief, eviction protection, and more. We are hosting a phonebank tonight from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. to reach out to renters in the Fillmore and would love to have you join us. Also, if you’re interested in helping plan these phonebanks and other events, join us for our weekly organizing meeting on Sundays at 12 p.m.

Intro to DSA

Ready to get started with DSA SF? Have questions about socialism or our organization? Whether you have been a member for 4 years or 4 weeks, Intro to DSA is a great way to become more active in our organization. Register here.

BAAQMD Board Call-In

Join us to call in on June 2nd! On this day, the BAAQMD Board is having a critical vote on refinery pollution. The largest industrial source of pollution, particulate matter (PM) in the Bay Area comes from refineries’ Catalytic Cracking Units (also known as “Cat Crackers”). PM pollution is estimated to kill up to 3,000 Bay Area residents every year mainly in working class areas near the refineries. There is no safe level of PM exposure. This common-sense rule will set a standard to reduce the dangerous particulate matter from Chevron’s and PBF’s “Cat Crackers” by 70%. This standard would require pollution control technology already in use at the majority of refineries around the US, including at Valero in Benicia. Sign up to get call-in information and talking points for this meeting.

Next EWOC Training Series Starts Next Week

The fifth series of the Emergency Workplace Organizing Committee’s Organizer Training Series starts on June 2. This is a foundational course in organizing in the workplace (your own workplace or others) and recommended for DSA SF members looking to expand their capacity as labor organizers. You will receive the Zoom registration links once the organizers have reviewed your response.

Announcements

This Week on SFIJ

Hi there, comrades!

We think the following pieces of news from the San Francisco Independent Journal (SFIJ) may be of interest to you:

?First, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to support a state bill to help convert abandoned, tax delinquent properties into affordable homes.

?Second, Supervisors Dean Preston and Budget Chair Matt Haney overwhelmingly passed their Free Muni Pilot in a 4-1 vote at the Budget and Appropriations Committee, the final hearing before a vote at the full board of supervisors last Tuesday.

?Finally, climate activists gathered for an 8th annual Anti-Chevron Day in front of the Richmond refinery to call for an end to fossil fuels and Chevron’s mass pollution in the Bay Area.

If you have committee work or another story you want to be publicized by a friendly outlet, please submit tips to writing@dsasf.org.

DSA SF Membership Drive

Consider becoming a member of National DSA or making sure your membership is up-to-date, so you can participate in the member forums and stay informed about what the National Organization is doing. Becoming a member also counts towards DSA SF’s delegate count for the August National Convention! As always, no one will be turned away for lack of funds; all you need to do is fill out the dues sponsorship form. If you have any other questions or hurdles on membership, feel free to email steering@dsasf.org and we’ll figure something out together.

Reading Groups

The Antonio Gramsci Reader

The 21st Century Socialism Reading Group will reach back into the second millennium to look at Antonio Gramsci tonight from 6:30 p.m to 8 p.m. We will be reading chapters 7, 8 and the Glossary. Register here!

Dear comrades, Last week at our chapter meeting, we voted on a statement to show our solidarity for Palestine, marched along with over 10,000 demonstrators in the Mission District on the 73rd anniversary of the Nakba, organized an event featuring Ben Fletcher’s biographer Peter Cole and Clarence Thomas of the ILWU, and many more. However, the work is only the beginning. Yesterday, the Biden administration just approved $735 million in arms sales to Israel, deepening complicity in the right-wing regime’s continuing onslaught towards Palestinians. While this issue is gaining momentum in mainstream media and especially in San Francisco, we must continue to work towards liberation and support the Palestinians and the BDS movement. That is why we’ll be joining demonstrators today, May 18 at 4:00 p.m. for another day of actionto show our continued solidarity. We must resist until there’s liberation for our Palestinian neighbors. The intifada must live on. Sincerely, DSA SF Communications Team

Upcoming Events

Today: #30RightNow Rally

Today in front of City Hall, there will be a rally for the #30RightNow campaign, endorsed by the Homelessness Working Group. Too many formerly unhoused tenants are paying over half of their income towards rent—a burden not imposed by private landlords, but by the City and County of San Francisco.

At 12:45 p.m., we will be meeting in front of the steps at City Hall for a rally to demand that the mayor fully fund and implement #30RightNow this year, which would only cost $6.1 million per year. There will be several speakers, including rent burdened tenants, community advocates, Supervisor Matt Haney, and our comrade, Supervisor Dean Preston.

The rally begins at 1:00 p.m., and we need people to be there in order to send a message to the mayor that our most vulnerable tenants, many of whom are Black, will not be left behind.”
For more information, check out the Facebook event. 

Read the #30RightNow policy statement here.

Neighbors United Tenant Phonebank

Join Neighbors United for a tenant rights phonebank tonight, May 18 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.We’ll be calling District 5 tenants and providing information on rent relief and the eviction moratorium. Contact Pat at pcochran.media@gmail.com for more information. Zoom link here!

Budget Townhall with Supervisors Matt Haney and Dean Preston

Have questions about how the city spends its money? Even better, have ideas about how the city SHOULD spend it? Join us at a Budget Townhall on Monday, May 24 from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. with Supervisors Matt Haney and Dean Preston! This is an important opportunity for us to be heard by the city government! Register here.

Announcements

Interview with Jackie Fielder on SFIJ

Recently, the San Francisco Independent Journal had the chance to speak with former State Senate candidate Jackie Fielder to find out what she’s been up to. Learn more about her exciting developments for a progressive incubator in California through our latest interview here.

Dean Preston Office Update

In this week’s update:

• Dean’s office is helping lead the fight in SF to make MUNI fare-free for the summer. However, they’re facing pushbacks and need your help. Please write to either Supervisor Peskin (D3) or Supervisor Melgar (D7) and tell them to support Free MUNI for the Summer. Tell your friends and neighbors to reach out to the supervisors too!
• Recently, Mayor London Breed refused to commit to using Prop I funds for rent relief and social housing. This is clearly contrary to the will of both the voters and the Board of Supervisors. Sign this petition to stand with hundreds of others in demanding that Breed respect the will of the voters and properly fund Prop I. You can also reach out to Mayor Breed directly here so she knows exactly how we feel about her selfishness. 
• Neighbors United is having a phonebank TONIGHT at 5:30 p.m. (see above).

Have an idea or want to schedule a meeting with your caucus or committee with Dean’s office? Write either PrestonStaff@sfgov.org or lexvonklark@gmail.com with details, mention you’re with DSA, and we’ll schedule a day! 

DSA SF Membership Drive

Consider becoming a member of National DSA or making sure your membership is up-to-date, so you can participate in the member forums and stay informed about what the National Organization is doing. Becoming a member also counts towards DSA SF’s delegate count for the August National Convention! As always, no one will be turned away for lack of funds; all you need to do is fill out the dues sponsorship form. If you have any other questions or hurdles on membership, feel free to email steering@dsasf.org and we’ll figure something out together.

Reading Groups

The Antonio Gramsci Reader

The 21st Century Socialism Reading Group takes a dip back into the 20th Century. There will be four sessions every other Tuesday, continuing with our third session tonight from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Register here!

Making Asian America: Brief Excerpts on Labor, Belonging, and Empire

Join us for DSA SF’s newest reading group to commemorate AAPI Heritage Month, “Making Asian America.” There will be three sessions (Labor, Belonging, and Empire), each of which will examine a different aspect of Asian American political organizing within its historical context. The last two sessions were on Sunday, May 2 and Saturday, May 15, and the last session will take place next Saturday, May 29, at 2:30 p.m.Sign up here.

After weeks of attacking Palestinians and engaging in anti-Palestinian campaigns, such as forcibly removing them from their homes in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of occupied Jerusalem, Israeli Occupation Forces continued this violence by raiding the Al Aqsa mosque during prayers nearing the end of the month of Ramadan, leaving hundreds of Palestinians injured. The right-wing regime went even further and launched airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, with the death toll expected to rise.

This act of violence isn’t new to the Palestinian people. This Saturday, May 15 is the 73rd anniversary of the 1948 Palestinian Exodus, or the “Nakba”, which occurred when Zionist paramilitary groups launched an entire ethnic cleansing operation–forcing over 700,000 Palestinian Arabs out of their homes to build the Jewish state of Israel. Those forces also killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, along with carrying out many other atrocities, including massacres and destroying hundreds of villages and cities.

To the Palestinian people, the Nakba never ended. For many decades, Israel has violated international law by continuing the illegal settlements and population transfer into the occupied territories of the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Their justification for Palestinian erasure and maintaining a Jewish ethnostate is apartheid, especially while chanting “death to Arabs” and “burn their towns”.

The San Francisco chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) condemns these continuing acts of violence and stands in solidarity with the Palestinian people. We also reject the media narrative of calling these atrocities as “clashes” and “conflicts”. These past several weeks, along with over 70 years of the Palestinian struggle, cannot be simply categorized as two groups “clashing” with one another. What Israel has done to the Palestinians is a heinous act of fascism and racism.

That is why as socialists, we must fight racism and all forms of injustice, especially abroad. Removing Palestinians and denying their right of return has shown an act of intense injustice even in times without violent conflict. We also understand the correlation of all our struggles under capitalism, which has led to a history of colonialism, imperialism, and fascism. This also means we support the boycott of Israel and the anti-racist Boycott, Divest, and Sanctions’ (BDS) call to end apartheid, as well as cutting off US military aid to Israel.

The chapter invites community members to join us in a Palestine Action Network rally for Palestinian liberation on Saturday, May 15 at 2 pm, Valencia and 16th in the Mission. As this continues to unfold this week, we will continue to fight for liberation for Palestinians and all our neighbors. Because until all of us are free, no one is free.

May General Meeting Tomorrow!

Our regular monthly chapter meeting will be tomorrow night, May 12, at 6:45 p.m. on Zoom. We’ll be voting on a chapter statement on the escalating violence towards Palestinians, and we’ll be accepting nominations for a number of chapter roles, including Steering Committee leadership, Grievance Officer, and National Convention Delegate. Join us to keep our chapter democracy healthy and learn more about a few upcoming events – you can register for the meeting here!

Upcoming Events

Neighbors United Tenant Phonebank

Join Neighbors United for a tenant rights phonebank tonight, May 11 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.We’ll be calling District 5 tenants and providing information on rent relief and the eviction moratorium. Contact Pat at pcochran.media@gmail.com for more information. Zoom link here!

Support Free Muni!

As the world heads towards climate crisis, we need to shift our transportation modes to safe, sustainable, equitable public transit by making Muni free. Take action by supporting the Free Muni pilot at the Budget and Appropriations Meeting tomorrow, May 12 at 11:30 a.m.! Use this link for talking points.

A Discussion of African-American Labor History: Peter Cole discusses his book about Ben Fletcher

Join us this Thursday, May 13th at 6:30 p.m. for a discussion of Peter Cole’s new book, Ben Fletcher: The Life and Times of a Black Wobbly. Ben Fletcher was one of the most important labor organizers of the early twentieth century, and yet his name is almost unknown today. Peter Cole remedies this by shining a new light on Fletcher, one of the founders of the IWW and organizer of the one of the few interracial union locals of the time. Join us for a discussion and celebration of Fletcher’s legacy with Peter Cole and Clarence Thomas of ILWU.

#30RightNow Month Of Action

The campaign to get rent relief for supportive housing tenants in this year’s budget cycle is well underway, and we have a whole week of actions for the cause. Read our policy statement here!

The biggest announcement is that the #30RightNow campaign will be holding an in-person rally on Tuesday, May 18 at 1:00 p.m. in front of City Hall to demand the mayor fund the 30% rent standard in all supportive housing in this year’s budget cycle. We ask that all attendees follow COVID-19 protocols and have at least one shot of the vaccine. Press release can be found here.

Today, Tuesday, May 11, at 2:00 p.m., please call into the San Francisco Board of Supervisors meeting and make a public comment (Item 19) to urge that the mayor fund #30RightNow. Dial 1 (415) 655-0001 and use the meeting ID (187 264 2158 # #), then press *3 to speak as soon as meeting starts – it’s the only public comment period.

Then, tomorrow, May 12, at 11:30 a.m., please call into the Budget and Appropriations Committee’s hearing on the law enforcement budget (Item 3). We know many of you are speaking against the bloated law enforcement budget already, but we invite you to mention that the city spends $8.6 million per year on public housing cops, and that it would only cost $6.1 million per year to fund getting rents down to 30% for all supportive housing tenants. Dial 1 (415) 655-0001 / and use the meeting ID (187 153 5648 # #), and when Item 3 comes up, dial *3 to speak.

Planning meetings for the rally and campaign are happening every Wednesday from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m., and we will have a sign making event for the May 18 rally at Boedekker Park this Saturday, May 15 at 2:00 p.m.

For more info, please contact 30rightnow@gmail.com.

Announcements

This Week on SFIJ and Fog City Rose

Hi there, comrades!

We think the following pieces of news from the San Francisco Independent Journal (SFIJ) and Fog City Rose may be of interest to you:

? First, on May Day, workers marched from Embarcadero to City Hall to have their voices heard while also supporting the PRO Act.

? Second, a diverse group of union leaders, political activists, and organizations held a wide-ranging town hall to discuss the PRO Act, which will protect workers.

? Finally, we make the case for free college in our latest piece on Fog City Rose.

If you have committee work or another story you want to be publicized by a friendly outlet, please submit tips to writing@dsasf.org.

Learn About City Government Through the Civil Grand Jury!

Every year, each county in California convenes a Civil Grand Jury to investigate local city and county government. In contrast to a criminal Grand Jury, the SF Civil Grand Jury comprises 19 ordinary residents, who choose to research and investigate any topic of their choosing related to local government. If you’re interested in the details of how city government works, this may be the opportunity for you!

The requirements for participating are U.S. citizenship, and SF residence for at least one year. If you live in a different California county, you can apply for that county’s Civil Grand Jury. The time commitment is around 10 hours per week. Civil Grand Jury service is a paid opportunity, at a maximum of $75/week depending on days worked. The deadline for the application is May 14. All information and the application form can be found here.

We Need You to Build Socialism!

We need your help with the following:

• Help Produce the Newsletter!
  • Every week we put out the very newsletter you are reading, and we need organizers to help write, edit and produce it. Contact comms@dsasf.org or #ccc-comms on Slack to help out.
• Help Manage Our Social Media! 
  • You already live on Instagram and Twitter, so why not help build socialism instead of just providing data to targeted advertising algorithms? Contact comms@dsasf.org or #ccc-comms on Slack to help out.
• Help Organize Our Monthly Meetings and Other Fun Events! 
  • If you have experience or interest in organizing events, our Community team could use your help. Social events, educational events, and of course our monthly meetings; none of them happen without organizers. Fill out this form, email community@dsasf.org, or #ccc-community on Slack to join the fun.
• Help Our Tech Team! 
  • Want to be a part of a team that is actually making a difference in the world, not just talking about it on LinkedIn? Help build the infrastructure that DSA SF uses to build socialism. Contact tech-support@dsasf.org or #ccc-tech on Slack to pitch in.

DSA SF Membership Drive

Consider becoming a member of National DSA or making sure your membership is up-to-date, so you can participate in the member forums and stay informed about what the National Organization is doing. Becoming a member also counts towards DSA SF’s delegate count for the August National Convention! As always, no one will be turned away for lack of funds; all you need to do is fill out the dues sponsorship form. If you have any other questions or hurdles on membership, feel free to email steering@dsasf.org and we’ll figure something out together.

Reading Groups

The Antonio Gramsci Reader

The 21st Century Socialism Reading Group takes a dip back into the 20th. There will be four sessions every other Tuesday, continuing with our third session tonight from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.Register here!

Making Asian America: Brief Excerpts on Labor, Belonging, and Empire

Join us for DSA SF’s newest reading group to commemorate AAPI Heritage Month, “Making Asian America.” There will be three sessions (Labor, Belonging, and Empire), each of which will examine a different aspect of Asian American political organizing within its historical context. The first session was Sunday, May 2, and the next two sessions will take place this Saturday, May 15, and Saturday, May 29, all at 2:30 p.m.Sign up here.

Kick your May off right by joining us at Intro to DSA this Wednesday, May 5 at 6:30 p.m.! If you are looking to take the next step and get more involved with DSA SF, Intro is a great way to learn about all the cool projects going on in the chapter right now. Register here.

Announcements

Learn About City Government Through the Civil Grand Jury!

Every year, each county in California convenes a Civil Grand Jury to investigate local city and county government. In contrast to a criminal Grand Jury, the SF Civil Grand Jury comprises 19 ordinary residents, who choose to research and investigate any topic of their choosing related to local government. If you’re interested in the details of how city government works, this may be the opportunity for you!

The requirements for participating are U.S. citizenship, and SF residence for at least one year. If you live in a different California county, you can apply for that county’s Civil Grand Jury. The time commitment is around 10 hours per week. Civil Grand Jury service is a paid opportunity, at a maximum of $75/week depending on days worked. The deadline for the application is May 14. All information and the application form can be found here.

This Week on SFIJ

Hi there, comrades!

We think the following pieces of news from the San Francisco Independent Journal (SFIJ) may be of interest to you:

?First, SFIJ was excited to catch up with James Coleman, one of the recently elected members of South San Francisco’s city council and identifies as a Democratic Socialist.

?Second, Chevron has admitted to a serious incident during the week of November 2020 that caused numerous waves of pollution, according to a series of reports from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD).

?Finally, the Alphabet Workers Union (AWU) won a settlement filed against Google and its contractor, Modis E&T for Unfair Labor Practice.

?More to come in next week’s newsletter!

If you have committee work or another story you want to be publicized by a friendly outlet, please submit tips to writing@dsasf.org.

Dean Preston Weekly Update

• Recently, Mayor London Breed refused to commit to using Prop I funds for rent relief and social housing. Reach out to Mayor Breed here so she knows exactly how we feel about her selfish neglect of the will of the voters, and sign this petition.
• In response to growing neighborhood support for non-police public safety programs, my office sent a letter to Mayor Breed on February 24, urging her to partner on a pilot to expand the Community Ambassador Program by adding at least 10 Community Ambassadors throughout the neighborhoods of District 5. We believe this pilot represents a cost-effective way to improve public safety while fulfilling a shared city goal of diverting funds from traditional policing models. If you’re with us, please sign this petition.
• Our amazing Safe Sleeping in the Haight is set to close on June 30 to make way for the much-needed affordable housing built on that site. This site was a complete success in terms of keeping unhoused neighbors safe during the pandemic, and has cycled dozens of people from the streets in the area to other housing options. We are so thankful to Homeless Youth Alliance and Larkin Street Youth Services for the incredible work they did with CAMP over the last year. Let’s make sure all current CAMP residents get the exits to stability they deserve!
• In response to the announcement last Monday that City Attorney Dennis Herrera is being appointed to head the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, I submitted an official Letter of Inquiry to his office at the Board meeting on Tuesday. To promote transparency, avoid conflicts of interest, and protect good government, all principles shared by my office and that of the City Attorney, I asked a number of questions related to the appointment and ongoing corruption investigations.
• We are not interested in our elected officials being beholden to corporate donors. For city races, corporate donations are banned, but for state-level races, there are no limits to corporate donations. AB 20 would change that, so we passed a resolution in support of the state bill this month. Keep corporate money out of California politics!

Have an idea or want to schedule a meeting with your caucus or committee with Dean’s office? Write to PrestonStaff@sfgov.org or lexvonklark@gmail.com with details, mention you’re with DSA, and we’ll schedule a day!

We Need You to Build Socialism!

We need your help with the following:

• Help Produce the Newsletter!
  • Every week we put out the very newsletter you are reading, and we need organizers to help write, edit and produce it. Contact comms@dsasf.org or #ccc-comms on Slack to help out.
• Help Manage Our Social Media! 
  • You already live on Instagram and Twitter, so why not help build socialism instead of just providing data to targeted advertising algorithms? Contact comms@dsasf.org or #ccc-comms on Slack to help out.
• Help Organize Our Monthly Meetings and Other Fun Events! 
  • If you have experience or interest in organizing events, our Community team could use your help. Social events, educational events, and of course our monthly meetings; none of them happen without organizers. Fill out this form, email community@dsasf.org, or #ccc-community on Slack to join the fun.
• Help Our Tech Team! 
  • Want to be a part of a team that is actually making a difference in the world, not just talking about it on LinkedIn? Help build the infrastructure that DSA SF uses to build socialism. Contact tech-support@dsasf.org or #ccc-tech on Slack to pitch in.

DSA SF Membership Drive

Consider becoming a member of National DSA or making sure your membership is up-to-date, so you can participate in the member forums and stay informed about what the National Organization is doing. Becoming a member also counts towards DSA SF’s delegate count for the August National Convention! As always, no one will be turned away for lack of funds; all you need to do is fill out the dues sponsorship form. If you have any other questions or hurdles on membership, feel free to email steering@dsasf.org and we’ll figure something out together.

Reading Groups

The Antonio Gramsci Reader

The 21st Century Socialism Reading Group takes a dip back into the 20th. There will be four sessions every other Tuesday, continuing with our third session next Tuesday, May 11, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Register here!

Making Asian America: Brief Excerpts on Labor, Belonging, and Empire

Join us for DSA SF’s newest reading group to commemorate AAPI Heritage Month, “Making Asian America.” There will be three sessions (Labor, Belonging, and Empire), each of which will examine a different aspect of Asian American political organizing within its historical context. The first session was this past Sunday, May 2, and the next two sessions will take place on Saturday, May 15, and Saturday, May 29, all at 2:30 p.m. Sign up here.