News

Weekly Roundup: October 31, 2023

on October 31, 2023

Upcoming Events

🌹Wednesday, 11/1 (6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.): HWG Reading Group: Mean Streets (In person at 1916 McAllister)

🌹Thursday, 11/2 (6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.): Ecosocialist Monthly Meeting (Zoom)

🌹Friday, 11/3 (12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.): Office Hours (In person at 1916 McAllister)

🌹Friday, 11/3 (5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.): Mutual Aid Priority Potluck (In person at 1916 McAllister)

🌹Friday, 11/3 (7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.): DSA SF Soccer League – Team Orcas (In person at 601 Mission Bay Boulevard North)

🌹Wednesday, 11/8 (6:30 p.m. – 8:45 p.m.): November Chapter Meeting (Zoom, in-person location TBD)

Check out https://dev.dsasf.org/events/ for more events.

Events & Actions

Homelessness Working Group Book Club: Mean Streets – Homelessness, Public Space, and the Limits of Capital

Homelessness Working Group is doing its first ever book club! We’ll be reading Don Mitchell’s Mean Streets: HOMELESSNESS, PUBLIC SPACE, AND THE LIMITS OF CAPITAL. The book discusses homelessness as a site of class struggle, and offers a general history of homelessness that includes some details about events in San Francisco through the era of Ed Lee.

Our first meetup will be Wednesday, November 1st, 2023  at 6:00 p.m. at the DSA SF office at 1916 McAllister Street. We’ll discuss the preface and the first chapter. We’ll meet more or less bi-weekly thereafter. Register he and learn more about the book and where you can find it at dev.dsasf.org/hwgmean.

Mutual Aid Priority Potluck on November 3rd

Join the Mutual Aid Priority for our second potluck! Come learn about our upcoming aid projects and education courses, eat (and bring!) some homemade food, and get to know your fellow comrades this Friday, November 3rd at 5 p.m. at 1916 McAllister.

International Day of Solidarity for Palestine on November 4th

Join fellow workers all around the world as we rally in solidarity with the occupied Palestinian people to demand the US to stop aid to Israel and demand the Zionists’ siege on Gaza end for a free Palestine on Saturday, November 4th!

This day of action is being coordinated across the entire country, with thousands planning to march in cities and towns all over the United States. In San Francisco, we’ll be meeting at Civic Center at 1 p.m. If you’d like to join the DSA SF contingent at the march or find a buddy to attend with, join the #palestine-solidarity Slack channel.

Help Us Build Smolidarity!

The Mutual Aid Priority is working to build solidarity with the parents, caregivers, and kids in the chapter! If you are interested in helping with childwatch at monthly chapter meetings, or are a caregiver who would like to offer input on our smolidarity work, check out the #priority-mutual-aid channel on Slack!

Behind the Scenes

The Chapter Coordination Committee (CCC) regularly rotates duties among chapter members. This allows us to train new members in key duties that help keep the chapter running like organizing chapter meetings, keeping records updated, office cleanup, updating the DSA SF website and newsletter, etc. Members can view current CCC rotations.

To help with the day-to-day tasks that keep the chapter running, fill out the CCC help form.

Feedback? Questions? Something to add?

We’re always looking for feedback. If you have comments or suggestions, feel free to send a message to the #newsletter channel on Slack.

For information on how to add content, check out the Newsletter Q&A thread on the forum.

News

Weekly Roundup: October 24, 2023

on October 24, 2023

Events

🌹Tuesday, 10/24 (6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.): Ecosocialist Book Club: Steven Higashide’s Better Buses Better Cities (Zoom)

🌹Thursday, 10/26 (5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.): SF City College Workers Solidarity Rally (In person at 55 Frida Kahlo Way)

🌹Friday, 10/27 (12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.): Office Hours (In person at the DSA SF office at 1916 McAllister)

🌹Friday, 10/27 (7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.): DSA SF Soccer League – Team Orcas (In person at 601 Mission Bay Boulevard North)

🌹Friday, 10/27 (7:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.): Homelessness Working Group and Tenant Organizing Working Group Mixer (In person at Zeitgeist at 199 Valencia Street)

🌹Saturday, 10/28 (11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.): Homelessness Working Group Office Hours (In person at 1916 McAllister)

🌹Saturday, 10/28 (1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.): Homelessness Working Group Sock Distro (Meet in person at 1916 McAllister)

🌹Sunday, 10/29 (6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.): DSA SF Halloween Party (In person at the Make-Out Room at 3225 22nd Street)

🌹Wednesday, 11/1 (6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.): HWG Reading Group: Mean Streets (In person at 1916 McAllister)

🌹Thursday, 11/2 (6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.): Ecosocialist Monthly meeting (Zoom)

🌹Friday, 11/3 (5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.): Mutual Aid Priority Potluck (In person at 1916 McAllister)

Check out https://dev.dsasf.org/events/ for more events.

Events & Actions

AFT Union Rally for CCSF Educators

Join SF City College workers and students who are rallying outside the Board of Trustees meeting to demand the district provide living wages and commit to reasonable classes sizes. At a time when the district’s own finance team shows a $9 million surplus, it is egregious to require workers and students to shoulder the rising costs of living and a decreased quality of their education.

The rally will take place on Thursday, October 26th at 5:00 p.m. at 55 Frida Kahlo Way, in front of the East entrance of the Multi-Use Building at CCSF’s Ocean Campus. You can find more information about the rally and RSVP at dev.dsasf.org/city-college-rally.

Homelessness WG and Tenant Organizing WG Mixer at Zeitgeist!

Want to figure out how to get involved in housing justice? Join the Homelessness and Tenant Organizing Working Groups on Friday, 10/27 at 7:30 p.m. for drinks at Zeitgeist (199 Valencia, on the patio). We’re holding a joint working group mixer, open to all comrades, to get to know each other, talk tenant organizing in SROs and beyond, street solidarity, mutual aid, and so much more!

DSA SF Halloween Party 🎃

Join DSA SF for the Halloween bash of the season from 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 29th at the Make-Out Room (3225 22nd Street)!
Featuring:

  • A retrowave concert starring Dialectixx
  • Prize for best costume
  • Raffle with swag from local stores
  • Silent auction with art from local artists
  • Live auction with unique experiences
  • and sing-your-heart-out karaoke from 8:30 until closing!

Homelessness Working Group Book Club: Mean Streets – Homelessness, Public Space, and the Limits of Capital

Homelessness Working Group is doing its first ever book club! We’ll be reading Don Mitchell’s Mean Streets: HOMELESSNESS, PUBLIC SPACE, AND THE LIMITS OF CAPITAL. The book discusses homelessness as a site of class struggle, and offers a general history of homelessness that includes some details about events in San Francisco through the era of Ed Lee.

Our first meetup will be Wednesday, November 1st, 2023  at 6:00 p.m. at the DSA SF office at 1916 McAllister Street. We’ll discuss the preface and the first chapter. We’ll meet more or less bi-weekly thereafter. Register he and learn more about the book and where you can find it at dev.dsasf.org/hwgmean.

Help Us Build Smolidarity!

The Mutual Aid Priority is working to build solidarity with the parents, caregivers, and kids in the chapter! If you are interested in helping with childwatch at monthly chapter meetings, or are a caregiver who would like to offer input on our smolidarity work, reach out to Serena M. or check out the #priority-mutual-aid channel on Slack!

Behind the Scenes

The Chapter Coordination Committee (CCC) regularly rotates duties among chapter members. This allows us to train new members in key duties that help keep the chapter running like organizing chapter meetings, keeping records updated, office cleanup, updating the DSA SF website and newsletter, etc. Members can view current CCC rotations.

To help with the day-to-day tasks that keep the chapter running, fill out the CCC help form.

Feedback? Questions? Something to add?

We’re always looking for feedback. If you have comments or suggestions, feel free to send a message to the #newsletter channel on Slack.

For information on how to add content, check out the Newsletter Q&A thread on the forum.

News

Weekly Roundup: October 10, 2023

on October 10, 2023

Upcoming Events

🌹Tuesday, 10/10 (6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.): Ecosocialist Book Club: Steven Higashide’s Better Buses Better Cities (Zoom)

🌹Wednesday, 10/11 (6:45 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.): October Chapter Meeting (Zoom and in person at 518 Valencia)

🌹Friday, 10/13 (12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.): Office Hours (In person at 1916 McAllister)

🌹Friday, 10/13 (7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.): ⚽DSA SF Soccer League – Team Orcas (In person at 601 Mission Bay Boulevard North)

🌹Saturday, 10/14 (11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.): Homelessness Working Group Office Hours (In person at 1916 McAllister)

🌹Tuesday, 10/17 (6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.): 📚How to Be an Organizer (Zoom)

🌹Tuesday, 10/17 (7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.): DSA National Convention Discussion (Zoom)

🌹Wednesday, 10/18 (6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.): 📚What is DSA? (New Member Meeting) (In person at 1916 McAllister)

Check out https://dev.dsasf.org/events/ for more events.

Events & Actions

October Chapter Meeting on Wednesday, 10/11

The October Chapter meeting is tomorrow, October 11th, from 6:45 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.! You can attend remotely on Zoom or in person at 518 Valencia.

This meeting will include:

  • reports from various committees and working groups, including updates from the Chapter Coordination Committee, the Homelessness and Fundraising Working Groups, and the Electoral Board
  • a vote on a bylaws amendment to our corporate donations policy
  • discussion of a future vote on reducing the size of the Steering Committee

Chapter meetings are an excellent way to find out what’s happening within the chapter and for members to make their voices heard, whether you’re brand new to DSA SF or a longstanding member.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Reports

Palestinian Solidarity Protest on 10/8

A photo of DSA SF and East Bay DSA members posing for a group photo. People are holding pro-Palestinian liberation signs, as well as a DSA SF and East Bay DSA banner.

In response to the situation in Palestine, DSA SF and East Bay DSA members organized a contingent for a protest hosted by the Palestinian Youth Movement. Protestors marched down Market Street in support of Palestine as a show of support and solidarity.

Thank you to the folks who got everyone together so quickly, and those who showed up to the protest.

Team Dean Update!

DSA SF member Dean Preston (elected District 5 Supervisor) has been busy this past month. Some highlights: 

  • Moving legislation through the Public Safety & Neighborhood Services Committee which prohibits security guards from drawing their weapons to protect only property. This legislation was a response to the murder of Banko Brown by a Walgreens security guard. 
  • Holding a hearing on the city’s response to car break-ins, in which departments reported in the Park Smart campaign and SFPD reported that they close less than 2% of reported break-ins each year. The office will be following up on suggestions made in Dean’s memo to departments and those brought forth by residents. Stay tuned! 
  • Putting the Board of Supervisors on record in expressing concern for Rec & Park’s unceremonious moving of the Heart of the City Farmer’s Market over the market’s objections. The office has scheduled a follow-up hearing on October 19th and is ready to use the Board’s subpoena power if needed. 
  • Living rent-free in the mind of Elon Musk, who twice called for Dean’s jailing. It’s no surprise that the world’s richest man has a problem with a socialist who has used his power effectively to tax some of the richest people and companies in San Francisco, and we are proud to have partnered with DSA SF to do it! 
  • Last but not least: Being grateful and excited to once again win DSA SF’s endorsement for District 5 Supervisor in the November 2024 race. We’ve accomplished a lot but we are just getting started!

Excited about our work? You can reach out to Will Sw., the rest of the Electoral Board at electoral@dsasf.org, or Melissa H. on Slack if you have any concerns or questions about anything related to Dean’s office, City Hall, or campaign work!

Queer Mixer Reportback

On September 27th, DSA’s Fundraising Provisional Working Group, the Electoral Board, and DSA SF member Jackie Fielder organized a queer mixer at El Rio along with East Bay DSA. The event was attended by a mix of DSA SF and East Bay DSA members along with Harvey Milk Democratic Club members, Jackie supporters, other progressives in the city, and some other folks who saw the flyer on El Rio’s Instagram.

Attendees played “queer bingo” as a way to meet and mingle with each other. There were also speakers from DSA SF and East Bay DSA and a raffle for various DSA SF merch prizes, which raised over $800 that was shared between DSA SF and East Bay DSA. Many new members also signed up to join DSA SF!

A photo of about two dozen people socializing on El Rio's outdoor patio.
A photo of about a dozen people socializing on El Rio's outdoor patio.

Q&A with Jackie Fielder, D9 Candidate

Jackie Fielder met with the DSA SF chapter on October 3rd to discuss her run for District 9, her political experience and values, and answer audience questions. Here are some highlights of that discussion:

  • Jackie has a strong understanding of the demographics of D9, and aims to offer support and literature in multiple languages, particularly Spanish and Mandarin, in order to better connect with D9 residents. She also has a sense of the key issues D9 residents are most concerned about, from more city-wide concerns like public safety, housing, and homelessness to district-specific issues like illegal dumping in Portola, small business closures and building vacancies, and the vendors at the 24th St. BART station.
  • A big focus of the campaign is bringing an indigenous understanding of the world to the SF Board of Supervisors, specifically the idea that everyone has a right to a dignified quality of life. This understanding informs Jackie’s stances on environmental justice and against the corporatization of San Francisco.

Overall, the event was informative and gave attendees a chance to learn more about Jackie and her campaign. More detailed notes on the event can be found on the #electoral-discussion channel on Slack.

Behind the Scenes

The Chapter Coordination Committee (CCC) regularly rotates duties among chapter members. This allows us to train new members in key duties that help keep the chapter running like organizing chapter meetings, keeping records updated, office cleanup, updating the DSA SF website and newsletter, etc. Members can view current CCC rotations.

To help with the day-to-day tasks that keep the chapter running, fill out the CCC help form.

Feedback? Questions? Something to add?

We’re always looking for feedback. If you have comments or suggestions, feel free to send a message to the #newsletter channel on Slack.

For information on how to add content, check out the Newsletter Q&A thread on the forum.

News

DSA SF Statement on Palestine

on October 9, 2023

DSA SF stands in solidarity with Palestinians in their struggle for decolonization. We condemn Israel’s ongoing occupation and the apartheid regime under which Palestinians are forced to live in dehumanizing conditions; and we further condemn the US’s continued funding and support of Israel’s decades-long colonization of Palestine.

Violent oppression inevitably produces resistance. Socialists support the Palestinian people’s, and all people’s, right to resist and fight for their own liberation. This weekend’s events are no different. Decolonization is the only path towards peace.

A better world is possible. We call on all those who share our vision of global working-class emancipation to join the fight to end the occupation and decolonize Palestine – from the river to the sea.

News

Weekly Roundup: October 3, 2023

on October 3, 2023

Upcoming Events

🌹Tuesday, 10/3 (6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.): Education Event – Q&A with Jackie Fielder (In person at the DSA SF office, 1916 McAllister)

🌹Thursday, 10/5 (6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.): Ecosocialist Monthly Meeting (Zoom)

🌹Friday, 10/6 (12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.): Office Hours (In person at 1916 McAllister)

🌹Friday, 10/6 (7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.): DSA SF Soccer League – Team Orcas (In person at 601 Mission Bay Boulevard North)

🌹Sunday, 10/8 (2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.): Art and Propaganda Party (In person at 1916 McAllister)

🌹Tuesday, 10/10 (6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.): Ecosocialist Book Club: Steven Higashide’s Better Buses Better Cities (Zoom)

🌹Wednesday, 10/11 (6:45 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.): October Chapter Meeting (Zoom and in person at 518 Valencia)

🌹Thursday, 10/12 (6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.): Tech Worker’s Meetup (In person at 1916 McAllister)

🌹Saturday, 10/14 (11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.): Homelessness Working Group Office Hours (In Person at 1916 McAllister)

Check out https://dev.dsasf.org/events/ for more events.

Events & Actions

Jackie Fielder Q&A Today (10/3)!

Want to learn more about Jackie Fielder’s run for office in District 9? Join the Electoral Board today, October 3rd, for a Q&A at 6:00 p.m. at the DSA SF office at 1916 McAllister! This in-person only event is the perfect time to learn more about Jackie’s platform, ask questions about her run, and find out what it’s like to run for office as a socialist in San Francisco.

Reports

DSA Homelessness Working Group 9/23 Sock Distro

The Homelessness Working Group sent out teams to different parts of the city to hand out socks and other supplies. Teams covered six different areas, taking the time at each area to note conditions in each area like the increase in anti-homeless planters on sidewalks in different parts of the city, the use of anti-homeless sprinklers, and changes in where people are staying after sweeps by the city. HWG also continued to build relationships with unhoused folks they’ve encountered in the past, and got a hopeful update about one person getting housing after 16 years on the street.

The full reportback for the 9/23 Sock Distro is available on Slack in the #homelessness channel. If you’d like to get involved, check out the Slack channel or reach out directly to homelessness@dsasf.org.

Transit Labor Walking Tour on 9/25

The Transit Labor Walking Tour was a big success! The event, put on jointly by the Labor and Ecosocialist committees, covered several historic sites along the SF waterfront. It was a great time, and a chance to get in touch with San Francisco’s labor organizing roots. It was also a helpful outreach tool, piquing the interest of some people who were completely new to DSA and pushing some others to get more involved.

Another labor walking tour may be in the works in the future, so make sure to check out the #labor and #ecosocialism Slack channels for updates!

Behind the Scenes

The Chapter Coordination Committee (CCC) regularly rotates duties among chapter members. This allows us to train new members in key duties that help keep the chapter running like organizing chapter meetings, keeping records updated, office cleanup, updating the DSA SF website and newsletter, etc. Members can view current CCC rotations.

To help with the day-to-day tasks that keep the chapter running, fill out the CCC help form.

Feedback? Questions? Something to add?

We’re always looking for feedback. If you have comments or suggestions, feel free to reply to this email or send a message to the #newsletter channel on Slack.

For information on how to add content, check out the Newsletter Q&A thread on the forum.