December 12, 2021 EBDSA General Meeting

1-3pm

Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84120930559?pwd=bEpCL0lJRTlJbVNwZUhWbWZzcmhLZz09

Voting tool: https://vote.phillydsa.org/admin/east-bay-december-2021

I. Settle In & Welcome

Intro and Welcome by Andrew R

II. Updates

People’s Transit Alliance Update

United Auto Workers Organizing Campaign Update

Electoral Committee Update

III. VOTE TO APPROVE AGENDA

Passed: 84 YES - 1 NO - 6 ABSTAIN

IV. Resolution Debates

A. Resolution to Hire Lindsey Moore to Organize a Fundraising Campaign from January to April

Passed by the Steering Committee on 11/21/21: 6 yes, 4 no, 1 abstention

Whereas, 2022 will bring a new office space and multiple electoral campaigns that will require increased levels of spending, 

Whereas, implementation of the Fundraising Committee has largely stalled due to lack of capacity,

Whereas, hiring a part-time Fundraising Organizer will allow us to dramatically increase our revenue by committing members to regular monthly contributions,

Whereas, hiring a part-time Fundraising Organizer will allow us a short-term, low stakes experiment in managing a staff person in a democratic membership organization, 

Whereas, Lindsey Moore, as our Treasurer, a trusted member of the Operations Committee, and organizer of our Bernie Campaign, has shown extraordinary commitment to the working class movement and demonstrated the necessary skills for this task,

Therefore be it resolved, East Bay DSA will hire Lindsey Moore for a maximum of 16 hours per week from January 4th to April 1st to organize a 2022 Fundraising Campaign, 

Therefore be it resolved, the goal of the campaign will be to commit at least 20% of our members to monthly contributions of at least $20, more than doubling our monthly revenue,

Therefore be it resolved, that the chairs and Lindsey will negotiate a contract that will determine Lindsey’s wages, schedule, job description and working conditions, which will be submitted to the Steering Committee for approval,

Therefore, be it resolved that at the March Steering Committee meeting, the Steering Committee will receive a report on Lindsey’s tenure and will decide on how to proceed (e.g. candidate(s) from an open hire process). 

Therefore, be it resolved that this resolution will be brought before the General Membership for debate at the December General Membership Meeting.

MOTIVATED BY SHANE

Q&A Highlights:

Q: Interview process for Linsey and other candidates? A: No. 

Q: Would Lindsey remain the Treasurer? A: Yes

Point Of Information: Consideration of the potential of conflict between the receiver of money and signer of checks? A: there would be oversight by the chairs and opposition party in SC. 

DEBATE

RESOLUTION VOTE: PASSED with 57 YES / 45 NO

B. Resolution Calling for Greater Accountability for Rep. Jamaal Bowman and increased transparency by the NPC on their decision

Submitted by Max M and Benny Z, Zach W

Whereas DSA operates in the center of global financial extractive capitalism, and one of the primary tasks of socialists in imperialist nations is to oppose imperialism and settler colonialism. 

Whereas Jamaal Bowman has been an ally in fighting for a domestic Green New Deal, but global ecological breakdown caused by capitalism is a process which transcends national borders. Israel functions as a forward military base for the US to protect and extend fossil extractive interests in the middle east, working against any progress we may make toward climate goals in the US.

Whereas Jamaal Bowman’s votes for 1) An unconditional aid package to Israel and 2) funding Israel’s Iron Dome defense system have provided material aid to a settler-colonial apartheid state. This aid funds military and prison technology and services, including planes, bombs, police training, tear gas, etc, used around the world and in the US. 

Whereas Bowman has substantially contributed to normalizing relations with the state of Israel by visiting with the racist war criminal PM of Israel, as well as conflating anti-zionism and anti-semitism. 

Whereas the 2021 DSA National Convention endorsed a platform which specifically calls for the end of military aid to Israel, and resistance against normalization of relations with the Israeli government. Bowman’s votes and meeting with the Israeli Prime Minister directly contradicts our platform.

Whereas the BDS and Palestine Solidarity WG has already engaged in a protracted process of engaging with Bowman and his office, as laid out in their statement. 

Whereas Endorsed elected officials should be propagandists for our politics, and not compromise socialist political principles due to political calculation.

Whereas DSA’s National Political Committee has put out a statement declining to either expel or withdraw their endorsement of Rep. Bowman, and failed to clearly explain what “substantial movement” they have seen from him regarding solidarity with Palestinian people, or by what criteria they would consider him worthy of re-endorsement. 

Whereas the NPC’s statement acknowledged that Bowman’s actions currently warrant him not being re-endorsed, but took no meaningful or immediate accountability or disciplinary action towards Rep. Bowman in his role as a DSA endorsee and member.

Whereas DSA, as an organization, has failed to lay out clear boundaries or precedent by which to discipline or hold accountable elected officials who we have endorsed, complicating the question of what disciplinary action is appropriate in this instance. 

Therefore, be it resolved EBDSA calls for the immediate withdrawal of the NPC’s endorsement of Rep. Jamaal Bowman. 

Therefore, be it resolved that, EBDSA requests the NPC publicly explain what movement they have seen from Rep. Bowman regarding solidarity with the Palestinian people and their criteria for considering re-endorsement. 

Therefore, be it resolved that EBDSA will proactively communicate legislative preferences to members who hold elected office, and possible disciplinary actions of violating these.

Therefore, be it resolved that EBDSA reach out to the BDS and Palestine Solidarity WG and support the Political Education Committee to put together an educational event on solidarity with Palestine.

B.1. AMENDMENTS: [removed](added)

Resolution Calling for Greater Accountability for the expulsion of Rep. Jamaal Bowman and increased transparency by the NPC on their decision to not pursue any disciplinary actions.

Submitted by Max M and Benny Z, Zach W

Whereas DSA operates in the center of global financial extractive capitalism, and one of the primary tasks of socialists in imperialist nations is to oppose imperialism and settler colonialism. 

Whereas Jamaal Bowman has been an ally in fighting for a domestic Green New Deal, but global ecological breakdown caused by capitalism is a process which transcends national borders. Israel functions as a forward military base for the US to protect and extend fossil extractive interests in the middle east, working against any progress we may make toward climate goals in the US.

Whereas Jamaal Bowman’s votes for 1) An unconditional aid package to Israel and 2) funding Israel’s Iron Dome defense system have provided material aid to a settler-colonial apartheid state. This aid funds military and prison technology and services, including planes, bombs, police training, tear gas, etc, used around the world and in the US. 

Whereas Bowman has substantially contributed to normalizing relations with the state of Israel by visiting with the racist war criminal PM of Israel, as well as conflating anti-zionism and anti-semitism. 

Whereas the 2021 DSA National Convention endorsed a platform which specifically calls for the end of military aid to Israel, and resistance against normalization of relations with the Israeli government. Bowman’s votes and meeting with the Israeli Prime Minister directly contradicts our platform.

Whereas the BDS and Palestine Solidarity WG has already engaged in a protracted process of engaging with Bowman and his office, as laid out in their statement. 

Whereas Endorsed elected officials should be propagandists for our politics, and not compromise socialist political principles due to political calculation.

Whereas DSA’s National Political Committee has put out a statement declining to either expel or withdraw their endorsement of Rep. Bowman, and failed to clearly explain what “substantial movement” they have seen from him regarding solidarity with Palestinian people, or by what criteria they would consider him worthy of re-endorsement. 

Whereas the NPC’s statement acknowledged that Bowman’s actions currently warrant him not being re-endorsed, but took no meaningful or immediate accountability or disciplinary action towards Rep. Bowman in his role as a DSA endorsee and member.

Whereas DSA, as an organization, has failed to lay out clear boundaries or precedent by which to discipline or hold accountable elected officials who we have endorsed, complicating the question of what disciplinary action is appropriate in this instance. 

Therefore, be it resolved EBDSA reaffirms its unwavering support for Palestinian liberation and holds the undermining of this fundamental principle to be incompatible with EBDSA’s values.

Therefore, be it resolved EBDSA calls for the immediate withdrawal of the NPC’s endorsement expulsion of Rep. Jamaal Bowman. 

Therefore, be it resolved that, EBDSA requests the NPC publicly explain what movement they have seen from Rep. Bowman regarding solidarity with the Palestinian people and their criteria for considering re-endorsement. 

Therefore, be it resolved that EBDSA will proactively communicate legislative preferences to members who hold elected office, and possible disciplinary actions of violating these.

Therefore, be it resolved that EBDSA reach out to the BDS and Palestine Solidarity WG and support the Political Education Committee to put together an educational event on solidarity with Palestine.

MOTIVATED BY MAX M

RESOLUTION Q&A HIGHLIGHTS:

Q: Has New York branch DSA done anything on Bowman? A: No vote on censure on the part of any of the NY DSAs. 

RESOLUTION DEBATE 

MOTION TO EXTEND TO 3:15 PM - SECONDED

MOTION VOTE: PASSED - YES 57; NO 12

MOTION OF AMEND - motivated by MIke H

AMENDMENT DEBATE

MOTION TO EXTEND TIME by 10 minutes; seconded

VOTE: FAILED - CHAIR’S PREROGATIVE ALLOWS FOR EXTENDED TIME

AMENDMENT DEBATE CONTINUED

AMENDMENT VOTE - PASSED YES 58 / NO 36

TIME EXTEND VOTE; SECONDED - FAILED YES 28 / NO 62 

RESOLUTION VOTE - PASSED - 84 yes / 1 no

V. Committee and Member Announcements

Activision BIzzard Walkout and Strike - Andy

Support the ABK Workers Alliance! https://www.gofundme.com/f/abk-strike-fund

Labor Committee - Aaron H

Jobs Program Political Education Signup form: https://forms.gle/B1BsGpnxTg1Hn3u46 - MIcheal S

MEETING ADJORNED