General Membership Special Meeting: September 9, 2018

This is a general meeting of the East Bay DSA membership. Zach M. and Abigail G.-G. chaired the meeting. The recording secretary is present and documenting the minutes.

The meeting was called to order at 12:05 p.m.

September 2018 Special Meeting Agenda

• Settle in and welcome
• Video: Jovanka Beckles
• Speech: Michael Lighty
• Committee reports and announcements
• Vice chair elections
• Intermission: ballots turned in
• Endorsements
• RPA Slate Candidates
• Cat Brooks
• Community Power Slate, Berkeley Rent Board
• Measure P (Berkeley Transfer Tax)
• Measure Y (Oakland Just Cause Expansion)
• Intermission: candidates leave
• Report findings, debate, and vote
• RPA Slate Candidates (Endorsement subcommittee rec: Yes)
• Cat Brooks (Endorsement subcommittee rec: No recommendation)
• Community Power Slate, Berkeley Rent Board (Endorsement subcommittee rec: No recommendation)
• Measure P (Berkeley Transfer Tax) (Endorsement subcommittee rec: Yes)
• Measure Y (Oakland Just Cause Expansion) (Endorsement subcommittee rec: Yes)
• Adjournment

Settle In and Welcome

The meeting was called to order at 12:05 p.m. by co-chair Abigail G.-G.

Presentations from Jovanka Beckles and Michael Lighty

A video from the Jovanka Beckles campaign was presented to the membership.

Michael Lighty delivered a speech to the membership in relation to the campaign for Medicare for All and Jovanka Beckles.

Committee Reports and Announcements

The following oral reports were delivered to the membership.

• Member Engagement Committee report, delivered by Coleman L.
• Meetings Committee report, delivered by Andy C.
• Finance report, delivered by Sean M.
• Political Education Committee report, delivered by Nick F. and Meagan D.
• Steering Committee report, delivered by Mark G.
• Electoral Committee report, delivered by Sandy B.
• Electoral field operations report, delivered by Matt S.
• Labor Committee report, delivered by Robbie N.

An announcement was made regarding resolution submissions for the October General Membership Meeting. Submissions can be made through resolutions@eastbaydsa.org by September 11.

Vice Chair Elections

Co-chair Zach M. introduced the elections process for a new vice chair for East Bay DSA. Following the introduction, candidates were invited to deliver a three-minute speech to the membership. Candidates Sergio G., Rosa A., and Frances R. delivered speeches.

Intermission

Following the vice chair candidate speeches, a brief intermission was called at 12:50 p.m. so that members could submit their ballots. The meeting was called back to order at 12:57 p.m.                  

Endorsements (Recommendation Overview, Candidate Speech, Q&A)

The endorsements portion of the meeting was introduced by co-chair Abigail G.-G.

The introduction was followed by a brief overview of the Electoral Endorsements Subcommittee's process for producing recommendations, which was delivered by Sandy B.

Each of the candidates or campaign representatives on the agenda were given three minutes to deliver a speech to the membership, followed by 10 minutes of question and answer that was moderated by the chairs. Written questions were submitted by members in attendance, following the speeches of each candidate or representative. The questions were then organized and presented by the chairs for candidates or representatives to answer.

RPA Slate Candidates

Gabby M. introduced the candidates with a brief overview of the Endorsement Subcommittee's report, which offered a "yes" recommendation.

Melvin Willis spoke on behalf of himself and the rest of the RPA slate of candidates. Following this speech, Willis answered questions from the membership.

Cat Brooks

Gabby M. introduced the candidate with a brief overview of the Endorsement Subcommittee's report, which offered no recommendation.

Cat Brooks spoke on behalf of herself. Following her speech, Brooks answered questions from the membership.

Community Power Slate, Berkeley Rent Board

Gabby M. introduced the candidates with a brief overview of the Endorsement Subcommittee's report, which offered no recommendation.

Soli Alpert and Maria Poblet spoke on behalf of the Community Power Slate. Following this speech, Alpert, Poblet, and Paola Laverde answered questions from the membership.

Measure P (Berkeley Transfer Tax)

Gabby M. introduced Measure P and Measure Y together with a brief overview of the Endorsement Subcommittee's report, which offered a "yes" recommendation for both.

Mathew L. spoke on behalf of Measure P.

Measure Y (Oakland Just Cause Expansion)

Jamie G. spoke on behalf of Measure Y.

There was a combined Q&A session for Measures P and Y, during which Mathew L. and Jaime G. answered questions from the membership. 

Intermission

A brief intermission was called at 1:50 p.m., following the candidate speeches and question-and-answer period. At this time, candidates and campaign representatives who are not members of East Bay DSA were asked to leave. The meeting was called back to order at 2:00 p.m.

Report Findings, Debate, and Voting

An introduction of the debate and voting portion of the endorsements process was delivered by co-chair Zach M.

RPA Slate Candidates

Miguel D. delivered the Endorsement Subcommittee's report related to the RPA Slate, which offered a "yes" recommendation.

The question was called immediately following the opening of debate.

The endorsement vote PASSED by majority vote.

Cat Brooks

Miguel D. delivered the Endorsement Subcommittee's report related to Oakland mayoral candidate Cat Brooks, which offered no recommendation.

Debate was opened by co-chair Zach M., who asked for members to make alternating "for" or "against" statements.

During debate, a motion to extend debate time by 10 minutes was passed by a majority vote.

After debate, the endorsement FAILED by a vote of 88 against, 65 in favor, and 12 abstaining.

A motion to extend the meeting time by 15 minutes was passed by a majority vote.

Community Power Slate

Miguel D. delivered the Endorsement Subcommittee's report related to the Community Power Slate for Berkeley Rent Board, which offered no recommendation.

Debate was opened by co-chair Zach M., who asked for members to make alternating "for" or "against" statements.

After debate, the endorsement PASSED by a majority vote.

Following the vote on the Community Power Slate, a motion was made to suspend the rules and add Measure O to the agenda as a package with Measure P. Soli A. motivated the motion, which passed. Measure O was added to the agenda, to be debated and voted on as a package with Measure P.

Measure O and Measure P (Berkeley Transfer Tax)

Miguel D. delivered the Endorsement Subcommittee's report related to Measure P and Measure O. The Subcommittee offered a "yes" recommendation for Measure P and a "no" recommendation for Measure O.

Debate was opened by co-chair Zach M., who asked for members to make alternating "for" or "against" statements.

After debate, the endorsement PASSED by a majority vote.

Measure Y (Oakland Just Cause Expansion)

A motion to extend the meeting time by five minutes was passed by a majority vote.

Miguel D. delivered the Endorsement Subcommittee's report related to Measure Y, which offered a "yes" recommendation.

The question was called following the delivery of the Subcommittee's report.

The endorsement PASSED by a majority vote.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned by the co-chairs at 3:15 p.m.

Addenda

Following the adjournment of the meeting, ballots were counted for the election of the Vice-Chair position. Frances R. was declared the winner with 63 percent of the vote. Please refer to OpaVote for the full results breakdown.