Steering Committee Meeting: November 28, 2018

East Bay DSA Steering Committee Meeting, November 28, 2018, 6–9 p.m.

Introductions and Opening Statements

The meeting was called to order at 6:15 p.m. by vice-chair Frances R., who chaired the meeting. The recording secretary Mark G. took notes. Also present at the meeting were Keith B. B., Hannah E., Dominic D., Hasan A., Aaron H., Sean M., and Jeremy G. Abigail G.-G. joined via telephone.

Committee chairs Matt S., Andrew R., Sandy B., Miguel D., Dan D., Ashley P., Jack M., Kara M., Will S., and Andy C. were also present.

Approval of Consent Calendar

Item B, "Proposal to Reimburse Purchase of Literature for Sale at EBDSA Political Education Events" was moved off the consent calendar into New Business.

Resolution to Issue Social Housing Statement

Submitted by Keith B. B.

Whereas the Social Housing Campaign Committee has drafted and voted to adopt this Social Housing Statement, with the support of all voting Committee members;

Whereas this Committee intends this statement as a document that can gain official support from other DSA chapters in California, and become the ground for future organizing efforts within and across chapters;

Therefore be it resolved that East Bay DSA declares its support for the content of this statement, will officially issue this statement on its website, and provide accompanying announcements on social media platforms.

Statement:

East Bay Democratic Socialists of America

Statement on Social Housing for All

Approved by the Social Housing Committee 11/18

We demand social housing for all. We will win it by joining in the unprecedented working class movement for universal rent control, and organizing towards the clear horizon where we win a secure, permanently affordable home for everyone.

Our Affordable Housing Crisis is the Capitalists' Profit

In our communities, as in the workplace, it is us working people, not billionaire investors, who create value for society. Yet the private market in land and housing turns our homes and neighborhoods into investment vehicles. The private market allows speculators, developers and Wall Street landlords to reap obscene profits off of communities that are vibrant and appealing because we collectively make them so.

This commodification of land and housing is driving a historic crisis of unaffordable rents, harming millions of working people across California and falling especially hard on low-income communities and renters of color. The neoliberal solution—rolling back local regulation—only boosts the profits of the real estate investor class. The result is a glut of unneeded luxury housing, much of which sits vacant, while only a trickle of housing affordable to working and unemployed people gets built. Meantime homelessness soars, rents skyrocket, and entire communities are displaced.

Building housing for all will take a bold, longer-term strategy, one we can only win with a mass movement. That's why our immediate fight is for strong and universal rent control.

Our Housing Goals: Transitional and Transformational

Our transitional demand is for universal, strong rent control. We demand rent control because it is uniquely able to unite a mass working-class movement, and to ease the path to social housing. Every tenant has to pay rent, which means a battle to control rent has the potential to unite every tenant in collective action. Winning rent control immediately reduces landlord profits, which in turn lowers the cost of land and existing buildings, making both easier for the state to acquire and turn into social housing. Not least, by breaking the profits of landlords and their direct power over our rents, we can break much of the political power the capitalist class would use to fight against social housing.

As a major step towards building a movement for universal rent control, DSA chapters across California joined in solidarity with an unprecedented uprising of tenants, community, and labor organizations fighting to pass Proposition 10. A victory for Proposition 10 would have allowed cities to limit Wall Street rents on single-family homes, to extend rent control to apartments built after 1991, and opened the door to universal, strong rent control at the city and state level.

Yet even as we fight for strong, universal rent control, we also know that imposing public limits on the private housing market is not our ultimate goal. Our transformative goal must be to take housing off the speculative market altogether; to bring land and housing under complete democratic control. This demand to democratize and decommodify land and housing has been taken up by renters organizing nationally.

For us as democratic socialists, this transformational goal is summed up in two words: social housing.

We demand social housing for all. Only social housing can provide affordable homes to the entire working class. Currently, public dollars subsidize the profit margins of investors and private landlords to induce them to provide a trickle of affordable housing. Instead, we can cut out the profiteers and spend public funds directly on providing a much larger number of publicly- and socially-owned housing developments.

We can expand social housing both by bringing existing market housing under social control, and by building new social housing. By laying out our goal as social housing, we aim to unite not only tenants and working class homeowners who will live in it, but also the workers who will build it. We demand a social housing system that serves workers and the whole working class--not a for profit housing system that funnels our wages and community value up to the capitalist few.

Learning from the successes of working class movements for housing justice worldwide, we demand social housing that meets these four principles:

Democratic control: permanent public or community not-for-profit ownership of land and buildings, forever protected from privatization and the speculative market; managed by democratically accountable entities, public workers, and residents.
Universal: homes available for renters of all incomes in each building, free of segregation by income or race
Permanently affordable: rent is based on ability to pay, with up to 100% subsidy for poor renters, subsidized for by taxing the wealthy, along with secure rental leases that can only be ended with just cause, not by changes in income.
High quality: beautiful and durable construction, ample community spaces, and permanently guaranteed maintenance budgets

Democratic socialist candidates have energized masses of Americans with their bold vision of a politics for the working class. Jovanka Beckles, a DSA member running for the California State Assembly, has drawn on local DSA input and incorporated a bold vision of social housing into her platform. Beckles states that “We need to move beyond the trickle-down, for-profit housing system to the bold, publicly-supported models that can provide affordable homes for all.” She pledges to press for a ten year, state-level Housing for All plan, with hundreds of thousands of “homes built through high-quality public, non-profit cooperative, and community land trust models” as part of a “not-for-profit social housing system with beautiful facilities, density near public transportation, and strong mixed-income communities.”

A Call to Action

But we know we’re not going to win our demand for universal rent control, much less social housing, just by electing the right candidates. Like the working people in “Red Vienna,” we will only win social housing if we organize a militant mass movement, with many thousands committed to strike in their workplaces, organize their neighborhoods to take sustained action, pressure their landlords, and win strategic elections. As long as we live in a capitalist system, only such a mass movement can put the needed leverage on multiple axes to break capitalist control and win the social housing working people need.

The renewed fight for social housing in California is only beginning, but it is building steam quickly. In parallel with the unprecedented coalition for Prop. 10, statewide tenant organizations and progressive housing nonprofits have joined to create a social housing working group, which has begun planning public advocacy, education, and legislative efforts.

Based on our strengths and political commitments, DSA chapters statewide can and should play a leading role in education, propaganda, and mass organizing efforts for this nascent social housing coalition in California. DSA should also take an active and constructive internal role within the coalition, firmly standing for our four essential points in the definition of social housing: democratic control, universality, true affordability, and high quality.

As our broadest strategy, DSA chapters in California should seek to support and rally tenant organizations, progressive housing nonprofits, unions and progressive candidates around the transitional goal of universal rent control, and the end goal of social housing for all. In particular, DSA should seek to build our growing connections within the labor movement to rally working people to action at the workplace and beyond. By constructive participation in organizing for and beyond Proposition 10 and future battles for strong rent control, tenant protection, and affordable housing, we should seek to secure the place of social housing as the rallying goal on housing for the working class movement.

Beyond collaboration with existing housing organizations, DSA chapters will ask working people across California to join in organizing our neighborhoods and workplaces toward the goal of social housing. We will insist that social housing will never be won by an elite politics from above. Social housing will only be won by our participation in a mass movement, and together, in our lifetime, we can win social housing for all.

Resolution to Fund 815 Jones St. Office Rental Space

Submitted by Abigail G.-G.

Whereas having a reliable place to meet and conduct chapter activities could greatly help with our organizing tasks.

Whereas the 815 Jones St. office, formerly the Jovanka Beckles campaign office, has been offered to East Bay DSA at a prorated rate through the end of the year.

Therefore be it resolved that East Bay DSA make a one-time rental payment of $1000 for use of the Jones 815 St. office by East Bay DSA Committees and the Steering Committee through December 31, 2018.

Proposal to Fund Purchase of Supplies for Chico DSA

Submitted by Will S.

Whereas the Camp Fire has devastated the city of Chico and its surrounding areas, leaving thousands of people displaced.

Whereas upon visiting Chico there was a marked absence of material relief efforts from governmental organizations, with most of the supplies and organization coming from Chico DSA, local anarchist networks and assorted volunteers.

Whereas a common supply needed by the refugees are gas cards to fuel the cars that many sleep in at night to stay warm in lieu of housing relief provided by the government.

Whereas Sacramento DSA is organizing a supply drive for Chico DSA at our upcoming Northern California Regional Leadership Training and have requested pre-paid gas cards.

Whereas contributing supplies to this drive would be a show of solidarity with our comrades in Chico with whom we will be working closely on statewide campaigns, including the PG&E nationalization campaign that will likely be adopted by our chapter.

Therefore be it resolved the East Bay DSA will authorize the spending of $250 for the purchase of gas cards (10 cards of $25 each) to be given in solidarity to Chico DSA to distribute how they see fit in their relief efforts.

Proposal to Host DSA LA's NOlympics Campaign

Submitted by Will S.

Whereas communication and resource sharing between California’s DSA chapters is critical as we seek to democratize the state of California and build a movement for all working-class people.

Whereas DSA LA is the largest chapter in the state and has worked with us very closely on the Proposition 10 campaign.

Whereas DSA LA’s NOlympics committee, which seeks to prevent the Olympics (and the massive displacement and economic chaos that follows it) from occurring in Los Angeles, is an integral campaign in that chapter’s strategy and history.

Whereas Jonny Coleman, the co-chair of that committee, will be travelling the state speaking to colleges about the campaign and has offered to speak to us about the campaign as well.

Whereas a tactic used in the campaign is bird-dogging, or the public harassing of politicians, often with the intent of forcing them to commit to something on record or succumb to public pressure.

Whereas East Bay DSA members have expressed interest in this tactic and it would greatly benefit us to have a better understanding of its strategy and efficacy before we engage in it.

Therefore be it resolved the East Bay DSA will host a DSA LA NOlympics talk on December 6th and fund a space for up to $200.

Therefore be it further resolved the East Bay DSA will promote the event via social media including but not limited to Twitter and Facebook.

Recommendation for Announcements at General Membership Meetings

Submitted by the Meetings Committee

WHEREAS our chapter’s Priority Resolution recognizes that “In order to continue growing, East Bay DSA must become more diverse, continue to cultivate our members’ political capabilities, and engage in a higher percentage of our membership in political and democratic participation,”

WHEREAS our members passed by majority vote the Resolution to Establish Monthly General Membership Meetings, which mandates GMMs include “announcements from members,”

WHEREAS the Meetings Committee has consulted internally, with interested members, and with other organizations, and developed a set of guidelines to this end,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that announcements at meetings of the general membership should take the following form:

All members in good standing can make an announcement, and non-members can make announcements alongside a member-sponsor. This is meant to open the floor to coalition partners, potential partners, and individuals promoting local events and initiatives of interest to membership.
“Announcement cards” will be made available at the Merchandise table, and members should return their filled-out cards to that table within the first thirty minutes of the meeting, a deadline to be observed strictly. The Merch lead will then deliver the cards to the meeting chairs. The chairs, for their part, should summarize this process at the meeting’s opening, and remind of the submission deadline ten minutes before it elapses. A reminder will also be printed in the meeting packet.
The chairs are responsible for ordering the announcements, but should screen them only to ensure they are ‘actionable,’ rather than simply political declarations, and that they fall within the bounds of our code of conduct. Announcements by members should be preceded by a statement, from the chair, that they represent the speaker’s view, and not the view of East Bay DSA.
The announcements sections of the agenda should be flexible within 5-10 minutes, and the length of announcements between 30 second and 1 minute, depending on the number of submissions and the discretion of the chairs.

Approval of Agenda

Following amendment, the agenda was approved by majority vote and the consent calendar was adopted.

Committee Reports

Finance report delivered by Sean M.
Recording secretary's report delivered by Mark G.
Communications Committee report was delivered by Dominic D. and Frances R.
Operations Committee report was delivered by Andrew R.
General Meetings Committee report was delivered by Andy C.
Needs: Contract deadline is coming up in a few weeks, and the committee will need to know which month the convention will be held and if we want to continue contract with Omni.
Racial Solidarity Committee report delivered by Kara M.
A question arose regarding reservation of the 815 Jones space. Dominic D. will coordinate the reservations of that space based on the internal Google calendar
Political Education Committee report was delivered by Dan D.
Member Engagement Committee report delivered by Hannah E.
Medicare for All Campaign Committee report was delivered by Matt S.
Labor Committee report delivered by Ashley P.
Social Housing Campaign Committee report was delivered by Will S.
A question arose regarding the criteria by which we (as an organization) decide to become dues-paying members of other organizations or coalitions. Sean M. will draft a proposal for what that might look like.
Electoral Campaigns Committee report was delivered by Sandy B. and Jack M.

New Business

Following Committee Reports, Frances R introduced new business.

Proposal to Reimburse Purchase of Literature for Sale at EBDSA Political Education Events

Submitted by Sean M., Nick F., and Daniel D. on behalf of the Political Education Committee

The following proposal was motivated by Dan D. Directly following the motivation, committee chairs were dismissed and there was a brief intermission preceding debate.

Whereas, East Bay DSA political education events offer an opportunity to further advance members’ political education through provision of quality socialist literature;

Whereas, sales of socialist reading materials at political education events offers an easy way to recoup the expenses of putting on the events and raise further funds for the chapter;

Whereas, Political Education Committee co-chair Dan Deck recently purchased a number of Jacobin magazines and books at a discounted rate for sale at political education events;

Whereas, a copy of the invoice for this purchase was shared with East Bay DSA treasurer Sean Murphy;

Therefore be it resolved that the chapter will reimburse Dan Deck for the following purchases for a total of $225.00:

20 copies of Issue 30 of Jacobin magazine
30 copies of the Jacobin Class Action booklet
10 copies of Strike for America by Micah Uetricht

Following debate, the resolution PASSED by a vote of 7 in favor and 1 against.

Discussion

Update on member forum

A presentation was delivered by Dominic D., who proposed slowly opening up the forums to the general membership, starting with active members and then opening it to all members at the general meeting. Allie H., Tim H., Dominic D., and Colin M. will serve as the initial forum moderators.

The forum will launch at the next general meeting as planned and Steering Committee members are encouraged to review the information that Dominic had sent out, providing any final thoughts or feedback before the general meeting.

A time slot will be added to the agenda of the December general meeting to introduce the forums.

Steering Committee Open Meetings

Frances R. opened the conversation, regarding preparation for the new open SC meetings.

The meeting time on December 16 will be moved to 11 a.m., which worked for all SC members in attendance.

If SC members have concerns about the upcoming open meetings, they should email the SC chairs who will be handling the transition.

Following a successful motion to adjourn, the meeting adjourned at 8:03 p.m.