Steering Committee Minutes: February 21st, 2021
East Bay DSA
Steering Committee Meeting Agenda
February 21, 2021
2-4 pm
Steering Committee Agenda
Introductions/Opening Statements
Matt S called the meeting to order at 2:05 pm
Present were Chairs Matt S. and Allie L.. Also present was Vice Chair Will S., Communication Secretary Rex LC, Treasurer Lindsey M. and Benny Z., Carlos O., Katie F., Luke T., Miguel B and Annika B. The Recording Secretary was present and taking notes.
Approval of Agenda
- Consent Agenda
Committee Reports
- Finance
- $24,600 in bank
- Q4 dues share was ~$6,200
- Average expenditures about $1,000-$1,500 (storage, various subscriptions)
- Recording Secretary’s Report
- Two resolutions passed (Direct Action for Amazon Workers, and M4A t-shirt funding)
Discussion items
- Labor Discussion
- Aaron motivated Labor Census data
Convention Plan & Timeline Discussion
- Allie motivated the Convention Plan and Timeline
- Want to maximize debate time for priorities resolution to increase engagement
- We don't know if it would be one day or two bc it’s determined by how many priorities resolutions, how many national delegates, how many people running for steering committee
Allie is now chairing the meeting
Email Vote Protocols Discussion
- Benny facilitated the discussion
- Purpose of approval/resolution is to facilitate discussion around potential red flags or jeopardizing/straining a coalition partner
- Is a buffer time needed when a resolution is presented over email?
Handbook Announcement
- Allie presented a standing doc with this info
Refund Coalition
- Want to submit a resolution (to formally affiliate) but don't have a person to liaise with coalition
- Easier for some coalitions to bring single issue vs how our chapter organizes around issues
5 min break
New Business
- Micah motivated the resolution
- The resolution passes 11-0
Will is now chairing the meeting
- Rex motivated the resolution
- The resolution passes 11-0
- Matt motivated the resolution
- Motion to extend time to 4:30 p.m. in the affirmative
- Katie submitted an amendment: Be it further resolved that this resolution will be presented to the general membership at the March GM for a first read and initial debate. The resolution shall come before general membership for a final vote at the April GM.
- The amendment fails 3-6 (voting yes are Katie F., Benny Z., Carlos O.)
- Benny submitted an amendment: Be it further resolved the chapter may change the [or fill a blank here] Priority Campaigns at a General Meeting.
- Rex brings up that this may be out of order
- Benny withdraws the amendment
- The resolution passes 6-3 (no votes are Carlos O., Katie F., Benny Z.)
- Allie motivated the resolution
- The resolution passes 11-0
The meeting was adjourned at 4:33 p.m.
CONSENT AGENDA
Resolution to Organize a Vigil / Press Conference to be Held Next Saturday, February 27th, 2021
Submitted by Eric V., Molly S., Robb G., Kat O., Jurrell S., Todd V.
Whereas East Bay DSA voted to ratify the “Campaign to Win California Single-Payer and Medicare for All” Priority Resolution at its Annual Convention in 2020;
Whereas the chapter’s Medicare for All Committee (M4A Committee) reconvened in November with substantial attendance, launched a statewide petition to Governor Newsom, joined the DSA CA M4A statewide campaign, and have organized townhalls, phonebanks, and door hanger canvasses;
Whereas a single-payer bill has been introduced (“CalCare” AB 1400) but there hasn’t been progress from the Governor’s Office, and the M4A Committee believes it is now time for escalation;
Whereas the Direct Action Working Group (DAWG) has dedicated its efforts to planning an action for Saturday, February 27th, and it was voted on by DAWG and collaborating members of M4A Committee to pursue this action plan (goals, tone, tactics, etc. can be found within);
Whereas, we will strictly enforce physical distance, encourage all attendees to double mask, and distribute hand sanitizer;
Therefore be it resolved, that East Bay DSA will support and publicly promote this peaceful event through social media and email, as organized by the chapter’s Direct Action Working Group and Medicare for All Committee.
Resolution to Give M4A Data Access
By: Shane Ruiz
Whereas the M4A campaign is working to coordinate a statewide effort to pressure and primary Democratic legislators,
Whereas the program requires a high-level of access to membership data in order to: cut lists of members, delegate permissions to view lists assigned to members, and target populations to be engaged,
Whereas no members of the M4A campaign currently have access to the CRM, which requires last minute and stressful requests to the operations committee in an Ad Hoc fashion,
Therefore be it resolved, M4A committee Field Team leaders Raha Mirabdal and Shane Ruiz be delegated the appropriate permission set in the chapter’s CRM to assist and back up the work currently undertaken by the Ops Committee,
Be it further resolved that Raha and Shane are only authorized to use chapter member data on condition that they do so in accordance with the existing data use policies laid out by the East Bay DSA operations committee, and sign the chapter data use agreement
Be it further resolved that Lindsey Moore undertakes all training efforts of both Shane and Raha in this role.
NEW BUSINESS
Resolution to endorse a campaign to support a just transition for School Security Officers into “Culture & Climate” Roles
Motivated by Kevin S., Hillary C., Katie F. and Micah B.
Whereas Black Organizing Project’s (BOP) George Floyd Resolution was passed by the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) in their June 24, 2020 meeting, which mandated the district eliminate Oakland Police from OUSD schools and work with BOP to reimagine school safety
Whereas BOP’s plan to reimagine school safety acknowledged that School Security Officers (SSOs) “have relationships with Oakland families and communities of color and have backgrounds working with children and youth of color” and called for the district to “Restructure the role of security personnel to emphasize peace-keeping, culture-keeping and restorative justice”
Whereas the first phase of the “George Floyd District Safety Plan”, which passed the board on the December 9th, 2020 OUSD board meeting, stated that “Although the SSO positions have been eliminated, the plan sustains the same number of site-based staff and creates new positions as part of a Culture & Climate Unit that will be multi-disciplinary and offer skilled, trauma-informed, culturally-relevant de-escalation, alongside restorative justice principles and transformative practices.”
Whereas the district has, as of yet, not promised to grandfather the contracts for the SSOs as they transition into their new role as culture & climate keepers, which they did previously during an early title change from Yard Supervisor to SSO, which would mean the SSOs losing their tenure and pensions,
Whereas OUSD’s SSOs are 98% Black and Brown,
Whereas SSOs are represented by Service Employees International Union local 1021 (SEIU), who have already begun mobilizing SSOs in a campaign for a just transition to their new roles,
Whereas members of the Classroom Justice campaign have fostered organic connections with SSOs through our coloring book distribution project,
Whereas rank-and-file OEA members are organizing around this issue by connecting with their school site’s SSOs and connecting SEIU members across OUSD,
Whereas members of the Classroom Justice campaign nearly unanimously voted to support the SSOs’ campaign for a just transition (see Attachment A and B),
Whereas members have laid out a detailed report on why we should support SSOs and how we could do so,
Whereas through this support campaign, East Bay DSA can show our solidarity with SEIU workers and continue to build our relationship with rank-and-file SEIU members,
Therefore be it resolved that East Bay DSA will endorse a campaign to support the SSOs in a just transition into their new role,
Be it further resolved that organizing tasks for this support campaign will be carried out by members of the Classroom Justice Campaign, housed within the Racial Solidarity Committee,
Be it further resolved that organizing tasks for this campaign will include:
- Working with the East Bay DSA video team to produce a short video featuring SSOs, other education workers and community members to support the SSOs
- Supporting and helping organize SSOs in their campaign to struggle for a just transition, which may include direct action, social media blasts, and phonebanking
- Collaborating with rank-and-file SEIU members in their campaign to support a just transition for the SSOs
Attachment A:
Attachment B:
Resolution for EBDSA Communications Dropbox Subscription
Submitted by Molly S, Sophie B, Rex L
Whereas, the EBDSA Video Team was allotted $635 by the steering committee in 2020 to “fund equipment and materials to be able to establish efficient collective workflows and increase our production capacity;”
Whereas, the equipment proposed were physical hard drives to be stored in the EBDSA office, which was no longer feasible due to Covid-19, so the funds were not spent;
Whereas, the Video Team has determined that a better use of those funds would be the purchase of a Dropbox Business account that would allow us to share and archive footage for collaborative projects;
Whereas, the Communications Committee also has a need for shared dropbox access in order to facilitate collaboration between artists, designers, social media posters, etc.;
Whereas, the Video Team produces ~1-8 videos per month, which are a key aspect of our chapters agit-prop, and which were viewed over one million times in 2020,
Whereas, the Video Team has ~10 active professional filmmakers and videographers who collaborate on projects for a wide range of chapter campaigns;
Therefore be it resolved that the original budget be repurposed for a Dropbox Business Standard plan, starting at 3 users per month (users would be video team email and two other communications team emails that would be shared between members) for a total of $37.50 per month, $450 for 2021.
Resolution on the 2021 East Bay DSA Priorities Resolution Process
Drafted by the Convention Organizing Working Group
Motivated by Matt S
NB: The goal is that we would read this resolution at the February 21, 2020 Steering Committee Meeting and then vote to refer the resolution to the March General Membership Meeting with our recommendation.
Whereas the East Bay DSA Bylaws mandate that at the annual Chapter Convention, “the Chapter shall elect all officers of the Chapter and adopt a Priorities Resolution.”
Whereas East Bay DSA adopted a 2020 Priorities Resolution not long ago at our September 2020 Local Convention.
Whereas the breadth of the current Priorities Resolution has created challenges in the implementation of many of its planks, and more focused prioritization would benefit our Chapter’s campaigns and overall political efficacy.
Whereas the Convention Organizing Working Group is interested in working toward a more focused set of priorities through our 2021 Local Convention, while maintaining the breadth of politics and projects represented in our current Priorities Resolution and generating democratic buy-in from the Chapter around the Priorities Resolution Process.
Therefore be it resolved that East Bay DSA will adopt its current Priorities Resolution as the base document for a Chapter Platform to be ratified at the May 2021 Local Convention.
Be it further resolved that the May 2021 Local Convention will deliberate and vote on amendments to that base document, including the submission of new planks.
Be it further resolved that the May 2021 Local Convention will debate and vote to select three Priority Campaigns from the Chapter Platform which, taken together, will constitute our 2021 Priorities Resolution. The Local Convention will select these Priority Campaigns by a single-transferable vote method.
Be it further resolved that the 2021-22 East Bay DSA Steering Committee will be tasked with carrying out this Priorities Resolution by allotting appropriate chapter resources to the Priority Campaigns. Resources may include chapter funds, promotion in chapter communications, and aid in volunteer recruitment.
Be it further resolved that chapter campaigns and projects may not be excluded from access to chapter resources by virtue of not being selected as a Priority Campaign.
Resolution for EBDSA 2021 Convention Planning and Conflicts of Interest
Drafted by the Convention Organizing Working Group
Motivated by Allie L
Whereas protecting the integrity of our elections and member democracy is of the utmost importance,
Whereas Steering Committee elections and DSA National Convention elections are likely to have a large pool of candidates running who are our most active members,
Whereas planning for the Local EBDSA Convention will be significant work,
Therefore be it resolved candidates running for Steering Committee and delegates for the DSA National Convention will be permitted to participate in 2021 Local Convention planning for logistics and programming not related to voting for candidates,
Be it further resolved that candidates will not participate in planning and decision making for candidate voting rules, setting up OpaVote, interpreting or distributing voting results, planning candidate forums, and that this portion of the COW-G meetings will happen before or after regular meetings without the candidates.
Be it further resolved that candidates will decide by the timeline as determined in the Convention Plan and then voting processes will be determined.