Bronx/Upper Manhattan
At their October branch meeting, B/UM members talked with presenters from the Labor Branch about the rank-and-file resolution passed at the citywide convention in May. They also petitioned the Department of Corrections to oppose the Mayor’s plan to build four new jails in New York, including one in Mott Haven. On November 15, B/UM participated in the March for Housing Justice and Universal Rent Control in the Financial District, braving the snow and the subways. They organized a martial arts training, with a B/UM co-chair as the instructor. B/UM also continued their campaign to Save Allen Psych as well as the process of updating their branch bylaws.
Central Brooklyn
The Red Scare Halloween fundraiser, organized by the social and events committee, was a success, raising over $4000 for the branch. The operating committee unveiled the new branch website at https://www.cbkdsa.org and has begun drafting informational resources for new members. The new membership development subcommittee is planning a new member socials for early December.
Labor
The Labor Branch has two upcoming meetings focusing on organizing workers and getting DSA members into unionized industries.
December 15, Labor Branch Panel: Socialism & the Labor Movement, 2pm-4pm, location TBD
Please join the NYC-DSA Labor Branch for a panel on how workers organize, what unions can achieve in a broader political context, and why they’re crucial in building socialism.
December 18, Labor Branch Meeting: Focus Industry Debate, 7pm-9pm, Location TBD
Our meeting in August regarding the NYC-DSA Rank & File Resolution kickstarted the process of selecting strategic unionized industries for plugging a critical mass of DSA activists into. Labor Branch members submitted their proposals for what industries and unions to prioritize when rolling out the resolution, with some outlined criteria in mind.
We extended our November 8th proposal deadline a couple of days, and received a total of 10 proposals:
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-Logistics, UPS/Teamsters
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-Telecommunications, Verizon/CWA
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-NYC Public Sector, DC37 AFSCME
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-Transit Workers, MTA/TWU Local 100
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-Nursing, NYSNA
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-Education, Public Schools/UFT
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-Hotel Trades Council
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-Construction, Building Trades/Carpenters
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-Construction, Building Trades/IBEW & NYCDCC
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-PSC-CUNY / AFT 2334
And in addition: we’ll have another 50/50 Raffle before/after our meeting! Tickets will be 1 for $3, 2 for $5, and the winner will win half the pot, with the other half going to support the work of the NYC-DSA Labor Branch! Come win money while supporting DSA!
Lower Manhattan
The Lower Manhattan branch had an informative October general meeting, including speakers Kelly McKowen on the history of social democracy in the Nordic countries and Benjamin Fogel, on the crisis in Brazil. They also took a photo of LoMan members with #elenão in solidarity with Brazil. The branch has also had a series of very successful political education meetings.
Lower Manhattan’s November general meeting is on the 29th from 7-9 pm in La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club. They’ll be talking childcare with the Red Sprouts and reflecting on the past few months of electoral work.
North Brooklyn
North Brooklyn members joined with the statewide Housing Justice 4 All coalition to march on the offices of the Rent Stabilization Association on November 15. An early snowstorm and wintry conditions could not dampen their determination to advocate for tenants and continue the fight for universal rent control!
The NBK Rose Buds hosted a social for new members on November 10, just after the midterm elections. They welcomed the newest comrades and invited them to get involved with NBK’s efforts to build socialism in NYC.
On November 6, members of NBK, along with the Brooklyn Electoral Working Group and volunteers for Julia Salazar’s campaign, gathered at Starr Bar to watch election returns and celebrate the election of District 18’s newest socialist state senator.
NBK’s bi-weekly Night School continues every other week on Mondays at Mayday Space. Upcoming sessions will include neoliberalism and the intersection of race with class. All are welcome to discuss and learn!
Queens
The Queens branch’s November general membership meeting reviewed the big fights ahead. It focused on the Universal Rent Control Campaign and how the Amazon HQ2 would worsen gentrification in Queens and nearby parts of Brooklyn, but also discussed strategic considerations for The New York State Health Act and the upcoming Queens District Attorney election. More than 100 people attended, including many new branch members.
The Queens branch jumped into action to fight Amazon’s HQ2 in Long Island City the day the deal with Amazon was announced. The branch quickly developed a strategy to canvass Long Island City residents to oppose the deal, and is planning a community forum on December 10th. The next branch meeting is on Saturday, December 29, at 2 pm in 37-62 89 St. in Jackson Heights.
South Brooklyn
In November, South Brooklyn branch has focused its organizing efforts on Healthcare and Political Education. It will debate and vote this month on the future of its health justice branch campaign, and revive its ABCs of Socialism and Socialism 101 reading groups. The branch also plans to start a housing justice reading group and pilot an online socialist texts lending library.
