Bronx/Upper Manhattan
In July and August, members worked in coalition with Northern Manhattan is Not for Sale (NMN4S) to protest the Inwood rezoning plan. The coalition raised $1000 for a block party in Inwood, and B/UM members participated in and supported protest actions including an overnight occupation of City Councilperson Ydanis Rodriguez’s office and a march on August 6.
The B/UM branch also continued canvassing to save the psychiatric ward at Allen Hospital in Inwood, collecting and mailing postcards opposing New York-Presbyterian’s plan to close this crucial ward. In July B/UM held an organizing training for new members and mobilizers. Lastly the bylaws committee has reconvened to continue the process of updating and expanding the Branch’s bylaws in an open, democratic way.
Labor Branch
The Labor Branch has been working on the roll out of Resolution 33, passed at our chapter convention in May, which called for the recruiting of DSA members to find work in Rank and File union jobs. The Labor branch will be co-hosting a Labor Notes Troublemaker’s School on September 29, and anyone interested in getting a Rank and File job is encouraged to attend and learn about workplace organizing.
The next branch meeting is on August 21 from 7-9 pm at the UAW offices on the 12th floor of 256 W 38th street. The topic of discussion will be the process of implementing Resolution 33, and all are welcome to attend. RSVP to the Facebook event here.
The Labor Branch OC was also able to meet with Cynthia Nixon about the Labor Movement and make some recommendations about what a strong Democratic Socialist Labor Platform would look like. The Labor Branch eager to continue to organize with Cynthia and her campaign. Labor for Julia Salazar canvases are ongoing, and these will be incorporating the chapter’s recent endorsement of Cynthia Nixon and Jumaane Williams. Upcoming Labor Canvases are on Sunday, August 26 at 3pm, Saturday, and September 8 at 3pm. All will start at Julia’s campaign headquarters at 82 Central Ave, Brooklyn, NY.
Central Brooklyn
Central Brooklyn has been continuing work on the branch priority campaign: tenant organizing. For more information about the campaign, read an FAQ here or email tenants@socialists.nyc. The Central Brooklyn branch meeting is on August 22nd, at 7pm at the YWCA Brooklyn.
Lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan had a very successful July meeting. Their endorsement process for Nixon and Williams brought out a large attendance, including many members who weren’t yet active within DSA and a good number of new members who were excited about getting involved in politics. Actor and activist Susan Sarandon was in attendance, and said she felt right at home in the branch. The meeting was topped off with a panel discussion hosted by LoMan’s own, Audrey Huigens, on the topic of sex work. Audrey, along with other active sex workers, detailed their experiences and how they’re comparable to other labor in neoliberal capitalism.
Now the branch is focused on building out their major citywide and corresponding branch campaigns: NYHA canvassing, universal rent control canvassing, and mobilizing our members to either make canvass or phone bank for the Nixon, Williams, and Salazar campaigns.
The branch participated in the M4A weekend of action on August 12 and will have canvasses every Wednesday night this month, in addition to periodic phone banks. The branch is prioritizing major campaigns and giving members many opportunities to participate. In the near future they’ll be rolling out a political education night school, focused on the key ideas that they think every socialist should integrate into their analyses and actions.
LoMan’s next meeting on August 30 is going to feature a hot collab with comrades in the Labor Branch as they begin rolling out the Rank and File strategy, passed at the recent convention. LoMan see building a 21st century labor movement as imperative to the DSA’s political goals.
North Brooklyn
North Brooklyn is focused on the final push to help our comrade Julia Salazar win in State Senate District 18! Primary day is September 13 and North Brooklyn encourages all of NYC-DSA to get involved by signing up for a volunteer shift: salazarforsenate.com/volunteer. NBK DSA is hosting canvassing days over the coming weekends: Saturday 8/25, and Sunday 9/2.
Julia Salazar button-mania is sweeping North Brooklyn! NBM comrades wear their support for Julia on their sleeves (and backpacks, tote bags, and dog vests). If you have a great idea for a campaign button, they want to hear it at north.brooklyn@socialists.nyc. And make sure to pick up a button for yourself when you stop by Salazar HQ to volunteer or donate healthy snacks and office supplies! [add links]
Members of NBK hosted a memorial for Heather Heyer on August 11 to honor her life, educate themselves about the anti-fascist movement, and renew their commitment to fighting white supremacy. Other NBK members have traveled in recent weeks to Portland, D.C., and Charlottesville, to document and participate in anti-fascist actions as marshals and medics.
NBK has launched a new members’ welcoming committee, the Rosebuds, who hosted their first New Members’ social on July 14. Next up for the Rosebuds is a collaboration with the NBK Political Education Committee on a Socialism 101 reading group starting with “Socialism…Seriously” by Danny Katch. All new and prospective members are welcome to join for the first session August 25 3-5pm at Julia Salazar’s campaign office (82 Central Ave Brooklyn NY 11206). Don’t have a copy? Reach out and NBK will work to lend you a copy! Email north.brooklyn@socialists.nyc.
Finally, in late June NBK elected a new Organizing Committee composed of Maia Rosenberg, Jamie Peck, Amy Wilson, Ramon Pebenito, Alex Burgos, James Neimester, Peter Fitzgerald, and Brendan O’Connor. The newly-elected Steering Committee Rep is Michael Grochowski and the CLC reps are Erin Neff, Charlotte Albrecht, Ariel Zakarison, and Justin Charles.
South Brooklyn
South Brooklyn has been focusing on the M4A/NYHA Campaign, tabling in Coney Island in support of single payer, and canvassing in collaboration with the Salazar campaign. For the next month, they’ll be hosting weekly canvasses on Mondays and Wednesdays in Park Slope, talking to folks about the Nixon/Williams campaign as well as the New York Health Act. They encourage all members in the area to get involved with these canvasses, as there are only a few weeks left to support the Nixon/Williams campaign.
They’re also preparing for an upcoming NYHA Teach-In, which will feature DSA comrades Martha Larson, Roona Ray, Chi Anunwa, Noah Weston, and others, to take place on Sunday, September 16th. Come out for pizza and important information regarding the private insurance industry, medical debt, and single payer activism!
Queens
Queens DSA is canvassing for Julia Salazar on Tuesday nights. They’re also planning housing canvasses in Astoria to support Cynthia Nixon and Jumaane Williams, which will build off the discussion of universal rent control and other elements of the housing program at the next Branch meeting on August 28.