This is the monthly newsletter by the Montgomery County Branch of the Metro DC Chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (MoCo DSA).

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• Fight landlord and developer efforts to raise the rent by sharing your story about Montgomery County rent stabilization. In 2023, the Montgomery County Council passed rent stabilization, thanks to organizing by Montgomery County DSA and coalition partners. Despite gains for tenants, landlords and developers are pushing the false narrative that rent stabilization has forced them to stop building. Use this form to share what stable, affordable rents mean for you.  

• Saturday, September 5 – MoCo DSA Coffee Social and Brunch. Enjoy a casual brunch at Emma’s Torch in Silver Spring. If you haven’t heard of Emma’s Torch, they are a non-profit social enterprise that provide refugees with in-depth culinary training as well as employability, equity, and empowerment training. RSVP here.

• Saturday, September 5 – Unite Here Local 25 Leaflet at the Montgomery County Conference Center. Join the MoCo section of the MDC-DSA Labor Working Group and Unite Local Here 25 to leaflet in support of a boycott of the country conference center until Marriott agrees to a fair process for worker unionization. This is a great entry-level labor action if you’ve been wanting to support labor organizing but aren’t sure how. UH25 staffers will be on hand to train and support you. Details here.

• Saturday, September 12 – Prince George’s County-DSA Labor Working Group Salting Job Fair. PG-DSA and the wider MDC-DSA Labor Working Group are hosting a Salting Job Fair. “Salting the workplace” is a union organizing tactic in which union organizers, known as “salts,” seek employment at a non-union company to organize the existing workforce. Interested in learning more? Get connected here.

• Thursday, September 17 – MoCo DSA Support Group. MoCo DSA would like to invite any comrades experiencing challenges and hardships to join us for an online group discussion focused on mutual support. 

• Thursday, September 17 – Takoma Tenant Forum. The City of Takoma Park is holding its annual tenant forum. City staff will discuss tenant rights and responsibilities and share city housing resources. Montgomery County DSA and partners have been organizing to protect the city’s strong rent stabilization law. Join the meeting to show your support for rent stabilization and ask city staff questions you have as a tenant in the city. 

• Saturday, September 19 – September MoCo DSA Branch Bike Ride Social. Don’t miss a community bike ride from Wheaton Regional Park to Lost Sock Roasters in Takoma Park. Not interested in biking? Meet at Lost Sock for brunch around 11:00 am. 

• Saturday, September 26 – MoCo DSA General Body Meeting. Join online or in person at the Gaithersburg Library for our general body meeting to get updates on public-facing branch operations, working groups, and campaigns.

• Saturday, September 26 – MoCo DSA Happy Hour Social at Mayan Monkey Brewing Co. Join us for a social hangout immediately following our September general body meeting at Mayan Monkey Brewing Co. from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

Interested in building a socialist future? Join DSA