FEBRUARY 16, 2024
CONTENTS
UP FRONT
History of Tenant Rights in DC walking tour being planned for Sunday, March 10
Stomp Out Slumlords to conduct anti-eviction canvass, Saturday, February 17 at 1:30pm
- Applications open for Metro DC DSA Training Commission; due this Monday, February 19
History of Tenant Rights in DC walking tour being planned for Sunday, March 10
Sign up now for the History of Tenant Rights: DC Walking Tour, starting at 1pm on Sunday, March 10 at Columbia Heights Civic Plaza in DC. It will be a neighborhood walking tour exploring the past, present and future of tenant rights in the area, visiting three sites around Columbia Heights connected to the history of how tenants came together to demand rent control and better housing conditions, buy the buildings from their landlord and form cooperatives, organize tenant unions, and exercise their power to get the DC Council to pass the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase (TOPA) Act. The Walking Tour will be led by Professor Amanda Huron, organizers with the Stomp Out Slumlords campaign and current tenants in Columbia Heights. Sign up in advance to join the tour — readers can also indicate if they’d like to volunteer during the tour or help wheatpaste in the weekends leading up to the event.
Stomp Out Slumlords to conduct anti-eviction canvass, Saturday, February 17 at 1:30pm
Join Stomp Out Slumlords this Saturday, February 17th for their next anti-eviction canvass. Tenants that speak with SOS are twice as likely to go to court and fight their eviction, so every volunteer can make a big impact. The canvassing group will be meeting at the L’Enfant Plaza Metro for a quick training at 1:30pm, and then pair up to canvass followed by a debrief/social. New members are always welcome, and will be paired with an experienced canvasser to learn the ropes.
Get more details at the sign-up link, or email tenants@mdcdsa.org to ask questions or find out more ways to get involved. The canvassing group is always in need of cars, which can help canvassers get to Metro-inaccessible areas.
Applications open for Metro DC DSA Training Commission; due this Monday, February 19
Metro DC DSA members who want to shape chapter training and skill-building programs are encouraged to join the chapter’s Training Commission — applications are due this Monday, February 19th at 11:59pm. The body hosts the chapter’s Organizer Training, Nuts and Bolts Trainings and other programs to build the capacity of DSA members to organize. This is a core chapter function that needs members to step up to help. The application asks applicants to answer why you want to join, what applicants are interested in doing, and one idea of a training you would like the chapter to hold.
BRIEFS
New in Washington Socialist: Should DC’s left fear Initiative 83?
An endorsement of Initiative 83, a ballot initiative that would bring ranked choice voting and open primaries to DC, is being considered by the Metro DC DSA chapter. The discussion surrounding endorsement has opened up a wider debate about political strategy among electorally minded socialists and progressives. In the Washington Socialist, MDC DSA member and Minneapolis expat Joe R. offers a first-hand analysis, drawing from Minneapolis’ use of a similar system.
Montgomery County DSA to conduct rent stabilization canvasses to initiate county rent stabilization regulations — Sunday, February 18
The Montgomery County Department of Housing and Community Affairs has released draft rent stabilization regulations, beginning a 30-day comment period which closes March 1. After this comment period, the County Council must approve the regulations before the Department of Housing and Community Affairs can begin enforcing the new rent stabilization law. In conducting canvassing, Montgomery County DSA will be talking to tenants in Bethesda about the regulations and develop an insurgency to put pressure on the County Council to pass the regulations. RSVP here.
Maryland alliance pushing for Palestine solidarity efforts and ceasefire measures in Annapolis
Youth are leading a day of action in Annapolis to push the Maryland General Assembly to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. The rally, occurring on Monday, February 19th from 6 to 8pm at Lawyer’s Mall in Annapolis, MD, will be held at the Maryland legislature in support of HJ 2, which calls for a ceasefire in Gaza. The bill is sponsored by Metro DC DSA member Del. Gabriel Acevero, who is an elected rep in Montgomery County, and co-sponsored by several other allied Maryland legislators, and it demands the General Assembly express their support for a ceasefire.
For Maryland residents: attend the Montgomery County Branch’s organizing meeting on Sunday, February 18 from 7:30-9pm to plan and prepare for a lobby meeting with your state delegate(s) in support of Del. Gabriel Acevero’s ceasefire resolution and other Palestine solidarity measures. Members on the Metro DC DSA slack can message @Olivia from MoCo for more details.
Rockville Rent Stabilization Canvass — Saturday, February 17
Maryland DSA members, Progressive Maryland and Rockville City Councilmember Izola Shaw will be knocking on doors in King Farm to build support for rent stabilization in Rockville. Canvassers will have the opportunity to get involved in broader efforts to protect renters and get to know members in the community. The canvass is set to begin on Saturday, February 17 from 12 to 3pm, at 801 Elmcroft Blvd Rockville, MD. RSVP here.
Strategize for a liberated future at the Abolition Working Group meeting — Tuesday, February 20
Join the Abolition Working Group (formerly Defund MPD) on Tuesdays to discuss strategy, planning and ongoing efforts to fight against carceral systems of oppression. RSVP here.
The working group is staying organized in defiance of the “Secure” DC legislation moving through the District Council. Thanks to a grassroots insurgency, DC residents were able to bulwark against some of the worst aspects of the incoming “criminibus” legislation pushed through the Council by Ward 2 Councilor Brooke Pinto. Metro DC DSA’s Abolition WG is maintaining its formation and preparing a continuing fight against the legislation’s second and final read coming early next month.
New to the DSA and want to connect with others? New member community cohorts to begin in March
Anyone new to Metro DC DSA is invited to apply to join the Spring 2024 New Member Community Cohort. The cohort will take part in a mostly in-person weekly training from mid-March through mid-April covering “Why We Organize,” “What is Socialism?,” chapter operations and resources and a dedicated social outing. Cohort applications are due before the end of the month.
MDC DSA wheatpasting event — Saturday, February 24
Join Abolition Working Group, Political Education Working Group and MORE to help wheatpaste a bunch of posters for upcoming events such as the fight against Secure DC Crimnibus bill, History of Tenant Rights Walking Tour and more! On Saturday, February 24 at 1pm, we’ll meet at Columbia Heights Civic Plaza, do a quick wheatpasting tutorial and then disperse to locations across the city in groups of two to three to paste these posters everywhere! Reach out to Abolition Working Group Chair Keeli M with any questions — we’ll put together a signal chat closer to the day of! RSVP here.
MDC DSA Internationalism working group to restart on Sunday, February 25
If you are interested in being part of restarting our chapter’s Internationalism working group, join a virtual meeting on Sunday, February 25, where the vision for the working group will be discussed and interested volunteers can sign up to be part of a coordinating crew. RSVP here.
Maryland Poor People’s Campaign’s March
The Maryland Poor People’s Campaign is hosting a rally to unite low-income individuals with allies, launch a year-long campaign for voter registration and influence the political discourse during election season to fight to end poverty. It will be held March 2 from 11am to 2pm at Lawyer’s Mall in Annapolis. Please RSVP here.
Listwork workshop with National DSA
Our National DSA field organizer is hosting a listwork workshop which will cover how to identify and empower developing leaders in the chapter. The workshop is taking place on February 20 from 5:30 to 6:30pm. Message Kaela B (she/her) on Slack for an invitation.
INFO ACCESS
Finding out about MDC DSA — and more:
Find out more about our local chapter structure — campaigns, working groups, and branches covering the DMV and the chapter’s detailed history since the mid-seventies. Then there’s our welcome to new members. Browse the archive of the Washington Socialist to see how we write about ourselves and our socialism (some assembly required). Staying Current: live from our studios Wednesday, February 28, 7 – 8pm, Why You Should Join DSA/New Member Orientation with Q&A.
DSA national has its own site of course. DSA Feed is an RSS feed that aggregates multiple DSA publications — including our own Washington Socialist — in one convenient place. More from the National Tech Committee here.
MDC DSA Publications Schedule: Washington Socialist is now publishing on a quarterly schedule. Updates to the current (“Winter”) number will be published on a rolling basis over the next two months. Get on record about your socialism! Contributors to the Washington Socialist can email submissions or questions at washingtonsocialist@mdcdsa.org.
Submit your update suggestions to the tip line.
Would you like to participate in MDC DSA’s publications? We write, we edit, we design, we do the tech — there are so many ways your hand could lighten the load in 2024 and beyond. Check us out on #publications and let us know what you would like to write, or write about.
DSA CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Saturday, February 17
1:30 – 4:30pm | Stomp Out Slumlords Anti-Eviction Canvas
Sunday, February 18
12pm | MoCo DSA Rent Stabilization Canvass
Tuesday, February 20
6 – 7pm | NoVA Medicare for All Working Group Meeting
7 – 8pm | Abolition Working Group Biweekly Meeting
Wednesday, February 21
7:30 – 8:30pm | WePower DC General Circle Meeting
Thursday, February 22
6 – 8:30pm | Repro Justice and Socialist Feminist Section Happy Hour
Saturday, February 24
5 – 6:30pm | M4A 101: Medicare for All Organizer Training Workshop
1 – 4pm | DSA Wheatpasting
Sunday, February 25
2:30pm | Labor WG Happy Hour/Labor Notes conference preview
3 – 4pm | Internationalism WG regroup
Wednesday, February 28
COMMUNITY BULLETIN
The 411 on Initiative 82 | DC ROC
What’s the deal with Service Charges and Initiative 82 (I-82)? There’s a big fight happening right now that will impact restaurant workers and the restaurant industry in DC — and it could have repercussions on workers’ rights nationally. Use this DC Restaurant Opportunities Center (DC ROC) Instagram guide to get the 411 on I-82 and learn how labor allies are fighting to uphold DC as a leader in better wages and working conditions for workers.
Empowering Black Women: Reclaiming our Right to Food as Medicine | I AM WANDA and Empowering Black Women
Celebrate resilience, reclaim your health, and rewrite the narrative together with Black Women in Charge and WANDA CEO and Founder, Tambra Stevenson. Saturday, February 17 at 6pm on Instagram live via @BlackWomeninCharge.
Recover Stolen SNAP/EBT Benefits | MD Farmers Markets
Were your food or cash benefits stolen from your EBT account? SNAP/EBT and Pandemic-EBT benefits stolen as far back as January 1, 2021, can now be reimbursed by Maryland’s Human Services Department. Use this guide and the MD DHS website to learn more. Click here to file a reimbursement claim directly.
DC Council Performance Oversight Hearings Now Underway | DC Council
The Council of the District of Columbia will hold public oversight hearings on agency performance for FY 2023 and FY 2024. This is a great chance to provide feedback — on your experiences with these agencies and the services (or lack thereof) they provide — to the Council Committees that have oversight over them. The hearings began on Monday, January 17, 2024, and will conclude on Friday, March 1, 2024. You can access hearing notices, sign up to testify and find other pertinent hearing information by going to the hearing management system.
ESSENTIAL PERSPECTIVES
Struggle is never over: The Georgia Senate last week approved a measure that would bar businesses from receiving state incentives if they voluntarily recognize labor unions without a vote from employees. The bill requires employees to vote on whether to form a union on a secret ballot. (Georgia Public Broadcasting) via Pluribus
The push for power: “… even though workers in Maryland generally enjoy strong protections, faculty and graduate students at the state’s universities and colleges cannot form a union.” In the Baltimore Beat, Jaisal Noor covers the ongoing fight by University of Maryland grad students and instructors to win collective bargaining rights.
Equality Considered: “‘For all the high-minded talk of “global equality” in recent times’, [author Darrin] McMahon writes, ‘its contours have most often been imagined from within the walls of nation-states, where equality extends only to those who share a passport and more often than not a place of birth.’” A sweeping new book grappling with the question “Where is the line between those considered as equals and those who are not?” is reviewed in Portside.
The flame of thought, the magnificence of art, the wonder of discovery, and the audacity of invention all belong to revolutionary periods when humanity, tired of the chains of its restrictions, shatters them, and stops inebriated to breathe the breeze of a vaster and freer horizon.
–Virgilia D’Andrea