MDC DSA Local Convention kicks off TOMORROW; Rockville City Council and mayor considering updates to landlord-tenant code; Lewis George enters race for DC mayor; and more ...
This is the weekly newsletter of the Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America (MDC DSA), which is
produced by local members of the chapter's Publications Working Group. The Weekly Update publishes every
Friday at 9am. Want to fight fascism from the heart of empire? Join DSA and fight to build socialism!
Paid for by Metro DC DSA (mdcdsa.org). Not authorized by any candidate or committee.
UP FRONT
Metro DC DSA Local Convention: Area socialists to engage in two-day deliberation this weekend on endorsements, spending, and campaign operations for 2026
This weekend, members of the Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America will convene the chapter’s yearly two-day convention, where political endorsements will be debated, chapter resolutions and amendments will be adopted (or declined), the chapter’s 2026 budget and priority campaign proposals will be reviewed, and — a new mode — the chapter will deliberate on and discuss adoption of a two-year chapter platform. All members of Metro DC DSA are welcome and encouraged to attend — members interested in attending should register in advance (Day 1, Day 2) to receive location, hybrid attendance, and voting information. The convention is taking place both in-person and virtually. Any member who has questions about their eligibility or the convention can email [email protected]. Childcare will be available for the full event.
All eligible members should have received an email earlier this week containing the Convention Bulletin and Agenda, and all materials are available on the chapter Slack in the #2025-local-convention channel. Socialists are looking at a packed agenda. Up for deliberation: a chapter budget and five proposed budget amendments; five bylaw amendments; nine resolutions; adoption of a chapter program; eight priority campaign proposals for 2026; and ten endorsement resolutions.
Budget proposals, bylaw amendments, chapter resolutions, and the chapter program will be voted on live at convention. Priority campaigns and electoral endorsements will be voted on using an electronic ballot to be distributed following the convention.All members in good standing have the opportunity to write a member statement for or against any electoral endorsement or priority campaign resolution — the member statement submission period is open now through the Red Desk, and will close at 11:59pm on Tuesday, December 9.
The convention is set to begin on Saturday, December 6 from 12pm to 6pm, and Sunday from 3 to 8pm. On Sunday evening, the chapter will be hosting an afterparty at Transmission (1353 H St NE) from 8 to 10pm. The event will feature local DSA-associated act Point of Disorder and be followed by an open mic available to all. Members, friends, and allies are all welcome. RSVP for the afterparty here.
Rockville City Council and mayor considering updates to the city’s landlord-tenant code; tenants planning presence on Monday, December 8 at 6:30pm
The Rockville City Council and mayor are planning to update the city's landlord-tenant code at their Monday, December 8 hearing. This comes after they voted against passing a rent stabilization ordinance for the city twice, ignoring hours of testimony from tenants about the need for rent stabilization protections. The newly proposed changes to the code include some positive developments, such as requiring landlords to offer two-year leases and banning the use of algorithms to set rents. The city is also considering measures to increase transparency about fees. While increased transparency is welcome, Montgomery County’s rent stabilization legislation already regulates fees and eliminates junk fees at rent stabilized apartment complexes. Join socialists at the hearing to ensure that tenants' interests are represented in the update to the landlord-tenant code. RSVP to the meeting here.
Democratic Socialist enters race to replace Bowser as DC mayor
Democratic Socialist and Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George has officially entered the race for District mayor. Within four hours of announcing her campaign, Lewis George raised $40,000 in small-dollar contributions from at least 1,000 DC residents, qualifying for public funding under the District’s Fair Elections program. Whereas outgoing Mayor Bowser has stepped aside while the Trump administration and federal officers terrorized the District’s working class, Lewis George — who, in her two elections for Ward 4 councilmember, was endorsed by Metro DC DSA — has a strong track record of standing with workers, tenants, and DC communities.
At the candidate’s launch event last Wednesday, which attracted over 200 people at a pizza shop on Georgia Avenue, Lewis George delivered a populist speech decrying the status quo of the city: “Rent’s rising in homes people can’t afford. Folks are working hard and still feeling the squeeze, while the few in power rake in profits. And now our neighbors, our families, are under attack because we are failing to stand up to defend them.” Lewis George aims to assemble a volunteer army 5,000 strong to power her campaign.
The establishment of the city has been fretting Lewis George’s entry. Lacking any bench or ideological motivation, and scrambling to keep their broken government assembled, Bowser’s collapsing Green Team appears eager to back at-large CM Kenyan McDuffie — a business-backed politician lacking in either resolve or charisma — to defend the status quo.
Metro DC DSA has not made any endorsement for mayor at this time.
BRIEFS
The Starbucks boycott continues: Socialists throughout the DMV are organizing in support of Starbucks Workers United
Three weeks ago, 92% of unionized Starbucks baristas voted to authorize a nationwide strike following a stall in collective bargaining negotiations. This escalation followed corporate’s failure to resolve negotiations over staffing levels and pay, inciting indignation from the union of over 10,000 baristas across approximately 600 stores. Workers formed a picket in defiance, and a nationwide boycott and support campaign have followed to aid workers in their battle.
Those interested in helping but prefer different hours or other locations in the DMV should fill out the intake form here to stay connected and get involved.
Advocates fight against criminalization of DC residents at Councilmember Pinto’s public safety hearing — record closes December 18
Ignoring continuous calls for an MPD oversight hearing, Councilmember Brooke Pinto’s public safety hearing was packed by DC residents on Thursday, December 4. On the agenda were five public safety bills, including the Juvenile Curfew Amendment Act of 2025, and the catch-all topic of "public safety” — plus the over 150 witnesses who signed up to testify on the ongoing violence and collaboration between the MPD and the masked gestapo in our streets. Pinto opened the hearing by thanking witnesses for testifying in this "terrifying time,” something she reiterated throughout the hearing despite her spending the majority of testimonies rolling her eyes when MPD’s collaboration with ICE was mentioned, whispering and laughing with her staffers, and declining to ask follow-up questions in favor of instead defending herself and demanding that those present stop clapping in support of testimonies.
Residents called Pinto out for “paving the road to fascism” with her bills such as Peace DC, advocated for public services meant to support and protect DC’s youth instead of criminalize them, and demanded an oversight hearing with MPD and an end to their collaboration with ICE. Meanwhile, the deputy mayor of public safety and a representative from MPD refused to answer direct questions and hedged any answers they did provide — though amidst their word salad and fumbling, they did reaffirm that federal forces such as HSI are staging out of MPD precincts and that MPD is not supposed to be collaborating with HSI and ICE. Community members can submit testimony on any of the bills on the agenda or on general public safety before the record closes on December 18.
Knit and crochet with NoVA Mutual Aid TOMORROW, next distro on December 14
The Northern Virginia Mutual Aid Working Group (NoVA MAWG) is holding two upcoming events for Virginia socialists looking to get involved in DSA and mutual aid. Tomorrow, December 6 at 11am, NoVA MAWG is hosting their next fiber arts meeting, this time at the Bull Run Regional Library, where the first day of Metro DC DSA’s Local Convention will be streamed. People are encouraged to bring their own projects to work on, or to help knit or crochet hats to donate. Then, their next planned monthly distribution is set for December 14, at 11am in Crystal City, and (at least) every second Sunday for the near future. The November distribution was a huge success and the working group was able to hand out the majority of donations that they had previously accepted, but that also means that now is time to double down and rebuild the donation chest. NoVA MAWG has assembled a wish list to help meet specific community needs, and one-time donations will go towards the purchase of bulk wholesale goods. Meanwhile, recurring donations help properly scale (and hopefully increase the frequency of) these distributions. Volunteers are also appreciated; specific needs include people to pick up donations from area food banks, store donations between distributions, transport donations to/from the distribution, and table at the distribution itself (especially Spanish speakers).
Metro DC DSA Street Team monthly meeting — Saturday, December 13 at 3:30pm
Join the Metro DC DSA Street Team at its next monthly meeting on Saturday, December 13 from 3:30 to 5pm at MLK Memorial Library, Room 401-D, to learn how to build power and visibility for the chapter’s working groups at upcoming community events in the DMV. Organizers of all experience levels are welcome to discuss topics such as event coordination, how to talk about socialism, and how to best plug-in prospective members of the chapter. The Street Team's mission is to expand the chapter’s base and build a more democratic society by listening to residents talk about what’s going on in their everyday lives and connecting them to the chapter. RSVP here for this in-person Street Team meeting.
Stomp Out Slumlords to host discussion on tenant organizing and the 2026 elections — Tuesday, December 16
This year, Metro DC DSA members are considering a record number of candidates seeking the chapter's endorsement. With 2026 shaping up to be an important year on the electoral front, the potential for tenant intervention into these elections will be vital for advancing the tenant movement in the DMV. In anticipation for the upcoming year, Stomp Out Slumlords (SOS) — Metro DC DSA’s tenant organizing project — is planning a meeting on Tuesday, December 16 at 6:30pm in DC’s MLK Library to discuss how SOS and endorsed candidates can collaborate to build the tenant movement and fight to protect and expand tenant rights. All socialists, tenants, progressives, and workers are invited to attend — RSVP to the SOS meeting here.
DC Spanish Club for Socialists holding weekly meetup in Adams Morgan — Monday, December 8 at 7pm
Spanish Club for Socialists, a project of multiple area socialist and mutual aid organizations including Metro DC DSA, is a free weekly event where organizers meet up to practice their Spanish. The event is about 90 minutes long and is split into beginner, intermediate, and advanced groups, so learners of all levels should feel welcome. The next session is scheduled for Monday, December 8 from 7 – 8:30pm at Potter's House (1658 Columbia Rd NW). Sign up here for calendar updates and conversation guides.
Write for the Washington Socialist — submission deadline December 19
In the midst of the fascist
Trump regime’s ongoing assault on the DMV, and in the wake of socialist
electoral victories — from Zohran Mamdani in New York City to Frankie
Santos Fritz in Greenbelt — Metro DC DSA members and working-class
people continue to organize for a better world. From supporting striking
Starbucks workers to organizing for an apartheid-free DC, whether
hosting free brake light clinics or distributing abortion access
education materials, in fights against Pepco and struggles against area
slumlords, socialists are doing the work.
Now,
fellow tenants, workers, left-wingers, organizers, and agitators need
to hear about it. Any readers of this newsletter interested in writing or reading about the theory and practice that Metro DC DSA members and allies demonstrate daily: this is your call to contribute to the long, vibrant history of local left media in the DMV by writing for the Washington Socialist.
Experienced scribes, first-time writers, locals with the seeds of an
idea — all are invited to submit for the upcoming winter issue. The
submission deadline is December 19; email submissions, questions, ideas,
etc. to [email protected].
INFO ACCESS
The DMV continues to be under siege by militarism-fueled authoritarians. Want to fight fascism from the heart of the empire? Join DSA and fight to build socialism! We’re the alternative that works for people, not profiteers and their captive politicians. MDC DSA’s chapter spans NoVA, DC, and the big Maryland suburbs — yep, the “heart of empire.” We’ll assess and launch our tasks for 2026 at our Local Convention this weekend. Further info: start with an in-person session of “Why You Should Join DSA/New Member Orientation” on December 10. There’s organizational info on our Metro DC chapter — DMV branches, working groups, campaigns, current activities, and enduring values — right here. Members are encouraged to join our Slack for real-time info on working group and campaign events, strategy/tactic exchange, and inspiration. Email [email protected] with your most recent DSA dues receipt to get access.
How to stay current with MDC DSA: Weekly Updates, like the one you are reading, are sent every Friday — sign up here; current and past Updates are available anytime on our website. The MDC Dispatch is the chapter’s new video news series, published on the first and third Sunday of each month. Submit your Update or Dispatch suggestions (or DMV scandal tips) to our tip line. The Washington Socialist, published since the 1970s, offers in-depth analytical/opinion articles on a quarterly schedule; the Fall 2025 issue is available now and winter issue article submissions are invited. Anyone, MDC DSA member or not, interested in contributing to the Washington Socialist can email submissions or questions to [email protected]. Members, look in on us or join at #publications on Slack.
DMV LEFT COMMUNITY BULLETIN
Karaoke Party Benefit on December 9 | Movement Infrastructure Project
Join Movement Infrastructure Project for Movement Karaoke Night on Tuesday, December 9, at 7:30pm. Practice your favorite tunes and get ready to sing the night away. Tickets are on a sliding scale between $5 – 20 benefiting the Movement Infrastructure Project. More info on Instagram.
S.O.M.E. Benefit at Songbyrd on December 13
This is a fundraising event and concert benefiting So Others Might Eat, a local organization providing material aid and comfort to neighbors to break the cycle of poverty and homelessness. On December 13, catch indie rock performances by local bands Pretty Bitter, Dim Wizard, Home Remedies, and Argo and the Violet Queens. Doors open at 7pm. Get $15 tickets here or pay $20 at the door.
Found Poetry Writing Workshop on December 17 | After The Storm Magazine
A type of poetry created by borrowing and re-arranging words and phrases from existing sources, After The Storm and Bol Coop Bookstore will explore found poetry as a means of intentionally browsing Bol's book collection and co-creating something new together. Participate at Bol’s new Brookland location on December 17 at 6pm. RSVP here.
ESSENTIAL PERSPECTIVES
ESSENTIAL PERSPECTIVES are articles and opinion pieces of
interest to DMV leftists but not, generally, appearing in local media.
They should have links without paywalls. Readers are invited to submit
candidates at our tip line.
AI poses unprecedented threats. Congress must act now “Despite the speed at which it is progressing, AI is getting far too little discussion in Congress, the media and within the general population,” Bernie Sanders warns. “That has got to change.” His committee staff is gearing up a report that will ask, among other questions, “Who should be in charge of the transformation into an AI world? Currently, a handful of the very wealthiest people on Earth — Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Peter Thiel and others – are investing many hundreds of billions of dollars in developing and implementing AI and robotics. Are we comfortable with seeing these enormously powerful men shape the future of humanity without any democratic input or oversight?” The Guardian Opinion
In latest survey: “Almost half of all voters say the cost of living in the U.S. is the worst they can ever remember, per the latest edition of the POLITICO Poll. And it’s a view held by 37 percent of 2024 Trump voters,” per Playbook. Heidi Shierholz of the Economic Policy Institute reminds consumers that it’s a two-way (two-Trump?) street — when your wages are suppressed by a capitalist owner class, the cost of living is going to suck even more… in MS.NOW
The Boomers Are Protesting Trump. Where Is Gen Z? An academic political scientist notes “the ‘No Kings’ movement drew an estimated five million people to the streets in October” — a good survey universe — but that he found a dismayingly minimal level of activism by Gen Z, those 18 to 31, compared to boomers. “No Kings” is not the only mode of protest these days, of course, but… Brendan Nyhan in NYT Opinion
Partyism Without the Party—Zohran Mamdani’s victory was rooted in organizations that took up the base-building and mobilization functions that once fell to parties. The campaign’s “sinew and muscle came not from TikTok or Instagram, but rooted civic organizations like NYC-DSA, DRUM Beats, United Auto Workers Region 9A, and the mosques, synagogues, and churches that opened their doors to the candidate.” These are existing, party-independent community institutions that recent analysts have called a “party surrogate,” writer and DSA member Chris Maisano observes. “Given the daunting odds of successfully establishing any new party, [political scientist Adam] Hilton proposes a network of chapter-based organizations ‘oriented toward building a base within working-class communities and labor unions that can also act as an effective independent pressure group on the Democratic Party.’ This is precisely what Mamdani and other socialist candidates have done.” DISSENT [hat tip to 5 Lefty Links]
This is the weekly newsletter of the Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America (MDC DSA), which is produced by
local members of the chapter's Publications working group. The Weekly Update publishes every Friday at
9am.
Paid for by Metro DC DSA (mdcdsa.org). Not authorized by any candidate or committee.
Thinking about it, but want to get this email Update every Friday? SIGN UP
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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 its chains, shatters them and stops inebriated to
breathe the breeze of a vast and free horizon. - Virgilia D'Andrea
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