Silicon Valley DSA Newsletter[[PERMALINK_FULL_LINK]]Silicon Valley DSA. Branches: Lower Peninsula, San Jose [[link removed]]Hi John!

We’re less than two weeks from the election, but as you know, democratic socialism does not begin or end with the presidency. Regardless of the results next week, we are collectively empowered to create change that produces a more just and fair world for all. Our individual voices are being heard at the highest levels because there is strength in numbers, and always more work to be done.

Whether you are volunteering for one of our local candidates' campaigns or lending your skills to one of our working groups or attending a session to learn a bit more about what democratic socialism even is, your work matters. We’re proud to stand with you at protests, in virtual meetings, and even our Halloween costume contest (see below).

In Solidarity,
Your SV DSA Newsletter Team 🌹

Silicon Valley DSA is your local volunteer-run chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America [[link removed]].

UPDATES
REDWOOD CITY BUDGET MEETING
The City of Redwood City City Council is meeting tonight to discuss revisions to the 2020-2021 city budget. Due to COVID-19 related expected losses in revenue, the City is making cuts across the city, including to the police department’s budget. Join us as we advocate for defunding the police [[link removed]] in Redwood City. Recently one of our members chronicled our work in RWC so far. Read about it on our blog [[link removed]].

MOUNTAIN VIEW: PROTECT RENT CONTROL
Silicon Valley DSA is once again organizing to protect rent control from Mountain View City Council. Councilmember McAlister wants to pack the Rental Housing Committee with appointees during the lame duck session instead of leaving appointments to the next Council. The Rental Housing Committee has the power to suspend rent control if the vacancy rate rises above 5%. It is now at 7%. Rent control itself is at stake!

Check out our fact sheet at [[link removed]]sv-dsa.org/rhc [[link removed]] for how to give comment at Council on Tuesday night and how to contact them by email. Tell City Council: hands off rent control!

Contact: #caucus-mountain-view on Slack [[link removed]]. We always have a lively Slack discussion during City Council meetings!

HALLOWEEN COSTUME CONTEST
Spooky or silly, we want to see your Halloween costumes at our costume contest! This Friday, 10/30 from 7-9pm [[link removed]], come see what the rest of SV DSA is dressing up as at our new weekly virtual social hour. There will be prizes, including for scariest, cutest, best group, most socialist, and best costume from stuff I had laying around the house!

VOTER GUIDE UPDATE
Due to the decisions made in a member-wide vote on 10/22, SV DSA has officially revised our voting recommendation [[link removed]] on Prop 25, and no longer makes a recommendation (changed from recommending a yes vote). Our voter guide includes our previous stance and the argument against our previous recommendation.

CRISIS PREGNANCY CENTERS EXPOSED
Crisis Pregnancy Centers are organizations that pretend to be abortion clinics in order to scare and shame people into not getting abortions. Many people walk into CPCs not realizing what they are, and end up being given misinformation about their pregnancy and choices. Join us as we work on our educational CPC video and begin drafting our next script on 10/27 from 7-9pm [[link removed]].

SUPPORT OUR CANDIDATES
It’s the final days of the campaign trail. All of our endorsed candidates need help dropping literature and making calls. Sign up to help get these democratic socialists elected to office today:



* Basil Saleh [[link removed]] for CUHSD School Board
* Jake Tonkel [[link removed]] for San Jose City Council
* Tiffany Vuong [[link removed]] for Milpitas City Council
* Alex Lee for State Assembly
* John Lashlee [[link removed]] for Mountain View City Council
* Lissette Espinoza-Garnica [[link removed]] for Redwood City Council

PROTEST 101
Going to your first protest doesn’t need to be intimidating — we’ll help you prepare. Join us for a Protest 101 workshop on either 11/1 [[link removed]] or 11/5 [[link removed]] from 6-7pm where we will walk through how to engage in direct action safely and intentionally. Topics will include safe practices for direct action during COVID-19, preparing to navigate escalation by the police, understanding your role in a demonstration, and more.

MEDICARE FOR ALL WEBINAR
The healthcare working group is preparing a webinar on Medicare for All, and we’d love your help.



Contact: [email protected] [[email protected]] or #wg-healthcare on Slack [[link removed]]

VIDEO EDITORS WANTED
The SocFem working group is looking for video editing volunteers! If you have the time and skills to help, reach out on #wg-soc-feminist this week for more info.



Contact: [email protected] [[email protected]] or #wg-healthcare on Slack [[link removed]]

DEFUND THE POLICE
Join our justice working group for a bookclub meeting [[link removed]] on 11/9 at 7 to 8:30pm. No reading necessary this time! We’re focusing on a podcast that makes the case to defund the police.



Can’t make bookclub? Our next monthly working group meeting [[link removed]] will be 11/12 at 6-8pm. We hope to see you there!



We’re also working closely with the National Don’t Call the Police [[link removed]] campaign on local alternatives.



Contact: [email protected] [[email protected]] or #wg-healthcare on Slack [[link removed]]



UPCOMING EVENTS
* Hatching chick 🐣 means newbie-friendly!
* General meetings are marked with a 🌹 rose.
* WG stands for Working Group.
* For more events, check out our calendar [[link removed]].

Time & PlaceEventMon 10/26
7-8pMountain View Caucus [[link removed]]Tues 10/27
7-9pExpose Fake Clinics [[link removed]]Wed 10/28
7:30-9pDefund The Police - MP, EPA, PA [[link removed]]Thurs 10/29
6-8pTech Cmte [[link removed]]Fri 10/30
6-6:45pComms Cmte [[link removed]]Fri 10/30
7-9p🐣Halloween Spooktraveganza [[link removed]]Sat 10/31
10a-12pComms Work Session [[link removed]]Sat 10/31
4:30-5:30pMutual Aid Fundraiser: Learn to Compose Music! [[link removed]]Sun 11/1
10a-12pComms Work Session [[link removed]]Sun 11/1
11-12:30pMutual Aid WG [[link removed]]Sun 11/1
2-4p🌹🐣Chapter Work Session [[link removed]]Sun 11/1
6-7p🐣Protest 101 [[link removed]]Mon 11/2
6-7:30pMembership Development Cmte [[link removed]]Mon 11/2
7-9pHousing WG [[link removed]]Wed 11/4
7-8:30pLeadership Meeting [[link removed]]Wed 11/4
7:30-9pDefund The Police - MP, EPA, PA [[link removed]]Thurs 11/5
6-8pTech Cmte [[link removed]]Thurs 11/5
6-7p🐣Protest 101 [[link removed]]Fri 11/6
7-8p🐣Friday Social Hour [[link removed]][[link removed]]

DSA is a membership organization. As a member, you can vote at our local meetings and run for leadership roles. We are funded by voluntary dues, but no donation is required to join.

Let's build socialism together!

Join DSA!

(or renew your membership)

Twitter [[link removed]] [[link removed]]Facebook [[link removed]] [[link removed]]Instagram [[link removed]] [[link removed]]Meetup [[link removed]] [[link removed]]sv-dsa.org [[link removed]]You are receiving this email because you signed up to hear from Silicon Valley DSA. You may have joined national DSA or signed up at a local meeting or outreach table. To make sure you can receive future newsletters, please add us ([email protected] [[email protected]]) to your address book.

This e-mail was sent to [email protected]. Click here to unsubscribe. [link removed]

Copyright © 2020 Silicon Valley DSA.
1346 The Alameda Ste 7-84. San Jose 95126-2699.