Twin Cities
Democratic Socialists of America
Little Red Letter #126
TDOV Karaoke Smashes Fundraising Goal, Uber and Lyft Drivers Deserve a Living Wage, 2024 Endorsement Process Update and More!
TDOV Karaoke Smashes Fundraising Goal
This past Sunday was Trans Day of Visibility (TDOV), and Twin Cities DSA commemorated the day with a fundraiser for TIGERRS, Transgender, Intersex, Gender Expansive Revolutionary Resources & Services, a nonhierarchical collective dedicated to delivering programs and resources that build solidarity and safety among transgender, intersex and gender-expansive Minnesotans. We blew past our initial goal almost before karaoke had begun, and by the end of the week we’d raised $2,300 for TIGERRS, double our original goal. These funds will support their work over the next year, including;
- Facilitating two youth programs, Little TIGERRS and Teen TIGERRS.
- Planning intergenerational, inclusive, and accessible community events.
- Developing intersex care training for healthcare professionals.
- Facilitating an adult social support group for intersex adults.
- Maintaining a comprehensive list of trans-friendly community resources in Minnesota.
Thank you to everyone who joined us at Black Hart of Saint Paul for a fun-filled night of karaoke and community, everyone who contributed to our fundraising effort, and everyone who has helped breathe life into our newly formed Bodily Autonomy working group, formed to fight for reproductive rights and trans liberation. Join them on the #bodily-autonomy slack channel if you’re interested in getting involved!
Uber and Lyft Drivers Deserve a Living Wage
On Thursday, March 14 the city council overruled Mayor Frey’s veto and insisted that transportation network companies (TNCs) pay their drivers a fair wage. In response, Lyft and Uber are eliminating rides to and from Minneapolis starting May 1, when the ordinance will go into effect. The city needs to break this despicable TNC capital strike so corporations get the message: we won’t allow workers to be undercompensated.
In response to this capital strike and Uber and Lyft choosing to shutter operations in Minneapolis rather than pay workers the minimum wage, a driver co-op called The Drivers Cooperative is moving into the metro area. From Eid Ali, President of the Minnesota Uber/Lyft Drivers Association (MULDA)
“It’s the beginning of a new era of justice in the rideshare industry. Minnesota drivers are excited to start a cooperative that delivers high quality, affordable services while empowering, instead of exploiting drivers. Minneapolis riders have stood shoulder to shoulder with drivers through every step of this fight. Now, drivers and riders can work together to support the fair companies who are coming to replace Uber and Lyft- including a worker-owned co-op where drivers have democratic control,”
Drivers and riders can download the Co-op Ride and Co-op Drive app and recruit other riders and drivers to help build the co-op in Minnesota. This will allow a critical mass of riders and drivers to be signed up when the app goes live. Twin Cities DSA will be developing a communications campaign in support of the Minneapolis Uber/Lyft Drivers Association to demonstrate support for workers struggling for a fair wage. A solidarity council is also being set up in support of The Drivers Cooperative once it forms. If you’re interested in helping with solidarity work, please join us in the chapter slack channel! If you’re interested in learning more about how the council members supporting the drivers are responding, see Council Member Robin Wonsley’s March 22nd newsletter.
2024 Endorsement Process Update
With April comes the next stage of the Twin Cities DSA 2024 endorsement process, and four candidates running for state representative have asked we consider their endorsement this year.
- Toya López – Running for Election in House District 61A
- Anquam Mahamoud – Running for Election in House District 62B
- Samantha Sencer-Mura – Running for Re-election in House District 63A
- Athena Hollins – Running for Re-election in House District 66B
Candidates have all been invited to schedule a meeting with the Steering Committee to talk about how we would work together if they are endorsed this year, as well as a member Q&A facilitated by a member of the Electoral Committee. The chapter will be considering endorsements at the April 27th General Meeting, including candidates introductions and member debate. We are a big tent organization, and our members approach electoral work from numerous different lenses. Whatever your perspective on endorsements, register for the meeting! This is a chapter-wide decision, and deserves chapter-wide debate.
23,000 UMN Workers Collective Bargaining Rights Hinge On PELRA Reform
The Public Employer Labor Relations Act mandates bizarre bargaining units that serve to divide workers preventing them from organizing into unions. Michael W writes about new legislation could change that and open up unionization at campuses across the state the Minnesota.
Challenges for TCDSA and Endorsees
Since joining TCDSA, Josh K has been involved in many of the Electoral efforts the chapter has engaged in. He shares some observations on the challenges and tensions that exist for a radically democratic, all-volunteer organization in engaging with this type of organizing.
- Open Office Coffee Hours – 1600 University Ave W
- Sunday, 4/7, 10:00a – 2:00p – RSVP Here
Join us for Open Office Coffee Hours! The office will be open to members and the public to drop in and hang out. Come on by to chat with comrades, use our office supplies and printer, or check out a book from our library. Coffee, tea, and treats will be provided. The chapter office is located in Suite 3 on the first floor.
- Sunday, 4/7, 10:00a – 2:00p – RSVP Here
- April General Meeting – UMN Keller Hall 3-230
- Saturday, 4/27
- Doors Open at 1:30, Call to Order at 2p
- Details and Registration links at tcdsa.org/generalmeeting
Please join us for the April 2024 General Membership meeting! Following discussion at the meeting in February, we will be considering an amendment to lower our quorum requirement, the number of members we need present to make decisions for the chapter. This is a critical decision for the future of our chapter and we need all members who can to attend!
We will also be talking endorsement decisions in this meeting for the 2024 elections. Candidates will be invited to speak to the membership, and for the first time since we implemented a formal endorsement process, the debate and discussion about endorsements will be done at a standard general meeting.
- TCDSA Spanish Practice Group – Gauging Interest
- We’re considering getting a TCDSA Spanish practice group going! If you’re interested, please share your availability and thoughts by filling out this survey by April 17.
- Twin Cities DSA Budget, Finance, and Fundraising
- As many of you have heard about, we have an office! As you may also have heard about, DSA is in a budget crunch. Both of these factors make it all the more important that our chapter is on top of our finances, proactive with our fundraising, and prepared for transition, as our chapter treasurer is in their last term in office. If you want help ensure our chapter’s financial stability as we continue our development, if you want to learn about and help manage our budget, if you want to help take our fundraising to the next level, consider joining the B.F.F. Committee. Reach out to Tim H on slack directly or email tcdsatreasurer@gmail.com.
- 2024 TCDSA Softball Update!
- Hi everyone! We’re stoked to formally announce that our softball team, General Strike Three, will officially be playing this spring and summer. We’ll be playing in an Open league with no gender requirements on Monday nights. Games will start at the end of April and run through July, and we’ll plan social events around the games when it makes sense.
While we already have a strong lineup, we always welcome more players. If you’re interested in participating, feel free to fill out this interest form. Be sure to join the #socialists-play-sports-softball channel on Slack for more details about the season and for details about our first practice this week.
- Hi everyone! We’re stoked to formally announce that our softball team, General Strike Three, will officially be playing this spring and summer. We’ll be playing in an Open league with no gender requirements on Monday nights. Games will start at the end of April and run through July, and we’ll plan social events around the games when it makes sense.
- Ezra Ishman Solidarity Fund – Member Resource
- Twin Cities DSA recognizes that living under capitalism sucks. Sometimes we all need help, and sometimes we can help others. The fund is a mutual aid tool that provides up to $200 for members or on behalf of friends or family. Please ask for help if you need it, and when you don’t, please donate what you can. The Solidarity Fund Working Group administers the fund, and we’re always looking for members who want to get involved. You can reach out to the fund administrators or find the application in the #solidarityfund slack channel.
- Steering Committee Meeting – Sunday, 4/7, 2:30p – 4:00p
- Steering Committee Meetings are held at our Spruce Tree office (1600 University Ave St Paul) and hybrid on Zoom. Check #steeringcommittee for the zoom link and agenda. If you are a member and need access to slack, sign up at tcdsa.org/slack
Log on early for a “Leadership Operations Skill-Share” where a leader in TCDSA does a skill-share about skill that is important for chapter operations. These skill-shares will be from 2:10-2:30pm before the SC meeting begins
- Steering Committee Meetings are held at our Spruce Tree office (1600 University Ave St Paul) and hybrid on Zoom. Check #steeringcommittee for the zoom link and agenda. If you are a member and need access to slack, sign up at tcdsa.org/slack
- Tech Ops Committee – Monday, 4/8, 7:00p – 8:00p – Zoom Registration
- The Tech Ops Committee meets on the 2nd Monday of the month.
To see the latest agenda: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1zfAdnONBZmlCrWIG2-07kLdxRAnHZjfO
- The Tech Ops Committee meets on the 2nd Monday of the month.
- Environmental Justice Group (f/k/a East Phillips Urban Farm Group) – Monday, 4/8, 7:00p – 8:30p – Zoom Registration
- The Environmental Justice group meets every other week on Monday at 7p. Right now we are focusing most on shutting down the HERC, supporting Camp Nenookaasi Ikwe in East Phillips, and are also helping with the Reimagining of I-94 and shutting down major polluters in East Phillips such as Smith Foundry. Join us to discuss how best to support the residents and realize this environmental and economic justice vision.
This group’s meetings are on Zoom, and occasionally in person.
- The Environmental Justice group meets every other week on Monday at 7p. Right now we are focusing most on shutting down the HERC, supporting Camp Nenookaasi Ikwe in East Phillips, and are also helping with the Reimagining of I-94 and shutting down major polluters in East Phillips such as Smith Foundry. Join us to discuss how best to support the residents and realize this environmental and economic justice vision.
- Political Education Committee – Tuesday, 4/9, 6:30p – 8:00p – Zoom Registration
- All members are welcome to join the Political Education Committee or to attend any of our meetings to discuss the continuation of programming like TCDSA 101, debate nights, and Solidarity School, and lifting up Poli Ed for new, curious, and established TCDSA members. This group meets on the 2nd Tuesday of the month. For more information, check out the #politicaleducation Slack channel. Not on Slack? Submit tcdsa.org/slack to verify you’re on the member list.
- Internal Organizing Committee – Wednesday, 4/10, 6:30p – 8:00p – Zoom Link
- All are welcome to join our monthly meetings of the TCDSA Internal Organizing Committee (IOC).
This committee works to create the spaces, structures, and resources to initiate and sustain members’ active and healthy participation in chapter work. Through internal organizing, we strive to grow our capacity by developing confident and skilled organizers and leaders who are empowered to turn their resources into collective power to make socialist change. Join the #internal-organizing channel on Slack for more info.
- All are welcome to join our monthly meetings of the TCDSA Internal Organizing Committee (IOC).
- Pickup Basketball
- Saturday, 4/13, 1:30p – 3:30p
We’ve found a place to play basketball indoors during the winter! Super informal, please come out if you’re interested in playing and meeting other comrades. All skill levels welcome, we’re a very casual group!
For location details and to spot check that we’re on for the session each week, as some weeks we might have overlapping events that would motivate us to cancel, check out the #socialists-play-sports-basketball channel on Slack.
- Saturday, 4/13, 1:30p – 3:30p
- Nonviolent Communication Training – Sunday, 4/13, 12:30p – 4:30p – RSVP Here
- An introduction to the fundamentals on Nonviolent Communication . We are trained, when someone does something we don’t like, to judge them as wrong and to separate from them. It takes understanding, determination and practice to break free of this training. Nonviolent Communication is a way to retrain ourselves to respond in a new way.
- I-94 Working Group – Sunday, 4/13, 2:00p – 3:30p – Zoom Registration – In-Person RSVP
- I-94 working group meeting, held in the Spruce Tree Center conference room on the first floor.
Go to tcdsa.org/events to see everything!
Moms for Liberty get a slot on 60 Minutes and acquit themselves … poorly
Moms for Liberty, founded in 2021, often alleges that educators, specifically in public education, are out to “groom” and “indoctrinate” kids. But what, exactly, does that mean? It doesn’t appear as though they know either. From Mother Jones. From: Deb K R
New coalition to oppose AIPAC and defend “the Squad” and others
The Democratic Socialists of America, along with the Working Families Party, Justice Democrats, Jewish Voice for Peace, and more are part of this new coalition called Reject AIPAC. From: Deb K R
Claims of mass rape unravel – quelle surprise!
A position paper by Physicians for Human Rights Israel and a New York Times investigation, a few months after the Oct. 7 incursion, convinced many observers that Hamas used rape as a weapon of war. But an investigation by YES! magazine checking the reports against other media investigations and hundreds of news articles, interviews with Israeli sources, and more, reveals a shocking conclusion: There is no evidence mass rape occurred. From: Deb K R
Schumer’s speech highlights the widening gulf between Israeli and diaspora Jews
Portside news aggregator shared this Harold Meyerson piece from The American Prospect analyzing the growing divergence of Jews in Israel from their ancestral democratic socialist roots, among other interesting points. From: Deb K R
Affordable child care? No, it should be free
From The Atlantic via Portside, child-care policy expert Eliot Haspel lays out the case: “There is no meaningful debate over “affordable” public schools, “affordable” libraries, “affordable” parks, “affordable” streets, or “affordable” fire departments; most people seem to take for granted the fact that they are free.” From: Deb K R
After abortion, contraception is the next step in the right’s attack on reproductive health rights
Local attorney Marshall H. Tannick, writing in the MN Reformer, discusses the current war on reproductive rights and what to expect next. From: Deb K R
Niger has declared US military presence in its territory illegal
The lack of response well over three days after its military presence was declared illegal (on March 16) betrays a state of surprise over this action of Niger’s transitional military government, the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland. In December, Niger’s former colonizer France was forced to withdraw all its troops from the country. From: Deb K R
Airman Larry Hebert on hunger strike as long as Gaza is being starved
Larry Hebert began his hunger strike at the White House on Easter Sunday. He says he will be present at the White House from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, April 1-6, and will then move to the House of Representatives, beginning Monday, April 8, when Congress is back in session. His action was inspired by the self-immolation of Aaron Bushnell. From: Deb K R
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