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the logo of The Thorn West: News from Los Angeles DSA

Governor Issues Executive Order Demanding Sweeps + Video Game Performers on Strike

Thorn West: Issue No. 210

State Politics

  • Following President Joe Biden’s decision not to seek a second term, Vice President Kamala Harris has secured enough verbal commitments from delegates to have essentially locked herself in as his replacement.The California Democratic Party played a crucial role on behalf of the former California Senator.

Housing Justice

  • Governor Gavin Newsom issued a \executive order demanding that state agencies immediately begin clearing encampments on state property. The order does not appear to directly impact policy within Los Angeles or other cities. Mayor Karen Bass was among those who criticized it. The order cites the recent 6–3 Supreme Court decision that stripped legal protections from people experiencing homelessness, which Newsom submitted a brief in support of.

Labor

  • The California State Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of Prop 22, siding with Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash, and allowing them to continue to classify their workers as independent contractors.
  • This week, Metro voted to expand a public restroom pilot program that is currently operated by a contractor that relies on gig-workers. Following the advocacy of DSA-LA and others, the motion was amended to include a feasibility study on bringing the program in-house and staffing it with Metro employees.
  • Los Angeles vendors have declared victory after a settlement in their lawsuit against the city over a municipal policy of “no-vending zones,” which were out of compliance with a 2018 state law. The settlement eliminates the last of these zones, after a City Council motion eliminated most of them earlier in the year. It also provides restitution for fines issued against vendors for operating in these zones.
  • Members of a coalition of unions representing workers at Disney’s Southern California theme parks voted to authorize a strike, with 99% of members in favor. Later in the week, the union reached a tentative agreement with Disney.
  • Effective today, video game performers and voiceover artists represented by SAG-AFTRA are on strike. At stake are worker protections against AI. Statement from SAG-AFTRA here. Petition of support here.

Local Media

  • California will consider AB-886, the California Journalism Preservation Act, which would require tech platforms – which siphon money away from media outlets when they link to news items – to pay a fee to support local journalism. The LA Times reports on similar efforts in other countries.

The post Governor Issues Executive Order Demanding Sweeps + Video Game Performers on Strike appeared first on The Thorn West.

the logo of Quad Cities DSA
the logo of Quad Cities DSA
the logo of Quad Cities DSA

the logo of Washington Socialist - Metro DC DSA
the logo of Washington Socialist - Metro DC DSA

the logo of Metro DC DSA
the logo of Metro DC DSA

Stomp Out Slumlords

Stomp Out Slumlords

Stomp Out Slumlords is a working group of Metro DC DSA that fights evictions and supports tenant organizing throughout the Washington metro area. We organize across the District of Columbia and in neighboring counties of Maryland and Virginia. Over our seven-year existence we have organized rent strikes and actions in dozens of buildings and won improved conditions, back rent, collectively bargained agreements, rent abatements, rent freezes, and in one case, tenant ownership of a 34-unit building. SOS is also a member of the Autonomous Tenants Union Network (ATUN).

To connect with SOS in Northern Virginia:

The post Stomp Out Slumlords appeared first on Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America.

the logo of Metro DC DSA
the logo of Metro DC DSA

Labor Campaign

Labor Campaign

The Labor Working Group organizes with workers across the District to fight bad bosses, build new unions, and turn out for solidarity actions. Are you upset with changes management is making at your job? Do you think you have had wages or paid sick leave stolen from you? Maybe you’ve spoken about organizing a union with your co-workers, and those conversations went great, but you don’t know what to do next. If any of that applies to you, the LWG strongly encourages you to email us at labor@mdcdsa.org. An LWG organizer will promptly respond. All communications are confidential. Membership in the LWG is open to everyone, especially workers who are members of unions or worker organizations, or who want to organize their workplace.

The post Labor Campaign appeared first on Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America.

the logo of Metro DC DSA
the logo of Metro DC DSA
the logo of Metro DC DSA

Abolition Campaign

Abolition Campaign

MDC DSA’s Abolition Working Group is organizing in coalition with Black-led and racial justice organizations to move toward prison abolition in DC, Montgomery County, and Northern Virginia. Short-term tasks include defunding the police departments to fund social services such as free public transit and social housing, redistributing funds to restore underfunded agencies such as public libraries and parks and recreation, replacing police in schools with supportive non-police staff, and freeing our neighbors from occupation and incarceration as a path towards abolition — a world without cops and prisons. As part of our vision for racial and economic justice, we demand that the funding removed from police and prisons be reinvested in real public safety: housing, schools, jobs, healthcare, and mental health services, community-based support programs, violence interruption, and other public goods and services.

To get involved, fill out this form!

To get involved in Montgomery County, fill out this form!

To get involved in NoVA, fill out this form.

The post Abolition Campaign appeared first on Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America.