Access the web version of this update here.

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UPFRONT

• Reconciliation fight roundup
• Reimagining Public Space Without Police — tomorrow, 1PM in DC
• Chapter endorsement questionnaires received from candidates

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Reconciliation fight continues, reduced scope of bill confirmed

As of Thursday afternoon, Biden had finished another visit with Congressional Dems and declared (from the White House) a $1.75 trillion reconciliation bill. David Dayen, editor of The American Prospect (and a DSA member), laid out the latest what’s in-what’s out count. His analysis is keyed to questions we might ask. Working people lost a round or two in this latest iteration but their kids are not looking bad. Preschool and child tax credits remain (though the child care credits are set to expire); there’s over half a trillion bucks for climate change mitigation, much of it renewables tax incentives. Medicaid is also set to get an expansion, helping folks in states captured by right-wing governments.

There’s still a lot that’s unclear — including tax hikes on corporations and the wealthy, which look like are being paired down. Bernie Sanders reiterated his warning to House Progressives to hold off a vote on the bipartisan infrastructure bill unless the reconciliation bill is included with it.

The House Progressive Caucus signaled its commitment to hold the line — voting on the infrastructure bill only if the Build Back Better Act is voted alongside it. “The CPC just overwhelmingly voted to endorse, in principle, the entire Build Back Better Act framework announced by President Biden today. We appreciate the President’s leadership and his commitment to getting this process over the finish line. … Members of our Caucus will not vote for the infrastructure bill without the Build Back Better Act. We will work immediately to finalize and pass both pieces of legislation through the House together.” Full statement via Twitter. Rep AOC explained why just voting on the bipartisan infrastructure bill is not sufficient. Rep AOC laid out (on environmental grounds) the BBB and infrastructure bill must be passed together.

The fight has been messy and is likely to jade many socialists and progressives. This could have been an opportunity to significantly make life better for the American working class. Rep Omar released an analysis through Twitter detailing the high-cost corporate campaign designed to collapse the bill’s original scope.

Some good news – citing protests from Howard University students, Sen Chris Coons (D-DE) stated that expanded funding for HBCUs is likely to be included in the bill. Additionally, it looks like the Harris Rider — the provision passed in the yearly budget appropriations bill that prevented DC from legalizing marijuana — is unlikely to be included, paving the way for commercial MJ legalization in the District.

Reimagining Public Space Without Police – this Saturday, October 30

As District residents, we are often told that we need more police to make our city feel safe and vibrant. But from the many care spaces we have — from mutual aid networks to community gardens to artist collectives — it’s clear that we know how to be there for each other.

On Saturday, October 30th from 1 to 4pm in Ward 5’s Alethia Tanner Park, join Metro DC DSA’s Defund MPD working group to imagine what public space without police might look like in DC. Using art and storybuilding practices, we’ll be convening attendees to share and build a collective vision for moving beyond police.

Following canvasses the Defund MPD coalition has been engaging, this event is planning to fold in neighbors and community members surrounding Alethia Tanner Park. See more here!

Questionnaires received for local chapter endorsement - Nov 1 deadline

As part of the chapter's electoral candidate endorsement process, our Political Engagement Committee (PEC) is required to share completed endorsement questionnaires that candidates have submitted. Those completed questionnaires, along with additional information about our chapter's endorsement process, are below.

The PEC has received the following electoral endorsement questionnaires for the 2022 primary cycle:

• Saqib Ali, who is running for Maryland House of Delegates in District 15 (North Potomac, Poolesville, Clarksburg)
• Oye Owolewa, who is running for re-election as the Shadow US Representative for the District of Columbia
• Carleah Summers, who is running for Congress in Maryland’s Sixth Congressional district.
• Max Socol, who is running for Maryland State Senate in District 18 (Silver Spring, Wheaton, Kensington, Chevy Chase)
• Adam Cunningham, who is running for Maryland State Senate in District 39 (Germantown, Montgomery Village)

Chapter members are encouraged to contact other members who may be interested in co-sponsoring an endorsement resolution in support of these candidates. At least five chapter members are required to co-sponsor an endorsement resolution before that resolution can move forward in our endorsement process. Please coordinate with chapter members to organize for support of a candidate endorsement in the #electoral channel on Slack.

The deadline for candidates to submit questionnaires is November 1, 2021. Please share this deadline with any candidates you know are interested in a Metro DC DSA endorsement in the 2022 primary cycle. This deadline will give chapter members sufficient time to review questionnaires and submit endorsement resolutions before our November General Body Meeting on November 14. Per our chapter's bylaws, five chapter members must submit a resolution in support of the candidate to be considered for an endorsement by the full body. After a first read at the November GBM, the membership will hear from candidates during the 2021 local convention in December and vote on endorsements via OpaVote.

The endorsement questionnaire is available here (PDF here). To submit an endorsement questionnaire, please email [email protected]. An overview of our Metro DC DSA endorsement process has been added to the endorsements page of the chapter’s website, where you can also find a more detailed endorsement handbook.

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WASHINGTON SOCIALIST

Washington Socialist is our monthly digital publication that aims to inform readers about perennial and evolving aspects of democratic socialism. Each issue includes essays, briefs, and articles covering topics oriented to specific local campaigns and broader socialist analysis. In this issue...

The carceral state stretches from the privatized US prison-industrial complex, living example of settler colonialism, to the parallel near-extrajudicial oppression of Palestineans by the state of Israel — again, settler colonialism. The capitalist roots of, and socialist remedies for, some of our many unacknowledged crimes. “All Prisoners Are Political” by Alex M.

The residual racism embedded in many place names around the country could well include the name Arlington. The whys and wherefores of steady expungement of those memories and how close to home it could get, so “While We’re Changing Names – Should ‘Arlington’ Go Next?” by Bill M.

Terry McAuliffe, former governor come back to give it another go in Virginia, is acknowledged by socialists as no prize. But Glenn Youngkin? And the race appears close. Some of our Virginia comrades gave their thoughts on how to deal with this question, strategically and emotionally, as Election Day looms next Tuesday.

The internal combustion engine is a big contributor to the carbon crisis. An inventive new book uses a technology lens to show how the automobile took over US — and world — culture in a surprisingly multifaceted way with capitalism guiding events at every turn, even toward the future. Reviewed by Woody W.

“October Evergreens” — quite a few of our GOOD READS from October’s issues have lasting value (once you filter out the ephemeral articles about That Bill In Congress). Enjoy the keepers in our roundup.

AND — DSA candidates are running for office around the country. We’ll be keeping track of the wins and losses using this utility on Washington Socialist.

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BRIEFS

Prince William County Mutual Aid distribution event — TOMORROW at 9am

From NoVA branch: We have an amazing opportunity for mutual aid via the Defund working group. Prince William Mutual Aid is hosting a distribution event this Saturday, October 30 from 9am to 4pm — signup form is here.

Virginians — have you voted? Election Day NEXT TUESDAY — November 2

Elections are taking place next week in Virginia. Though Metro DC DSA has not endorsed any candidates this cycle, there are many important elections at both the top and bottom of the ticket that all registered VA voters should take serously! For VA voters, here are some additional resources to help you get to the polls (and make an informed decision about who you are voting for):

• you can check out I Will Vote to find your polling place or sign-up for updates
• The Virginia Department of Elections to find more info on Absentee voting or to check registration status
• The Virginia Public Access Project is a great resource to help find info on candidates, elections, and follow the money that’s moving through the election
• New Virginia Majority for grassroots engagement and support (though not a socialist or strictly left-wing outfit, some might find the resource useful for keeping up-to-date on local issues in VA)

This month in Washington Socialist, we published an article that asks some local socialists how they’re voting in the Virginia governor elections. You can read that here.

Additionally, there are a bunch of high profile DSA races happening across the country. We’re going to track how those races go using a utility deployed on Washington Socialist. You can check on that on election day to follow outcomes of those races.

Invitation: Facilitation Training from the Political Education Workgroup — Thursday, November 4 at 8pm

The Political Education Workgroup invites you to the second virtual Facilitation Training on Thursday, November 4th from 8 to 9:30pm!

This training is for members interested in improving their skills as a meeting facilitator. The training will familiarize attendees with the skills to facilitate a successful discussion, including the principles of good facilitation, the purpose of having a facilitator, preparation needed to facilitate a good meeting, techniques for facilitating an online training and more.

This training is oriented toward political education and is designed as a resource for fall 2021 and future reading groups — but the techniques covered in the training will apply across organizing work. It will cover the same material as the previous session on October 6th. Sign up here and see you there!

Socialist Night School is back - Monday, November 8 at 5:30pm

For our first session of the new semester of Socialist Night School, we’ll tackle the question of socialism. The session will define capitalism and socialism, cover what DSA does to help get us to a socialist future, and how you get involved (or more involved) in DSA.

While everyone is welcome, this session is designed for newer members and those who are relatively new to socialism. The session will be led by Socialist Night School co-organizer David Kaib. Find meeting information and register in advance here!

MDC DSA annual convention set Dec 11 - 12 as Steering Committee passes enabling resolution

MDC DSA’s annual convention deliberates sense-of-the-chapter resolutions and amends existing bylaws from proposals submitted by members or groups of members, and the 2021 convention (Dec. 11 – 12) also is the occasion for the election of the 2022 Steering Committee. A four-member commission will oversee and manage the convention, headed by Steering member Kareem E. The Steering election will be concurrently managed by a separately constituted internal election administrative department in AdCom.

The enabling resolution can be viewed here.

Food | Justice Working Group Breaks Ground on the "Rose Garden"

Last weekend, members of Metro DSA’s Food | Justice Working Group broke ground on a future community space at Upshur Community Garden. The “Rose Garden,” as it’s been lovingly dubbed, will be a space for Working Group members (and guests!) to learn more about growing, respecting the land and environment and holding space for community. At their first working day, the group cleared a space previously inhabited with stubborn crab grass and planted soil-enriching cover crops in its place. In the spring, the Rose Garden will provide fresh produce to Ward 4 Mutual Aid.

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INFO ACCESS

November Updates are scheduled for Friday the 5th, 12th, 19th and (tentatively) 26th, and the December (and MDC DSA Convention) Washington Socialist issue is scheduled for Friday, December 3. Article submission deadline for the December newsletter is November 27th; hit us up at [email protected].

What belongs in the Washington Socialist? Your possible surprise should be followed by your determination to add to the mix. We are not the official voice of MDC DSA. Find out via our Topic Hub.

MDC DSA’s acclaimed Socialist Night School begins a new semester Monday, November 8 | 5:30 – 7:30pm | MDC DSA Socialist Night School — What Is Socialism?

For our first session, we’ll tackle the question of socialism. While everyone is welcome, this session is designed for newer members and those who are relatively new to socialism. The session will be led by Socialist Night School co-organizer David K.

During the years, as MDC DSA’s Socialist Night School has enriched the local chapter’s understanding of where we are coming from and what we do every day as socialists, a deep archive on a wide variety of issues has developed — and is handily indexed on our website with some critical episodes transcribed. Dive in, and share it with not-yet-comrades who are curious about DSA.

Missing out on good socialist chatter because it’s on Slack and you are not? Paid-up DSA members can email [email protected], headed “Slack access request,” and use the email address by which national DSA knows you.

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