Dear Friend --



<[link removed]>My name is Jovanka Beckles, and I’m an elected democratic socialist in the East Bay. I’m also a member of East Bay DSA, and the chapter has endorsed me in my last two runs for office. I’m reaching out to my East Bay DSA siblings to talk about one of the most important local elections going on in the entire country right now: the Richmond city elections.



Although we live in the richest country in the history of the world, like so many American cities, Richmond’s streets do not reflect that wealth. The city is full of potholes, unhoused people go hungry on the streets, and massive corporations profit off of oil, coal, and gas - including Chevron, right here in Richmond. Meanwhile, California’s forests are burning, and our cities are choked with smoke.



But there’s a different way. A better way. We can win by creating a world built on humanity, growth, and solidarity. We can take on Chevron, the real estate lobby, and the police unions, but only if ordinary working-class people struggle together. Two of my democratic socialist colleagues in the Richmond Progressive Alliance (RPA) are doing just that, by running for City Council and Mayor. Help put class-struggle candidates in office - give monthly dues to East Bay DSA >> <[link removed]>



(This is not the same as paying dues to national DSA, which many of you already do. East Bay DSA only receives a portion of national dues, but if you give monthly dues to the chapter, 100% of them will come straight to East Bay DSA!)



Who are these candidates? Eduardo Martinez, a retired teacher and the current Vice Mayor, is running for Mayor. Jamin Pursell, a small business owner and artist, is running for City Council. Both are endorsed by East Bay DSA. And they’ve got a fighting chance thanks to the power we’ve built in Richmond.



From 2010 to 2018, I spent two terms as an RPA-backed City Councilmember. During that time, we used our working-class power to make Chevron pay their fair share of taxes, created the first rent control policy in 30 years, advocated for and implemented a $15 minimum wage, and won a ban on coal storage in Richmond. In the last two years, the RPA City Council majority has invested in reimagining public safety, thoughtfully and practically redistributing police funding and funneling it to support services and non-law enforcement crisis response teams.



Now, ALL of these gains are under attack. Chevron, the real estate lobby, and the police unions are already backing candidates to beat the RPA Slate. In 2014, these same forces spent $3 million to try and beat me and the RPA, but we defeated them, because working-class people knocked on doors and donated to our campaigns. To beat them this November, East Bay DSA needs to get organized and turn out our members in force to get voters to the polls. Make this work possible - start your monthly dues today >> <[link removed]>



As a member of both RPA and East Bay DSA, I know firsthand how important membership-based organizations are for building people power. Being funded by rank-and-file members allows our organizations to fight for real transformative change, because we're not beholden to huge millionaire and billionaire donors. If we want to win the struggle for rent control, ecosocialism, and reimagining public safety, not just in Richmond but across the East Bay, we’re going to need a fighting democratic socialist organization. That’s why I’m asking you: become a monthly donor <[link removed]> to East Bay DSA >> <[link removed]>



Some of us have been doin this for a long time. For others, the fight is just beginning. We need everyone. Thanks for everything you do.



Solidarity,







Jovanka Beckles

AC Transit Board Ward 1

East Bay DSA







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East Bay DSA - United States

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