ORGANIZING NOTES
October 3, 2023
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Join Community and Labor struggles that make a difference
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Contempt for party activists on display at MassDems convention…
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Reformers Vow To Continue Fight For A More
Democratic, Grassroots-Oriented Party
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Thousands of Massachusetts Democratic Party delegates gathered on Sept. 23 in Lowell for what was labeled an “Action Agenda” convention. Sadly, there was practically no “action” to be had.
Party leaders made no effort to organize delegates into a coherent force against racism, or economic inequality, or to win Medicare for All, Rent Control, or any of the many other aspirational goals of the party’s very progressive platform.
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Except for a passing reference from Sen. Elizabeth Warren, speakers never mentioned our multi-year, grassroots campaign to successfully tax millionaires — which is the source of $1 billion in new revenue for programs like free school meals, free community college, and student debt relief that the politicians boast about!
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As in past years, almost every speaker passionately spoke about how important the grassroots, rank-and-file Democrats are to the party. However for most attendees, it was
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clear that the convention wasn’t about us, it was actually all about them — the elected big wigs. We were assembled in Lowell solely to applaud their speeches and cheer for their hollow rhetoric.
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The real contempt for party activists was that — as in years past — deliberations concerning the party and its policies were held until after all the speeches by statewide elected officials and the other notable VIPs were concluded. In order for the resolutions to come to the floor, the newly adopted convention rules required a two-thirds vote of the assembled delegates in favor of “suspending the rules.”
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Although reformers with Our Revolution and other progressive groups gathered sufficient signatures to qualify five resolutions for consideration by the delegates, it was 2:30 PM before we could make a motion to suspend the rules.
Exhausted from endless self-congratulatory speeches, and with the convention running two hours late, the remaining delegates were in no mood for a longer agenda. The voice vote failed, and it was obvious that there was no longer a quorum present to conduct any business.
The proposed resolutions called for:
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Opposition to the influence of “dark money” in Democratic primaries;
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Mandating hybrid participation options for Democratic state conventions;
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Prioritizing transparency, inclusivity, and democratic representation in the Party’s decision making process
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Advocacy for a state single-payer health insurance system;
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Endorsing regular, independent audits of the Massachusetts Legislature.
While we failed to get a delegate vote, there was broad support from many delegates for all of the resolutions. Our next step is to take them to the State Committee’s Resolutions subcommittee for further consideration and then to the next State Committee meeting on November 15.
The full text of the proposed resolutions are online here. Other resolutions that also qualified for consideration included calling on the state legislature to include organizing rights for statehouse staffers; and in support of gender neutral bathrooms.
Click here to help Our Revolution Massachusetts keep fighting for a more active, democratic, and transparent Democratic Party!
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Our Revolution Announces Endorsing Candidates for the City Counciles and School Committees of Cambridge and Medford
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Is proud to endorse candidates for City Council and School Committe
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City Council: Zac Bears, Anna Callahan, Kit Collins, Emily Lazzaro, Matt Leming, Jaclyn Torres Roth and Justin Tseng
School Commmittee: Jenny Graham, Aaron Olapade, Erika Reinfeld and Paul Ruseau
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Amherst Works To Dismantle CRESS, it’s
Alternative Emergency Response Program
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In September 2022 Amherst inaugurated part-time service by CRESS (Community Responders Equity, Safety, and Service) under the leadership of Director Earl Miller. Since then, the responders have successfully dealt with hundreds of calls from people in distress. In January 2023 CRESS was scheduled to begin responding to 911 calls and had won a significant grant from Harvard to help fund this work. The police union suddenly raised a new objection, claiming that unionized dispatchers could not send non-union CRESS providers on 911 calls. A new round of negotiations began and, ultimately, a start date of August 1 was agreed to. However, just days before that start, Director Miller was placed on paid leave with the city announcing that it had launched an investigation in response to allegations concerning Miller. What the allegations are has not been made public and it is not clear that even Miller has been informed about what was alleged. At the same time, the city appointed a new governing board for CRESS that excludes Miller while including at least one police lieutenant, undermining one of the original goals of CRESS. At this time Miller’s role as Director is uncertain and the nature of the operations by CRESS is ill-defined. What is clear is that the original Amherst advocates of an alternative response program are extremely unhappy.
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Where Do the Candidates Stand?
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As dedicated volunteers, you have the power to engage local legislators in meaningful conversations that address our concerns. In an effort to maximize our impact we are creating questions for you to have ready when the time presents itself. Let’s come together and ask our local leaders thought-provoking questions that delve into the heart of our most pressing issues.
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Does the candidate have a solid campaign organization and plan?
Do you have a campaign manager?
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Do you have a treasurer?
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Are you seeking or do you have the endorsement of any other organizations? If yes, please list:
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Do you accept campaign contributions from:
o Developers and real estate lawyers?
o Police associations and organizations?
o Healthcare, biotech, pharma, or fossil fuel lobbyists and executives?
o Charter school lobbyists & executives?
If yes, please list.
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Good News for kids…and the rest of us
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When the Fair Share Amendment won last November, we all anticipated lots of good news for working people because it brought about 1 billion dollars to education and transportation annually. Then, this spring, Governor Healy and Speaker of the House Mariano moved to reverse most of the Amendment’s ability to extract tax money from the very rich. The outcome of that struggle will be determined this fall, but there is already some important good news.
All Massachusetts public school students will have access to free school meals this year. There will be 172 million dollars to provide K-12 meals free of charge. Project Bread says that this provides about one half of a child’s daily nutritional needs. Massachusetts joins California, Colorado, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, and Vermont in choosing to extend a benefit first provided during the Covid pandemic. Making the meals available to all reduces the social stigma of eating free meals and increases participation in the program. Furthermore, free meals are now a permanent component of the annual state budget.
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If you would like to work with ORMA Members on
- Climate Change
- Community-Based Alternative Emergency Response Teams
- Ranked-Choice Voting
- Housing For All
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ORMA depends on your support to continue Bernie’s Political Revolution to create a society, a politics, and an economy that works for everyone, not just billionaires, corporations and the political elite.
If you value Organizing Notes and its twice a month distribution schedule, please make a donation to ensure its continued existence.
Invest in Change Now!
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Please send requests for action items, articles or upcoming events
for the next Organizing Notes to
beccobrien.orma@gmail.com by Thursday, October 12th.
We’d love to have you send us your favorite pictures of Bernie here in MA!
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Campaigns End, Movements Endure
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