Almost 100 days into Trump’s presidency, how are we feeling the impacts of the new administration in urban, state, and federal politics? From ACA reform threatening gains in insurance coverage for Californians to concerns about ICE raids across both Southern and Northern California to the current jeopardy around Caltrain electrification, how are local politicians responding? How is this affecting historical political dynamics, alliances, and tensions at each level of government?
We’ll hear from longtime investigative and political reporters in Oakland and San Francisco Darwin Bond Graham and Joe Eskenazi; along with Liam Dillon, who covers the state Capitol for the Los Angeles Times; and Lee Fang, who first wrote about Steve Bannon more than five years ago and now covers money in politics for The Intercept.
After the program, continue the conversation at the DADA BAR with friends. MI members have 10% discount on drinks!
Transition Berkeley Presents…
How can we shift our economic structure to be more equitable and humane?
Please join Transition Berkeley for a short film: “How Class Works”, an animated overview by Richard Wolff.
The film will be followed by a talk and discussion led by local author and distinguished Marxist scholar Richard Lichtman, who has taught at UC Berkeley, SF State, and the Wright Institute. His topic will be Marxism 101: Capitalism and Democracy – Can They Co-exist?
Is capitalism the root cause of the climate crisis? How can we shift our economic structure to be more equitable and humane? If capitalism is the problem, what alternatives do we have? We’ll discuss these issues and more.
Meet and greet at 6:30 pm before the film. Bring healthy vegetarian snack or a refreshment to share if you can. The program begins at 7:00 pm.
http://www.booksinc.net/event/lisa-servon-books-inc-alameda
Lisa Servon discusses her new book, The Unbanking of America: How the New Middle Class Survives.
With pieces featured on consumer financial services featured in the Wall Street Journal, the Atlantic online, and The New Yorker online, among many others, professor Lisa Servon discusses her new book, The Unbanking of America: How the New Middle Class Survives.
An urgent, absorbing expose–why Americans are fleeing our broken banking system in growing numbers, and how alternatives are rushing in to do what banks once did.
What do an undocumented immigrant in the South Bronx, a high-net-worth entrepreneur, and a twenty-something graduate student have in common? All three are victims of our dysfunctional mainstream bank and credit system. Today nearly half of all Americans live from paycheck to paycheck, and income volatility has doubled over the past thirty years. Banks, with their high monthly fees and overdraft charges, are gouging their low- and middle-income customers, while serving only the wealthiest Americans.
Lisa Servon delivers a stunning indictment of America’s banks, together with eye-opening dispatches from inside a range of banking alternatives that have sprung up to fill the void. She works as a teller at RiteCheck, a check-cashing business in the South Bronx, and as a payday lender in Oakland. She looks closely at the workings of a tanda, an informal lending club. And she delivers fascinating, hopeful portraits of the entrepreneurs reacting to the unbanking of America by designing systems to creatively serve many of us. Banks were once essential pillars of our lives; now we can no longer count on them to do right by us.
“Required reading for fans of muckraking authors like Barbara Ehrenreich, this fascinating look at the future of money management insists that the ‘unbanked’ are a sector deserving of respect and solid options.” — Publishers Weekly, starred review
Guest presenter Pierre Delforge of the Natural Resources Defense Council will discuss how to slash emissions from natural gas appliances like furnaces and water heaters, and why it matters.
This is the first in a series of public-interest events on issues related to renewable energy and a sustainable future hosted by Local Clean Energy Alliance. The Alliance is a non-profit membership organization working for equitable, sustainable communities through local renewable resource development.
Guest presenter Pierre Delforge of the Natural Resources Defense Council will discuss how to slash emissions from natural gas appliances like furnaces and water heaters, and why it matters.
This is the first in a series of public-interest events on issues related to renewable energy and a sustainable future hosted by Local Clean Energy Alliance. The Alliance is a non-profit membership organization working for equitable, sustainable communities through local renewable resource development.
Friday April 7th, 2017 is the One Year Anniversary of the death of Luis Góngora Pat at the hands of the SFPD. Luis was a 45 year old indigenous Mayan Mexican, an immigrant worker and a family man who for a decade and a half supported his wife and three children in the small town of Teabo by sending remittances from his dishwasher and line cook earnings. In 2014, he and his brother were illegally evicted from their home in the Mission District during the peak housing crisis of San Francisco, after which they became homeless. Extended family helped his brother José get back on his feet, and the plan all along was to help Luis next, but his life was brutally ended before then; a victim of police terror in the Sanctuary City of San Francisco.
On the one year anniversary of his death, Luis’s family will March Against Police Terror in The Sanctuary City of San Francisco. Your participation in the march is humbly requested. We will address Luis’s unjust killing, and heighten awareness of the systemic oppression that regularly takes the lives of people of color in the City of San Francisco through evictions, homelessness, discrimination, deportations, police violence, and other injustices.
March Schedule & Stops, (approximate times)
Please march with us against Police Terror in the Sanctuary City!
The family of Luis Góngora Pat is reaching out to you for support. They would like as many people as possible to attend the march.
RSVPs already include California families of victims of police murder; Asociación Mayab; Coalition on Homelessness; Causa Justa; Answer Coalition; The Brown Berets; Poor Magazine; members of the Shambhala Meditation Center of SF; Idriss Stelley Foundation; the Coalition for Justice For Amilcar Perez Lopez, OccupySF, and many more. The march will include indigenous ceremonies and be led by Aztec dancers. Jaranero dancers from Yucatán will join us too! We will hear from speakers against SFPD violence and for civil rights, housing, immigration, and homeless rights. The family lawyer Adante Pointer will present on the Góngora Family lawsuit, and more! This is going to be a very large event, and mainstream media will be present.
A march against the systemic violence against black and brown in San Francisco is long overdue! Bring your signs, banners, and voices!
How can you help:
Articles
Come back out for Part 2 of the City Council’s meeting on reviewing the rent ordinance!
We held an amazing press conference on Tuesday, featuring 12 speakers representing five local groups, two political positions, and multiple faith leaders. We heard from Gray Harris, VP of Alameda’s school board; an Alameda special ed teacher and renter; Imam Musa Balde of the Islamic Center of Alameda; and Mariele, a 17-year-old Encinal High student. In addition to the Alameda Renters Coalition, we heard from Alameda Progressives, Renewed Hope Housing Advocates, Filipino Advocates for Justice, and Alameda for Black Lives.
There is resounding community support for real rent control and just cause, and Friday brings another opportunity to press the council for what we need. Come out! We need:
– An end to no-cause evictions (2 votes already secured!)
– A sustainable cap on annual rent increases tied to the Bay Area CPI
– Standardized relocation assistance
– Elimination of the RRAC and appointment of a hearing officer
– An online rental database
– A repeal of the sunset clause
8:00 a.m. Water Ceremony & Registration
9:30 a.m. Walk Begins
There are several places along the walk where folks can join the walk – please see the details of the route below.
The walk will end at Martinez Shoreline Park, end of Ferry Street in the City of Martinez, California
Please feel free to join us for the prayers for the water at 8:00 a.m. We will walk to the shore and make our prayers. Feel free to bring a small bottle of water from your area to join the waters in the Carquinez Straights (where the Delta meets the Bay) in Pittsburg.
Registration for the walk will begin at 8:00 a.m. Walkers will be asked to agree to the Nonviolent Principles. For details on what to bring/not bring, please go to “What To Expect” in the tabs above.
This walk is approximately 13.5 miles from beginning to end. There will be support vehicles available for people who wish to take breaks during the walk. Medics will also be available. Water will be provided – please bring your reusable water bottle.
Walk #2: Saturday, May 20th
We will begin near the Martinez Shoreline Park at the end of Ferry Street
in the City of Martinez, California
8:00 a.m. Water Ceremony & Registration
9:30 a.m. Walk Begins
There are several places along the walk where folks can join the walk – please see the details of the route below.
The walk will end at the 9th Street Park in the City of Benicia, California
Please feel free to join us for the prayers for the water at 8:00 a.m. Feel free to bring a small bottle of water from your watershed to join the waters in the Carquinez Straights (where the Delta meets the Bay) in Martinez.
Registration for the walk will begin at 8:00 a.m. Walkers will be asked to agree to the Nonviolent Principles. For details on what to bring/not bring, please go to “What To Expect” in the tabs above.
This walk is approximately 9.5 miles from beginning to end. There will be vehicles available for people who wish to take breaks during the walk. Medics will also be available. Water will be provided – please bring your reusable water bottle.
Everyone will be taken back to their vehicles at the end of the walk. If you are coming to the walk with friends and have two vehicles, please consider leaving one vehicle at the end.
Please consider CARPOOLING – You can sign up to give rides or receive a ride here:
https://www.groupcarpool.com/t/8wh0vr
Make sure you keep this phone number with you on the walk:
(510) 619-8279
Scroll down to see the map of the walk.
We will begin in Martinez and walk through the Shell Refinery in Martinez on the public road. It gets exciting when we walk across the Martinez Benicia Bridge over the Carquinez Straights! Once we get to Benicia, we head over to the Valero Refinery where we stop to pray for clean air, water, soil and safe jobs in our communities. We then walk through town to the 9th Street Park for the closing circle, a meal and the final prayers for the waters.
All walkers are encouraged to carry the water for at least five minutes in prayer for the life of the waters around the world.
Please go to the “What to Expect” page for more information:
http://www.refineryhealingwalks.com/what-to-expect.html
Walk #3 – Sunday, June 11th
We will begin at Ninth Street Park in Benicia
8:00 a.m. Water Ceremony
9:00 a.m. Registration
9:30 a.m. Walk Begins
There are two places along the walk where folks can join us – please see the details of the route below.
The walk will end at Lone Street Park in Rodeo
Please join us for prayers for the water at 8:00 a.m. Feel free to bring a small bottle of water from your watershed to join the waters that we will be carrying in prayer along the walk and putting into the Bay at the end of the walk.
Registration for the walk will begin at 9:00 a.m. Walkers will be asked to agree to the Nonviolent Principles. For details on what to bring/not bring, please go to “What To Expect” in the tabs above.
We also request that walkers keep the Four Agreements in mind:
1) Be impeccable with your word
2) Don’t take anything personally
3) Don’t make assumptions
4) Always do your very best
For more information: The Four Agreements
This walk is 10.8 miles from beginning to end. There will be vehicles available for people who wish to take breaks during the walk. Medics will also be available. Water will be provided – Please bring your own refillable water bottle.
There will be three “return” points where people can be taken back to their cars at mile 4 and mile 6 (see map) and at the end. If you are coming to the walk with friends and have two vehicles, please consider leaving one vehicle at the end.
Sure you’re coming? Please carpool to the walk by offering a ride or accepting a ride as soon as possible by signing up here:
CARPOOL
Let us know you’re coming! RSVP BELOW!
Make sure you keep this phone number with you on the walk:
(510) 619-8279
We will begin in Benicia, home to the Valero Refinery, and proceed through Vallejo. Crossing the Carquinez Bridge is always a treat! Then we head toward the Conoco Phillips 66 Refinery in Rodeo , ending at Lone Tree Park.
Walk #4 in July
Sunday, July 16th
Rodeo Conoco Phillips 66 Refinery to Richmond Chevron Refinery California
We encourage folks to walk with us the entire day. It is truly a beautiful, profound and inspiring way to make a difference.
We will begin at Lone Tree Park in Rodeo
8:00 a.m. Water Ceremony – Feel free to bring water from your watershed!
9:00 a.m. Registration
9:30 a.m. Walk Begins
There are several places along the walk where folks can join the walk – please see the details of the route below.
The walk will end at Keller Beach in Richmond
You can join us at any time during the day of the walks.
Call this number to find out where we are: (510) 619-8279
Make sure to keep the phone number on you if you are joining us on the walk!
Registration for the walk will begin at 8:00 a.m. Walkers will be asked to agree to the Nonviolent Principles. For details on what to bring/not bring, please go to “What To Expect” in the tabs above.
This walk is approximately 13 miles from beginning to end. There will be vehicles available for people who wish to take breaks during the walk. Medics will also be available. Water will be provided – Please bring your own refillable water bottle.
Everyone will be taken back to their vehicles at the end of the walk. If you are coming to the walk with friends and have two vehicles, please consider leaving one vehicle at the end. Carpool: Sign up to drive or be a passenger here: CARPOOL
There will be two points where folks can get rides back to the beginning in Rodeo, at the Hilltop stop in Richmond and at the end at Keller Beach.
We will begin at Lone Tree Park in Rodeo within sight of the Conoco Phillips 66 Refinery and walking to Richmond, stopping to pray at several places including the Kinder Morgan facility and the gates of the Chevron refinery. We will end at Keller Beach in Richmond, the last natural beach left in the San Francisco Bay where we will all enjoy a delicious meal made by Mike Bear and his family and youth from Urban Tilth in Richmond!
Can’t come but want to support? Welcome us at Keller Beach in Point Richmond and feel free to bring a dish to share if you would like.
President of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
World-Renowned Human Rights Leader
Give an inspiring lecture entitled
“Let’s Change the World”
Light brunch will be served.
Happy Equinox! Spring is here ~ plants are leafing out, peaches and plums are blooming, and folks are planting our perennial plants throughout the country. It is the busiest time of the year for the nursery with finishing up cuttings, seeding, grafting fruit trees, weeding and fertilizing, potting up bare root plants, and shipping out plant orders. We are very grateful to the many volunteers that have gotten their hands dirty with us this past month. We had nearly 30 volunteers come through at our work party on March 4th, had about 40 college students on Alternative Spring Break from Penn St. and University of LaVerne come through for tours and volunteer work, and had teachers from Slide Ranch on the coast come out. Our work and plant knowledge is being spread to youth in many places. Much thanks to all of the hands that have helped us in the busyness of Spring!
We have two upcoming volunteer work parties on Saturdays in April:
April 8th 10am-4pm
April 22nd (Earth Day!) 9am-4pm
On Earth Day, join us for a Volunteer Day of fruit tree planting, weeding, cleaning and more including a Super Citrus Fruit Tree Sale, a Sale of Salves and Tinctures from our gardens, a bounce house for kids, and a Kale Smoothie Pop Up. Please bring your own Water, Pot Luck Food and Good Attitude! We are building community as well as growing plants!
Offerings:
BERKELEY COPWATCH PRESENTS
What can mental health care and crisis response look like without police involvement? Join the Justice 4 Kayla Moore Coalition and Berkeley Copwatch for a forum to address that question. The forum will feature individuals and organizations who are fighting for, building and living out mental health alternatives to the police. We will also discuss next steps for our campaign to fight for changes in how our communities and the City of Berkeley approach mental health crises.
How can we build our capacity and leverage our grassroots power to support the Movement for Black Lives Policy platform?
Please join the SURJ Policy Working Group on Saturday April 8th from 1pm to 4pm for an interactive legislative strategy session and workshop that will demystify the legislative process, build our legislative capacity, and highlight the legislative priorities and strategies of our POC partners. All levels of experience are welcome!
In addition to break-out discussion groups, we will hear from special guests Bridget Kolakosky, Legislative Director for Senator Holly Mitchell, author of the RISE Act and Emily Harris, State Field Director for the Ella Baker Center, a co-sponsor of the RISE Act. Both guests will share their experiences and strategies on how to bring grassroots voices to the capitol in meaningful and impactful ways.
This event is FREE but an RSVP on our website to required to attend as there is limited space: http://
ACCESS NEEDS: This event is wheelchair accessible. If you have specific access needs, please email us and we’ll be happy to work with you to accommodate them.
SCENT FREE: We ask that guests do their best to be as scent free as possible. Please refer to this resource from the EastBay Meditation Center for more information on what that means. There will be a scent free section of seating offered. http://
Monthly interfaith prayer meeting, held on second Sundays, dedicated to survivors and victims of violence and police terror in Oakland.
“Remember the saying: ‘Of all pilgrimages the greatest is to relieve the sorrow-laden heart.'” ~ ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
The Baha’i community of Oakland is organizing this gathering for the community to connect, share prayers, writings and poems from all spiritual traditions, reflect and recharge and build coalitions interested in healing.
Come share prayers, quotes, poems, and favorite passages from your scriptures with us. Simple breakfast will be served.
“Thy name is my healing, O my God, and remembrance of Thee is my remedy. Nearness to Thee is my hope, and love for Thee is my companion. Thy mercy to me is my healing and my succor in both this world and the world to come. Thou, verily, art the All-Bountiful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.” ~ Bahá’u’lláh
Today, 12 pm, gather at GG Bridge Plaza, #SF side for monthly @CODEPINK Golden Gate Bridge Walk for Peace. #Syriahttps://t.co/0KCFvflbeQ pic.twitter.com/4mcAwsZjWk
— Indybay (@Indybay) April 9, 2017
The Trump-Putin post-truth world of Fox News and Russia Today, are kindred moments of a global capitalist order that has devolved into neo-fascism: scapegoating the “Other” and accepting genocide. Internal reactionaries and competing multiple regional and global powers have no regard for human life, as demonstrated most horribly by Assad’s latest chemical gas assault on Khan Sheikhoun and Trump’s terror against civilians in Syria, Iraq and Yemen. As a Syrian revolutionary recently put it, “After all this slaughter, we ask, do the Syrian people not belong to the human community?”
Multiple forms of resistance continue: the global women’s movement, Black Lives Matter and immigrants everywhere, including in the U.S. Mass demonstrations against Putin’s regime emerged anew across Russia last week, demanding end to official corruption.
Is this world of vile nationalism and permanent war a return to the horrors of so-called primitive accumulation through enslavement and conquest? Does Marx’s thought and revolutionary practice speak to this moment? Gerry Emmett’s essay, “Marx’s Marxism vs. Trump-Putin’s barbarism,” in the March/April News & Letters addresses these issues.
How can the mass outpourings go beyond opposition and give humanity a different future?
We hope to see you there and hear your thoughts.
Tax the Rich Rallies every Monday from 5-6 pm on upper Solano in front of the Oaks Theater and the Chase Bank.
All are welcome!
Also We’ll be at SURJ (Stand Up for Racial Justice) event that starts at the Grand Lake Theater on Saturday April 1st from noon-1 :00 PM.
For our calendar of events, songs to download and more: www.occupella.org.
OccupyForum Presents the film “Thirty Seconds to Midnight” with Producer Regis Tremblay about the danger of nuclear war, climate change and the struggle to challenge these dangers
Friends,
Hope you can join us for one of the three Bay area showings of excellent new film Thirty Seconds to Midnight April 10 and 11. It is a powerful film about the danger of nuclear war and climate change and the struggle of people around the world to challenge these dangers. Please spread the word to the larger community and hope to see you there. See the flyer attached.
Warm Greetings and Peace,
David Hartsough
What: Film “Thirty Seconds to Midnight” with Producer Regis Tremblay.
Three threats to life on the planet: nuclear technology, a nuclear Armageddon, climate change.
EFF is pleased to announce a series of community security trainings in partnership with the San Francisco Public Library. High-profile data breaches and hard-fought battles against unlawful mass surveillance programs underscore that the public needs practical information about online security. We know more about potential threats each day, but we also know that encryption works and can help thwart digital spying. Lack of knowledge about best practices puts individuals at risk, so EFF will bring lessons from its comprehensive Surveillance Self-Defense guide to the SFPL.
EFF has tailored this series for technology beginners who may be unaware of potential privacy dangers, but already use smart phones or computers. Library patrons are invited to bring their devices to EFF’s introductory classes which include discussions of basic online security concepts and privacy tools. Lisa Wright and Willie Theaker, members of EFF’s TechOps Team, will facilitate Digital Privacy and Security: A Beginner-to-Intermediate Workshop followed by Encryption Apps for your Phone: An Intermediate Workshop. There will be two opportunities to attend each class.
Event details are included in each link to the EFF calendar above. Space is limited and attendance is on a first-come, first-served basis so attendees should prepare to arrive early. We encourage all EFF supporters to help people in their circles learn more about online rights issues and how to keep themselves—and each other— safer.
At the end of April, EFF’s spring Bay Area Members’ Speakeasy will feature a more advanced workshop on email encryption and key generation open to EFF members and their guests—we encourage you to bring a friend! Following the workshop, all EFF members will be invited to join our PGP keysigning party to help bring the community together and further expand the web of trust. If you are a current Bay Area member accepting email, you will receive a personal invitation including event details. Not a member yet? Join today!
With the Surveillance Self-Defense project and these local events, EFF strives to help make information about online security accessible to beginners as well as seasoned techno-activists and journalists. We hope you will consider our tips on how to protect your digital privacy, but we also hope you will encourage those around you to learn more and make better choices with technology. After all, privacy is a team sport and everyone wins.
Three Threats to Life on the Planet:
A powerful film about the danger of nuclear war and climate change and the struggle of people around the world to challenge these dangers. Please spread the word to the larger community and hope to see you there.
Producer Regis Tremblay will be at the showing.