Calendar

The Oakland Livable Wage Assembly builds community and power among those who seek higher wages and better work life conditions for area workers. We meet every second and fourth Tuesday of the month at the SEIU Local 1000 union hall, 1433 Webster Street, 2nd Floor in downtown Oakland. These assembly meetings occur from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm.

Our work together encompasses:

• (1) the concerns of precarious, contingent and care workers;
• (2) current campaigns to improve wages for low-wage workers; and
• (3) efforts by unionized workers and unions to improve wages and quality of work life.

We share stories and information in an egalitarian and participatory way to build relationships and build the movement.

We look forward to learning with you and making change for the better. Please love and support one another. We have a duty to fight. We have a duty to win.

Inaugural Assembly: Tuesday January 27, 6:30 pm

Register here.

This is a meeting for privacy minded people in San Francisco. January 28th is International Data Privacy Day, a fitting time to host the first in what we hope will be an ongoing series of Privacy Lab Meetups in the Bay Area.

At this meeting our speaker will be Cooper Quintin from the EFF, who will present “A State of the Union for Privacy and Consumer Protection and Wishlist for 2015”. His presentation will be preceded by 30 minutes of socializing as people arrive, and then followed by about an hour for general questions, interactions, discussion and networking. Additionally the event will be held at Mozilla’s San Francisco office, where developers of the Firefox browser can more easily join.

Our aim is to include and bring together privacy professionals and others interested in privacy at for-profits, non-profits, and NGOs in an effort to contribute to the state of the ecosystem for privacy.  By attending you’ll be able to hear about what other people and organizations are working on and how to get involved.

We hope to see you attend and become part of the growing community of privacy advocates in San Francisco.

Register here.

The Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) will convene a public meeting on January 28, 2015, starting a 6:00 p.m. at the 450 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond, CA, 94804.

Next Wednesday, January 28, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) will hold a public meeting, to present the third and final investigation report and safety recommendations from the August 6, 2012, crude unit fire that occurred at the Chevron Refinery in Richmond, CA. That fire endangered 19 workers and sent more than 15,000 residents to the hospital for medical attention.

The Draft report is here [big PDF file]:

 More information here.

The first of eight meetings is January 28th.

This seminar will study the corporate structure, its historical development, and its modes of political control.

A careful & close analysis of the Haitian Revolution (the world’s first nation of Africans to overthrow slavery)! How does it connect to today?

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HAITI ACTION COMMITTEE
STUDY GROUP

We invite you to be apart of our monthly study group. We use films, texts, and speakers to explore Haiti’s history, current political situation, and make connections to parallel struggles throughout the U.S. and around the world.

Come to this month’s meeting!

Facebook event.

The (Ongoing) Haitian Revolution

January 1st marked the 211th anniversary of Haiti’s independence. Join us as we analyze how Haiti gained its independence and discuss the connections to today.

Future Topics include:
The return to dictatorship; mass incarceration and political prisoners; sweatshops and privatization; the ongoing pillaging of Haiti’s resources; labor activism; COINTELPRO tactics in Haiti and the U.S.; racism; parallel struggles in Latin America; and many more!

What would you like to learn about? Send your suggestions!Got an idea for a study group topic? Let us know! Email us at action.haiti@gmail.com, Tweet us, or visit our Facebook page!

Sent by Haiti Action Committee
www.haitisolidarity.net and on FACEBOOK

OccupyForum presents

Information, discussion & community! Monday Night Forum!!
Occupy Forum is an opportunity for open and respectful dialogue
on all sides of these critically important issues!

Shutting Down the Fossil Fuel Industry
via Its Supply Chains

Empire Logistics will facilitate an interactive workshop for Occupy SF Forum where participants will brainstorm to find ways to create solidarity along fossil fuel supply chains
​
and will model ways for worker resistance, community solidarity, and direct action to flow from the point of extraction to the point of consumption, including the communities
which the energy commodities pass through. Our strength lies in everyone acting in unison with the common goal of stopping the earth’s destruction. We will facilitate a discussion
about how we can transition away from an oil economy and transform our mode of existence into an ecologically sustainable one.

On March 14, 2015, Empire Logistics will join Railroad Workers United, as well as over 30 environmental and community groups, and labor unions and other workers’ associations, for the first “The Future of Railroads: Safety, Workers, Community, and Environment” Conference in Richmond, California (the second conference will be on March 21 in Olympia, Washington). The purpose is for railroad workers to teach others in the fossil fuel industry about safety issues from the inside, and those supply chain workers will learn about community concerns over the extreme dangers from the greatly increased transportation of fossil fuels; both groups will strategize about how to transition away from fossil fuels and to create an environmentally healthy world.

This Monday’s workshop is an opportunity for Occupy SF Forum to learn about these issues by discussing them directly. Empire Logistics will provide all necessary maps and flowcharts of fossil fuel supply chains, and guide this interactive exercise.

See Labor Notes for a description of the Richmond conference on March 14, 2015:

http://labornotes.org/blogs/2015/01/rail-workers-and-environmentalists-teach-each-other

or visit the website: http://www.railroadconference.org/

Gifford Hartman is a participant in the Empire Logistics mapping project, as well as a co-founder of the Global Supply Chains Study Group. He is an adult education teacher, labor trainer, historian, and the Bay Area contact for the Future of Railroads Conference.

According to the Contra Costa Times, “Recommendations from the meeting ((The #BlackLivesMatter City Council forum held on January 24th)) will be considered ((at the February 3rd City Council meeting)) .”

The purpose of the San Francisco 99% Coalition is to work in coalition and offer support to groups which promote nonviolent advocacy for more equitable social, economic and environmental public policies. See their website at http://sf99percent.org/ . Leave an email message at sf99percent [at] gmail.com to be called about specific meeting information. See the SF99% Facebook page at http://tinyurl.com/mcasbg3

The first of eight meetings is January 28th.

This seminar will study the corporate structure, its historical development, and its modes of political control.

We are having an orientation for our hands-on study group. The focus of the project is both analytical and activist. As a group, we will develop an understanding of the relationship between gentrification and police violence thru readings, workshops and discussions. At the same time, we will be developing and implementing strategies in our neighborhoods that seek to discourage other people that are new to Oakland from calling the cops. It will last about 3 months and we would love to host it all at the Omni if that works for y’all!

Omni event listing.

Facebook event.

This open circle will continue the dialogue and planning around support, goals, and long-term strategy in addressing the issues of disproportionate degrees of police brutality and killings of black people and people of color, systemic racism, state violence, militarization of police, and more that have been brought to the forefront once again due to the recent surge of such atrocities.

Let’s kick this meeting off with a potluck at 3:00 pm followed by the Open Circle at 3:45 pm. Please bring a dish or snacks to share!

Open circle will begin with report backs and announcements of upcoming actions followed by breakout group discussions and the formation of new projects.

There will be breakout groups to allow time for networking and collaboration on projects and affinity groups.

The facilitation team welcomes suggestions, guidance, and participation. Please get in touch by commenting on this page if you want to offer any of these.

Notes from last meeting:
omnicommons.org/connect

Link to our previous meeting:
https://www.facebook.com/events/324781944388936/

Until the end of February (22nd) 2015 GA will meet at the Omni Collective basement, mostly at its regular time, 4PM Sunday. But on February 8th we will meet at 5 PM so folks can also attend the Open Circle meeting at the Omni Ballroom at 3 PM.

The Occupy Oakland General Assembly generally meets Sundays, at 4 PM at Oscar Grant Plaza amphitheater at 14th Street & Broadway, often on the steps of City Hall. “If it is raining (as in RAINING, not just misting) at 4:00 PM we meet in the basement of the Omni Commons, 4799 Shattuck Ave, Oakland  Directions

We have met on a continuous basis for more than three years! Our General Assembly is a participatory gathering of Oakland community members and beyond, where everyone who shows up is treated equally. Our Assembly and the process we have collectively cultivated strives to reach agreement while building community.

The bulk of the work of Occupy Oakland does NOT happen in the General Assembly. It happens in various committees, caucuses, and loosely associated groups whose representatives voluntarily come to the GA and report on past and future actions. We encourage everyone participating in the Occupy Oakland GA to be part of at least one associated group, but it is by no means a requirement.  If you like, just come and hear all the organizing being done! Occupy Oakland encourages political activity that is decentralized and welcomes diverse voices and actions into the movement.

General Assembly Standard Agenda

1. Welcome & Introductions
2. Reports from Committees, Caucuses, & Independent Organizations
3. Announcements
4. Discussion Topic (Optional)

Occupy Oakland activities and contact info for some Bay Area Groups with past or present Occupy Oakland members.

Occupy Oakland Web Committee: (web@occupyoakland.org)
Occupy Oakland Kitchen Committee: (kitchen@occupyoakland.org)
Strike Debt Bay Area : strikedebtbayarea.tumblr.com
Berkeley Post Office Defenders: http://berkeleypostofficedefenders.wordpress.com/
Alan Blueford Center 4 Justice: https://www.facebook.com/ABC4JUSTICE
Oakland Privacy Working Group: https://oaklandprivacy.wordpress.com
Prisoner Hunger Strike Solidarity: prisonerhungerstrikesolidarity.wordpress.com/
Bay Area AntiRepression: antirepression@occupyoakland.org
Biblioteca Popular: http://tinyurl.com/mdlzshy
Interfaith Tent: www.facebook.com/InterfaithTent
Port Truckers Solidarity: oaklandporttruckers.wordpress.com
Bay Area Intifada: bayareaintifada.wordpress.com
Transport Workers Solidarity: www.transportworkers.org
Fresh Juice Party (aka Chalkupy) freshjuiceparty.com/chalkupy-gallery
Sudo Room: https://sudoroom.org
Omni Collective: https://omnicommons.org/
First They Came for the Homeless: https://www.facebook.com/pages/First-they-came-for-the-homeless/253882908111999
Sunflower Alliance: http://www.sunflower-alliance.org/
Bay Area Public School: http://thepublicschool.org/bay-area

San Francisco based groups:
Occupy Bay Area United: www.obau.org
Occupy Forum: (see OBAU above)
San Francisco Projection Department: http://tinyurl.com/kpvb3rv

Come learn about continuing developments in the battle save the Berkeley Post Office and the Postal Service from privatization, support our Occupiers and help us plan our next steps in opposition to the theft of our public commons.

THE POSTAL SERVICE WANTED TO SELL THE POST OFFICE TO HUDSON-MCDONALD DEVELOPMENT GROUP. HUDSON-MCDONALD BACKED OUT OF THE DEAL IN EARLY DECEMBER. THE CITY OF BERKELEY SUED THE POST OFFICE TO STOP THE SALE. A TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER WAS IN PLACE UNTIL DECEMBER 17th, BUT WAS LIFTED BY THE JUDGE WHEN HUDSON WITHDREW.  `

Get an overview of the sale announcement here. Here’s a good more general overview piece.

 There was a hearing in Federal Court on December 11th.

The next hearing is March 19th.THE FEDERAL JUDGE WILL DECIDE WHETHER THE LAWSUIT WILL CONTINUE OR BE DISMISSED – HE’LL DECIDE SOMETIME AFTER MARCH 19th.

THE POSTAL POLICE HAD BEEN RAIDING THE OCCUPATION INTERMITTENTLY IN THE WEE HOURS OF THE MORNING. BUT THE OCCUPIERS ARE NOT LEAVING!  Read about one of the eviction attempts here.  There haven’t been any raids since a few days before Christmas, but they might start up again at any time.

Check out the new Community Garden at the Post Office.

Also CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE. and the Save the Berkeley Post Office website, and First they Came for the Homeless Facebook for updates.

BPOD is an offshoot of Strike Debt Bay Area, which itself is an offshoot of Occupy Oakland and a chapter of the national Strike Debt movement, which is an offshoot of Occupy Wall Street.

The Oakland Tenants Union is an organization of housing activists dedicated to protecting tenant rights and interests. OTU does this by working directly with tenants in their struggle with landlords, impacting legislation and public policy about housing, community education, and working with other organizations committed to furthering renters’ rights. The Oakland Tenants Union is open to anyone who shares our core values and who believes that tenants themselves have the primary responsibility to work on their own behalf.

Monthly Meetings

The Oakland Tenants Union meets regularly at 7:00 pm on the second Monday evening of each month. Our monthly meetings are held in the Community Room of the Madison Park Apartments, 100 – 9th Street (at Oak Street, across from the Lake Merritt BART Station). To enter, gently knock on the window of the room to the right of the main entrance to the building. At the meetings, first we focus on general issues affecting renters city-wide and then second we offer advice to renters regarding their individual concerns.

The Oakland Livable Wage Assembly builds community and power among those who seek higher wages and better work life conditions for area workers. We meet every second and fourth Tuesday of the month at the SEIU Local 1000 union hall, 1433 Webster Street, 2nd Floor in downtown Oakland. These assembly meetings occur from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm.

Our work together encompasses:

• (1) the concerns of precarious, contingent and care workers;
• (2) current campaigns to improve wages for low-wage workers; and
• (3) efforts by unionized workers and unions to improve wages and quality of work life.

We share stories and information in an egalitarian and participatory way to build relationships and build the movement.

We look forward to learning with you and making change for the better. Please love and support one another. We have a duty to fight. We have a duty to win.

The first of eight meetings is January 28th.

This seminar will study the corporate structure, its historical development, and its modes of political control.

Save CCSF Coalition meeting to discuss current situation at CCSF including the shut down of Civic Center Campus, the failure to go forward with the Performing Arts Education Center, reorganization, pushout policies and the attack on noncredit and the diversity departments.
Help plan actions and organize for this semester.

For our next meeting we’ll cover Chapters 3, 4, and 5 of PART FOUR (which is the “Organisation and Ownership” section) of E.F. Schumacher’s book, “Small is Beautiful” (which is here:  http://www.ditext.com/schumacher/small/small.html ).

These are the chapters about “Socialism” and “Ownership” (which Gar Alperovitz recommended)!  In addition, people might also find this article by David Graeber, entitled “Hope in Common”, worthwhile: https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/david-graeber-hope-in-common.

We’ll also have a brief discussion of the recent Greek elections if Syriza, the anti-austerity party, wins, and the global ramifications thereof.

The Politics of Debt Reading Group is associated with the Bay Area Public School and Strike Debt Bay Area.

AFFIRMATIVE RESISTANCE TO
San Leandro Paramilitarization & Terro

Join San Leandro SAFE in Organizing an Affirmative Strategy to Demand the Changes We Need in Our City

Bring your solutions to this meeting and/or get involved.  Some ideas might be:

• DEMAND THE CHANGE WE NEED: Wasting money on paramilitarization means we don’t have resources our community needs to thrive.  What do do want instead?  Living wages, education, housing, roads, innovation? Let’s set a positive agenda for San Leandro.
• SHADOW REPORT ON SAN LEANDRO POLICING:  The San Leandro Police Department presents its own list of “accomplishments” annually to the City Council. It’s time the community created its own report back for the Council, documenting our opposition to:
  • (SLPD) profiling/harassment of people of color and other groups
  • Police shootings: 3 shootings of people of color in 3 months
  • SLPD slandering the life of Latino SLHS/SLAM graduate homicide victim
  • SLPD militarization, including BearCat & military-grade weapons
  • Increased surveillance on residents and those under no suspicion
  • Increased police presence in schools, including more police, creating dossiers on students starting in elementary school, and attempts to divert education funds from classrooms to the Police budget, taking education from our children
• STOP MARKETING OF MILITARY VEHICLES AS MEDICAL VEHICLES.  Join San Leandro SAFE’s petition to get red crosses off military vehicles marketed to our cities!

For more information e-mail notanks@sanleandrosafe.org