Calendar
Updates on our progress, organizing strategies and developing work plan to get Public Safety Oversight measure on the Nov 2016 ballot
We discuss various monetary and debt-related topics. For our next meeting we will be discussing Greece, it’s debt, the recent referendum and its implications on the world monetary system, and Greece’s prospects.
Here is a (long) investigation into the origins and odious nature of Greek debt.
https://berkeleypostofficedefenders.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/greek-odious-debt.pdf
Some recent articles. Select a subset, and/or find your own…
A good overview of how it all came to be in layman’s terms.
Greek debt crisis: ‘Of all the damage, healthcare has been hit the worst’
Tsipras Has Just Destroyed Greece.
Germany Won’t Spare Greece Pain – It Has an Interest in Breaking Us.
Michael Hudson: EU Infrastructure Undermines Sovereignty
NY Times: Debt Crisis Pits Greeks Against Germans
Wall Street Journal: Europe Takes Hard Line with Greece
Yanis Varoufakis opens up about his five month battle to save Greece
Yanis Varoufakis full transcript: our battle to save Greece
The actual deal made on Monday:
Greek debt crisis: Here’s the deal
The Euro-Summit ‘Agreement’ on Greece – annotated by Yanis Varoufakis
Deal on Greek Debt Crisis Is Reached, but Long Road Remains
The Problem of Greece Is Not Only a Tragedy. It Is a Lie.
Greece put its faith in democracy but Europe has vetoed the result
How Will the Greek Privatization Fund Work?
Yanis Varoufakis: On the Euro Summit’s Statement on Greece: First thoughts
International Monetary Fund Proposed Greek Debt Relief
How Greece Was Lost: ‘We Were Set Up’ – Yanis Varoufakis
Massive debt relief for Greece would give economy chance to grow: IMF
The I.M.F. Is Telling Europe the Euro Doesn’t Work
———–
The Politics of Debt Reading Group is affiliated with the Bay Area Public School and Strike Debt Bay Area.
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, a local developer. The City of Berkeley sued the post office to stop the sale. Hudson-Mcdonald backed out of the deal in early December.
Federal Judge William Alsup decided to dismiss the lawsuit in April because the Postal Service says it is not currently selling the building. But we’re not fooled. The Postal Service could “find” a buyer at any moment. Fortunately, the Judge ordered the Postal Service to provide 42 days notice before any sale, so that the lawsuit could be refiled.
Check out the Community Garden at the Post Office.
In the latest developments, Berkeley has Declared War on Its Homeless, and an ordinance criminalizing the homeless came before the City Council on June 30th (see here and here) but was tabled until September.
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.
his is a meeting to express concerns directly to the Berkeley police review commission. The public can demand a thorough investigation into policing strategy during the #BlackLivesMatter protests in Berkeley. Public comment is at the start of the meeting, and a second time for public comment is at the end of the meeting. The police review process doesn’t work if the public doesn’t speak.
This a meeting for the general public, but there is a special interest into surveillance research, investigative journalism and police militarization.
The review commission cannot make effective recommendations to changing police procedure, if the review commission doesn’t have a full understanding of what the police did in suppressing the protests.
In December of 2014, a series of protests took place in Berkeley and Oakland against systematic racism in policing.
1. How did police agencies use undercover operatives in the #BlackLivesMatter protests?
On the night of Wednesday December 10th, an undercover cop pulled a gun on press photographers and protesters, after being exposed. The officer, who was trying to entice people into breaking windows, was confronted by protesters who were trying to keep the focus on the march. (http://www.dailydot.com/politics/oakland-black-lives-matter-undercover-cop/)
2. How did the FBI use surveillance technology? On December 8th, a low flying plane flew over Berkeley at low altitudes, circling over Berkeley. This summer, information about the FBI’s “secret airforce” was revealed. The FBI owns and operates a fleet of light aircraft under the guise of dummy companies. These aircraft can be used for cellphone surveillance. (http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jun/02/fbi-surveillance-government-planes-cities) (https://bgr.com/2015/06/03/fbi-dirtbox-stingray-spy-plane-program/)
3. How did police agencies coordinate operational conduct ad information sharing?
Police from the University of California, Hayward, Pleasanton, Oakland, and other agencies were present at the protests. Yet only representatives from Berkeley police have appeared at Police Review Commission meetings. Was there a command structure that set operational standards between the different departments, or were the departments acting independently with their own different standards of conduct? As outside police agencies gathered information about the protest, did those agencies give their data to Berkeley police, or did each police department keep their own data?
Hot topics with a Focus on Education
Amply your voice: Unity, Democracy, Diversity! Updates from Steering Committee & Action Teams.
Report on reorganization plans.
New members can join at the door and current members can update their status.
9. Subject: Right to Record and Photograph
From: Members Of The Public: 100 Black Men
Recommendation: Adopt A The Following Pieces Of Legislation 1) Resolution Affirming The Right To Photograph, Video And/Or Audio Record Police And/Or Peace Officer(s)
Report: https://oakland.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=3761697&GUID=D340EB96-48E5-4FEA-B652-F633CEACFE48 [+ two supplemental reports …]
Also on the agenda:
From: Oakland Police Department
Recommendation: Adopt A Resolution Authorizing The City Administrator To 1) Accept And Appropriate Grant Funds In The Amount Of $290,000 From The State Of California, Office Of Traffic Safety (OTS), For The FY 2015-16 Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP)
In order to meet grant goals, OPD staff will continue to complete the STEP in accordance with OPD policy and OTS grant requirements. These requirements include the performance of the following operations between October 1, 2015 and September 30. 2016:
� 5 DUI/Driver License Checkpoints
� 12 DUI Saturation Patrols
� 4 Distracted Driving enforcement operations targeting drivers using hand-held cellular phones and texting
� 12 Traffic Enforcement operations including, but not limited to, select primary collision factor violations
� 4 Motorcycle Safety operations
� 2 Click-It or Ticket seatbelt enforcement operations
� 12 bicycle and pedestrian enforcement operations in identified areas of high bicycle and pedestrian traffic
� Participation in the National Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April
� Participation in the statewide Click It or Ticket mobilization period in May
� Collaboration with the Alameda County Chiefs of Police Association’s Avoid the 21 Driving under the Influence Coalition
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 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month at the SEIU Local 1000 union hall in downtown Oakland at 6:30 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.
- student debt resistance
- organizing for public banking.
- advocating for Postal banking.
- ongoing study group
- helping out America’s only non-profit check-cashing organization and fighting against usurious for-profit pay-day lenders and their ilk
- our famous Strike Debt radio program
- staging Debtors’ Assemblies
- Reviewing our recent presentation on money and debt at the US Social Forum
- saving the Berkeley Post Office and stopping the Staples non-union takeover of good Post Office jobs
- and much more!
Strike Debt – Principles of Solidarity
Strike Debt is building a debt resistance movement. We believe that most individual debt is illegitimate and unjust. Most of us fall into debt because we are increasingly deprived of the means to acquire the basic necessities of life: health care, education, and housing. Because we are forced to go into debt simply in order to live, we think it is right and moral to resist it.
We also oppose debt because it is an instrument of exploitation and political domination. Debt is used to discipline us, deepen existing inequalities, and reinforce racial, gendered, and other social hierarchies. Every Strike Debt action is designed to weaken the institutions that seek to divide us and benefit from our division. As an alternative to this predatory system, Strike Debt advocates a just and sustainable economy, based on mutual aid, common goods, and public affluence.
Strike Debt is committed to the principles and tactics of political autonomy, direct democracy, direct action, creative openness, a culture of solidarity, and commitment to anti-oppressive language and conduct. We struggle for a world without racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, and all forms of oppression.
Strike Debt holds that we are all debtors, whether or not we have personal loan agreements. Through the manipulation of sovereign and municipal debt, the costs of speculator-driven crises are passed on to all of us. Though different kinds of debt can affect the same household, they are all interconnected, and so all household debtors have a common interest in resisting.
Strike Debt engages in public education about the debt-system to counteract the self-serving myth that finance is too complicated for laypersons to understand. In particular, it urges direct action as a way of stopping the damage caused by the creditor class and their enablers among elected government officials. Direct action empowers those who participate in challenging the debt-system.
Strike Debt holds that we owe the financial institutions nothing, whereas, to our friends, families and communities, we owe everything. In pursuing a long-term strategy for national organizing around this principle, we pledge international solidarity with the growing global movement against debt and austerity.
Agenda:
· review the latest draft of our proposed ballot measure,
· discuss proposals for how to ensure we get the best Commissioners
· talk about the work that lies ahead: growing the Coalition, getting important endorsements, educating the public and meeting with our Council members.
· We’ll also need to put on some community events and do some fundraising.
The Oscar Grant Committee Against Police Brutality & State Repression (OGC) is a grassroots democratic organization that was formed as a conscious united front for justice against police brutality. The OGC is involved in the struggle for police accountability and is committed to stopping police brutality. In alliance with the International Longshore & Warehouse Union (ILWU) we organized the October 23, 2010 labor and community rally for Justice for Oscar Grant. On that day the ILWU shut down the Bay Area ports in solidarity.
Our mission is to educate, organize and mobilize people against police and state repression.
Sisters and brothers the Oscar Grant Committee invites you to join us in this vital struggle.
The Oscar Grant Committee meets on the 1st Tuesday of each month.
We discuss various monetary and debt-related topics. For our next meeting we will be discussing Greece, it’s debt, the recent referendum and its implications on the world monetary system, and Greece’s prospects.
A continuation of our last meeting. See there for a list of background reading and please read the latest articles in the news about what is happening in Greece.
The Politics of Debt Reading Group is affiliated with the Bay Area Public School and Strike Debt Bay Area.
Normally OO holds its GA on the 2nd Sunday at 2 PM at the Omni to accommodate the Open Circle meeting there at 3:45 or so, but this week the Open Circle was rescheduled, so GA will be at it “normal” time and place, 4PM at OGP. -Special Ed
————————————————————————
The Occupy Oakland General Assembly meets 1st, 3rd & 5th 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 Collective, 4799 Shattuck Ave., Oakland. On second and fourth Sundays we meet at 2 PM at the Omni so we can also meet with the Open Circle folks at 3:45. There is a potluck at the Omni starting at about 3PM between the meetings.
OO General Assembly has 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.
At the GA committees, caucuses, and loosely associated groups whose representatives come voluntarily report on past and future actions, with discussion. 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
- Welcome & Introductions
- Reports from Committees, Caucuses, & Independent Organizations
- Announcements
- (Optional) Discussion Topic
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
OTU’s Mission
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.
If you have an issue, a question, or need advice about a tenant/landlord issue, please call us at (510) 704-5276. Leave a message with your name and phone number and someone will get back to you.
Location: Dorado’s Tax & Bookkeeping, corner of Davis St.
Agenda:
1. Discuss most recent version of the ballot measure
2. Get updates from recent meetings with S.F. Commissioners, San Jose Police Auditor and City Council person Dan Kalb.
3. Review work plan for Sept – Dec 2015; break out into work groups
No Coal in Oakland
Help block the proposal to transport coal by rail through Oakland for export overseas. Join an educational and planning meeting for residents of District 2 (Abel J. Guillen’s district).
This meeting is particularly relevant to residents of that area (see map) but this project could affect all East Bay residents, and all are welcome.
You will learn what the Coal Free Oakland campaign has been doing and how you can help convince the City Council to ban coal in our city.
A meeting for District 1 residents takes place on August 17, at 6:30 PM.
Join us to fight for a livable wage for all Bay Area workers! We collaborate in principled reflection and action on what the Bay Area livable wage would be and where we are at on the right to a livable wage.
The Oakland Livable Wage Assembly builds Community and Power among those who seek higher wages and better work life conditions for area workers.
Our work together encompasses:
(1) The concerns of precarious, care and contingent workers,
(2) 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.
Oakland Livable Wage Assembly meets every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month, 6:30-8:00 pm at the SEIU Local 1000 Union Hall, 436 14th Street #200, Oakland, CA
Please love and support one another ~ We have a duty to fight ~ We have a duty to win!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1568668586707336/
Help block the proposal to transport coal by rail through Oakland for export overseas. Join an educational and planning meeting for residents of District 3 (including but not limited to West Oakland).
This meeting is particularly relevant to residents of that area (see map) but this project could affect all East Bay residents, and all are welcome.
You will learn what the Coal Free Oakland campaign has been doing and how you can help convince the City Council to ban coal in our city.
Join Oakland Privacy Working Group to organize against the Domain Awareness Center (DAC), Oakland’s citywide networked mass surveillance hub, and other invasions of privacy by our benighted City Government, to support privacy ordinances now being considered by the Oakland City Council emerging from the effort to fight the DAC, fight against Predictive Policing, Stingray and help in other fights to preserve and restore our privacy around the Bay Area, in California and nationwide.
OPWG was instrumental in stopping the DAC from becoming a city-wide spying network, and its members helped draft the Privacy Policy that puts further restrictions on the now Port-restricted DAC.
Stop by and learn how you can help guard Oakland’s right not to be spied on by the government & if you are interested in joining the Oakland Privacy Working Group email listserv, send an email to:
oaklandprivacyworkinggroup-subscribe AT lists.riseup.net
For more information on the DAC check out
No additional information available.
The Occupy Oakland General Assembly meets 1st, 3rd & 5th 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 Collective, 4799 Shattuck Ave., Oakland. On second and fourth Sundays we meet at 2 PM at the Omni so we can also meet with the Open Circle folks at 3:45. There is a potluck at the Omni starting at about 3PM between the meetings.
OO General Assembly has 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.
At the GA committees, caucuses, and loosely associated groups whose representatives come voluntarily report on past and future actions, with discussion. 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
- Welcome & Introductions
- Reports from Committees, Caucuses, & Independent Organizations
- Announcements
- (Optional) Discussion Topic
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