Calendar
The Community Democracy Project is your connection to direct democracy in Oakland! Convened out of Occupy Oakland in Fall 2011, we’re gathering steam on a campaign to bring the people back in touch with the city’s resources through participatory budgeting.
Picture this: Across Oakland, Neighborhood Assemblies are regularly
held in every community. People come together to tackle the important issues of their neighborhoods and of the city. At these assemblies, people don’t just have discussions–they learn from one another, from city staff, and they make fundamental decisions about how the city should run. They decide the city budget.
Democratic, community budgeting is a powerful step toward building strong communities, real democracy, and economic justice–and it’s being done all over the world.
The budget of the City Oakland totals more than $1 billion per year. Although part of the budget must be used for specific purposes, still over half of the budget–over $500 billion per year–consists of general purpose funds paid by the taxes, fees, and fines of the people of Oakland. The Mayor and the City Council decide the city budget, with minimal input from the community.
Working together, we will not only get a seat at the table–we will REBUILD the table itself. Participatory democracy is real democracy–join us to say: Local People, Local Resources, Local Power!
The Anti Police-Terror Project calls on Oakland police officers: Blow the whistle on corruption, misconduct, and predatory policing
In the face of the growing scandal engulfing the Oakland Police Department, rather than focus on solving the problems Mayor Libby Schaaf has ordered an investigation to identify and punish whistleblowers who are bringing these problems to the attention of the public. Additionally, the mayor appears to be using distraction tactics by diverting attention to the so called “racist text messages,” while pointing out that these were sent by Black officers.
Oakland needs a Mayor who will embrace transparency and reform at a time like this, when public trust in city government is virtually non-existent. But even the mayor cannot legally create negative consequences for someone who does the right thing.
In light of the recent media attention to long-standing corruption in the department, some officers have said that they want to stop observing the “Code of Silence” about conduct that goes against their oath to protect and serve the City of Oakland. Many of those same officers may fear retaliation, a ruined career or worse as a result of going against the expectation to look the other way when the abuse of authority occurs.
APTP calls on all officers ready to speak up about illegal, unethical or biased conduct by other members of the Oakland Police Department or other City staff or officials to take a stand now. Our legal team at the Siegel & Yee law firm has created a hotline for you to call to report such conduct. We can provide you with legal advice if you are facing retaliation for going public with information about such conduct, and your anonymity will be protected.
In light of the recent media attention to long-standing corruption in the department, some officers have said that they want to stop observing the “Code of Silence” about conduct that goes against their oath to protect and serve the City of Oakland. Many of those same officers may fear retaliation, a ruined career or worse as a result of going against the expectation to look the other way when the abuse of authority occurs.
We would like to remind those officers that the Oakland Whistleblower Ordinance and State Law protect those who come forward and report misconduct from losing their jobs for doing the right thing.
Specifically:
“No officer or employee of the City of Oakland shall use or threaten to use any official authority or influence to restrain or prevent any other person who is acting in good faith and upon reasonable belief as a whistleblower.”
“No officer or employee of the City of Oakland shall use or threaten to use any official authority or influence to cause any adverse employment action as a reprisal against a City officer or employee who acts as a whistleblower in good faith and with reasonable belief that improper conduct has occurred.”
Siegel & Yee has a long track record of successfully representing City of Oakland and other public employees in whistleblower lawsuits.If you see misconduct, please call our hotline at 510.839.1200 or email evidence to policehotline@siegelyee.com.
Black Lives Matter Vigil and Community Healing Circle, UCB, Sproul Steps 4:30 on Monday, July 11th. pic.twitter.com/bayxUuF5S4
— Na'ilah Suad Nasir (@ProfNai) July 9, 2016
In January 1994 the Zapatistas took the city of San Cristobal in an armed revolution to fight for the rights and freedom of the indigenous people of Chiapas. This rebellion has not died down since ’94 though the media is ignoring it. The Zapatistas are now functioning in complete autonomy from the Mexican Government and have formed their government without hierarchy and based in consensus.
Maria Donjacour went and visited one of the Zapatista communities and is by no means an expert, but wishes to share some of the history of the movement, some of the native language she learned there (Tzotzil). In addition, there will be an engaged discussion in order to practice some of the ideas that emerge from the language that can help us in our organizing to fight the forces that destroy our communities as well as the ones in southern Mexico and around the world.
Maria grew up in San Francisco, and has attended many OccupyForum events. She is interested in dance, social justice and political change. She is a Division 2 student at Hampshire College, Amherst MA.
Pirate Party of San Francisco
Our next meeting will be at Zeitgeist, 199 Valencia Street on July 11th, 6:30pm, called by Patrick per shotgun rules.
We have a mailing list—join it to stay in the loop.
Previous Meetings
- Meeting 0 – June 27, 2016 – Notes
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.
Imagine what free City College could mean for building enrollment at our College and for the studentsand would-be studentsin our City.
This Tuesday our supervisors will vote on the initiative to make City College of San Francisco FREE to city residents and workers. They will also vote on the identified funding source, a small increase in the transfer tax on SF luxury buildings and mansions. You can help show them how much our community supports making CCSF free for San Franciscans. Join us! We are delivering petitions and letting supervisors know: this is important for our City and our College!
City Hall (meet on Polk St. steps)
• join our delegation to deliver petition signatures
• tell supes to vote YES: make CCSF free for San Franciscans
• supervisors will be voting on the initiative to make City College of San Francisco FREE for city residents and workers
Scheduled for the July 12th Berkeley city council meeting is a proposal to draft an ordinance for civilian oversight over surveillance technology used by law enforcement in city limits. Surveillance oversight would be steered by an open participatory privacy working-group. Surveillance technology includes drones, camera systems, license plate readers, facial recognition software, IMSI catchers (International Mobile Subscriber Identity), social media aggregator software, and much more. A privacy working-group would place limits on how technology is used, the vendors that law enforcement purchases from, and the types of data sharing agreements law enforcement enters into.
At the meeting, there will be be a comment period for the proposed surveillance oversight ordinance, during which members of the public can speak in favor of community control over police surveillance. Members of the public may stay #Anonymous if they so choose – there is no requirement to state your name.
(Be aware that the item is listed last on the schedule as Item #41. The city council meeting starts at 7:30PM, but the item may not be heard until around 9PM or later. But even though the item is listed last, it could be moved sooner in the schedule. Bring food and a book to read while waiting.)
Next INTRO TO SURJ meeting. Join us as we engage white people to work for racial justice.
Press Event and Rally
Front steps of City Hall, Frank Ogawa/Oscar Grant Plaza
Join the Twitter/Facebook/Call-in storm at 1:30-2:30pm!
* Information for Twitter/Facebook/Call-in Storm: Thurs. July 14, 1:30-2:30p
#protectoaklandrenters
“Please support Kaplan’s Renter Protections Act as it will be introduced on July 19th without gutting or weakening the existing language!”
@DanKalb @Abel_Guillen @annieforoakland @LynetteGM @LibbySchaaf
- District 1/North Oakland- Kalb: 510 238-7001
- District 2/Eastlake/Chinatown/San Antonio/Trestle Glen/Crocker- Guillén: 510-238-7002
- District 3/West Oakland/Downtown/Adams Point- McElhaney: 510-238-7003
- District 4/Hills/Laurel/Dimond/Allendale- Campbell-Washington: 510-238-7004
- Mayor Libby Schaaf: 510-238-3141
Please Join us in a PEACEFUL-FAMILY FRIENDLY Vigil/Rally and March for our Brother Teodoro Valencia Jr..
Teo was known and loved by many people. Teo was charming, caring and a loving person with a beautiful smile. He was a loving son, brother, uncle and friend. On March 11, 2016 Teo was wrongfully killed by the Newark Police Department. He was shot intentionally in the back with an AR-15 Assult Rifle by a single police officer.
Our family’s goals are to bring justice for Teo, as well as truth and light to the darkness that the police have been using to mislead and opress our community.
Our demands for this event include the following:
1.) Get Justice for Teo. This includes a retraction and public apology from the Newark Police Department; as well as exposing the officer, prosecuting and firing him.
2.) De-militarize the Newark Police Department. This includes the removal of AR-15 Assault Rifles and similar combat weapons; as well as training the police to do their job with minimum use of force.
We welcome everyone and anyone who has a heart and cares about their community, family, and friends. We do not want this injustice to happen to anyone else. “Let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.” -1 John 3:18
Additional Details:
– We will be meeting on the sidewalk, and we ask that you park your car on the street or in the shopping center to the left of 7-11- not in the St. Edwards Church or KFC Parking Lots.
– We will update you with details as we receive them
It’s all hands on deck here at the Ella Baker Center and we need your help!
Join us at the Ella Baker Center’s monthly member meeting this Thursday, July 14th to learn about what we do and get involved in our organizing efforts.
We will be planning for Night Out for Safety and Liberation, an event on August 2nd where we will redefine what safety means for us in Oakland. We will also be organizing around the campaign to Stop Urban Shield in Alameda County.
Vegetarian dinner will be provided and the building is wheelchair accessible. We ask that this meeting be a fragrance free zone for accessibility.
Israel’s ongoing military occupation of Palestinian territory and its repeated invasions of the Gaza strip have triggered a fierce backlash against Israeli policies virtually everywhere in the world — except the United States. The Occupation of the American Mind takes an eye-opening look at this critical exception, zeroing in on pro-Israel public relations efforts within the U.S. Roger Waters, the narrator, is an English rock musician, singer-songwriter, and composer. He is best known as the bass player, co-lead vocalist, lyricist, and principal songwriter in the rock band Pink Floyd. Over the last few years, he has emerged as a prominent advocate for Palestinian human rights.
Sponsored by the BFUU Social Justice Ctee as part of our Conscientious Projector series for the 99%.
BREAKING VIDEO: #BlackLivesMatter movement has called for a #DayOfSolidarity alongside #Anonymous https://t.co/z5la1aJDJm #CallToAction
— TheAnonMessage (@TheAnonnMessage) July 10, 2016
N A T I O N W I D E C A L L T O A C T I O N === J U L Y 1 5 2 0 1 6
Phoenix: 5:00PM (EASTLAKE PARK, 1549 E Jefferson St , Phoenix, AZ 85034)
Tuscon: 5:00PM (CATALINA PARK, 900 N 4th Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85705)
Little Rock: 6:00PM (OUTSIDE STATE CAPITOL BUILDING, Dr Martin Luther King Jr Dr., Little Rock, AR 72201)
San Francisco: 4:00PM (CIVIC CENTER PLAZA, 355 Mcallister St, San Francisco, California 94102)
Oakland: 4:00PM (FRANK OGAWA PLAZA, 1 Frank H Ogawa Plaza, Oakland, CA 94612)
Los Angeles: 4:00PM (LEIMERT PLAZA PARK, 4395 Leimert Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90008)
Denver: 5:00PM (CIVIC CENTER PARK, 100 W 14th Ave Pkwy, Denver, Colorado 80204)
Washington DC: 7:00PM (OUTSIDE WHITE HOUSE, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20500)
Atlanta: 7:00PM (OLD DECATUR COURTHOUSE, 101 E Court Sq, Decatur, GA 30030)
Tampa: 7:00PM (OUTSIDE HILLSBOROUGH COURTHOUSE, 800 E Twiggs St, Tampa, FL)
Orlando: 7:00PM (LAKE EOLA PARK, 195 N Rosalind Ave, Orlando, Florida 32801)
Miami: 7:00PM (GWEN CHERRY PARK, NW 71 St., Miami, Florida, 33147)
Chicago: 6:00PM (RICHARD J DALEY CENTER, 50 W Washington St, Chicago, Illinois 60602)
Des Moines: 6:00PM (IOWA STATE CAPITOL, 1007 E Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50319)
New Orleans: 6:00PM (LAFAYETTE SQUARE, New Orleans, LA 70130)
Baltimore: 7:00PM (201 E Pratt St, Baltimore, MD 21202)
Boston: 7:00PM (MASSACHUSETTS STATE HOUSE, 24 Beacon St, Boston, MA 01233)
Detroit: 7:00PM (Campus Martius Park, Detroit, Michigan 48226)
Lansing: 7:00PM (STATE CAPITOL BUILDING, Capitol Avenue at Michigan Avenue, Lansing, MI 48933)
Ann Arbor: 7:00PM (THE DIAG, Burns Park, Ann Arbor, MI 48109)
Minneapolis: 6:00PM (MINNEAPOLIS URBAN LEAGUE, 2100 Plymouth Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55411
St. Louis: 6:00PM (GATEWAY ARCH, St. Louis 63102)
Carson City: 4:00PM (NEVADA STATE CAPITOL BUILDING, 101 N Carson St, Carson City, Nevada 89701)
Manhattan, NY: 7:00PM (TIMES SQUARE, Manhattan, NY, 10036)
Newark: 7:00PM (NEWARK CITY HALL, 920 Broad Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102)
Durham: 7:00PM (200 E. Main St. Durham, North Carolina)
Columbus: 7:00PM (GOODALE PARK, Columbus, Ohio 43215)
Cleveland: 7:00PM (CLEVELAND PUBLIC LIBRARY, 325 Superior Ave E, Cleveland, Ohio 44114)
Portland: 4:00PM (PIONEER COURTHOUSE SQUARE, 701 SW 6th Ave, Portland, Oregon 97204)
Philadelphia: 7:00PM (LOVE PARK, 1599 John F Kennedy Blvd, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102)
Pittsburgh: 7:00PM (PITTSBURGH CITY-COUNTY BUILDING, 414 Grant St, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219)
Nashville: 6:00PM (801 Broadway Nashville, TN 37203 Estes Kefauver Federal Building)
Memphis: 6:00PM (Health Sciences Park Memphis, TN)
Austin: 6:00PM (TEXAS STATE CAPITOL, Outside South Gate-11th and Congress Ave.)
Salt Lake City: 5:00PM (SALT LAKE CITY COMMUNITY COLLEGE, 4600 S Redwood Rd, Salt Lake City, Utah 84123)
Seattle: 4:00PM (QUEEN ANNE BAPTIST CHURCH, 2011 1st Ave N, Seattle, Washington 98109)
Milwaukee: 5:00PM (DINEEN PARK, Milwaukee, Wisconsin)
A teachers strike that began on May 15 has grown into a widespread rebellion in the Mexican state of Oaxaca. 14 compañeros have been killed by the state, including 12 in a massacre on June 19.
Join us in San Francisco to mark two months since the strike began as we march in defiance of state repression and in solidarity with our compañerxs on the barricades in Oaxaca.
To our compañerxs, teachers, mothers, fathers and children of the Oaxacan community, here and there, though we are miles apart, we fight with you.
Because here and there we fight against the same monster called capitalism. Because here and there, freedom, health care, and housing must be for all.
We march with love for our sisters and brothers who have been murdered and who will always be remembered, who walk alongside us in this struggle. We in the Bay Area, in solidarity with the Oaxacan community, say no more repression, no more deaths. We are ready to stand together. If they attack one of our communities there, we will respond here.
Help us kickoff the Oakland vs. Big Soda Campaign on Saturday, July 16th!
Hear from speakers about how the sugary drink tax will benefit you and the Oakland community. Learn how to talk about the tax and inform the community about the lies Big Soda is telling. After, we’ll head out into the community and make sure Oakland knows the truth about Big Soda and the soda tax. Light snacks will be served.
RSVP at this link.
International Conference Against Privatization
The effort to destroy unions and working conditions is directly connected to privatization and deregulation. In nearly every country of the world, public workers are under attack through outsourcing and deregulation. This educational conference will look at privatization in Latin America, Europe, and Asia.
Another key part of international policy that is being pushed through the US-controlled IMF and World Bank are trade agreements such as NAFTA, CAFTA, and the TPP. This conference will look at the history of so-called “Free Trade” agreements and how this has lowered working conditions and also brought about the destruction of health and safety conditions and the privatization of healthcare, housing, education, and all public services.
Another focus of this conference will be the relationship of privatization to corruption on a global level. The crisis in Brazil and other countries are examples of how privatization has led to a growing corruption crisis.
Speakers from around the world will connect the dots and explain how unions have organized locally, nationally and internationally to defend working people.
Endorsed by Transport Workers Solidarity committee, United Public Workers For Action (UPWA.info)
This fall, Kayla Moore’s family will go to court to hold Berkeley and the BPD accountable for Kayla’s death in 2013.
Want to lend a hand in advance of this important fight? Come to our art-making party on Saturday, July 16th to create art that honors Kayla’s life.
We’ll be making posters, banners and other outreach materials. There will be a variety of ways to lend a hand; no need to have so-called creative talent. We’ll also have food to share.
Drop by between 11:30am and 4pm – and invite your friends!
- organizing for public banking
- advocating for Postal banking
- helping out America’s only non-profit check-cashing organization and fighting against usurious for-profit pay-day lenders and their ilk
- Tiny Homes for the homeless.
- Working on debarring US Banks that have been convicted of felonies from municipal contract
- student debt resistance
- Promoting the concept of Basic Income
- fighting modern day debtors’ prisons and exploitive ticketing and fining schemes
- Presenting debt-related topics at forums and workshops
- Bring your own debt-related project!
If you are new to Strike Debt and want to come early and meet one or two of us before the formal meeting starts, email us at strike.debt.bay.area@gmail.com .
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.
Panel discussion by the KPFA Community Advisory Board.
• Finances of Pacifica’s 5 stations, affiliates and archives
• Program sharing, corporate underwriting and censorship
• Governance, legal issues and the 2016 Elections
The KPFA Community Advisor Board often receives questions and concerns from the community about challenges faced by the Pacifica Foundation and its importance as a free speech global force. We want to help people understand what is happening with Pacifica and how it impacts the programming, policies and community services of KPFA. Please join us for presentations and facilitated breakout groups, and give your input for KPFA’s management. and Local Station Board.
The meeting will be supported with careful facilitation, group agreements about participation and time sharing. If you have questions, information or resources you would like to share with us please send them to cab.kpfa [at] gmail.com
