Bud’s Bulletin – September 2024 – Mid-Missouri Democratic Socialists of America

What We’ve Been Up To:

On August 19, Mizzou YDSA co-chair Sami Binning was awarded the Senator Chuck Graham Disability and Advocacy Ambassador Award! Sami was recognized for her work on YDSA’s campaigns for bodily autonomy at the University of Missouri and to establish an LGBTQ+ sanctuary city ordinance in Columbia, as well as her efforts of notarizing over 2,000 signatures for the Missourians for Healthy Families and Fair Wages Ballot Initiative that would provide guaranteed paid sick time to all workers in Missouri, both full-time and part-time. Way to go, Sami!

On August 25, we knocked our first doors for Proposition A and Amendment 3! Right now, 500,000 Missouri workers make less than $15 an hour, nearly 750,000 Missouri workers–including our own Alejandro Gallardo–lack paid sick leave, and all Missourians are living under a draconian abortion ban. This November, we can change that by passing these two ballot initiatives! We need all hands on deck to knock enough doors between now and Election Day in November to get these ballot measures across the finish line. Join us on September 7 as we officially kickoff our canvassing campaign, then keep knocking doors with us every Saturday through Election Day!

Our very own McKenzie Ortiz was recently published by the Columbia Missourian! Read her letter to the editor: Columbia has opportunity to make public transit better for community, and check out the unabridged version of her piece.

What We’ll Be Doing:

Our next General Meeting will take place at 6:30 PM on Tuesday, September 3 at the Boone County Government Center. All dues-paying DSA members all welcome! RSVP here and we will send links to join us virtually and view the agenda.

You can also join us on Sunday, September 22 at Shortwave on 9th St at 2 PM for DSA Office Hours. Office Hours provide a chance for anyone curious about DSA to come chat with some of our members while also giving existing members an opportunity to bring up any ideas or thoughts they might want to discuss. RSVP here

On September 28-29, we’ll be tabling at Mid-Missouri Pridefest on Park Avenue. Stop by to pick up some sweet Midwest Socialist stickers and learn how you can get more involved with DSA!

From our friends at Local Motion: The Columbia Area Transportation Study Organization (CATSO) is revising its metropolitan transportation plan, impacting everything from public transit to sidewalks and bike infrastructure. This is a critical moment to advocate that CATSO prioritizes public good over private interests. We believe this update is an opportunity to shift CATSO’s focus from road expansions and new construction—which often serve the wealthy and contribute to sprawl—to investments in equitable public transit and community infrastructure. So many local streets remain neglected, inaccessible, and unsafe, particularly for working-class and marginalized communities. We want to change that and we could use your voice. Please fill out this CATSO survey by September 7.

The Columbia Ceasefire Coalition is holding weekly marches to demand that Columbia city officials call for a ceasefire in Gaza. Those interested in attending should meet at Speaker’s Circle before 2 PM every Saturday to join the march to city hall.

The Boone County Community Bail Fund, a member of the National Bail Fund Network, provides essential services to low-level offenders who would otherwise be held in jail simply because they cannot afford to post bail. The Bail Fund posts bails of up to $3,000 for qualified detainees and arranges reminders and rides to help them appear at subsequent court dates. You can support them by making a one time or recurring donation or by contacting them at comobailfund@gmail.com to volunteer to answer phones, provide rides, help with fundraising, or otherwise get involved!

CoMo Mobile Aid Collective provides direct aid and immediate assistance to unsheltered friends here in Columbia. Their street teams proudly serve 200+ meals every week throughout the year, their mobile medical clinic of qualified nurses, EMTs, and medical students have a variety of assistance available, and they partner with Unchained Melodies Dog Rescue to ensure beloved pets have access to food, flea and tick treatment, first aid, vet appointments as needed, and lots of treats. You can support their efforts by making a one-time donation or becoming a monthly donor!

For the past several months, Mid-Missouri Peaceworks has been holding daily peace vigils in support of the people of Gaza from 12:15-12:45 PM by the Keyhole sculpture outside City Hall. All are welcome to join any day you can!

The Center Project is hiring a Youth Program Coordinator to implement and expand their resources and programming for LGBTQIA+ youth! Think you might be interested? Submit your resume and cover letter on Indeed. If you have any questions, reach out to jobs@thecenterproject.org.

Have you been mistreated by your employer or landlord? You’re not alone! Contact the Columbia Solidarity Network to see if they can help! Call or text (573) 246-0646 or email columbiasolidarity@gmail.com.

What We’re Reading, Watching, and Listening To:

Missouri agency quietly made it harder to change gender marker on driver’s licenses ‘Legislators don’t see me as human’: Missouri trans youth fight to survive anti-LGBTQ+ bills Missouri Outlawed Abortion, and Now It’s Funding an Anti-Abortion Group That Works in Other States Planned Parenthood challenges new Missouri law blocking Medicaid payments to its clinics The fate of a St. Louis man on death row is now in the hands of a judge Hundreds march from Normandy High to Canfield Green to remember Michael Brown KC Tenants helps launch a national effort for tenant protections Here we go again backward on electronic surveillance AIPAC Bought Cori Bush’s Seat The Death of The Squad Has Been Greatly Exaggerated Reminder to Democrats: Israel’s Occupation of Palestine Is Illegal Mainstream Media Is Ignoring Israel’s Sexual Torture The Uncommitted Movement Is the Floor of What’s Possible Here Is the Speech That the Uncommitted Movement Wants to Give at the DNC A Palestinian American’s Place Under the Democrats’ Big Tent? Palestinians Will Speak Whether Democrats Want Them to or Not AOC’s DNC Speech Was a Betrayal of the Gaza Movement Bernie’s Flawed Vehicle A Night With the Party Animals Not Invited to the Party: On the 2024 Democratic National Convention The Labor Movement is Giddy About Tim Walz Becoming Harris’ VP Pick Tim Walz Believes in the Common Good The Harris-Walz Campaign’s Housing Agenda is Subpar Battleground State Voters Want Rent Control and Social Housing The Climate Message Harris Should Embrace: Fossil Fuels Are a Scam Two Years and $300 Billion into Biden’s Climate Plan, Emissions Are Higher than Ever Why Do So Many Workers Love Trump? Debt Is Wage Theft, Debt Steals Leisure, Debt Can Suppress Strikes: Debt Is a Labor Issue ‘We Did It!’ Striking UAW Workers at Cornell Win Tentative Deal CEOs Inflated Their Paychecks — and Our Prices CEOS with lowest-paid US workers ‘focused on short-term windfall’ – report Economic Overlords Are Destroying Democracy — and Our Lives Understanding the Rise of Fascism Karl Marx the Moral Philosopher From Know Your Enemy: What’s Wrong With J.D. Vance? From The Dig: Solidarity w/ Jeremy Corbin and Laleh Khalili From Democracy Now!: Project 2025 Co-Author Lays Out “Radical Agenda” for Next Trump Term in Undercover Video Rami Khouri on Latest Israel-Hezbollah Escalation & Stalled Ceasefire Talks “Uncommitted” Co-Chair Layla Elabed on Meeting Kamala Harris, Pressing VP for Arms Embargo on Israel First-Ever DNC Panel on Palestinian Rights: We Need to “Restore the Soul of the Democratic Party” “Stop Arming Israel”: Meet the DNC Delegates Who Unfurled Banner During Biden Speech John Russell Addresses the DNC