Member Petition: Establish a South Central LA + Inglewood Branch in 2020

UPDATE (8/25): A debate about this petition was held on Sunday, 8/23 where this slideshow was presented (it has been abridged and updated with FAQs since the debate).

We, members in good standing of the Democratic Socialists of America, Los Angeles chapter, petition the Steering Committee to work with the Organizing Committee for an South Central LA + Inglewood Branch to further build DSA-LA and organize the South Central LA + Inglewood Branch in 2020.

DSA-LA members residing in South Central LA & Inglewood, are currently members of the Westside Branch and Central Branch. The Central Branch is by far the largest branch within our organization in terms of both membership and territory covered, with hundreds more members than any other branch. Many members’ participation has been lost because of the sheer distance to Central Branch and Westside Branch activities, and the potential advancement of our politics southward has been slow without the necessary organizational infrastructure to support it.

In this time of social distancing, it is imperative that we pay sufficient attention to organizational and membership development, so that we may emerge from distancing as robust an organization as possible. DSA-LA’s lack of organizing on the ground in South Central LA + Inglewood misses out on the potential to organize in historically Black communities facing gentrification. Our chapter has grown in 2020 as Bernie supporters continue to join, and initiatives such as the Neighborhood Solidarity Network have reminded us of the need to build the structures to support local organizing. Forming a South Central LA & Inglewood Branch is an important next step in activating inactive members, growing DSA-LA’s membership, and expanding DSA-LA’s influence broadly.

The South Central LA & Inglewood Branch is to be defined generally as the geographic territory within DSA-LA’s jurisdiction currently in the Westside & Central Branch. It shall include the following ZIP codes:   90001, 90002, 90003, 90007, 90008, 90011, 90016, 90018, 90037, 90043, 90044, 90045, 90047, 90056, 90058  , 90059, 90061, 90062, 90089, 90201, 90222, 90247, 90248, 90249, 90250, 90255, 90262, 90270, 90280 , 90301, 90302, 90303, 90304, 90305

A special meeting has been set for Sunday, August 23 at 3 PM – 5 PM to debate this petition. At the conclusion of the meeting a ballot on whether to approve the establishment of this branch will be sent to all DSA-LA members in good standing with a voting period of 1 week. You can RSVP for the meeting here. You can check your membership status here.

There are currently 150 members in good standing residing in these zip codes. If passed, DSA-LA’s membership will be divided among the five branches in the following proportions:

150 South Central

996 Central

627 Westside

718 Eastside / SGV
458 SFV