Minneapolis: Ty Moore (CWI) running for City Council

[Art Vandelay]

In other news, socialist alternative (CWI) member Ty Moore was just endorsed by the 30,000 strong Service Employees International Union (SEIU) in his bid for Minneapolis city council.

http://www.tymoore.org/seiu_endorsement

[Sentinel]

In other news, socialist alternative (CWI) member Ty Moore was just endorsed by the 30,000 strong Service Employees International Union (SEIU) in his bid for Minneapolis city council.

http://www.tymoore.org/seiu_endorsement

This is excellent news comrade! I'm expecting the Minneapolis campaign to become a real thriller, even more so than the Seattle one (if possible).

Perhaps it should have a thread of it's own, updated by a canadian/US comrade who has their finger on the pulse so to speak? ;)

[Art Vandelay]

This is excellent news comrade! I'm expecting the Minneapolis campaign to become a real thriller, even more so than the Seattle one (if possible).

Perhaps it should have a thread of it's own, updated by a canadian/US comrade who has their finger on the pulse so to speak? ;)

Yeah I was contemplating starting a new thread but wasn't sure, I'd think splitting this could be a good idea. I've also been speaking to our treasurer here in Canada about perhaps getting a portion of the funds I would of used to go to the summer school, to instead take a trip down there before the campaign is over and pick up some valuable organizing experience, as well as bring back some resources to help facilitate my work here. So hopefully if that all works out, I'll be able to give some first hand updates about the campaign.

[Alan OldStudent]

This is excellent news. Congratulations to CWI and SA.

I have some differences of opinion with them, but at least they're actually engaged in fighting for working people's interests and against the capitalist parties. On that basis, they deserve our support.

[Art Vandelay]

A comrade and I, both from SA in Canada, arrived in Minneapolis early this morning. After getting hung up at the border, for not having the right identification but surprisingly allowed to cross, and temporarily lost in Grand Forks, we finally made it down. Were staying at the home of two SA's sympathizers who have been kind enough to house and feed us the next few days. The display of generosity is such a refreshing change of pace from the daily reality in capitalism where interpersonal relationships are predominantly mediated through callous self interest. I've heard that Ty Moore had an extremely successful house party 2 nights ago (one of many he's had to raise campaign funds), which raised him around 7,500$, bringing his total up to 55,000$, through grassroots campaigning efforts. The lady who owns the house we are staying in, describes herself as Ty's first fan and has been working closely with the campaign (as well as her husband, although we've yet to meet him). She gave us a bit of a rundown of the work Ty has been doing in Occupy Homes and mentioned that he's been able to politicize many of its leaders. I hear there is quite a big demonstration planned for tomorrow and we're due down at the campaign headquarters in an hour and a half. I'll try to update this whenever I have news. Since the campaign is in its last week, there should be plenty.

[Art Vandelay]

Spent the day primarily doing voter outreach and getting everything in place for tmro. We spent the day, either in the streets or at the campaign headquarters, between 12 to 9. The reaction from the people on the streets has been amazing; when meeting people and explaining the platform Ty is running on, the reactions you get from certain people has been so motivating. I had a extended exchange on the streets today with a man, who was quite skeptical of us. After getting through the talking points of the 15$/hr minimum wage and a end to foreclosures and evictions, he asked me a direct question of what Ty Moore planned to do about police brutality. I couldn't of been happier he did, since this man was an organizer in the African-American community, mobilizing people around issues of police brutality and murder. I explained to him about SA's proposal of a citizen review board of the MPD, which would have full control over hiring/firing/investigations and he came away quite impressed and mentioned he would explain our position to people in his organization. Anyways, enough of personal anecdotes. The big news of the evening has been both positive and negative. On the negative side, the two candidates Ty is running against have just come out with a public deal, where they told their supporters to cast their second choice at the ballot box, for the candidate they made the deal with. On the ground, what this essentially means, is that Ty is now running against both other candidates. We ran through the various scenarios which could unfold tonight and we are certain that it is an obstacle we can overcome. If anything this has motivated the SA activists on the ground even more, since it is a clear sign that the other two candidates finally realize that Ty is the front runner in this election and that they need to combine forces to see to it that a socialist candidate is not elected. As far as the good news goes, we got word from SA's campaign in Seattle, that Sawant's campaign has just broke the 100,000$ mark for campaign fundraising, which is fantastic news and is proof that campaigns of this level can be run on a grassroots basis.

[Art Vandelay]

I got back home early this morning. On saturday, we worked for about 12 hours straight, from 9am-9pm on the streets, then in the office. We had about 700 conversations that day, the vast majority of which were very positive and knocked on about 6000 doors. There was a ridiculous letter circulated in support of the main opponent, which made some very disingenuous claims. So to respond, we had a local resident draft up a letter in response. She is currently barricaded in her home, 9 months after the police attempted to evict her. SA members, Ty Moore, Occupy Homes, neighbors, etc..were all mobilized to defend her home from eviction and so far it has been one of many stories like that. Sunday was split between voter outreach and phone banking. I had some really great conversations with people, a somali man who invited me into his house for tea and we spoke about the campaign and I secured his vote and he insisted on giving me his contact information so the organization could get in touch with him. Another comrade and I sold a newspaper to these guys dealing pot in front of this corner store and we had about a 15 minute conversation with them. I also spent alot of time working with a member down volunteering from Sweeden, who happens to know a couple of our admins. I'm totally exhausted from the weekend. The few days I spent there, gave me great respect of the work they've been doing. I was out for 3 days and I can honestly barely walk right now, I feel like an old man with arthritis or something. There are many people there who have been doing that for months, and the level of energy they've been able to sustain is impressive. The election is tomorrow night and there is a live stream of what will hopefully be the celebration. The Seattle election end tomorrow as well I believe.

[KurtFF8]

These are very interesting campaigns. I hope that regardless of the results that SA writes up a report about the experiences so others can learn from these.

[Art Vandelay]

Local resident Jamie Kelly who I alluded to above, who has been barricaded in her home the past 9 months, was evicted from her home early this morning. I don't know much about it, just what I've seen on my facebook news feed, but apparently she was surprised early in the morning and kicked out of her home. SA and the Ty Moore Campaign (as well as others, I am sure) mobilized immediately and have since taken back her home and are moving her back inside. No one was expecting this the morning of the election and I can't help but feel like the timing may have had something to do with disrupting the final day of voter outreach for the campaign.

[Le Socialiste]

Sounds like y'all did some fine work, Mr. Populi. I'll be watching out for the results tonight, best of luck to the candidates in Minneapolis, Seattle, and Boston. We stand to learn some valuable lessons from these campaigns, win or lose.