September 2023
Green Party Leader Supports Rent Control in PA
By Alex Casper (they them)
Early in August, Seattle Socialist City Councilmember Kshama Sawant brought forward legislation to set universal rent control to cap rent increases with inflation. Cornel West, running for the Green Party nomination for president, endorsed the plan. Hundreds of tenants, workers, and union members packed the Seattle City Hall to where attendance was standing room only, but the Democratic Party led city council struck down the bill. West called this bill a “moral imperative,” and I agree...
I support Universal Rent Control and I hope to see more initiatives be supported by Cornel West and elected officials focused on addressing our housing crisis, reducing the cost of housing, and preventing and ending homelessness. It is clear that we need an alternative to the two corporate parties, if we want to see these types of policies be seriously addressed. Neither major party will support people being able to afford to stay in their homes or address homelessness. Seattle City Council being led by the Democratic Party voting against rent control shows us this is the case. 185 people died in Kings County, WA, in 2020, and Seattle Democrat’s said it’s okay to not address the leading cause of housing insecurity... READ THE FULL STORY HERE
PA Green News
Edited by Chris Robinson
PA Green Party Will Meet at High Noon in Philadelphia on 9/24
GPPA has chosen the Ethical Society, 1906 South Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia for its first face2face State Meeting since November 2022. The agenda now calls for a discussion and vote on a revised proposal to change GPPA from an organization of county-elected delegates into a mass dues-paying organization. There will also be discussion of topics which delegates would like to see in a new GPPA Platform. This meeting will be open to the public, however, only elected delegates may vote on proposals. The usual practice of allowing delegates to vote via Zoom will remain in effect.
For more information and to RSVP, please visit, https://www.gpofpa.org/state-committee_gppa_sep2023
Green Party of Wayne County Awards Malkin Scholarship
Chair Beverly Beers tells GREEN STAR, “The Green Party of Wayne County has awarded a $500 scholarship to Lucas Agis who graduated in June from Wayne Highlands High School in Honesdale, PA. The scholarship is given in memory of Dr Mort Malkin, who was a member of the Green Party of Wayne County.”
Allegheny Greens hold 2023 Campaign Kickoff
The Green Party of Allegheny County held their 2023 Campaign Kickoff on July 29 at The Loft, Braddock Avenue, Pittsburgh. Those assembled were able to meet the Allegheny Greens and hear the plans of their four endorsed candidates, Michael Bagdes-Canning (G), Liv Bennett (I), Carl Redwood (I) and Tara Yaney (G). (Bennett has since withdrawn from the ballot.)
Campaign Updates
Edited by Chris Robinson
Below are three Green Party candidates who have been assigned to the 2023 General Election ballot by their county Boards of Election. Additional Green Party candidates are welcome to contact GREEN STAR at [email protected]
2023 Election, November 7
Michael Bagdes-Canning for Re-Election to Mayor of Cherry Valley Borough
Butler County
Tara Yaney for Re-Election to Edgewood Borough Council
Allegheny County
Alex Noyle for Election to Auditor of East Norriton Township
Montgomery County
Team Reports
Edited by Patrick O. McNally
Communication Team by Chris Robinson and David Ochmanowicz Jr.
The GPPA Communication Team would like to revive the “Why I’m Green” page on our website, https://www.gpofpa.org/why_im_green. This page now contains six personal accounts written by current Green Party members from Allegheny, Centre, Chester, McKean, Montgomery and Wyoming Counties. If you would like to edit and update this page and solicit some new stories from Green Party members, please attend a ComTeam meeting or contact [email protected]
Please join the Communication Team right here.
www.gpofpa.org/team_communications_join
Green Wave Team by Patrick McNally
At the team’s August 24 meeting, we continued discussions and planning for a smooth GPUS primary election. Again, the team looked back to the 2020 primary for lessons learned. To allow more time for the collection of signatures needed to get our candidates on the state ballot, the team proposes an earlier primary period, February 15-29, 2024. While the specifics of the voting method (online voting with OpaVote, combined with paper ballots) are yet to be decided, registered Greens should be able to cast a ranked-choice vote for their preferred GPUS presidential candidate in our primary. The team will present its recommendations to the GPPA State Committee for approval. In addition to preparing for the GPUS presidential primaries, the team also discusses providing support for local Green Party candidates throughout PA. If you would like to join the Green Wave team, its next meeting is scheduled for 8 pm on Thursday, September 14.
Please join the Green Wave Team right here.
www.gpofpa.org/team_greenwave_join
Core Team by Theron Gilliland, Jr.
The Core Team meeting on August 8 decided to update GPPA delegate status and contact information, and to work on hybrid meeting voting logistics for the GPPA State Meeting in Philadelphia on 9/24. The Core Team will also develop an on-boarding process for new members, and develop training guides for Slack, Zoom and Nationbuilder. The Core Team has already updated the GPPA website by removing an outdated version of the GPPA platform. We are also working on a new platform for GPPA.
If you would like to join the Core Team, please sign up at the link below, or, contact Theron Gilliland, Jr. at [email protected]
Please join the Core Team right here.
https://www.gpofpa.org/team_core_join
National Green News
Edited by David Ochmanowicz Jr.
2023 Green Party Annual National Meeting
Please enjoy these 32 videos. We hope you learn from the workshop and event video recordings documented by GreenPartyVideos. Find other Greens locally and organize! #BeSeenBeingGreen
Sessions and workshops include:
- Press Conference with Green Party Candidates Officeholders
- Avengers Assemble! How to Develop a Coalition
The Next Theoretical Framework: The Natural Left Is The True Left
- Welcome to the 2023 Green Party Annual National Meeting
- What is a Resource? Systems and Digital Organizing as a Tool in Growing Our State and Local Parties
- Make Love Not More – Men’s Contraceptives Research, Activism, and Green Party Platform
- Candidate Cafe & Meet the Steering Committee
- End the War in Korea
- What's The Matter With the United States?
Keynote address from Peter Kalmus
- How to Organize for Fair Elections: Ranked Choice Voting and Proportional Representation
Closing with Jill Stein
Global Green News
Edited by Hal Brown
New Zealand: Green Party of Aotearoa urges government to prioritize voices of residents
“Residents are currently required to continue to pay for their accommodation when they leave until the retirement village is able to renew it.” READ THE FULL STORY HERE
Belgian Federal MP Cogolati (Ecolo) nominated for Politician of the Year
The decision was made by four judges: Laura Chinchilla, the first woman elected to the presidency of Costa Rica, Fatou Jagne Senghore, Gambian defender of freedom of expression, Payam Akhavan, member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague and special adviser on genocide to the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, and Sanam Naraghi Anderlini, founder and director general of the ICAN (International Civil Society Action Network). READ THE FULL STORY HERE
Niger Crisis: EELV asks the African Union ECOWAS to favor peaceful mediation effort
“Clashes between soldiers in Sudan, jihadist attacks in the Sahel, coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, Guinea: the political and security situation is extremely fragile throughout this part of the world. This new military coup facing a democratically elected president can only destabilize the region a little more,” reads the press release published on the website of the French Green Party. READ THE FULL STORY HERE
Polling Experts predict Green MP in Bristol in General Election
“With 12 of the 14 Bristol Central Constituency Councilors being Green Councillors, we also know there is a strong base of Green support here. There is a real rise in power. A large number of volunteers and supporters will continue to work hard to get us over the line – there is a growing belief that the Greens can win here.” READ THE FULL STORY HERE
GPPA Meeting Dates for 2023
All State Web Conferences will begin promptly at noon.
Sunday, September 24 in Philadelphia.
Please RSVP here, https://www.gpofpa.org/state-committee_gppa_sep2023
Sunday, November 12, via Zoom.
GPPA Communications Team
Issue Credits
Editors: Hal Brown, Patrick O. McNally, David Ochmanowicz, Jr. and Chris Robinson
Contributors: Beverly Beers, Alex Casper (they/them), Theron Gilliland (he/him) and Chris Robinson
Layout: Hal Brown, Sherri Miller, and David Ochmanowicz Jr.
Graphic Arts: Kevin Richardson
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