************************************** * Progressive Democrats of Cambridge * **************************************
************************************** * Progressive Democrats first meeting* **************************************There's a movement afoot to change the Democratic Party. An organization called "Progressive Democrats of Massachusetts" (PDM) is currently forming, based on new progressive activism from the Reich and Tolman campaigns. PDM's purpose is to move the Massachusetts Democratic Party toward more progressive values and more progressive candidates. PDM will distribute some literature at the upcoming Issues Convention, and you can preview it here.
Draft versions of all of the above documents appear at the website www.ProgressiveDems.org. There is also a sign-up form there for adding new subscribers to this e-mail list and for providing feedback and your other contact information. Please sign in there even if you can't attend this week's meeting.
The meeting will be held at 7 PM at 175 Harvey Street in North Cambridge. Directions appear on the website along with a map:
* By car: From Mass Ave, look for the large blue "Cambridge Lumber" billboard pointing to Harvey Street (it's opposite Cameron Ave). Proceed down Harvey Street 6 blocks to the entrance across from Jackson Street. You'll find on-street parking on Clifton Street.
* By T: From Alewife Station, take the North Cambridge exit, walk 50 yards to Russell Field, then follow the footpath to the left around Russell Field. When you emerge past the flagpole on the street, turn right and go one block up Harvey Street to #175 on the left.
* By bus: The 77 or 77A from Harvard Station lets you off at the intersection of Mass Ave, Cameron Ave, and Harvey Street. Walk down Harvey Street 6 blocks to #175 on your right.
* By bike: 175 Harvey Street borders the Minuteman Bikepath Extension (the Linear Path connector to the Somerville Community Path). Follow signs from the Alewife terminus of the Minuteman Bikepath heading toward Davis Square, and exit at the Harvey Street crossing just past Russell Field. From the Davis Square side, follow signs toward Alewife and exit just before Russell Field.
************************************** * Democratic City Committee meeting * **************************************One of the main arguments by non-progressives against Reich and Tolman supporters is that we "came and went" after last year's nominating convention and campaign. That is demonstrably untrue -- 337 Reich supporters from the campaign will attend this year's Issues Convention as delegates or alternates. Nevertheless, that sentiment is a commonly-held belief among the Cambridge Democrats and the MassDems. The means to gain the respect of Democratic Party members is to join the City Committee and attend their meetings. That's also the means to be heard within the Democratic Party, to move toward a more progressive agenda.
The Cambridge City Democratic Committee will hold its next meeting on Tuesday, May 20 at 7:00 PM at the Area 4 Youth Center, 243 Harvard Street (near Central Square).
On the agenda are two resolutions:
* 1) A resolution to increase the number of ward members from 15 to 20. Cambridge has one of the lowest number of City Committee representatives in Massachusetts (most City Committees have 35 members per ward). Expanding the size of the Ward Committees will allow in new people, which in most wards means more progressives.
* 2) Rent Control Resolution -- a proposal for support of a November ballot initiative. Texts of both resolutions appear at http://www.cambridgedems.org/CDCC/#Next
************************************** * Joining the Cambridge Democrats * **************************************Joining the Cambridge City Democratic Committee is easy -- just show up at the May 20 meeting. Bring two copies of a note that says "I would like to apply for Associate Member status", signed with your address, one copy for your Ward Chair and one for the City Chair. If you miss this meeting, you can do the same process by mail, see http://www.cambridgedems.org/CDCC/#Contact for contact addresses.
There may be a June meeting before the summer recess (to be decided on May 20), in which case you can do the same process then. To find the next Democratic Committee meetings in other cities and towns, call the Committee Chair for your town, listed at http://www.massdems.org/statecom/chairs.htm .
Associate Membership status entitles you to run for full Committee Membership when seats become open. If there are currently open seats, you can become a full City Committee member at the next meeting. If not, you will be first on the list for eligibility when the additional 5 seats become active in March 2004. You will also be eligible for the City Committee election slate in March 2004.
The City Committee members elected in March 2004 will be the incumbent Democratic Committee members for the 2006 gubernatorial election as well as the other statewide elections in 2006 and the legislative elections in 2004. The City Committee members are the "insiders" of the Party. Hence this is the chance -- once every four years -- to become a party insider. Applying for Associate Membership now is the best means to get a seat on the City Committee in the March election. The other Committee members will want to meet you (in June or September) before submitting the election slate (due in early November). So if you want to get on the election slate (which pretty much ensures getting a seat) now is the time for Associate Membership.
************************************** * Democratic Party Electoral Schedule* **************************************
************************************** * About this message * **************************************We encourage you to forward this newsletter to your friends, family, and colleagues.
We plan to send a periodic newsletter to progressive Democrats.
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-- Jesse Alan Gordon
Jesse@ProgressiveDems.org
**************************************** * Progressive Democrats of Cambridge * * newsletter@ProgressiveDems.org * * http://Cambridge.ProgressiveDems.org * ****************************************