The Maine Mural Maine DSA

Socialism or (more) Barbarism? Steering Committee members Kate and Todd discuss democratic socialism and the Democratic Socialists of America on "Out in Left Field" for and at Biddeford Public Access TV, hosted by the Portland Media Center.
Comment: For some reason the Facebook algorithm queued up a 'Tucker Carlson' video in the 'Up Next' section under our video.

For more coverage of the building protests against the ongoing genocide in Palestine by the Pine and Roses Editorial Collective see:
 
Portland Rallies for Palestine After Rafah Bombed and Maine Coalition for Palestine Blocks Traffic, Protests Genocide in Gaza, By T. Sinclair  Pro-Worker, Anti-War, by Isaak Spain. Letter to the Editor: Portland’s Ceasefire Resolution is Good First Step, by Sam Spadafore.  
 
 

As we survey the landscape of civil rights in Maine’s public schools and publicly funded “private schools,” it is evident that the state falls desperately short in providing appropriate protections for some of its most vulnerable residents. The absence of meaningful, adequate measures to safeguard the rights of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), LGBTQ, and immigrant students represents an appalling, willing negligence of state leadership, with results that span across generations and communities.

For the second time this year, a coalition of landlords are attempting to undermine rent control in Portland.
In June of this year (previous coverage here), Portland voters voiced their strong support of rent control, with 67% voting to reject an attempt to replace the 5% vacancy turnover increase with the right to reset rent without restriction.
Not content to slink away with their deeply unpopular policies tucked between their legs, they are now attempting to decontrol all units owned by landlord entities who own 9 or fewer units, on top of the current exemption for landlords with up to 4 units, with no requirement that they live here.
Given the number of attempts to gut Portland’s rent control ordinance since its passage in 2020, as well as a successful attempt in 2022 to strengthen and clarify the law, the Pine & Roses Editorial Collective would like to share a simplified rundown of rent control as it stands today in Portland.

This article continues Pine & Rose’s previous coverage of events related to unionization at Little Dog Coffee Shop in Brunswick.
You can read the written article here.

To celebrate May Day 2023, we bring you this performance of An Appeal to Labor, by Eugene V. Debs.
Eugene Debs was one of the founding members of the Industrial Workers of the World and a five time candidate for President of the United States with the Socialist Party of America.
Debs was also a gifted public speaker famous for his energizing and uplifting public speeches. In recognition of that fact, today we will be bringing you An Appeal to Labor, which was originally published in The Railway Times in 1894, as if it were a speech made before a live audience.
Performing the role of Eugene Debs is founding Maine DSA member, former Maine state representative, and playwright, Harlan Baker. We hope that you enjoy.