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1. Jose Garza, Democrat Socialists of America member, is running as a Democrat, for Travis County District Attorney in #Austin, #Texas. He beat incumbent Margaret Moore in a runoff election in July. He won by 44,266 votes.
2. In his announcement, he declared his intent to abolish cash bail and protect illegal immigrants. Also on his platform:
* WE WILL NOT KEEP PEOPLE IN JAIL JUST BECAUSE THEY’RE POOR.
* WE WILL HOLD POLICE OFFICERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR MISCONDUCT https://www.joseforda.com/platform
* WE WILL NOT KEEP PEOPLE IN JAIL JUST BECAUSE THEY’RE POOR.
* WE WILL HOLD POLICE OFFICERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR MISCONDUCT https://www.joseforda.com/platform
3. He is endorsed by Bernie, Warren, Austin EMS Assoc, Austin Fire Assoc, Democratic Socialists of American, as well as Workers Defense Action Fund, the polictical arm of the Workers Defense Project, in which he is Executive Director.
4. Workers Defense Project is a 501c3, which aids and provides representation for workers in the Texas construction industry. It operates in all the major Texas cities, including Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio.
https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/workers-defense-project/that
https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/workers-defense-project/that
5. Greg Casar, Austin City Council Member, served for four years a policy director for the Workers Defense Project, before taking office. Casar was elected in 2014 as the youngest member of the Austin City Council at age 25. https://apps.statesman.com/council-candidate-explorer/candidate/greg-casar-5/
6. Sept. 2016, Austin, Texas, the Dept of Labor partnered with the Workers Defense Project to host the Labor Summit. Greg Casar and José Garza described how the Better Builder Program is collaborating with developers to require higher wages and safety
https://www.workersdefense.org/white-house-worker-summit/
https://www.workersdefense.org/white-house-worker-summit/
7. "As Construction Citizen has reported the new program was passed despite the objections of much of the business community, including AGC of Austin, ABC, the Austin Chamber of Commerce, and the Austin Independent Business Alliance."
8. The Workers Lab, based in Oakland, CA, helped with a loan for the Better Builder LLC.
The Workers Lab envisions a society where workers are powerful drivers of economic, political, and social transformation.
The Workers Lab envisions a society where workers are powerful drivers of economic, political, and social transformation.
9. City of Austin's Better Builder Program and Fees
10. Twenty-one of the 28 candidates on the November 2018 ballot for mayor or city council showed up at the Workers Defense Action Fund forum Sunday August 19, 2018, to make a pitch for the group’s endorsement. https://theaustinbulldog.org/workers-defense-seeks-committed-candidates/
11. In 2020, the City of Austin has given over 300k to Workers Defense Project. COVID sure came in handy during an election year.
12. And thanks to COVID, they have been busy, applying for and receiving grant money.
Texas Workers Defense Project was awarded $100,000 to help low-wage, undocumented workers and their families in Austin, Dallas and Houston stay safe... https://disasterphilanthropy.org/cdp-fund/cdp-covid-19-response-fund/
Texas Workers Defense Project was awarded $100,000 to help low-wage, undocumented workers and their families in Austin, Dallas and Houston stay safe... https://disasterphilanthropy.org/cdp-fund/cdp-covid-19-response-fund/
13. and again...
"The department’s Economic Recovery Team is currently negotiating a $2 million contract with the nonprofit Workers Defense Project to provide legal assistance and distribute financial support to high-risk workers in economic distress." https://www.austinmonitor.com/stories/2020/09/new-austin-public-health-plan-addresses-covid-19-disparities-in-hispanic-latinx-community/
"The department’s Economic Recovery Team is currently negotiating a $2 million contract with the nonprofit Workers Defense Project to provide legal assistance and distribute financial support to high-risk workers in economic distress." https://www.austinmonitor.com/stories/2020/09/new-austin-public-health-plan-addresses-covid-19-disparities-in-hispanic-latinx-community/
14. In the words of the Communist Manifesto, the working class is “the only truly revolutionary class” because only the working class has an interest in ending capitalism and replacing it with socialism. https://cpusa.org/party_info/party-program/
15. "The Communist Party aims for a peaceful transition to socialism, based on all forms of mass democratic expression and social action, electoral and non-electoral, to win and maintain working people’s power."
16. @threadreaderapp please unroll.
At the time, I have been unable to correctly identify the Better Builders LLC which was supposedly set up by Workers Defense Project.
