Here are some June 2023 updates from New Virginia Majority, Tenants and Workers United, Virginia Student Power Network, and the ACE Collaborative.
New Virginia Majority
Primary Election Results
Virginia elected all five of New Virginia Majority’s endorsed candidates in the June 20th primaries: Lashrecse Aird (SD-13), Adele McClure (HD-12), Commonwealth’s Attorneys Parisa Dehghani-Tafti (Arlington County & the City of Fairfax), Steve Descano (Fairfax County), and Buta Biberaj (Loudoun County). We congratulate the candidates and all of our tireless canvassers and volunteers who knocked doors, called and reached out to tens of thousands of voters. This November, the ballot will have more women, people of color, and immigrant candidates than ever before, as we continue to center a working-class agenda that pushes Virginia forward.
Loudoun County Housing Department Director John Hall: We Need Rental Assistance NOW!
More than a year after the county earmarked $12 million in federal funding for housing assistance, community members have yet to see their first dollar of rental help. On June 30th, New Virginia Majority members protested in the rain outside county government offices in Leesburg Friday to demand action on the long-stalled funds. Read coverage of the event here:
Norfolk: Emergency Call Tower Victory and "Real Time Crime Center" concerns
VICTORY! In June, the Norfolk Redevelopment Housing Authority approved a pilot program to install emergency call towers to address poor lighting, limited phone access, the stigma of making 911 calls, and over-policing in the St. Paul's area. This win comes after tireless advocacy by residents and organizers since the fall of 2022; the first call tower is expected in Calvert Square within the next two months.
Also in June, the Norfolk City Council approved the establishment of a “Real Time Crime Center”, invasive surveillance technology that the city claims will “enhance public safety.” Community members and organizers are concerned this will increase criminalization, over-policing, and threaten civil liberties and are advocating for transparency and accountability throughout this process.
Tenants and Workers United
Organizing For Housing Justice and More In South Fairfax, Prince William County, and Alexandria
In South Fairfax County, TWU is organizing in mobile home parks and apartments to fight increasing rents, terrible housing conditions, and to improve management.
TWU is also mobilizing throughout Prince William County. In Woodbridge, there was an introductory workshop for new members to learn more about TWU’s mission, goals, and values, the Woodbridge Community Leadership Board continues planning outreach and events to meet people’s needs, and community outreach and service navigation work also continues in Dumfries by connecting with people, building relationships, and supporting communities most in need.
In Alexandria, TWU organizers hosted a community meeting to discuss the city's development plans and how it will affect families. They also met with our community leaders to talk about ways they can organize and build power to improve housing conditions and ensure that any plans made in the city include safe, clean, and affordable housing for our families!
Virginia Student Power Network (VSPN)
Summer Freedom School Fellowship
VSPN is in full swing with their 2023 Summer Freedom School Fellowship. Fellows, facilitators, and VSPN staff gathered in Richmond to get to know each other and participate in Organizing 101, University Power Structures, and Power Mapping trainings.
This year, our staff and facilitators cooked up a new layer of engagement by creating a fictional university, where fellows, along with their “squads” and facilitators will work through hypothetical situations for organizing on a campus. Learn more here.
ACE Collaborative
Uber and Lyft Drivers Protest Arbitrary Deactivations, Declining Wages, Lack of Transparency
On June 20th, Uber and Lyft drivers in collaboration with Asian American Pacific Islander Civic Engagement (ACE) Collaborative, held a press conference at Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., to protest the declining wages, the lack of transparency around pay calculations, and the arbitrary deactivations. After the press conference, drivers caravaned through the city. Email here to get involved with the campaign.
Thank you for your continued support.
In solidarity,
New Virginia Majority
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