AFT 2121 member Li Miao Lovett runs for Democratic Central Committee
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We are proud to endorse one of our own for San Francisco’s Democratic Central Committee. Li Lovett. She has worked at CCSF as a Counselor for many years. She is well-respected by her colleagues and the students. She is a lifelong San Franciscan, a parent, and the author of In The Lap of Gods. In this election, Lovett is running as part of the Social Justice Slate. Find out more about who is on her team here.
Lovett and the Social Justice Democrats will hold a Mega Mobilization this Saturday 2/29 10AM at Alamo Square Park (@Scott &Hayes).
LL: During the accreditation crisis that nearly shut down City College, I was on the front lines doing the media work for AFT 2121. Our advocacy with state legislators like Mark Leno and Tom Ammiano, and the support we got from progressive leaders in City Hall and around the state, has given me faith in local politics.
These leaders spoke for us before the tide had turned on the ACCJC; they understood how critical it was to save City College for the working class in San Francisco. Our work on Free City, our urgent push for funding in future budget cycles depends on electing leaders who are responsive to the people and to public education. That’s the influence the SF Democratic Party has on city politics through endorsements, voter turnout, and engagement with community leaders and policy makers.
AFT 2121: Most voters don’t even know what the DCCC is, and what it does? Why should our members care about it?
LL: The DCCC elections are very important to our city. For one thing, the San Francisco Democratic Party makes critical endorsements on candidates and ballot measures, thus shaping the policies that affect our economy, youth and seniors, housing, public education, small businesses, and more. If we allow corporate and developer interests to take the majority of seats in the DCCC, then this can only worsen the affordability crisis affecting our students, faculty and staff.
AFT 2121: What policy changes do you want to see in San Francisco?
LL: My main priority is to provide funding from the city budget to CCSF through the Community Higher Education Fund (CHEF); revitalize the connections that City College has with community-based organizations and workforce development so that we can truly fulfill our mission as a college serving the community.
We need to build affordable housing first and prioritize construction of housing that’s affordable for tenants and workers. To do this, we must keep market forces in check. I support Measure E linking office growth to housing), and focus on housing for educators and public service workers.
Of course, we need to address our energy infrastructure and support local and statewide efforts for a transition to publicly owned power, so that the PG&E of the future will have safe, clean power and ratepayer needs at the forefront, not investor returns.
AFT 2121 endorses Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren
Following a month-long member survey and two Committee on Political Education (COPE) meetings, members at our last COPE meeting voted in support of a dual endorsement of Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.
These candidates have the vision and ideas needed to help lead the country out of the Trump-Devos disaster. We are confident that, if elected, each of these candidates will fight for faculty, students, and the broader community college mission of providing high quality public education for all who want it.
Both candidates support free universal public college education and the cancellation of all student loan debts, paid for through progressive tax policies that ask the wealthy to pay their fair share. Senator Sanders has championed public education for decades.
Members at the COPE meeting expressed strong support for endorsing candidates who are making education at all levels a significant part of their platform. Senator Sanders even visited CCSF to support the “Free City” organizing drive to create a tuition-free community college in San Francisco.
AFT 2121’s endorsement joins a growing list of education union endorsements for the two most progressive candidates in the Democratic primary.
(2/27) COPE meeting: Meet State Senator Scott Weiner
Come hear from Senator Scott Weiner about his plans for community colleges and public education. Senator Scott Weiner is running for re-election this year. Senator Wiener represents District 11 in the California State Senate. District 11 includes all of San Francisco, Broadmoor, Colma, and Daly City, as well as portions of South San Francisco. As our Senator, his decisions will directly impact the future of community colleges in general. We are pleased that he agreed to meet with us.
After Wiener’s presentation and Q + A, our COPE will decide whether and whom to endorse in this race. His main challenger, Jackie Fielder has already interviewed with us. Enter the password COPE to read their responses to our questionnaires.
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