[sudo-discuss] [omnilogistics] [Critical] Cannot pass new member Rise Above printing

[David Keenan]

Hey all,

Yes - Gabriela's message above was forwarded to omnilogistics on 8/7. She
also spoke at that week's delegates meeting, as well as at this week's
delegate meeting. She has also come by several times and spoken with folks
in the building.

Together with her most recent email and time to talk tonight, I think
Gabriela has by this point functionally answered most of the questions in
the questionnaire, and I think certainly addressed the spirit of the
questionnaire in terms of being forthcoming about who she is and what she
brings to the omni community.

But Sudo is a larger group that does things in a more formal manner and if
Sudo needs more time to discuss Rise Above's co-subtenancy (if that is the
right word for all of us here?), then I think one more week can and should
be afforded, even if it is not ideal. It's no one's 'fault' - all of us are
volunteers and things just take longer than they should.

By the same token of accepting that situations are not ideal, in that same
spirit I hope Sudoers recognize that the actual process for adding new
co-subtenants (maybe roommate is a better word) is not exactly a well-oiled
machine at all, that all of us are operating in good faith, and that we
should all still make an effort to accommodate new tenants within the
context of this still-imperfect process - both in the general spirit of
mutual aid, and for the ongoing survival of the overall project. Other,
earlier potential new tenants, like RLL and Ian, didn't make it through our
intake process in part because our this process was less than perfect.

In addition to Gabriela's emails and presentations at delegate meetings --
some quick facts to consider:

- Willing to pay a max of $1000/mo

- Needs ~11' radius work area for her 6-screen silkscreen press; some space
for a desk; good ventilation, daylight for doing art stuff

- Would like to work in the utility room for her 6-screen silkscreen press,
which she is willing to share and train others within the Omni community to
use also, in the spirit of radical sharing (so long the space and equipment
is thoughtfully cared for, her inventory like t-shirts is potentially
secureable, etc.)

- Is willing to contribute towards fixing up that room:
-- removing or moving backward into the hallway part of the pony-wall
separating the kitchen from that area so she has enough room,
-- putting in a window, etc.

Btw -- in terms of the current ground-floor kitchen in the hallway:
Health and Fire say its gotta go (not to code for commercial use, which is
what we are..). Remember guys, there is another kitchen upstairs - we just
can't access it yet, cause John and Mary are using it. But anyhow this
particular hallway has to stop being a kitchen, so - Rise Above's presence
is not a factor in that, just in case folks were worried about that.

- Rise Above would also need to occasionally use part of the area
near/adjacent to in the walk-in-freezer area for rinsing out screens - this
coincides with the need of the cafe & basement kitchen to have a mop sink /
cleaning supply area as per health code. Is willing to help invest in the
cost of upgrading this area too in order to serve this need.

Other thoughts:

In addition, although this feels like it needs to elaboration, welcoming
Gabriela fulfills the function of preserving the cultural production of
local artists which is obviously being gentrified out of existence in this
neighborhood. Providing a continued home for her work fulfils a real-time
function of social justice in terms of helping this local community we have
moved into, and that feels really important to me. (She also lives in this
neighborhood.) She is well-connected to the neighborhood  and I think will
really help integrate Omni into the local social fabric.

Also, her press is a natural companion resource to TIL's community press
area in the basement in terms of the community having access to means of
production - not unlike Sudo in its computer-y way, BAPS in its radical
pedagogical way, CCL in its bio way, etc.

In addition I have helped spend a few weeks working out with Gabriela what
spaces in the building might be mutually compatible for Gabriela and OOC.
This process, with any potential tenant, takes time before a proper
application be effectively and thoughtfully made with regards space (an
aspect that is not yet reflected in the questionnaire: where and how often
space used, not just how much.) As pondering RLL and Ian taught us, it is
not the easiest thing in the world to find a new roommate - who is kind,
cool, able to contribute financially at a solid level, and above all into
the spirit of radical sharing indexical to this project and our survival.

Maybe I'm not the only one, but I've put a lot of time and care into
efforts at getting new tenants - pitched to multiple law collectives, other
free schools, and others - and I think Rise Above is a solid fit. For
sudoers' deliberation I would only ask, in terms of process -- let's not
let perfection be the enemy of the good..? Not that y'all are doing that -
I'm just saying, yes, this *process* may not yet be perfect, but in my
view, Rise Above is definitely good :)

Lotsa love -
me


On Fri, Aug 29, 2014 at 1:24 AM, Rise Above Printing <
info at riseaboveoakland.com> wrote:

> Hi Matt and Omni Collective,
> Hopefully this is going to the whole list, if not can you please forward.
> At the beginning of August I emailed my proposal to join the Omni with my
> responses to the collective joining questionnaire. I sent this to David
> Keenan and Niki who were my contact points at that time but I'm not sure if
> it got forwarded to the group, so I'm pasting it below. Please let me know
> what the next steps might be to answer the questions of the group or
> further the discussion of my tenancy and/or membership potential.
> It was great to be able to stay for the whole meeting tonight and I can
> tell you all are going about your processes in a careful and smart way.
> While my situation is time sensitive, I think it's important to give this
> decision the time it deserves. If you could let me know what to expect as
> far as the near future that'd be great.
> Thanks,
> Gabriela
>
>
> Rise Above Graphics is a screen print shop run by myself and occasional
> other helpers. We specialize in printing on fabric and clothing. We print
> limited edition runs of artist designed t-shirts as well as doing custom
> printing for a wide variety of customers. We also offer design services.
>
> I started the print operation in 2005 after much trial and error and self
> teaching. What started out small has gained a lot of momentum and now Rise
> Above has an excellent reputation and almost more work that we can
> sometimes handle. We print for many local artists, bands, shops, schools,
> etc. and offer discounts for non-profits.
>
> I've had a dream of joining efforts with others for a long time. When I
> was ready to move into a public space I was fortunate enough to come across
> a wonderful corner spot on Telegraph and decided to expand into an art
> gallery as well. It was such a pleasure to spend 3 years there helping
> artists and guest curators use the space for a wide variety of creativity
> and expression. Rise Above and Smokeys Tangle developed the Temescal Art
> Hop and maintained the Temescal First Fridays and I'm hoping we can both
> find a way to resist being pushed out of the neighborhood and keep
> supporting the arts in Temescal.
>
> Now that I am being evicted from my spot, for condo conversion I'm looking
> to find a place where I can both focus on my print shop and also be part of
> a community with a cross pollination of ideas, efforts and energy.
>
> To be honest I am concerned for the future of this neighborhood, which is
> also my home. Instead of moving my shop elsewhere I'd much prefer to stay
> and join the group effort to maintain conscious growth and resist rampant
> commercialization and homogenization.
>
> My income comes from customers who pay for my design and print skills.
> It's not the most lucrative business but it has been maintaining itself
> (and my daughter and I) for the past several years. I can contribute to the
> Omni financially in the form of rent. I can also offer my print services to
> the community for cheap or barter. I also envison working with the other
> artists/printers/curators/teachers etc. within the collective on
> collaborations of making, learning, art events, etc. The possibilities
> actually seem kind of infinite at this point!
>
> Looking forward to getting to know everyone more and talking more about
> all this potential.
>
> Gabriela Laz
> Rise Above Print Shop + Gallery
> www.riseaboveoakland.com
>
> On Aug 28, 2014, at 10:19 PM, Matthew Senate wrote:
>
> Hey all,
>
> I regret to bring this up just after what was largely a productive and
> important meeting.
>
> However, based on my conversations with sudo room members after the
> meeting was over, I need to require that my abstain for this vote must be
> changed to a block vote.
>
> Unfortunately, the sudo room has not previously consented to adding a new
> member collective. For a decision as serious as adding a new member, I hope
> the other members of The Omni Oakland Collective can respect this change of
> position, and the need to take time. I hear this strongly from our sudo
> community and I hope this resonates with you all.
>
> I wish I was more prepared and able to respond in a timely fashion during
> the meeting today, but regretfully, I was not and did not.
>
> You can see no such decision or approval to add Rise Above as a new member
> collective was made this past meeting:
> https://sudoroom.org/wiki/Meeting_Notes_2014-08-27
> Nor on the 13th: https://sudoroom.org/wiki/Meeting_Notes_2014-08-13
>
> The sudo room members were waiting for a more formal proposal answering
> the questions here: http://wiki.omni-oakland.org/w/Join
>
> Is someone willing to contact Rise Above directly, ASAP?
>
> // Matt
>
>
>
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