[sudo-discuss] [URGENT] Omni Commons Response to Current Climate (was re: "Omni as a distribution point")

Mon Mar 16 11:47:08 PDT 2020

Hey all!

While I'm replying to Roberto's message, I'm also cc'ing various Omni
mailing lists (including member collectives):

Yes, I think we should be a dropoff point - but only if the organizers will
staff it *fully* and abide by *extremely high hygiene/sanitization
standards*.

We all need to be talking more about next steps as a community place-based
organization. I've revived our Slack channel here so we can have real-time
conversations:
*Click Here To Join Chat!
<https://join.slack.com/t/omnicommons/shared_invite/zt-coe108tt-rd~SdFHo_DN_l6l51ANPdQ>*

*Questions for the community:*

   - *Should we send a request to our mortgage lender to belay payments for
   a month or two?* We have $30K as bare-minimum operating reserves (which
   I'd rather not touch), and an additional $15K in the kitchen fund. Our
   checking account is currently at a little over $3K, with March mortgage and
   utilities paid, but we are not receiving ~$1K in member collective
   payments, and half our necessary monthly income (~$5K of ~$11K) comes from
   event rentals... that have all been cancelled...
   - *Builders/handypeoplez: *I have put out a call/request for someone to
   install the touchless soap dispenser i bought last year - it is powered by
   rechargeable C batteries and needs to be mounted onto tile with masonry
   drill bits - all materials (dispenser, batteries, charger, masonry bits and
   drill) are in the secure storage; foaming unscented hand soap is in massive
   quantities in the cleaning closet (please lock! but share combo lock code
   liberally with trusted folks who won't steal all the TP ;) - it could also
   be wired to existing electrical. I personally can't do it as I'm currently
   a probable asymptomatic vector of covid-19. At my home in W Oakland, we
   have a box of N95 masks (I believe CCL ordered more?) and lots of food as
   well as herbs and some meds, so ping me if you need and I will leave it
   outside our door for you <3 Can also order things online if anyone needs
   and doesn't have the resources right now.
   - Per requests from Robb, I have purchased 4 bottles of 70% Isopropyl
   alcohol with spritz bottles, as well as a dozen air filters. Who is
   currently regularly at Omni (Robb? Sierk? AB? anyone else?) that can be my
   point of contact for delivery updates? If you think of other things we need
   you can make a purchase request here:
   https://omnicommons.org/budgetrequest

*Some relevant announcements:*

   - CCL has recently purchased various supplies for decontamination and
   cleanliness. Also a good resource for people with questions about the
   virus. Patrik, lmk if you need to go halfsies with Omni on the sanitizer
   dispensing station - if CCL is strapped, that is - cuz Omni will be in
   coming months.
   - *Please donate* to Omni <https://omnicommons.org/donate> and/or Sudo
   <https://sudoroom.org/donate> right now! Also, consider making a
   donation to CCL member (and my former beloved housemate!) Craig, who is
   working on a vaccine - he is currently trying to raise $1500: You can send
   PayPal donations to: finance at renegadex.bio - or Venmo: Craig-Rouskey
   <https://venmo.com/Craig-Rouskey>
   - I'll be sending out a financial report with coming-month prospectives
   by the end of March. This is one of my priorities right now, and I'm
   downshifting my full-time job and other gigs to do it and will not be
   charging my $25 bookkeeper contract rate for those hours. I am concerned
   about the lack of financial support from events (most all of which have
   been cancelled or postponed), as well as from Phat Beets (4 months unpaid
   rent, $2,518) and FYE (1.5 months unpaid rent, $525) - PB & FYE - please
   let us know how your orgs are doing and what we can do to best support you
   and in turn, Omni Commons as a whole!
   - Current costs and recurring income sources have been regularly updated
   on the Finance Wiki Page: https://omnicommons.org/wiki/Finances

*Additional Resources:*

   - COVID-19 Mutual Aid Resources- Huichin/Oakland
   <https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/1/d/1q8gPladEOi0vI8oU7Z37AYJQsy22SKdwNhVUDMJc3mQ/edit#gid=0>
   - https://bayrising.org/organizingduringcoronavirus/
   - https://covid19freelanceartistresource.wordpress.com/
   - https://www.needhelppayingbills.com/html/alameda_county_food_banks.html
   - Alameda County Public Health Deptartment's COVID-19 resource hub
   <http://www.nikki4oakland.com/r?u=Qw7BN9spnH2-QGQihzneFoQv17feW3ezjwg15mnJvsuC3XV2h3gusKLTeMGHN1OG&e=d47a11b8ed371f26a8957974a847a9c1&utm_source=nikki4oakland&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=covid_19_evictions_moratorium&n=15>
   - http://www.alamedacounty.info/content/housing-and-renting-aid
   - Bay Area Financial Solidarity <http://Tiny.cc/covidmutualaid>

Mad love & solidarity - and hope to see you on the chat! (link above)
<3 jnny

On Mon, Mar 16, 2020 at 10:07 AM Roberto Martinez via commons <
commons at lists.omnicommons.org> wrote:

> Hello all,
>
> I got a request about using the Omni as a location for dropping off
> donating goods. Are we doing something already? If not are we open to have
> the Omni as a drop of place?
>
> I’ll ask them to submit a formal request and take it from there.
>
> Thanks,
> RM
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>
> *From:* Cc Raye <viviraye at gmail.com>
> *Date:* March 15, 2020 at 8:16:01 PM PDT
> *To:* Margot Brennan <margot at seedsandstones.org>
> *Cc:* Roberto Martinez <rcm00189 at gmail.com>
> *Subject:* *Re:  Omni as a distribution point*
>
> 
> Hi Roberto,
> Thanks Margot for connecting us.
> Some of us are trying to coordinate some mutual aid and wanted to suggest
> a centralized location for dropping off donated goods that could then be
> redistributed.
> Do you think Omni might be open to this for some period of time?
> Would we need to have designated times?
> Looking forward to being in touch if y'all are open to this.
> Thanks!
> Cici
>
> On Sun, Mar 15, 2020, 8:07 PM Margot Brennan <margot at seedsandstones.org>
> wrote:
>
>> Hi Roberto,
>>
>> Cc'd on this email is Cici who has a question for you all about possibly
>> using the space for something.  Cici, this is Roberto my contact for the
>> Omni.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Margot
>>
> _______________________________________________
> commons mailing list
> commons at lists.omnicommons.org
> https://omnicommons.org/lists/listinfo/commons
>
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