Fort Collins Democratic Socialists of America

Fort Collins Democratic Socialists of America is a Colorado affiliate of Democratic Socialists of America.

2024 Fort Collins DSA comrades

Jonah Salehi, Greg Zoda, Kaori Keyser, Connor Flynn, Stefanie Berganini, August Carter-Nelson

Leaders 2023

Andrew Boesenecker
Kaori Keyser (co-chair)
Greg Zoda (co-chair)
Connor Flynn (elections committee)

Minimum wage discussion

March 11, 2022, Emily Gallichote, Anthony Asuega, Kaori Keyser and Larson Ross of Fort Collins Democratic Socialists of America will discuss the history of the minimum wage, the minimum wage in Colorado (including Denver’s recent increase to over $15 per hour), the cost of living in Fort Collins, and actions City Council could take to address the problem of unlivable wages in Fort Collins. They will also pose and discuss some frequently asked question regarding the minimum wage, as well as some questions around the morality of paying people less than a livable wage.

Anthony is the Co-Chair of the Elections Committee for DSA Fort Collins and a graduate worker in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Colorado State University. Emily is co-chair of the Medicare for all Committee for DSA Fort Collins and a research scientist at CSU.^[1]

Fort Collins DSA Education Committee

Fort Collins Democratic Socialists of America January 10 2020.

EdComm-selfie with Bernie

Emily Gallichote, Lyn Gullette, JJ Levy, Julie Rowan-Zoch, Elaine Branjord,

Medicare for All meeting

February 2022, Fort Collins City Council will consider a resolution in support of Medicare for All after hearing community members' passionate testimony and personal stories about the shortcomings of America's health care system.

Members of community groups Larimer County Health Care Action and Fort Collins Democratic Socialists of America, among others, were part of an outreach campaign encouraging council to pass a resolution in support of Medicare for All. The outreach included over 100 emails and about 10 people speaking at public comment.

Anders Fremstad, an associate professor of economics at Colorado State University, noted that over 28,000 Larimer County residents don’t have health insurance, which prevents them from living up to their full potential and “results in completely avoidable sickness and death.”

DSA member Larson Ross told council about an accident at a warehouse he worked at over the summer, when a 600-pound pallet fell from 30 feet and nearly crushed four people.

Fort Collins resident Dr. Cathy Egan, a family physician at Loveland Community Health Center, said she sees people turn down essential medications, tests and surgeries every day because they can’t afford the costs. She called the American health care system “a patchwork of services with gaping holes in coverage.”

Attendees also pressed U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse, who was at the meeting virtually for a community update, about what he’ll do to pass universal health care legislation. Neguse said he feels hopeful that the topic is gaining momentum, noting that the number of cosponsors on the House of Representatives’ Medicare for All bill has doubled from about 60 to over 120 co-sponsors. Neguse was an original co-sponsor of the bill and is vice chair of the Medicare For All Caucus.

Council members asked staff to draft a resolution during the “other business” portion of their meeting, where council members can initiate new agenda items with approval from at least three members. Mayor Jeni Arndt, Mayor pro-tem Emily Francis and other council members said they’d like to see a draft resolution at an upcoming meeting. Staff said they can likely get a draft together by the April 5 meeting without compromising the timeline for executing any of council’s priorities.^[2]

Imagine Improved Medicare for All

On August 28th, 2020, Larimer County Health Care Action presented at the Fort Collins Community Action Network (FCCAN) Salon duc Tape on 'Imagine..Improved Medicare for All'. Hosted by Andrew Boesenecker, Emily Gallichote, Julie Rowan-Zoch, and Rich Shannon.

Presented by Larimer County Health Care Action, Fort Collins Democratic Socialists of America, in collaboration with Colorado Foundation for Universal Health Care.

Participants included Jim Potter, Gerri Vermont, Elaine Branjord^[3]

Improved Medicare For All

Larimer County Health Care Action and Fort Collins Democratic Socialists of America present a panel discussion on Improved Medicare For All. February 9 2019.

Moderator was Andrew Boesenecker. Guests included Kathy Kipp House District 52.

Panelists were Sally Anderson, District Director for Rep. Joe Neguse, Drs Cathy Egan, Carol Ting, Anders Fremstad (CSU economics professor).^[4]

Douthit endorsement

Fort Collins Democratic Socialists of America May 19 at 1:55pm;

Fort Collins Democratic Socialists of America are excited to announce our endorsement of Bernard Douthit for State Treasurer of Colorado.

We believe public banking is an important issue worth fighting for and we look forward to helping Douthit's campaign create a state bank for Colorado.

Occupy Fort Collins

David Klausa, left, and Dan Michniewicz of Fort Collins DSA at Zuccotti Park in NYC

The Occupy Fort Collins demonstration is a part of the Occupy Movement which began on Sept. 17, 2011 with the original Occupy Wall Street demonstration in New York City.

Dan Michniewicz of Fort Collins Democratic Socialists of America reported on the origins of the Occupy Fort Collins demonstration:^[5]

"At its monthly meeting in September, the Fort Collins Democratic Socialists of America branch did the initial organizing for Occupy Fort Collins. It then turned over all decision making to the general assembly. Many of the folks who stop by the occupation are receptive to DSA's message and interested in learning more about the organization. I managed the Occupy Fort Collins Facebook page and Twitter feed before leaving for New York to take part in the protest there."

The Occupy Fort Collins demonstration is a part of the Occupy Movement which began on Sept. 17, 2011 with the original Occupy Wall Street demonstration in New York City.

Dan Michniewicz and David Klausa of Fort Collins Democratic Socialists of America reported on the origins of the Occupy Fort Collins demonstration:^[5]

DSA Fort Collins Organizing Meeting

DSA Fort Collins Organizing Meeting Hosted by Fort Collins Democratic Socialists of America

Saturday, December 2 2017

Wild Boar Cafe, 1510 S College Ave, Fort Collins, Colorado ^[6]

Interested

Went

A Workshop with Bill Barclay

U.S. Capitalism in Crisis and Social Market Alternatives: A Workshop with Bill Barclay

Public · Hosted by Fort Collins Democratic Socialists of America

Sunday, June 24, 2012 at 6 PM MDT

Bizarre Bazaar, 254 Linden St, Old Town Fort Collins^[7]

Invited on Facebook