We’re thrilled to have Milwaukee Autonomous Tenants Union (MATU) lead our next Cactus Book Club on Wednesday, October 2nd at 5:30. We’ll discuss The Tenant Class by Ricardo Tranjan. “What if there is no housing crisis, but instead a housing market working exactly as intended? What if rent hikes and eviction notices aren’t the work of the invisible hand of the market, but of a parasitic elite systematically funneling wealth away from working-class families? With clarity and precision, Tranjan breaks down pervasive myths about renters, mom-and-pop landlords, and housing affordability. In a society where home ownership is seen as the most important hallmark of a successful life, Tranjan refuses to absolve the landlords and governments that reap massive profits from the status quo.

Recommended bookseller: Milwaukee Liberation Center

The Milwaukee Autonomous Tenants Union (MATU) is “a diverse tenant-led movement fighting for housing as a human right and the total decommodification of housing. We demand safe, affordable housing and universal rent control, and, ultimately, the end of rent. Our mission is to strengthen tenants’ political power through direct action and education. We engage in direct action to fight for repairs/maintenance, challenge evictions, win demands from negligent landlords, and win community control of housing. Our educational and research programs help to build an understanding of the root cause of tenant exploitation and to prepare for action that ends that exploitation as well as expose the actors behind the corrupt and discriminatory housing system in Milwaukee. The Milwaukee Tenants Union is an autonomous tenants movement that is completely funded by its members.”.

Cactus Book Club (CBC) meets on the first Wednesday of the month from 5:30-7:30 in the back room at Cactus Club. Each month a different business, community organization, collective, or mutual aid group chooses the book & recommended bookseller then leads the discussion. We read sociopolitical fiction and non-fiction, with a focus on works by women, LGBTQ+, POC, and/or otherwise under-published groups. You don’t have to finish reading the book to attend. All book club meetings are free. No registration required. 18+. CBC is part of our ongoing Cactus+ programming.

Contact kelly@cactusplus.org with questions or suggestions