By: Pam Whalen
With ballot recounts, voters turned away from the polls, confusing butterfly ballots, a president elected by a minority of the voters and all other kinds of electoral dysfunction, is it time to give the system an overhaul?
Our system is designed to discourage, not encourage civic participation. Which makes sense if you are a member of the status quo corporate elite. Too much democracy can be a scary thing.
We have so many hurdles to participation. You have to register to vote almost a month before election day, you have to find time to vote on a work day, and you have to find the polling site which is in a different location every time. Add to that the fact that if you vote for your favorite candidate you may be helping to elect the one you least want. Then there is money and television but let’s leave that aside for a moment, as well as the whole electoral college question. Let’s just look at a few minor adjustments that can be done at the state or local level.
Here is my wish list:
 | SAME DAY REGISTRATION. Okay, you go to the polls, you register, you vote. It’s that simple and it’s already being done in some states. California is already shortening the pre election deadline from 20 days to 15 starting in 2001. Let’s make it 0 days. |
| HOLD ELECTIONS ON A NON WORK DAY. Schedule it for a Saturday or Sunday. Or better yet make it a mandatory paid holiday. What with long hours, forced overtime, picking up kids from daycare etc. working people are hard pressed to vote on a work day. |
| INSTANT RUN OFF. Like most things in life we don’t usually get our first choice. Okay, so let’s get our second choice. If no candidate gets 50% plus one then the second choices are counted. It saves the expense of a separate run off election, and it is already being done in some local elections. |
| FUSION PARTY. More than one party can run the same candidate. This is common in most states, but not allowed in California (probably because of very powerful socialist campaigns in California’s history). For example the Working People’s Party in New York endorsed Democratic candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton. |
Let’s take advantage of the current attention on electoral reform and push for these simple changes that could increase the number of working people who vote. Any increase in that number can only help.
On November 18 Fresno activists took their demands for a fair election to the streets. Photo credit: Mike Rhodes
from: Labor Notes*
The South Bay (California) Labor Council is calling on the AFL-CIO to "fully account" for its role in Chile and other countries in years past when its American Institute for Free Labor Development cooperated with the U.S. government to suppress unions that were at odds with U.S. foreign policy. Before the bloody 1973 military coup in Chile, the AIFLD worked with the CIA to undermine the CUT, which represented 90 percent of Chilean workers. After the coup, the CUT was outlawed, and thousands of its members were tortured and killed. The South Bay resolution also asks the AFL-CIO to disclose "exactly what activities it may still be engaged in abroad with funds paid by government agencies.”
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Ten University of Michigan students were arrested inside a Kohl's department store in Ann Arbor October 2 during a protest against the union-busting campaign at the Chentex sweatshop in Nicaragua. Chentex makes clothing for Kohl's. The action was one of about 94 protests organized by the Campaign for Labor Rights against Kohl's and Target (which also contracts with Chentex) in 82 cities during September and October.
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Although union membership grew slightly last year, the actual percentage of workers represented by unions did not increase. Human Rights Watch explains why in a new report, UNFAIR ADVANTAGE: WORKERS' FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION IN THE UNITED STATES. It points out that worker's self-organization has reached historically low proportions because U.S. law favors employers over workers in cases involving union organizing and that such laws put the U.S. in violation of international human rights standards for freedom of association. The report is available for $15.00 plus $5.00 shipping. Contact Human Rights Watch, 1630 Connecticut Ave, NW Suite #500, Washington DC 20009. Phone 202/612-4321.
*Labor Notes is published monthly by the Labor Education and Research Project, 7435 Michigan Ave, Detroit Mi 48210 (subscriptions $20 a year)
By: Pam Whalen
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Folk musician Carmen Cristina Moreno performs songs of |
In the week following the elections two planning meetings were held to assess the work by many organizations in the area of immigrant rights. The Pan Valley Institute hosted a three day retreat with representatives from several unions and community groups. The consensus from the three day event called for mutual respect, increased coordination and communication, and education of immigrants about their rights as workers. Both meetings produced plans to organize an amnesty delegation for the Martin Luther King march and to hold a monthly breakfast or dinner for activists to share information.
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Carpenters union organizer Doug Whipple |
The Community Alliance will set up an Internet listserv and calendar for groups working on immigrant rights. It was agreed that groups should explore a collaboration “Explore Your Rights” project to educate immigrants about labor laws in their native languages.
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Leonel Flores of the Northern California Coalition |
At the planning meeting held in Parlier for the Amnesty Coalition it was agreed to sponsor the annual “Las Posadas” calling for amnesty and to approach local governmental bodies to support amnesty.
“We the residents of the Valley need to take responsibility for our future. We need to analyze strategize and make a plan for the Valley,” said Leonel Flores of the Northern California Coalition for Immigrant Rights. “We have begun that discussion.”
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Immigrant activists and union organizers find common ground in their quest for social justice at the mid November retreat in Wonder Valley. |
Mark Miller of the American Friends Service Committee explains the agenda to participants. |
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photo credit for all pictures: Tudor Stanley |
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by: Mike Rhodes
On November 6 the GAP 20 filed a tort claim against the City of Fresno for the violation of civil rights that occurred when they were arrested for protesting against The GAP's use of sweatshop labor. A tort claim is the first step in filing a civil rights lawsuit which will seek damages and attempt to force the city not to engage in this type of activity in the future.
At the press conference announcing the filing of the tort claim the GAP protestors stated that they are seeking a mediated settlement with the City and Fashion Fair that will lead to reasonable access to demonstrating at the mall and thereby upholding everyone's First Amendment rights. If they are successful in mediation the lawsuit against the city will be dropped. They made it clear that they are not interested in the money a lawsuit might bring - what they are interested in is maintaining Free Speech rights and returning to Fashion Fair to protest against the Gap's use of sweatshop labor.
On Friday, December 1 the GAP 20 defendants will be back in court for a hearing on discovery motions. Some amazing revelations have come from these pre-trial motions. Defendants have learned that the Fresno Police infiltrated the anti-sweatshop protestors' group and monitored their e-mail. The organizers had suspected something was up when a representative from the Fresno Police called several activists the day after tentative plans for a demonstration had been discussed on a private e-mail list. It has also been discovered that users of the Fresno City internet system have been some of the most frequent visitors to the Community Alliance web site, downloading massive amounts of information. Many people have asked if that is a good use of the employees' time and taxpayer money.
Support for the defendants can be demonstrated by your presence at hearings and at the upcoming trial. Defendants and supporters meet at 8 AM in the basement cafeteria on the days of court appearances.
There is an anti-sweatshop/GAP demonstration planned for Saturday, December 2 at 12 Noon at Fashion Fair. A permit is being sought to hold the event in the spot where protestors were arrested on May 6 (the main entrance to the mall). If Fashion Fair does not approve the permit giving reasonable access, a court injunction will be sought giving demonstrators the legal right to hold signs and hand customers fliers.
Defending Free Speech Rights has never been easy. Many good people have gone to jail defending the First Amendment. While it is unlikely that any of The GAP 20 defendants will do any hard time in prison it is clear that it will cost money to stand up for what is right. If you have not had an opportunity yet to contribute to The GAP 20 legal defense fund, now is the time. Donations can be sent to Community Alliance, P.O. Box 5077, Fresno Ca 93755. Indicate that the contribution is for the legal defense fund.
By: Leila Salazar, Corporate Accountability Organizer, Global Exchange
What's going on with the GAP Anti-Sweatshop Campaign? Are we winning or losing? We are both winning and losing!
-We are winning because 18 companies have agreed to settle the Saipan lawsuit. On January 13-14, 1999, three separate lawsuits were filed challenging the unlawful sweatshop conditions in the Saipan, CNMI garment industry. A total of 26 U.S. based retailers and manufacturers have been sued for doing business in Saipan and using "indentured slavery". The 18 companies that have settled the lawsuit have agreed to abide by the new Saipan Code of Conduct which includes prohibiting Saipan-based contractors from violating the law in the future. It also requires factories to be monitored by Verite, a non-profit Massachusetts based independent monitoring firm. In addition, the settlement calls for retroactive relief, payments to garment worker class members whose rights were violated in the past. With the 18 companies, the settlements have totaled almost $8.5 million. This money will be used to pay legal and administrative fees, funding the monitoring program and to the workers who were cheated out of their pay for so many years. As more money is received from more settling defendants, larger and larger sums will be available for payments to the garment worker plaintiffs.
The status of the settlement discussions changes almost daily, as different defendants (and other companies who also have done business in Saipan but have not yet been sued) come to the table. All settlements are contingent upon final court approval, however, so none of these settlements will go into effect for at least another six months or so. For more information on the Saipan Lawsuit, check out: http://www.globalexchange.org/economy/corporations/saipan/update.html
The companies who have settled the lawsuit so far include: Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, The Dress Barn, J. Crew, Jones Apparel, Liz Claiborne, May Department Stores, Oshkosh B'Gosh, Phillips-Van Heusen, Polo/Ralph Lauren,Tommy Hilfiger, and Sears Roebuck.
Those that have not yet settled include:
GAP Inc. - (includes Old Navy and Banana Republic)
Target and Mervyns -(Dayton Hudson/Associated Merchandising)
J.C. Penney
The Limited - (Lane Bryant)
Levis
Talbots
-We are winning because we have educated thousands of people worldwide about the sweatshop working conditions that occur in GAP contracted factories. For example, this summer we handed out over 20,000 flyers in just two months. In response concerned consumers called, faxed and wrote letters to GAP Inc and activist organized actions all around the world.
As you may know, GAP Inc. (which owns GAP, Old Navy, Banana Republic, Baby GAP, GAP Kids and now GAP Body), operates in 55 countries worldwide. It is no coincidence that they contract with factories in countries that are war torn, have repressive political and military regimes, and where workers are desperate for work and have no voice at work. The more people we educate about what’s going on in Saipan, Cambodia, Mexico, Russia, Guatemala and Nicaragua (some of the countries where GAP has business), the more pressure GAP Inc. will receive.
-We are winning because GAP Inc. Sales, Shares and Profits are down. For the last six months or so, there have been continual reports in Business Week (http://www.globalexchange.org/economy/corporations/gap/bw042400.html), the San Francisco Chronicle and Examiner etc. about GAP Inc’s downturn in sales, share prices and profits. On November 9, 2000 Gap Inc. reported that their Third Quarter sales were Up 12 Percent, but their Earnings Per Share were Down 40 Percent.
Although our campaign is NOT A BOYCOTT and we are not focusing on GAP Inc. decreasing sales, we do take some credit for the fact that consumers are not shopping at GAP because they do not agree with the exploitive practices used in GAP’s contracted factories (sweatshops) overseas. Losing profits is a major factor for a huge company like GAP Inc. This is an issue that Millard Drexler, GAP Inc’s CEO that makes $172 million a year, can’t even ignore. In addition to GAP Inc. losing sales, profits and shareholders, GAP Inc. is also losing key executives. Last October, Robert Fisher, former President of the GAP Division, quit, for example.-We are winning because we are educating hundreds of GAP Inc. employees about our concerns about GAP sweatshops and getting them to question their company. Over the last year and a half, since our campaign began, we have educated hundreds of GAP store employees through our National Days of Action in front of GAP stores across the nation. We have also educated GAP employees through our employee signature campaign and our actions at GAP Career Faires. Last summer, we leafleted hundreds of GAP Inc. Corporate Headquarters' employees when we would leaflet every Friday. Most recently, students and activists in San Francisco organized a GAP Vigil for 20 days outside the GAP Inc. Regional Headquarters demanding that GAP settle the Saipan lawsuit and stop clear cutting the redwoods in Mendocino County (see gapsucks.org). Thousands of employees were forced to acknowledge that there were lots of people very concerned about their business practices and very committed to seeing GAP Inc. change. Within those 20 days, relationships were built among activists and GAP Inc. employees.
What resulted was an open happy hour and a coffee hour to meet to discuss both of our concerns. At the coffee hour, many representatives from GAP’s Global Compliance attended to talk to us about their internal monitoring system, in fact. We, at Global Exchange, feel that this is a great step in understanding our differences and knowing where both sides are coming from. We don’t know what will come of our discussions, but we hope to continue these types of discussions in the future.
-We are winning because GAP Inc. is responding to our campaign by establishing a monitoring system. Since the start of our campaign, GAP Inc. has dramatically increased their number of internal monitors from 10-80. GAP Inc. claims that their internal monitors are from the local community, speak the local language and are mainly from human or labor rights backgrounds. These monitors report on factory conditions and to "enforce" GAP’s Vendor Code of Conduct. We acknowledge the fact that GAP Inc. has tried to set up a system to try to change the current factory conditions, but we don’t feel like this system can supplement an independent monitoring system, like the one we are recommending for the lawsuit (Verite). Even if GAP’s monitors are from the NGO community (human or labor rights), they speak the language of the country where the factories are and they genuinely care about the workers doesn’t mean that they are doing all that can be done to enforce GAP’s Vendor Code of Conduct or really improve worker’s lives. For example, it’s great that GAP Inc. has responded to our inquiries about workers getting hurt in factories in Cambodia and Indonesia by making sure that worker’s medical expenses are paid for, but wouldn’t it make more sense to make sure that those workers were able to speak up for their need for medical insurance? Wouldn’t it make more sense to acknowledge and work towards making sure workers have the right to freedom of association (unionize) so they could freely speak out, lobby for wage increases etc? Currently, GAP’s internal monitoring system doesn’t address these questions. Although there is not a perfect solution in place right now, the solution is not to throw more people at the problem and pay them internally. It’s a waste of resources and it’s just not sustainable. We feel that the best solution is an independent monitoring system that includes a third party complaint mechanism that empowers workers.
We demand that GAP Inc, settle the Saipan lawsuit and agree to be independently monitored by Verite. By doing so, GAP Inc. would be following the lead of 19 other companies that have settled the suit, as well as many others that are currently independently monitored by other companies. In addition, GAP Inc. should agree to address the issue of a Living Wage., by first including it in their Code of Conduct.
-Unfortunately, We are losing because GAP Inc. is not moving on the lawsuit. In fact, they are stalling the suit. GAP, as the largest retailer on the island, has used its power and pulled together all of the remaining defendants in the original suit (Dayton Hudsons Target and Mervyns, Lane Bryant, and J.C. Penney) as well as other companies such as Levis and Abercrombie and Fitch to stall the suit. They are doing everything in their power to delay court approvals of the settlements. We believe the main reason is because GAP Inc. believes that their internal monitoring system is better than the system done independently by Verite. As mentioned above, we do not believe that an internal monitoring system, like GAP’s, is an alternative to independent monitoring.
PEACE CHALLENGE: Our 2nd annual Walton Peace Challenge for Youth is now under way. Like last year, we are seeking participation from groups of 3 or more youth who will identify a problem area in their lives and create a project to "Make It Better". But some changes have been instituted. 1) Elementary age children are now eligible, i.e. anyone under 18; 2) proposals can request up to $200 in funding; 3) rather than emphasizing large prizes, we will award small bonuses to participating groups who complete their projects successfully, but use the bulk of the money (donated by Charles Walton, of San Jose) for up-front grants.
Flyers with application information are included in subscription issues of this paper. For others, flyers can be obtained by leaving a message at 237-3223. We ask your assistance in personally encouraging youth groups (churches, schools, group homes, teams, etc.) to participate. We have found that without direct contact, "information" is rarely enough to generate interest.
STIR IT UP: The 2nd Wednesday each month, the Center takes its turn putting on "Stir It Up" at 3:30 p.m. on KFCF, 88.1 FM. Vince Lavery is our permanent host, and he invites public participation. Anyone interested in joining the issue-oriented conversation is welcome to call Vince at 439-0821 to arrange an appearance--or you can simply call in during the broadcast at 225-8888.
Dissenting views are especially welcome--after all, the goal is to stir it up. So though you may be in general agreement with the show's orientation, if you know people who would be willing to defend opposing positions, invite them to call. They, too, can be pundits for a day.
MEDIA...AND THE MESSAGE: The refusal of our major media to give attention to our activities (such as our alternative Veterans Day program) renews our determination to create avenues of information not controlled by bottom-line considerations and/or corporate agenda. We are planning a conference for early next year to look at how Central Valley activists can coordinate all our resources (journalism, radio & TV, internet, speakers' circuits, think tanks, etc.) Anyone interested in helping organize such a conference, contact Richard Stone at 266-2559.
COMMENTARY: In the aftermath of the election debacle, there were two clear losers: the winner-take-all system and the electoral college. These mechanisms are allowing one party to have a significant power advantage on the basis of a few hundred votes out of millions cast--not exactly democracy in action. And in the aftermath of the Nader/Gore dilemma, I just read THE GREAT WORK by Thomas Berry, a noted historian of culture. His main point (as I translate into the terms of the past election) was that although there may have been substantive differences between Gore and Bush, they are both completely creatures of the mind-set that subordinates everything to maximizing the material convenience and comfort of mankind through technology. Berry posits that we cannot afford to devote the greatest part of our precious energies to parsing the differences between the likes of Dubya and Al (such as their dueling "prescription plans for seniors"). The "great work" is in re-aligning our species consciousness with the health care requisites of the planet. Without that happening, "the rest is silence." RES.
THE WELCH REPORT
November 13, 2000. • Jack H. Welch, M.D.
PRESIDENT ARRESTED! (West Wing)
Martin Sheen, who plays the president in television's "West Wing", was arrested Oct. 7th with 22 other activists in a non-violent action at Vandenberg Air Force Base's main gate. The civil disobedience was part of international protests against a national missile defense (NMD) system and the militarization of space. Sheen, two activist friends and two Catholic priests, after repeated warnings, entered the base hand in hand and were arrested. They were taken to a processing center on the base and booked for trespassing and failing to disperse.
The civil disobedience action came as the conclusion of a "Stop Star Wars" rally, which was one of many actions on October 7 in 39 US cities and 16 other countries. The next (fourth) test of NMD is scheduled for January 2001. (Peace Times, San Jose Peace Center Nov. 2000)
We understand that the aerospace corporations view space as a new market for a high tech arms race. All across our planet hunger, poverty and environmental decay are in need of our attention, but our political leaders, who receive millions in contributions from the aerospace corporations, say there is no money to deal with these problems. We pledge ourselves to work toward building the view that the moon and stars are not places to put military bases and weapons of "control and domination". (Bruce K. Gagnon, coordinator Global Network against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space)
From the "US Space Command Vision for 2020": the medium of space is the fourth medium of warfare along with land, sea, and air. Space power is a vital element in moving towards the Joint Vision goal of "being persuasive in peace, decisive in war, and preeminent in any form of conflict". Space superiority is emerging as an essential element of battlefield success and future warfare.
"Today the US is the preeminent military space power; the Space Command Vision is one of maintaining that preeminence... The Control of Space is the ability to assure access to space, freedom of operations within the space medium, and an ability to deny others the use of space, if required... Global Engagement combines global surveillance with the potential for a space-based global precision strike capability." (California Peace Action October 2000)
"California Peace Action deplores the breakdown of the peace process in the Israel/Palestine conflict due to current provocations and the use of violence and urges the government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority to take all peaceful steps to end the escalating violence. We note that the vast majority of victims of this violence are Palestinians and that the Israel Defense Forces and police are using disproportionate force.
"We ask Prime Minister Barak to pull back all armed forces and police and for Chairman Arafat to make every effort to restrain armed civilians. We call for UN and multilateral efforts to broker peace...and for the UN to establish a commission to investigate the causes for violence. We call upon the US government to halt the sale and delivery of weapons to Israel and other countries in the Middle East which contribute to the violence."
KFCF - THE CONTROVERSY CONTINUES
The Community Alliance is committed to bringing you information that you won't find anywhere else about the situation at radio station KFCF 88.1 FM. Both the board majority and minority had an open invitation to write an article for the newsletter this month. We even reminded both sides about our deadline one week before articles were due. At press time, only Catherine Campbell, of the board minority, had responded.
It is the intention of the L/CA editorial board to provide both sides with access to the pages of this newsletter to explain, in their own words, the developments that are taking place in the aftermath of the recall election. We look forward to hearing from the board majority.
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MINORITY REPORT: A Report on the Board Meeting of the Fresno Free College Foundation on November 14, 2000, by Catherine Campbell, a member of the board minority and the Community Radio Coalition.
Where are all the masochists? We had a Fresno Free College Foundation (KFCF) board meeting, and only a handful showed up. The rest of you just don't know what you're missing -- why, you can be insulted, shamed, embarrassed, vilified, disdained, and dismissed as irrelevant, all in one two-hour pain-packed experience, and you can have your grimacing visage videotaped without your knowledge! What can beat it (to play on words)?
The problem with this town is too many people who would rather take a bath and go to bed.
Well, for those of you who would rather read about it than experience it one-on-one (so to speak), here's what happened.
1. Mediation.
The board majority reported that mediation will definitely occur since they promised it as part of their campaign. They will definitely set up an appointment with Su Kapoor, our chosen mediator, but they don't know when. In fact, three months after the election they haven't called him. But they will. (This is the insult part, to your intelligence.) They haven't decided who will mediate on their behalf, but they will, they definitely will, as soon as they meet with all their "community" of supporters and get their advice.
Dixie and I, representing the board minority, have already had a lovely, vegan lunch with Su Kapoor, which he blessed in his solemn way, sanctifying us and our issues, which we have since forgotten it was so long ago, and so many new ones have arisen since.
For the extremists among you, suicide could be committed by a hunger strike for mediation. (So a few would die. Small price to pay. Think of the publicity!)
2. The New Studio.
The board majority reported that the new studio will be constructed, it just hasn't been constructed yet. This is three years after it was decided that it wasn't a good idea to have the studio in a board member's home. They have lots of equipment, and we're ready to go, but we haven't nailed a nail yet. But they will. You can be assured, the new studio will be built. Unfortunately, the new studio is at the opposite end of our office building, so to get to it you have to leave the office, walk down the street, and go into the studio. For an office and studio that aren't even connected, we will pay $1000 a month, double what we pay now. Of course, no committee was ever formed to look for alternatives, so this is what we got. One might think it was a set up for failure, but that would imply we don't trust them. Wouldn't want to imply that, in this post-election, feel-good mediation-that-is-about-to-happen phase. (This is the embarrassment part, where you get to be embarrassed to be a part of the whole thing.)
(For those of you who like to be bored, you should have been there to hear the list of new equipment. Love of boredom is, of course, a sub-specialty of masochism, but Fresno should have a larger than usual percentage of people who really enjoy being bored. Come on out. You have no idea what boredom is until you hear a list of used radio equipment carefully selected from the Museum of Radio Antiquity.)
Of course, not much will go on at the new studio. The old studio will remain in the board member's home, where all local programming except the public affairs programming will take place. That means 2 ½ hours of programming each week will be done in the new studio, and the other 10+ hours of local programming will be status quo ante, out of the board member's home. My, we dissidents really got a lot for our effort, didn't we? A new studio that costs a lot and doesn't do much and hasn't been built. In fact, the new studio hasn't been tested to make sure it can transmit from our transmitter in the Sierra, but don't worry, it's going to be tested soon, they don't know when, but definitely soon. (This is the disdain part. We're supposed to think it's a groovy idea to negotiate a lease for a new studio without finding out if broadcasting can occur there.) They don't even have a license yet, but of course that's no problem, all they have to do is ask. (This is the shame part, where you are ashamed you don't know what the license is, or how to get it, or whether anything they ever say is true.)
3. Learning New Skills.
For those who enjoy self-defeating behavior, you could attend the program for people who want to learn how to do public affairs programming which will be put on by Aaron Glanz from KPFA. They don't know when he will do this, or where, but it will happen. Of course, if you learn all about doing public affairs programming, and the board members who run the station don't like you, forget it since you won't get on the air. In fact, they did election night coverage from KFCF, but the only people invited to participate were their programmers, all chosen by them, who are on a special email list that none of the rest of us even knew existed. That's the humiliation part, being left out. If you want to feel left out, this is The Place.
4. How to Volunteer.
They want people to volunteer to raise money for the Foundation. Now, there's a real opportunity to throw away an enormous amount of work, time and energy. I'm sure there are lots of you out there who want to raise money for a totally dysfunctional organization made up of people who think they own it and will use the money to promote their own perpetual control of the board. Sign up now. The opportunities for misery are endless.
5. And Last, a Special Thrill.
And, speaking of Mark, he was videotaping the meeting. Or, to be more precise, he was videotaping Dixie and me, since we were the only people in the eye of his camera, and the only part of the other board members in his lens was their backs. Now, at the meeting before this one, he had his camera there, but he assured us he was not videotaping, and in fact the camera was pointing upward, at the ceiling. I thought this odd, but if Mark wanted to record the meeting, so be it. But this time, the camera was aimed right at Dixie and me. More than half way through the meeting, I asked, and he admitted that yes, he was videotaping us. I asked him to stop. He refused. Dixie asked him to stop. He refused. Robin Crocket - a guy who really knows how to have fun - went over and stood in front of Mark's camera for the rest of the meeting. Think of the thrill! I mean, someone could actually get violent, or you could have to move from place to place throughout a whole meeting, standing between your friends and the eye of Mark's camera.
Dixie and I asked Mark why he was videotaping us. He said it was "for my personal use." Now, there's a scintillating thought. Every night, right before I go to sleep, I get a special rush thinking about what Mark is doing with his video of Dixie and me. How could a bath and a warm bed possibly compare?
6. And, Best of All, There's More to Come.
Next stimulating event: January 9, 2001. Be there, or know you just lack that special spark that takes you to new and unexplored places in your very own psychic wonderland.
ANDERSON LANDSLIDE - A BIG UNION WIN
by: Pam Whalen
SEIU organizer Marianna Durazo and Susan Anderson
celebrate at the victory Party on November 7.
Photo credit: Mike RhodesUnion members from homecare workers, probation officers, to school janitors contributed hundreds of hours of precinct walking and phone banking to the Susan Anderson campaign for Fresno County Board of Supervisors.
Anderson’s opponent Ken Steitz ran a nasty union bashing campaign. His message consistently attacked “union bosses” and “union thugs”. But the largely Republican north Fresno district didn’t buy it. They voted for a pro-worker candidate that supports a needle exchange program to prevent the spread of communicable diseases and who is pro-choice. This heavily Republican district voted against a developer supported candidate who champions urban sprawl and jail expansion.
Union members rallied to Anderson’s support because of her principled positions on the dignity of workers and her support for fair wages, healthcare coverage, for workers and their families, and her respect for public employees. Anderson also supports the right of workers to organize. “We must win on November 7" said Anderson at a Service Employees International Union rally, “not for me but for all of us, so that we can make Fresno County a better place to live and work.”
Union Member, Martin Castellanos
wins Sanger City Council election.
Photo credit: George "Elfie" BallisAnderson’s 68% margin is good news for all union members and progressives in Fresno who want to use the electoral process to attack the issues of low wages and high poverty levels. With Anderson’s election, a new balance of power on the Board of Supervisors has been achieved. It will no longer be four to Juan! For the first time in decades, working people can expect to get a fair shake from the Board of Supervisors.
In another stunning electoral victory for union members, channel 21 hunger striker Martin Castellanos was elected to the Sanger City Council. “I believe that this victory clearly demonstrates that anyone can do it. Many workers feel that we can’t run for office. But we as workers can do it. We are equal to anyone,” said Castellanos about his recent victory. Castellanos was a major leader in the recent struggle to unionize the employees at channel 21. In the spring they won their contract battle after a lengthy hunger strike.
GIVE VOTERS A BIGGER VOICE
Sunday, November 12, 2000
By JOHN B. ANDERSON AND STEVEN HILL
The presidential election roller coaster has taken one of its oddest turns. Imagine if, after the World Series, it was announced that the winner didn't really win, that instead the championship would be given to, well-- the loser.
Some of the activists who demonstrated for democracy and fair elections on November 18 in Fresno. Photo credit: Howard Watkins
We have a long tradition: The person or team with the most points, runs or votes wins -- except when it comes to electing our President.
How do we explain that to young people, already so disengaged from politics?
It's like two elections taking place, side by side, one open, the other hidden. Suddenly the nation is realizing that the one that counts is the hidden one. Nothing less than the legitimacy of the presidency hangs in the balance.
The blame rests with that 18th century anachronism, the Electoral College. Created in less democratic times by our Founders, the Electoral College is a clumsy device that has been the subject of more proposed amendments than any other part of our Constitution.
Currently, each of the 50 states' presidential races is run as individual contests, with votes weighted to each state's population. The presidential winner does not need a majority of the national popular vote -- just more than other candidates, in any combination of states, to win a majority of electoral votes. A popular majority can be fractured easily by a third-party candidate, as Ralph Nader and Ross Perot have demonstrated.
The perverse incentives created by the Electoral College are painfully obvious this year. States like New York that are locked up early are effectively ignored by candidates. Voter turnout rose sharply by 10% to 15% in battleground states, but was down elsewhere. Nearly all campaign energy -- even candidate messages on how they plan to govern -- are pitched to swing voters in a few key states.
It's time to scrap the Electoral College and institute direct national elections. But there are important issues to resolve.
What if the top vote-getter received only 35% in a multi-candidate race? Such scenarios prompt some reformers to favor a second, runoff election between the top two finishers if no candidate gets at least 40% of the vote. But 40% is too low for winning our highest office. To avoid minority rule, the President should command majority support.
Two-round runoffs also pose problems. Candidates would need cash to run a second campaign, and additional costs to local election officials would top $100 million. Voters would have to trudge to the polls again.
Instant runoff voting is an efficient, inexpensive alternative. In one election, voters would rank on one ballot their top choice as well as second and third runoff choices. If no candidate won a majority of first choices, weak candidates would be eliminated and the ballots counted for the runoff choices. Counting would continue until there is a majority winner.
The challenge now is to bring the nation together. What better message than providing for direct popular election of the President -- preferably using instant runoff voting -- to ensure that our leader commands support from a majority of voters? Let's join together and abolish this 18th-century dinosaur.
Anderson, a former congressman and independent presidential candidate, is president of the Center for Voting and Democracy, of which Hill is western regional director.
HUMAN RIGHTS DAY
Fresno Branch of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom is dedicating SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10, UN Human Rights Day, to obtaining clemency for Leonard Peltier, Indigenous Rights Activist who has been jailed for almost 25 years on a murder charge of two FBI agents on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Two of the four defendants were found not guilty by reason of self defense. Mr. Peltier was tried after a change of venue to North Dakota and was not allowed to put up a self defense argument. Several witnesses recanted their testimony after the trial admitting perjury because of FBI threats. Despite the fact that formerly withheld evidence caused the U.S. prosecutor to admit he could not prove who was actually guilty of the crime, all appeals for a retrial have been exhausted. Mr. Peltier’s health is seriously deteriorated, and he is blind in one eye as a result of poor medical care. His best chance for clemency is right now--before President Clinton leaves office on January 21. On a recent KPFA interview with Amy Goodman President Clinton promised to study the case and make his decision. NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT--BY MAIL OR BY PHONE (202-456-1111) TO PRESIDENT CLINTON. Join the many groups and individuals from around the world who are calling for his immediate release.
A WEEK IN THE LIFE OF A FRESNO PROGRESSIVE
by: Vickie M. Fouts
Sunday - E-mailed the President, Vice President and my Congress members regarding Fresno's need for low power FM radio. -E-mailed Campbell's and Kellogg's denouncing genetically engineered foods. -E-mailed a new progressive organization at CSUF, Students for Peace, for more information about them and how we can help each other
Monday - Attended Bob Fischer's Social Movements class at CSUF. Took part in lively discussion on non-violence and the Civil Rights Movement.
Tuesday - E-mailed the President and my Congress members regarding Universal Health Care.
Wednesday - Heard anti-nuclear activist, Brian Watson, from "Ground Zero." He discussed his legal victory over his civil disobedience against Trident subs. They each hold 192 -100 kiloton warheads (each being 8 times as much as dropped on Hiroshima) and 24 missiles at $60 million per missile.
Thursday - Heard four speakers from "Voices in the Wilderness." regarding the horrid effects, of the despicable US sanctions, on the children of Iraq.
Friday - Spent an educational hour with my Japanese conversation partner, from the American English Institute at CSUF, experiencing the benefits of diversity.
Saturday - Heard vivacious Media Benjamin, and electrifying Ralph Nadar, speak. What an experience! Wish everyone could hear them.
Sunday - Attended march and vigil downtown Fresno, regarding "Nation Day of Protest to Stop Police Brutality, Repression, and the Criminalization of a Generation." Low turnout! Where was everyone?
Spent all week listening to KFCF whenever I could, and shared with friends what I saw and heard during the week.
Who says there is nothing for progressives to do in Fresno? Come join me! We can change the world! Think of what we can accomplish, if we all work together!
DAM COPPER RIVER!
By Kevin Hall
If you like sprawl, then you're going to love Copper River. If you hate sprawl, then you're going to call, fax, write or email your current Fresno County supervisor today and strongly object to the project.
Better yet, show up in person on Tuesday, December 12, when beginning at 2:00 p.m. the Board of Supervisors will hear public testimony. They vote a week later on December 19. The meeting on the 12th should go well past 5:00 p.m. So if you're just getting off work, tune in to KFCF 88.1 FM to hear if there's time to come on down and voice your opposition. The Supervisors will be meeting in their usual haunt on the third floor of the Hall of Records, found in the corner of courthouse park at Tulare & M Streets.
If the "Copper River Ranch Development Agreement" and its Environmental Impact Report are approved, project developers will have gained "vesting entitlements" to the 762 acres -- a significant legal hurdle. This despite the fact that the EIR acknowledges serious environmental impacts that the EIR has acknowledged are beyond mitigation. These include increased traffic congestion and vehicle-caused air pollution.
Even more importantly, the Copper River proposal contains the Mother of All Rezones. This is a pair of amendments. The first is to the Fresno County Zoning Ordinance, adding a "Planned Village District," accompanied by an amendment to the brand new Fresno County General Plan for a "Planned Urban Village" land use designation.
Adoption of these amendments would be a disaster. They would severely undermine policies in the General Plan that direct 93% of future growth to within cities' spheres of influence. They would allow for developments of a minimum of 500 acres to be located on the outside edge of the spheres adjacent to major transportation corridors. Pouring buckets of salt into that gaping wound, density would be limited to eight units per acre, and the General Plan policy that directs growth away from "valuable agricultural lands" would be deleted. Ouch!
In short, this is a recipe for sprawl that nearly defies description. But wait! That's not all!
The developers who authored these amendments want them applied to northeast Fresno and all of Clovis, thereby pushing leapfrog growth directly onto the fragile open space of our nearby foothills, San Joaquin River-bottom and eastside farmland. This entire corner of the county is also known to have the worst air quality of the entire San Joaquin Valley, exceeding that of even Bakersfield.
The most reasonable course of action the Board of Supervisors can take is to reject the proposal and take some time to consider if Fresno County really needs a new land use designation and zoning ordinance. If we do, then it should be crafted by experts rather than by developers and land speculators with a vested interest. (The current proposal's criteria falls far short of those found in comparable ordinances from around the country.) Then let the developers try again. In the meantime, this is one river that must be dammed! If not, we'll soon see the county flooded by sprawling PUVs.
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(SAMPLE LETTER OR PHONE CALL: Send the note below; phone; or send your own letter or email to: Judy Case, Chairperson, Fresno County Board of Supervisors, 2281 Tulare St., Fresno, CA 93721, for email go to www.fresno.ca.gov.)
Dear Madam Chairperson and Supervisors,
After five long years of valuable time and effort in the making, Fresno County's new General Plan deserves to be given a chance.
Preserve the General Plan policies that direct 93% of future growth to within cities' spheres of influence by NOT amending the General Plan to include a Planned Urban Village land use designation and by NOT creating a Planned Village District zoning ordinance.
Protect public health by not pushing urban growth into the dirtiest air zone in the San Joaquin Valley.
Preserve the General Plan's land use policy that directs growth "away from valuable agricultural lands" by NOT deleting that key phrase as requested by Copper River Ranch LLC. Please reject the Copper River Ranch proposal in its entirety on December 19.
Sincerely,
Name
Address
City/State/Zip
The Straight Spouse Network
When spouses or partners come out, their partners and children go into a closet of their own. It then becomes critical for them to know that they're not alone and that there is a safe place for them to find information and help. The Straight Spouse Network is an international organization of heterosexual spouses and partners whose current or former mates are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered. Our goal is to put straight spouses and partners in touch with another and provide resources to help lessen isolation, aid healing and foster understanding among everyone involved.
If you or someone you know needs this special kind of confidential support, please contact Mary L. at 559-457-0857 here in the Fresno area. If you prefer to seek support or information via email, you may post a message to marylab@hotmail.com or contact the SSN office at ssnetwk.org.
NEIGHBORS ORGANIZING NEIGHBORS
The Fresno Neighborhoods Council is a network of residents from some 20 neighborhoods (so far) working to further the interests of neighborhoods and to make healthy neighborhoods the measure of a healthy Fresno. Last month, in its first major public action, the Council sponsored a Mayoral forum attended by over 200 people. This month, On Dec. 2, the Council will be holding a training session for people interested in initiating or strengthening neighborhood organizations where they live. The focus will be on how to conduct the cornerstone activities of the Council: one-to-one "relational meetings", and small group "house meetings". These are occasions when neighbors get to know each other humanly and establish ground for trust beyond similar positions on issues. The workshop will be held at the Fresno Center for Nonviolence, 985 N. Van Ness, from 9-11 a.m. For more information call Ruben Contreras at 268-1975, or Bridget McNicholas at 459-18139.
YOU COULD BE A STAR!
Vincent Lavery wants to set up a weekly TV show which would give viewers a local progressive perspective on issues affecting Fresno and the valley. Cable Channel 14 has offered Vincent a 30 minute show for $370 a week. Vince says the show “would follow the John Castle show on Friday night. It would be live with call in for transcriber. There is an absolute need for liberal dialogue in this Valley.” He is willing to come up with the first $740 but wants 10 organizations or individuals to join him so a 12 week contract can be signed. Interested? Call Vince at 439-0821.
DON’T MISS THIS YEARS PEACE COMMUNITY CRAFTS FAIR
Sponsored by
Women’s International League for
Peace and FreedomSaturday, December 2 • 10-4
First Congregational Church
(2131 Van Ness Ave,)plenty of parking • FREE ADMISSION
Come to shop. This is an opportunity for local crafts people to offer their work and for you to shop for gifts outside the commercial, business venue--an opportunity for local peace and justice groups to offer information and action ideas--take a chance on a drawing for many outstanding prizes--make a bid at our silent auction--pick up bargains at our white elephant hang out--lots of WILPF books, tee shirts, greeting cards--fresh herbs and garden products, baked goods--lots of surprises
Plus music--music---music
A wonderful chance to visit with old friends and meet new ones
Bring one and all--your family, friends and neighbors
SAVE YOUR APPETITE FOR OUR HOMEMADE SOUP, BREAD AND DESSERTS!
WILPF member and local artist Margaret Hudson sells her work at the crafts fair.HEY FRESNO - CHECK IT OUT
STIR IT UP!
programs produced by local activists.
Every Wednesday from 3:30-4 PM on KFCF 88.1 FM
1st Wed. of the month: Hosted by Pam Whalen of the Community Alliance. A program focusing on labor organizing, workplace issues and immigration.
2nd: Hosted by Richard Stone and Vincent Lavery of the Fresno Center for Non-Violence. A program looking at issues concerning peace, social justice, health and community relations at the local and regional level.
3rd: Called the 'Green Scene' and hosted by Theresia Rogerson and Jeremy Hofer of the Fresno County Green Party and the Fresno Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides (FresCAMP), this program focuses on Green values, including ecological wisdom, social justice and grass roots democracy.
4th: Hosted by Zay Guffy-Bill and Lauralee Carbone of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. The program will cover issues with local impacts and activities concerning national and international politics, economics and human rights.
LABOR/COMMUNITY
The Community Alliance newsletter is an independent voice for workers and progressive groups in Fresno and the Central San Joaquin Valley. We support the struggle for social and economic justice and believe that all workers should be paid a living wage. The Community Alliance is affiliated nationally with Jobs with Justice. Meetings are held on the last Monday of each month at The Fresno Center for Nonviolence, 985 N Van Ness at 6:30 PM. This newsletter is published monthly.
Editor: Mike Rhodes
Editorial Board Members:
Nancy Marsh, Ed Perez, Leonel Flores
Jeffrey Paris, Diane Scott, Mark Stout
Richard Stone, James Todd, Pam WhalenCommunity Alliance
P.O. Box 5077
Fresno, CA 93755(559) 233-3978 / 226-3962 (fax)
E-mail: AllianceEditor@comcast.net
http://www.fresnoalliance.com/home/
For advertising rates see:
This project is funded in part by the Unitarian Universalist Fund For a Just Society
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