Saturday, November 19, 2011

Basic 101 on The American Jobs Act

Amid small jeers, Brian Benjamin of the Obama National Finance Committee briefed the public about the The American Jobs Act, at Bethany Baptist Church in Brooklyn, a chilly Friday night ago. Was it the weather or was it the economy that kept too many people away from the opportunity to have a national program explained in simple language?

The American Jobs Act, when passed by the legislature, will allocate $447,000,000,000 to hire American workers, extend unemployment insurance, and give employers tax incentives to re-ignite the economy. President Obama faces stiff opposition from the Republicans for dollars and strategies that retrain Americans in needed jobs in a global, post-industrial reality; effectively address discrimination against the long-term unemployed; keep in place key public jobs such as teachers, the police and firefighters; finance national infrastructure projects and establish an infrastructure bank for a sustainable stream of financing to upgrade existing structures and the installation of new ones.

$175 billions is allocated for payroll tax cuts. Specifically, employers would receive a $4,000 per employee tax relief for hiring the long-term unemployed. $50 billion is allocated for national infrastructure projects which include telecommunication and information technology comparable to other leading nations. $49 billion for the Pathways Back to Work; $5 billion for summer youth programs; and $15 billion for Project Rebuild which renovates commercial properties and undeveloped land along America's main streets.

Prior to Benjamin's talk Kirsten John Foy NYC Public Advocate's community affairs director discussed the changing global economic scene and what Americans needed to do to stay viable. "American cities aren't at the level of Wi-Fi accessibility of other world cities." This leaves Americans unable to effectively compete for jobs, projects and other opportunities because the global economy is fueled by broadband.

Employment for American veterans coming from Afghanistan, Iraq and other conflict areas are addressed through the Returning Heroes Tax Credit. Given the permanent loss of certain jobs, low consumer spending, disrepair of roadways, communication and utility lines, one would believe there would be bipartisan support of the Act; however, it isn't the case. When queried whether the Republicans opposed the American Jobs Act because they want the act renamed and accredited to a future Republican president, St. Senator Velmanette Montgomery responded, "The Republicans could take the credit for it right now." It has more to do with a fundamental stance on governance and the federal government's role in meeting societal needs.

Brian Benjamin explained "the sources of the $447,000,000,000 are one-third coming from the bill, tax increases, and another portion from reallocation of the federal budget." Benjamin stressed that the Act provided a framework for dollars and programs without details in program design and administration. This means people can propose specific initiatives, programs and strategies with specified dollar amounts to realize outcomes and results. The audience was asked to collaborate on developing sound program proposals and not wait for others to do so.

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Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Are Occupy Wall Streeters the New Civil Rights Activists

The first day in November had a group of protesters and local media converge on Brownsville for a Stop Stop and Frisk protest rally and march to the 73rd Police Precinct. The rally was held underneath the busy, noisy Rockaway Avenue #3 train station. Key spokespeople included Revolutionary Communist Party, USA's Carl Dix and MADRE Vice President Margaret Ratner-Kunstler.

The protest group was small and the absence of Brownsville residents was too apparent. Juxtaposed to the assembly were sky-reaching NYCHA buildings. Where were Brownsville residents in this struggle to stop police brutality? Had the police effectively intimidated the community? The answer is NO.

Key community organizations and churches hadn't been contacted so that they, in turn, could notify their members or neighbors. It appeared as if residents became aware of Stop Stop and Frisk as it unfolded. Three young men who said they were from the neighborhood agreed to talk in front of a camera, if one came their way. A young woman News 12 reporter stated she had enough footage and thought "it is more important that young whites came to Brownsville for this protest than to interview people from the neighborhood."

One media relations spokesperson(young, tall white man)explained that the handbills for this event had been distributed within the apartments in the NYCHA building. The question is who passed them out? New York City is a racially-polarized city. New York's communities of color are in the throws of a 20-year housing displacement process and look circumspectly at most whites visiting their neighborhoods. The majority of New York victims of police brutality are black and Latino men. It is quite possible that if white or Asian people were handing out the paper in the building, residents may have discarded them without consideration. Yes, kill the message because of the messenger.

The speakers were inspiring, one young man recounted his brush with stop and frisk which resulted in brain injury and confiscation of his identification. Carl Dix apologized for Cornell West's absence. He explained that Brownsville had the highest incidence of Stop and Frisk in the five boroughs. He later stated that "The young people here are today's Freedom Riders...or a new generation of Freedom Riders." So this is what the News 12 reporter wanted to capture. Dix affirmed that this Stop Stop and Frisk demonstration was the start of others throughout the five boroughs.

The march soon commenced. In tow was a colorfully, fashionable wheel-chair bound woman who identified herself as the "Mayor of Brownsville." She expressed disappointment in her neighbors' low turnout. However, things picked up as the group drummed and chanted up Rockaway Avenue to Pitkin Ave, then a turn on Bristol Street to reach the 73rd Precinct at Bristol and East New York Avenue. The community looked with interest, accepted the handbills and some joined the march. There was a police escort from start to end.

The police set up a corral for marchers who didn't want to be arrested. Many that initially went within the corral soon exited in favor of standing farther away from the precinct's doors. Thirty people were arrested and put in police wagons to places unknown within a half-hour. The police, then made a human wall and walked slowly down the sidewalk to sweep away the remaining assembly. As the body turned down Bristol to return to the corner of Livonia and Rockaway, a zealous young white man shouted "F?#@ the police!" A black man told him, "Hey, don't[don't do that]on their turf!" No sooner had the advice been given than the police arrested the man who cursed.

The march back was punctuated with chanting and handbill passing. Mimi Rosenberg, Legal Aid Society lawyer and WBAI program host was in the crowd. Rosenberg had quietly advised people against going in the corral in front the police precinct. The march birthed a new social activist. A young girl, escorted by two women, had held a poster, chanted and marched with much enthusiasm. This is but one important outcome: people need to develop self-assurance and a sense of community ownership at a young age. Margaret Ratner-Kunstler made concluding remarks before the group dispersed. Ratner-Kunstler stated the thirty arrested protesters may have been taken to the 77th Precinct. This was confirmed by someone in the crowd that recognized one 77th Precinct community affairs officer.

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Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Occupy Wall Street, Occupy the Hood, Occupy Something

Two weeks after Occupy Wall Street was set up in Liberty Park (a/k/a Zucotti Park), it occurred to me that people were sleeping in the cold and protesting on my behalf. It was my tax dollars that bailed out the financial industry--yet again. I didn't demand that these now publicly-funded enterprises have average US taxpayers sit of the boards of directors. Wouldn't you enjoy making decisions about product output, externalities, profits, and working conditions, while gorging on sturgeon, salmon, truffles, asparagus and mimosa drinks? The least I could do for the resilient Occupiers was witness them.

It was a wondrous site: lady elders in yellow ponchos, a Buddhist "Amen Corner," different chat circles and the largest circle using the human mic-check. Being shut-down was not an option. After all, there were people that had exorbitant college loans they couldn't pay off; the threat of unemployment insurance ending; homes having been ripped away; and money funneled to wars or conflict zones across this planet.

A young, suited woman stood near me. I asked was she occupying Wall Street? She said, "No, I'm just supporting the cause." We shared the same reality. She had to return to work but wanted to be on the scene for a short time. The park was visibly organized into various use areas. Scanning faces, it was apparent there weren't many highly-melanated people. Why weren't more blacks, browns and reds here?

Several weeks later, a die-hard Pan-Africanist explained. He said that the police were easier on white protesters. Black people get brutalized when we assert our humanity. He was concerned about leadership. Would white people accept black leadership? That was my opportunity to explain the effort to leave hierarchy out of the equation. There is no particular leader or leaders. That model results in the majority giving their power and responsibility over to a cadre. When this happens the leaders are identified and "deactivated" whether extreme slander, imprisonment, pay-off, or "permanently going missing."

The global Occupy movement realizes Dr. John H.Clarke's "bury the man and continue the plan" philosophy. Everyone leads and is responsible. The movement continues because everyone knows the plan. This ideal will be tested in the days to come.

Occupy Together/ Wall Street reminds me of a request Erykah Badu made during her 2008 summer concert at Wingate HS Field, in Brooklyn. She asked everyone to watch "The Fourth World War." I did and watched the various world conflicts and shows aggression toward nations' people. The movie later revealed that victory is won when people stand together against oppression. Hmmm, did Sista Badu have a premonition of what would occur in the US? Occupy Wall Street...Occupy The Hood...Occupy Brooklyn...Occupy Harlem. We need to get occupied with something.

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