Post by mikerancourt on Dec 2, 2011 22:41:45 GMT -5
NOTE: This post has been modified (12-3-11, 2:15PM) to include the full text of the statement of the Women's Caucus. Previously, there was only a partial quotation.
__________________________________________
GA 12-2-11
Co-Facilitators: Emma & Colin. Stack: Rachel & Abe. Vibes/Time: Josh.
Visit from Albany City Officials:
Albany City Attorney in charge of Code Enforcement, Jeff Jamison, came to the General Assembly and announced that city officials would distributing ‘cease and desist’ notices addressing alleged code violations in camp. Mr. Jamison also announced the enactment of a new city regulation that makes it illegal to camp or pitch tents in city parks without a permit. He announced that the new regulation would become effective on December 6. The City is prepared to offer Occupy Albany a permit exempting Occupy Albany from this regulation until December 22 at which time tents would no longer be allowed in Academy Park. Mr. Jamison took 10 minutes worth of questions and comments from the General Assembly officials went through camp and taped cease and desist notices to tents.
Caucus Report Back
Women’s Caucus – we’ve had a women’s caucus, which has grown to a large group (about 50 on the list-serve). They meet every other Wednesday at the Women’s Building (373 Central Ave – list serve available) at 6PM to talk about women’s needs at OA and in this (stupid) country and ways o be more inclusive. They’ve also created a calendar for when other women will be present. They’ve come up with some ways OA can be more inclusive and create a safer space.
There is a Women’s Caucus statement (Full text to be posted here soon):
Discussion re: Women's Caucus:
Can male allies help when the women’s Caucus is having its meetings? YES, help with childcare (every other Wednesday, about 2 hours).
How can privileged white males do better to not be in dominant positions? Step-up, step-back is one strategy. Consider counting to 7 before you offer your voice – it gives other a chance. Help ensure this is a safe space. Harassment online is a problem, as well. Show empathy and sensitivity when incidents occur.
Announcement
A women’s rally and march is being planned for December 18th.
People of Color Caucus – Has a meeting this Wednesday at the Social Justice Center at 7PM (spread the word, listserve available – see Taiana or Victorio). It will be every other week. They’re also looking for people willing to do childcare.
WG Report Backs
Operations – we’re combining the food WG with the Operations WG and scaling back entirely on hot food delivered to the site. Food WG people are burnt out, so stopping the hot food service will help members concentrate on safety issues with operations. Operations has been clearing things like heaters out of the park and moving toward compliance with regulations. Tomorrow, this will continue all day. Come help (lots of tasks).
Arts and Music – UAG is still doing an Occupy themed show for the month of January. If you’d like to submit artwork, the deadline is December 18th. There is a flyer at upstateartistsguild.org/occupy
People’s Safety – Need a lot of help. Every night. Weekends has crazy stuff a lot, but every night. There’s not necessarily coffee available, though operations will try to provide some.
Boycott Wal-Mart – expanded to “Defranchise America” to include more than just Wal-Mart. They held an action here today and passersby joined in, holding signs. It was small but encouraging. There is a paper on the info table with “Buy American” and “Buy Local” websites, etc…
WG Proposal
____________________
Legal – Cathy – Just found about documents from the city, but a number of Legal WG people got together and came up with a proposal to buy time. Cathy thinks it might be dishonest that the city representative says they’re acting in concern for health and safety. The 24 hour presence is important. Looking forward to getting injunction like they got in Boston, but it’ll take some time to put together (judges here tend to be conservative). The city is talking about coming in the next few days to start removing tents. The proposal:
The City Council is offering to give a permit to stay until December 22nd (The permit would not be something like an agreement to vacate on the 22nd) This might be a way to buy some time while we pursue other means to stay beyond that, and the idea is that the permit won’t really limit us. The proposal is that we sign it.
Questions:
What person or entity would be agreeing or signing for the permit? Could this put that individual at risk? Cathy doesn’t think so and doesn’t know who would do it.
The conditions of the permit are to comply with the operations requirements, though it’s negotiable.
Comments, concerns:
Maybe we can consider taking this to a different kind of 24 hour presence, demonstrations in shifts.
It seems worrisome that we’re thinking about giving up the occupation (presence, encampment).
For phase 2, maybe we should think about moving indoors.
We’ve already been downsizing, working to move down to a couple tents which will help manage things better for Operations, People’s Safety. It’s important to at least push the constant presence until they start kicking us out (getting kicked out is good for gaining support for us).
Test for Consensus:
BLOCKING CONCERN – if you sign a permit, then somebody else can go to jail for someone else’s action. This permit is just an excuse to stop us.
LEGAL WG RESPONSE – Legal is willing to accept the risks.
BLOCK REMOVED
Stand-aside
Make sure we don’t just sign whatever they give us, but to negotiate.
CONSENSUS ACHIEVED: Legal will sign accept the permit.
___________________________
Other Business
Abe - Matt from the Homeless Action Committee outreach van says they are working on finding a solution for a potential displacement of homeless people from the camp.
Rachel – Colin and her were looking for alternative spaces in case we want to or have to move indoors. They found a good one which might be part of a hybrid indoor/outdoor presence. One at State and Eagle is promising, though a concern is raised whether it’s handicap accessible (maybe through the rear). They will propose a move/partial move in there (or another space if it’s not accessible) in the next few days. These are all spaces that are for rent, like for money. Others might want to look into spaces we can squat, or whatnot. This is one option that could be legal for helping sustainability of the movement. Renting v. squatting – we’ve had several allies from labor and community groups who have offered to pay for the rent.
Comment:
We might want to consider giving our money to something like the Social Justice Center or the Women’s Building if we’re going to be renting.
Comment:
It’s important to be in walking distance from this park.
Bradley and Clarice volunteered to drive to PA tomorrow to pick up a winterized tent tomorrow. We have a volunteer for a backup driver/truck.
Winterization meeting tonight at 8PM IN THE CONCOURSE.
__________________________________________
GA 12-2-11
Co-Facilitators: Emma & Colin. Stack: Rachel & Abe. Vibes/Time: Josh.
Visit from Albany City Officials:
Albany City Attorney in charge of Code Enforcement, Jeff Jamison, came to the General Assembly and announced that city officials would distributing ‘cease and desist’ notices addressing alleged code violations in camp. Mr. Jamison also announced the enactment of a new city regulation that makes it illegal to camp or pitch tents in city parks without a permit. He announced that the new regulation would become effective on December 6. The City is prepared to offer Occupy Albany a permit exempting Occupy Albany from this regulation until December 22 at which time tents would no longer be allowed in Academy Park. Mr. Jamison took 10 minutes worth of questions and comments from the General Assembly officials went through camp and taped cease and desist notices to tents.
Caucus Report Back
Women’s Caucus – we’ve had a women’s caucus, which has grown to a large group (about 50 on the list-serve). They meet every other Wednesday at the Women’s Building (373 Central Ave – list serve available) at 6PM to talk about women’s needs at OA and in this (stupid) country and ways o be more inclusive. They’ve also created a calendar for when other women will be present. They’ve come up with some ways OA can be more inclusive and create a safer space.
There is a Women’s Caucus statement (Full text to be posted here soon):
As the Occupy Albany Women’s Caucus, we are angered and distressed over reports of sexual assault, sexual harassment, and other oppressive sexist behavior and language happening at the Occupy Albany and at Occupy movements throughout the country.
This behavior is unacceptable and needs to stop now. Rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, and use of violent language that dehumanizes women are absolutely unacceptable and have no place in the world that we are seeking to create.
When you are silent, you are condoning these comments and actions. If you do nothing, you are giving permission for this behavior to exist and continue.
To this end, we call upon everyone, especially our male allies, to intervene and interrupt sexual violence and all forms of sexism wherever they see it.
Capitalism and its effects are destructive, oppressive, and violent. As members of the 99%, we must actively break down the systems that divide us.
When the General Assembly does not reflect the composition of this movement and our society, in that way, it mimics the institutions that we are fighting against.
f the people in this movement are not talking about racism and sexism, we are not talking about real economic justice.
We are not talking about the issues that affect the majority of this country’s and world’s population in a real way.
Women have historically been the spine of social justice movements. We are the 52%, without us, revolution is impossible.
This behavior is unacceptable and needs to stop now. Rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, and use of violent language that dehumanizes women are absolutely unacceptable and have no place in the world that we are seeking to create.
When you are silent, you are condoning these comments and actions. If you do nothing, you are giving permission for this behavior to exist and continue.
To this end, we call upon everyone, especially our male allies, to intervene and interrupt sexual violence and all forms of sexism wherever they see it.
Capitalism and its effects are destructive, oppressive, and violent. As members of the 99%, we must actively break down the systems that divide us.
When the General Assembly does not reflect the composition of this movement and our society, in that way, it mimics the institutions that we are fighting against.
f the people in this movement are not talking about racism and sexism, we are not talking about real economic justice.
We are not talking about the issues that affect the majority of this country’s and world’s population in a real way.
Women have historically been the spine of social justice movements. We are the 52%, without us, revolution is impossible.
Discussion re: Women's Caucus:
Can male allies help when the women’s Caucus is having its meetings? YES, help with childcare (every other Wednesday, about 2 hours).
How can privileged white males do better to not be in dominant positions? Step-up, step-back is one strategy. Consider counting to 7 before you offer your voice – it gives other a chance. Help ensure this is a safe space. Harassment online is a problem, as well. Show empathy and sensitivity when incidents occur.
Announcement
A women’s rally and march is being planned for December 18th.
People of Color Caucus – Has a meeting this Wednesday at the Social Justice Center at 7PM (spread the word, listserve available – see Taiana or Victorio). It will be every other week. They’re also looking for people willing to do childcare.
WG Report Backs
Operations – we’re combining the food WG with the Operations WG and scaling back entirely on hot food delivered to the site. Food WG people are burnt out, so stopping the hot food service will help members concentrate on safety issues with operations. Operations has been clearing things like heaters out of the park and moving toward compliance with regulations. Tomorrow, this will continue all day. Come help (lots of tasks).
Arts and Music – UAG is still doing an Occupy themed show for the month of January. If you’d like to submit artwork, the deadline is December 18th. There is a flyer at upstateartistsguild.org/occupy
People’s Safety – Need a lot of help. Every night. Weekends has crazy stuff a lot, but every night. There’s not necessarily coffee available, though operations will try to provide some.
Boycott Wal-Mart – expanded to “Defranchise America” to include more than just Wal-Mart. They held an action here today and passersby joined in, holding signs. It was small but encouraging. There is a paper on the info table with “Buy American” and “Buy Local” websites, etc…
WG Proposal
____________________
Legal – Cathy – Just found about documents from the city, but a number of Legal WG people got together and came up with a proposal to buy time. Cathy thinks it might be dishonest that the city representative says they’re acting in concern for health and safety. The 24 hour presence is important. Looking forward to getting injunction like they got in Boston, but it’ll take some time to put together (judges here tend to be conservative). The city is talking about coming in the next few days to start removing tents. The proposal:
The City Council is offering to give a permit to stay until December 22nd (The permit would not be something like an agreement to vacate on the 22nd) This might be a way to buy some time while we pursue other means to stay beyond that, and the idea is that the permit won’t really limit us. The proposal is that we sign it.
Questions:
What person or entity would be agreeing or signing for the permit? Could this put that individual at risk? Cathy doesn’t think so and doesn’t know who would do it.
The conditions of the permit are to comply with the operations requirements, though it’s negotiable.
Comments, concerns:
Maybe we can consider taking this to a different kind of 24 hour presence, demonstrations in shifts.
It seems worrisome that we’re thinking about giving up the occupation (presence, encampment).
For phase 2, maybe we should think about moving indoors.
We’ve already been downsizing, working to move down to a couple tents which will help manage things better for Operations, People’s Safety. It’s important to at least push the constant presence until they start kicking us out (getting kicked out is good for gaining support for us).
Test for Consensus:
BLOCKING CONCERN – if you sign a permit, then somebody else can go to jail for someone else’s action. This permit is just an excuse to stop us.
LEGAL WG RESPONSE – Legal is willing to accept the risks.
BLOCK REMOVED
Stand-aside
Make sure we don’t just sign whatever they give us, but to negotiate.
CONSENSUS ACHIEVED: Legal will sign accept the permit.
___________________________
Other Business
Abe - Matt from the Homeless Action Committee outreach van says they are working on finding a solution for a potential displacement of homeless people from the camp.
Rachel – Colin and her were looking for alternative spaces in case we want to or have to move indoors. They found a good one which might be part of a hybrid indoor/outdoor presence. One at State and Eagle is promising, though a concern is raised whether it’s handicap accessible (maybe through the rear). They will propose a move/partial move in there (or another space if it’s not accessible) in the next few days. These are all spaces that are for rent, like for money. Others might want to look into spaces we can squat, or whatnot. This is one option that could be legal for helping sustainability of the movement. Renting v. squatting – we’ve had several allies from labor and community groups who have offered to pay for the rent.
Comment:
We might want to consider giving our money to something like the Social Justice Center or the Women’s Building if we’re going to be renting.
Comment:
It’s important to be in walking distance from this park.
Bradley and Clarice volunteered to drive to PA tomorrow to pick up a winterized tent tomorrow. We have a volunteer for a backup driver/truck.
Winterization meeting tonight at 8PM IN THE CONCOURSE.