Post by nomnom on Dec 17, 2011 20:10:49 GMT -5
Dec. 5, 2011 GA at the Capitol (outside the “war room”)
Speak out on the Millionaire’s Tax:
Shanna G. and Colin D.: The governor would not budge on taxing the rich, but there is some progress now and it is in part our accomplishment! The current proposal still falls short of what is needed, however, as the governor suggests restoring about $1.3 -$1.6 Billion in tax revenue, while still offering some of the richest New Yorkers a tax cut to the tune of more than $3 Billion.
Mark S.: Millionaires will not leave New York, as the governor keeps saying, because they have their mansions here, their Tiffany’s stores, the Met Opera, and their kids won’t want to leave their private school friends.
Doug B. (Albany County Legislature): The tax revenue is important to saving NYS from those who got tax breaks for the past thirty years.
The County Leg is calling on the mayor and other city officials to let Occupy Albany continue.
Jan: She is a parent of two children who have graduated from SUNY schools with a combined student loan debt of $100,000, despite being on the Dean’s list, and she has one more child left to attend college. She asked: “How far will the cost keep rising?” Her kids are also having trouble finding work after college, with the economy in the toilet.
Caucus reports:
LGBT: Eddy will lead a meeting focusing on homeless LGBT youth on Friday, Dec 8, at 5pm. Meet by the Vietnam memorial in Lafayette Park.
Mental Health: Dave K. is still trying to enlarge his group, but so far has only found one other person possibly interested in joining. If you or someone you know may want to join, please find Dave (he is also in the bicycles group).
Working group reports:
Environmental: Daniel reported that the Albany Common Council will vote tonight, Wed, Dec 5, whether to override the mayor’s veto of the ban on hydraulic fracturing (fracking). (Note: at the time these notes are being written, the Council has voted to uphold the veto and fracking can now proceed despite considerable environmental and health and safety concerns).
Legal: Colin D. and Kathy met with city officials and there will be an inspection of the camp site Tuesday afternoon at 4pm to address the cited code violations. If the city finds remaining violations, OA will be granted one more day to remedy them. More hands are needed to help clean up and take down extra tents on site before the inspection.
The legal group will be signing a permit to allow the occupation to remain until Dec 22, at which time the conditions of our stay will be further debated. At the moment, the legal group is taking legal actions by filing injunctions and seeking political pressure points to allow OA to remain indefinitely.
Bike group: Dave K. said this group needs more people.
Buy American group: Jan said that the group needs more volunteers to help pass out flyers at the mall with a list of U.S.-made and local products. At present, Jan said that 10% of goods sold here are still made domestically.
Direct Action/Outreach/PR: Rana said that the next meeting will take place on Sunday, Dec 11 at 1pm (note time change from 1:30). This Tuesday, Dec 6, will be national day of action against foreclosures. Anyone who wants to collect signatures on petitions in support of OA being allowed to continue, please do so.
Housing rights group: Arseniy said that the group met last weekend to discussion further plans and will meet again on Thursday, Dec 8, at 7:30pm to discuss a community walk-through planned for Saturday, Dec 10 at 1pm to look at abandoned and foreclosed homes and engage community members. The Sat walk-through will begin at Grand Street Community Arts on Grand St.
Teach-ins working group: Mark said that there were three teach-ins last week and they went well. The next one will be on Sun, Dec 11 at noon, with David H. from the Transition Network. For more information, contact Dylan B. Another teach-in will be led by Jessica Wisniewski from Citizen Action and will focus on the public financing of campaigns, it will take place in the Concourse next to the Capitol (for more info contact Mark or Jessica).
Coordination/Operations: Josh said that there needs to be a solution for providing money to groups dealing with logistics, especially for projects and repairs on site. People also need to take down any tents that they are not using. Mary added that there was prescription medication found in one of the tents being taken down and it was brought to the info desk. Come to the info desk or contact Mary for more information. Justin had a short proposal that passed the GA about purchasing grass seed and a spreader for the park. If it is planted now, it will come up in the spring. The GA agreed as long as Justin writes a proposal and passes it by the finance group.
Newsletter: Another one is in the works and needs more interviews and content. If you are interested in lending your voice or helping out, please contact the newsletter group.
Other announcements:
Eddy and Charlie met with the Tea Party and wanted to know whether the GA wished to continue an expanded dialogue, particularly around the issues of the recently passed defense act, which authorizes indefinite detention of suspected terrorists anywhere in the world, including the U.S., and an effort to “kill Monsanto” (Monsanto is a multi-national agri-business). The GA was not ready to consent at this time.
A CWA (Communication Workers of America) member reminded everyone that the Capital District Area Labor Federation (CDALF) is holding a spaghetti dinner fundraiser for Occupy Albany this Thursday, Dec 8, 4-7pm at the Labor Temple (on the corner of Everett Rd Ext. and Central Ave, there is a big Teamsters truck out front). More info on Facebook and on the CDALF website.
Speak out on the Millionaire’s Tax:
Shanna G. and Colin D.: The governor would not budge on taxing the rich, but there is some progress now and it is in part our accomplishment! The current proposal still falls short of what is needed, however, as the governor suggests restoring about $1.3 -$1.6 Billion in tax revenue, while still offering some of the richest New Yorkers a tax cut to the tune of more than $3 Billion.
Mark S.: Millionaires will not leave New York, as the governor keeps saying, because they have their mansions here, their Tiffany’s stores, the Met Opera, and their kids won’t want to leave their private school friends.
Doug B. (Albany County Legislature): The tax revenue is important to saving NYS from those who got tax breaks for the past thirty years.
The County Leg is calling on the mayor and other city officials to let Occupy Albany continue.
Jan: She is a parent of two children who have graduated from SUNY schools with a combined student loan debt of $100,000, despite being on the Dean’s list, and she has one more child left to attend college. She asked: “How far will the cost keep rising?” Her kids are also having trouble finding work after college, with the economy in the toilet.
Caucus reports:
LGBT: Eddy will lead a meeting focusing on homeless LGBT youth on Friday, Dec 8, at 5pm. Meet by the Vietnam memorial in Lafayette Park.
Mental Health: Dave K. is still trying to enlarge his group, but so far has only found one other person possibly interested in joining. If you or someone you know may want to join, please find Dave (he is also in the bicycles group).
Working group reports:
Environmental: Daniel reported that the Albany Common Council will vote tonight, Wed, Dec 5, whether to override the mayor’s veto of the ban on hydraulic fracturing (fracking). (Note: at the time these notes are being written, the Council has voted to uphold the veto and fracking can now proceed despite considerable environmental and health and safety concerns).
Legal: Colin D. and Kathy met with city officials and there will be an inspection of the camp site Tuesday afternoon at 4pm to address the cited code violations. If the city finds remaining violations, OA will be granted one more day to remedy them. More hands are needed to help clean up and take down extra tents on site before the inspection.
The legal group will be signing a permit to allow the occupation to remain until Dec 22, at which time the conditions of our stay will be further debated. At the moment, the legal group is taking legal actions by filing injunctions and seeking political pressure points to allow OA to remain indefinitely.
Bike group: Dave K. said this group needs more people.
Buy American group: Jan said that the group needs more volunteers to help pass out flyers at the mall with a list of U.S.-made and local products. At present, Jan said that 10% of goods sold here are still made domestically.
Direct Action/Outreach/PR: Rana said that the next meeting will take place on Sunday, Dec 11 at 1pm (note time change from 1:30). This Tuesday, Dec 6, will be national day of action against foreclosures. Anyone who wants to collect signatures on petitions in support of OA being allowed to continue, please do so.
Housing rights group: Arseniy said that the group met last weekend to discussion further plans and will meet again on Thursday, Dec 8, at 7:30pm to discuss a community walk-through planned for Saturday, Dec 10 at 1pm to look at abandoned and foreclosed homes and engage community members. The Sat walk-through will begin at Grand Street Community Arts on Grand St.
Teach-ins working group: Mark said that there were three teach-ins last week and they went well. The next one will be on Sun, Dec 11 at noon, with David H. from the Transition Network. For more information, contact Dylan B. Another teach-in will be led by Jessica Wisniewski from Citizen Action and will focus on the public financing of campaigns, it will take place in the Concourse next to the Capitol (for more info contact Mark or Jessica).
Coordination/Operations: Josh said that there needs to be a solution for providing money to groups dealing with logistics, especially for projects and repairs on site. People also need to take down any tents that they are not using. Mary added that there was prescription medication found in one of the tents being taken down and it was brought to the info desk. Come to the info desk or contact Mary for more information. Justin had a short proposal that passed the GA about purchasing grass seed and a spreader for the park. If it is planted now, it will come up in the spring. The GA agreed as long as Justin writes a proposal and passes it by the finance group.
Newsletter: Another one is in the works and needs more interviews and content. If you are interested in lending your voice or helping out, please contact the newsletter group.
Other announcements:
Eddy and Charlie met with the Tea Party and wanted to know whether the GA wished to continue an expanded dialogue, particularly around the issues of the recently passed defense act, which authorizes indefinite detention of suspected terrorists anywhere in the world, including the U.S., and an effort to “kill Monsanto” (Monsanto is a multi-national agri-business). The GA was not ready to consent at this time.
A CWA (Communication Workers of America) member reminded everyone that the Capital District Area Labor Federation (CDALF) is holding a spaghetti dinner fundraiser for Occupy Albany this Thursday, Dec 8, 4-7pm at the Labor Temple (on the corner of Everett Rd Ext. and Central Ave, there is a big Teamsters truck out front). More info on Facebook and on the CDALF website.