MARIN
PEACE AND JUSTICE COALITION
WEEKLY
BULLETIN
October 27,
2004
Read, learn, share and give someone you
love truth
Peace and love!
The Bulletin Boys, Shep, Jake and JimBob - (aka The Big Rascals aka The
Editors)
Section I - PROGRESSIVE NEWS & UPDATES - Election, Local
News
Section II - MPJC EVENTS
Section III - VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES and Calls to ACTION
Section IV - ACTIVIST LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND WORKSHOPS
Section V - EVENTS CALENDAR
Section VI - ONGOING VIGILS
BUSH
LIED. PEOPLE DIED.
JOBS DRIED. CRONIES
RIDE.
ENVIRONMENT
FRIED.
VOTERS DECIDE:
RE-ELECTION DENIED.
-contributed by Shep Tamler
YO, can you feel me? Get
Real---VOTE NOV 2
Section I -- PROGRESSIVE NEWS AND
UPDATES -
Marin Peace and
Justice Coalition
Voter Guide for November 2,
2004
The Marin Peace and Justice
Coalition Voter Guide is just that, a guide for some of the really
important things we think you should vote for on November 2nd. We in the
MPJC are progressive, politically active members of many different Marin
county organizations. Together we educated each other about the issues,
argued over every decision, and came to the conclusions in this guide. We
didn't always agree, but in the end, these recommendations represent our
best shot at an MPJC consensus.
That said, we all agree that although voting has its place, it isn't the
main focus of our work throughout the year, nor should it be. The current
presidential race, for example, makes this abundantly clear. The MPJC
began life as an anti-war group, but neither of the two major parties
have anti-war platforms. This means our presidential recommendation is a
strategic choice, not an enthusiastic endorsement.
Since the questions at issue in this general election address only a tiny
fraction of the peace and social justice issues we face, we encourage all
the wonderful people who have risen up for this election, to continue
their involvement beyond November 2, and join the Marin Peace and Justice
Coalition in the work of achieving a more peaceful, just and humane
world.
US President - STOP BUSH - The Marin Peace and Justice Coalition
recognizes that the defeat of the Bush Administration is the most
important task at hand for Americans. We urge everyone to vote on Nov. 2
to accomplish that end. Most of all, we affirm the Marin Peace Justice
Coalition's primary role as part of a global and local movement which
will continue beyond Nov. 2nd, to stand for the common interests of
peace, justice, democracy and compassion.
US Senator - no endorsement - Barbara Boxer is opposed by right
wing conservative Bill Jones, who is a nightmare of course. But Boxer's
seat is secure and Jones hasn't a chance. So we'll send her a message by
not endorsing her. Boxer supports the death penalty, voted for the
PATRIOT Act, and opposed San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsome's effort to
legalize same-sex marriage. To earn our support, Boxer needs to lead the
progressive charge not the retreat.
US Representative - Lynn Woolsey
- We agree with the San Francisco Bay Guardian's endorsement of Woolsey,
noting she "voted against the PATRIOT Act and, while she voted the
wrong way on the war at first, has become a clear antiwar voice."
Bravo!
State Senate - no
endorsement
State Assembly - no
endorsement
Marin Superior Court Judge - Faye
D'Opal - She is in a runoff with Republican Paul Haakenson. D'Opal is
the legal director of the Legal Self-Help Center of Marin, which works to
make the legal system available to litigants who don't have lawyers.
She's been practicing civil, probate and family law in Marin for 18
years, and we endorse her enthusiastically. Her opponent is a career
prosecutor with the District Attorney's Office.
Marin County Board of Supervisors District 3 - Charles McGlashan -
He is endorsed by the Sierra Club and the Marin Builders Association. He
will add a progressive seat to the Marin County Board of Supes and bring
environmental vision to county government.
Marin Health Care District - J.
Frieman and A. Ramirez - They will return Marin General to community
control, and out of the hands of the infamous hospital management
corporate leviathan known as Sutter.
Stinson Beach County Water District
- Elizabeth Sapanai
Marin County
Measures
Measure A -
Transportation -
YES - This will add a half-cent
increase to our sales tax that will bring in $16 million a year for
public transportation, improved bike paths, Safe Routes to School, and
the completion of the HOV lane on Highway 101. Without Measure A, bus
passes for students (which reduces morning and afternoon traffic),
seniors, and low-income people will be cut, and the public transit
program will be cut in half! An Oversight Committee made of just plain
folks, no politicians, would be established to make sure the funds are
used responsibly.
Measure B - GMO Free
Marin -
YES - It's all about healthy farms,
healthy foods and a healthy future for Marin, and keeping corporate greed
out of our food supply. Tell those corporations to keep their genetically
modified crops out of Marin's farms and gardens. Vote YES on B!
Measure C - College
of Marin Facilities BOND
-
YES - College of Marin's old
buildings and outdated technology are taking funds away from academic
programs and vocational training. Passing the bond proposed by Measure C
will pay for "GREEN" building and technology improvements,
increased energy-efficiency, and better campus safety, so our youth's
education can prosper.
STATE PROPS
YES...Proposition
60 Election Rights of Political
Parties - This is a good thing; let
political parties run their candidates that receive the most votes in
their respective primaries. "Prop 60 would ensure that each
political party that qualifies for the primary election would be able to
have it's nominee on the general election ballot - as is now the
case." -- SF Bay Guardian.
NO...Proposition
62 Elections. Primaries - This
would limit the already suppressed participation of third party
candidates, making our elections even less democratic than they are now.
We want more access to the election process not less. Prop 62 competes
directly with prop 60 so we must defeat this proposition at all costs.
"Every small party in the state including the Green Party is
actively opposing it." -- SF Bay Guardian
YES...Proposition
63 Mental Health Services - Not
only will prop 63 fund much needed mental health programs, but it does so
by a modest income tax of one penny per dollar on earnings over one
million a year.
NO...Proposition
64 Limit on Private Enforcement of Unfair Business Competition
Laws - This would limit
California's antifraud law (Business & Professions Code, Sections
17200 and 17500). This law is one of the few tools an average consumer
has to hold corporate miscreants accountable. Prop 64 is an attack on
ordinary consumers. Naturally, it was bankrolled by the likes of Allstate
Insurance Co., Bank of America, Citigroup, Intel, Microsoft, and other
mega-corporations of similar ilk.
YES...Proposition
66 Limitations on "Three Strikes"
Law - "Three Strikes" was
passed by voters a decade ago. It can send three-time felons to prison
for 25 years to life. You might like the Three Strikes Law if you think
pot dealers, drug addicts, and pizza thieves are such a menace to society
that we should lock them up and throw away the key. On the other hand, if
you think that's bad policy, then vote YES on Prop 66. It requires the
third felony "strike" to be a "violent" or
"serious felony," as defined in the penal code. It's welcome
modification to this harsh and counter-productive
law.
NO...Proposition
69 DNA Samples. Collection. Database. Funding
This Proposition authorizes
collection of DNA samples from persons arrested for any felony (and some
misdemeanors) even if they are never even charged or convicted.
"Orwellian is by far the best term to
describe prop 69, the initiative would create a mammoth DNA database of
anybody in California accused of a felony." -- SF Bay Guardian
YES...Proposition
72 Health Care Coverage
Requirements - This is a referendum
on John Burton's Senate Bill #2, limiting the cost to employees of
employer-covered health plans. It requires companies with more than 50
employees to provide at least 80% health care coverage to their
employees. A modest, positive intitiative, that would help a great number
of working people (although it falls far short of the single-payer,
universal health care system we desperately
need).
Election Watch
866-OUR-VOTE is the hotline number for
election abuses
Local Elections
Marin Candidate Forums and Get Out The
Vote Actions
Voting Dinners - The Marin Grassroots
Leadership Network is encouraging people to vote by absentee ballot, and
host a voting dinner to make it fun! Voting does not have to be a pain
and a chore...invite some friends and family to bring some food and their
absentee ballots...eat and discuss what's on the ballot, then vote
together!
Monday, 11/1 Get-out-the-vote phone tree, targeting infrequent
voters. Call Jessamyn at 451-4350 x302 for more info or to
volunteer
Tuesday, 11/2 ELECTION DAY Get-out-the-vote activities, all day
long! Passing out voter guides, exit surveys, phone calls, etc. Call
Jessamyn at 451-4350 x302 for more info or to volunteer.
Sponsored by Marin County Grass Roots Leadership Network
Dear Supporters of a
Measure B - GMO-Free Marin:
As part of the campaign to pass
Measure B, we'll be having Visibility Actions in San Rafael
at Third and Irwin on:
Friday, October 29, from 4:30- 7pm and
Monday , November 1 from 4:00 - 6:00 pm.
You are invited to be part of this visibility campaign. All signs will be
provided.
Just show up for an hour or so and lend your presence. If you can come
for any time
at all, please call me at 454-5470 or email me.
And please call the Measure B headquarters at 454-9898 if you can
help with any of
the visibility actions at other locations or with phoning or
leafleting. We're in the final days of the
Campaign to ensure that Marin remains free of genetically modified
agriculture.
All hands on deck!! Aye Aye!
Other locations are:
(a) San Anselmo Hub
(b) Mill Valley corners ( 2)
* Camino Alto and Blithedale
* Hwy 1 at Tam Junction
(c) Novato
sincerely, Wendy Tanowitz
Next Generation -
calling all youth
For the next week, we'll continue our
focus on impacting the upcoming local elections. Please get in touch if
you'd like to volunteer some time this weekend to support Measures A,
B and C for public transit, healthy food and quality education.
Contact to get involved, and remember everything is political
Next Generation, 1741 Lincoln Ave, #6 San
Rafael, 94901.!
Peace,
Roni Krouzman
455.9498
After the Election Give yourself and
a friend a well deserved treat
COME VISIT MPJC AT THE
GREEN FESTIVAL
The Marin Peace and Justice
Coalition in collaboration with East Bay Animal Advocates
and Bay Area EarthSave will be tabling together at the Green
Festival in San Francisco November 6th and 7th at the SF Concourse. Learn
to be part of the solution as we integrate progressive movements
into one cohesive goal for ourselves, the earth and the animals. Come
change the world with us!
About Green Festivals
The Green Festival is a
movement building event. Our intent is to diffuse an economic model based
on life affirming values, an economy built on human [and animal ]
rights, equity, art and an understanding that all life is
interconnected and interdependent. The most important outcome
of these events for us is to get more people involved in the green
economy movement. These events are so ecologically expensive, no matter
what efforts we take toward sustainability, that the only way we can
offset our footprint is by helping facilitate opportunities, networks and
connections that strengthen organizations, new businesses or inspire
individuals to find more ways to make a difference. This is an amazing
time of transformation from a life destroying to a life affirming
culture. We hope that as part of this transformation, Green Festivals is
a catalyst helping to chart a course through the reorganization of our
economy so that we can heal our biosphere and nurture all communities,
all people, all species.
2004 Green Festival San Francisco
November 6 & 7, 2004, Saturday10AM - 9PM , Sunday from 11AM -
7PM
San Francisco Concourse, 8th & Brannan
Ticket Prices: $15 each, discounts for groups of 5 or more. Call (800)
555-1212 for group sales.
For more information please write KateDanaher@cuetocue.com
Section II - MPJC
Events
MPJC and coalition member events
Friday, November 5,
at 7:00 p.m.
San Rafael Public Library, 1100 Fifth Avenue
The Human Rights Video Project of the American Library Association,
the San Rafael Public Library and MPJC
present:
Film/Speaker: GOING TO SCHOOL:
Disability and the Right to an Education
See events calendar below for details of above events
Section III - Volunteer
opportunities
and Calls to ACTION
OK everybody! Now is the time to jump into
some critical local races and "turn the tide" right here in
Marin. Contact the following campaigns, and get out there knockin' on
doors, talkin' to neighbors. If everybody does a little, we can achieve a
lot in this election! Volunteer some time for your favorite local
campaign.
http://www.fayeforjudge.com
Faye D'Opal, Marin Superior Court
http://www.charlesmcglashan.com Charles McGlashan, Marin County Supervisor 3rd District
http://www.gmofreemarin.org Measure B
http://www.collegeofmarinbond.org Measure C
Keep up the good work. Give some time or money to a local campaign.
Section IV
ACTIVIST LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND WORKSHOPS
Section V - Events Calendar |