Artists At War Blog

El Salvador, with its first leftist president, celebrates a new era when political opponents abandon their tools of war and let the ballot box decide who should lead. Congratulations Mauricio Funes! May you bring prosperity to your people.

"This is the happiest night of my life" - M. Funes 03/15/09

chichicaste.blogcindario.com/2008/01/index.html

"I salute my opponents with respect and I express my willingness to exchange ideas to strengthen democracy." - M. Funes 03/15/09

Here are some things you'll see on the ballot Tuesday in Los Angeles, along with recommendations on how to vote.

YES on Measure A: Fire Department Assessor - Creates an independent Assessor to implement personnel reforms within the L.A. Fire Department. Endorsers include Courage Campaign, Los Angeles County Democratic Party and Young Progressive Majority.

YES on Measure B: Known as the "Green Energy and Good Jobs for Los Angeles Act" or the "Solar 8", this legislation proposes to create a DWP program that will provide 400 megawatts of clean, green solar power to customers, providing green jobs and renewable energy.
Great, right? However, controversy has swirled around this measure. The LA Times says it will be too expensive. Estimates are that it adds another 2%-4% more to our utility bills. Additionally, highly regarded LA City Controller Laura Chick suggested the means by which it got on the ballot are shady.
The bill was introduced in collaboration with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 11 and 18--made up of the union sisters and brothers at DWP who would install many of the solar panels. According to the LA Times, these photovoltaic arrays "would cover about 900 acres of warehouse rooftops, parking lots and unused rights of way." According to Local 18's website, the local infrastructure is in bad repair. So, if an upgrade is needed, why not modernize? They ask us not to wait to pursue our green dreams. And if you think it's too pie in the sky, and these people are not up for the job, just check out what they do in their free time at the LA Lineman Rodeo (images courtesy LALinemanRodeo.com)

Some backers of Measure B include the Mayor Villaraigosa, Working Californians, Courage Campaign, Sierra Club, Los Angeles County Democratic Party, Los Angeles County Labor Federation and Young Progressive Majority.

YES on Measure C: Disabled Children Benefits - Allows disabled children of deceased firefighters to marry or be adopted without losing existing benefits. Endorsers include Courage Campaign, Los Angeles County Democratic Party and Young Progressive Majority.

YES on Measure D: Survivor Benefits - Allows firefighters to purchase at their own expense a survivor benefit for a partner or spouse. Endorsers include Courage Campaign, Los Angeles County Democratic Party and Young Progressive Majority.

No on Measure E: Corporate Tax Giveaways - Enables the Mayor of Los Angeles to offer tax breaks and other items to large companies like Wal-Mart without City Council approval. Opponents include Courage Campaign, Los Angeles County Democratic Party and Young Progressive Majority.

Also, here's some good numbers to know when voting this time around. Keep in mind, this is a City election and isn't being handled by the Los Angeles Registrar Recorder.

City of Los Angeles Clerk
or phone: 213-978-1020

More important phone numbers for Election Day:

Election Division - General Information: (888) 873-1000 or (213) 978-0444

To find your Polling Place: (888) 873-1000 or (213) 978-0444

Language Assistance: (800) 994-8683

Voter Fraud Hotline: (800) 815-2666

Election Night Results Bulletin Hotline: (213) 978-3281

L.A. County Registrar-Recorder Operators: (562) 466-1310

NO MORE BUSH. HURRAY!



http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/president_obama/

Fantastic photos of the street scenes here:
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2008/12/2008_greek_riots.html

http://www.anarchistbookfair.com/

Artists At War will be at the 1st Annual L.A. Anarchist Bookfair!

Saturday, Dec. 13
11am-?
Southern California Library
6120 S. Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90044

We will be revealing our newest artist's project by the Groundswell Collective.

Thanks to Bonnie for forwarding me the following article from the Socialist Worker.  -TM

"CHICAGO FACTORY TAKEN OVER BY LAID OFF WORKERS

"Lee Sustar reports from Chicago on an occupation by workers who want what's theirs from management and the Bank of America.

"December 6, 2008



"WORKERS OCCUPYING the Republic Windows & Doors factory slated for closure are vowing to remain in the Chicago plant until they win the $1.5 million in severance and vacation pay owed them by management. In a tactic rarely used in the U.S. since the labor struggles of the 1930s, the workers, members of United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE) Local 1110, refused to leave the plant on December 5, its last scheduled day of operation.

"'We decided to do it because this is money that belongs to us,' said Maria Roman, who's worked at the plant for eight years. 'These are our rights.' Word of the occupation spread quickly both among labor and immigrant rights activists--the overwhelming majority of the workers are Latinos. Seven local TV news stations showed up to do interviews and live reports, and a steady stream of activists arrived to bring donations of food and money and to plan solidarity actions. Management claims that it can't continue operations because its main creditor, Bank of America (BoA), refuses to make any more loans to the company.

"After workers picketed BoA headquarter s December 3, bank officials agreed to sit down with Republic management and UE to discuss the matter at a December 5 meeting arranged by U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill), said UE organizer Leah Fried. BoA had said that it couldn't discuss the matter with the union directly without written approval from Republic's management. But Republic representatives failed to show up at the meeting, and plant managers prepared to close the doors for good--violating the federal WARN Act that requires 60 days notice of a plant closure.

"The workers decided this couldn't go unchallenged. "The company and Bank of America are throwing the ball to one another, and we're in the middle," said Vicente Rangel, a shop steward and former vice president of Local 1110. Many workers had suspected the company was planning to go out of business--and perhaps restart operations elsewhere. Several said managers had removed both production and office equipment in recent days. Furthermore, while inventory records indicated there were plenty of parts in the plant, workers on the production line found shortages. And the order books, while certainly down from the peak years of the housing boom, didn't square with management's claims of a total collapse.



"'Where did all those windows go?' one worker asked. Workers were especially outraged that Bank of America, which recently received a bailout in taxpayer money, won't provide credit to Republic. 'They get $25 billion from the government, and won't loan a few million to this company so workers can keep their jobs?' said Ricardo Caceres, who has worked at the plant for six years.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"THE MEMBERS of Local 1110 have a history of struggle. In 2004, they decertified the Central States Joint Board--a union notorious for corruption and sweetheart contracts with management--and brought in UE, a far more democratic organization. In May of this year, Local 1110 mobilized for a contract by organizing a "practice" picket, and 70 workers used their lunch break to confront the boss with a petition listing their demands. The workers were able to turn back company's effort to win major concessions and won solid pay increases.

"Now, management is trying to get revenge by pocketing money that belongs to the workers. UE officials and workers acknowledge that it will be difficult to stop the plant from closing. But they're determined to get the money owed to t hem--and they believe that by fighting, they can set an example for other workers facing layoffs and plant closures as the recession deepens.

"Negotiations are set for Monday, December 8. Whatever happens, however, the workers have already sent a message to employers that if they violate workers rights and the law, they can expect a fight. 'This is a message to the workers of America,' said Vicente Rangel, the shop steward. 'If we stand together, we will prevail until justice is done, and we get what we're due.'

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

More info...follow organizer Leah Fried and the valiant efforts of UE 1110 workers in the press and web-o'-sphere.

"What can you do If you live in the Chicago area? ...

"If negotiations with Bank of America fail to resolve the issue, there will be a picket of BoA's Chicago headquarters at 231 S. LaSalle on Tuesday, December 9 at 12 noon.

"Members of Local 1110 need your support. Make checks payable to the UE Local 1110 Solidarity Fund, and mail to: 37 S. Ashland, Chicago, IL 60607.

"Messages of support can be sent to leahfried@gmail.com, and you can send a message of protest to Bank of America."

Here is Artists At War's take on the California State Ballot Initiatives. We put this together because CA's ballot initiatives are always thrown at us like a handful of mud--lots of confusing questions to ponder. Yet they are hardly trivial matters. This year's batch contains 4 constitutional amendments that are far-reaching and almost impossible to undo.

Please feel free to print this guide and bring it with you to the polls. Take your time (by law we are allowed 1 hour off of work), and do the right thing.

1A - Hi-speed Electric Rail
YES. Will provide an investment in 21st-century infrastructure, lots of jobs, and a great way to travel between SF & LA.

2 - Farm Animals
YES. It's bad enough that we're going to kill chickens and eat their tasty flesh. So let's let them have a little space to enjoy their short lives.

3 - Children's Hospitals
YES-ish. On the face of it, increasing funding to children's' hospitals sounds good. But I feel like this bill plays inside baseball with a lot of money, and we have no real idea how this industry works.

4 - Abortion Notification (Constitutional Amendment)
NO. ABSOLUTELY NOT.

5 - Drug Treatment
YES. We're killing ourselves, sending drug users to jail. It costs around $30,000 to incarcerate a person for a year. I'm sure it costs much less to get someone to kick the habit.

6 - Police Funding
NO! Moves law enforcement $ from the community to the police. I don't think the police are very accountable for their actions.

7 - Renewable Energy
NO. Pushes small companies in the renewable energy industry out of business. Send this back to the drawing board. In the coming years, there will be lots of legislation over energy and global warming. We need to be smart, and decipher GREEN vs. GREENWASHING!

8 - Ban on Gay Marriage (Constitutional Amendment)
NO. The law should be equal for all people.

9 - Victim's Rights  (Constitutional Amendment)
NO. Builds more jails, throws away the key.

10 - Alternative Fuel Vehicles
NO. Again, this is a GREENWASH bill, that'll give tons of $ to a few companies.

11 - Redistricting  (Constitutional Amendment)
NO. Deciding election districts will always be a dirty scrum, but this bill will concentrate the power of the Governor and a few select people to decide.

12 - Housing for Veterans
YES. The way vets get screwed over when fighting unpopular wars, we need to give them something.

I would encourage anyone reading this to check out tomorrow's Democracy Now, when we'll see/hear the brutal arrest of 2 DN producers and Amy Goodman.
Here also is some footage from Minnesota Public Radio of a homeowner who'se duplex was raided because he had the press staying in his spare apartment. Want to read more editorial? Just check out the comments below the MPR piece. My favorite, "I'm not paying taxes anymore."
This jibes pretty well with what I've been hearing from my friend on the ground at the RNC. Yesterday scores of arrests, he said. Today, StarTribune reports the Guard has been called in to quell some protesters who have been breaking windows and causing a disturbance.
Gina Berglund, a National Lawyers Guild member and attorney taking up the charge of advocating for the protesters has been quoted in various sources as saying, "we think it's unconscionable. We think it's out of control," and the police action was "completely out of proportion." "A lot of people in the activist community are really on pins and needles about who's next," she said in the Kansas City Star.

Friday, July 25, 2008
Vincent Bugliosi at the House Committee on the Judiciary.

The Journal of Aesthetics and Protest just put online an amazing collection of essays, coordinated by Team Colors collective. Their project, at http://www.joaap.org/projects/whirlwind.htm explores the current state of resistance culture and politics in the US in light of the coming dnc/rnc protests this summer.

Heavy reading, but well worth it. Highlights include Ben Shepards piece, a Michael Hardt/El Kilombo pairing, I want to do this all day (an audio documentary about really alternative education projects around north america), and an interview with Ashanti Alston.