Protesters urge MBTA to avoid cuts, fare hikes
Public transit riders and their advocates pleaded with the MBTA’s board of directors on Wednesday to avoid or minimize fare hikes and service cuts that officials of the agency have said are inevitable.
. . .
Members of Occupy Boston, which held a 10-week vigil in Dewey Square last year, stood at the outset of the meeting and demanded public transportation remain “accessible to all of the 99 percent.” Another large group held a noisy protest against the fare hikes and service changes outside the packed hearing room.
At one point during the meeting, a group calling itself the “Fast Five” and dressed in superhero costumes asked the board to consider `saving’ the T by adopting alternative money-saving solutions such as renegotiating bank debt, tapping the state’s unused snow removal funds and transferring control of Boston Harbor ferries and Silver Line service to the Massachusetts Port Authority
http://tinyurl.com/7ho3ezv
UMass Boston occupiers move their encampment outdoors
After camping out in their campus center for 50 days, the Occupy UMass Boston University of Massachusetts Boston movement has shifted outside.
Wednesday marked the third day the group has claimed a spot on the school’s plaza in a military tent that was used as a kitchen during Occupy Boston’s encampment downtown. They city cleared out the downtown encampment in December.
“We’ve been talking with the administration and decided to take the movement outside,” said Matthew Gauvain, 29, a UMass Boston student originally from Lynn.
http://tinyurl.com/7gorefb
Report Warns Of Threat Income Inequality May Pose For Massachusetts Economy
A new report from the Boston Foundation warns that growing economic inequality remains the greatest threat to the region’s long-term prosperity.
According to the report, released Wednesday, Boston’s richest 20 percent earned more than half of the region’s income in 2010. The poorest 20 percent made just over 2 percent of the income.
That income disparity means the vast majority of workers remain vulnerable to economic downturns. It also means that the economic recovery is leaving many people behind.
Occupy New Haven Calls In Reinforcements
A $5 Megabus ticket brought Jose Wiley from Occupy Boston to New Haven’s Green Wednesday for a donated bowl of oatmeal-and an anticipated showdown with police. New Haven lawyers cooled their heels after making arguments in federal court in Bridgeport over a last-ditch effort to resist an order to leave.
Wiley was among the scattered out-of-town anti-corporate protesters who arrived here for what some believe may the be the last day of New England’s longest-lasting “Occupy” encampment.
City officials have given members of Occupy New Haven until noon Wednesday to remove their tents and leave the encampment they started on Oct. 15.
http://tinyurl.com/83lzhc3
Occupy Movement Looks To Regroup Early Due To Unseasonably Warm Weather
The Occupy movement is looking to bloom early this year from hibernation thanks to unseasonably warm weather across much of the U.S.
“The warmer weather brings out larger chunks of the population who are not able to participate in the colder months,” Chuck Witthaus, an organizer with Occupy the Midwest, told CBS St. Louis. “It’s definitely going to help perpetuate [the Occupy movement].”
http://tinyurl.com/8ygcmz5
Worker ‘Occupations’ in 3 States Yield Successes, but Counterattack Begins
In the last few months, workers in three different states-at the Serious Materials factory in Chicago, at a Century Aluminum factory in Ravenswood, West Va., and at AT&T’s regional headquarters in Atlanta-have engaged in “occupations” that quickly produced small results for those workers. These actions-one an actual factory occupation, the other two highly visible encampments outside company facilities-have underscored the enormous potential of direct action to give workers leverage in negotiating with employers.
But just as Congress quickly outlawed the type of auto industry sit-down strikes that were so effective during the 1930s, anti-union groups are now advocating measures to counteract the success of these recent protests. The backlash has begun: Last week, a Georgia State Senate Committee passed SB 469, which would ban picketing outside of the home of CEOs and give a company the right to ask a judge to force protesters-whether union or nonunion-to stop picketing outside of any business.
If these members do not stop picketing after a judge’s order, the courts could fine individuals $1,000 a day. Any organization or union that sponsored the protests would be fined $10,000 a day. The bill could severely limit the ability of unions and other groups to bring aggressive anti-union employer actions to the public’s attention.
http://tinyurl.com/7eje9ul
Silencing Occupy
Get ready for the protests. Get ready for the warm American spring – and maybe a hot summer and fall. Vast economic inequality has not disappeared and, in a presidential election year, the supremacy of money in politics will be extravagantly displayed.
But if you protest, also get ready for “free-speech zones,” “pop-up” restricted areas, National Special Security Events, and – with the signing on March 8 by President Barack Obama of HR 347 – a suddenly sharper federal anti-protest law. Despite American constitutional rights to speak freely, to assemble, and to petition for redress of grievances, suppression of protest is just as American.
http://tinyurl.com/74kzcqr
Consumer debt climbs along with jobs numbers
(video)
http://tinyurl.com/6oqyyea
Laughing all the way to the bank: NY attorney general settles some mortgage claims with 5 banks for puny $25 million
Five of the nation’s biggest banks have agreed to pay New York a total of $25 million to settle claims by New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman regarding their use of a private national mortgage electronic system.
The agreement, filed in federal court Tuesday, resolves certain monetary claims by the New York attorney general against Ally Financial Inc., Bank of America Corp., Citigroup Inc., J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. and Wells Fargo & Co.
http://tinyurl.com/6oqyyea
Homeless Families Placed In Vacant Homes Causes Controversy
Across the country, organizations, such as the Chicago Anti-Eviction Campaign and Occupy Our Homes (a spin-off of the Occupy Wall St. Movement), have been protesting the eviction practices of banks by moving homeless families in to vacant foreclosed properties, according to the Chicago Tribune.
One of the latest public recipient of a home is 40-year-old Tene Smith (pictured), who is a single Mother of four. With the help of anti-eviction organization Liberate South Side, Smith and her family were moved in to a Chicago two-bedroom, one bathroom duplex as squatters; she is what Liberate likes to call a “tenant without a lease.”
http://tinyurl.com/7tcpacj
Homeless shelter clients organizing protests [RI]
Determined to draw attention to the gaps in the safety net, Walker and a group of like-minded shelter clients have vowed to organize an “Occupy Social Park” movement beginning April 1. That’s the day after Harvest closes the seasonal shelter until next November.
Walker says the idea is to encourage as many displaced clients from the Harvest shelter as possible to pitch tents in the park and, basically, live there as a protest against the lack of a year-round day shelter in Woonsocket that admits homeless, single men. Such a facility already exists for mixed-gender family groups with children, but single men are not admitted.
Waiting for Romney, bearing hula hoops and fake champagne [NY]
This morning, protestors surrounded likely Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney’s fund-raiser at the Waldorf-Astoria. At its height, the crowd wrapping around the block-long hotel and chanting about the candidate’s record on job creation got up to approximately 200 people.
Inside the hotel, donors who had paid a suggested $2,500 were meeting with Romney, who was fresh off losing two primaries to Rick Santorum. Outside, a coalition of Occupy and union protestors threaded around the building, weaving through bemused tourists, tour-bus promoters and a large mass of police.
http://tinyurl.com/7e8l7pw
‘Occupy’ movement regroups, targets BofA [NY]
After a winter of regrouping, Occupy Wall Street will unveil a new, more targeted approach Thursday when it launches a campaign directed at Bank of America Corp.
In a symbolic protest against the bank’s role in the foreclosure crisis, protesters will fan out across the city-and nine others across the country-and try to set up couches, chairs, rugs and plants in Bank of America branches. It’s part of a new springtime strategy that will see the protesters put a strategic slant on their traditional Occupy tactics.
Last Saturday, in a test run of their “livingrooming” tactic, protesters set up furniture in a Bank of America branch in the city and sang “Our House/In the middle of the bank” before being escorted out. A video of the protest had logged 55,000 hits by Wednesday morning.
http://tinyurl.com/7sq6omy
Use Birth Control? You’re Fired! [AZ]
We aren’t talking here just about exemptions for religiously affiliated employers like Catholic hospitals and universities. We are talking about authorizing secular, for-profit employers to deny a woman coverage for birth control if the employer doesn’t believe that she and her partner should be allowed to have sex without getting pregnant. Yup, that’s right. If the owner of the Taco Bell where you work opposes birth control, Arizona legislators want to give him a legal right to deny you insurance coverage for your pills.
Sadly, that isn’t even the half of it. You may want to sit down for this one. Arizona legislators know that whether or not her insurance covers it, a woman may get the prescription she needs to prevent an unintended pregnancy. They want to give her boss the right to control that too. The bill they are pushing would not only allow employers to take the insurance coverage away, but it would also make it easier for an employer who finds out that his employee uses birth control to fire her. You heard me right . . . to fire her. And I thought Rush Limbaugh’s comments were as low as you could go on this one.
http://tinyurl.com/7wmdtnk
Women Voter’s Show Their Anger: Occupy San Diego Protests Darrell Issa Fundraiser
Out on the street the Occupier enthusiastically cheered, joked and got to know each other. Their common Occupy dedication brings protesters back together at new protests. All brought homemade signs making their voice heard. One happy Occupier was dressed in the same color scheme as her poster which was a nice touch. Drivers were greeted with the sight of the seventy plus protesters hugging the inside of the westbound curve waving their colored signs. Horns sounded; many waved. The crowd cheered back.
New protesters arrived, but by 7:15 pm it was obvious Issa had given them the slip. The protest was a success and the gathering Occupiers had, orderly and peacefully, made their feelings known to the congressman and his minions.
With the American Spring in full bloom plans for upcoming events were shared. The May 1st General Strike [M1GS] is a constant topic since this is a National strike to show the strength of the 99%. Occupy Camps from across America are making plans and joining forces with a growing network of Occupiers. Occupy San Diego is already meeting weekly and has the commitment from almost all area unions.
Religious Leaders Show Faith in Occupy Movement
More than 40 years after the Civil Rights movement, religious leaders still have their eyes on the prize.
They are not leading Occupy Wall Street as they did the Civil Rights movement. And if churches served as a vital network for communication and planning during the days of the sit-ins, that role today has been usurped by the Internet – by Facebook and Twitter.
But in sanctuaries and on the streets, faith has both fueled a passionate commitment to the Occupy Wall Street movement and a passionate debate about its methods.
Occupy Miami raided by SWAT teams
(video)
Dozens of cops equipped with shotguns and assault rifles stormed a Miami, Florida apartment building on Tuesday, drawing weapons at peaceful protesters and children with the local Occupy Wall Street campaign that were lawfully residing inside.
Members of Occupy Miami moved into an Overtown safehouse last month after their previous encampment outside of the city’s Government Center was shut down by authorities earlier this year. Now for the second time in only six weeks, cops donned in SWAT-team style gear and brandishing weapons swarmed the residence of several occupiers again, allegedly acting on reports that the residents inside were stockpiling weapons to use in an upcoming demonstration.
“They said that they had gotten a tip that we had ‘long guns’ and were going to use them at our protest,” Occupy member Thomas Parisi tells the Miami New Times. “But we are a peaceful movement and told them that we had no intention of doing anything like that.”
http://tinyurl.com/6v5unb8
600 expected at ‘Occupy the Midwest’ conference in St. Louis
At least 600 people from nearly 20 cities, mostly Midwestern but some from as far away as New England, are expected for the conference. It runs Thursday through Sunday and will begin with a march to the Gateway Arch at 5 p.m. Thursday.
Occupy the Midwest will include a “general assembly” on the Arch grounds, tent encampments throughout the city and workshops on 30 topics, including discussions about how to deal with police brutality and avoiding home foreclosures.
The conference will also hold at least four protests. One will be against Bank of America, and another on Friday will target St. Louis-based Monsanto because of the company’s involvement in the world food supply, organizer Zach Chasnoff said. Occupy members declined to elaborate, saying only that news releases will be sent out in the hours prior to the protests.
http://tinyurl.com/7hnqskp
Philadelphia mayor sets up ‘pseudo-Occupy food distribution location,’ establishes ‘working group’ to move homeless out of sight
Mayor Michael Nutter held a press conference earlier today regarding the city’s new controversial “Don’t feed the homeless” policy. Masked in a series of well-meaning statements, it basically comes down to, as some critics have cried, move the city’s homeless population off the Parkway.
The Administration has also decided to establish a pseudo-Occupy “food distribution location” near City Hall that’d serve as a temporary indoor/outdoor space with tons of luxury amenities for the homeless.
http://tinyurl.com/7va36l4
Alternative commencement organized by University of North Carolina students opposed to Michael Bloomberg
On May 13, seniors will have to make one final choice – which Commencement ceremony to attend.
A group of students unsatisfied with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s appointment as Commencement speaker – termed the Alternative Commencement Task Force – will hold its own ceremony in the Forest Theatre at the same time. Members are setting a goal to have at least 100 students and their families attend.
The group wants to create a space for those who are unhappy with Bloomberg’s actions against Occupy Wall Street and the New York Police Department’s monitoring of Muslim students in the Northeast, member Eric Bost said.
Occupy Little Rock continues to spread message, six months later
They’ve been occupying the parking lot outside the main post office for five months and the Clinton Center for a month before that. Now, Occupy Little Rock could be on the move again.
Members of the Occupy Little Rock movement say they’ve been patient over the past six months. They’ve calmly been sharing their message: a demand for social and economic justice, freedom and opportunity for all people. Occupiers say another change in venue, won’t keep them from spreading the movement.
http://tinyurl.com/7gehpv4
EU/IMF Technocrats: More austerity needed in Greece
Greece will have to slash a further 5.5 percent of GDP in government spending in 2013 and 2014 to meet agreed fiscal targets underpinning the second international bailout for Athens, a European Commission report said.
The Compliance Report by the European Union’s executive describes the progress of Greek reforms necessary for the release of new euro zone money to Athens and recommends the first disbursement be made as soon as possible.
One Response to “The OB Media Rundown for 3/15/12”
on March 15th, 2012 at 5:18 am #
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