December 2006— issue 17— January 2007

Got books? toys? tools? Katrina survivors sure could use some

I'm down here in Plaquemines [PLAKenmenz]Parish on the very southern tip of Louisiana, seventy miles downriver from New Orleans, where the Mississippi River empties into the Gulf of Mexico. Katrina first touched land here, and ruined the entire southern half of the parish.

For the dogs, it’s now or never

Dogs play an important role in our lives. They are friends, companions, and part of our community. They are dependent on us for food, shelter and compassion, and deserve to be protected from individuals and industries that would do them harm.

City Hall pushing ‘transformation’ for Union Square

Friday, November 20— City officials seemed surprised to that so many people came to hear about “revitalization” plans for Union Square. By the time the meeting started, the Academy Room at the police station was so full that some older people had given up and gone home.

Animal rights activists ready Boston actions

Thursday, January 4— A campaign against Surface Logix, a main customer of Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS), has erupted in Boston. UK-based HLS is the world’s largest corporation specializing in experiments on animals. Surface Logix develops drugs using nanotechnology—the enginering of ultra-small “nanoparticles” with novel—and extremely dangerous— chemical and physical properties. 

A legacy of challenge

Febuary as a celebration of Black History derived from the single individual effort of Carter G. Woodson, who established Negro History Week on Feb 12, 1926, celebrated during the second week of Febuary. This was intended to coincide with the birthdates of Frederic Douglas and Abraham Lincoln.

Ballot questions—some you'll never vote on

At first sight, the health amendment supporters seem to be making the same argument as Governor Romney and other opponents of gay marriage. Both want to amend the State Constitution, and that can only happen if the Legislature votes in a Constitutional Convention.

Abuses routine in Massachusetts prisons

Friday, November 17— Nearly every day the popular media cover stories about torture and abuse by Americans acting “under color of law” in U.S.-operated detention facilities and military prisons like Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib. Our government tacitly condones these abuses. Though they may “shock the conscience,” their origins lie deep within the U.S. Federal and State prison systems.

Most folks agree—pot can be good for you

Public opinion backs medical marijuana, says a report released October 24 by the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP). Ten years have passed since California voters passed the “Compassionate Use” ballot initiative, and not one of the dire consequences predicted by its opponents has come to pass.

Community rallies to arrested Boston Imams

Tuesday, November 21— Imam Abdul Hannan, Imam Masood, and Hassan Masood were released on bail today after an immigration court hearing in Boston. Bail was set at $7500 each for the two Imams and $2500 for Imam Masood’s son, Hassan Masood.

New treaty allows U.K. to seize U.S. citizens, property without going to court

Imagine that you are a citizen of the United States and you have voiced, in a peaceful manner, your opposition to certain political policies of the British government. You have ranted and raved on your blog, or you have engaged in a demonstration outside of a consulate, or you have gone so far as to discuss your feelings in a social setting among friends and acquaintances.

‘Progressive’ City Council abuses vulnerable persons—and free speech

The City Council imitates art—Animal Farm. A mayor who knows discrimination, becomes an oppressor and censor of vulnerable persons. Mayor Reeves suspends the rules and stops public comment at three minutes. Other council rules are ignored. It is selective enforcement of laws, a pattern of one party political systems.

Voters sue to put health amendment on ballot

BOSTON, Friday, November 10— Today ten Massachusetts voters joined the Committee for Health Care for Massachusetts (CHCM) in a suit to put the Health Care Constitutional Amendment on the 2008 ballot. Some might even vote against it if they get the chance in 2008, but the plaintiffs argue that the General Court has a constitutional duty to vote on every amendment sent to them by the people.

‘Madam Clerk, please call the police’

October 30 was the last meeting of the Cambridge City Council before Halloween and Election Day. The elected officials were tired of sharing the Cable TV audience with those who speak regularly at the time reserved for public comment. Here is how the Mayor treated one of those citizens.

The Zeitgeist goes south

Has the Zeitgeist given up the ghost? Alan Nidle and Karen Boutet, the Zeitgeist’s managers, have gone exploring in the city of Philadelphia, where the rents are lower and the counterculture is in flower.

Looking backward and forward at political power and Boston's elite law firms

Deval Patrick, political liberal, member of the Democrat party, and corporate lawyer, seems the likely next Governor of the Commonwealth. In the months to come, the new governor’s background, interests, and outlook will come into into public focus. This is also true of his friends and family, for in a real sense, in our electoral system we elect them as well as the candidate. Diane Patrick says she will continue to practice law at Ropes & Gray, where she specializes in representing corporations in labor negotiations. The following description of Boston’s legal scene was written 22 years ago. It is still worth reading today.

Rumors of my re-election have been greatly exaggerated

From the Cambridge City Council agenda for November 20, 2006: “Resolution on the death of Senator Jarrett Barrios, on his re-election to the Massachusetts Senate.”

State didn't seek Federal money for independent living

November 1st at 11:59 pm was the deadline to apply for a Money Follows The Person grant, Federal monies designated to keep disabled people and elders out of nursing homes. The Romney-Healey administration and the state Medicaid agency didn't apply for this grant. The State won't be eligible to apply for these funds again until 2011. Green-Rainbow candidate for Lieutenant Governor Martina Robinson and her Gubernatorial running-mate, Grass Ross, called a press conference on the State House steps two days before the deadline to call attention to this outrage and encourage the necessary parties to rectify their behavior.

Antiwar activist arrested in Worcester as McGovern looks on

Tuesday, October 31—Last night at Clark University in Worcester, police arrested a man in the audience as Democrat US Congressman James McGovern prepared to deliver a pro-war speech against Sudan.

Babylon’s cruel laughter: London newspaper exposes Borat

“Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan” is the top-grossing comedy film of the moment. Millions of moviegoers are apparently laughing their brains out watching a production that some critics hail as brilliant satire, others as racist, misogynist, reactionary trash.

Green challenge to the Left

Radical environmentalists point to the devastation the earth is facing, but even in this day and age too many leftists examine only the finger.

"Green Scare" case near resolution: defendants won’t finger others

EUGENE, Oregon, Wednesday, November 8— The four remaining non-cooperating defendants in the Oregon "Green Scare" case have agreed to drop their request for Federal (NSA) surveillance documents.

Mass. Labor Notes — December 2006

Jobs with Justice volunteers — Kids’ Sweatshop Protest—Dec. 10 — Kendall Solidarity—Dec. 15 — Stop Goodyear strikebreakers — RNs tentative deal averts strike — Latino Harvard employees keep jobs—for now — Harvard guards win union vote — Convert JP school despite teacher opposition — Unions sue Turnpike board

Are you a “girly man?”

When I was a child, my mother often painted my finger nails and sent me to school with glossy lips and lavishly perfumed hands. So began my confusing journey in discovering my gender identity and tripping along the jagged edges of sexual non-conformity.

A new law to help make affordable housing acessible for all

This past Thursday, the Governor signed into law House Bill 4978 Data Collection for Government Assisted Housing in Massachusetts.

Suit filed for Boston teacher who opposed JROTC funding

Tuesday, October 17— The ACLU of Massachusetts and Boston Teachers Union attorneys today filed a lawsuit in federal court on behalf of long time substitute teacher Jeffrey Herman against Jose Duarte, the headmaster of Boston's English High School.

Teamsters,women’s groups denounce cover-up of Salvador assassinations

November 29 (CISPES)— The ruling ARENA party is maintaining El Salvador in a state of generalized impunity, especially for those who commit political crimes and violence against women.  

Thirty years after ban, corporations pressed on lead cleanup

In the ongoing battle to eradicate lead poisoning, state and local governments have begun targeting the companies that sold toxic paint before it was banned for residential use in 1978.