tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18258599732364154542024-03-14T11:30:54.317-04:00Occupy Asheville NCThis is an official blog of Occupy Asheville, North Carolina.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1825859973236415454.post-9137907049778979212013-09-17T12:29:00.001-04:002013-09-17T12:29:16.849-04:00Occupy Asheville News <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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On September 14, 2013, seventeen members of Occupy Asheville met for two hours
at Wall Street Coffee to discuss disbursing all funds from the treasury. This
has been an ongoing discussion for approximately the last year, which culminated
in the group effort today. This does not mean that Occupy is over, it simply
means that we are honoring our commitment to put "people over
profit". We are no longer requiring funds as a safeguard against arrest or
to engage in actions, but we ARE still participating in actions, and our
participation is from a wide variety of Asheville occupiers. WE ARE STILL HERE.
We are a community and have bonded during the time we spent together. Our fight
is not over, we are just passing our financial support on to those that need
it.<br />
<br />
Here is a list of disbursement; some funds have been disbursed already, while
others will be made in the next few days as available:<br />
<br />
$48.90 reimbursed to NonViolent Direct Action Training Working Gfroup<br />
$50.00 to an ongoing documentary project by Victor <br />
$116.61 to Asheville Homeless Network<br />
$116.61 to the campaign to elect Martin Ramsey <br />
$155.48 to Veterans for Peace, Chapter 099<br />
$155.48 to Beloved House <br />
$38.87 to National Lawyers Guild <br />
<br />
These totals were the result of much input and a vote based on percentages of
the input. We believe in full transparency, so here it is folks. Social justice
work continues. Keep fighting the good fight, everyone!<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1825859973236415454.post-29072042052224702632013-05-05T20:50:00.000-04:002013-05-05T20:50:57.745-04:00Occupy Asheville General Assembly May 2013<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Occupy Asheville General Assembly</div>
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<br /></div>
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May 4, 2013</div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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Kathryn Facilitating; Jonathan Notes</div>
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<br /></div>
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Treasury Report: John S reported that as of March there was
$726 in the treasury.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Website: We’ve paid for another 6 months, which means we
have about 5 months left. The cost</div>
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has been $39 for six months. Kathryn has paid for this the
last two times. We agreed that we would</div>
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capture the information from the website for archival
purpose and allow the website to expire at the</div>
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end of this 6 month period. Jonathan agreed to figure out
how to capture the info from the website</div>
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and to approach the archives at the downtown library to see
if they would be interested in holding that</div>
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information.</div>
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<br /></div>
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We also consensed on a proposal to disburse $39 from the
Treasury to Kathryn to reimburse her for the</div>
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most recent website renewal cost.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Asheville
Solidarity Network: After the May Day parade there was a meeting at the
downtown library</div>
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about wages in Asheville.
Jonathan reported that by the time he got there it had changed into</div>
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conversation about starting some kind of Solidarity Network
for Asheville.
The purpose of this network</div>
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would be for people to share information about actions,
issues, and projects, so that others might show</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
up in solidarity. There seemed to be some strong feelings
about having this Network not be a place for</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
trying to has out ideological unity but be open for all
kinds of calls for solidarity. There was interesting</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
conversation about past efforts and alert systems,
particularly Asheville Mutual Aid. Jonathan</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
mentioned seeing some familiar faces from Occupy Asheville’s
past. At GA there was discussion about</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
whether to approach this forming network about if it would
make sense to send out an email to the OA</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
list inviting people to join the “solidarity network,
however no decision was made in this regard. It was</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
noted that we needed group consensus before using the OA
email list for this purpose.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sunsetting Occupy Asheville:
We had a long conversation about whether we should and if so how we</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
should “put to rest,” “close down,” “sunset,” etc. Occupy Asheville. On the one
hand there was strong</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
sentiment that we should not in any official way indicate
that Occupy Asheville was finished or over.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There were concerns that doing this would prove people in
power who believed they just needed to</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
wait out “occupy” as having been correct, that there are
still efforts associated with Occupy Asheville</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
active and that gatekeepers/people in power or authority
believe that Occupy Asheville is still in</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
existence and indicating otherwise would mean a loss of
leverage or standing. There was concern about</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
the message that officially ending OA would send about the
Occupy moment/movement in general and</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
concern about where doing so would leave individuals who are
still active on issues that OA was</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
involved in and who are associated with OA. It seemed that
folks with these concerns were OK with not</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
having regular meetings but would block any proposal to
officially end Occupy Asheville. On the other</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
hand there were a number of people who were concerned that
felt like there needed to be a clean and</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
clear break. They expressed concerns about efforts that
might claim continuity with OA but might take</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
stand or actions that were not representative of Occupy
Asheville as it is or has been; there were</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
concerns about the common assets of OA, including funds,
contact lists, web presence etc, and decisions</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
being made about those by individuals after in effect there
was no Occupy GA or Coordinating Council</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
meeting. There was also a concern about the loss of
integrity that could come with continuing to</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
present OA as a vibrant active group, when that is not the
reality, at least when it comes to people</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
meeting collectively as OA. It was noted that there are
several groups two which predated OA: Asheville</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Homeless Network and Veterans for Peace, as well as two
groups that came out of OA: Nonviolent</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Direct Action Training Working Group and Seniors and Friends
that continue to meet and are active as</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
projects. Some felt that these groups were important reasons
to not end OA others felt like it made</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
more sense for these groups to be able to continue as
members of a larger effort: Occupy Asheville.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There were feelings both that if OA ended we would lose the
relationship we’d developed, and that OA</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
ending did not mean that we’d loose our relationships with
each other but could carry those into future</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
projects and efforts. There was a third perspective that
given that there are still groups meeting and</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
that there are still shared assets that OA does need to
continue to meet, but that the first Saturday may</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
just be a bad time. And there were at least two people:
Kathryn as a frequent facilitator and Susan as</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
the individual that the group had empowered to manage the
email list who are no longer willing to play</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
those roles.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sonny proposed: We hold a GA on June 15th at 2pm under the
big tree at Pritchard
Park and invite</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
people to bring proposals about what should be done with
remaining OA funds. The proposal was</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
amended to include a reminder that all groups and
individuals have and will continue to have the</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
ability to act autonomously but that they need to be clear
that they are not acting for the totality of</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
OA and that at the GA in June we will provide information
about how people can continue to support</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
these groups that have been associated with OA. The proposal
passed with consensus. Jonathan</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
agreed to send out the email about the June GA. Susan will
transfer the list to Jonathan.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While it was not explicitly stated in seemed implicit to the
note taker that after the June GA, if all</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
common assets were dispensed of, there would not be another
meeting OA scheduled unless those</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
gathered at the GA decided to do so.</div>
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1825859973236415454.post-27043963915554944482013-04-21T23:16:00.002-04:002013-04-21T23:16:12.864-04:00Latest on Civil Liberties resolution from CecilSubject: Civil Liberties delayed again<br />
<br />
<br />
I regret to inform you that the Civil Liberties resolution has been held
up again due to concerns expressed by law enforcement agencies.<br />
I'll be meeting with the agencies, with City legal, with an asst. City
Mgr., in the next two weeks to iron out whatever wrinkle they've
discovered.<br />
<br />
It will now be on the agenda for the May Public Safety Committee meeting.<br />
<br />
It will definitely pass through the PSC when it does come up, as I have
Gordon Smith's affirmation that he wants it to go to the full Council.<br />
<br />
Best to all,<br />
-c Meggenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17296529626297613824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1825859973236415454.post-16746126766634064262013-04-09T19:25:00.003-04:002013-05-05T20:52:55.239-04:00Occupy Asheville General Assembly Minutes April 2013<br />
<div>
Occupy Asheville General Assembly</div>
<div>
April 6 2012</div>
<div>
Jonathan announced
OA was starting and read General Agreements</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<b>Announcements</b></div>
<div>
NVDA Training Working Group Will be doing a training for
<a href="http://350.org/" target="_blank">350.org</a> next Saturday from 9-12 at the
Quaker meeting house. The training is
for <a href="http://350.org/" target="_blank">350.org</a> but others are welcome. $10
suggested donation.</div>
<div>
There will be a GA in Mid April check back for the exact
date.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<b>Proposal</b></div>
<div>
To offer Kathryn $40 as reimbursement for the website for
the last 6 months. Sonny asked if we knew
how long Kathryn had been paying for the website, and if she needed to be
reimbursed for more than the past 6 months.
Jerry suggested that we offer the reimbursement but give Kathryn the
opportunity to donate the cost if she wants.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
There was consensus to this proposal.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Note: Krysia said that her son (who is actually in San
Francisco) would be willing to manage the website.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<b>Discussion </b></div>
<div>
Jerry brought up a topic of currency and its connection
to (or disconnection from) morality and spirituality.</div>
<div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sonny encouraged everyone to pay attention to
what is happening at the State legislature.
He noted several issues that will impact Asheville and expressed concern
about how these issues might result in loss of funds for valuable city
services.</span><br />
<div class="yj6qo ajU">
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</div>
Meggenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17296529626297613824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1825859973236415454.post-66837778152637586352013-03-23T19:44:00.001-04:002013-03-23T19:44:25.011-04:00Update on Civil Liberties Resolution MeetingFrom Cecil Bothwell: <br />
<br />
Due to three reasons, I'm bumping the Civil Liberties resolution another month.<br />
<br />
Chief Anderson has expressed a wish to talk to me about it in the context of the Citizens/Police Advisory Committee first.<br />
Councilmember Gordon Smith is out of town due to a death in his family.<br />
And the agenda for Monday is jammed with other routine stuff.<br />
<br />
So we'll do it April 29.Meggenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17296529626297613824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1825859973236415454.post-19274129938639619332013-03-20T21:19:00.002-04:002013-03-21T20:57:35.146-04:00Civil Liberties resolution meeting 3/25/13THIS HAS BEEN PUSHED BACK TO THE APRIL AGENDA, due to several factors per Cecil Bothwell.<br /><br />Heads up to those interested: this is next Monday, March 25. The newest draft of the resolution is below. <br />
<br />
Message from Cecil Bothwell:<br />
<br />
I will bring the Civil Liberties resolution forward at the 3/25/13
meeting of the Public Safety Committee. It would be great if you or any
of your friends, followers, legions, minions, multitudes, hangers-on or
unindicted co-conspirators can join us.<br />
<br />
3:30 p.m. Upstairs in the downtown Fire Department/Police Station.<br />
<br />
-c<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
CITY OF ASHEVILLE <br />
CIVIL LIBERTIES RESOLUTION <br />
<br />
WHEREAS: The City of Asheville has long aspired to protect civil liberties and provide equal protection under the law to all persons in the city which includes a diverse population of many races, religions, national and ethnic origin, including immigrants, tourists and students—whose contributions to the community’s economy, culture and civic character are vast and important, and affirms its strong support for the fundamental constitutional rights of every person and recognizes that the preservation of civil liberties is essential to the well-being of a democratic society; and<br />
<br />
WHEREAS: The Chief of Police of the City of Asheville has implemented new community policing practices that seek to reframe and improve the relationship between law enforcement officers and the public; and<br />
<br />
WHEREAS: The City of Asheville opposes measures that single out individuals within our diverse population for legal scrutiny or enforcement activity based on race, skin color, national or ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability, religious or political opinion or activity, immigration status; or homed or homeless status, and<br />
WHEREAS: The City of Asheville opposes any efforts to transfer federal immigration responsibility to state and local officials, since these proposals tax our already overburdened police department and damage relationships with immigrant communities; and<br />
<br />
WHEREAS: The City of Asheville believes that there is no inherent conflict between national security and the preservation of liberty but that Americans can be both safe and free; and<br />
<br />
WHEREAS: The City of Asheville wishes to play a leading role in the protection of civil liberties and to consistently promote tolerance and respect for all persons, and recognizes that a number of other jurisdictions in North Carolina and in the United States have enacted policies or laws to make clear their protection of the civil liberties of a diverse population.<br />
<br />
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY OF ASHEVILLE that: <br />
<br />
Section 1. The City of Asheville upholds the constitutional rights and civil liberties of any and all persons and it remains the policy of the City of Asheville to protect against discrimination on the basis of race, skin color, national or ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability, immigration status, religious or political opinion or activity, or homed or homeless status. <br />
<br />
Section 2. City of Asheville officers and employees reject profiling of any group within our diverse population as a factor in selecting individuals, setting up check points or selecting areas of town to subject to investigatory activities. <br />
<br />
Section 3. City of Asheville officers shall not arrest persons or impound vehicles solely for failure to produce a driver's license in the course of motor vehicle stops in which the initiating infraction would not otherwise result in arrest, unless there is other evidence of criminal activity.<br />
<br />
Section 4. The City of Asheville does not and will not maintain electronic, photographic or paper files on any person not under investigation for criminal activity.<br />
<br />
Section 5. City of Asheville officers and employees do not and shall not collect, maintain or disseminate information about the political, religious or social views, associations or activities of any individual, association, organization, corporation, business or partnership unless said information is directly related to an investigation of criminal conduct that is based on reasonable suspicion. <br />
<br />
Section 6. In the absence of interstate or international criminal or national security investigations, City of Asheville officers and employees shall refrain from participating in the enforcement of federal immigration laws or initiatives such as the Terrorism Information and Prevention System (TIPS), that encourage members of the general public to spy on their neighbors, colleagues and customers, or programs run by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), that drive a wedge between the immigrant community and the local police who need to protect the welfare of all our residents; no department, agency, commission, officer or employee of the City of Asheville shall use City funds or resources to assist in the enforcement of Federal Immigration Law, or to gather, use or disseminate the immigration status information of individuals in the City of Asheville.<br />
<br />
BE IT ALSO RESOLVED that the provisions of this Resolution are not intended to protect criminal activity on the part of any person but are intended to encourage trust in the Asheville Police Department and to encourage reporting of criminal activity to that department by all members of the community.<br />
<br />
BE IT ALSO RESOLVED that the provisions of this Resolution shall be severable, and if any provision of this Resolution is declared unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, the validity of the remainder shall not be affected. <br />
<br />
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Resolution shall be forwarded to all City of Asheville law enforcement agencies and to every department, agency, commission, officer and employee of the City and to our local, state and federal legislative delegations on behalf of the residents of the City of Asheville. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Meggenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17296529626297613824noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1825859973236415454.post-27749917612925419782013-03-07T22:27:00.003-05:002013-03-07T22:27:32.400-05:00Bothwell's Civil Liberties Resolution<span id="internal-source-marker_0.8461584955839925" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Cecil Bothwell, Asheville City Councilman, says the resolution he's proposing will be introduced to the Safety
Committee meeting on March 25th at 3:30 pm, in the room above the
downtown fire dept. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">He
says it will help to have folks show up and speak in favor of it.
Alternately, your opinion can be read if you send letters to Cecil, Jan
Davis, and Gordon Smith. But, letters should be sent a little closer
time to the meeting.</span> <br />
<br />
<br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span>We are posting it here because Occupy Asheville is considering writing a letter of support for this resolution. Please leave a comment if you have any thoughts on this course of action.<br /><br />++++++++++<br />
<br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">CITY OF ASHEVILLE</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">CIVIL LIBERTIES RESOLUTION</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">WHEREAS: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> The
City of Asheville has long aspired to protect civil liberties and
provide equal protection under the law to all persons in a city which
includes a diverse population of many races, religions, and national and
ethnic origins, including immigrants, tourists and students, whose
contributions to the community’s economy, culture and civic character
are vast and important, and affirms its strong support for the
fundamental constitutional rights of every person and recognizes that
the preservation of civil liberties is essential to the well-being of a
democratic society; and</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">WHEREAS: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The
Chief of Police of the City of Asheville has implemented new community
policing practices that seek to reframe and improve the relationship
between law enforcement officers and the public; and</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">WHEREAS: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The
City of Asheville opposes measures that single out individuals within
our diverse population for legal scrutiny or enforcement activity based
on race, skin color, national or ethnic origin, gender, sexual
orientation, mental or physical disability, religious or political
opinion or activity, or immigration status; and</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">WHEREAS:
The City of Asheville opposes any efforts to transfer federal
immigration responsibility to state and local officials, since these
proposals tax our already overburdened police department and damage
relationships with immigrant communities; and</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">WHEREAS: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The
City of Asheville believes that there is no inherent conflict between
national security and the preservation of liberty but that Americans can
be both safe and free; and</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">WHEREAS: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The
City of Asheville wishes to play a leading role in the protection of
civil liberties and to consistently promote tolerance and respect for
all persons, and recognizes that a number of other jurisdictions in
North Carolina and in the United States have enacted policies or laws to
make clear their protection of the civil liberties of a diverse
population.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY OF ASHEVILLE </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">that</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">:</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Section 1. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The
City of Asheville upholds the constitutional rights and civil liberties
of any and all persons and it remains the policy of the City of
Asheville to protect against discrimination on the basis of race, skin
color, national or ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, mental or
physical disability, religious or political opinion or activity, or
immigration status.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Section 2.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
City of Asheville officers and employees will reject profiling of any
group within our diverse population as a factor in selecting
individuals, setting up check points or selecting areas of town to
subject to investigatory activities.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Section 3</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">.
City of Asheville officers shall not arrest persons or impound
vehicles solely for failure to produce a driver's license in the course
of motor vehicle stops in which the initiating infraction would not
otherwise result in arrest, unless there is other evidence of criminal
activity.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Section 4</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">.
The City of Asheville does not and will not maintain electronic,
photographic or paper files on any person not under investigation for
criminal activity.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Section 5.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
City of Asheville officers and employees do not and shall not collect,
maintain or dissemintate information about the political, religious or
social views, associations or activities of any individual, association,
organization, corporation, business or partnership unless said
information is directly related to an investigation of criminal conduct
that is based on reasonable suspicion.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Section 6.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
In the absence of interstate or international criminal investigations,
City of Asheville officers and employees shall refrain from
participating in the enforcement of federal immigration laws or
initiatives such as the Terrorism Information and Prevention System
(TIPS), that encourage members of the general public to spy on their
neighbors, colleagues and customers, or programs run by the U.S.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), that drive a wedge between
the immigrant community and the local police who need to protect the
welfare of all our residents; no department, agency, commission, officer
or employee of the City of Asheville shall use City funds or resources
to assist in the enforcement of Federal Immigration Law, or to gather,
use or disseminate the immigration status information of individuals in
the City of Asheville.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">BE IT ALSO RESOLVED </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">that
the provisions of this Resolution are not intended to protect criminal
activity on the part of any person but are intended to encourage trust
in the Asheville Police Department and to encourage reporting of
criminal activity to that department by all members of the community.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">BE IT ALSO RESOLVED</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
that the provisions of this Resolution shall be severable, and if any
provision of this Resolution is declared unconstitutional by a court of
competent jurisdiction, the validity of the remainder shall not be
affected.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
that this Resolution shall be forwarded to all City of Asheville law
enforcement agencies and to every department, agency, commission,
officer and employee of the City and to our local, state and federal
legislative delegations on behalf of the residents of the City of
Asheville.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1825859973236415454.post-26720532811607695572013-03-06T16:32:00.001-05:002013-03-06T16:32:14.284-05:00General Assembly Notes March 2 2013<b>General Assembly notes March 2, 2013</b><br /><br />Jonathan facilitated, Meggen took notes<br /><br />[Read Occupy Asheville General Agreements]<br /><br /><b>Reminder</b>: Meetings on Mondays are on hiatus until further notice<br /> (NVDAT is still meeting Tuesdays at 5PM at Battery Park Book Exchange)<br /><br /><br /><b>Finance</b>:<br />OA still has several hundred in the account--what should we do with it?<br />Suggestion to think this over and try to make a decision at April or May GA.<br />Possibilities:<br />
<ul>
<li> divide among existing working groups</li>
<li> hold onto for legal defense</li>
<li> donate to charities (such as Beloved House)</li>
<li> AHN and VFP are good candidates since they are stand-alone organizations</li>
<li> VFP could hold onto it and keep it for legal defense</li>
<li> give more to Ben Scales</li>
</ul>
<br />[Discussion about Tuesday’s protest at Buncombe County building re: energy rate hikes. Consensus to make treasury funds available for arrestees who meet criteria. Sorry these notes were not posted until after this event.]<br /><br /><br /><b>Cecil Bothwell’s Civil Liberties Resolution</b><br /> Cecil has been getting feedback from various folks including Occupy members<br /> March 25th public safety meeting will be next public discussion <br /> -he is expecting support from Hunt and Pelly, maybe Smith<br /> He would like a letter of endorsement from Occupy Asheville and for OA folks to submit public comments to City Council<br /> NVDAT will work on drafting a letter, and OA can do consensus process online (post on blog, email chains, etc.)<br /><br /> Question raised about the value of OA’s endorsement, especially given our small numbers these days<br /> Comment: we should give Cecil our support if he’s asking for it<br /><br /><b>Consensus: </b> support NVDAT in drafting letter, put it on blog/email for discussion<br /> if not blocks/dissent after a reasonable amount of time, OA will endorse<br /><br /><br /><br />Meggenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17296529626297613824noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1825859973236415454.post-19879432187752522062013-02-23T13:53:00.000-05:002013-02-23T13:53:08.694-05:00About the upcoming Public Safety MeetingThere has been discussion of Cecil Bothwell's resolution concerning civil liberties at Occupy Asheville meetings on Monday evenings. Exact wording of the resolution has not been shared. Some members have promoted the idea of people coming to the Public Safety Meeting to support this, which was rumored to be introduced in the January meeting and again in the February meeting. This is not going to happen in the February meeting, and the latest word is that the resolution will be introduced in the March meeting of the Public Safety committee. However, I would check an make sure that this will actually happen, if you are interested in this issue.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1825859973236415454.post-8436469510221767142013-02-18T23:23:00.002-05:002013-02-23T13:53:52.473-05:00Suspension of Monday evening meetingsAt tonight's meeting, we decided to suspend Monday evenings meetings of Occupy Asheville. We will resume if there is a new project to work on, or if there is interest.<br />
<br />
We will still hold monthly General Assembly at 2 PM at Pritchard Park on the first Saturday of the month.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1825859973236415454.post-10947224332361556852013-02-07T20:12:00.001-05:002013-02-07T20:12:08.100-05:00Monday Meeting Notes Feb 4 2013from Kathryn:<br />
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Present: John, James,Susan, Bev, Sonny, Richard and
Kathryn (taking notes)</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Richard brought a great deal of material which can
be made available to others about the foreclosure situation in Buncombe County
and the Metro area. Although housing prices have held up in Asheville
better than many other communities there was still at 12% decline in prices
between first quarters of '09 and '12 in the four county region. In 2011 there
were 1877 homeowners 90 days overdue and 2700 in foreclosure compared to 250
before the crash. On 9/12 1.6% of prime loans were 90 days over and 2%
were in foreclosure. Although Asheville only has 2.3% of owner occupied
subprime loans, 16% of this market is either in foreclosure or 90 days
overdue. Richard has spent time in the registrar of deeds office and found
that looking for errors in the paperwork is tedious and not very
rewarding.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Loan modification is done by the "servicer" of the
loan, not the lender. The programs for this have not been effective.
They can be contested by challenging filing inaccuracy. Modifications are
still available through 2013. OnTrack can help with this. However,
sometimes it is not to the advantage of the servicer to modify (they get less
interest, etc.) and it might be helpful to bring public attention to the
situation.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Bev had talked with Bill Whelan at Pisgah
Legal. He or someone else from the organization would be willing to talk
with us about what they know of the legal aspects. Bev will get back with
him and ask for someone to come speak with us. He did think it would be helpful
to bring more public attention to the continuing difficulties ("tell the world
of the injustice") and link people to resources. However, there are
mortgage relief scams everywhere and we must be careful not to get confused with
them.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Kathryn agreed to rewrite John's letter to make it
fit the criteria for possible publication as a letter to the
editor.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Susan talked about the FOIA. Each person has
to do apply individually. NVDA will discuss if they want to do
it. Sonny said that Naomi Wolf's book has information on how to do
it.</span></div>
Meggenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17296529626297613824noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1825859973236415454.post-32899766437163937262013-02-03T16:29:00.001-05:002013-02-03T16:29:25.721-05:00February GA minutes<div style="background-color: transparent; font-family: 'bookman old style','new york',times,serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal;">
<div>
<b>Occupy Asheville
General Assembly</b></div>
<div>
<b>February 2, 2013</b></div>
<div>
Jonathan Facilitated</div>
<div>
John S. and Jonathan took notes</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
GA: Jonathan, Susan,
Beverly, John S., Kasha, James and, Sonny.
A few others joined as the meeting continued. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
General agreements read by Jonathan. </div>
<div>
<b>Vision statement
handed</b> out by James L. Started at
National Gathering in Phila. James
suggested that people look over statement and get back to him for revision and
thoughts. James wants to create an Asheville part to the national vision. Drone warfare may need to be placed in the
document. Coleman has interest in this. Discussion ensued. Kasha wishes to see good flow of information.
We decided to read the paragraph starting “No change will be long-lasting…” and
talk about it. Kasha read the beginning of vision statement. Sonny brought up the problems of holding a
Constitutional Convention which could erase those parts of Constitution which
are good. Kasha pointed out that the
Right is so well organized that they could take over a constitutional convention. Sonny also raised a question about whether it
made sense to propose elimination of the Senate. Several people talked about the work by Move
to Amend to address the issue of ‘money as speech’ and ‘corporate
personhood.’ It was suggested that OA could
support Move to Amend in this effort, but also that these issues are not the
only or primary issues that OA is focused on. James responded we need to trust
people and the democratic process and that the Senate is not at all
representational. Jonathan suggested (as
facilitator) that if James’s goal is to develop a document that all of OA could
endorse that we might use this time simply to identify parts of the document
about which there was general agreement and parts that either needed more
conversation or needed to be revised/dropped.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b> </b></div>
<div>
<b>Proposal to give
$100 to Western North Carolina Alliance
to help subsidize transportation costs to Washington, DC for the Feb 17<sup>th</sup>
“Forward on Climate” action.</b> WNCA is
organizing a bus and this money would be to make help pay for some people’s
seats on the bus. (There are already
cheaper seats available for students, but we’d like cheaper seats to be
available to more people.) Jim B is
involved in organizing this bus. <b>We are
in agreement for $100.00</b></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Jonathan noted that it is unclear what process we are
working under. (Several people at the GA
mentioned items originating at the Coordinating Council (CC) and needing to go
out to working groups (WGs) for approval.)
We have the historic Coordinating Council process where WGs, affinity
groups, caucuses, etc bring proposals to the CC and then those proposals are
discussed by the groups and brought back to the CC. On the other hand at the Nov. GA those who
were gathered there came to agreement that decisions could be made by two
consecutive meetings of OA, that is something could be approved at the GA and
then again at a weekly Occupy meeting,
or at two weekly Occupy meetings or what have you. But as far as he knew this new process was
never adopted. Susan said that the CC
wanted GA to make a decision about the money for the F17 action. Jonathan clarified that under either process
the GA had agreed to the disbursement of $100 to WNCA for the F17 Climate
Action.</div>
<div>
Kasha proposes working group for doing an event to keep
Occupy visible and utilize some of the resources (financial and otherwise) to
keep momentum going. New group formed
with Kasha point woman. Jonathan, as
facilitator, pointed out that anyone of us can form a new group, and that doing
so does not require approval from the GA.
Kasha asked just for a show of support and several people gave up
twinkles. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
John reported that <b>Donny
F. (who was involved in OA in Fall of 2011) raised starting a tent city at the
Federal Bldg.</b> In a go round several
people expressed concern that another tent city would be
counterproductive. Bill expressed a
concern that 24 hr 365 day presence would be unsustainable and that the media
would inevitably dwell on decreasing numbers. Jonathan stated that publicly NOT
supporting an encampment does not make sense, and in fact would go against our
general agreements. We don’t get to say
what others do or don’t do. In fact, if
the encampment turned out to be wildly successful we would probably all feel
pretty silly if we had dismissed it.
However, to figure out how we might get involved with it and support it,
we would need those interested in starting an encampment to be part of our
conversation. The reality is we have
resources (financial) that are out of line with our current level of activity,
and it might really make sense for us to support an encampment, but folks
interesting in starting and encampment would need to come talk with us. Susan said, at this time it doesn’t seem like
something we could get involved with. John
stated that Occupy is a verb not a noun and that resurrection of a tent city
could be a powerful tactic. James L.
suggests that at some point maybe it would make sense, but that we would need
to deal with the homelessness issue. Bev
raised the concern that if the encampment is called Occupy Asheville, then it
concerns us. Kasha reported that from
inter-occupy calls she has learned that “occupation” has been a powerful tactic
as part of anti-foreclosure campaigns.
Jonathan suggested that John call Donny and inform him that at the GA
there was some concern about whether or not another encampment would make
sense, but felt like if Occupy Asheville was going to get involved with or
support an encampment those wanting to start the encampment would need be in
conversation with OA, we would welcome them to come to a GA or Occupy Weekly
Meeting.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<b>Foreclosure issues.</b> Bev spoke to Pisgah Legal about issue. They
feel should make sure we really understand the issue before putting out a
general call for people with foreclosure issues to get in contact with us, we
might be overwhelmed with contact from people we weren’t prepared to help. He suggest that we should start a website
that could be a clearing house for information about foreclosures and as a place
for people to tell their stories. James
and Kasha reported that they’ve been participating in inter-occupy calls about
foreclosure defense. James got email
advice from someone with inter-Occupy which he’ll share. Kasha said that many people on the call
reported that putting public pressure on banks before foreclosure proceedings
begin is a successful tactic. She said
that folks haven’t been able to forestall foreclosure for years just by forcing
banks to come forward with proper documentation. She also said she’d gotten mixed information
about legal assistance. John reported
that through Asheville Homeless Network, he made contact with someone facing
foreclosure but that her case is really messy.
He commented on how hard it is to find a “clean case” that is a case
that is not complicated with other issues.
He also talked with a women with a law firm that specializes in
foreclousers. He asked the group for
their approval for him to contact her.
Kasha pointed out that the “CC” has already decided to make foreclosures
a big focus on OA, but that it would be good to have the GA weigh in. Jonathan said that he thought a lot of people
facing foreclosures feel isolated and that it would be nice to bring people together
in such away that they could build solidarity with each other. He also mentioned that in the past Rich had
had ideas of some kinds of direct support that we might be able to offer and
that holding an event where we offered direct support might be a good way to
build some initial relationships. Jonathan said that he felt OK about John
calling the lawyer as a form of research or relationship building, but not to
offer up OA resources in service of a particular law firm’s strategy (<i>note I say this because we might end up
having differing views about strategy and goals than what someone pursing a
legal approach might have.)</i> Sonny recommended that John go with another
person from OA to talk to this lawyer; Bev agreed to be that other person. John reminded us that he had written a press
release and that we have not sent it out yet.
Jonathan (as facilitator) asked if we could <b>agree as the GA that foreclousers should be a major focus of OA. There was not complete consensus on this, but
there were no stand asides or blocks.</b>
There was also general agreement that John could contact this law firm
for more information.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<b>Other reports and
Announcements</b>:</div>
<div>
Last month we held an event to appreciate Ben
Scales. We raised additional money there
and it was great to see each other and celebrate.</div>
<div>
February 15<sup>th</sup> is the Anniversary of the
historic mobilization against the War in Iraq.
The largest anti-war mobilization ever.</div>
<div>
Jonathan had miss-reported that Rain Forest Action was
doing a training about BoA and MTR at Sage Coffee House on Thur. This is actually happening at Sage Café at
Warren Wilson and is for the Warren Wilson community. (Still ripe opportunities for making the
connections between BoA’s mortgage policies and MTR.)</div>
</div>
Meggenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17296529626297613824noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1825859973236415454.post-76682134206910735782013-01-28T21:56:00.000-05:002013-01-28T21:56:33.842-05:00Minutes from Monday Jan 28th meeting<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">From Kathryn: </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Present: Weasel, Coleman, Sonny, Bev, James,
Kasha, Jim Brown, Susan and Kathryn (taking notes and trying to
facilitate)</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Susan announced that Feb 16 in the 10th anniversary
of the "day the world marched" against the war in Iraq. </span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Jim announced that there will be a major march in
Washington on Feb 17 to protest the Tar Sands project. There will be buses
going from Asheville and they will cost $80 for adults and $51 for
students. Susan recommended that we offer scholarships which led to a half
hour conversation about whether to spend our money this way. There were
suggestions of figuring out how to use our money to support local projects
instead. Finally, there was agreement that 5 scholarships of $20 each will
be offered to be disbursed by Susan and Jim if the next Monday evening meeting
agrees.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Coleman announced that Ms. Zevon is coming to town
tomorrow and will be filming interviews with Occupy folk at 3pm at City County
Plaza and 4:30 at the Vance Monument along with the VFP Vigil. Everyone is
invited to participate. If you know of other Occupiers who might be
interested in being interviewed in other cities, please contact
Coleman.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">The suggested agenda for GA: Feb 17 action in
Washington; forming an Action Planning Group; reminding people of the
foreclosure focus; discussing the vision.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Kathryn read the revised statement re:
foreclosures. Coleman suggested that we should link up with the NC
Coalition against Corporate Power which has been working on this issue. He
also thought we should have a coordinated media campaign including announcements
in churches, PSAs, etc. Kasha suggested that we add a sentence recognizing
the pain and humiliation of people experiencing foreclosure. Bev has tried
to contact a lawyer. It was suggested that we look at the documents in the
courthouse and see what lawyers have been working with the people who are being
foreclosed on. Kasha suggested that a working group be formed to address
the foreclosure issue separate from the Monday night meetings as these meetings
should be available to address other issues. Sonny suggested that we
prepare questions to ask prospective people to support and have criteria to
choose whom to support.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Coleman shared that some Occupy groups have
obtained FOIA documents indicating that there was undercover surveillance of
Occupy last year and perhaps Occupy Asheville should request information about
what was done here.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">James reviewed his updated Vision statement and the
group expressed their approval and appreciation. He will bring it up again
as part of the GA on Saturday. Coleman recommended some revisions,
particularly re: the impact of this nation on the Native Americans who were here
originally.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Susan mentioned the Blog. Kasha offered
information on the NVC course she has been taking on-line and suggested that we
should learn more about this way of communicating.</span></div>
Meggenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17296529626297613824noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1825859973236415454.post-18343980873225683152013-01-25T22:30:00.002-05:002013-01-25T22:30:28.188-05:00Notes from Monday Jan 21st Meeting<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
From Kathryn:<br />
<br />
Present: John, Lindsey, Susan, Beve, James and Kathryn (taking minutes)<br />Discussion of foreclosures. Kathryn agreed to talk to Richard Genz and ask him to come to a meeting and get in touch with someone in the Atlanta Occupy Our Homes to learn how they have done it.<br />We agreed to get legal advice or at least have a lawyer available. Bev is trying to reach Richard Meda who assisted her brother. We can also contact Pisgah Legal. Bev told us her brother's sad story where his property was taken even while he had a buyer. The bank apparently makes a good deal of money by foreclosing and then selling the property itself.<br />John provided us with a draft of a possible press release which was intended to attract someone who wants our assistance. James objected and we agreed to read the document over the week and make suggestions.<br /><br />We agreed to donate $100 to the Homeless Network and BeLoved House if there are no objections next Monday. <br /><br />We agreed to change the time of the GA to 2 pm so that homeless people who are trying to get space in a shelter can participate.<br /><br />We propose that the statement James has crafted for our vision of Occupy be accepted with accuracy and grammatical corrections to be presented next Monday.<br />Meggenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17296529626297613824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1825859973236415454.post-7594074913449915722013-01-23T21:23:00.001-05:002013-01-23T21:23:10.758-05:00Occupy Asheville Vision StatementFrom James:<br />Discussion will continue on the OA vision statement this Monday, 6:30 at UC Church. Newest draft is below:<br /><br /><br />OCCUPY ASHEVILLE: VISION FOR A NEW AMERICAN SOCIETY<br /><br />When the American colonists declared their independence from Britain, it was a decision recognized by all men and women the right to cast off that tyranny imposed by a foreign state.<br /><br />Now, we face a new tyranny from within: a tyranny imposed by our own wealthy citizens, who through the power of their wealth, aided by the misappropriation of power by our Suprreme Court, have degraded and rendered null the freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States. <br /><br />Framers of the Constitution, propetied citizens of their time, were wary of the propertyless, and established the mere semblance of democracy, with institutions that appeared to give power to the people, but which were in fact hedged about with features borrowed from oligarchy and republicanism. All states, regardless of size and population were afforded the same number of Senators. The President was to be elected by an Electoral College, members of which could reverse the decision of the populace. <br /><br /><br /><br />We have occupied various public spaces and nstitutions of our society, We have endured pepperspray and teargas, The police have been turned against us. We have suffered the indignity of arrest. All without violent response<br /><br /><br />To build a movement sufficient to overturn this inner tyranny, we have established liaison--an Interoccupy network--with other aggrieved citizens across the country, and held a National Gathering at Philadelphia on July the fourth in the year 2012. One purpose of the National Gathering was to take the first steps towards the clear statement of a vision for a new America. Accordingly, the components of the vision enunciated at Philadelphia were sent to all the Occupy cities and were used as a starting point for discussion.<br /><br />Occupy Asheville has considered the vision enunciated at Philadelphia. After lengthy discussion, with full consideration of the principles of the Occupy movement, we submit the following Vision for all to ponder and modify in accordance with the spirit of democracy, embracing a solidarity with the people of this country, the world, and with the earth itself. <br /><br />We call for a world where the WATER , AIR, AND FOOD ARE CLEANSED OF ALL TOXIC POLLUTANTS so that both our planet and its people may be healthy, and where ACCESS TO FOOD IS TREATED AS A RIGHT. We call for prohibition of genetically-modified foods, for development of renewable sources of energy for the future, and a “smart grid” to use fossil fuels more efficiently in the present. We also call for local food production, community gardens, and agriculture using sustainable methods. <br /><br />Pure food, air, and water are but the first steps towards a healthy population. To sustain any gains in this area, UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE must be treated as a right and available to all. The people should establish medical schools and hospitals, if necessary, to insure the health of all, without resort to a means test. The best health care should be available to all.<br /><br />Our vision also includes ECONOMIC EQUALITY so that all have sufficient materlal resources for their needs, free from exploitation by others. This equality includes the RIGHT TO A JOB. This society has too long tolerated the degradation and humiliation of those unable to find a job. There is no longer any reason to tolerate the inability of capitalism to insure full employment for our society. The universal right to a job is consistent with the notion of land as something owned in common with all others. <br /><br />We further call for a world where, in the interest of all, EDUCATION IS PROVIDED WITHOUT CHARGE. This may take the form of tuition-free schools and universities, vouchers, online classes, or entirely new methods. Self-education also requires public airwaves which are not to be sold to monied interests, an internet that is not monetized, and an end to government secrecy.<br /><br />A SUSTAINABLE HUMAN SOCIETY is part of the vision and can only be established when people are respected, valued and encouraged, when self-sufficient communities are founded, where foreclosure on homes is prevented, where land is owned in common, where debts are mitigated by a policy of forgiveness or ‘jubilee.”<br /><br />A WORLD WITHOUT WAR must begin in this country, the world’s pre-eminent warmaking power. This calls for measures beyond the usual platitudinous statements. The military-industrial complex must be dismantled by whaever means necessary. The military itself must be shrunk so that it is sufficient in size for legitimate defense purposes, but not sufficient for global aspirations. Naval ships should carry only carry enough fuel to venture 200 miles from the shore. Planes should be similarly restricted. Foreign military bases must be closed. Military contracts should be removed from the control of the pentagon and awarded by citizen’s commission appointed for that purpose. <br /><br />No change will be long-lasting--or worth any effort to maintain it--unless there is a CULTURE OF DIRECT DEMOCRACY where all citizens have an equal voice in the making of societal decisions. To make a fresh start in establishing a true democracy where equal rights are taken as given,and where the Constitutional Amendment process need not be endlessly repeated so as to eliminate the inequalities of a propertied culture, a CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION should be called and the issues that have arisen since the 18th century addressed: gun control, money and speech, marriage, the rights of women and minorities, religious feedom and the separation of church and state. Such a Convention should aim at removing the power of money from the political system, which includes the elimination of paid lobbyists, elimination of the Electoral College, and the establishment of a unicameral legislature based on proportional representation. Political lines should be drawn by a non-partisan commission or by the Party out of power, access of third (and other) parties to the ballot should be guaranteed by means to be worked out, and an attempt made to establish a consensus-based democracy so as to avoid the tyranny of majorities, the party system of governance and other dysfunctions of the representational democracy which we at present endure. . <br /><br />And our vision includes FREEDOM for all, above and beyond the tired reiteration of political slogans that characterize the present. This includes an end to government secrecy and surveillance, the de-militarization of American society, and a citizen’s police force operated in similar fashion to the military draft. <br /><br /><br /> Meggenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17296529626297613824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1825859973236415454.post-83560177852851380662013-01-21T21:43:00.000-05:002013-01-21T21:43:09.287-05:00NoticeThis is just to point out that the time of the General Assembly has been changed to 2 PM, to allow folks who have to go somewhere early to come. It is still on the first Saturday of the month, and still at Pritchard Park.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1825859973236415454.post-21456785963953010842013-01-20T23:23:00.002-05:002013-01-20T23:23:56.271-05:00Ben Scales Fundraiser at Rosetta's Kitchen<a href="http://actionsouth.blogspot.com/">Clare has a great write up and some more great photos of the event at this link. </a><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1825859973236415454.post-9528063238744557292013-01-12T21:30:00.001-05:002013-01-12T21:30:08.283-05:00<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Minutes for the 1/7/13 meeting of Occupy
Asheville</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Present: John, James, Bev, Kathryn,
Lindsey</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Discussion about the event at Rosetta's.
Lindsey will post on Facebook, contact Steve Norris to be the MC, ask Ben if he
wants to play some music. It will be vegetarian. We will use this
opportunity to share about our intent to focus on foreclosure.
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Foreclosures: We need to do research to find
potential homeowners who would like assistance. We need to develop
relationship. What we have to offer is the attention/power that can come
from exposure/numbers. For legal help, people would still need to go to
Pisgah Legal. James has been to the registrar of deeds and knows how to
access information on people being threatened with foreclosure. We decided
to contact David Forbes to ask if he would do a story in Mtn X that might
attract someone to us asking for assistance. Lindsey knows an artist in
Candler fighting eviction and Sonny knows someone in Madison Co. Kathryn
agreed to contact Sonny for details and Lindsey will contact the artist.
John will write a news release detailing our plans. Next steps at the
meeting on Monday the 21st.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Proposal: Donate $100 to each BeLoved House
and the Homeless Network. Put this out to the community. Decision on
Jan. 21st.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Vision: James has condensed the information
into a page and a half and would like us to view it and discuss.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">We will meet for the MLK rally at 11 am on Jan 21
at the church on MLK drive so we can walk together and wear identifying
tags.</span></div>
Meggenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17296529626297613824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1825859973236415454.post-91386536532044835822013-01-06T21:40:00.005-05:002013-01-14T22:35:21.992-05:00General Assembly notes Jan 5, 2013<br />
Facilitator: Kathryn<br />
Notes: Meggen<br />
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14 people present. Welcomed 7 newcomers. Great way to start out the new year!<br />
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<br />
<b>Discussion</b>:<br />
<br />
Read General Agreements, made introductions, talked about what has brought us to Occupy and what we want to see happen. Some things mentioned: direct democracy, acting directly to effect change vs. “asking” government entities to do it, putting pressure on local politicians, working locally for socio-economic justice including dealing with local racism and segregation, supporting a new candidate for city council, forming a Saul Alinsky study group. (Reading and discussing Alinsky's <i>Rules for Radicals.</i>) <br />
<br />
Talked a bit about local Occupy victories--city buses now run on 6 of 8 holidays, as opposed to 0. Petition from Seniors and Friends had hundreds of signatures. Also, a lot of people have moved their money from banks to credit unions over the past year. Further discussion of OA plans to work on helping local victims of unfair foreclosures. So far, biggest hurdle is identifying potential families who would want our help. More about this over the coming Monday meetings...<br />
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<b>Announcements / Events:</b><br />
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<b>Potluck dinner in honor of Ben Scales @ Rosetta’s on Sunday, Jan 20 at 5PM.</b> Rosetta will host, but Occupy will bring the food. Ben was OA’s pro bono attorney for several of the arrestees last year. Come down to say thanks and bring a dish to share!<br />
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<b>MLK parade Monday Jan 21st.</b> We will meet, distribute OA badges to wear & walk in solidarity. Details TBA. <br />
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<b>Public Safety meeting regarding Cecil Bothwell’s civil liberties resolution Monday Jan 28th at 3PM @ Asheville Fire Station (2nd floor.)</b> This resolution states that Asheville police will not comply with federal statutes regarding targeting and arrest of undocumented workers. We need to pack the room to make it happen.<br />
<br />Meggenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17296529626297613824noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1825859973236415454.post-34658367949828565812012-12-20T21:23:00.001-05:002012-12-20T21:23:24.474-05:00Occupy Asheville Weekly Meeting 12-17-12<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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There were four of us at this meeting, including a newcomer
to town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finance committee reported that
we got $100 back as a refund from bail bond.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The “We Pay” account on the website has some money in it, but John and
Lindsey are not sure how to access these funds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
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We discussed the blog in two respects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone at this meeting felt that articles
and notes about anything other than Occupy Asheville should not go on the blog,
but should instead be posted to the Facebook group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We also discussed the working groups listed
in the side bar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As far as we know, the
Socialists group and the Social Justice Caucus are not meeting at this time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The finance committee still exists, but does
not have a set day and time for public meetings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We also discussed the webpage, which is
rather out of date.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Susan will ask Megan
to update the webpage and fix the following:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Asheville City Council meetings are on the wrong dates in January;
Meet-Talk-Act group, Socialist group, Social Justice group and Anarchist Film group
is no longer meeting at all; there are meetings listed for the Occupy Asheville
Monday meetings on 12-24-12 and 12-31-12 (we have already decided not to meet
on those days); and the wrong time is listed for the General Assembly on
1-5-13.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The events on 1-20-13 and
1-21-13 are not on the calendar.</div>
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<br /></div>
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John talked about the Asheville Homeless Network and Susan
updated us on the Veterans for Peace group. There was some discussion on
working on gun control issues. John felt that Occupy Asheville and the Occupy
movement could lead on this issue. The rest of us felt that we should support
other local and national initiatives in this area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We also briefly discussed foreclosure
issues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Recently, people in Occupy
Asheville have said that they want to work on this issue, but we have not heard
anything recently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Susan and Lindsay
said that they did not feel inspired to work on foreclosures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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We also discussed the money that we have in Occupy Asheville
and felt that we should give away some money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We discussed giving some to BeLoved House or other groups helping the
homeless in our area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No decision was
made on this, and we will discuss it further at the General Assembly in
January. We felt a decision should be made by a larger group.</div>
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There are two events in January – a potluck/party/fundraiser
at Rosetta’s Kitchen on 1-20-13 for Occupy Asheville and our lawyer and the MLK rally
and march on 1-21-13.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Occupy Asheville will
participate in the march.</div>
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No more Occupy Asheville meetings for December 2012.</div>
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Happy Holidays!!</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1825859973236415454.post-63642358534595640142012-12-14T18:29:00.000-05:002012-12-14T18:29:11.861-05:00Occupy Asheville Weekly Monday MeetingThis has been called the "Coordinating Council" meeting in the past.<br />
<br />
There will be a meeting on 1-17-12 and that is the LAST ONE for the year.<br />
<br />
There will be a General Assembly on 1-5-13 at 3 PM in Pritchard Park. Everyone is welcome at both meetings.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1825859973236415454.post-84877660389723694672012-12-14T18:19:00.000-05:002012-12-14T18:19:07.704-05:00Occupy Sandy Provides Relief for more than just a storm.<div>
<span style="display: inline!important; float: none; font: 16px/24px Georgia,'Times New Roman',Times,serif; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="display: inline!important; float: none; font: 16px/24px Georgia,'Times New Roman',Times,serif; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">For
some, Occupy Wall Street may have been merely a response to the economic
recession that began in 2009. But for many of us it was about something larger,
about upending entrenched systems that depend on inequality. This idea
differentiates Occupy Sandy from most other relief efforts. Its organizers don’t
just want to rebuild; they want to build better.</span></span></div>
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<span style="display: inline!important; float: none; font: 16px/24px Georgia,'Times New Roman',Times,serif; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="display: inline!important; float: none; font: 16px/24px Georgia,'Times New Roman',Times,serif; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></span> </div>
<div>
<span style="display: inline!important; float: none; font: 16px/24px Georgia,'Times New Roman',Times,serif; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">A
little more than a year ago, activists came from across the country to protest
the criminality and corruption of Wall Street by building an example of an
alternative community. Now those same activists are building alternatives with
local communities, not as models for what could be, but as the new
reality.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="display: inline!important; float: none; font: 16px/24px Georgia,'Times New Roman',Times,serif; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="display: inline!important; float: none; font: 16px/24px Georgia,'Times New Roman',Times,serif; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="http://www.yesmagazine.org/happiness/the-rain-on-our-parade-2028a-letter-to-my-dismal-allies">The rest of the article here. </a></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1825859973236415454.post-52469290137692427812012-12-14T18:17:00.002-05:002012-12-14T18:17:40.991-05:00The Rain on Our Parade: A Letter to My Dismal Allies <div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="display: inline!important; float: none; font: 12px/18px Helvetica,Verdana,Lucida,Arial,'Lucida Grande',sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">When
you’re a hammer everything looks like a nail, but that’s not a good reason to
continue to pound down anything in the vicinity. Consider what needs to be
raised up as well. Consider our powers, our victories, our possibilities;
ask yourself just what you’re contributing, what kind of story you’re telling,
and what kind you want to be telling.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="display: inline!important; float: none; font: 12px/18px Helvetica,Verdana,Lucida,Arial,'Lucida Grande',sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></span> </div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="display: inline!important; float: none; font: 12px/18px Helvetica,Verdana,Lucida,Arial,'Lucida Grande',sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="display: inline!important; float: none; font: 12px/18px Helvetica,Verdana,Lucida,Arial,'Lucida Grande',sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">There
is idealism somewhere under this pile of bile, the pernicious idealism that
wants the world to be perfect and is disgruntled that it isn’t—and that it never
will be. That’s why the perfect is the enemy of the good. Because, really,
people, part of how we are going to thrive in this imperfect moment is through
élan, esprit de corps, fierce hope, and generous
hearts.</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="display: inline!important; float: none; font: 12px/18px Helvetica,Verdana,Lucida,Arial,'Lucida Grande',sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="display: inline!important; float: none; font: 12px/18px Helvetica,Verdana,Lucida,Arial,'Lucida Grande',sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="display: inline!important; float: none; font: 12px/18px Helvetica,Verdana,Lucida,Arial,'Lucida Grande',sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="display: inline!important; float: none; font: 12px/18px Helvetica,Verdana,Lucida,Arial,'Lucida Grande',sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="http://www.yesmagazine.org/happiness/the-rain-on-our-parade-2028a-letter-to-my-dismal-allies">The rest of the article here. </a></span></span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1825859973236415454.post-86533578770701638862012-12-09T14:39:00.003-05:002012-12-09T14:39:40.896-05:00Some good thinking about what Occupy is REALLY about.<div style="font: 16px/24px Georgia,'Times New Roman',Times,serif; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 1em 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
"The
distinction between charity and mutual aid was often met with sneers about the
idealism of Occupy Wall Street. Yet the recent efforts of Occupy Sandy
have demonstrated the practical and logistical value of mutual aid. While
government agencies like FEMA have struggled to mobilize their bureaucratic
machinery, and large charitable organizations like the Red Cross have gotten
stalled in attempts to funnel money, clothes, and food from donors to victims,
Occupy Sandy has been successful in large part because it offers itself as a
network of and for people and communities.</div>
<div style="font: 16px/24px Georgia,'Times New Roman',Times,serif; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 1em 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
The
relief centers set up by Occupy Sandy have
prioritized <em>meeting</em> <em>people's needs
directly</em> rather than telling them what to do and how to get help. The
organizer Catherine Yeager put it succinctly in an interview with Democracy Now
outside a relief hub in the Rockaways: "FEMA down the street... is handing out
pieces of paper that tell you to call a phone number to get help. Here, you
come, and you get help immediately." This determination to address basic needs
has been a concern of the Occupy movement from the very beginning, as anyone who
ate the free meals provided by the kitchen in Zucotti Park encampment will
know."</div>
<div style="font: 16px/24px Georgia,'Times New Roman',Times,serif; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 1em 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<a href="http://www.nationofchange.org/hurricane-sandy-relief-reminder-occupy-s-original-spirit-1354181886">A link to the rest of the above excellent article here. </a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1825859973236415454.post-11420233246852086122012-12-02T00:22:00.000-05:002012-12-02T00:22:00.372-05:00General Assembly 12.1.12<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQCwSmFQruGu5QqmhUxTt_BgwQjtK36SqZjGvIjowMaDrBYq8WEse6EyS6mw8S1fCY0GbPoBHd466lcwEdSP44EJBWNUPBYIOx95x1riH5kRegIQNPnrD0mV-F4rKlViXJvISdHY3V9DOz/s1600/House+pictures+December+2012+024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQCwSmFQruGu5QqmhUxTt_BgwQjtK36SqZjGvIjowMaDrBYq8WEse6EyS6mw8S1fCY0GbPoBHd466lcwEdSP44EJBWNUPBYIOx95x1riH5kRegIQNPnrD0mV-F4rKlViXJvISdHY3V9DOz/s320/House+pictures+December+2012+024.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Some of the group pictured above.<br /><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-PZV8dnNwvtb5LXiNjOCFDreh0er_yM0STRStAi6CweKxrmCl2jTlHEFVEW0PHjb7q8JTUTibXTi7-4HwLKAszu4oQ_LUJPehCYufR9PuEm1uRk_4_pHRHbnA7Rbdb-eqwvYGsIzx1MK/s1600/House+pictures+December+2012+020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-PZV8dnNwvtb5LXiNjOCFDreh0er_yM0STRStAi6CweKxrmCl2jTlHEFVEW0PHjb7q8JTUTibXTi7-4HwLKAszu4oQ_LUJPehCYufR9PuEm1uRk_4_pHRHbnA7Rbdb-eqwvYGsIzx1MK/s320/House+pictures+December+2012+020.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWOOMFU5R5PK8F6JT5TBSsd-PelOfsvj0E3MamqdjuUy7paptyXLLU_03gRkNF8_l5kESFtmkIUFwLpwuBvxAxedaR0AQKRmjDqQUzRfdazAnrH61LAkQlQ9-Pg4CN31RS_23SHtwNeewe/s1600/House+pictures+December+2012+027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWOOMFU5R5PK8F6JT5TBSsd-PelOfsvj0E3MamqdjuUy7paptyXLLU_03gRkNF8_l5kESFtmkIUFwLpwuBvxAxedaR0AQKRmjDqQUzRfdazAnrH61LAkQlQ9-Pg4CN31RS_23SHtwNeewe/s320/House+pictures+December+2012+027.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Some photos of SantaCon.<br /><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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General Assembly Notes 12.1.12</div>
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The first item on our agenda was a report back on the
meeting at the MSD about Asheville’s
water system by TJ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The meeting was from
the planning committee of MSD, and they discussed the merger with Asheville
Water and MSD and passed a resolution to pass the planning report to the full
MSD board.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no public comment
at the meeting, although some elected officials were allowed to make
comments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>TJ said it was basically a ‘dog
and pony show’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The meeting with the
full MSD board will be on December 12, 2012 at 2 PM at the MSD building in
Woodfin on the French Broad
River.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There will be public comments allowed at this
meeting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>TJ said that some organizers
felt that the issue would go to a lawsuit. It was clear from this meeting that
there are plans for further mergers after this one with Asheville water goes through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no projection of further
costs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The watershed areas would remain
under the Asheville
government, but the reservoir and the buildings and structures would go to
MSD.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The planning committee also said
that they would be opposed to privatization of the water.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Next we had committee report backs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Asheville Homeless Network (AHN) is working
on stopping criminalization of the homeless (for example, panhandling) and other
issues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Homeward Bound places people in
homes, and Beloved House shares their home with those without a home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are suggesting a Bill of Rights for the
homeless (Rhode Island
has this, so no laws against homeless there).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>AHN does not think a separate Bill of Rights is needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>AHN is also concerned about Code Purple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>AHN thinks the cut off frequency is too low
(currently at 32 degrees) and want to see this changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>AHN meets on Thursdays.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John said that about 14 people took part in
the last Friday of the month Homeless March.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There are a number of organizations behind this march, so it is not
strictly a AHN event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This march happens
on the last Friday of the month, and they meet at 2 PM at Pritchard Park.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Veterans for Peace will hold a meeting this upcoming
Thursday at 6:30 at the Phil Mechanic Studio and they still hold a vigil every
Tuesday at 4:30 PM.</div>
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The next agenda item was a question on whether the
Coordinating Council meeting is still called the Coordinating Council meeting and
the issue of changing the structure of the Coordinating Council since number of
working groups has gone down significantly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We also had the agenda item of coming together around two or three
issues for Occupy Asheville to work on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That was when SantaCon showed up and we decided to adjourn the meeting.</div>
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Next Coordinating Council meeting is on December 10 and
December 17 at 6:30 PM at First Congregational Church of Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no meeting on December 3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All are welcome to attend and participate.</div>
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Other upcoming events are a potluck/fundraiser/party for Ben
Scales at Rosetta’s on January 20, 2013 and the Martin Luther King parade on January
21, 2013.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More details to come on those
events.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0