Minutes for June 11, 2011 Common Ground Meeting
Scott on the Spot
We had a great meeting - one of the most productive ever! New
subcommittees are forming, and new volunteers have signed up to old
subcommittees. Those who signed up will be contacted in a few days.
I'll also be setting up a tutorial on the Real Estate Database for
those who want it next week, probably Wednesday, June 22.
I'll have a general announcement in a few days, but here are the
minutes in the meantime. Enjoy the summer and thank you for helping
Common Ground-NYC!
Minutes: Common Ground NYC Meeting
June 11, 2011
This meeting, held at the Vanderbilt Y on the above date, had 23
attendees. The guest speaker was member Lindy Davies of The Henry
George Institute.
Four people in attendance for the first time were introduced.
The agenda was generally followed and completed.
President Scott Baker reviewed the basic meeting rules and guidelines
for discussion. He then read a statement of the Common Ground
principles and goals. This statement is printed on the back of the
CGNYC business card.
Scott announced that the minutes of the previous meeting can be found
on the CGNYC Google Group site.
The new fiscal year begins June 1. The Chapter Report detailing the
activities of the chapter for the year has been submitted to the
national office. This report is also posted on the Google Group site.
Scott briefly described the movie to be shown following the meeting.
The documentary, “A Sea Change”, deals with the continuing destructive
acidification in the oceans.
The next item on the agenda concerned the new Welcome Kit. It will
contain basic chapter materials and be given to new members.
Secretary/Treasurer Rita Rowan reported on the results of the recently
held election.
Both nominating and election ballots went out by regular mail to
members. There were
19 of both mailed and results were collated by member Pat Aller who
performs this service for National and other members of the CGO.
Scott Baker for President and Rita Rowan for Secretary Treasurer were
nominated. There were no other nominees. 13 nominating ballots were
returned all in favor of the 2 officers nominated.
14 election ballots were returned all in favor of both candidates.
The term of office is 1 year.
Ballot questions were tallied. All the questions were supported by a
majority or better. The results were:
1. Closing of Indian
Point
8 for 4 against
2. Opposing insurance guarantees for new nuclear
plants 8 for 5 against
3. Oppose all future nuclear plant
licenses 11 for 1
against
4. Money by Federal Govt.
only 8
for 4 against
5. Permanent frack ban near
NYC 13 for
0 against
Scott next discussed forming a subcommittee to draw up a new Purpose
Statement for CGNYC, according to CGUSA procedures and guidelines,
that reflects consistence with CGUSA and also the spirit of our new
referendums. He called for volunteers. Several members are
interested.
Outreach and Education:
The floor was then turned over to Lindy Davies who has been working
with the Manhattan Borough President’s office along with Josh Vincent
of The Center for the Study of Economics (CSE) and Matt Stillman a
prominent Georgist based in New York City. Lindy provided his
background for those new to the organization.
He and colleagues are undertaking several initiatives to get MBP Scott
Stringer interested in land value taxation. A survey of vacant
properties in all boroughs is one initiative. Of greater significance
is the initiative inspired by the failure of the Rosenthal bill to get
introduced in the State Assembly. They are proposing a substitute
approach, i.e. a bill modeled after the Serrano/Farrell bill dealing
with vacant land above 110th Street in Manhattan. Lindy et al. would
have this bill, which provides that vacant space taxed as Class 1 if
adjacent to a Class 1 site (briefly explaining the classes), and
therefore highly undertaxed, to be shifted to Class 4 where it can be
taxed at a higher rate, apply to Manhattan below 110th Street. This
reform has proved very successful for Harlem and could be so for the
rest of the borough. They may have a proposal ready in the next few
months.
Scott assured him that CGNYC would get behind this initiative. Lindy
will send us background that we can use when we visit legislators as
tax reform of this type must be passed at the State level.
Lindy also suggested a few research projects using the real estate
database that Scott installed on the computer in the HGS library.
Some members are interested and Lindy will send us a list of possible
research topics to get us started. Scott offered to form a database
committee and give tutorials to all who are interested in doing some
of this research. One very interesting possibility is to do a model
study of the entire 10016 zip code. These studies can be used for
further outreach.
Finally, Lindy and Scott answered some questions from the floor on how
much revenue could be gained with land value taxation. Explaining
that, while this is a complex situation, there are many studies
available though mainly on the local and state levels.
There are so many variables reflecting differences in localities that
estimates are hard to come by.
Further outreach was discussed. Volunteers are being sought to
distribute materials and to make Power-point presentations. Ron Rubin
took the floor and continued this discussion. He summarized the
activities of the Outreach Committee since the last meeting, handing
out a document drawn up by the committee to be used to initiate people
into the concept of LVT. A document of frequently asked questions was
also presented. He also offered all those interested a folder of
Georgist materials that can be used for outreach.
Projecting future activity Ron mentioned an effort to work on monetary
reform and to work for better and more accurate assessments of city
property.
Scott reported that currently new assessments are being done.
Lindy would like to develop a land value map from the work being done
in Scott Stringer’s office. This would be an excellent educational
and outreach instrument.
Scott reviewed Allen Smith’s work on the new website and recruited
volunteers for Allen’s committee (member Allen Smith had to miss the
meeting due to unforeseen family obligations).
Scott summarized the political action activities undertaken by him and
Rita. Visits to several legislators were made to further the vacant
land bill, explain and advance the State Bank initiative and to seek
opposition to fracking near the Catskill watershed.
We will continue to make visits to inform elected officials about LVT
and to gain support for the coming vacant land bill. We will be able
to use Lindy’s material for this purpose.
There was no discussion on forming a new political party at this
time. This may be resumed when participant and HGS teacher, Andy
Mazzone next attends a CGNYC meeting.
Scott discussed a new research project being organized by Georgist
activist/teacher Teckla Negga Melchior to trace land laws, and to whom
a participant has been recommended by Scott, Brett Barndt. The
project investigates how spectrum laws (part of the “commons”) are now
being manipulated and abused by the telecommunications industry.
Brett was able to provide some background material, having met and
discussed the project with Teckla. This is an extremely important
area of concern but as Teckla was not present more will be said about
this project at the next meeting.
The letter-writing campaign initiated by the Letter-writing Chair of
CGUSA was discussed. Scott talked about the online petition (201
signatures – emails sent to 535 Congressional representatives and
Senators) and the physical letters he drew up on the Clean Air Act to
our two NY Senators, Schumer and Gillibrand. He circulated the
letters for signatures. These will be hand-delivered to the Senators’
offices shortly.
There was a brief discussion of making several new videos. Fred
Harrison’s video series was mentioned; other LVT ideas were offered.
The importance of making Power-point presentations to the Community
Boards was stressed. This will begin when Lindy’s new PP program is
available. Other local and civic organizations will also be
targeted. The Outreach Committee has a list of these for contacting.
Scott mentioned the good news that a bill to study the feasibility of
establishing a state bank was passed. People were encouraged to get
involved in advocating for a state bank and the possibility of forming
a separate group, probably independent of CG, was briefly brought up.
Fundraising may become an important area of activity as our chapter
becomes more active. Minimal fundraising is being done now. As the
year’s activities have come to a close a financial statement will be
prepared and will be made available this summer. Some T-shirt sales
from round 2 of purchases still have to be made, hopefully before the
school year ends.
President of The Henry George School, Dan Kryston, generously offered
to make the school available to CGNYC for future meetings. We are
most grateful to him and will take him up on his generous offer when
meetings resume in the fall.
Finally, surveys were distributed seeking input on a variety of
topics, questions, and issues, including whether movies should
continue to be shown at meetings. Volunteers for the various
committees formed and in the process of being formed were encouraged
to sign up. Scott will summarize the results in his next message to
the membership, and let the heads of the subcommittees know of new
participation before then.
A 15-minute snack-break was announced. Additional orders for CGNYC/
Henry George T-shirts were taken during this time.
The documentary on the acidification of the oceans was then shown to
rapt attention. As oceans are part of the “land” definition, it was a
very appropriate film for this audience.
The meeting adjourned at 7:00 pm.
Godfrey Dunkley
The documentary, �A Sea Change�, deals with the continuing destructive
acidification in the oceans.
with the Manhattan Borough President�s office along with Josh Vincent
in Scott Stringer�s office. This would be an excellent educational
and outreach instrument.
Scott reviewed Allen Smith�s work on the new website and recruited
volunteers for Allen�s committee (member Allen Smith had to miss the
meeting due to unforeseen family obligations).
Scott summarized the political action activities undertaken by him and
Rita. Visits to several legislators were made to further the vacant
land bill, explain and advance the State Bank initiative and to seek
opposition to fracking near the Catskill watershed.
We will continue to make visits to inform elected officials about LVT
and to gain support for the coming vacant land bill. We will be able
to use Lindy�s material for this purpose.
There was no discussion on forming a new political party at this
time. This may be resumed when participant and HGS teacher, Andy
Mazzone next attends a CGNYC meeting.
Scott discussed a new research project being organized by Georgist
activist/teacher Teckla Negga Melchior to trace land laws, and to whom
a participant has been recommended by Scott, Brett Barndt. The
project investigates how spectrum laws (part of the �commons�) are now
being manipulated and abused by the telecommunications industry.
Brett was able to provide some background material, having met and
discussed the project with Teckla. This is an extremely important
area of concern but as Teckla was not present more will be said about
this project at the next meeting.
The letter-writing campaign initiated by the Letter-writing Chair of
CGUSA was discussed. Scott talked about the online petition (201
signatures � emails sent to 535 Congressional representatives and
Senators) and the physical letters he drew up on the Clean Air Act to
our two NY Senators, Schumer and Gillibrand. He circulated the
letters for signatures. These will be hand-delivered to the Senators�
offices shortly.
There was a brief discussion of making several new videos. Fred
Harrison�s video series was mentioned; other LVT ideas were offered.
The importance of making Power-point presentations to the Community
Boards was stressed. This will begin when Lindy�s new PP program is
available. Other local and civic organizations will also be
targeted. The Outreach Committee has a list of these for contacting.
Scott mentioned the good news that a bill to study the feasibility of
establishing a state bank was passed. People were encouraged to get
involved in advocating for a state bank and the possibility of forming
a separate group, probably independent of CG, was briefly brought up.
Fundraising may become an important area of activity as our chapter
becomes more active. Minimal fundraising is being done now. As the
year�s activities have come to a close a financial statement will be
prepared and will be made available this summer. Some T-shirt sales
from round 2 of purchases still have to be made, hopefully before the
school year ends.
President of The Henry George School, Dan Kryston, generously offered
to make the school available to CGNYC for future meetings. We are
most grateful to him and will take him up on his generous offer when
meetings resume in the fall.
Finally, surveys were distributed seeking input on a variety of
topics, questions, and issues, including whether movies should
continue to be shown at meetings. Volunteers for the various
committees formed and in the process of being formed were encouraged
to sign up. Scott will summarize the results in his next message to
the membership, and let the heads of the subcommittees know of new
participation before then.
A 15-minute snack-break was announced. Additional orders for CGNYC/
Henry George T-shirts were taken during this time.
The documentary on the acidification of the oceans was then shown to
rapt attention. As oceans are part of the �land� definition, it was a
very appropriate film for this audience.
The meeting adjourned at 7:00 pm.
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