Tell Burlington's new Mayor the system doesn't work for our 99%
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Jonathan Leavitt
Apr 2, 2012, 12:05:47 AM4/2/12
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Day 1: Tell Burlington's New Mayor and City Councilors the system doesn't work for our 99%
Monday April 2nd
7:00pm Burlington City Hall (Contois Auditorium 2nd floor)
Monday April 2nd
7:00pm Burlington City Hall (Contois Auditorium 2nd floor)
Bring signs, soundbites and friends
Monday is the first meeting of the new Burlington City Council. This would be a great moment to cite Burlington's overwhelming support for Town Meeting Day Occupy ballot item and ask our political elite how they are -as the ballot item said- going to put into place: "revenue and investment policies that: (1) reduce the growing disparity of wealth, (2) make
the richest people in the U.S. (the top 1%) and the largest corporations pay a fair share and equitable portion oftheir income in taxes, and (3) strengthen the social and economic security of the vast majority (the 99%) of the people of the United States"
"Let me give you a word of the philosophy of reform. The whole history of the progress of human liberty shows that all concessions yet made to her august claims have been born of earnest struggle. The conflict has been exciting, agitating, all-absorbing, and for the time being, putting all other tumults to silence. It must do this or it does nothing. If there is no struggle there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom and yet deprecate agitation are men who want crops without plowing up the ground; they want rain without thunder and lightning. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters." -Fredrick Douglas
The University of New Hampshire Carsey Institute reported in 2007 that over the last 15 years Vermont saw the fastest growth in income inequality of state in America.
Research at Sam Houston State University found the wealthiest 1% of Vermonters saw their share of our income almost triple between 1970 and 2005.
81% of Vermonters can't afford the median priced home. A recent analysis by USA Today of the U.S. Census Bureaus American Community Survey shows Burlington’s middle class is "shrinking faster than almost anywhere else in the country"
Right now folks inside the New North End's Ward 4 and 7 NPAs are working to dismantle Burlington School District's diversity and equity work even though Burlington School District data shows white students are disproportionately punished less and receive better educational outcomes than Burlington students of color.
Burlington School District stats on racial inequity in education start at the ten minute mark. So shameful a few white Burlingtonians are actively working to dismantle attempts to fix these race based inequities even as Treyvon's death haunts the rest of us. http://www.cctv.org/watch-tv/programs/burlington-mayoral-forum-multiculturalism-equity
And more Vermonters are asking for help: In June 2008, 23,000 households and 51,000 individuals received 3SquaresVT, formerly known as “food stamps.” By June 2010 those numbers had exploded to 43,000 and 86,000, respectively. On average, food-stamp recipients receive $1 per meal.
According to the USDA 13.8% of Vermont Households were found to have low or very low food security
The Vermont Foodbank, Inc provides emergency food for as many as 86,000 people annually. 33% of the members of households served by The Vermont Foodbank, are children. They found a combination of “higher than average growth at the top of the income distribution” along with “declines in real household income” on the other end. So, the wealthy got more while most Vermonters saw their real incomes stay the same or go down.
Monday is the first meeting of the new Burlington City Council. This would be a great moment to cite Burlington's overwhelming support for Town Meeting Day Occupy ballot item and ask our political elite how they are -as the ballot item said- going to put into place: "revenue and investment policies that: (1) reduce the growing disparity of wealth, (2) make
the richest people in the U.S. (the top 1%) and the largest corporations pay a fair share and equitable portion oftheir income in taxes, and (3) strengthen the social and economic security of the vast majority (the 99%) of the people of the United States"
"Let me give you a word of the philosophy of reform. The whole history of the progress of human liberty shows that all concessions yet made to her august claims have been born of earnest struggle. The conflict has been exciting, agitating, all-absorbing, and for the time being, putting all other tumults to silence. It must do this or it does nothing. If there is no struggle there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom and yet deprecate agitation are men who want crops without plowing up the ground; they want rain without thunder and lightning. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters." -Fredrick Douglas
The University of New Hampshire Carsey Institute reported in 2007 that over the last 15 years Vermont saw the fastest growth in income inequality of state in America.
Research at Sam Houston State University found the wealthiest 1% of Vermonters saw their share of our income almost triple between 1970 and 2005.
81% of Vermonters can't afford the median priced home. A recent analysis by USA Today of the U.S. Census Bureaus American Community Survey shows Burlington’s middle class is "shrinking faster than almost anywhere else in the country"
Right now folks inside the New North End's Ward 4 and 7 NPAs are working to dismantle Burlington School District's diversity and equity work even though Burlington School District data shows white students are disproportionately punished less and receive better educational outcomes than Burlington students of color.
Burlington School District stats on racial inequity in education start at the ten minute mark. So shameful a few white Burlingtonians are actively working to dismantle attempts to fix these race based inequities even as Treyvon's death haunts the rest of us. http://www.cctv.org/watch-tv/programs/burlington-mayoral-forum-multiculturalism-equity
And more Vermonters are asking for help: In June 2008, 23,000 households and 51,000 individuals received 3SquaresVT, formerly known as “food stamps.” By June 2010 those numbers had exploded to 43,000 and 86,000, respectively. On average, food-stamp recipients receive $1 per meal.
According to the USDA 13.8% of Vermont Households were found to have low or very low food security
The Vermont Foodbank, Inc provides emergency food for as many as 86,000 people annually. 33% of the members of households served by The Vermont Foodbank, are children. They found a combination of “higher than average growth at the top of the income distribution” along with “declines in real household income” on the other end. So, the wealthy got more while most Vermonters saw their real incomes stay the same or go down.
Alexander Percivul Ruhe
Apr 3, 2012, 12:24:28 PM4/3/12
to occu...@googlegroups.com
Thnks Johnny for the Prayerful Invite!
I had a fantastic time sharing a sign "Visible Assembly Camping, Ecotopia Now ...or lose Democracy! " We were few but quality people with valid considerate concerns ...and alot of amiable support from wise smiling people : ) lol
SolidAirity SunSeerly,
AleSonder o the ELFven Kind
ELFkind Production working for Ecotopia Systems, SunSeerly, AleSonder PS Ruhe
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