APRIL SHOWERS ON LA MIGRA; This Week's SEIU 721 LA/OC Cities Media Round-Up

[SEIU721REFORMERS]

FROM APRIL:

What is all this crap about immigration? Our pensions are not being threatened by whoever is here illegally (undocumented) but by the individuals we elect to all the branches of government. They are the ones that should be questioned as how our money is invested and spent. There will always be not one but several individuals such as Mr. Kaufman that even the noise of the leaves blower of a gardener will bother him, because in his mind it is an illegal (undocumented) that is making the noise. Sadly, those that feel superior and claiming to be oppressed have been the instigators of atrocities if not read your history and look at what the instigators did to the Chinese and the Japanese and not to mention the deportation of citizens of Mexican decent during the great depression of the 1940s (scape goats). Our union is not advocating for illegals as the amalgamated unions did at the beginning of last century. I will recommend that instead of blaming the undocumented population for our financial demise, look back at who created the financial bubble that now has little and big government against the rops. Those are the ones to blame.

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 THIS WEEK'S SEIU 721 LA/OC CITIES MEDIA ROUND-UP

We are in the final stretch before the Nov. 6 election. Before you vote, please review the 721 member endorsed candidate and issue slate: http://www.seiu721.org/campaigns/SEIU%20721%20Slate%20Card%20Flyer%2017x11v2.pdf. Better yet, print it out and use it as you fill in your ballot. Feel free to pass it on to interested friends.

 

Please also consider volunteering this weekend up to Nov. 6. We’ll be walking and phoning to pass Prop 30 and defeat Prop 32. I’ve attached a flyer with all the information you need to volunteer. If you are a Facebook user, you can also find it here: http://on.fb.me/XTrhmO  

 

Below are some of the articles either featuring 721 members or coverage of issues related to our work. If you find additional news items that are important to our members, please email me: ian.th...@seiu721.org.

In solidarity,
Ian Thompson
LA/OC Cities Communications Specialist, SEIU 721

 

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UPDATES ON THE 721 WEBSITE

 

(1)   Convention Center, 10.25: ‘Saving LA City Jobs’
Because of our efforts, the City Council decided not to rush forward with a plan to privatize the Los Angeles Convention Center.
http://www.seiu721.org/2012/10/saving-la-jobs.php

(2)   Pensions, 10.29: ‘Our Fight Is Just Beginning’
SEIU 721 members and our labor allies packed the City Council meeting on Friday, Oct. 26, to speak out against the city's plan to slash our retirement benefits. Sanitation workers engineers, 911 operators, librarians and the head of the LA County Federation of Labor addressed city leaders. Unfortunately, they Council did the wrong thing. They adopted an ordinance to create a second tier in our civilian pension system.
http://www.seiu721.org/2012/10/seiu-721-members-and-our.php

(3)   New 721 Member Blogs: Check out these new 721 member blogs on our union’s website. If you have something to say, write a member blog for the 721 website. Contact me if you want to blog for your union.

·         Alan Peshek, City of LA Shopkeeper: No on 32: 'Keep the middle class strong':http://www.seiu721.org/2012/10/no-on-32-keep-the-middle-class-strong.php

·         Art Sweatman, City of LA Tree Trimmer: ‘Why Riordan Is Attacking Our Pensions’

1.      721 blog: http://www.seiu721.org/2012/10/the-truth-about-riordans-pension-attack.php

2.      As published by the Frying Pan News: http://fryingpannews.org/2012/10/29/hands-off-city-pensions/

 

PENSIONS

 

(1)   LA Times, 10.26: ‘Pension rollback passed by Los Angeles City Council’
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's plan to roll back retirement benefits of newly hired employees won final approval Friday, despite opposition from an array of labor leaders across Southern California.

·         http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/10/pension-rollback-passed-by-the-los-angeles-city-council.html

·         Earlier preview article in LA Times: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/10/villaraigosa-la-pension-plan-up-for-its-final-vote.html

(2)   KPCC, 10.26: ‘LA City Council OKs fewer pension benefits for new city employees’
http://www.scpr.org/blogs/politics/2012/10/26/10731/new-pension-benefits-get-ok-los-angeles-city-counc/

(3)   LA Daily News, 10.26: ‘L.A. City Council approves pension reform plan for city workers’
http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_21864003/l-city-council-approves-pension-reform-plan-city

(4)   KFI, 10.26: ‘LA Pension Plan’ 
http://www.kfiam640.com/pages/NEWS.html?article=10528137

(5)   LA Business Journal, 10.25: ‘Civic Leaders Lobby for L.A. Pension Reform’
Nineteen local business and civic leaders on Wednesday delivered a letter to L.A. City Hall urging the city council to pass Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s pension reform proposal.
http://www.labusinessjournal.com/news/2012/oct/24/civic-leaders-lobby-l-pension-reform/

(6)   LA Weekly Letters to the Editor, 10.23: ‘Pension Reform? Readers Argue About Richard Riordan's New Plan’
http://www.laweekly.com/2012-10-25/news/dick-riordan-union-pension-refrom-la/

JOB AND BUDGET CUTS

 

(1)   LA Daily News, 10.23: ‘L.A. budget chief: 200 jobs need to be cut’
SEIU 721 member and L.A. city trash truck driver Andy Morales accused the mayor and Santana of targeting middle-class city workers.
"There are no new ideas, there is no new vision - just jab after jab aimed at hardworking 911 operators, trash collectors, zoo keepers and librarians," Morales wrote in a statement.
http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_21840271/l-budget-chief-200-jobs-need-be-cut

(2)   LA Times, 10.22: ‘Facing new budget strains, Villaraigosa calls for more job cuts’
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/10/in-the-wake-of-new-financial-bad-news-villaraigosa-calls-for-more-employee-reductions-.html

(3)   LA Times, 10.23: ‘L.A. budget advisor urges 200 layoffs’
Miguel Santana recommends eliminating 200 jobs, including 50 in the city attorney's office, which is the subject of a union lawsuit over furloughs.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-city-layoffs-20121024,0,1003706.story

(4)   Bond Buyer, 10.25: ‘Los Angeles Officials Propose More Layoffs’
http://www.bondbuyer.com/issues/121_207/los-angeles-officials-propose-more-layoffs-1045304-1.html

(5)   LA Times, 10.25: ‘Nearly 160 LAPD jobs could be cut in City Hall plan, chief says’
Nearly 160 civilian Los Angeles Police Department employees could be laid off by Jan. 1 in a plan by City Hall to address its budget deficit, according to an internal department website posting obtained by The Times.
LAPD Chief Charlie Beck said jobs targeted for elimination under a previous proposal from City Hall are one police administrator III, 10 secretaries, 81 senior clerk typists, 66 clerk typists and a nutritionist.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/10/lapd-jobs-city-hall-plan.html

(6)   LA Daily News, 10.30: ‘City Attorney Carmen Trutanich warns layoffs will cost Los Angeles more money’
http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_21884155/city-attorney-carmen-trutanich-warns-layoffs-will-cost

LA ZOO

 

(1)   LA Times Lead Editorial, 10.26: ‘What to do about the L.A. Zoo’
Talks with a nonprofit group have stalled, but a public-private partnership is still the best option.
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-zoo-20121026,0,5329198.story

(2)   LA Daily News, 10.25: ‘New talks sought on Los Angeles Zoo privatization plan’
http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_21856544/new-talks-sought-los-angeles-zoo-privatization-plan  

RAISING REVENUE

 

LA Times, 10.29: ‘El Monte soda tax plan faces crush by beverage industry’

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-soda-tax-20121029,0,6773021.story

 

PROPS 30 AND 32

 

(1)   Sacramento Bee, 10.24: ‘Poll: Support for Proposition 32 falls to 39 percent’
http://blogs.sacbee.com/the_state_worker/2012/10/poll-support-for-proposition-32-falls-to-39-percent.html

(2)   LA Times, 10.30: ‘Prop. 32 supporters link unions to UC Davis pepper-spraying’
Highlights a patently false ad by Prop 32 supporters targeting unions, which also shows how desperate the billionaire backers are getting.
The Web ad comes as polls show Proposition 32 losing. A recent USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll of registered voters showed the measure trailing, with 39% supporting and 46% opposing.
Brian Brokaw, a spokesman for the labor-backed opposition campaign, dismissed the ad.
“The Yes on 32 campaign lost any semblance of credibility long ago,” he said, “so an over-the-top, ugly and exploitative video like this in the throes of a losing campaign is unfortunately par for the course.”
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2012/10/prop-32-supporters-link-unions-to-uc-davis-pepper-spraying.html

(3)   KPCC, 10.24: ‘CA Fair Political Practices Commission wants names of $11 million donors to Prop 30 and 32’
http://www.scpr.org/blogs/politics/2012/10/24/10673/fair-political-practices-commission-orders-arizona/

(4)   LA Times, 10.30: ‘Gov. Jerry Brown has yet to pick a central Prop. 30 sales pitch’
Mixed messages about Gov. Jerry Brown's tax-hike initiative underscore his struggle pitching Prop. 30 to voters and have provided fodder for foes.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-proposition30-20121030,0,7045662.story

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Ian Thompson

SEIU 721
Communications Specialist

1545 Wilshire Boulevard

Los Angeles, CA 90017

Direct: (213) 738-8413

Cell: (213) 446-7946

ian.th...@seiu721.org

http://www.seiu721.org

Facebook.com/seiu721

Twitter.com/seiu721

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SEIU Local 721 Reformers is an email address attempting to share information with SEIU Local Members, Stewards, Officers, Staff and Officials.
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