A recent presentation by someone I respect a great deal discussing community issues: (whole video is 1 hour but very much worth it!)

This is adapted from something I wrote some years ago when I actually worked in the building where the Triangle Shirtwaist fire took place. But it is a part of American history, labor history, and Jewish-American history that Teabaggers want us to forget. And we must not EVER forget because the women who lost their life that day died so that today we have fire regulations and unions. The Teabaggers are desecrating the memories of those women who died 100 years ago.

On March 25th 1911, 146 people died in the very building I used to work in before our lab moved to the NYU school of medicine. The result of their deaths was the rapid growth of the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union and the real beginning of the fight against sweatshops. These are the very advances that right wing extremists in the Republican party are trying to eliminate, forgetting those 146 deaths. It also was the beginning of fire regulations in American cities.

The story of the fire and the missed opportunities to prevent it are chilling. But what is more chilling is the fact that America has forgotten why we need unions. Even some unions have forgotten what unions are all about, but I want everyone who doubts the need for unions to remember the events of March 25, 1911.

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Alright NYC! Can we show Madison, Wisconsin some love?

It has been a long time since the progressive movement has been as together as it is right now, and we have the unions of Wisconsin to thank for it. Now is the time for real solidarity and it is up to us to step up to the plate and support the unions, protesters and Democrats of Wisconsin.

Here is a round up of some great ways to help jump start the progressive movement in America and show the Teabaggers (and before a Teabagger whines about my use of that word, THEY came up with it!) that America does NOT suppport their extremist agenda.

First, let's get to real basics. What could better encourage the masses to stand up to the Teabagger Republican extremists than pizza! They gotta eat, so why not send them a pizza. This comes from a Tennessee blog. From KnoxViews:

Solidarity!
Looking for a way to show solidarity with the Wisconsin protesters? Send a Solidarity Pizza.

Contact info: http://www.ianspizza.com/  read more »

This was passed on to me by a neighbor:

“Greening Libraries ==>Greener Communities”

Co-Sponsored by the Library Association of the City University of New York & the New York Public Library

DATE: Friday, October 31, 2008

WHERE: Bronx Library Center
310 East Kingsbridge Road
Bronx, NY 10458.
http://www.nypl.org/branch/local/bx/fdc.cfm

WHEN: 9:00 A.M. to 4:15 P.M.

Featuring Keynote Speaker:

Majora Carter, Founder, Sustainable South Bronx
http://www.majoracartergroup.com/

A MacArthur Genius Fellow, one of Essence Magazine’s 25 Most Influential African-Americans in 2007, one of the NY Post’s Most Influential NYC Women for the past two years, and a board member of the Wilderness Society

Also participating:
Raz Godernik, Ecolibris
Shannon Binns, Green Press Initiative
Andrew Van Der Laan,
Director, Senior Project Manager Publishing Operations Projects Group, Random House, Inc.
Daniel Heuberger AIA, Dattner Architects
Jim Lloyd, Assistant Vice President of Campus Operations, Baruch College
John Denham, DenhamWolf
Ines Sucre, Reference Librarian, Foundation Center

Afternoon Keynote:
Frederick W. Stoss  read more »

As Bruce Ratner goes public admitting he has no intention of fulfilling the promises he made to New York regarding affordable housing in his Atlantic Yards project, even former allies like Bill DeBlasio are now questioning just why New York City and New York State are giving him so much taxpayer money. On Saturday, May 3rd a major rally will be held where opposition will coalesce against Ratner. Among those sponsoring and publicizing this event are former supporters of Ratner, politicians who have previously been lukewarm in their opposition, and opposition groups that formerly didn't work together. In other words, Ratner may have finally shown his hand and all those who believed his promises or who weren't ready to take a strong stand now are feeling betrayed and angry. Saturday may be the beginning of the end for Ratner because for the first time I have seen the names of politicians who had been solidly, blindly behind Ratner cropping up among the opposition.

From DDDB (and about a dozen other sources!):

Community Groups, Elected Officials To Hold Major Rally To Demand Governor Paterson Call “Time Out” On Atlantic Yards Project  read more »