You're Invited: Oakland Town Hall Meeting Nov. 7th

You are cordially invited to a town hall meeting featuring community members perspectives on "Realignment" policies in California. Please join us:    Saturday - Nov. 17, 2012  1-4 pm EastSide Cultural Center 2277 International Blvd Oakland CA. Last October, Governor Brown signed a law drastically shifting the responsibility of incarceration from the state level to California's 58 counties, in a balancing act of the state budget better known as “Realignment.”  Although Realignment has decreased the number of individuals entering state prisons, the numbers reflect that this new law has not changed the underlining dynamics of incarceration in California. How has Realignment impacted those who have been sentenced under its terms? What does it mean to have your loved one detained in a local jail for up to 3, 5, or even 10 + years? Come hear testimony from people presently inside of county jails, formerly-incarcerated people, and other community members about what has taken place since the implementation of Realignment. Together we will learn about conditions inside Alameda County jails and share ideas about bail and probation reform. Join us to create a new vision of community safety and discuss ways we can organize to make that vision a reality. An organized community is a safe community! This event is wheelchair accessible and will provide childcare,  translation and light refreshments. For more information please contact- (415) 637-8195 or email: manuel@prisonerswithchildren.org Please RSVP to manuel@prisonerswithchildren.org Hope to see you there! Manuel La Fontaine Organizer, All of Us or None Here's the event on FB   This town hall is sponsored by All of Us Or None, California Coalition for Women Prisoners (CCWP), Californians United for a Responsible Budget (CURB), Center for Young Women's Development (CYWD), Critical Resistance (CR), Legal Services for Prisoners with Children, and many more.... Forward this message to a friend

California Voter Guide: California Pan-Ethnic Health Network

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Action Alert: Enact a California Prison and Jail Moratorium

ENACT A CALIFORNIA PRISON AND JAIL MORATORIUM:
Stop the Cages, Stop the Cuts


On December 12^th we are going to Sacramento to demand an immediate moratorium on all prison and jail expansion.  To join us, email Emily Harris.

Next year’s trigger cuts will steal $608 million away from the programs that sustain our communities just weeks after 25 counties were invited to apply for over $600 million to build more jail cells in response to Gov. Brown’s Public Safety Realignment and the humanitarian crisis that is inside of California’s overcrowded prisons and jails. As the last 30 years of similar priorities have shown, poor communities and communities of color will be hit hardest by both the cuts and the cages.

A moratorium will force politicians at the county and state level to reduce sentences, decrease policing, invest in our communities and bring our people home.

Whether or not you can make it, please call your local legislators and ask them to stand strong for California communities by calling for a moratorium on all prison and jail construction, and encouraging counties to build alternatives to imprisonment, not more jail cells.

To get involved in the campaign, contact CURB at info@curbprisonspending.org.

More information at http://curbprisonspending.org

Can't vote but still want to be a part of the civic process?

Election Day  Nov 6, 2012 Can't vote but still want to be a part of the civic process? OCT 29, 2012 Even though voting is an essential part of engaging in the civic process, it's not the only way to take part. Below are some ways for people to take action and be a part of change outside the ballot box:  Offering rides to people who can't drive or walk to their polling place. Helping your community to the polling makes your community voice that much stronger.  Encouraging and educating people about the propositions and candidates. Just because you are not voting doesn't mean that you can't voice your opinions about who and what you think should be focused on in this election. Volunteer campaigns and non-profit organizations always need extra help with get out the vote efforts and increasing voter knowledge. Volunteering just a couple of hours a week can make a huge impact. These activities include:  PhoneBanking, Canvassing, Database entry   Write letters, make visits or call your elected officials' offices, protest in rallies and demonstrations and sign petitions! These are all ways you can engage in the political process during election season and beyond.   Proposition Watch!  A lot of us have heard about Proposition 30 and 32, but many don't know about the 9 other state propositions and local measures on the ballot. Black Women for Wellness will be doing a proposition day for the next several days to get out the information on the other props. Today we are tackling Prop 35.  Black Women for Wellness is firmly against human trafficking of all kinds, however, Proposition 35 is not the answer to address trafficking in our state.  California already has strong anti-trafficking legislation that protects all survivors of human trafficking. Prop. 35 is a misleading proposition that has the potential to do more harm than good. We oppose Prop. 35 for the following reasons: Anyone that associates with a person under the age of 18 who trades sex could be criminalized and considered a trafficker even if there was no force, fraud or coercion involved. This includes: Young people in the sex trade who are homeless and using strategies to be safer; such as sharing space, food, and resources People of color, queer, immigrant, and low-income communities that are already unfairly targeted by the criminal justice system Proposition 35 re-defines commercialized sex for minors so broadly that any trade of value would be seen as commercialized sex. This could include going to the movies or buying dinner.[1]  Kathleen Kim, Professor of Law at Loyola Law School and author of AB 22, California's current human trafficking law, says, "The CASE Act [Proposition 35]circumvents compensation for victims." Survivors who would be entitled to hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages for enduring forced labor conditions, restriction of movement and severe psychological and physical abuse, would be redirected to special interest non-profits and government agencies."[2] [1]www.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DWHlUSGZUMSY&ei=w-2KUMiuAcTz0gHLv4HwDw&usg=AFQjCNGaySZRPmD4izbIO0mifbXZyfd1RQ [2] http://noonprop35.wordpress.com/2012/09/26/analysis-of-the-case-act-by-kathleen-kim/    More information about Proposition 35 DEBATE PARTY/PHONE BANKING TONIGHT Watching the debate have you yelling at the television? Do you feel like you want to do something about it? Join Black Women for Wellness for our debate/phone banking party tonight from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Refreshment will be served! You may also join us all week throughout the day for more phone banking!    RSVP BY REPLYING TO THIS EMAIL Last Day to register for an absentee ballot is tomorrow, Oct. 30, 2012 Yep, that's right, the election is only 8 days a way. Do you need a mail in ballot? Below are some reasons why you might want to register for a mail in ballot You want to vote early. You've made up your mind, why wait? You might not be home.  You have to travel a lot for work unexpectedly. You are in the hospital and not sure if you will be able to get home by polling date. You are schedule for a medical procedure near or on election day. You can't take the hours off of work (legally you can take from 1-4 hours to vote, however that time might not be paid). You moved recently and didn't get time to re-register to vote. In jail for a traffic ticket or other misdemeanor. Use the link below to register for absentee ballots, polling information, preview of your ballot and more information about local measures and state propositions.  REGISTER FOR MAIL IN BALLOT HERE NEED VOTER INFORMATION DOWNLOAD OUR GUIDE NEED PROPOSITION INFO DOWNLOAD OUR GUIDE

Join East San Fernando Valley Chapter of FACTS

Yes on Proposition 30--San Bernardino Phonebank

When: Every Saturday from 10:00-2:00 p.m. Monday 5:00-8:30 p.m.

Where:

El Sol Promotores--Neighborhood Center

972 N. Mt. Vernon Avenue

San Bernardino, CA 92411

Cross Streets: Mt. Vernon Avenue Between 9th and 10th Street

Food and Beverages will be provided.

Proposition 30 "Local Schools and Public Safety Protection Act"

-10.3% income tax bracket for singles who make $250,000-$300,000 and couples who make $500,000-$600-000

-11.3% income tax bracket for singles who make $300,000-$500,000 and couples who make $600,000-$1 million

-12.3% income tax bracket for singles who make $500,000 and more and couples who make $1 million and more

-A four year temporary sales tax increase of 1/4 of a percent, equaling an increase of 1 penny for every four dollars spent

-This would raise an estimated $9 billion dollars which would mostly be earmarked for realignment and the Prop 98 funding guarantee

If Prop. 30 Does not pass:

We can either ask the wealthiest in the state to pay a fairer share or we can further shift the burden of cuts onto the rest of us.

With your YES vote on Prop 30, we can:

K-12

-Stop another $6 billion in cuts to our schools this year.

-3 week reduction and elimination of summer school Higher Ed

- Prevent steep tuition hikes for college students and their families.

-Invest in our schools and colleges so we can prepare the next generation for the jobs of the future.

Health and Human Services

-Low income children and adults will lose access to medical care and medicine due to higher co pays

--reduced funding

-Elderly and Disable Adults will see reduced access to critical medical and support services which may include: In Home-Support Services, wheelchairs, oxygen tanks, hearing aids, prosthetics, and physical and occupation therapy

Event Sponsored by: California Partnership and Students/Staff/Faculty from Colton and San Bernardino City high schools.

For further questions or want to volunteer contact:

Maribel Nunez: (909) 300-1478