Latinos 4 Change

Single Payer: Call-in May 20; lobby and rally May 27th; Action on May 30th

2009-05-20T12:09:00.001-04:00

Dear Single Payer New York Folks:

Things are heating up in DC and Albany around single payer and we need your help. www.singlepayernewyork.org

Below is info on:
1) Wed. May 20th call in to Governor Paterson on single payer
2) Wed. May 27th lobby day and rally for single payer in Albany
3) Sat. May 30th.-Organize a local event in support of single payer health care and Rochester Town Hall Meeting 6pm-8pm.

All of these activities take money, it is crucial to build momentum for the grassroots movement now. Please make a contribution today to Single Payer New York. Checks can be mailed to our treasurer, Connie Laporta, 1935 Fifth St., Troy, NY 12180.

Wednesday, May 20th
This Wednesday we are organizing a phone in to Governor Paterson, who sponsored single payer legislation as a State Senator. The long-delayed report by the Governor's Universal Health Care Task Force is due out shortly and we want it to recommend single payer as the New York approach. Sample message below:

Governor Paterson, 518 474-8390. "We want Gov. Paterson to recommend a single payer health care system as part of the state's report on universal health care. We also want Gov. Paterson to meet with single payer advocates on May 27th."

May 27th is our statewide lobby day and rally in Albany that we have organized in conjunction with the national day of action on single payer. We are pushing three issues on Wed. 1) have the Senate pass a resolution in support of HR 676 (the Assembly did this last year); 2) have the Senate and Assembly pass single payer legislation (A2356, S2370); 3) get legislators to sign on to a letter to Pres. Obama in support of single payer health care.

Details about the day are below. It starts at 9:30 AM at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 85 Chestnut St. (1/2 block from State Capitol). Let dunleamark@aol.com know if you are coming and whether you would like to carpool.

Saturday, May 30th is a national day of action around single payer. A major NY event will take place in Rochester at 6 PM with Cong. John Conyers, lead sponsor of HR 676; Cong. Eric Massa and John Nichols of the Nation. It will be at the Rochester Museum and Science Center, 657 East Ave., Rochester. Even if you plan to drive to Rochester, that leaves plenty of time to organize a press conference, vigil, forum, leafleting, tabling (at Farmers' Market, post office, etc.) in your own community.

May 30th: National Day of Action
Nationwide Rallies for Improved Medicare for AllJoin thousands of single-payer supporters in a nationwide week of action to support improved Medicare for all (HR 676). Single-payer activists will be gathering all over the country to say, "Healthcare, yes; Insurance companies, no," and to show solidarity with demonstrations at the AHIP (American Health Insurance Plans, a private health insurance lobby) conference in San Diego.If an action isn't already in your city, plan your own day of action! It can be a town hall meeting, demonstration in front of a local insurance company, film showing, vigil, or your own unique idea. Let us know what you'd like to start planning by contacting info@healthcare-now.org.47 million Americans are uninsured. Private insurance rates are rising faster than inflation and our incomes. By 2025 the cost of private health insurance will exceed our projected income.A national, single-payer healthcare system is the only healthcare reform option that will cover every American resident while saving us billions of dollars. The majority of Americans want it. The majority of physicians want it. The only thing missing is the political will in Washington. Single Payer Healthcare Advocates to Rally at Capitol on May 27th

Politicians Need to Protect the People, Not Health Insurance Companies

Supporters of a single payer Medicare for All universal health care program will rally at the State Capitol on Wednesday May 27th at noon.

Representatives of groups supporting single payer will also meet with individual state legislators throughout the day and have requested a meeting with Governor Paterson.

The groups want New York State to pass legislation to create its own single payer universal health care system. The California state legislature has twice voted to create a single payer system but it has been vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger. Governor Paterson, in contrast, has been a long time supporter of single payer health care. The long-delayed state study by the Urban Institute on what type of universal health system New York should adopt is due out in the next few months.

The single payer groups are also supporting the resolution introduced by Senator Neil Breslin to have the State Senate urge Congress to pass HR 676 (Conyors – D MI), the federal single payer bill. HR 676 is currently co-sponsored by more than 70 Representatives, including many from New York.

Single payer supporters are also upset that the U.S. Senate Finance Committee and the White House have so far refused to consider a single payer health care system while instead insisting that private for-profit health insurance must continue to play a role in any universal health care system. Thirteen single payer advocates have been arrested in recent weeks for protesting the exclusion of single payer supporters at the Senate Finance Committee hearings on universal health care.

It is estimated that as much as 35 cents of every health care dollar goes to pay for the administration of private health insurance that provides nothing of value to the health care system. The practices of insurance companies contribute to the deaths of tens of thousands of Americans annually. Eliminating private health insurance through a single payer system could save $350 to $400 billion annually.

Even though the US spends almost twice as much money per capita on health care compared to other industrial countries, the performance of the American health care system consistently ranks among the worse of the industrial countries (e.g., 37th by the World Health Organization), while leaving as many as 75 million Americans without insurance during part of any year.

Sponsors of the event include Single Payer New York (www.singlepayernewyork.org), Capital District Alliance for Universal Health Care, Capital District Area Labor Federation; Faith and Hunger Network; Hunger Action Network of NYS: New York State Nurses Association; Physicians for a National Health Program; Students for a National Health Program; Tompkins County Health Care Task Force; and Troy Area Labor Council.

MILANO EVENT APRIL 30 - The Obama Agenda: Overcoming Poverty in NY and the Nation

2009-04-27T22:59:00.000-04:00

Milano The New School for Management and Urban Policy
and the Center for New York City Affairs invite you to:

THE OBAMA AGENDA:
Overcoming Poverty in New York and the Nation
The 2009 Bill Green Forum

Thursday, April 30, 2009, 6 pm to 7:45 pm
Theresa Lang Community & Student Center, Arnhold Hall
55 West 13th Street, Second Floor (between 5th and 6th avenues)

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and the Obama administration's 2010 budget plan include resources and tools for large-scale job creation, more benefits for low-income and unemployed people, refundable tax credits and the prospect for new flexible funds for child and family services. What is Washington offering the states, and how will New York respond? Can the nation develop a new framework for reducing poverty? Or are these old programs in new packages, with more dollars attached?

WITH:
David Hansell, Commissioner, NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance
Ron Haskins, Co-director, Center for Children and Families, The Brookings Institution
Margarita Rosa, Executive Director, Grand Street Settlement
Debbie Weinstein, Executive Director, Coalition on Human Needs
Veronica White, Director, NYC Center for Economic Opportunity

MODERATOR:
Andrew White, Director, Center for New York City Affairs

Admission is free, but you must RSVP. Call 212.229.5418, email centernyc@newschool.edu.

The Bill Green Forum memorializes the late Honorable Bill Green (1929-2002), who represented the East Side of Manhattan in Congress from 1978-1992. Bill Green was an independent thinker who frequently crossed the aisle to collaborate on critical issues such as the environment, urban policy and affordable housing. He served as a trustee of The New School and a board member of Milano. This forum series, which pays tribute to his deep commitment to bipartisanship, is generously funded by the Taconic Foundation, on whose board he also served.

Additional support provided by the Sirus Fund and the Milano Foundation.

For more than 30 years, Milano The New School for Management and Urban Policy has offered sharply focused programs in management and public policy that are innovative, principled, and practical--in keeping with the mission of The New School and Milano's own values and purpose.

The Center for New York City Affairs is a nonpartisan institute dedicated to advancing innovative public policies that strengthen neighborhoods, support families and reduce urban poverty. The Center is based at
Milano The New School for Management and Urban Policy.

Center for New York City Affairs
72 Fifth Avenue 6th floor
New York, NY 10011
tel 212 229 5418 | 212 229 5335 fax
centernyc@newschool.edu • Center for New York City Affairs

Bronx Camp Fair on Saturday, May 9th

2009-04-27T22:53:00.003-04:00

Looking for a SUMMER CAMP?
Mark your calendar and save the date for our CAMP FAIR!

Saturday, May 9, 2009
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Admission is FREE

Bronx Library Center
310 East Kingsbridge Road
Bronx, NY 10458

Representatives from a variety of summer programs and community resources will be
available to provide the information you need to make the best decision for your child.

This camp fair is sponsored by The New York City Child Care Resource & Referral
Consortium, in partnership with the Bronx Library Center.

For more information, please call (888) 469-5999.

1st Annual 5K Run/Walk Sunday, April 26th, 2009 in Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx hosted by the Riverdale Mental Health Association (RMHA)

2009-04-13T21:54:00.001-04:00

Call for Volunteers: Accion USA Microfinance Council

2009-04-09T13:59:00.003-04:00

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Jessica Royston
Sent: Sunday, April 5, 2009 6:21:09 PM
Subject: Accion USA Microfinance Council

Hi,

We have completed the invitation to our May 5th fundraising event, at
La Fonda Boricua. If you think any of the members of your
organization might be interested in the event, we would greatly
appreciate you forwarding it to them. Also, we are looking for
volunteer salsa dance instructors. If you know of anyone that might
be interested, please feel free to put them in touch with me. The
volunteers would get free entrance to the event, which includes
dinner, two hours of open bar, and live music. Please let me know if
you would like more details on any of this.

I hope things are going well for you!

Email: jessica.royston@gmail.com

Accion USA Microfinance Council

Federal Stimulus Townhall on April 17th @ Harlem Hospital Center

2009-04-07T22:05:00.003-04:00

No Name... & A BAG O' CHIPS: NYC's Best Comedy/variety Show

2009-04-07T21:42:00.001-04:00

"No Name... & A BAG O' CHIPS"
NYC's Best Damn Comedy/Variety Show

THIS WEEK:
-INSANELY HOT LINEUP
-THE ANNUAL EASTER EGG HUNT
-HOT BAND FLORENCE FOLLOWING US THIS WEEK (also FREE)
www.myspace.com/florencenyc

We hope you'll be a part of it again this Friday at the legendary
OTTO'S SHRUNKEN HEAD!!

SCHEDULED GUEST PERFORMERS FOR APRIL 10th:
TOM SHILLUE*
MICHELLE BUTEAU*
REESE WATERS
JOANNA PARSON
CHRIS GRIGGS

Music provided by LONG DISTANZ
featuring MARK JONES & HAROLD SMITH

ERIC VETTER is the MC.
SUPER SHANI is the Stage Manager.

When- FRIDAY, APRIL 10th
Where- OTTO'S SHRUNKEN HEAD
538 E 14th St (between Ave A & Ave B)
Showtime- 7:00 pm SHARP
Admission- FREE!!

*Be sure to catch Tom & Michelle on Thursday night's JOEY REYNOLDS SHOW
(WOR-AM, 710) @ midnight

YOU MAY SEE THESE PERFORMERS AT ANOTHER SHOW.
YOU WILL NOT SEE THEM AT A BETTER SHOW.

tANGANA aPRIL fOOLS dAY cOMEDY sHOW!!!

2009-03-30T20:02:00.001-04:00

NEXT SHOW is on WEDNESDAY APRIL 1st, 2009

TÁNGANA Comedy Show @ The Legendary Nuyorican Poets Cafe
236 East 3rd street (between Ave B & C)
$8 cover at the door
No drink minimum - No dress code
Doors open at 7:01pm Lol
Show time 7:30pm SHARP !

For more info go to www.nuyorican.org

Look forward to seeing you
Spread the word

Join Us In Supporting Stella D'oro Workers - Please sign petition & Spread the word!!!

2009-03-22T11:04:00.002-04:00

The Connecticut-based private equity firm Brynwood Partners, who owns Stella D'oro Biscuit Co. plant, walked out of the negotiations with its workers on August 13, 2008. Since then, the workers of Stella D'oro have been on strike in front of the Stella D'oro Bakery located in the Bronx, New York.

Brynwood Partner's demands are draconian. They want, among other things, that workers accept a 25% cut in wages; the elimination of Saturday overtime; and an increase in health insurance premiums. The company also proposes eliminating four holidays, one week of vacation, and all 12 paid sick days workers currently receive.

Please, sign Online Petition and let the owners of Stella D'oro Biscuit Co. know that you find it unconscionable they have forced their workers out on the street, in a strike, as a last resort at fair negotiations. By signing the petition, which the Committee in Support of the Stella D'oro Strikers will deliver to Brynwood Parnters in Connecticut, you will show your support of the boycott of ALL Stella D'oro products until the strike is over and until the workers have received a fair settlement of their grievances. Thank you for your support of the workers. This is the link for the petition online:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/63/support-the-stella-doro-workers-on-strike

Below is the letter that will be delivered and will accompany the petition with your signatures:

We are writing to you, Brynwood Partners and Stella D'oro Biscuit Co., on behalf of the population that purchases your products. We find it unconscionable that you walked out of negotiations on August 13th, 2008 and have refused to meet with the workers of the Stella D'oro Plant located on 237th Street and Broadway in Bronx, NY. The workers have been on strike since then and now you have resorted to union busting and are hiring scabs to run the plant.

Brynwood Partner's demands are draconian. You want, among other things, that workers accept a 25% cut in wages; the elimination of Saturday overtime; and an increase in health insurance premiums. You also propose eliminating four holidays, one week of vacation, and all 12 paid sick days the workers currently receive.

Until Stella D'oro and Brynwood Partners sit and negotiate with the workers I will support the strike by boycotting ALL Stella D'oro products. The workers must receive a fair settlement of their grievances.

Harlem Community Block Clean Up and Voter Registration

2009-03-10T22:34:00.000-04:00

When: Sat Apr 4, 2009 10:30am to 3:30pm EDT
Who: Uptown Democratic Club
Where: Tribal Spears (Cafe Gallery)
8th ave between 116th & 117th
Event Status: confirmed

Event Description: We will have a Community Block Clean Up and Voter Registration Drive. We will meet a Tribal Spears (Cafe Gallery) located on 8th ave between 116th & 117th at 10:30AM.

The Uptown Democratic Club

We are progressive democrats who take action to create a better Harlem. We believe that to see the change we have been waiting for, we must do our part as a community to improve conditions on a local level. As President Barack Obama stated, change starts from the bottom up. For this reason, we believe that community involvement is the key to making a difference. As a democratic club, we organize meetings and events that enable each member of our community to be responsible for improving conditions in our environment. We believe that every person has the right to a good education, proper healthcare, good employment and entrepreneurship opportunities as well as stable living conditions. In order for this to take place, we need your insights and involvement. If you are a resident of the Harlem area or are interested in partnering with or supporting our cause, we welcome you to join our meetings held on the first Tuesday of every month and participate in our ongoing community projects.

Thank You,

UDC

Emanuel Pleitez Fundraiser Dinner @ Casa Fox, Tuesday, March 10th 5:30 PM

2009-03-09T20:45:00.003-04:00

You are cordially invited to a Dinner with Wine Fundraiser with

EMANUEL PLEITEZ

For an event benefiting the

Pleitez for Congress Fund

http://www.pleitezforcongress.com/

When: Tuesday, March 10th - 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM

Where: Casa Fox – 173 Orchard St,

New York, NY

Host - $500

Co-host - $250

Ticket - $100

Emanuel Pleitez, from Eastside LA, is running for U.S. Congress in the 32nd District of California. He is a former Goldman Sachs financial analyst and member of President Obama's Treasury Department Transition Team. Please donate online at http://www.actblue.com/page/pleitezforcongress_lucas, or in person with cash or check.

Please RSVP and pledge donation to Lucas Botello at lucas@pleitezforcongress.com

For more info on the PLEITEZ FOR CONGRESS campaign, visit

http://www.pleitezforcongress.com/

LAUGH AT FRIDAY THE 13th

2009-03-09T20:32:00.003-04:00

"No Name... & A BAG O' CHIPS"

NYC's Best Damn Comedy/Variety Show

We hope you can come out to play with us at our new home,the legendary OTTO'S SHRUNKEN HEAD!!

SCHEDULED GUEST PERFORMERS FOR MARCH 13th:

CARMEN LYNCH

HANNIBAL BURESS

JOANNA PARSON

DEEANNE GORMAN

& more!

ERIC VETTER is the MC.

SUPER SHANI is the Stage Manager.

When- FRIDAY, MARCH 13th

Where- OTTO'S SHRUNKEN HEAD

538 E 14th St (between Ave A & Ave B)

Showtime- 7:00 pm SHARP

Admission- FREE!!

YOU MAY SEE THESE PERFORMERS AT ANOTHER SHOW.

YOU WILL NOT SEE THEM AT A BETTER SHOW.

March - May 2009: Bill Maher & Ann Coulter Kick Off

2009-02-28T23:39:00.003-05:00

2009 Speaker Series.

Buy tickets at: SpeakerSeries2009.com

This year the series expands to Boston & Chicago too. For more info on other markets, visit www.speakerseries2009.com!