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ALTERNATIVE A-. ’ in t|9 B B /V V *4*’ h . V' |b g s S ■ •{>> «,. iC !■ flu rk TOk.- f" .. n fcJ k ■“ I n fl I B iff 5* m 9 w Si I /fll, ■ yW f '' 1 N B W W V > PUBLIC POLICIES lêp^M *0W ÈiM i0^ Juiy 1977 Editer: Barbara Bick IN THIS ISSUE "Women Seek Major Offices" (p. 3) by Barbar- Bick From Mayor to Manhattan ' Borough President, a group of activist women are campaigning in New York City. "Great Plains Conference Sets Strategy Priorities" (p. 5) by Marilyn McNabb Regional conference brings together new grouping with old concerns. "Ecologists New Force in France" (p. 6) by Barbara Koeppel Ecologists, aligned with the Left but independent of them, are forging a new politics in France. "Disabled Movement Gains Support" (p. 12) by Leonard Goldberg A new movement of disabled people raises issues which go beyond traditional paternalism. "Whistle Blowing For Public Employees" (p. 13) by Jim Wright A new response by public employees that confronts public agencies and management. Ron Asta tells of right-wing impact on Arizona politics. See story p. 10. Alternative Legislation New Public ment, she has hired two New Property Tax monetary fine. House Bill 196 Representation Bills women who each work part- is a fair lending housing act. time to share one legislative Measures Both bills were defeated this Three pieces of innovative assistant job. Two tax reform measures session. Copies can be ob legislation have been pre Miller's bill, which is simi aimed at increasing revenues tained at the State Legislative pared for the Wisconsin Leg lar to legislation passed in for financially-strapped Bos Bureau, State Capital, Salt islature with backup work by Massachusetts and Maryland, ton, were introduced into the Lake City, Utah. the Center for Public Rep would increase the number Massachusetts House by Rep. resentation. Assembly Bill and types of part-time jobs in Barney Frank. The first, 383 would remove certain state government. Such bills H305, would remove the zoning restrictions on the call for gradual increases in property tax exemption for Curb or Insurance establishment of community the percentage of part-time university and college proper living arrangements in resi jobs available up to a ceiling ty in the state, except for Redlining dential neighborhoods. The of between six and 10% of all classrooms, libraries, and lab The Missouri Senate has bill defines facilities licensed positions. These bills also oratories. Non-educational guarantee part-time workers passed a bill designed to curb by the Department of Health buildings, such as dormi r e insurance redlining. The bill & Social Services as including fringe benefits such as sick tories, dining halls, and ath would prohibit insurance group foster homes, child leave, vacation, merit in letic facilities would have to companies from refusing to welfare agencies, and adult creases, and seniority. 13® pay property taxes. insure or from cancelling community-based residential The second bill would re homeowner policies on the facilities. The bill excludes quire airlines to pay property grounds of location of resi day-care centers, nursing taxes on their terminals and dence, occupation, sex or age. homes, hospitals, prisons, Curbs on Mandatory facilities at Logan Airport, It would also require in and jails. Retirement Laws which the airlines are present surance companies to give An Open Public Records ly refusing to pay. specific reasons for cancella- Act that would establish a 10- Mandatory retirement of tion or non-renewal. Senate day time limit within which municipal workers was abol Bill 300 was supported by an agency must respond to a ished in Seattle, WA by an intensive lobbying efforts of citizen's request for public executive order of Mayor Farm Loan Aid Missouri ACORN. For more records, is sponsored by Sen. Wes Uhlman, who called it Under a recent Minnesota information, ACORN is Gary Gayke. The Act would "arbitrary age discrimination against older Americans." law, the state will assist located at 2335 South Grand, also create a Commission on ' 5 farmers with assets of less St. Louis, M G 63104. Public Records which would Los Angeles voters recently passed an amendment to re than $50,000 to purchase review appeals by individuals farm land. The state will who have been denied access move mandatory retirement in that city's work force, but guarantee loans of local com to government records. The mercial banks up to a state continued a requirement of Computer Software Open Records Act would ap wide total of $100 million. ply to all government units, annual physical examinations Tax Reform for older workers. Seattle For more information, con including the Legislature and tact Don Garry, Adminis judicial branch. eliminated the physical exam A bill defining computer ination requirement also. trator of Farm Security Pro software as tangible personal Finally, a bill to create a gram, 510 B State Office _ _ ___ _____ non-profit Citizens Utility property and therefore subject j^ “ Building, St. Paul, MN 5 5 1 5 5 the state's 5% sales tax, Board which could intervene in all proceedings involving was signed recently by Ten public utilities, has been in nessee Governor Ray troduced by Assembly Major Tenant Victory Blanton. The new law is a Anti-Redlining Bills strong victory for tax reform ity Leader James Wahner. A town-controlled trust ac ers and a defeat for the com The CUB would be financed count to hold rental-security Two strong anti-redlining puter industry. by $3 a year memberships deposits was voted up at the bills were introduced in the The tax status of computer sold through special inserts in May Town Meeting in Am- 1977 Utah legislative session. software (programming and the monthly billings of major iCPhersi, MA. Tenant groups Senate Bill 40 would give a services) is a very important utilities. For more informa fought hard for this legisla Commissioner of Financial In-, . , * . ‘ yVOissue, including potentially tion on any of these bills, tion and it is considered a stitutions the power to estab-^ hundreds of millions of dol contact the Center for Public great victory for them. Under lish and regulate mortgage lars in tax revenues. With Representation, 520 Univer the new law, landlords can lending policies. Under the pressure growing for taxation sity Ave., Madison, WI no longer hold security de }£ *b ill, an institution charged of software in Missouri, 53703. posits, which gives tenants with discriminatory practices California, New York, and equal rights in a dispute over would receive a public hear New Jersey, the industry apartment damages. In addi ing; if found guilty, the Com trade association—the Associ tion, tenant deposits will be Flex-Time Job Bills missioner could suspend or ation of Data Processing Ser protected against landlord revoke the institution's vice Organizations, is begin Wisconsin Assemblywoman bankruptcy. For more infor license, issue rules to further Midge Miller practices what mation, contact James Starr, g e provisions of the Act, re- V- to^top^he she legislates. The sponsor of Task Force on Security quire the State Treasurer to reforms. a bill to create more part- Deposits, Town Hall, Am withdraw all state funds from time jobs in state govern- herst, MA. the institution, or impose a C on tin u ed on p a g e 7 1ZD V 5 =• noO Women Seek Major Offices in New York City by Barbara Bick On the first of June, Bella Abzug threw her hat in the ring to become a candidate for the top municipal elec Abzug on Neighborhoods We are a great city. We fighting to revive the Hud toral office in the U S. In so doing she joined a group of are the financial, educa son River waterfront. dynamite women who have already begun campaigning tional, cultural, small busi I think of the people in for a number of the highest decision making positions in ness, and idea center of Queens, Staten Island and the embattled Big Apple. These crusading women in the nation, But we are also the other boroughs who clude Ronnie M. Eldridge—running for Manhattan a collection of hundreds of volunteer their services, Borough President, Carol Bellamy—running for New neighborhoods. I've been grow vegetable gardens, to most of them and I run food co-ops, organize York City Council President, and Ruth Messinger and know the people who live anti-crime patrols, join the Miriam Friedlander—campaigning for City Council there. auxiliary police, transport seats. I am always impressed and help feed senior citi by their ideas and energy. zens, and figure out so If any group of elected officials can turn back the 1 think of the people at many ways to make this spiraling decline of the nation's most important city, it Co-op City who are work city more livable. might well be these committed women who represent a ing so hard to save their These people are our project. greatest resource. Our city new sort of political activist seeking electoral office. 1 think of the people in can never die as long as Each of them has an outstanding history of participation Brooklyn who have or the people who live here in the important social movements of the 60's and 70's: ganized a green-line cam retain hope and work to civil rights, anti-war, women's equality, and anti-pover- paign against red-lining by save it. A nd as long as the banks. ZÙ ty. They share a deep commitment to the restructuring they have leadership to I think of the longshore inspire and organize them.

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