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www.REALchangenews.org issues • insight • impact April 4 - 10, 2007 stadium beating Unpaid Time Tapping public funds in order to build Union picketers to underscore sports arenas continues a trend that Qwest Field’s working conditions benefits teams, owners. By CYDNEY GILLIS Page 2 Staff Reporter

t’s a good thing Iggy Pop knows how Park Wrench to dive over crowds. To play in Se- The city says that, in order for Iattle on April 27, the legendary punk Occidental and others to be safe, rocker might have to jump a picket line of union stagehands at Qwest Field’s certain controls need to be removed. WaMu Theater. It’s not Iggy who’s the problem. Page 3 Union members say it’s billionaire Paul Allen and his company First & Goal, which operates Qwest Field. Several wake and stake years ago, after the union picketed the stadium, the company signed an agree- A mock funeral at U-Dub pushes for ment that gives the union preference last rites for sweatshop-produced for stadium concerts and requires all John Schroeder and David Miles, both security guards downtown, are actively campus apparel. concert producers to pay union scale. involved in organizing with SEIU Local 6. The union wants four local security Page The hitch is it’s the concert produc- firms that employ 700 officers to agree to better wages and health benefits. Photo 4 ers who hire stagehand crews, not First by Paul Rice. & Goal. Old-Line Hate “It’s up to the promoters to decide who they want to use. It’s not First Not Rent-a-Cops A bill in Maryland looks at & Goal’s choice,” says John Mor- severe penalties for those who Security officers out to corner health benefits and “a little respect” rison, president of Event Resource attack the state’s homeless. Management (ERM), a Mercer Island By PAUL RICE So are the 700 other security officers company that gets a number of the Contributing Writer in the Seattle/Bellevue area. Salaries Page 5 jobs at Qwest Field and the 5,000-seat for the position average out at $11 an WaMu Theater created last year at the here is a familiar stereotype in hour, usually with optional, and expen- stadium’s event center. movies and literature of the “rent- sive, medical benefits. Some security The Local Green The union says First & Goal is Ta-cop”: the wannabe police officer positions even start at minimum wage, Author Bill McKibben predicts that responsible: It contracted with pro- incapable of doing anything but eating with no potential for benefits. For the moter AEG to open the new theater to pass the time, who sits in front of a last three years, officers have been community-based economies are and shouldn’t be using low-wage outfits television as the real heroes chase bad organizing via the Service Employees the best road to sustainability. like ERM that provide no benefits, fail guys through a downtown highrise. International Union (SEIU) Local 6, and Page to give breaks, and don’t pay workers David Miles wants people to inspect on March 25 they agreed on a general 6 for time spent filling out W-2 forms and that proverbial donut before they contract proposal that includes a base timesheets — something union mem- chomp down. salary as well as legitimately affordable Change Agent...... 3 bers say they have seen firsthand. “If you watch movies, you see how health care. Now they’re ready to take Just Heard...... 3 Last fall, after learning that ERM we’re portrayed, but if you talk to the debate to their employers. hadn’t paid union scale for a concert people in my building, you’ll get a dif- The employers represented in this Short Takes...... 4 at the stadium, Local 15 of the Interna- ferent outlook on what we do,” says round of talks include three national tional Alliance of Theatrical Stagehand Miles. He’s been a security officer in companies — Allied Barton, Securitas, Poetry...... 7 Employees asked members to sign up the Columbia Center downtown for and ABM Security — and one local com- with ERM and get on the crew that set four years. When he started, he learned pany, Northwest Protective Services. Arts...... 8 up and loaded out the Rolling Stones quickly that what is perceived about Charles Taylor, an organizer for Local 6, Ask a Lawyer...... 9 concert at Qwest Field. his profession is more often than not says that the ultimate goal is a template “It was a little scary because of the a cultural fallacy. Instead, he sees a contract for all security companies, both Dr. Wes...... 9 inexperience of the people I was work- certain nobility in it. national and local. None of the compa- ing with,” says Nick Shellman, a Local “We are first responders,” he pro- nies responded to requests for comment Street Watch...... 9 15 member. At one point, he says, a claims. “Maybe we don’t carry a weap- on the upcoming negotiations. Letters...... 10 worker turned to hear what a crew chief on, maybe we don’t have police powers, The Seattle City Council recently was saying and nearly got hit by stage but if anything happens, we’re first on issued a proclamation naming April 4 Calendar...... 11 platforms being thrown down to him. the scene.” “Security Officer Appreciation Day.” John Schroeder, a security officer Director’s Corner...... 11 for 13 years, is of the same mind. “We’re First things First...... 11 See qwest, Continued on Page 12 trying to get a little respect,” he says. See cops, Continued on Page 12 Real Change  April 4 - 10, 2007 Our Bread, Their Circus Sonics, NASCAR lobbying continues trend of public investment for private profit

By NICK LICATA new owner, who now wants the public If pending state legislation passes Seattle City Council to contribute more than $400 million for the new Sonics basketball arena [Take Action] Seattle City Council President Nick for an even bigger facility, this time in and a speedway that NASCAR has Locally: Call your Licata spoke March 29 before a U.S. a suburban area. requested, our city, county, and state legislators at House of Representatives subcom- In 1995, while the city was remod- governments will have contributed 1(800)562-6000 mittee examining the impacts of eling for the Supersonics, our profes- a breathtaking $2.3 billion over the and pass on this taxpayer-financed stadiums, con- sional baseball team, the Mariners, de- past dozen years for new professional message: We vention centers, and hotels. Here’s clared that their venue, the 18-year-old sports venues. have higher public an excerpt of his comments. Kingdome, was obsolete for baseball, This money could have gone to pro- priorities — like and threatened to leave Seattle if they vide public benefits or public facilities health care, af- n 1995, I co-founded Citizens were not provided with a new stadium with a broader, more important use. fordable housing, for More Important Things. This with a retractable roof, at a cost to For instance, city admission taxes used and education Igroup fought the use of taxes to the public of over $300 million. The to fund such services as police and so- — than building a construct three stadiums for profes- previous year the county had spent cial services; there are county service new $400 million sional sports organizations over the $73 million repairing the Kingdome’s taxes which could go to hundreds of basketball arena. When public past dozen years. Since becoming a leaky roof. A few weeks after local local community groups to support city councilmember I have continued voters rejected a sales tax increase economic development; and finally, Nationally: Contact money is used, to be involved in this issue. to pay for the new stadium, the state there are state retail sales taxes that House Committ- professional Efforts to secure public funding for legislature met in an emergency ses- normally fund education. tee on Oversight these facilities [follow] a pattern that sion to approve a tax package that What about the benefits from these and Government sport facilities has been repeated across the nation, eventually built it. facilities? I’m no economist, but what Reform chairman are remodeled where perfectly usable facilities are The Seahawks, seeing how suc- I have seen in Seattle, and in other cit- Rep. Dennis Ku- every six years. declared too shabby for the home team. cessful the Mariners were, demanded ies that I have visited in my capacity cinich (D - Ohio) If they are not replaced with a more significant remodeling of the Kingdome as a member of the National League and ranking Why? Because expensive facility, it’s adiós amigos to for football in 1997, threatening to of Cities, has not revealed any lasting member Rep. Dar- public money is the home fans. move if they did not get it. Before they advantage of subsidizing huge stadi- rell Issa (R - Ohio) Seattle rebuilt our Seattle Coliseum could move, Microsoft cofounder Paul ums or arenas. Overall there is meager and ask them to readily available in 1995 to the specifications of Seattle’s Allen purchased the team, subject to evidence that new stadiums improve sponsor legislation and free to the professional basketball team, the Su- public approval of a $300 million public urban living or increase retail shopping that will impose teams. They have personics, creating the state-of-the-art funding package. He spent $7 million in their vicinity. Our own experience federal campaign NBA KeyArena at a cost of $75 million on the election, outspending opposi- shows that certain crimes increased spending limits on little reason to in public money. The sale of luxury tion 21 to 1, and won by approximately around the two new stadiums from public referenda conserve it. boxes was to pay off the construction 0.2 percent. The Kingdome was then what they had been previously in that for stadiums, keep bonds. When the team could not sell imploded, with about $100 million in same neighborhood. teams from build- enough of them, the city had to pick up debt still unpaid. Municipalities need to provide more ing their facilities the tab. Nine years later, after the city What does this pattern reveal? Just important pubic services than building with tax-exempt had paid millions annually and with what our city staff discovered when half-billion-dollar sports venues whose bonds, and ensure over half the public debt still outstand- reviewing the life of professional primary purpose is not the enjoyment that public money ing, the team said that the facility was sport facilities around the nation. of sports games but producing profits be spent only outdated and it could not be profitable When public money is used, profes- for team owners and huge salaries for when a project unless the public invested over $200 sional sport facilities are remodeled players. The federal government can will provide million for a new facility. When they got every six years. Why? Because public stop this trend by using its regulatory measurable public the cold shoulder from political leaders money is readily available and free to authority. I urge you to do so. n benefits. and the public, the Sonics were sold the teams. They have little reason to for an estimated $80 million profit to a conserve it.

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Board of Directors Social Justice; Rick Simonson, Elliott Bay Book Co.; Pat Interns Erica Wiley (Acting President), Faith Wilder (VP), Anne Simpson, Interfaith Task Force on Homelessness; Hilary Danina Garcia Bailey (Treasurer), Rebecca Kavoussi (Secretary), Wes Stern, CASA Latina; Robby Stern, WA State Labor Council; Editorial Committee Real Change is published weekly and is sold by the poor Browning, John Denooyer, Stephan Fjelstad, Katherine Peter Steinbrueck, Seattle City Council; Silja Talvi, journal- and homeless of Seattle. Vendors receive 65¢ of the Jakielski, Margaret Kae, Mandy Levenberg, Gabriela ist/essayist; Jim Theofelis, Mockingbird Society; Marilyn Artis, Mary Andrews, Wes Browning, Stan Burriss, $1.00 paid for this paper. Quintana, JoJo Tran Watkins, Economic Opportunity Institute; Bruce Wirth, Morrie Condit, Anitra Freeman, José Ornelas, August Mission Statement: KBCS; Alice Woldt, WA Association of Churches Mallory, F. Roberts, Ruanda Real Change exists to create opportunity and a voice for Advisory Board low-income people while taking action to end Affiliations listed for identification purposes only:Sherman Staff Contributing Writers homelessness and poverty. Alexie, Poet, Writer, Filmmaker; Nancy Amidei, UW Executive Director Amy Besunder, Dena Burke, Julie Chinitz, J. Jacob Edel, The Real Change Homeless Empowerment Project is a School of Social Work; Kenan Block, Media Consultant; Timothy Harris Jess Grant, Lester Gray, Jessica Knapp, Robin Lindley, Chris 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Programs include the David Bloom, Rauschenbusch Center for Spirit and Director of Advocacy and Organizing Miller, Emma Quinn, Paul Rice, Amy Roe, Rachel Rubinstein, Real Change newspaper, the StreetWrites peer support Action; Kari Connor, Wongdoody; Darnell Dent, Com- Rachael Myers Diana Wurn group for homeless writers, the Homeless Speakers munity Health Plan of Washington; Jim Diers, Author; Bureau, and the First things First organizing project. All Lynne Dodson, Jobs with Justice; John Fox, Seattle Editor Photographers, Graphic Artists donations support these programs and are tax-deductible Displacement Coalition; Larry Gossett, King County Adam Hyla Ginny Banks, Ken Dean, Terry Divyak, Sean Ellingson, to the full extent of the law. Councilmember, Dist. 10; Jon Gould, Children’s Alliance; Staff Reporters George Hickey, Elisa Huerta-Enochian, Sherry Loeser, Real Change Andy Himes, Poetry in Wartime; Bill Hobson, Downtown Cydney Gillis, Rosette Royale Luke McGuff, Justin Mills, Jude O’Reilley, Katia 2129 Second Ave. Emergency Service Center; Naomi Ishisaka, Colors NW; Production Manager Roberts, Elliot Stoller, Mark Sullo, Joel Turner Sally Kinney, Interfaith Task Force on Homelessness; Seattle, WA 98121 Rosette Royale (206) 441-3247 Sharon Lee, Low Income Housing Institute; Paul Loeb, Volunteers This Issue On the Web at Writer; Sarah Luthens, SEAMEC/Allyship.org; Roberto Director of Operations Artis, Nick Cottrell, Tige DeCoster, Sara Dooling, Sandra http://www.realchangenews.org Maestas, El Centro de la Raza; Paola Maranan, Children’s Craig Kirkpatrick Enger, Jeanette Fassbind, Susanne Forham, Rick Garrett, Email [email protected] Alliance; Joe Martin, Pike Market Medical Clinic; Vince Director of Development Valerie Garvida, Nadine Gioia, Ana Haberman, Armando ISSN 1085-729X Matulionis, United Way of King County; Carlos Marentes, Joe Bushek Levia, Brianna Morgan, Dan Otto, Loretta Pirozzi, Beth Real Change is a member of the North American Street Committee for General Amnesty and Social Justice; Al Roberts, Rachel Smith, Sara Sprigg, Carrie Wicks Newspaper Association and the International Network of Poole, City of Seattle Survival Services; Wilson Edward Volunteer Coordinator and Office Manager Street Papers. Reed, PhD, Seattle University; Trisha Ready, Richard Hugo Brooke Kempner House; Aiko Schaefer, Statewide Poverty Action Network; Advertising Sales Representative Peter Schnurman, Retired; K.L. Shannon, Racial Disparity Candi Wilvang Project; Bob Siegal, National Lawyers Guild/Center for Real Change April 4 - 10, 2007 

Just Heard... Change Agent Flame retardants up in ome conservationists look to the smoke sticks for a beautful oxygen-mak- Linked to learning and behavioral disorders, Sing, habitat-preserving forest. Not reproductive maladies, impaired memory, and Nancy Whitlock. cancer, the man-made flame retardants known Whitlock is at work saving one of as PBDEs have been banned by the state Seattle’s largest contiguous pieces of forestland. The West Duwamish Legislature, the first such effort in the nation. Greenbelt’s 500-some acres are overrun The bill, one of four Priorities for a Healthy by prickly holly, always-growing ivy, Washington, passed the state Senate on April and well-rooted Himalayan blackberry. 4, with a 41-8 vote. Unlike legislation in other Girded with her first grant to do the states, which tackles penta and octa forms of work, Whitlock remembers thinking, PBDEs, the Evergreen State’s ban also covers “How am I going to do what I said I was the deca form of the chemical, produced in going to do?” higher numbers than the two other forms. Short Some years later, 12 of the forest’s for polybrominated diphenyl ethers, PBDEs acres are under restoration, planted are found in a host of household goods, from with 6,275 native conifers and other local flora. Whitlock’s volunteer upholstered furniture to mattresses, from laptops crews pull, plant, and enjoy the to televisions. By 2011, the use of all forms of company of artists commissioned to PBDEs is to be effectively discontinued. perform for the day — a dancer, say, The bill is headed to Gov. Christine Gre- who wrestles with the vines — put- goire, who, having already voiced support, is ting creative works in a new venue, expected to sign it. before a new audience. —Rosette Royale Whitlock’s organization, the Nature Savings account: Nancy Consortium, has committed itself to the Whitlock replenishes West Duwamish Greenbelt’s restora- Seattle’s plant matter. Backing off the track tion for as long as it’s around. An urban Photo by ADAM HYLA. forest matters, she says, because “once A NASCAR raceway in Kitsap County is out. you lose it, it’s gone.” The International Speedway Corp. backed off their lobbying efforts Monday, saying the —Adam Hyla legislature’s financing offer wasn’t adequate for their public-private racetrack idea for the downtown parks, only Freeway Park prohibits Kitsap Peninsula. using a Frisbee. Downtown Parks: New Rules The ISC says it’ll be back next year; so will Under the new rules, which Parks spokesper- City wants changes to “get things going” in public spaces son Dewey Potter says will get a public hearing their opponents. “We will continue to oppose a By CYDNEY GILLIS before any changes are made, park-goers could NASCAR track placement anywhere in Washing- Staff Reporter play Frisbee at Freeway Park, but lose the right to ton state,” says Citizens for Healthy Economic skateboard at Pioneer Square’s Occidental Park. Choices in Kitsap chair Ray McGovern, “if such he people who try to sleep in and around For the first time, Occidental and all the down- a facility requires substantial tax subsidy for its downtown parks at night could be in for a rude town parks could have multiple special events development.” Pioneer Square’s Tawakening once the nighttime concerts start. per month, permanent cafés and food stands, Occidental is But, if they have any money, they can always and nighttime concerts, subject to the city’s noise among several go to one of the parks’ new year-round concession ordinance and a proposed new rule calling for a Fooled you dowtown parks stands and buy a latte or snack. 15-minute break every 90 minutes. An Olympia tent city will move to the state that could host Allowing evening concerts and permanent food A three-hour limit would still apply to ampli- capitol’s lawn. Wal-Mart is getting into the permanent cafés vendors are just two of the proposed rule changes fied entertainment, but not to political speech or payday-loan business, offering an “everyday and regular that the Seattle Parks Department put on the table last rallies, which Schoenberg says are covered by the low” APR of 365 percent and a free smiley nighttime events week to liven up the city’s 10 downtown parks as part First Amendment. under new of Mayor Nickels’ Center City Parks Initiative. “There’s been lots of resistance to anything face sticker. Fighting hunger, Washington guidelines pro- Parks that would be affected by the proposed commercial in parks,” Potter says. But, “As the legislators are requiring corporate lobbyists to posed by Seattle rule changes, which will be presented at a Board of task force did its work, one of its thoughts was bring along a non-perishable food item each Parks and Recre- Park Commissioners meeting April 12, include Free- that downtown parks are different than neighbor- time they come calling at their offices. ation. Photo by way, Occidental, and the Pike Place Market’s Victor hood parks and need to be a little more active to These were among the April Fool’s Day Adam Hyla. Steinbrueck Park. keep people interested in coming back.” “news” items in a legislative e-bulletin from Last year, a task force ap- The proposed changes stand to have the greatest the Statewide Poverty Action Network. The pointed by the mayor to look impact on Occidental, which lost 17 trees last year group sent out an explanation April 2 for those at the downtown parks recom- in a Parks remodel that community members are with a jaundiced sense of play; Poverty Action mended a number of ways to still contesting in court. In place of the park’s former director Aiko Schaefer says it was a good way draw more visitors and make pergola, the Parks Department plans to build a café the parks feel safer, such as or kiosk that, under current park rules, the Pioneer for staff and supporters to lighten up. “Some- adding more events and creat- Square Community Association has a say over. times you’ve got to laugh at what happens in ing a new team of park rangers Under the proposed rules, that’s no longer the Olympia,” she says. to patrol the parks — an idea case, but Schoenberg says the Parks Department Putting Olympia’s tent city on the capitol’s the City Council shot down in would continue consulting the association, along with ample lawn, Schaefer notes, is one of those last fall’s budget process. the Pioneer Square Historic Preservation Board. ostensibly absurd ideas that makes a kind of Parks planner Victor “Mostly what we’re doing is removing controls,” sense. The camp must move by the end of Schoenberg says that the Schoenberg says. “Our goal is to get things going in April, at which time the Legislature will have n proposed rule changes are the parks so it feels safe for everybody.” adjourned. “I think if the lawmakers hosted it aimed at making it easier [Event] during the legislative session,” she says, “I’d to use the parks and book The Board of Park Commissioners will get a brief- be more impressed.” events by streamlining rules ing on the proposed new guidelines for downtown that currently vary by loca- parks on April 12, 6 p.m., at the Parks Admin- —Adam Hyla tion. For instance, while bik- istration Building, 100 Dexter Ave. N. in Denny ing, skating, and skateboard- Park. The proposed guidelines are at www.seattle. ing aren’t allowed in most gov/parks/projects/downtown.asp. Real Change  April 4 - 10, 2007 Logos and Human Rights Student action prods UW apparel to go sweat-free By CHRIS MILLER Rod Palmquist, who delivered the tory to manufacture their logo-bearing “We are gathered Contributing Writer eulogy dressed as a preacher, visited merchandise. Last year, UW sold just non-union factories in Guatemala last under $4 million worth of apparel. here today in n a cherry-blossom spring day, summer and heard testimonials about SLAP is proposing that all UW-li- mourning for the bagpipes in full mourn, the mem- the working conditions. "You have to censed garment workers be entitled to death of BJ&B, a Obers of University of Washington fight for a bathroom break. A pregnant a living wage through the Designated Student Labor Action Project (their female worker was feeling woozy but Suppliers Program. The DSP represents garment fac- tagline: “Students and Workers United wasn't allowed to get water or use the an attempt to consolidate the influ- tory… long a A wake to wake to SLAP Corporate Greed”) held a wake bathroom. She fainted, and on the way ence of the $4 billion-a-year university up: an anti- for the recent closure of the BJ&B fac- to the hospital, lost her child." apparel market and reward unionized symbol within the sweatship stu- tory in the Dominican Republic — the BJ&B's contracts dwindled af- factories with longer-term, stable anti-sweatshop dent activist in only unionized factory in the region. ter its 2003 unionization: Reebok/ contracts. This prevents the factory front of the UW The event began with an eulogy: Adidas pulled out in 2004, Nike's or- from being subject to the cut-and-run movement, a president’s office “We are gathered here today in mourn- ders slowed, and the workforce was tactics that closed BJ&B. Participating concrete testa- March 29, where ing for the death of BJ&B, a garment dropped from 1,600 to around 350 at schools, which include Duke and the ment to the they staged a factory… long a symbol within the February's closure. University of California systems, agree mock funeral for anti-sweatshop movement, a concrete According to the Workers' Rights to absorb the cost of paying a living power of student a unionized gar- testament to the power of student and Consortium, Nike cited slower produc- wage, an expected raise in retail prices and worker ment factory in worker solidarity.” tion rates, higher cost, and decreasing of 1 to 6 percent, according to SLAP. the Dominican Dressed in black, carrying a demand for a particular hat produced The decision to join the DSP rests solidarity.” Republic. Photo tombstone, the wake processed by BJ&B as reason for its withdrawl in with the UW Licensing Advisory Com- —Eulogy from by Chris Miller. through campus and into President late February. The situation was not mittee. Norm Arkans, of the LAC, says Mark Emmert's of- transparent, says the WRC — Nike the deliberations will take all quarter. mock funeral of fice on Red Square, refused to produce information cor- “We need to assess what the impact Domincan Re- where members ap- roborating its claims. would be on manufacturers and work- publican garment pealed for the school The WRC analysis links these ers, and try to understand why some to stand up for sweat- complaints to the unionization: with- of our peer universities have decided factory, held at shop-free labor. out forced overtime, production was to go down this path and why others UW "We're fighting for slowed. The factory owner, South have decided not to.” human rights stan- Korea’s Yupoong Inc., had incentive to UW SLAP will be conducting dem- dards. Poverty leads shift contracts to its more profitable onstrations throughout the spring to to conflict," said Ma- Vietnamese and Bangladeshi factories. support the DSP proposal. n sha Burina, UW SLAP Universities have a powerful bargaining [Take action] tool they could use on behalf of work- member. "It's easy to SLAP’s online petition is at http:// ers: the exclusive rights to license a fac- look away." students.washington.edu/uwslap/. Short Takes The Senate’s take 33 million little pieces and dental programs, she says the local Indian Health sufficient reason to arrest each and every one of those he House giveth. The Senate taketh away. Well, not in t takes money to run the nation’s Urban Indian Board brings culturally sensitive health care to an assembled at Westlake Park that morning. Since the Tall cases, but enough to be noticeable in the proposed IHealth Program (UIHP): $33 million, to be exact. ethnic population that faces numerous health issues. jury concluded that they did not, and that they were state budget that the Senate released last week. But if President Bush has his way, next year, the Dismantling UIHP, she believes, would devastate the dutifully carrying out a city order, the city was found Advocates for the poor say they’re glad the UIHP will be running on empty. Literally. Seattle Indian Health Board and be detrimental to the to have violated the constitutional protection against Senate budgeted $13.5 million for children’s dental For his Fiscal Year 2008 Budget, Bush has health of local Natives. “We’ve been in business since unlawful search and seizure. care and $3.3 million to cover school-lunch co-pays. proposed chopping every single dollar of federal 1970,” says Corpuz. “We’re pretty much a part of —Adam Hyla But, in the areas of low-income housing, health funding for the UIHP. His rationale? That the needs the health care system in Seattle.” coverage, and college assistance, they say the of those currently being served by urban Indian —Rosette Royale Senate falls short. health organizations can be addressed, instead, by For one thing, the Senate failed to match the other community health centers. governor and House in increasing the state’s Hous- But his wish to gut the program — which funds WTO settlement reached ing Trust Fund to $140 million. Currently at $100 34 urban health organizations, serving 150,000 he City of Seattle has agreed to wipe clean million, the fund is a primary source of grants to Native people annually across the country — is Tthe criminal records of the approximately 175 build low-income housing in the state. “The Senate’s being challenged by Congress. In a March 29 letter, protesters arrested at Westlake Park Dec. 1, 1999, budget is a huge step backwards,” says Ben 31 Congressional members — including local reps in the course of the WTO anti-globalization protests. Gitenstein, executive director of the Washington Low Jim McDermott and Davd Reichert, and national Plaintiffs in a class-action suit will divvy up a $1 Income Housing Alliance. luminaries Dennis Kucinich and John Conyers, Jr. million settlement. And the Seattle Police Depart- Enrollment levels for the state’s Basic Health Plan — asked that the FY08 dollars for the program be ment will train its officers to guard against future are another disappointment. Though health and retained, at least at their current level. violations of the Fourth Amendment. human services advocates would like to see the health In certain respects, Bush’s fiduciary shock-and-awe City Attorney Tom Carr plan’s enrollment returned to its 2001 levels, which campaign against the UIHP is a repeat performance. said in a press statement would mean adding 20,000 slots, the Senate budget The FY07 budget he presented to Congress also that he believed a January adds just 3,000. The Senate also budgeted nothing included a total fiscal evisceration of the program, jury decision finding fault for Opportunity Grants, a program that provides ad- based upon the same contention that its services with the city’s arrest ditional financial aid so low-income students can go to duplicated those already provided by other health procedure would have college. The House budgeted $15 million. centers. Kept alive through a continuing resolution been reversed on appeal; Like the House, the Senate also provided no in- set in motion in October 2006, the program just had however, he settled at crease for welfare or General Assistance - Unemploy- its FY07 service budget fully restored on March 22. the behest of the city’s able grants, but did go along with funding a new Rebecca Corpuz, associate director of the Seattle insurer, which would program that would provide an extra $100 a month Indian Health Board, says UIHP is the local organi- rather pay up than fund an to helping families exiting welfare. zation’s primary source of funding. Serving roughly appellate trial. At the heart —Cydney Gillis 10,000 urban Natives annually through its medical of the trial was a debate over whether police had Real Change April 4 - 10, 2007 5

A State Law Against Hate Let Real Change be part of your success Maryland considers legislation to quell attacks against homeless Reach 40,000 socially concerned readers while giving back By JeN peARL to the community. Street News Service Real Change ad rates are competitive and affordable. Check us out at www.realchangenews.org, aryland is poised to be the fi rst state in the nation to enact or call 441-3247 x202 hate crime legislation protecting homeless people and Mtheir property, pending passage of legislation in the Mary- land House of Delegates and signing by Gov. Martin O’Malley. On March 6, Maryland’s senate overwhelmingly passed a bill that expands protected classes of people to include homeless people among groups based on race, color, reli- gious beliefs, sexual orientation, and nation of origin. Sen. Alex Mooney, a Republican, introduced the bill after seeing footage of a homeless person in Florida being beaten by teenagers with baseball bats. “We did some research and saw that it was a problem in more states,” says Mooney legislative aide Michael Hough. “There were even a couple cases in Maryland and Baltimore a few years ago.” Reported incidents of attacks against homeless men and women across the country have reached their highest “Life on the level in years, according to a recent report by the National Coalition for the Homeless. The report details 142 violent streets is inher- crimes nationwide against homeless individuals in the past ently violent,” year; that is the highest number of incidents since NCH’s Schneider says, annual study began in 1999 and represents a 65 percent increase from last year. “and individuals “It is NCH’s position that many of these acts should be who live on the considered hate crimes,” says Michael Stoops, the executive director of NCH. “Crimes against homeless people are moti- streets are par- vated by the same intolerance as hate crimes against people ticularly vulner- of a certain religious, racial, or ethnic background.” able to attack.” Recent violence against homeless people in Maryland included three fatal beatings in 2001 of homeless men in Balti- —Adam more, according to NCH. A group of teenagers was charged in the string of homicides. In 2002, two Maryland police offi cers Schneider, were indicted for beating and unleashing a dog on a homeless Health Care for man. In 2004, a homeless man was fatally beaten after he made the Homeless, negative comments about another man’s girlfriend. In 2006, a police offi cer in Takoma Park was indicted for assaulting a Baltimore homeless man detained for questioning. Adam Schneider with Health Care for the Homeless Inc. in Baltimore says that he knows fi rsthand that there are many unreported violent attacks on homeless people, many of which could be motivated by hate. (IQSGVEG]2S[ “Life on the streets is inherently violent,” Schneider says, “and individuals who live on the streets are particularly !IRINGTWICEADAYATAMANDPM vulnerable to attack.” (OSTEDBYTHEDYNAMIC!MY'OODMAN THISAWARD WINNING Schneider added that like NCH, Health Care for the Homeless is in favor of this legislation and has been advocating for it. NATIONALNEWSPROGRAMISCOMMITTEDTOBRINGINGTHEVOICES If the legislation is enacted, those found guilty of a hate crime- OFTHEMARGINALIZEDTOTHEAIRWAVESONISSUESRANGINGFROM based attack on a homeless person, like those convicted of other THEGLOBALTOTHELOCAL violent hate crime offenses, would be subject to imprisonment for up to 10 years and/or a fi ne of up to $10,000. If a violation &REE3PEECH2ADIO.EWSPM7EEKDAYS results in the death of a victim, the violator is subject to imprison- ment for up to 20 years and/or a fi ne of up to $20,000. 0UBLIC!FFAIRS./7
nAM nPM7EEKDAYS Other states currently considering similar hate crime bills include Massachusetts, Florida, California, and Nevada, says Michael Stoops. According to the FBI’s most recent report on hate-crime statistics in 2005, law enforcement agencies reported that there were 8,804 victims of hate crimes nationwide that year. EPXIVREXMZI An analysis of data for victims of single-bias hate crime inci- dents showed that 55.7 percent of the victims were targeted because of a bias against a race. The next largest group of those victimized was for a bias against a religious belief, in 16 percent of cases, followed fi rst by a bias against an ethnicity or RI[W nation of origin and then by a bias against a sexual orientation. No data are readily available on homeless individuals. ,ISTENER 3UPPORTED As with all anti-crime law, it is impossible to determine .ON COMMERCIAL2ADIOFROM"ELLEVUE#OMMUNITY#OLLEGE Laura Thompson whether hate crime legislation effectively deters attacks, 3TUDIO   Osuri according to Jack Levin, Northeastern University professor contributed to this and co-author of Hate Crimes Revisited: America’s War on /FlCE   Those Who Are Different (Westview Press, 2002). article. ©Street EMAILKBCS CTCEDU News Service: “Hate crime laws send a message,” says Levin, “namely, [[[OFGWJQ www.street- that Americans will not tolerate hate and violence against papers.org. the vulnerable.” n Real Change  April 4 - 10, 2007 Go Local Two decades after he alarmingly forecast The End of Nature, Bill McKibben sees hope in environmental activism By JOE MARTIN Nature. The world Contributing Writer we have known was about to undergo a “It’s crazy that ublished in 1989, Bill McKibben’s significant change. first book, The End of Nature, the average bite Global warming Phas proven to be a truly prophetic demonstrates that of food in this work. It remains an eloquent argu- human beings have country travels ment concerning the dangers of global grown to a point warming, a concept that is no longer where we are able 2,000 miles to in the realm of hypothesis. Over the to alter everything reach our lips. years, McKibben has written about the around us in dan- disconcerting ecological and social im- gerous ways. It Only in the plications of excessive materialism and calls into question perverse eco- technological surfeit. He continues his everything about nomics of cheap exploration of these themes in his new our previously held book, Deep Economy: The Wealth of conceptions about fossil fuel could Communities and the Durable Future how the world’s we bring a head (Times Books). Therein McKibben elu- ecology works. At cidates the wisdom of local economies this point I am very of lettuce from in which the richness of community can interested in the ex- California to New provide a hopeful and countervailing istential questions York so people vision to the impersonal and rapacious that are raised. In dimensions of globalism. American culture, can eat the same Recognizing the need to generate this is a question menu all year more action around the issue of global of individualism warming, McKibben has orchestrated a versus community. round, and yet day of protest — Step It Up 2007 — on In another of my books, The Age of to imagine an alternative to the troubled After predict- ignore what is go- Sat., April 14, to urge elected officials Missing Information, I noted that our reality to which he or she is accustomed. ing the effects of ing on seasonally to take immediate steps to meet the TV culture tells us that the individual One’s vision closes in, if you’re a junkie. global warming planetary crisis. human being watching the TV is the Likewise our society’s vision is closed in. in The End of around a local “Rather than bring a million people most important thing on earth. That is We can no longer imagine any arrange- Nature, author community. One to Washington, D.C., and burn up even an ecologically, psychologically, and ment that does not involve economic Bill McKibben more hydrocarbons in the process,” says socially dangerous message. The point growth. We can’t envision how we might sees sustainabil- result, of course, McKibben, “we want everyone to gather of my new book, Deep Economy, is exist without having more stuff than ity in communi- is that the lettuce within their locality. It is going to be the that the system of hyper-individualism we had last year. Growth for the sake ty-based efforts doesn’t even biggest day of environmental protest underlies our rapid economic growth, of growth has become the measuring in his new book, since the first Earth Day in 1970.” and it’s no better for us than it is for the post, and what you measure is what Deep Economy. taste very good.” McKibben has deep roots in the planet. It leaves us less happy and less you do. It’s hard to break out of that. We Photo by Nancie Northwest. His grandfather was once socially connected. This is bad news, may not. Many addicts don’t break out Battaglia. the mayor of Kirkland. Another inter- but it’s also good news. It means that of addiction. I’ve known more failures esting item in his personal history is we can maybe break our addictions to than successes. But some do recover. that McKibben once ran a homeless materialism. All of my work is a little So one keeps going. shelter in New York City. subversive, to make people wonder RC: Stakes here are high. In Aldous if their understanding of the world is Huxley’s fictionalBrave New World, he [The Tide is Rising] Real Change: I consider your contribu- as solid as the conventional wisdom Sustainable tion to the discussion of technology and writes of how the advocates of simple would have it. living were violently eliminated to pave Ballard offers a society to be in the venerable tradition vivid look at the of Jacques Ellul, Neil Postman, Kirkpat- RC: Must we come to a similar sense of the way for an elaborate technocratic understanding required of any addict to order. What are we up against, and how impact of rising rick Sale, and others who have given sea levels on us erudite critiques of materialism, of drugs or alcohol, that once the pleasure is do we bring about positive change? gone, a plan for recovery is necessary? Seattle at Golden industrial and technological excess. BM: We will either change, or change Gardens Park, will be imposed on us by nature. The Bill McKibber: That’s very kind of you. BM: We don’t want to take this anal- when citizens Most of the inspiration of my work ogy too far. We don’t want to dishonor physical systems now set in motion are will stand at the stems from my first book, The End of people who struggle with horrible physi- enormous. If we can indeed head them present high-tide cal addictions, but I think it’s apropos in off, the window of opportunity is small. line with bamboo another sense. An addict must struggle Our habitual patterns of activity are not poles marking the risen waterline that global warm- Housing for Homeless Adults Available in Seattle ing will produce. Low Income Housing Institute Higher Tides at Shilshole takes Apply for housing by emailing [email protected] place at 9:30 or visit www.lihi.org. Zero-income individuals and a.m. April 14. For GAU/GAX accepted. Rent is set at 30% of income. more information, Convenient locations with shared bathroom and kitchens. see www. Waitlist may apply. sustainable ballard.org. • Greenwood House (female only) • Arion Court Apartments (male and female) • Broadway House (female only) • The Glen Hotel (male and female) More information about local ac- LIHI strives to help residents tions and national achieve long-term stability events can be and self-sufficiency. found at www. stepitup07.org. Real Change April 4 - 10, 2007 7

continued from page 6 out Jesus was right. It works out better if we take care of our neighbors. In the end, we are social creatures. sustainable. I hope that we will change voluntarily. I am encouraged by that Rc: Is there thus a practical dimension prospect. We have organized a global — whether perceived from a religious or Think of My Love warming protest which we’re calling nonreligious point of view — to fostering a Step It Up 2007. We started the web site sense of community and neighborliness? (for Manny, Phil & Mada) in mid-January. We wanted to organize BM: Absolutely. That’s what we are built Think of my love rallies around the country this coming for. The central teachings of every reli- April 14th to demand big changes. We gious tradition and every wise person as a red glass button had no money; it was me and six col- who arises in human history remind us that hangs on a threadbare dress lege students. There are now over a of that fact. But we’ve bought into an at the back of your closet. thousand rallies planned nationwide! economic system in which more is better. This level of concern wasn’t there even Yet we now know that there is no longer Think of the dress a year ago. I’m very hopeful that we will a correlation between wealth and hap- as my longing. have an entirely peaceful day. piness. A yearly $10,000 income in most Rc: Please talk about your new book, countries means base suffi ciency. How- Think of my love Deep Economy. ever, in most civilized countries around as an old song that plays the world, that means you also get health BM: We are past the point where small on a Philco radio and fl oats care, education, and retirement benefi ts. fi xes are going to have any impact on on the humid summer air Even in developing societies there is a our problems. One curious thing about in 1956 in Boston. greater social sense of things. our present economy is that it grows ever larger without doing anything to Rc: A recent U.N. study assessed the Think of the sheets address the social inequities in our soci- well-being of children, and out of all the that fl ap on the roof countries studied, the U.S. and Great ety. In fact it exacerbates social inequi- as my longing. ties. You would think that it would be Britain ranked at the bottom. impossible, but it seems to be dictated BM: Thank you, Adam Smith. by the internal logic of that economic Remember me. system, that only a few benefi t by the Rc: Please comment on the war in Iraq. Find me. system. The ultimate hope of my cur- BM: What a great sadness. There are Give me one moment, rent book is that in building localized so many bad reasons for doing what one moment of your love. economies, we might be able to address we are doing. Our system of growth both social injustice and the environ- is threatened by the potential loss of —ELIZABETH ROMERO mental peril that we presently face. oil. My state of Vermont has lost more I think scale is extraordinarily im- people per capita in Iraq than any other portant. It has gotten out of control. It’s state in the union. It pisses me off ev- been a long time since Congress has ery day. The war in Iraq is the logical seen fit to raise the minimum wage. conclusion of an economic model that But many states and cities have passed considers its success only in terms of Washington Women in Trades better minimum wage laws than the fed- growth. How do you ensure growth? eral law. It is not so easy to abstract the You provide cheap energy. The central Celebrate What Makes Us Strong poor when they are close by. Marshall part of this is the use of fossil fuel. The The 28th Annual McLuhan aside, I don’t think that we can moment we run out of fossil fuel will have a working community on a global be an interesting moment. Or better yet, scale. We must build local economies. we decide to no longer use fossil fuel I don’t worry about the ultimate size of because of its damaging effect on the WomenWomen inin TradesTrades what might be viable. Local economies environment. Global warming is such a require that people come into more in- huge problem it may force us to rethink timate contact with each other. this whole situation. JobJob FairFair Local economies also translate into Or maybe we won’t deal with it. We a more sensible pattern of energy use; will then discover just how deep our ad- you use a hell of a lot less energy. It’s diction is, whether or not we deal with crazy that the average bite of food in it. There is no question that detox will this country travels 2,000 miles to reach be painful. If we get through it, the world our lips. Only in the perverse econom- will be better than the one we inhabit ics of cheap fossil fuel could we bring a now. But that is not to minimize the head of lettuce from California to New challenge and unpleasantness of going York so people can eat the same menu through the process of transformation. all year round, and yet ignore what is Rc: You have had the pleasant surprise going on seasonally around a local com- of witnessing an enthusiastic reaction munity. One result, of course, is that the to your rallying call to protest global lettuce doesn’t even taste very good. warming. More people before April 14

4 Rc: You are a Methodist. What about the will likely hop on board. Can we hope Could4Could thisthis bebe YOU?YOU? spiritual dimension of this question? for a kind of Manhattan Project for the BM: I’ve addressed this question more in development of solar energy? Friday,Friday, AprilApril 27,27, 20072007 other books, but to a very large extent BM: The Manhattan Project is not the 10am - 4pm our religious communities have also best analogy. Maybe an Apollo Project, become infected by hyper-individual- so all of us can stand on earth. But after at Seattle Center’s Fisher Pavilion ism. Not long ago, a poll was taken of 20 years of hitting myself against the American Christians, and 75 percent of wall, it is gratifying to know that now Learn about physically challenging, well paying those interviewed said that the phrase people really are listening. n careers in non-traditional trades as electricians, line “God helps those who help themselves” [Rally] workers, sprinkler fitters, carpenters and MORE! is a Biblical phrase. Of course, it’s not. The national call to curb the worst ef- It’s from Ben Franklin. It’s really weird, fects of global warming is scheduled but it is precisely the opposite of the for April 14. In Seattle, a march, rally, US Department of Labor sentiment in the Bible. Jesus says over Women’s Bureau and informational fair starts at 2 p.m. in and over again: “Love your neighbor as Pioneer Square’s Occidental Park. See yourself.” That’s basically the opposite www.stepitupseattle.org for more info. City of Seattle www.wawomenintrades.com • 206.903.9508 of helping yourself only. And it turns Real Change  April 4 - 10, 2007 Becoming a Poet, Unapologetically The Ode Less Review by CARRIE UFFINDELL only be written by the experts. Not so, as they have developed over the years. Travelled: Unlocking Powells.com argues Fry. After all, not all painters or By the time you have read this book the Poet Within musicians are great artists or talents. you will be able to write a Petrarchan by Stephen Fry believe poetry is a primal im- They are also hobbyists who enjoy sonnet, a Sapphic Ode, a ballade, a Gotham Books, 2006 pulse within us all,” Stephen Fry these pursuits outside of work, family, villanelle, and a Spenserian stanza, declares in his new book, among other weird and delight- Hardcover, 357 “I The Ode Less Travelled: Unlock- “I cannot teach you how to be a great poet or even a ful forms; you will be confident pages, $25 ing the Poet Within. Anyone who with metre, rhyme, and much can speak and read English can good one. But I can show you how to have fun with else besides.” write poetry. “Poetry is made of With this promise in mind, the same stuff you are reading the modes and forms of poetry as they have devel- Fry escorts the reader through now, the same stuff you use to oped over the years. By the time you have read this a lively, well-organized, and order pizza over the phone.” straightforward course on form, A British novelist, comedian, book you will be able to write a Petrarchan sonnet, a diction, and poetics today. and actor, Stephen Fry’s work Witty anecdotes and example includes The Hippopotamus (a Sapphic Ode, a ballade, a villanelle, and a Spenserian poems are interjected into each wonderfully naughty romp), The section, which are punctuated Your book Liar, and Making History, plus stanza, among other weird and delightful forms.” by challenging yet enjoyable purchases can well-known film and television exercises, many of which Fry benefitReal roles in Blackadder, Jeeves and completes, as well. This is a Change. Click Wooster, Gosford Park, and V for Ven- and friends. They do it for fun, for en- funny and inspirational touch for the on the Powell’s detta. Most importantly for this review, joyment — just like the amateur poet. reader, who will probably start laugh- button at www. Fry is also an avid poetry enthusiast, a All they lack are the tools, confidence, ing and reciting passages out loud, realchange frequent judge of poetry contests, and and the three Golden Rules: Take your much to the amused annoyance of news.org for more an amateur poet himself. time, don’t be afraid, and always carry unsuspecting onlookers. information and So why do so many of us avoid the a notebook. The Ode Less Travelled is an excel- to browse a list study of technique and form in poetry? “I cannot teach you how to be a lent book for aspiring poets wishing of books recently Perhaps it is because of a traumatic great poet or even a good one,” writes to learn more about the forms and featured in this experience in English class, or the Fry. “But I can show you how to have techniques of prosody. n paper. belief that poetry is free verse and can fun with the modes and forms of poetry Richard Gere, ’70s Confidence Man

Hoax Review by LESTER GRAY the political tableau of the times, Wheeler adds plausible Opens Fri., March 6 Arts Editor twists to the story, contributing suspense and a delicious in theaters black humor. he critical element for out-of-the-headlines movies is the Gere, impeccable as the audacious, unscrupulous con- real story behind the story: the subterfuge and venality man, remains sympathetic to the end. His depiction of an Tof the epic monster of our times, the corporation, which inventive, indefatigable Irving has you pulling for him even at some point reveals its congenital ruthlessness. Into this at his most unctuous moments. formula, which did so well for The Insider and Quiz Show, And in case you don’t remember how Irving’s work was Hoax adds a bit of humor and mystery. finally revealed to be a hoax, I won’t spoil it for you. But it’s It’s 1971, and writer Clifford Irving (Richard Gere), hav- the stuff out of which durable conspiracy theories and urban Richard Gere in ing had his novel rejected at the last moment by publisher legends are born. n Hoax. McGraw-Hill, grows angry and despondent. In a moment of genius and desperation he decides to write an authorized biography of Howard Hughes, based on a series of private interviews with the reclusive billionaire (a rare designation in those days). The fact that neither he nor any other journal- ist had seen or talked to Hughes in years works to his ad- vantage. Who is there to contradict his claim? Hughes, once prominent in the public eye, had gone into seclusion, giving rise to various stories concerning the industrialist that defied verification. Irving gambles that Hughes will not emerge from his hiding place to dispute the writer’s claims. Richard Gere, Irving, with the assistance of his wife (Marcia Gay Har- impeccable as din), on whom he had been cheating, and his trusted friend and researcher Dick Suskind (Alfred Molina) begins to the audacious, construct a voluminous chronicle, his inventions bridging unscrupulous heretofore unearthed but verifiable information. The author turned con man could not have been success- conman, remains ful without the help of the publisher that has just rejected sympathetic to his novel. For McGraw-Hill, he reserved the first shot to take the end. part in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Although skepti- cal, the publisher couldn’t resist the chance of pulling off an incredible coup or risking the shame they would suffer for letting it slip through their hands. In any con, you need the greed of the mark, which in this case was the publisher. McGraw-Hill’s trust was somewhat justified. They vet- ted the project as well as they could without talking to the eponymous subject. Those who had been close to Hughes and read the transcript certified that some of the informa- tion presented by Irving could only have come straight from the horse’s mouth. As if this tale weren’t wild enough in itself, screenwriter William Wheeler brings in a bit of extra mischief. Recalling Real Change April 4 - 10, 2007 9 Necessity Is the Mother of Camo hen I first heard “it schools had to. Not being very political when I necessarily follows” was a toddler, I don’t recall how the Necessity Was a kid, it sounded played out, so I’ve since looked it up. Adventures fi shy. It sounds like “it’s nec- Here’s how it went down, courtesy of the thurs., March 15, 8:03 a.m., 22nd in Irony essarily successive.” How Truman Presidential Museum and Library and Ave. e., Abandoned Building. An ©Dr. Wes Browning can it be cessive and not ces- others. In July 1948, Truman issued Executive offi cer working uniformed patrol was dispatched sive at the same time? Order 9981, which called for “equality of treat- to a report of activity at an abandoned house It turns out the “cede” in ment and opportunity for all persons in the armed on 22nd Ave E. The report referenced several “succeed” means “yield,” as in sub cedere: “to yield services without regard to race, color, religion, or [the card that was] under [the last one].” And the national origin.” Three days later Truman clarifi ed people sitting on the back porch, possibly smok- “cede” in “necessary” means “yield,” too, and the the order, saying, yes (to General Omar Bradley, ing narcotics. Upon arrival the offi cer noticed “ne” means “not,, so “necessary” is about being especially), that means desegregate. two suspects, a transient Black male aged 44 unyielding. So the expression looks even more Next, the generals dragged their feet. The and a transient white female aged 37, exiting oxymoronic than ever. But it’s not, because the Secretary of the Army said, the following month, the property by moving aside the temporary expression is saying that the Fates unyieldingly that segregation had to go, but not immediately. fencing. He contacted both parties and detained deal (yield) that next card. Committees were formed to study how segre- them until other units arrived. When the other In fact, “it necessarily follows” apparently gation could happen before the continents re- units showed up, the offi cer inspected the prop- sums up the Romans’ view of the Fates. The Ro- merged. Later, the Secretary admitted to favoring erty that the suspects had just exited. He found mans considered Necessity to be the Mother of segregation. By December 1949, there was a new the house abandoned with all the windows all the Fates, rather than of Invention, as we do. Secretary of the Army, but he was still saying we boarded up and several “No Trespassing” signs Necessity doesn’t The Daddy of the Fates skipped. have to go slow. posted on the side of the building. He informed always give you I’ve been thinking about the Roman Neces- Then, in April 1950, the Army ended its 10 sity since I attended the unveiling of the new King percent quota of African-American recruitment. the suspects that they were under arrest for warning. Take County logo in the likeness of Martin Luther King That quota had not been an Affi rmative Action criminal trespass — they were subsequently desegregation, Jr., a success in a modern sense of the word. The quota. It served to maintain African-American booked into King County Jail. Necessity in that case is evident in the more than 20 troop at a steady level to prevent fl uctuations. In a thurs., March 15, 11:26 a.m., for example. years of political work, involving nudging, dragging, segregated system, fl uctuations of the segregated Dearborn St. and Rainier Ave. provoking, and the occasional voting here and there, minority could create pesky logistical surpluses plus the fated presence of the right people on the and shortfalls. The complainant, a driver for Goodwill, saw King County Council, plus the right people to design No one, including Truman, thought that the the suspects, two transient white males aged the new logo, plus the good will of most people ineffi ciencies expected to arise from dropping 53 and 36, walking by the metal recycling involved, and the vanishing will of those not. the quota would have any noticeable immedi- plant on Rainier Ave. south of Dearborn. They But Necessity doesn’t always give you so much ate impact. In fact, until late June there wasn’t a were hauling a large quantity of commercial warning. Take desegregation, for example. problem. No chaotic fl uctuations of Black troop grade copper wire in a “Goodwill” cart. The Mention desegregation to most people born levels, no logistical nightmares. complainant believed the wire to be new, and after WWII, and they think of the South. They’d Then, before dawn, June 25, 1950, so much probably stolen, so he called 911 as he was say the fi rst big breakthough was 1954’s Brown hell broke loose over the 38th parallel in Korea driving by. When offi cers arrived at the scene, v. Board of Education. That decision came about that Truman thought WWIII was starting. By the they found the suspects were attempting to sell in the same way our new logo did: Folks drove end of the next month, the U.S. and South Korean straight at it ’til they got there. forces were almost driven off the peninsula, and approximately 100 pounds of copper wire for But I grew up in the Army and I have a terrifi c everybody there needed everybody else’s logisti- $150. The fi rst suspect stated that a friend in childhood memory, so I clearly recall that the U.S. cal support. By the time the war was a year old, the electrical trade had given him the wire to military, which is a large national and not at all the Army was integrated in Korea and throughout sell. The second suspect said he was just friends regional institution, needed desegregation and its Asian outposts. with the fi rst suspect and was only helping him was already desegregating before the Southern Necessity had arrived in camoufl age. n to sell the wire — he wasn’t sure where it had come from. Due to the high volume of copper wire theft in the area, the offi cer contacted a y children live in another regarding a state court’s authority over matters of state, and that state won’t al- child custody for children with parents in different detective, who responded to the scene and Mlow me any visitation rights. states. Both the PKPA and the UCCJA generally limit interviewed both suspects independently. After What can I do? jurisdiction over these confl icts to the child’s “home obtaining additional information, it was decided state.” These laws effectively act to prevent matters the detective would seize the copper wire until ccording to attorney Gavin Gauk- of child custody from moving from the courts of the the fi rst suspect’s story could be verifi ed. roger of Foster Pepper PLLC, in child’s “home state” to those of another. Mon., March 19, 5 p.m., pine St. real-life child custody cases, the welfare Under the UCCJA, a child’s “home state” is the a A transient white male was found sleeping on anSwerS to of the child is the paramount consideration. Trial state in which the child has resided for the preced- courts have broad discretion in deciding these cases, ing six months. The law establishes that the court the ground under a “No Trespassing” sign in your legal but there is a heavy presumption in favor of parental in the child’s new state of residence must be in the 1200 block of Pine St. He was contacted care. Federal law states that a parent who doesn’t contact with the court in the child’s former state by an offi cer, and gave a name and date haSSleS have primary custody of a child is entitled to reason- of residence, where the original custodial deci- of birth. The offi cer was unable to locate a able visitation rights. Therefore, family courts will sions regarding the child were made. Therefore, if person using that information, and the suspect Answers are usually order some form of visitation. a parent has secured or obtained visitation rights gave another name. A data check on that intended for The relocation of the custodial parent, either in the original state, he or she will have the same information brought up numerous aliases, and general informa- within the state or to another one, often produces visitation rights in another state. also a description that appeared to match the practical diffi culties with visitation. Traditionally, tion only and are If your children have relocated to another state suspect. Several warrants were also found. courts have put restrictions on parents moving to a with their custodial parent but lived in Washington not intended to Due to the confusion and inconsistencies in the take the place different state with a child (especially if the parent when the custody determination was made, your suspect’s identity he was booked as a John of the advice of was moving to keep the other parent from visiting the original visitation rights should still be in effect in your own attorney. child). In many situations, courts have required the their new state of residence. You will want to fi le a Doe. His identity, was subsequently verifi ed, Ask a Lawyer is moving parent to get the court’s permission prior to copy of the Washington court’s original custody de- as was an outstanding warrant. Suspect was in partnership an out-of-state relocation. But, because it is increas- termination with the court in the state in which your booked into King County Jail. with the Access to ingly common for parents to live in different states children live now. Once that court is made aware of Justice Institute at post-divorce, the restrictions have been changing. your existing visitation rights, the state is required to Seattle University Practical problems with custody between par- enforce that order. Likewise, if the custody determi- Compiled from incident reports of the Seattle and Foster Pepper. ents who live in different states led Congress to en- nation was made in another state and the children Police Department by Emma Quinn. Got your Got questions? E- act the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act and now live in Washington, fi le a copy of the custody own experience to relate? Call us at (206)441- mail atji@seattleu. the Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act. The UCCJA determination in a Washington court, so that your 3247 ext. 207 and we’ll get the scoop. edu. is effective in every state and preempts state laws visitation rights can be enforced here. n Real Change 10 April 4 - 10, 2007

upon graduating, these students will enter the civilian service sector of our Letters economy — by working as teachers, [email protected] police officers, emergency responders, and other critical public service jobs at Down in the Delta the local, state, and nation levels — in order to really address critical needs in Dear Real Change, our society. The goal of the USPSA is I am a former Seattleite, now living that these graduates will be on the fast and teaching high school in the rural track to leadership, propelling them Mississippi Delta, and was particu- into a lifetime of public service, argu- larly drawn to Laura Peach’s “Be All ably jobs that are much more beneficial that You Can Be” article in the March to the betterment and advancement of 14-20 Real Change. Growing up in our society than military jobs. northside Seattle Public Schools, I On March 22nd, Senators Hillary have strong memories of rarely seeing Clinton and Arlen Specter, and Repre- a military presence at my schools but sentatives Jim Moran and Christopher an overwhelming presence at central Shays joined dozens of USPSA sup- and southside schools. This disparity ports to announce the introduction of always made me uncomfortable, and the U.S. Public Service Academy Act the unfairness in many ways fueled my to Congress. Both Senators called for passion for entering public education in immediate action on this legislation hopes to fix some of the broken policies and the next step will be hearings to and underfunded programs. the Committee on Homeland Security However, nothing compares to what and Governmental Affairs in the Senate I see now at my rural, isolated, and poor and to the Committee on Education and high school, 99 percent of the student Labor in the House. body being minority. JROTC is a strong However, there is still a lot that we as organization that flourishes at my citizens can do to convince the Congress school. Students, many of which have to support this Act and get this academy never seen the Mississippi River — a built! Please visit the website (www. 30-minute drive from our town — are uspublicserviceacademy.org) and find a R e a l C h a n g e drawn to the military and its promises way to help, whether it’s by just signing the welcomes letters of paying higher education and helping petition and writing our representatives or to the editor of students “see the world.” The question making presentations about the academy up to 250 words that Ms. Ragland posed at the end of the in the Greater Seattle community. in length. Please article is what I wish to speak to: “Why I pride myself on being a North- i n c l u d e n a m e , not push for kids to go to AmeriCorps westerner by heart, because never address, phone or the Peace Corps instead of the mili- have I lived in a place where grassroots number, and email tary?” And, unbeknownst to many, this movements to better our society have for author verifica- is exactly what the U.S. Public Service flourished like they do in Seattle. That tion. Letters should Academy organization is trying to do. is why I know that the Northwest will b e a d d r e s s e d The U.S. Public Service Academy help the U.S. Public Service Academy to Editor at Real will be America's first national civilian give students an opportunity to become Change, 2129 university that will be modeled on the patriotic leaders of our country who 2nd Ave., Seattle, military service academies by provid- will address critical needs in American WA, 98121, or ing rigorous undergraduate education society… instead of rely on their bodies emailed to and helping to develop passionate and to fight unnecessary wars overseas. editor@ patriotic leaders who want to serve Alexandra Wakeman realchangenews. their country. The difference is that Indianola, Mississippi org.

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ately, I’ve been more impressed than usual by how confused we are. It’s Calendar Llike we’re a nation of the sleepwalking logic-challenged. Cause, effect; This Week’s Top Ten symptom, disease: we don’t seem to be able to tell the difference anymore. But it’s hard to see clearly when you’re standing in a shit storm. The list is pen again? Some might point fingers Friday 4/6 overwhelming. Poor people are getting poorer and everybody is working Is it a war for oil, or a war to inflate oil at the U.S. government, but there are harder for less. Black people are getting jailed. Corporations run the world. prices? This and other questions will be other preventions, such as improved pondered at a screening of Ronan Doyle’s forecasting and resource management Democracy is on the ropes. The rich are winning. The planet is in peril. The latest film, Oil, Smoke, And Mirrors. that can be of use. Dr. Edward Seidel of war is a meat grinder. No one can find the off switch. And so forth. Come for the free film, stay for the discus- Louisiana State University will discuss No wonder people just want to watch TV and shop. Who wants to look at that? sion afterwards. Presented by Meaning- what we learned after Katrina. 5:30 p.m., One good strategy for getting through a very dark night is to find a few fixed points of light and set your ful Movies and Wallingford Neighbors UW2 Lecture Hall, UW Bothell Campus, for Peace and Justice. 7 p.m., Keystone 18115 Campus Way NE. attention there. Increase the power of organized labor and organize the unorganized. Seek fairness in Church, 5019 Keystone Pl., Wallingford. how the costs of necessary services are shared and how much profit can be made at the expense of Thursday 4/12 others. Defend the environment from corporate rape. Build democratic institutions. Make access to Saturday 4/7 Former presidential candidate, New resources like education and health care more widespread. The Rough Guide to Shopping with a Jersey Senator, and NBA superstar Bill Conscience is rock Bradley explains As the 2008 Presidential elections starts to heat up, I am again struck by how little is being said. The critic Richie Unter- why the Republi- elephant in the room is class. Qui bono — who benefits? It’s the one question no one’s allowed to ask. berger’s foray into cans rule the politi- pocket reference cal court while the guides, and it pro- Democrats double vides conscientious dribble, and how consumers with Democrats can an opportunity to fix that. 7:30 p.m., examine how and Town Hall, 1119 where their money 8th Ave. First things First and time are best You know HBO as Get Involved • Take Action spent. Unterberger Is Christianity at the forefront of a neo- the company re- points out good/ sponsible for some bad boycotts, how nationalist movement? Salon journalist Michelle Goldberg posits just such a of the most intel- to limit your cli- ligent television mate change foot- possibility in her latest book, Kingdom Strengthen Mental Healthcare Coverage Coming, where she examines the in recent years, print when travel- : The General Assistance–Unemployable (GA-U) program is meant to provide increasing divide between shows like Rome, Issue ing, and what to Deadwood, and temporary aid while people recover from a short-term disability or illness. This assistance keep an eye out fundamentalism and pluralism in the country. Fri., Apirl 13, 7:30 p.m., Elliott Big Love. Last year is critical, but not fully adequate in addressing the needs of the people who receive it. The for when buying they brought out Legislature is in the process of negotiating a 2007-09 budget right now, and the GA-U groceries at PCC. Bay Book Store, 101 S. Main St. the big guns for a program is one of the important issues being discussed. 2 p.m., Elliott Bay special on climate Book Store, 101 S. Main St. change, called Too Hot Not to Handle. Background: For people working hard just to make ends meet, a serious illness or a Learn how to teach about war with an It promises an incendiary guide to the temporary disability is more than just a health concern — it can lead to job loss and emphasis on peaceful alternatives, us- effects of global warming on the United homelessness. Short-term relief is sometimes all that is needed to fend off the crisis and ing classroom tools and art supplies, States, presented as “high-octane pro- help someone get back on their feet. film, and poetry. 9 a.m - 5 p.m., Richard paganda” to fuel the masses into tak- Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave. Info: (206) ing action. 7 p.m., NW Environmental Washington State has a program that’s meant to provide that short-term relief. The General 632-7587. Education Council, 650 S. Orcas St. Assistance–Unemployable program offers financial support for people who are suffering a Suite 220. short-term disability and are unable to work. Many GA-U recipients are low-income or home- Tuesday 4/10 less individuals who are temporarily incapacitated; often they live in transitional housing, The success of Cuba’s 1959 revolution Saturday 4/14 echoes to this day — the small Carib- A local chapter of Step It Up 2007, an and GA-U allows them to pay the sliding scale rent required to stay off the streets. bean island is one of the last holdouts environmental activist organization, will In addition to a cash grant of $339 per month, people receiving GA-U are provided health be holding an event for National Day of of Communism in the entire world. Our care benefits. But while nearly half of the individuals who receive GA-U have mental health History Is Still Being Written is a new Climate Action, painting a giant blue line care needs, mental health is not covered beyond prescription management. Primary care book, in the words of three decorated on the Seattle waterfront to show how Cuban generals all of Chinese descent. far the water level could rise in a climate physicians are not equipped to address the full range of problems confronting clients with A panel discussion with Martín Koppel, change scenario. To participate, send an mental health care needs, which affect every aspect of a person’s life. Addressing the who interviewed the generals for the email to pbirkeland@StepItUpSeattle. mental health needs of GA-U clients would improve their overall health and decrease costs book, will look at the involvement of org by 4/12. to the state. Chinese in Cuba’s struggles, as well as the way post-revolutionary Cuba ad- The Washington House of Representatives released a budget that includes $3.4 million for a dressed racial tensions. 6:30 p.m., Room Calendar compiled by Paul Rice. Have a suggestion for an pilot program in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties adding mental health care to the GA-U 205, Smith Hall, UW. event? Email it to [email protected]. program. But neither the Senate budget, which came out last week, nor the Governor’s version of the budget includes that funding. We have to ensure that this urgently needed addition Charles Simic sprouted from violence at his onset, born in Yugoslavia in 1948, makes it through the negotiations in the coming weeks and is included in the final budget. growing up in war-torn Belgrade until The General Assistance–Unemployable program is meant to be a temporary solution to a 1953 when he escaped to the United temporary problem in someone’s life. But as long as the solution is inadequate, the problem States, where he’s lived ever since. won’t be going anywhere. Now recognized as a poet of record in this country and others, Simic beat Action: Contact your state legislators this week and ask them to include the $3.4 mil- overwhelming odds to get to this point. lion designated for mental health care in the final budget. Call the legislative hotline at 7:30 p.m., Intiman Theatre, 201 Mercer 1(800)562-6000 or take action online at www.socialjusticenow.org. St. Tickets: (206)269-1900. Wednesday 4/11 How can we ensure disasters on the scale of Hurricane Katrina never hap- Real Change 12 April 4 - 10, 2007 qwest, Continued from Page 1 reer to me,” he says. “Stagehands are cops, Continued from Page 1 but we don’t oppose it,” says Rod paid hourly, and there’s no guarantee Kauffman, president of BOMA. “We “You have to keep an eye on what of work.” Although it may seem to be a gesture have encouraged [security companies] you’re doing, on everything going on Morrison, who is currently fight- of solidarity with the union, City Coun- to dialogue with the union, and we’ve around you,” he says. “None of the people ing the state Department of Labor & cilmember Jean Gooden says it’s not had a friendly cooperative business I was working with was hip to that.” Industries over $140,000 that L&I says about the negotiations. relationship with Local 6.” Shellman and fellow union member the company owes it for 2002, acknowl- “[Security officers] do play a critical Kauffman says they’ve been happy Al Crawshaw both say they worked edges that ERM doesn’t pay workers for role supporting the industry’s econo- to at least cooperate with the union, four hours without the 10-minute break filling out forms before or after a shift. my,” Gooden says. “We want people to because they received assurances that required by law, and both describe hav- But waiting to sign out at the end of a be aware of them.” there would be no strikes. ing to show up early and stay 20 to 30 shift, he says, “takes five or 10 minutes. “I’m sure the timing of [the proc- For their part, Local 6 is excited to minutes after their shift to sign out. A half hour? No.” lamation] doesn’t hurt,” she adds. But head to the table, and security officers ERM paid the wage they would The company hasn’t set up a ben- she insists that the proclamation wasn’t like Miles and Schroeder are itching normally get on a union call, $21.63. But efits package because, to qualify, “you carte blanche for the union from the for the chance to prove they’re worth at non-stadium jobs, Crawshaw points have to work 1,000 hours a year,” Council. “We haven’t seen any specifics more than the stereotype. “As security out, ERM pays about $9.50 an hour and he says. “None of our people would on benefits or compensation…. I hope officers, we’re doing our best in order tacks on fees and charges that don’t qualify. Very few ever qualify, even at [the officers] can negotiate well with to do our job, and we’re looking for go to the employees. “They’re a temp the union.” their employers.” the companies to recognize that and agency,” he says. That may be true, but Shellman Another group that supported the show us the respect that we deserve,” For someone just out of high school, says that’s not the point. “Public Appreciation Day was the Building says Miles. n it’s exciting to get a T-shirt and get facilities,” he says, “shouldn’t be Owners and Managers Association paid to watch a concert, but “none of involved with employers who treat (BOMA), a business association that these guys are really thinking of it as a their employees poorly.” n counts most major building owners in career,” Shellman says. “For those of [Events] the city, as well as us who do it for a living, it’s a skilled In addition to the April 27 information security compa- trade, a profession.” picket at WaMu Theater, Local 15 of nies, as members. That’s an idea ERM President John IATSE plans a larger action at a Qwest But BOMA hesi- Morrison scoffs at. Field concert with Kenny Chesney on tated when it came “A career where you work part- July 7. time is not really a definition of a ca- to endorsing the union. “I wouldn’t say BOMA supports the unionization of security guards,

Stagehand union member Al Crawshaw says he was not given routine breaks while working as a non-union stagehand at Qwest Field. Stadium operators First & Goal had an agreement calling for union labor for concert setup. Photo by Ken Dean. The vendor who sold you this paper works. So does Real Change. I Support Real Change. Here’s what I can do. Real Change is an activist voice in Seattle that is making a difference here and now. Name______Every month, more than 250 homeless and vulnerably housed people earn the money they need while they help build a world where people aren’t homeless anymore. Address______

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