15 October 2011 Start Time: 7:06PM Facilitator: Ani and Jasmine I. Hand Signal Review II. Meeting Process Review Jasmine: WHo is staying the night? Keep them in mind. Who is part of comm. or wrking group? If interested in getting involved, pls do so. Who is here the first time? :::Crowd goes wild:::: Thank you for coming. We appreciate your involvement. This is a long, great process. Takes time and empathy. Who came to the occupation for the first time today? Thank you! I liked to get some approval, I'd like to ask for your support as a facilitator and try to wrap at 9:45PM as possible. IV. Committee Announcements (7:16PM) 1. Kip with web/communications: Short list tonight, hopefully. The forums are up and running. We went from 800 a couple days ago to 1200 participants. In that vain, I know we have limited internet, if you can part and ask your friends/fam to part that would rock. WE also have Jordan who will be one of our lead admins. If you want to help, talk to him. Also, today on the web we have the google calander info intergrated. If you around the live stream, pls don't stand in front of it and take your convos away from it. Thank you. 2. Jordan from media: WE are trying to increase part with online community. WE're going to try and do that from the forums so we can have one place to organize ideas. WE will set up a process where the online ocmmunity can have their voices heard at the GA. 3. MIC CHECK: One quick announcement - during the march, I had a person approach me from move-on portland. He wanted to know if anybody wanted to join one of his events tomorrow. It is for jobs - to promote jobs and the awareness that not everyone has one and everyone needs one. It's tomorrow from 1-3 at river park. I'm going to post this at info. 4. T: Conflict resolution committee forming tomorrow - that's conflict in the camp. NW corner of beta at noon. 5. Lea: Who likes education? Scream if you love ed! I am representing "education station" which is the name for the space on the NE corner of lownsdale park called the library. We have all sorts of resources. We have a wrkshop space. If you are interested in leading a workshop, come down. We are currently seeking light for that space. WE have a sign making canopy and premade ones. We have a yurt where you can have a brain trust - where ppl can get together and share their ideas of internal affiars. Just ask for a librarian. We also have a tutoring tent - more info at the lib. We have an upcoming event being facilitated by the du stat. It is education week. It's 6 days for of learning - for the ppl by the ppl. Anyone you know in the community to facilitate a workshop, please put your feelers out there. We are seeking volunteers for this event and gen lib needs (light and energy we need chairs and tables we need a tent for storage and couch for chilling out and volunteers). 6. Lena with Outreach: It now exists! Outreach has two sides of the same coin - one trying to est commu with ppl in the rest of the world two with those in portland. Second, way more exiting, an uypdated from NYC - crowds of ppl in time square and there are over 1000. The cops say they're going to clear in at midnight. 7. Alona: We are currently building an incredible community in the two blocks we are occupyoing. the outside world does not get to experience that. I am forming a news group that will create blog posts for our camp. I'm looking for volunteers to help me write. Find me in the media tent. 8. Rachelle: Proxy for engineering tonight - they need hands. We are all potential engineers. They need ppl to do simple things and ppl to communicate with others. Go help them. (Location given) V. New Proposals that will be heard later (7:30PM) 1. There;s aman who comes in to our protest, his name in Pinky. He wears a pink hat and pink suite and rides a green mountain bike. I've come to know him - he is dangerous, unstable individual. He's tried to assualt ppl in the protest. I have talked to safety about this man and they have refused anything about him. I've taken classes so I know it takes only one man, like Pinky to turn a peaceful demonstartation in to violent freefall. I want to see Pinky excluded from this camp. Facilitator: this evening there is a good neighbor prop. 2. As we are coming up with more and more rules and having the need to enforce regulations it had come to my attention that we need to come up with a process to enforce the forces so that there is no corruption. From within the peace keeping group there have been attempts to entrap, sleezy actions and the hidding of information. They should not be able to tell us that "it;s not our business." We need to draft a prop to enforce these enforces. Not sure how wthe checks and balances work, but we need something. Interesting stat: a little off, but valid: a police officer is twice as likely to commit rape than a citizen. I think this has to do with a want for power, not the badge. Not the entire peace keeping group is compromised. DR attempted, but shot down Facilitator: Where can people meet up with you? 3. John: I'd like to remind us that we shoudl not take time for granted and the most important thing is to work on a statement of solidarity. I need everyone's help. I have the 20 notes from the NY statement. If anyone can find references we can prove others wrong. Facilitator: come up here and get a propals sheet if you want to make a proposal. PROPOSALS (7:30PM) A. James: I organize with student loan justice portland. Sutdent loan just pdx. is organizing a protest at (location and time and reason). I propose that ocuupy portland endorse this. Event demands: 1. restore consumer prot , 2. restore, 3. higher ed system based for eberyone. 4 and 5 (i didn't catch any of that) TEMP CHECK: We are going to move forward with discussing this. Clarifying Questions: 1. I would like to know why we would choose this one first over some of the other issues. James - This is not the first issue we;ve endorsed. The first one was the anti-war march. A reason to endorse is that this event is already planned and I'm just asking you to endorse it. 2. What exactly are you going to be doing at this event? Person: The main issue that we are protesting is that we are protesting restoring bankruptcy protection for the student loans. 3. What I'm curious about is that are there processes that are being set up to introduce this to law makers. John - there is legislature before congress for fed, but not fed backed loans. 4. Why do you, do you feel that you need the endorsement of the GA? James - I was told that in order for this event to be posted on the main website that the GA needs to approve it. 5. Couldn't this be done in a week or two? DR It's already planned. Concerns: 1. I'm wondering if there are other issues we can put on the website at the same time as this one. 2. We are having a GA in the dark and this is all based on hand signals. Facilitator - there are lights over here and we can see you. 3. Can we have a temp check which could move along to a vote before 10 mins? Facilitator: I want to make sure we have all concerns addressed first. Angry person: who the fuck are you? Stack taker: Any other concerns? 4. My conern is, that this GA is a minority. WE need to establish someway to integrate what we're saying here what's going on over there. In other words, the questions that are addressed here need to be addresed there. Bc we're not getting a general consesus here bc this is a minority. Facilitator: that is not a concern. all are welcome. 5. I think this issue of posting on the web was addressed at last nights GA. Can we state the prop that was passed last night? ::::Last Nights GA agreement restated::::: Facilitator: Another temp check? OK Now the evolution phase - speak in support or add an evolutionary note. If no ammendments, we would call for agreement. 1. I think we should be clear on the website as why we are supporting this. We should say we support this because we don't want the governemtn punishing education...or somehting like that. 2. I have a statement of support and this is bc my wife cant file bankruptcy. My tax returns are taken from for something that my wife did prior to us being married - it sucks. 3. I would just say that I am a student of 14 years in colelge. I have 2 assoc. degrees and cannot stop going to school bc i cant get a job to afford to pay back the student probleml This has been an ongoing prob for me and many others. 4. This is kind of a clarifying point to evolve the discussion. I really like the idea presented by this lady of here. But i would like it if we could come up with specific language to give to the media team, and/or nominate someone to do so. Facilitator: My prefence would not to be word smith at the assembly. Lets hear and then a wrod smithing team could rally around him. :::James reads language:::: Facilitator: out of time for evoltionary process, so we have a temp check. We've reached the stage to go through with agreement process. (Agreement process explained) OUTCOME: 100% agreement, except 1 standing aside. ER Annoucement: connect with engineering team if you have a generator. B. Donald - we have been working on a proposal for the past two days to simpliify the prop submission process. Right now a lot of ppl that are a part of OP feel that the prop submission process is complicated, lengthy and most impt leaves out some of the ppl of OP. I would like to start by going through the 7 steps of the prop submission process as it stands now by the GA. This is not my proposal; this is what we are proposing. ::::Current Proposal Submission Process Read:::: That is the prop submission process as it stands now approved by the GA Sunday Night. Our prop to change this process is to simplify the process. Many agree. However, many have diff ideas on how to simplify. I urge each and every one of you to simplify this process regardless of what we are bringing forth tonight. This is what we have: To being with, we want to remove current submisison process as it stands. SEcond, we want more access to facilitators (facilitator arm bands and tent and so on and so on...i hard a hard time finding someone the other day. Three, this is impt, if order for prop to reach the GA voting process, they must be backed by a group of 7 ppl that will be at the GA. These props must also past a 33% temp check as proposals for voting. The GA will have the option to determine wheteher a prop is time sens or not. ER props of immediate need can be brought to the GA at any time and will be discussed and voted upon if they pass a 50% straw poll. The new prop process will be publicized and the language will be simple. Time check is 8:08PM POP Temp check? Facilitator: Yes! Temp Check: Yes we will go on. CLARIFYING QUESTIONS: 1. How did you determine 7 ppl to bring forth the proposal? Donald - we were told we had to have a concrete prop. It's just a number a ppl and we can leave it to the GA on how many ppl to decide. 2. What is the next meeting for this proposal process? DR This is being addressed right now. 3. Who decides the time and place of the proposals being decided on? Donald - You have to be here with a certain amount of ppl before the GA to submit a proposal. What time the props will be brought to the GA? We're not trying to change the prop process of the GA; we're focusing on how to get your prop to the GA. 4. What processes are set in place are being proposed for centralization of information so that if ppl have to be at work and not they're not able to attend, they can still submit a proposal and have it be heard the GA. DR We in media are working on such a process. Once we have it, we'll bring it to the GA. 5. I'm not remembering what your 1st statement in your prop was. It sounded like a negation of the process currently being used. I just wanted clarification. Donald - we don't seek to negate the procees at the GA; it's the process BEFORE the GA we're looking to change along with certain measures. 6. Under the curernt process, are issues like this voted on the next day and will that change with that process? Donald - Yes. Facilitator - Currently, it is proposed one evening, talked about and worked through and brought back the next GA. Don - under new prop, it could be either, depending on what the GA wants. But if you have a certain number of bodies with you that day, then it can go through that day. SOme issues cannot go through that lengthy process. 7. What determines what an ER prop is? Don - The GA. (Funny example about pandas given) DR We have that process now. If something is urgent and has to be decided b4 the nxt day, we can do that. DR to DR - My comment there is that that decision is made by facilitators and not GA. That is too powerful. CONCERNS: 1. My concern is that you have not delivered a finished product. Currently we have 7 steps and what you have delivered are ammendments to those steps. I would like steps of a finished product that can then be voted on. 2. My concern is that the current ER prop clause is just as effective as your ER clause bc it still gets the issue on that table that not. Bc the ppl with props decide that it's urgent. 3. My concern is that the process we have now seems to be working in the sense that you announce your prop, you have time to work it through, you come back, we go through the steps to come to agreement. It's pretty simple. It's evolving. i'd like to stay with it and see if it serves us. It may be 7 paragraphs, but in practice it's simple. 4. My concer is only with the part of the prop that deals with the 33% threshold for temp check. Specficially it seems if an issue is only getting 33%, we may be talking about it for a while. 5. Issues that ppl feel are impt can be introduced and voted before those ppl are aware. I think that the issues need time except for in rare ERs. 6. We could repeat the same mistakes that our reps made when they passed the patriot act on short notice. that was a huge stack of paper, they had 1 night to read, they passed it the nxt morning. TEMP CHECK: Not seeing a lot of support. Seeing about 8-10 ppl; not enough to discuss tonight. Can this be put on the website? DR There is a place in the forum where ppl can discuss the GA. Also, where ppl can put up proposals. The steps and the proposal process are in a more prominent in this place. Donald - I get why ppl don't want to push this through bc it's not fleshed out. If you want to be a part of this discussion meet me after the GA on the corner. C. About the camping band and supporting the homeless camp that's over by the china town gate. The text of this prop has been online for a few days. We've met with the radical caucase and the R2D2 (right to dream too). The actual actions that we're propo: 1. a march at 530 PM tues 18 oct leaving from the site of the "rest area" of houseless ppl. 2. A statement based on this prop on OP website. 3. An open letter sent to this city calling for the city to repeal any ordiance that criminalizes ppl that dont have houses. TEMP CHECK: moving along CLARIFYING QUESTIONS: 1. Is this prop only for the R2D2 or is for the other one that's on the e. side as well? Person: For now, I've only been meeting with the ppl of R2D2. However, the thrid part of this is the open letter. 2. I'm just curious what the law reads now and do you feel the city is ammenable to changes. Person - The reason I'm saying any ordiance is bc the city is using several ordinances to harras the camp at r2d2. The camping ban carries $100 and 30 days. There's a hypocrisy - we're allowed to do this because it's politicized; over there is not being politicized. That's the point of this. 3. I'm wondering why the city doesn't bother the ppl on the east side; they've been there for years. Facilitator - this is not a C? 4. I'm wondering if there will be a committee or GA proposal regarding the letter drafting. Person - earlier tonight I heard someone say let's not word smith. SO yes, I invite ppl to help me draft the letter unless the GA decides to approve the letter. CONCERNS: 1. With the GA then get a chance to approve the final letter. Facilitator - the GA can decide either way. TEMP CHECK: We will go forward. EVOLUTION/DISCUSSION: 1. Can we hear the language in the prop in regards to the camping ban? Cresh - OP is calling upon the city of Pdx to repeal those ordinances which are now harasing and criminalizing homeless ppl. And we would make reference nxt to an interesting bill of rights that now resides right in city hall at the recep. check. Article 4 General Well Being - we have the inherent right to shelter. It is the only city that claims this bill of rights, but our city does not adhere to that. 2. I've been reading about radical democracy and how writing our legislature has failed to work. So what I propose instead is gathering the signatures necessary to put this on the ballot. We can do the letter and the signatures. Temp Check on this ammendment: 50% want this, 1 person doesn't want to work it in to this prop, a couple standing aside. So that means ppl arent participating. So let's do this again. That looks much more participatory and agreementy (LOL). This language will be added to the proposal. POP We have an implementation procedure and i just want to make sure that if we're going to attempt to gather enough signatures we have a distinct plan to implement that. 3. I just wanted to make sure that the gentleman proposing this prop is OK with the extra work. Cresh - I must confess, I have never done this before. Facilitator - I am curious about the implementation process. We did say that we wouldnt do that unless we implemented. Person who made ammendement - we have the ppl, focus and structure. we can do this DR - I am currently working on a ballot petition. It takes immense funding and devotion from a alrge amt of ppl. It takes a lot of ppl. Facilitator - we agreed on saying that, but it is without clear implementation. Ammend person - all other occupy mvmnts are involved. DR Except this is just for pdx. Fac - this is a ballot for Multnomah co. But the camping ordinance is Pdx. Fac - I wonder if it would be clearer if we seperated the ballot idea in to its own prop. There is energy behind that, but not ecumbering this action behind it. 4. In nature if one force pushse the other force pushes back. I think the best approach would include encircling the city govt with the negotiating process. Not protesting, but involving them. I would like to see the prop have that kind of language in it. Fac - That doesn't sound like an ammend but a recommendation. Is that Fair enough? Person 4 - yes. Fac - this is when we want to call for actual agreement. :::RESTATEMENT OF PROP:::: (without ammend) 1 stand aside and 1 person saying no. D. Guildines for Comm Safety and Wellbeing Backgroud: camp has been unsafe. The OP mvmnt is not about heirachy policing, its about changing our corrupt system. We used the experience of OWS and made changes based on OP. So this person is following good faith dialogue with neighbors. For all our communal ares: 0 tolerance for alcohol, drug use. 0 tol for abusive languageWe will create welcome siange to be posted showing these guidelines and at safety and wellbeing areas as well as recruit volunteers to have dialogue in the OP community to make sure these are being followed. Cigg smoking will be occuring at the sw corner at chapman as agreed upon by the GA. I would like to bring a demonstration of how to practice these guidelines. Enactment: step 1 - we have guidelines, please leave. (not leaving) step 2 - it would be gr8 if you could take the alcohol out later. (still not leaving) step 3 - we huddle, then come to him as a few ppl and say to him as a group that we dont want him here bc we dont want a disturbance. (still not leaving) step 4 - safety official not being called in. who has been trained in deescalation. these ppl are visible. (still not leaving) step 5 - show how to remove someone from park. touch elbow and shoulder and move them to edge of park and stand there until they leave. Each of us need to be empowered to come together to deal with this issue. TEMP CHECK: we will go on CLARIFYING QUESTIONS 1. I'm guna need a resposne from you b4 i'm done with my ?. Have you looked in to the legal ramifications of touching someone even after requesting not to be touched. Ilona - I believe we have to take individual responsibility for touching. Second part - then can you guys with the prop look in to those ramifications and weight them against the ramifications of bad conduct to pursue. Ilona - we can put those rams up DR As i understand the law, unwanted touching can be deemed assaulting and is a serious crime. 2. I want to know who wrote this prop. My concern that the safety comittee does a lot of pushing which does the pushing back. I dont think theyre trained well enough to start making props DR I was working with ppl who came to talk abdou safety and in the afternoon. Many ppl are feeling uncomfortable and unsafe. I invite you to come together about the minutia. We need to come up with some guidelines on how to be safe. Facilitator - we should empower a work group to deal with the minutia if it is the will of group 3. I was wondering if there was a section in the prop that addressed with medicinal mj cards and if that is still allowed to be smoked and where. Ilona - 0 tolerance. If we don't see it or smell it, then, uh. Can ppl smoke it in their tent and ppl in accordance with the law? DR The laws specifically state out of public view. That is interpreted differently by diff law enforcement. It has been ruled in court that a port-a-potty is not out of view. Tents typically are. Fac - I recommend that we ammend this. Fac - We do have a prior agreement to discourage drugs and alcohol and being ignored. Urgent Annoucment: 1000 ppl in the park with 600 police officers. Fac - I want to share a moment of solidarity. Today this went global. We need to stay alert of NY tonight. So, we are through the round of C ?s bc we are out of time. Now concerns. CONCERNS 1. I have two concerns. 1, what is the definition of drugs? The 2nd is how can we insure that all of us, but most esp security, gets appropriate deescalting training. Ilona - Safety does dees. training 1-2/day. Anyone can attend. The definition of drugs is recreational. 2. I totally agree that you have to do something about getting ppl out of the park that are drinking and causing probs that's guna come down on group. But I dont know how much experience youve had with drunks, but the first time you put your hands on somebody, your liable to get laid out. 3. I dont anticipate every1 will love this, but this is how it wrks in Ny. When we cant use words, instead of using our hands, should we not use law professional assist. Ilona - I was on the phone with NY and they do use law enforcement 4. My understanding of the first tenent of prop that drugs and alcohol has 0 tol. for communal spaces. Spec, this addressed the med mar issue. DSecond concer, the removal of ppl was proposed for ppl pulling knives, sezually assaulting ppl and serious offenses. Not just durnks. 5. I understand the concerns with drug and alcohol use. As has been stated already, touchg a drunk is going to escalate to violence and be counter-productinve. Instaed of trying to use force. We should look at options to encourage and direct those ppl to be productive members of the community - signs to hold, things to do. If we ask them for help often enough, and they're only here to party, they'll go elsewhere. Ilona - During the day that seems great and I want to see that as a part of the prop, but at night theres not a lot to do. That's where my suggestion is originally stemming from. TEMP CHECK: Continuing discussion in to evolutionary phase EVOLV: 1. I'm concerned that while safety is a very real issue, the language of this ammendment is excessively broad and might be used as an excuse to kick out the ppl we simply don't like. I've met, just as an ex, several ppl with certain disabilities that makes it look like they're intoxicated and they're appearance isn't, maybe, pleasant, and yet they're here working very hard. My ammend is that we change the alnguage rather than drugs and alcohol to excessive intoxication to the point where it becomes a problem. DR My understanding of the prop is its restricted to pushing out ppl that are actively using. DR We discussed this earlier, about profiling. We are specifically directing ppl with particular behavior. The language can be tricky (who decides what is excessive). There are behaviors. Fac - The idea of the ammend, i'm checking in with you, you're looking at the language being changed to "violent behavior." 2. Statement of support: my understanding is the ppl getting kicked out are being kicked out temp until they're better. Also on the safety team: ppl who may be touching ppl, like me, are taking on the responsibility of going to jail for assault to keep the camp safe. 3. In add to the sinage outlining the prop, we add to that, in conjuction with legal, if you are asked by the safety team and you are not being complient you give up your rights to claim assault. DR An intoxicated person cannot give up their rights. POP Can we get a temp check on first proposed ammend.? TEMP CHECK ON FIRST AMMEND: That ammend is now involved. Fac - 3 options i'm seeing: 1. if ppl have oberwhelmingly response on temp check we can go through with it 2. bring it back tomorrow evening 3. we could approve it in concept and assign it to a work group to bring back in a more refined form tomorrow night. TEMP CHECK: option 3. Ilona - the working group will meet tomorrow at 10AM. Or, I will be available after this GA and have them brought tomorrow. And this is in the forum. GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS 1. THIS PROCESS IS INCREDIBLY HARD. SOMETHING THAT DERAILS US, THE GA ISnt really the space to talk about the politics. This process doesn't work for political ideas. A group of us would liek to create a space for general convo. Tomorrow at 3PM here. There are diff threads. 2. Nick representing the current hour before GA. We're a theatrical comitte - guerrilla theater. This is a call for writers, poets, dancers. An hour before GA tomorrow. The workshop place. 3. Trip - Very excited bc tomorrow called rising tide is having a series of 3 workshops what we've dubbed Occupy In To Action. (Goes on to explain workshops) Happening here at 10:30AM, Noon, Then 2PM right here. Everything here. 4. Brush - Cops, right? Being in the streets, interacting with cops, in the jail interacting with cops. It can be empowering. One tool is having a way to coordinate our info when being arrested - this is called jail support. 503-902-5340 to call when you're in jail. The NLG is not going to answer the phone. This phone will be answered by US, not the NLG. Training for this - next sunday at the peoples law collective at 4pm...it willbe on the webs. Talk it up! Great way for ppl to be involved with low engagement and high value. 5. Traveling from Isreal and I want to talk and share what's going on. For two reasons: sharing dialogue and maybe we can do smething with it. In addition, there was a big tent mvmnt and I can speak about that. I'm here now. 6. Anthony - I need help moving. This doesnt affect camp, but fi there are ppl who have trucks. I'll stand over there if you can help. 7. Jennifer - Campaign for MJ. I am coordinating volunteer meetings on Monday. Here at 430 on Monday - heavily interwoven topics. 8. Richard - I dropped a soda machine off by the art tent about 4 days ago. It's being painted on so that machine can be placed in the community here in portland. I wasn't able to put any explination. It's called "Soda Bagoda" I hope we can make something here and put it in the community. GA has been closed.