Facebook: Occupy Transportation to OWS NW S17

Confirmed information as posted on the facebook page:

• Bus is not guaranteed.

If bus does happen…..

• Bus trip will a number of days, round trip estimated from previous experience with NU providing buses is around 5 days there 5 back, being at OWS for 4 to 5 days. NU will let us know after we secure the numbers going.
• We need to have a very accurate count of those than can surely attend because of the cost, paid for by the Nurses Union. Their concern is because Nato cost 100K and some seat were not filled from west coast.
• We all may have to help convince the Nurses union that we mean to go by giving a 5 dollar donation to secure a seat (If you can’t find 5 dollars to get a round trip ride across country then…) I will help anyone figure out how to raise money if need be.

So if you cannot go please let Jessica or me know and we will remove you from page, for a few days so we can have an accurate count, you can rejoin after we figure who is going and when, if we can convince NU that we know who is going and will not change their mind. Smile.
Also for those interested in going, OWS has created this handy guide:

http://s17nyc.org/support/join-us-in-nyc/

Important update from the City Hall Vigil: Officials have told us that in order for signs to exist on the sidewalks at City Hall, instead of them being hung structures, they need to be carried by people. With this, they are at a urgent need for people to come down to pick up a sign and demonstrate.

Share this info on Facebook and Twitter!

The vigil keepers are calling for donations of balloons and helium gas. As part as a creative message tactic, the vigil keepers want these balloons, with to-the-point messages written by them, to float around the city and be given to passing children and adults to get a change of pace from the typical plasterboard sign.

If you haven’t been by the Vigil recently, they have been doing a great job with their signs and messaging.  If you can spare a few hours or at least help get the word out, it would be appreciated.  The Vigil’s next planning meeting will take place this Friday, August 17th at 5pm at Terry Schrunk Plaza – at the last meeting on Sunday we had a great turnout and very constructive time – feel free to stop by with your ideas Friday for further planning on next steps!

1. For City Commissioner Dan Saltzman to withdraw the fines on the co-owners of the Right 2 Dream Too Rest Area, and to seek a peaceful resolution for this cost-free solution to homelessness for the remainder of the lease agreement.

2. Creation of a task force composed of concerned citizens and non-profit organizations to find better ways to provide basic city services to those without.

3. Initiation of a dialogue between city officials and representatives of the houseless community to find an alternative to the current ban on camping in the city.

4. Location of a city site capable of providing shelter and basic services for 300 persons.

Confirmed speakers include Ahjamu Umi, Kate Lore, Jefferson Smith, Ibrahim Mubarak, Woody Broadnax, Charlie Hales, Brandi Tuck, Felecia Campbell, Israel Bayer, and Phiamma Elias. At 5:30pm there are plans to link arms around City Hall and sing a song of unity. Find out more and RSVP on the Facebook Event Page.

Learn more:

Whitten is calling for the following:

1. For City Commissioner Dan Saltzman to withdraw the fines on the co-owners of the Right 2 Dream Too Rest Area, and to seek a peaceful resolution for this cost-free solution to homelessness for the remainder of the lease agreement.

2. For City Council to propose a housing levy measure to the November 2012 General Election ballot.

3. For Sheriff Daniel Staton to issue a 1-year moratorium on evictions for bank foreclosures in Multnomah County.

 

Slumber Party for Housing Justice

Right to Dream Too

Right to Survive

#pdxhunger

I protest for housing justice. Not just in advocacy of the homeless, but for the prosperity and survival of the entire working class. Housing is a basic human need, cheaper to fund than incarceration or war. Yet, we seem to always fall short in supply. Our resources aren’t limitless, but there are avenues which we haven’t tried, or turn a blind eye to.

Whitten’s Grievances for Redress are the following:

1. For City Commissioner Dan Saltzman to withdraw the fines on the co-owners of the Right 2 Dream Too Rest Area, and to seek a peaceful resolution for this cost-free solution to homelessness for the remainder of the lease agreement.

2. For City Council to propose a housing levy measure to the November 2012 General Election ballot.

3. For Sheriff Daniel Staton to issue a 1-year moratorium on evictions for bank foreclosures in Multnomah County.

Whitten’s hunger strike has already gained national attention from the Associated Press, on July 1st Portlanders have the opportunity to continue to shine the light on those whom our policymakers often prefer to keep out of sight and out of mind.  Take action, show your solidarity, support the Vigil, tell Cameron to stay healthy, and enjoy some good company at the Slumber Party on July 1st!

For more information:

Slumber Party for Housing Justice

Right to Dream Too

Right to Survive

Cameron Whitten

#pdxhunger

Last Sunday, the General Assembly approved Occupy Portland’s Sisters in Strength to provide oversight of all donations collected.  A donate link for the Vigil has also been added to the left sidebar of occupyportland.org.

The 24/7 Vigil on the steps of Portland City Hall calls for the following:

We call on people of conscience and people of all faiths and creeds to join us in a collective prayer that the Portland City Council immediately suspend the ban on camping.

This ban is unconstitutional, and enforcement of it puts our community at risk by criminalizing people’s attempts to find shelter from the cold.

Shelter is a human right!  End the ban Now!

For more information:

Facebook

Donation Page

Twitter

Watch live on OPDXLIVE: http://opdxlive.org/

Twitter – FOLLOW: #M1PDX @LiberateMayDay

JOIN THE CEL.LY TEXT LOOP: Type @may1pdx in the body of a text and send that text to 23559

20 excuses to get out of work!

Not all of these events have the consensed support of the Occupy Portland General Assembly

Press Conference on May Day March and PLOC Action

PRE-MAY DAY

ON MAY DAY

7:30AM

STUDENT STRIKE
501 North Dixon Street (PPS Headquarters)

Students on Strike is the beginning of a student led campaign against budget cuts and the falling quality of our schools. Rally at PPS Headquarters and nonviolently shutdown work; this action is building towards the May 11th mass demonstration at Pioneer Square currently being organized by Teachers, Parents and Students.
facebook.com/events/409741142371139/

http://shutdownppsmay1st.wordpress.com/

9 AM

LAND LIBERATION & SPACE RECLAMATION
PORTLAND LIBERATION ORGANIZING COUNCIL (PLOC)
9 a.m. Woodlawn Park (at NE Dekum Street)
Land liberation with PLOC and friends! Show up ready to reclaim land as part of a community resistance event and have fun at a block party. Text @ploc-openrrn to 23559 to join our Rapid Response Network and stay up-to-date on further developments: www.liberatepdx.org

facebook.com/pages/Portland-Liberation-Organizing-Council/410268802335060

11:30AM

MAYDAY GENERAL STRIKE MARCH
An unpermitted event, “Friendly to otherwise unfriendly tactics”

Rally: 11:30-12:30
March: 12:30-?

Assemble under the Westside Burnside Bridge (Saturday market location)
facebook.com/events/408483545845941/

3:30 PM

PERMITTED MARCH AND RALLY
This will be the traditional large, ‘family-friendly’, permitted and legal event.

2PM Tabling begins for community groups
3:30 Permitted Rally begins.
4:30 Permitted March begins.
6PM March returns to South Park Blocks (estimated).

facebook.com/events/220604641373277/

6PM

CELEBRATORY DANCE PARTY

Gather at the South Park Blocks for a roaming dance party to celebrate the day’s events and revel in community.

http://www.facebook.com/events/277573998992695/

***CANCELLED***MAYDAY FREEDOM FESTIVAL
Celebrate May Day and liberate a building. Assemble in South Park Blocks immediately following the permitted march, stay in the South Park Blocks to eat together before marching to
liberate a space. Plans are still being discussed.

facebook.com/events/277573998992695/

Laborers’ Local 483

Municipal Employees

1125 SE Madison St., Rm. 206        Phone:  (503)239-5676

Portland, OR  97214-3600              Fax:      (503)239-5741

NEWS RELEASE                              CONTACT:

December 21, 2011                           Megan Hise  503-459-1515

Retired Parks Employee Defends Occupiers from City’s Claims

Damage to Chapman/Lownsdale issue of deferred maintenance

(Portland, OR) – Recently retired Portland Parks and Recreation employee Dan Forner says the Parks department’s estimate of the cost of refurbishing Chapman and Lownsdale parks unfairly implicates the Occupy Portland encampment. As the maintenance plumber with PP&R for 13 years before retiring in June, Forner says the $28,000 estimate to repair the Lownsdale restroom includes replacing features that the Parks department was aware were needed as of June 2011, months before the October 6, 2011 occupation. This is just one example of deferred maintenance in Parks that the proposed 2012-2013 budget cuts will increase.

When Forner read about the City’s claims that the 8 week occupation caused over $85,000 in damages, he was inspired to share what he knew with the public. “In June of 2011 I was asked to rank the restrooms most in need of refurbishment. I put Lownsdale at the top of that list.”  The toilets, Forner says, were originally damaged when someone poured wet concrete down the bowls. Forner had the three toilets repaired, but they were never replaced in spite of heavy use by transient people and employees in the downtown core.

Towards the end of the occupation, Parks closed the Chapman women’s restroom because someone flushed a pair of jeans. In fact,Parks employees understand that houseless people living downtown frequently use the stainless steel public toilets to wash their clothes, which occasionally get stuck in the plumbing. There is a pattern of use that is not unique to the Occupy Portland camp thatParks staff members have not had the resources to adequately address. “None of the stuff that they are saying happened because of the occupiers. I don’t care if they say it costs $85,000, the point is that the Portland occupiers did not do it!”

Richard Beetle, Business Manager for Laborers’ local 483 says “we’ve represented Parks employees for over 80 years. We know that every year our members are asked to deliver higher levels of service with ever shrinking revenues. The backlog in maintenance has reached unsustainable levels- and it has nothing to do with Occupy Portland. We can no longer kick this can down the road. We have to reinvest in our parks.”

- END -

Megan Hise

communications and support staff

Laborers’ Local 483

1125 SE Madison St. Ste 206, Portland, OR 97214

megan@liuna483.org  

office: 503-239-5676  ext. 4 |  mobile: 503-459-1515