Re: Helping change Criminal Justice SystemRe: [statecom-discuss]  Fwd: No Fees on Offenders

Gracegrnrnbw at aol.com Gracegrnrnbw at aol.com
Sat Feb 3 10:14:41 EST 2007 

Lloyd - you maybe have a place in mind   :-)     ?   Grace
In a message dated 2/2/07 11:08:19 PM, liveinamerica at cctvcambridge.org 
writes:


> 
> Hi grace.How about a 'campaign headquarters' in Cambridge with easy access
> to Beacon Hill among other places and wheelchair accessible.Lloyd
> 
> 
> 
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Gracegrnrnbw at aol.com [mailto:Gracegrnrnbw at aol.com]
> > Sent: Saturday, February 3, 2007 03:20 AM
> > To: statecom-discuss at green-rainbow.org
> > Subject: Re: Helping change Criminal Justice SystemRe: [statecom-discuss] 
> Fwd:    No Fees on Offenders
> >
> > Bills have not been posted - so trying to get my hands on all the bills 
> with
> > full text in an electronic form is oneo f many tasks that take more time 
> than
> > I seem to have - if anyone wants to help me gather all the bill texts we 
> want
> > - that would be truly awesome.
> >
> > Otherwise, Bill, I'll get them to folks as I gather them myself and can 
> put
> > them in osme appropriate form - Thanks all, I know time is frustrating but 
> I
> > really want to encourage people to help.
> >
> > there is so very much potential here - who else will step and call the 
> people
> > to action -
> > Action on raising revenues from those who can afford it!
> > Action to stop our contribution to global warming while we can!
> > Action to bring our troops home now and stop contributing to perpetual war
> > Action to insist all our children make it to adulthood
> > Reverse our criminal justice system
> > Etc.
> >
> > Now is one of those moments - who else out there wants to help me in 
> helping
> > us grab it?
> >
> > Love, grace
> > In a message dated 2/2/07 8:42:43 PM, etwee at earthlink.net writes:
> >
> >
> > > Can the bills be posted, so we can all see them?  I realize they may not
> > > have all been assigned numbers yet....
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > >From: Gracegrnrnbw at aol.com
> > > >Sent: Feb 2, 2007 5:36 PM
> > > >To: statecom-discuss at green-rainbow.org
> > > >Subject: Helping change Criminal Justice SystemRe: [statecom-discuss] 
> Fwd:
> > > No    Fees on Offenders
> > > >
> > > >Interesting, Betts - I filed legislation to follow through on my 
> camapgin
> > > >issues - especially in areas that seemed to crying out for resolution 
> where
> > > >others were not - one was about six bills addressing different aspects 
> of
> > > the
> > > >criminal (in)justice system.   Those added to a number of other good 
> bills
> > > being
> > > >proposed and a couple more I am trying to get done through the budget
> > > process or
> > > >adminstratively could create a systemic shift.
> > > >
> > > >If you are willing to write press on these and maybe help with fact 
> sheet
> > > >devleopment or outreach.networking plans that would be spectacular- let 
> me
> > > konw
> > > >what youare up for-
> > > >
> > > >and anyone else out there with some energy - this could be a VERY 
> impactful
> > > >focus - Love, grace
> > > >In a message dated 2/2/07 3:11:25 PM, zisk at bu.edu writes:
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >> Here is finally a position with which I can agree wnoleheartedly. 
> Perhaps
> > > >> because I know the inmates' dependence on outside support and the 
> poor
> > > >> families trying to support them against all odds. I speak from two 
> yr's
> > > >> experience having ccordinated the Alternatives to Violence program in
> > > >> Norfolk, before Weld shut it down; and alas a four year relationship
> > > >> following that, with a man serving a life sentence at Norfolk (okay 
> you
> > > >> didnt know this about me). I essentially supported him to the tune of
> > > more
> > > >> than $100 a month during those yrs because his family couldnt. (Yes I
> > > still
> > > >> care--but relationship ended when the threat of strip searches for me
> > > became
> > > >> all pervasive.)  This fee is an outrage because it is levied on those
> > > >> families who are quite poor to begin with.
> > > >>
> > > >> I realize that prisoners rights arent a sexy or urgent topic right 
> now.
> > > >> After all, they are behind bars for a reason, etc etc. A few
> > > organizations
> > > >> like the Legal Services group and the AFSC are behind this cause (on 
> very
> > > >> minimal basis because of budget constraints.)I support those efforts 
> from
> > > a
> > > >> budget stretched thin on so many efforts.
> > > >>
> > > >> I wld like to suggest, in the mildest possible way, that we try very 
> hard
> > > to
> > > >> stick to local or regional issues when we take a stand. I would like 
> to
> > > >> suggest as well that when our national GPUS has taken a stand on 
> foreign
> > > >> policy we support them rather than taking our own stand--unless for
> > > urgent
> > > >> reasons we disagree with them.Maybe Elie and Jamie could print a 
> summary
> > > of
> > > >> GPUS stands to help us along.
> > > >>
> > > >> I find plenty to criticize in Mass politics (and I am sure Grace can 
> add
> > > >> chapter and verse.) I could name about five issues that I think 
> deserve a
> > > >> lot of our attention: the lousy health care program that Romney 
> proposed
> > > is
> > > >> one; prisoners rights (and the terrible conditions at MCI Walpole in 
> max
> > > >> security) is another. Lack of affordable housing statewide is a 
> third.
> > > And I
> > > >> guess my fourth and fifth would have to do with ecology--for example
> > > >> overfishing and the resultant deaths (two boats lost lately) because 
> of
> > > the
> > > >> pressure to get it fast, regardless of safety. And (#5) the 
> continuing
> > > >> pollution of our outmoded plants. I realize all of these are tame 
> issues
> > > in
> > > >> comparison with stopping the war or issues about Palestine. But 
> please
> > > note
> > > >> that they are all local. We seem to have forgotten that.
> > > >>
> > > >> Please I dont want to demean anyone working on other issues. But I
> > > urgently
> > > >> suggest that we start with local issues. And I urge the AdCom to take 
> a
> > > >> stand on prisoners rights just for starters.
> > > >>
> > > >> I am slowly getting back into shape. I will be glad to help wth 
> drafting
> > > a
> > > >> few statements if that will help--I just cant attend mtgs right now. W
> ith
> > > >> respect--for all that Statecomm has done, and all of the mediating
> > > efforts
> > > >> that people like Grace and Jill have tried. I love the GRP and I dont
> > > want
> > > >> to leave it. I hope and pray that we can keep on track. And this isnt
> > > meant
> > > >> to stifle opinions. I was a proudcarryng member of ACLU long before 
> Mike
> > > >> Dukakis was hesitant about admitting his membership. Poor Mike. I am 
> glad
> > > I
> > > >> never ran for office) Betts Zisk (the longest statement you will ever
> > > hear
> > > >> from me).
> > > >>
> > > >> -----Original Message-----
> > > >> From: statecom-discuss-bounces at green-rainbow.org
> > > >> [mailto:statecom-discuss-bounces at green-rainbow.org]On Behalf Of
> > > >> Gracegrnrnbw at aol.com
> > > >> Sent: Friday, February 02, 2007 2:10 PM
> > > >> To: statecom-discuss at green-rainbow.org
> > > >> Subject: [statecom-discuss] Fwd: No Fees on Offenders
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >> Wow, the things that happen that ouodn't hear about because you go 
> away!
> > > >> See below and then google "Patrick safety fees" if you want to read 
> the
> > > >> press
> > > >> coverage at the time...
> > > >>
> > > >> I don't know how much people are following developments with the new
> > > >> adminstration but Patrick has pretty consistently proposed regressive
> > > >> taxes - this is
> > > >> certainly yet another one.
> > > >>
> > > >> And what is the appeal of another fee on those who get convicted?
> > > >> Overwhelming low-income folks, overwhelmingly people of color?   
> Given
> > > that
> > > >> white
> > > >> collar crime is rarely prosecuted, this just continues the criminal
> > > justice
> > > >> system's bias.
> > > >>
> > > >> but what I really find staggering is that the only appeal I see here 
> is
> > > the
> > > >> right wing tough-on-crime = people of color as criminals subtext.  
> > > didn't
> > > >> we
> > > >> just hear all this outrage when Healey used that angle to try to win 
> an
> > > >> election?   But it's okay as the basis of tax/fee policy?
> > > >>
> > > >> Love, grace
> > > >>
> > > >> _______________________________________________
> > > >> statecom-discuss mailing list
> > > >> statecom-discuss at green-rainbow.org
> > > >> http://www.green-rainbow.org/mailman/listinfo/statecom-discuss
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >
> > > >_______________________________________________
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> > >
> > >
> > > Bill Cunningham
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > statecom-discuss mailing list
> > > statecom-discuss at green-rainbow.org
> > > http://www.green-rainbow.org/mailman/listinfo/statecom-discuss
> > >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > statecom-discuss mailing list
> > statecom-discuss at green-rainbow.org
> > http://www.green-rainbow.org/mailman/listinfo/statecom-discuss
> >
> 
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