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

Sat Feb 3 18:26:21 EST 2007

 I have a scanner - Melissa is right - I can reate a list of the bills & sponsors, someone could look up their office numbers at the statehouse and ask them to email the text of the bills - Or you cuold email their offices, although that is likely to take a lot more time - Thanks, Love, grace

 -----Original Message-----
 From: lissagrp at gmail.com
 To: statecom-discuss at green-rainbow.org
 Sent: Sat, 3 Feb 2007 5:41 PM
 Subject: Re: Helping change Criminal Justice SystemRe: [statecom-discuss] Fwd:No Fees on Offenders

  Betty, 
 If you contacted the staff members of the legislators who all filed 
 legislation that we have have an interest in, they would be able to send the 
 text of the bills in an electronic format. It's not a difficult job, it's 
 is just time consuming and it seems Grace is asking for help with that. 

 Melissa 

 On 2/3/07, Betty H. Zisk <zisk at bu.edu> wrote: 
 > 
 > I will try to help with this, Does anyone out there have a scanner or some 
 > other device to help you put bills in electronic form? Betts 
 > 
 > -----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 10:20 PM 
 > 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. 
 > With 
 > > >> 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 
 > > >> 
 > > >> 
 > > > 
 > > >_______________________________________________ 
 > > >statecom-discuss mailing list 
 > > >statecom-discuss at green-rainbow.org 
 > > >http://www.green-rainbow.org/mailman/listinfo/statecom-discuss 
 > > 
 > > 
 > > 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 
 > 
 > _______________________________________________ 
 > statecom-discuss mailing list 
 > statecom-discuss at green-rainbow.org 
 > http://www.green-rainbow.org/mailman/listinfo/statecom-discuss 
 > 
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