Wal-mart Continues To Try and Buy New York’s Love

Rather Than Coming Before The City Council or Community Board, Walmart Resorts To The Only Strategy It Knows, Spend $$$$

As Walmart continues to avoid answering hard questions to New Yorkers, the company has been spending significant amounts of money in political contributions and political-style advertising to try to buy New Yorkers’ love. Today, the company announced a charitable contribution in another attempt to buy their way into New York City.

An analysis of Walmart’s New York State lobbying data from the New York State Commission on Public Integrity shows it spent $1.85 million on lobbying (including political-style advertisements) in the first four months of 2011. In 2007 through 2010, the company spent $335,385.

A similar shift has occurred in political contributions. An analysis of data from the National Institute on Money in State Politics, shows that between 2003 and 2010, Wal-Mart contributed $562,877 to statewide candidates in New York. Overall contributions have grown dramatically each election cycle in advance of the company’s efforts to expand into New York City, beginning with a mere $4,020 in 2004 and reaching $273,000 by 2010.

The mega-retailer can’t boost its flagging U.S. sales unless it expands into the nation’s largest cities, so it’s trying to break its way into New York with new store formats and new products, and most importantly-- a new image.

“Walmart can’t be trusted. The company is embracing progressive values in its public relations campaign to avoid tough questions about its history of alleged discrimination and putting local mom and pops out business.,” said Stephanie Yazgi, spokesperson for Walmart Free NYC. “Walmart’s convenient contribution won’t distract New Yorkers from its track record: the company is facing the largest gender bias class-action lawsuit in U.S. history, it has sold more guns than any company in the United States, and it failed The Human Right Campaign’s national LGBT scorecard.”

Walmart Lobbyist Spending

Lobbyist	2007	2008	2009	2010	2007-10	2011
Law Offices of Claudia Wagner LLC	$32,000	-	-	$22,500	$54,500
Patricia Lynch Associates	$65,000	$65,000	$62,834	$61,752	$254,586
Manatt, Phelps and Phillips LLP				$22,500	$22,500	$30,000
Philip Serghini	$620	$203	$2,976	-	$3,799
Walmart Stores						$1,756,853
The Wright Group						$24,000
Hodes and Landy						$30,000
York Group Associates						$16,000
Total	$97,620	$65,203	$65,810	$84,252	$335,385	$1,856,853

###

NY-26: The Final Stretch For Kathy Hochul by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand

Read original...

Yesterday, I was proud to campaign with our outstanding candidate in NY-26, Kathy Hochul. As Erie County Clerk, Kathy works hard every day to fight for the families of Erie County, put people back to work and make sure small businesses thrive.


It was appropriate that we held the rally in the United Auto Workers Union Hall in Amherst, surrounded by our great friends in Labor. As you know, this election is not just a choice between candidates or parties, it is a choice between visions for the future of our country. And the choice couldn't be clearer.


This election is about protecting and saving the middle class. It's about fighting for working people who are struggling versus millionaires and billionaires who are doing just fine. And it's about making sure our seniors aren't left out in the cold by a radical budget plan that will end Medicare as we know it and increase costs to all seniors.


According to a new Congressional study, the average New York senior will see out of pocket costs rise by $6500/year under the Republican budget plan. This is unacceptable and it is up to us as Democrats to fight this at every turn.


And our first opportunity to do that is on Tuesday.


Let's send Kathy Hochul to Congress to send a message to Republicans and the whole country that ordinary Americans are not going to stand for this extremist budget that hurts working people and seeks to dismantle the safety net designed to protect the most vulnerable among us.


The election is just 2 days away and we need all the calls and all the boots on the ground to put Kathy over the top.


You can make calls from home for Kathy here and if you're in the area, please sign up to be a volunteer for Kathy's campaign. If you want to travel to the district, you can contact Volunteer@KathyHochul.com or (716) 861-6881.


Thanks for all you're doing to send Kathy Hochul to Congress. I can't tell you how important it will be to have her as a partner in Washington to protect Medicare for our seniors, fight for the middle class and put New Yorkers back to work

ON MAY 12 Announces Days of Action and Rally.

May Day Call For Working Class Unity In NYC: Unions-Immigrants To Combatby PeoplesVideo - YouTube

April 26, 2011 joint press conference on the steps of NYC City Hall joined the May 1st Coalition for Worker and Immigrant Rights with the Labor & Immigrant Rights & Jobs for All Coalition. The two coalitions announced plans to conduct a joint rally in Foley Square after the May 1st Coalition led march to the downtown site from Union Square. They announced intentions to combine forces in a post May Day battle against the forces of austerity and repression that have declared war on the whole working class.

New Yorkers to Wall Street on May 12: Make Big Banks & Millionaires Pay

COALITION PLANS WEEK OF ACTION TO STOP BLOOMBERG’S BUDGET CUTS WITH TAXES ON MILLIONAIRES AND ENDING GIVEAWAYS TO BIG BANKS

National Movement Connects the Dots to NYC, Demands Reform and Fair Share in Taxes from Financial Sector
A growing coalition of community, labor, and progressive groups announced today plans for a week of events starting May 9^th, calling for Mayor Michael Bloomberg to end taxpayer-financed giveaways to Wall Street and ask for fair-share taxes from millionaires to mitigate his proposed budget cuts. The week of action will culminate in a major mobilization in Lower Manhattan on Thursday, May 12.

The coalition, uniting under the banner “Make Big Banks and Millionaires Pay” will contrast the corporate welfare, property tax giveaways, and seemingly endless local and national tax cuts enjoyed by the financial sector with Bloomberg’s proposed cuts to childcare, classrooms, public safety, and dozens of other services working New Yorkers rely on.

“The big banks wrecked our economy and are back to making billions in profits and lavish bonuses, while the rest of us are still cleaning up the mess they created,” said Mary Brosnahan, the Executive Director of the Coalition for the Homeless. “Now Bloomberg has a choice: ask Wall Street bankers to contribute their fair share to fixing New York City, rather than enacting devastating cuts to working families.”

The organizers promise more than a typical “rally” on May 12^th, with a day of diverse, creative actions across the downtown financial district. Michael Mulgrew, President of the United Federation of Teachers, said: “On May 12, tens of thousands of New Yorkers will descend on Wall Street, creating a giant school without walls throughout the financial district. Together, we will educate our city and expose the people and institutions that are destroying our jobs and our economy, and the politicians who are letting them get away with it.”

The week of actions coincides with a growing national movement by communities increasingly questioning the practices of the financial industry and fighting back against attacks on working people. “We are connecting the dots from the big banks that crashed our economy, destroyed millions of jobs and foreclosed on millions of family homes to the human impact here in the financial capital of our country, ” said Michael Kink, Executive Director of Strong Economy for All Coalition.

As the week of action approaches, organizers plan to release new data detailing the tax breaks and giveaways New York City doles out to the banking industry, as well as the effect of Wall Street-caused foreclosures on New York’s communities and tax revenue. “When New Yorkers see the skewed choices this city has made, it is no longer an abstraction,” added Kink. “Homeless shelters are bursting at the seams, and child care and senior centers are closing down -- not because we have gone broke, but because Bloomberg has chosen to spend hundreds of millions in subsidies for the people who need it least.”

The following community groups and unions have joined the May 12 coalition (list in formation):

Center for Children Initiatives
Center for Working Families
Citizen Action of New York
Coalition for the Homeless
Community Voices Heard
Housing Works
Make the Road New York
New York Communities for Change
New Deal for New York Campaign
Organization for a Free Society
Picture the Homeless
United Students Against Sweatshops
Urban Youth Collaborative
VOCAL-NY
1199 SEIU
SEIU 32BJ
CWA 1104
CWA 1180
CWA District 1
Professional Staff Congress – CUNY
United Federation of Teachers

Learn more at www.Onmay12.org
On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OnMay12
On Twitter: http://twitter.com/onmay12

Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito Stands with Central Park Boathouse Workers - News from Melissa Mark-Viverito

Read original...

Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito, Chair of the Parks & Recreation Committee, speaks at a rally in support of the workers of the Central Park Boathouse, who have filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board alleging unfair labor practices and union busting. She is joined by Speaker Christine Quinn, Council Member Gale Brewer and Council Member Elizabeth Crowley.

Melissa spoke at a rally last Thursday for the workers of the Central Park Boathouse, who have filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board alleging unfair labor practices and union busting. As Chair of the Parks & Recreation Committee and the Council Member representing Central Park, Melissa has made clear that any union busting efforts will not be tolerated, particularly within our city-owned public parks.

Speaker Christine Quinn, and Council Members Gale Brewer and Elizabeth Crowley also spoke at the rally. You can watch video of Melissa’s speech above.

Melissa was quoted in a Crain’s New York Business article about the event:

City Councilwoman Melissa Mark-Viverito, who represents the district the Boathouse is located in and also chairs the City Council Parks and Recreation Committee, called on the Parks Department to do more to pressure Mr. Poll to comply with his contract. She said she “wasn’t really pleased with the response of the [Parks Department Commissioner Adrian Benepe] so far.”

“I interpreted his response as a little dismissive,” she said. “I would hope that we’d have a strong partnership with the Parks Department and this administration on these concessions.”

City Council Member Crowley Rallies With Unions to Protect Workers' Rights

 L/R: Tom Sullivan, President of the Lieutenants' Benevolent Association; Council Member Elizabeth Crowley (speaking at podium); Norman Seabrook, President of the Correction Officers Benevolent Association; Owen O'Hara, the Honorable Elizabeth Crowley's son; Harry Nespoli, President of the Sanitation Workers' Union; Sidney Schwartzbaum, President of the Assistant Deputy Wardens Association.

Remarks by Council Member Elizabeth S. Crowley

City Council Fire & Criminal Justice Services Committee, Chair

“Right now worker’s rights are under attack. The war on labors is not limited to Wisconsin or Ohio or Indiana, it is happening here in New York.

“Everyday we hear government officials threatening pensions and we can see these threats in proposals that cut our uniform services and our teachers. There are forces that are not trying to balance budgets—they are trying to break unions. This is not democracy—this is union busting.

“One of government’s most important responsibilities is to keep people safe. Our uniform services risk their lives to protect us and it’s up to us and the city to protect them. Our construction workers risk their lives and do dangerous jobs for our city’s benefit and we need to treat them like human beings—not like slaves.

“Our uniform services and laborers have a tough job and let’s face it: if we take pensions away, if we take away health care benefits, if we take away our bargaining rights, we will drive away qualified men and women to take on these dangerous and sometimes deadly jobs.

“This year, we remember the 10th anniversary of the attacks on September 11th in which 343 firefighters and 27 police officers died and more continue to die as a result of their heroism on that day. This tragedy should serve as a reminder of what the dangerous and sometimes deadly job our city workers face; and it should motivate us to speak out to protect the rights that so many people have died for.

“In solidarity – and only in solidarity – we will fight this war and we will win.”

Update From NFL Players on the 2011 Season - NFL Players Association

Dear NFL Fan:


The players of the National Football League want to thank you for your support during the lockout. The NFL lockout not only impacts players, but it also affects you and thousands of people that rely on the game. We also want to thank you for doing your part as a fan and signing our “Block the Lockout” Petition.


Last week, the NFL made a big splash, releasing the 2011 Preseason Schedule for a season that is not guaranteed. The Hall of Fame game, the marquee event to start the NFL preseason, is around the corner. However, when the NFL and its owners imposed a lockout on March 12, 2011, they put the future of America’s game in serious jeopardy.


While the NFL continues to fight in court to keep the lockout in place, we want to make you aware of a few updates including a shift to petition the NFL to “Lift the Lockout.” Our message is clear and simple: we are locked out and want to play. If you want to help us get back on the field, here’s how you can help:

• Tell EVERYONE you can about www.NFLLockout.com and ask them to sign the Petition to “Lift the Lockout.” The petition letter to “Lift the Lockout” is here.
• Share our Facebook page with your network
• Ask your tweeps to: follow @NFLLockout and sign the Petition to “Lift the Lockout”
• For more info on player and lockout news check out the NFLPA on Facebook & Twitter

Thanks so much for your support and for encouraging the NFL and its owners to “Lift the Lockout.”


Sincerely,


Players of the National Football League

Michael Moore on The Colbert Report - Comedy Central

Watch original...

Michael Moore says labor unions are on the ropes because wealthy people have done everything they can to destroy them. (07:17)

I Give Up - Pay Anything... - The Daily Show with Jon Stewart - Comedy Central

Watch original...

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
I Give Up - Pay Anything...
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor & Satire Blog The Daily Show on Facebook

As greedy public workers bankrupt states, America makes it harder for honest corporate citizens to create jobs."

Mayor Michael Bloomberg Booed at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire Commemoration

Mayor Michael Bloomberg Speaking at the 100th Commemoration of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire as the crowd boos at him. No other speaker drew this kind of response.

Remembering Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire with Serf Maltese - wnyc radio

Serf Maltese shares memories of his grandmother and two aunts who were amung the 146 victims of the 1911.

MoveOn.org Save the American Dream Rally - Union Square Park, NYC - March 15, 2011...

Click here to view these pictures larger

In "Dangerous World", Unions Fight "Assault" on Middle Class Families, Elizabeth Warren Says

Read original...

The standoff between Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and public-sector employees comes to a head today as the Governor’s ultimatum runs out for the 14 state senate democrats who fled to Illinois to avoid a budget vote .

If the Senators do not return home and vote on Walker's budget -- which includes ending public unions' right to bargain collectively on pension and health-care benefits -- the state will face dire consequences.

Most Americans agree that time for austerity has arrived in the U.S. at all levels of government: state, local and federal. But, the majority of Americans do not agree that weakening labor unions is the right way to achieve this goal.

Elizabeth Warren, special adviser to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and fervent supporter of America’s middle class, agrees.

When Tech Ticker’s Aaron Task sat down with Warren in Washington last week, he asked about our recent interview with the president of the International Fire Fighters’ Association Harold Schaitberger. The union chief finds it galling that some Wall Street “single-year bonuses exceed the average life time benefits” of the average firefighter and paramedic. (See:"This is All About the Money": Pension Fund 'Crisis' a Red Herring, Union Chief Says)

Her response: “The middle class has been under assault now, really, for a generation.”

The 1-2 Punch

The middle class got hit by a "one-two punch" of rising daily living expenses plus flat wages, Warren tells Aaron in the accompanying clip. The world became a “far more dangerous” for American families when Congress “deregulated credit and turned the lender loose," starting in the 1990s, she continues.

As more people turned to buying the necessities with plastic -- including health-care, college tuition and groceries -- Americans became inundated with debt and “more of them started falling over the cliff financially,” she says. “We’ve got a middle class that is under assault from multiple directions.”

Union critics blame the public-sector for ballooning state deficits and lack of jobs. But, Warren says those arguments are simply not supported by the facts.

Unions are one of the few institutions trying to strengthen America’s middle class by fighting for fair wages, she says. “We should be in a world in which we all are a little better off when this country produces more, not that the part left over for those who work for a living keeps shrinking, while those who manage investments get an ever bigger piece.” (From 1976 to 2007, the top 1% of U.S. earners received 58% of all real income growth, according to economics professor Raghuramu Rajan of the University of Chicago's Booth School.)

Madison Showdown

What happens in Wisconsin is likely to set the stage for other bitter labor battles across the country.

What’s at stake? $165 million of taxpayers' money, which could be saved if the state refinanced its debt. If the standoff persists, 1500 jobs will be lost by July and up to 12,000 jobs are eventually at stake.

Gov. Walker says the goal of his budget plan is to close Wisconsin's $3.6 billion shortfall this year while AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka says this is all about politics. (See: Gov. Walker Is "Playing Politics With People's Lives," AFL-CIO's Trumka Says)

Whether or not you agree with Walker’s methods, he's like almost every other Governor in the country trying to figure out how to push his or her state’s finances out of the red in the face of growing public-employee pension and health-care benefits.

If labor unions lose this fight, the very fabric of this country will be unrecognizable, says Warren. “If as a country we don’t concentrate on rebuilding that middle class what we knew as America just doesn’t exist anymore."