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Oakland Renters News
Tenants of the Campaign for Renters Rights Are Under Siege By A Takeover By The Members of Labors Militant Voice!
OaklandCa - Christmas Evening
East Bay Renters Newz...
Campaign for Renters Rights Under Siege By Labors Militant Voice!
Members of the Campaign for Renters Rights rebell against those in Labors Militant Voice who have turned the CRR into their front group. Labors Militant Voice had the audacity to claim that they control all the images of the tenants group called the Campaign for Renters Rights. John Reimann and Richard Mellor of LMV have done thier best to silence critics in the CRR who found their photos being used by the LMV without their permission in recent past issues. Rob Rooke also a member of LMV ducks the issue, and lets the LMV Members run rough shod over the tenants group.
Good newz...
Reports are streaming in about evictions in Oakland being dropped like hot potatoes because of the anti-eviction Measure EE or as some call it Just Cause!
Sources from around Oakland are confirming reports of
renters under attack, suddenly finding themselves free
from the eviction proceedings instituted against them
while the landlords have hidden theirselves away for now to re-group...
The effects of Measure EE already are starting to appear as the landlords quickly are realizing that their attempts to evict were to late. Measure EE goes into effect on Dec 27, 2002.
Corrine James is one of the lucky ones who realized upon late Dec 23 that her landlord had already cashed her rent check back on Dec 20, and had never bothered to contact Corrine to let her know that the OMI eviction
was called off. Sounds like a case of pain and suffering or inflicting emotional distress on Corrine to the last drop by her landlord...
According to a local tenant attorney (another info source), she also is aware of eviction cases suddenly being dropped due to the effects of Measure EE on Oakland landlords...She is losing business already as a result of Measure EE, which is good for the renters...
Reports from tenants also seem to confirm what Leah and Corrine have become aware of.
Yes, on Measure EE!
************
Other Newz...
Seems that the non-profit housing organizations are some of the worst offenders as of late.
Sources say; recently Affordable Housing Associates took over a Berkeley Building of Narci Davids (Narci's), and tried to jack up the rents for a huge rent increase. Tenants spoke up, and they backed off of the rent increases after it was revealed or hit the light of day....
**************
Sources say; Jubilee West recently was called to task for a lock out of tenants at one of their properties after locking up the premises and boarding up the windows to keep the renters with contracts out of their homes. They (Jubi West) claimed ignorance, and thought that they were exempt from rent laws...Jubi West went on to claim that they were dope dealers that had to go....
***************
Sources say; East Bay Asian Land Development Corporation (EBALDC) is still making the rounds demanding a 10% rent increase from tenants at Effies House in Oakland. During Oct 2001-Oct 2002 EBALDC raised the rents over 20% at Effies House on very low-income renters. The latest, is that one of their renters of the non-profit EBALDC, received a notice
of the 10% rent increse by someone that slipped it under his door. He was instructed to sign the notice of the rent increase, and then ordered to return it back to EBALDC. EBALDC is trying to have all notices returned to them so that no records are left about so that they may not reach public scrutiny, or they often use the name Ivy Hill Development Corporation on notices to hide behind. Lately, they use notices claiming to be from MANAGEMENT, with no corporate names at all mentioned.... Another new tactic of EBALDC is to set up a system of pre-made "Quick Notes" to Management--for repairs or what have you, so that renters stop sending letters that may be addressed to EBALDC or to someone that actualy has a name. The idea is for tenants to fill out the forms without making copies, to send in to Management for whatever reason, and to no one in particular...Slippery stuff...
****************
Coincidently, these 3 non-profits....
Affordable Housing Associates & EBALDC have partnerships in housing going on, as well as does Jubilee West & EBALDC with their own partner projects happening together. EBALDC alone has over 700 rental units, and 100,000 square feet of retail space for rent...
Combined, they control much needed housing for low-income renters.
EBALDC has dumped the resident managers in most of their properties to pocket the extra rents after renting out the managers apartments, in spite of state laws making this illegal.
Also under fire for building new exterior stairs (4 flights) recently at a building the wrong way, EBALDC try's to play hard ball rather than explain why someone was dumb enough to build stairs that people can not use...Only 4 units have access to the stairs that were meant to be built for 6 units needing access...Dumb...A fortune was spent on this mess....Records exist at City Hall regarding this scenario...Renters are under pressure to remain silent about this unsafe situation...
EBALDC & Affordable Housing Associates have run the Oak Park Apartments in Oakland after David Choo a notorius slumlord lost the place after the tenants won a million dollar suit against him for slum conditions. To their disgrace, EBALDC could'nt ignore all of those
families who each got a part ($20,000) of the settlement money, and got right in there and talked most of the immigrant families into giving the money up to them. $20,000 per family! The immigrants were not offered a piece of the property for their own as partners of EBALDC! How do you convince renters to pay up a year or 2 years worth of rent in advance to live in a place with slum like conditions without becoming partners in the project? Theres a real story here...
**************
Seems to be that many of the non-profits in housing have the Mother Teresa syndrome, believing that they cannot do no harm, are exempt from the rent laws, and have no need to brush up on the existing laws in place that do apply, such as Measure EE, state laws, etc....
Many fail to even bother to read the existing laws, let alone the new ones coming into play.
Many believe that the non-profits are quickly becoming the worst of the landlords despite the good that they have done to keep the rents affordable, to some...At fault is the misbelief that they can do no wrong, and they believe their own propaganda...
Many of the properties are being run like little prisons to scare the renters into silence, or strip them of their rights because low-income renters are at the bottom of the food chain...Shame on the non-profits that have gone the way of the bad landlords, and thank the stars for the ones treating their renters well while keeping the rents low...
Only by keeping tabs on the worst of the non-profits, can we hope to keep this all in perspective.
A recent blow to the good non-profits in housing, is the Oakland Forrest City Deal where $60 Million of affordable housing money is going to the rich...The whole system is becoming corrupted to the core...The bad hurt the good, and the good need support...
*******************
East Bay Renters Newz...
Campaign for Renters Rights Under Siege By Labors Militant Voice!
Members of the Campaign for Renters Rights rebell against those in Labors Militant Voice who have turned the CRR into their front group. Labors Militant Voice had the audacity to claim that they control all the images of the tenants group called the Campaign for Renters Rights. John Reimann and Richard Mellor of LMV have done thier best to silence critics in the CRR who found their photos being used by the LMV without their permission in recent past issues. Rob Rooke also a member of LMV ducks the issue, and lets the LMV Members run rough shod over the tenants group.
Good newz...
Reports are streaming in about evictions in Oakland being dropped like hot potatoes because of the anti-eviction Measure EE or as some call it Just Cause!
Sources from around Oakland are confirming reports of
renters under attack, suddenly finding themselves free
from the eviction proceedings instituted against them
while the landlords have hidden theirselves away for now to re-group...
The effects of Measure EE already are starting to appear as the landlords quickly are realizing that their attempts to evict were to late. Measure EE goes into effect on Dec 27, 2002.
Corrine James is one of the lucky ones who realized upon late Dec 23 that her landlord had already cashed her rent check back on Dec 20, and had never bothered to contact Corrine to let her know that the OMI eviction
was called off. Sounds like a case of pain and suffering or inflicting emotional distress on Corrine to the last drop by her landlord...
According to a local tenant attorney (another info source), she also is aware of eviction cases suddenly being dropped due to the effects of Measure EE on Oakland landlords...She is losing business already as a result of Measure EE, which is good for the renters...
Reports from tenants also seem to confirm what Leah and Corrine have become aware of.
Yes, on Measure EE!
************
Other Newz...
Seems that the non-profit housing organizations are some of the worst offenders as of late.
Sources say; recently Affordable Housing Associates took over a Berkeley Building of Narci Davids (Narci's), and tried to jack up the rents for a huge rent increase. Tenants spoke up, and they backed off of the rent increases after it was revealed or hit the light of day....
**************
Sources say; Jubilee West recently was called to task for a lock out of tenants at one of their properties after locking up the premises and boarding up the windows to keep the renters with contracts out of their homes. They (Jubi West) claimed ignorance, and thought that they were exempt from rent laws...Jubi West went on to claim that they were dope dealers that had to go....
***************
Sources say; East Bay Asian Land Development Corporation (EBALDC) is still making the rounds demanding a 10% rent increase from tenants at Effies House in Oakland. During Oct 2001-Oct 2002 EBALDC raised the rents over 20% at Effies House on very low-income renters. The latest, is that one of their renters of the non-profit EBALDC, received a notice
of the 10% rent increse by someone that slipped it under his door. He was instructed to sign the notice of the rent increase, and then ordered to return it back to EBALDC. EBALDC is trying to have all notices returned to them so that no records are left about so that they may not reach public scrutiny, or they often use the name Ivy Hill Development Corporation on notices to hide behind. Lately, they use notices claiming to be from MANAGEMENT, with no corporate names at all mentioned.... Another new tactic of EBALDC is to set up a system of pre-made "Quick Notes" to Management--for repairs or what have you, so that renters stop sending letters that may be addressed to EBALDC or to someone that actualy has a name. The idea is for tenants to fill out the forms without making copies, to send in to Management for whatever reason, and to no one in particular...Slippery stuff...
****************
Coincidently, these 3 non-profits....
Affordable Housing Associates & EBALDC have partnerships in housing going on, as well as does Jubilee West & EBALDC with their own partner projects happening together. EBALDC alone has over 700 rental units, and 100,000 square feet of retail space for rent...
Combined, they control much needed housing for low-income renters.
EBALDC has dumped the resident managers in most of their properties to pocket the extra rents after renting out the managers apartments, in spite of state laws making this illegal.
Also under fire for building new exterior stairs (4 flights) recently at a building the wrong way, EBALDC try's to play hard ball rather than explain why someone was dumb enough to build stairs that people can not use...Only 4 units have access to the stairs that were meant to be built for 6 units needing access...Dumb...A fortune was spent on this mess....Records exist at City Hall regarding this scenario...Renters are under pressure to remain silent about this unsafe situation...
EBALDC & Affordable Housing Associates have run the Oak Park Apartments in Oakland after David Choo a notorius slumlord lost the place after the tenants won a million dollar suit against him for slum conditions. To their disgrace, EBALDC could'nt ignore all of those
families who each got a part ($20,000) of the settlement money, and got right in there and talked most of the immigrant families into giving the money up to them. $20,000 per family! The immigrants were not offered a piece of the property for their own as partners of EBALDC! How do you convince renters to pay up a year or 2 years worth of rent in advance to live in a place with slum like conditions without becoming partners in the project? Theres a real story here...
**************
Seems to be that many of the non-profits in housing have the Mother Teresa syndrome, believing that they cannot do no harm, are exempt from the rent laws, and have no need to brush up on the existing laws in place that do apply, such as Measure EE, state laws, etc....
Many fail to even bother to read the existing laws, let alone the new ones coming into play.
Many believe that the non-profits are quickly becoming the worst of the landlords despite the good that they have done to keep the rents affordable, to some...At fault is the misbelief that they can do no wrong, and they believe their own propaganda...
Many of the properties are being run like little prisons to scare the renters into silence, or strip them of their rights because low-income renters are at the bottom of the food chain...Shame on the non-profits that have gone the way of the bad landlords, and thank the stars for the ones treating their renters well while keeping the rents low...
Only by keeping tabs on the worst of the non-profits, can we hope to keep this all in perspective.
A recent blow to the good non-profits in housing, is the Oakland Forrest City Deal where $60 Million of affordable housing money is going to the rich...The whole system is becoming corrupted to the core...The bad hurt the good, and the good need support...
*******************
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Comments
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Thanks for posting this info. It would be good to also post things like city council meetings and any other events that need good showings.
Labors Militant Voice means just that- they see themselves as the voice for labor. They are trying to trick people into supporting them, giving them some "color". But luckily most people see through it and instead seek professional or serious help for tenants.
Another Trot group trying to gain political influence over working people who are sick of people trying to "teach them" something. I garantee that they want ot start running politicians for ofice
How can we mount an effective campaign against vampires who wish to drain workers movements of all authenticity? We need a more knowledgable revolutionary group to oust these vamps.
This seems like a dangerous tendency to post internal problems on the internet. It then becomes an anonymous public gossip forum. Another post on sf.indymedia has the Lorenzo Ervin vs AK Press squabble.
Reiman helped lead a major wildcat strike in the carpenters locals here in the Bay Area. Rob Rooke was also active in the carpenters struggle which is how I met these guys. These guys seem sincere and have put their own asses on the line (Reiman got kicked out of the carpenters by their HIGHLY corrupt international). I don't have any info on the squabble posted here-- maybe LMV were assholes or maybe not but posts like this seem to be the wrong way to deal with internal problems.
Reiman helped lead a major wildcat strike in the carpenters locals here in the Bay Area. Rob Rooke was also active in the carpenters struggle which is how I met these guys. These guys seem sincere and have put their own asses on the line (Reiman got kicked out of the carpenters by their HIGHLY corrupt international). I don't have any info on the squabble posted here-- maybe LMV were assholes or maybe not but posts like this seem to be the wrong way to deal with internal problems.
about the last comment, note how they put "anarchist" for "your name" but the content was all trot. pay careful attention to this truly dangerous trend.
trots or any other know-it-alls who try to take over groups should be and will be exposed publicly. its a losing game.
trots or any other know-it-alls who try to take over groups should be and will be exposed publicly. its a losing game.
Trotsky Politics, fer sure................
Reimann wants to run a slate for office in Oakland, and publicly made it known at a recent event for recruiting LMV Members under the guise of an evening to discuss Measure EE at SEIU Local 250.
Reimann claims; he see's nothing wrong with using the CRR to seek personal gain in the world of politics. The tenants of the CRR have not stepped up to the plate to support him.
It's no secret, nor a squable since it became open for discussion in a public meeting.
Like any group, when it's real and pure the CRR makes a fine addition to rent laws that protect the renters. But as soon as the pushy bastards who are not even tenants (home owners) decided that they wanted to be in charge to exploit the group and it's images for the LMV, they fucked it all up so that there was nothing left for people to invest in.
Recently, Labors Militant Voice started a feud with the tenants when they decided to split the CRR up into a
something different. Tenants rebelled, and LMV took a dim view of that by trying to muffle dissent.
Fuck these assholes!
All they did was to alienate the community by trying to use the CRR as a front.
Reimann wants to run a slate for office in Oakland, and publicly made it known at a recent event for recruiting LMV Members under the guise of an evening to discuss Measure EE at SEIU Local 250.
Reimann claims; he see's nothing wrong with using the CRR to seek personal gain in the world of politics. The tenants of the CRR have not stepped up to the plate to support him.
It's no secret, nor a squable since it became open for discussion in a public meeting.
Like any group, when it's real and pure the CRR makes a fine addition to rent laws that protect the renters. But as soon as the pushy bastards who are not even tenants (home owners) decided that they wanted to be in charge to exploit the group and it's images for the LMV, they fucked it all up so that there was nothing left for people to invest in.
Recently, Labors Militant Voice started a feud with the tenants when they decided to split the CRR up into a
something different. Tenants rebelled, and LMV took a dim view of that by trying to muffle dissent.
Fuck these assholes!
All they did was to alienate the community by trying to use the CRR as a front.
exactly how many people are in the "Campaign" for Renters Rights? I've never seen more than three people, and if two of them are splintering the "movement," than what's the big deal?
And if that loony Carpenters guy really thinks that anyone in Oakland would vote for his "slate," I have a bridge I want to sell him. Go volunteer with someone who's making a difference instead of trying to be the Big Union Man Changing the World.
As long as these fringe groups continue to have a presence in Oakland politics, progressives will always be marginalized. Remember: Measure EE came together because it was not the same old tired tenants' rights wingnuts who put it forward, but rather because a crop of active new faces were willing to do what it takes to really win.
And if that loony Carpenters guy really thinks that anyone in Oakland would vote for his "slate," I have a bridge I want to sell him. Go volunteer with someone who's making a difference instead of trying to be the Big Union Man Changing the World.
As long as these fringe groups continue to have a presence in Oakland politics, progressives will always be marginalized. Remember: Measure EE came together because it was not the same old tired tenants' rights wingnuts who put it forward, but rather because a crop of active new faces were willing to do what it takes to really win.
HOHO
IS ANY OF THE CRR TROTS EVEN A TENANT?
LETS HEAR FROM THEM! ARE YOU IN CRR AND ACTUALY EVER RENT A PLACE IN OAKLAND?
IS ANY OF THE CRR TROTS EVEN A TENANT?
LETS HEAR FROM THEM! ARE YOU IN CRR AND ACTUALY EVER RENT A PLACE IN OAKLAND?
Ok, Campaign for Renters Rights? I live in Oakland and I have never heard of these people. I have never seen a post from them on Indymedia or local mailing lists I'm on. Are Trotskioid members of CRR reading this thread? Do they have the courage to respond to these accusations publicly? Or will they just ostracize the dissidents and create further strife in the community?
John Reimann and Richard Mellor - maybe it would be good to post a response in defense. Its true, this isn't a good place to figure things out and to polarize people when all the facts aren't out. But the best way to cope with these is to respond with the facts, then, assuming enough people look on here to make a diff anyway.
CLARIFICATION.............
Home owners from the LMV (John Reimann of Oakland, Richard Mellor of San Leandro, and Rob Rooke of Oakland) have total control over the CRR.
The below is a posting of John Reimann in responce to concerns about the heavy hand of LMV on the CRR.
Open Post
This message is not flagged. [ Flag Message - Mark as Unread ]
To: renters_power [at] topica.com
From: "John Reimann" <wildcat99 [at] earthlink.net> | This is Spam | Add to Address Book
Subject: CRR & Labors Militant Voice
Date: Wed, 18 Dec 2002 22:29:05 -0800
Recently some issues were raised on this list about the relationship between the Campaign for Renters Rights and Labor's Militant Voice (LMV). We hope that the following helps clarify any questions that may exist:
First of all, we would like to stress that Labor's Militant Voice has never, at any time, sought to impose its ideas or methods on the CRR. These are two different groups, with different people involved and different ideas. It is true that both the membership and the ideas
overlap in some aspects, but they also differ. We believe that we have always been respectful of these differences.
It was one of the members of LMV (Rob Rooke) who first had the idea for the founding of the CRR and led the way in taking the first steps in this direction. Since the start of the CRR, members of LMV (both
renters and homeowners) have enthusiastically participated in helping East Bay renters organize for their rights as tenants.
LMV has its own separate meetings. In some of those meetings we have discussed how the CRR is going, but we have never, ever even considered trying to make any decisions for the CRR or anything on the CRR. Neither LMV nor any other group or or any individual makes decisions for the CRR. This would be contrary to everything we believe in and would mean a disaster for the CRR.
We think the CRR should welcome people from all political groups, so long as they are genuinely committed to helping tenants organize to
fight for their rights through direct action. Another commitment must be that any actions that are taken in any particular case must be done with the approval of the tenant or tenants involved in that case.
One specific issue was raised that we feel should be clarified: At almost all protests of the CRR, we have notified the media and we have hoped that they would cover these events. This means both writing stories as well as taking pictures. We think that (almost) any publicity for the CRR is helpful. We think that LMV should have the same right as anybody else, be they from the "Oakland Tribune" or "Street Spirit" or anywhere else, to write about the CRR and
photograph its activities, and we also think that this can only help the CRR develop.
Finally, some people may be wondering just what Labor's Militant Voice is, what we stand for. This is too long and complex of a question to fully answer in this one note. However, in short we believe that the free market system (capitalism) has dramatically failed to provide the basic necessities of life. It has failed to
provide decent medical care and it has failed to provide decent housing. It is polluting the air, water and soil. It is leading to a state of "war without end" with enormous suffering worldwide as a result. We believe that ordinary people must organize to fight for their rights and interests. We also believe that in the course of
that struggle, that many others will also conclude - primarily through their own experiences - that this system cannot provide for their necessities or resolve their problems. For those who would like to know more, we invite you to check out our web site (www.
LaborsMilitantVoice.com) or please feel free to contact any one of us to find out about checking out our meetings.
John Reimann
on behalf of Labor's Militant Voice
John Reimann
check our web site: http://laborsmilitantvoice.com
Home owners from the LMV (John Reimann of Oakland, Richard Mellor of San Leandro, and Rob Rooke of Oakland) have total control over the CRR.
The below is a posting of John Reimann in responce to concerns about the heavy hand of LMV on the CRR.
Open Post
This message is not flagged. [ Flag Message - Mark as Unread ]
To: renters_power [at] topica.com
From: "John Reimann" <wildcat99 [at] earthlink.net> | This is Spam | Add to Address Book
Subject: CRR & Labors Militant Voice
Date: Wed, 18 Dec 2002 22:29:05 -0800
Recently some issues were raised on this list about the relationship between the Campaign for Renters Rights and Labor's Militant Voice (LMV). We hope that the following helps clarify any questions that may exist:
First of all, we would like to stress that Labor's Militant Voice has never, at any time, sought to impose its ideas or methods on the CRR. These are two different groups, with different people involved and different ideas. It is true that both the membership and the ideas
overlap in some aspects, but they also differ. We believe that we have always been respectful of these differences.
It was one of the members of LMV (Rob Rooke) who first had the idea for the founding of the CRR and led the way in taking the first steps in this direction. Since the start of the CRR, members of LMV (both
renters and homeowners) have enthusiastically participated in helping East Bay renters organize for their rights as tenants.
LMV has its own separate meetings. In some of those meetings we have discussed how the CRR is going, but we have never, ever even considered trying to make any decisions for the CRR or anything on the CRR. Neither LMV nor any other group or or any individual makes decisions for the CRR. This would be contrary to everything we believe in and would mean a disaster for the CRR.
We think the CRR should welcome people from all political groups, so long as they are genuinely committed to helping tenants organize to
fight for their rights through direct action. Another commitment must be that any actions that are taken in any particular case must be done with the approval of the tenant or tenants involved in that case.
One specific issue was raised that we feel should be clarified: At almost all protests of the CRR, we have notified the media and we have hoped that they would cover these events. This means both writing stories as well as taking pictures. We think that (almost) any publicity for the CRR is helpful. We think that LMV should have the same right as anybody else, be they from the "Oakland Tribune" or "Street Spirit" or anywhere else, to write about the CRR and
photograph its activities, and we also think that this can only help the CRR develop.
Finally, some people may be wondering just what Labor's Militant Voice is, what we stand for. This is too long and complex of a question to fully answer in this one note. However, in short we believe that the free market system (capitalism) has dramatically failed to provide the basic necessities of life. It has failed to
provide decent medical care and it has failed to provide decent housing. It is polluting the air, water and soil. It is leading to a state of "war without end" with enormous suffering worldwide as a result. We believe that ordinary people must organize to fight for their rights and interests. We also believe that in the course of
that struggle, that many others will also conclude - primarily through their own experiences - that this system cannot provide for their necessities or resolve their problems. For those who would like to know more, we invite you to check out our web site (www.
LaborsMilitantVoice.com) or please feel free to contact any one of us to find out about checking out our meetings.
John Reimann
on behalf of Labor's Militant Voice
John Reimann
check our web site: http://laborsmilitantvoice.com
John, does LMV discuss CRR in their meetings?
Do LMV members attempt to form a bloc within CRR?
What is the strategic advantage of having so many of LMV's local resources spent on one group?
What strategic advantage is fundamentally driving LMV's involvement in CRR?
You said LMV members founded CRR. Does this give LMV any special claim to the credit or responsibility for CRR?
What is the long-term goal of LMV? Can you explain how your group expects to seize state power? Can you explain how involvement in CRR moves you towards this goal?
I think these questions are the ones we all want answered.
Do LMV members attempt to form a bloc within CRR?
What is the strategic advantage of having so many of LMV's local resources spent on one group?
What strategic advantage is fundamentally driving LMV's involvement in CRR?
You said LMV members founded CRR. Does this give LMV any special claim to the credit or responsibility for CRR?
What is the long-term goal of LMV? Can you explain how your group expects to seize state power? Can you explain how involvement in CRR moves you towards this goal?
I think these questions are the ones we all want answered.
For the record...
My name is Lynda Carson. I have at times assisted the Campaign for Renters Rights through the years to protect the renters. During the past year, I have spent many months, days, many hours, and weeks helping to publicize the group and to help organize events after we solidified a year ago to fight the Oakland Rent Board Task Force of Dick Spees. Stories about our actions could be found in SF.IMC, Urban View, Street Spirit, Tribune, Montclarion, etc, which I helped to generate or wrote myself. I also handled (created) the Press Releases and contacted the media about our action's in advance.
I recently walked away very disenchanted about the exploitation of the Campaign for Renters Rights by LMV Members. It has become very obvious that the LMV exploits the CRR by taking credit for the work of the members of the CRR, and I want no part of it. The LMV also claimed all rights recently over the images of the CRR to use as they desire. They (LMV) does not, nor ever had my permission to use my images by the LMV, and the same went for others (tenants) in the CRR.
When new members (tenants) join the CRR, no mention is made about the relationship with the LMV.
To the best of my knowledge.
During my early involvement never was there a mention that the group (Campaign for Renters Rights) was controlled by Labors Militant Voice, or it's members until very recently. It seemed like a loose knit group of folks joining up at times protecting renters from landlords. In fact, at first the Campaign for Renters Rights was not something I was even aware of, and just worked with these folks because they were interested in uniting with me. John Reimann and Richard Mellor showed up at the Oakland Housing Authority for a series of protest's I had going 3 years ago because of the Section 8 Rent Scams. I never thought of us as having a name for the group of us which seemed fluid as time went on.
Eventually, I became concious of the Campaign for Renters Rights as I got to know Rob Rooke down the road.
Time passed and we united more and more for actions and events. I became more aware of the CRR as time passed, and tried to promote the name as a tenants group after it appeared that I had become a member.
After I and others had much time involved, suddenly members of LMV wanted to split up the group into something different than a tenants group now that we got abit of name recognition. A few of us oppossed this apparent takover by the LMV, and I have been on the outs of this group ever since. after being in opposition to what the LMV wanted.
About that same time or a little later it came to my attention that photo's from the meetings of the Campaign for Renters Rights landed on the front page of Labors Militant Voice, with numerous other photo's inside of the same issue. It so happened that my photo was in that same issue numerous times without my consent or knowledge in advance. The issues were sold for money, being a dollar or two dollars a copy. I do not know where the money went or how it was spent. Members of the CRR are kept in the dark about the finances of LMV, why LMV claims the rights over the CRR, and a result is that most members (tenants) are not aware of the connection with LMV until as of late when I started asking serious questions about the LMV and it's relationship with the CRR.
As it got tense, and I realized that the LMV played a heavy role in the CRR I wanted out a few months ago, but, was not out for long as I hoped I could steady the group as a tenants group with it's independence of LMV.
The LMV tightened it's grip ever further to use the CRR as a front group of the LMV, and I parted ways.
Below are recent messages from the CRR List that may help to clarify the position of the LMV over the CRR.
Note: The message of Eric Gee was honest regarding the LMV using CRR images without the consent of CRR Members and my anger about this scenario. Richard Mellor is an outright liar in response to the use of images and he was the one to outright state that the LMV claims all rights to images of the CRR.
Rob Rooke below writes about the LMV relation with the CRR, which is the first time I have ever seen an e-mail from Rob about the LMV relation with the CRR. Usually no one from the LMV ever wants to have it as part of any discussions with the tenants of the CRR, as they try to remain behind the scenes.
It is my belief that the Campaign for Renters Rights needs remains a tenants group, and must be independant of LMV or any other group that wants the CRR as a front group for politics, recruiting, etc...
During a recent event at SEIU Local 250 which I helped to publicize to teach renters about Measure EE, the LMV (John Reimann) set up a table selling LMV stuff and it was so obvious then that the event was really to recruit others for the LMV or to promote it, that it really botherd me. Seems like a bait and switch going on, because new members joining the CRR are never told that the group is controlled by LMV. I had enough of this crap, raised hell about it in the group before leaving, and want no part of it.
Sincerely
Lynda Carson
CRR Message List
http://www.topica.com/lists/renters_power/read?start=117&sort=d
******************
Xmas Day Notice to CRR from Lynda Carson
*****************
Notice...To the Campaign for Renters Rights...
I'm sorry to see that the Campaign for Renters Rights
has become a front group for Labors Militant Voice to
use as recruiting vehicle, etc.... When Richard Mellor
& John Reimann put such a strangled hold on this
tenants group with the declaration for control over
all CRR Images, the list, etc, it's obvious to me what
has occured. I wish that Rob would have spoken up to
declare the CRR to be independant of the LMV. He chosenot to. Such is life...
Without further ado, I shall remove myself from this
list and group until it again is open to being a
tenants group without the strings attached to it from
Labors Militant Voice.
Labors Militant Voice does not have my permission or
consent to use my image/s or picture/s in any way
shape or form.
If the tenants in this group want to keep their images
out of the hands of Labors Militant Voice, you have
the right to speak up and reclaim your rights as a
member/tenant of the CRR.
It was not until this evening when during a phone call
with others in the Independant Media Center did I
become aware of others knowing about the CRR being
controlled by labors Militant Voice...It's no secret...Perhaps a secret to the tenants in the CRR...
I did not join the CRR to become part of a front group
for Labors Militant Voice, and can only conclude that
my role in this has reached an end...
It was real...
Sincerely
Lynda Carson
**********************************
Replies from LMV Members below...
Re: CRR a front for LMV - Not for me... Eric Gee
Dec 25, 2002 00:00 PST
If this is a front group, as you say, we sure do a pretty sloppy job considering you have posted nasty note after nasty note on the CRR chat list about LMV and a number of its members. I have never, nor have any of the other LMVers involved in CRR had the idea that we own the group. We have made mistakes, not being really careful about using peoples pictures in our news letter without asking, sometimes some of us talk more than we should in meetings, but thats the nature of an activist group made up of humans, we screw up now and then. I can speak for everyone in LMV when I say we are involved in the CRR because we want to fight exploitative land lords and help tenants who have been victimized. I accept and like the fact that the CRR is made up of people with a broad cross section of views. Your attacks are unfair and are hurting the cause you seem to be so interested in.
Eric
*******************
Re: CRR a front for LMV - Not for me... Richard Mellor
Dec 25, 2002 09:54 PST
Well,
I'd like to thank Lynda for her Christmas Day message and wish her on her merry way. I can't really respond to this as I haven't a clue what she is talking about. As we said before, we used a group picture as a front cover for an issue of our magazine one time and everyone in that picture was asked, including Lynda. We did not use
her image or anyone else's for that particular shot without their permission. It was a story about a victory over a landlord who's tenant was a member of the carpenter's union along with Rob Rooke.
We have tried to avoid responding to Lynda's somewhat paranoid accusations not wanting to clutter the list with unnecessary posts but Lynda's actions have been discussed within the CRR itself and
perhaps this is why she is angry. Maybe she's uncomfortable with having certain elected positions, who knows. I know we have voiced differences within the CRR over some of her methods. One thing I can
speak to is that I sent her a very friendly personal note suggesting she refrain from using terms like F...ers and p...ks on the list which is a public forum really. She responded to that suggestion with anger and accusations.
The CRR is gaining influence and becoming a force in the renters' rights movement. Hopefully many different people will participate in that growth and help fight for tenant's rights.
It is a shame in a way as Lynda has played a positive role in the CRR in many ways but the CRR is no one person.
As for those of us that are in LMV, people should feel free to ask us whatever they like about who we are and are free to attend our discussion groups whenever they want.
Richard Mellor
*****************
The CRR: a front for renters! Rob Rooke
Dec 26, 2002 16:12 PST
Lynda wrote....."I wish that Rob would have spoken up to declare the CRR to be independant of the LMV. He chose not to. Such is life..."
.... I have spoken with Lynda over the phone many dozen times about this. For the record.....Three renters, Erin, Karen and myself, all members of Labors
Militant Voice, went out on the street with a petition initiating the CRR four years ago this month. Members of LMV have spent the last four years broadening the CRR wider than its socialist roots, offering it as a vehicle for renters to use to win their fights. Two and a half months ago when Lynda offered her resignation from the CRR all active CRRers fought it, now I'm not
sure anyone will. I genuinely wish you well Lynda.
Rob
My name is Lynda Carson. I have at times assisted the Campaign for Renters Rights through the years to protect the renters. During the past year, I have spent many months, days, many hours, and weeks helping to publicize the group and to help organize events after we solidified a year ago to fight the Oakland Rent Board Task Force of Dick Spees. Stories about our actions could be found in SF.IMC, Urban View, Street Spirit, Tribune, Montclarion, etc, which I helped to generate or wrote myself. I also handled (created) the Press Releases and contacted the media about our action's in advance.
I recently walked away very disenchanted about the exploitation of the Campaign for Renters Rights by LMV Members. It has become very obvious that the LMV exploits the CRR by taking credit for the work of the members of the CRR, and I want no part of it. The LMV also claimed all rights recently over the images of the CRR to use as they desire. They (LMV) does not, nor ever had my permission to use my images by the LMV, and the same went for others (tenants) in the CRR.
When new members (tenants) join the CRR, no mention is made about the relationship with the LMV.
To the best of my knowledge.
During my early involvement never was there a mention that the group (Campaign for Renters Rights) was controlled by Labors Militant Voice, or it's members until very recently. It seemed like a loose knit group of folks joining up at times protecting renters from landlords. In fact, at first the Campaign for Renters Rights was not something I was even aware of, and just worked with these folks because they were interested in uniting with me. John Reimann and Richard Mellor showed up at the Oakland Housing Authority for a series of protest's I had going 3 years ago because of the Section 8 Rent Scams. I never thought of us as having a name for the group of us which seemed fluid as time went on.
Eventually, I became concious of the Campaign for Renters Rights as I got to know Rob Rooke down the road.
Time passed and we united more and more for actions and events. I became more aware of the CRR as time passed, and tried to promote the name as a tenants group after it appeared that I had become a member.
After I and others had much time involved, suddenly members of LMV wanted to split up the group into something different than a tenants group now that we got abit of name recognition. A few of us oppossed this apparent takover by the LMV, and I have been on the outs of this group ever since. after being in opposition to what the LMV wanted.
About that same time or a little later it came to my attention that photo's from the meetings of the Campaign for Renters Rights landed on the front page of Labors Militant Voice, with numerous other photo's inside of the same issue. It so happened that my photo was in that same issue numerous times without my consent or knowledge in advance. The issues were sold for money, being a dollar or two dollars a copy. I do not know where the money went or how it was spent. Members of the CRR are kept in the dark about the finances of LMV, why LMV claims the rights over the CRR, and a result is that most members (tenants) are not aware of the connection with LMV until as of late when I started asking serious questions about the LMV and it's relationship with the CRR.
As it got tense, and I realized that the LMV played a heavy role in the CRR I wanted out a few months ago, but, was not out for long as I hoped I could steady the group as a tenants group with it's independence of LMV.
The LMV tightened it's grip ever further to use the CRR as a front group of the LMV, and I parted ways.
Below are recent messages from the CRR List that may help to clarify the position of the LMV over the CRR.
Note: The message of Eric Gee was honest regarding the LMV using CRR images without the consent of CRR Members and my anger about this scenario. Richard Mellor is an outright liar in response to the use of images and he was the one to outright state that the LMV claims all rights to images of the CRR.
Rob Rooke below writes about the LMV relation with the CRR, which is the first time I have ever seen an e-mail from Rob about the LMV relation with the CRR. Usually no one from the LMV ever wants to have it as part of any discussions with the tenants of the CRR, as they try to remain behind the scenes.
It is my belief that the Campaign for Renters Rights needs remains a tenants group, and must be independant of LMV or any other group that wants the CRR as a front group for politics, recruiting, etc...
During a recent event at SEIU Local 250 which I helped to publicize to teach renters about Measure EE, the LMV (John Reimann) set up a table selling LMV stuff and it was so obvious then that the event was really to recruit others for the LMV or to promote it, that it really botherd me. Seems like a bait and switch going on, because new members joining the CRR are never told that the group is controlled by LMV. I had enough of this crap, raised hell about it in the group before leaving, and want no part of it.
Sincerely
Lynda Carson
CRR Message List
http://www.topica.com/lists/renters_power/read?start=117&sort=d
******************
Xmas Day Notice to CRR from Lynda Carson
*****************
Notice...To the Campaign for Renters Rights...
I'm sorry to see that the Campaign for Renters Rights
has become a front group for Labors Militant Voice to
use as recruiting vehicle, etc.... When Richard Mellor
& John Reimann put such a strangled hold on this
tenants group with the declaration for control over
all CRR Images, the list, etc, it's obvious to me what
has occured. I wish that Rob would have spoken up to
declare the CRR to be independant of the LMV. He chosenot to. Such is life...
Without further ado, I shall remove myself from this
list and group until it again is open to being a
tenants group without the strings attached to it from
Labors Militant Voice.
Labors Militant Voice does not have my permission or
consent to use my image/s or picture/s in any way
shape or form.
If the tenants in this group want to keep their images
out of the hands of Labors Militant Voice, you have
the right to speak up and reclaim your rights as a
member/tenant of the CRR.
It was not until this evening when during a phone call
with others in the Independant Media Center did I
become aware of others knowing about the CRR being
controlled by labors Militant Voice...It's no secret...Perhaps a secret to the tenants in the CRR...
I did not join the CRR to become part of a front group
for Labors Militant Voice, and can only conclude that
my role in this has reached an end...
It was real...
Sincerely
Lynda Carson
**********************************
Replies from LMV Members below...
Re: CRR a front for LMV - Not for me... Eric Gee
Dec 25, 2002 00:00 PST
If this is a front group, as you say, we sure do a pretty sloppy job considering you have posted nasty note after nasty note on the CRR chat list about LMV and a number of its members. I have never, nor have any of the other LMVers involved in CRR had the idea that we own the group. We have made mistakes, not being really careful about using peoples pictures in our news letter without asking, sometimes some of us talk more than we should in meetings, but thats the nature of an activist group made up of humans, we screw up now and then. I can speak for everyone in LMV when I say we are involved in the CRR because we want to fight exploitative land lords and help tenants who have been victimized. I accept and like the fact that the CRR is made up of people with a broad cross section of views. Your attacks are unfair and are hurting the cause you seem to be so interested in.
Eric
*******************
Re: CRR a front for LMV - Not for me... Richard Mellor
Dec 25, 2002 09:54 PST
Well,
I'd like to thank Lynda for her Christmas Day message and wish her on her merry way. I can't really respond to this as I haven't a clue what she is talking about. As we said before, we used a group picture as a front cover for an issue of our magazine one time and everyone in that picture was asked, including Lynda. We did not use
her image or anyone else's for that particular shot without their permission. It was a story about a victory over a landlord who's tenant was a member of the carpenter's union along with Rob Rooke.
We have tried to avoid responding to Lynda's somewhat paranoid accusations not wanting to clutter the list with unnecessary posts but Lynda's actions have been discussed within the CRR itself and
perhaps this is why she is angry. Maybe she's uncomfortable with having certain elected positions, who knows. I know we have voiced differences within the CRR over some of her methods. One thing I can
speak to is that I sent her a very friendly personal note suggesting she refrain from using terms like F...ers and p...ks on the list which is a public forum really. She responded to that suggestion with anger and accusations.
The CRR is gaining influence and becoming a force in the renters' rights movement. Hopefully many different people will participate in that growth and help fight for tenant's rights.
It is a shame in a way as Lynda has played a positive role in the CRR in many ways but the CRR is no one person.
As for those of us that are in LMV, people should feel free to ask us whatever they like about who we are and are free to attend our discussion groups whenever they want.
Richard Mellor
*****************
The CRR: a front for renters! Rob Rooke
Dec 26, 2002 16:12 PST
Lynda wrote....."I wish that Rob would have spoken up to declare the CRR to be independant of the LMV. He chose not to. Such is life..."
.... I have spoken with Lynda over the phone many dozen times about this. For the record.....Three renters, Erin, Karen and myself, all members of Labors
Militant Voice, went out on the street with a petition initiating the CRR four years ago this month. Members of LMV have spent the last four years broadening the CRR wider than its socialist roots, offering it as a vehicle for renters to use to win their fights. Two and a half months ago when Lynda offered her resignation from the CRR all active CRRers fought it, now I'm not
sure anyone will. I genuinely wish you well Lynda.
Rob
P.S.
I want to make it clear that the CRR has done good work to help the renters even if at times the group takes credit from where it should not as a means to be self promoting.
The "real credit" always goes to the tenants who take a stand against the landlords. The CRR merely supports their interests, but, usually ends up taking credit when the credit should go to the tenants themselves. The CRR promotes itself by taking credit for helping to defend the tenants, and it would be more helpful to strengthen the tenant community by convincing the tenants that they were the one's who actually made the fight a success, not the CRR. This way the tenants learn how to do this without the CRR or any other groups that may or may not wish to exploit them. If they teach each other how to fight back and unite with other tenants they may have future success's such as was Measure EE when Oakland tenants got serious about changing the system.
For my own personal reasons, I could not or did not like the devious nature of the CRR/LMV group once it became apparent to me what was happening with members of LMV controlling it for ulterior motives unknown to CRR members.
None of the CRR fliers inviting others to join ever mention any kind of link with Labors Militant Voice.
I just watched the latest batch of new tenants of slumlord Richard E. Thomas enter the group, and until I spoke up in a few recent e-mails no one else in the group made it clear to the new folks that Labors Militant Voice Members control the group and claim the right to the full use all of CRR images.
Not being a member of LMV, this all just seemed wrong and I had to leave when my concerns were ignored by LMV Members who decided that I am not good material for the group after I pushed for tenant independence from the LMV.
I wish the best for the group, and hope that in the future that they will be honest to new tenants about LMV's involvement & control over the group.
Sincerely,
Lynda Carson
I want to make it clear that the CRR has done good work to help the renters even if at times the group takes credit from where it should not as a means to be self promoting.
The "real credit" always goes to the tenants who take a stand against the landlords. The CRR merely supports their interests, but, usually ends up taking credit when the credit should go to the tenants themselves. The CRR promotes itself by taking credit for helping to defend the tenants, and it would be more helpful to strengthen the tenant community by convincing the tenants that they were the one's who actually made the fight a success, not the CRR. This way the tenants learn how to do this without the CRR or any other groups that may or may not wish to exploit them. If they teach each other how to fight back and unite with other tenants they may have future success's such as was Measure EE when Oakland tenants got serious about changing the system.
For my own personal reasons, I could not or did not like the devious nature of the CRR/LMV group once it became apparent to me what was happening with members of LMV controlling it for ulterior motives unknown to CRR members.
None of the CRR fliers inviting others to join ever mention any kind of link with Labors Militant Voice.
I just watched the latest batch of new tenants of slumlord Richard E. Thomas enter the group, and until I spoke up in a few recent e-mails no one else in the group made it clear to the new folks that Labors Militant Voice Members control the group and claim the right to the full use all of CRR images.
Not being a member of LMV, this all just seemed wrong and I had to leave when my concerns were ignored by LMV Members who decided that I am not good material for the group after I pushed for tenant independence from the LMV.
I wish the best for the group, and hope that in the future that they will be honest to new tenants about LMV's involvement & control over the group.
Sincerely,
Lynda Carson
Note: Richard Mellor above claims that the CRR List is an Open Public Forum.
In reality.
No one gets to join the CRR list without the approval of LMV Member Richard Mellor who controls the list.
Up until around a month ago most CRR members and tenants used the list for rollbacktherents [at] yahoogroups.com which anyone at any time may subscribe to without anyones approval.
It was shortly after the questions arose about the links between the CRR and the LMV came about that the paranoid members of LMV decided to take control with a new list of their own. A complete takeover of the CRR.
Recently, word came down from Rob Rooke for Mellor to start a new list that placed total control of the CRR Members into the hands of LMV Members, and the LMV restricted the use of the list after urging everyone to join the new list.
Below is really what happens when any new tenants want to subscribe to join the CRR List.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
From : Topica Support <support [at] get.topica.com>
Reply-To : support [at] get.topica.com
To : fastmoon3 [at] hotmail.com
Subject :
Your request
Date :
Sun, 29 Dec 2002 03:58:35 -0800
Reply Reply All Forward Delete Printer Friendly Version
Hi,
We recently received your subscription request to the email list
renters_power [at] topica.com
which is hosted at Topica.
We have sent a notification to the list owner, as this list
requires owner approval in order for you to join the list. You will receive a message as soon as the owner reviews your subscription request.
Questions about the service? Check out Topica's Help
section at http://www.topica.com -- just click on "help"
at the bottom of the screen.
Still have questions? Email Topica at support [at] get.topica.com.
Please include the email address of the list you're
inquiring about, and the email address you use to
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Sincerely,
Topica Customer Support
P.S. Topica has thousands of other newsletters and discussions you can join, for free: http://www.topica.com
Speaking of FREE, be sure to sign up for TopOffers -- Topica's exclusive bargain alerts -- for maximum savings on computers, fashion, gifts, books, and more!
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No doubt about the CRR being a front for LMV.
In reality.
No one gets to join the CRR list without the approval of LMV Member Richard Mellor who controls the list.
Up until around a month ago most CRR members and tenants used the list for rollbacktherents [at] yahoogroups.com which anyone at any time may subscribe to without anyones approval.
It was shortly after the questions arose about the links between the CRR and the LMV came about that the paranoid members of LMV decided to take control with a new list of their own. A complete takeover of the CRR.
Recently, word came down from Rob Rooke for Mellor to start a new list that placed total control of the CRR Members into the hands of LMV Members, and the LMV restricted the use of the list after urging everyone to join the new list.
Below is really what happens when any new tenants want to subscribe to join the CRR List.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
From : Topica Support <support [at] get.topica.com>
Reply-To : support [at] get.topica.com
To : fastmoon3 [at] hotmail.com
Subject :
Your request
Date :
Sun, 29 Dec 2002 03:58:35 -0800
Reply Reply All Forward Delete Printer Friendly Version
Hi,
We recently received your subscription request to the email list
renters_power [at] topica.com
which is hosted at Topica.
We have sent a notification to the list owner, as this list
requires owner approval in order for you to join the list. You will receive a message as soon as the owner reviews your subscription request.
Questions about the service? Check out Topica's Help
section at http://www.topica.com -- just click on "help"
at the bottom of the screen.
Still have questions? Email Topica at support [at] get.topica.com.
Please include the email address of the list you're
inquiring about, and the email address you use to
subscribe to the list.
Sincerely,
Topica Customer Support
P.S. Topica has thousands of other newsletters and discussions you can join, for free: http://www.topica.com
Speaking of FREE, be sure to sign up for TopOffers -- Topica's exclusive bargain alerts -- for maximum savings on computers, fashion, gifts, books, and more!
http://www.topica.com/partner/sysmes1/channels/offers/
No doubt about the CRR being a front for LMV.
This is really BullShit.
Perhaps what is needed is for regular people to "stack " the meetings and kick out the petty tyrants?
Perhaps what is needed is for regular people to "stack " the meetings and kick out the petty tyrants?
Usually I find indymedia debates to be useless because no one identifies themselves, and people don't really have any stake in the debate. Nevertheless I thought I would just make a quick statement for the record.
I am an anarchist and a member of the Campaign for Renters Rights. I am bitterly against political parties and Trotskyist takeovers. But that is not what the CRR is. The CRR organizes and does direct action to help defend tenants against attacks by landlords. We do not answer to any other organization. People's influence in the CRR is based on the work they put into the CRR and the merit of their ideas, not on belonging to some socialist sect. Believe me, if it were otherwise, I would not work with the CRR. The CRR is a fairly successful attempt to make radical politics relevant to the regular working people of Oakland. Yes, it is imperfect, but it is actually out engaging in class struggle, which is more than I can say for all you people who post anonymous attacks on us on indymedia.
I am an anarchist and a member of the Campaign for Renters Rights. I am bitterly against political parties and Trotskyist takeovers. But that is not what the CRR is. The CRR organizes and does direct action to help defend tenants against attacks by landlords. We do not answer to any other organization. People's influence in the CRR is based on the work they put into the CRR and the merit of their ideas, not on belonging to some socialist sect. Believe me, if it were otherwise, I would not work with the CRR. The CRR is a fairly successful attempt to make radical politics relevant to the regular working people of Oakland. Yes, it is imperfect, but it is actually out engaging in class struggle, which is more than I can say for all you people who post anonymous attacks on us on indymedia.
For more information:
http://www.linefeed.org/~blake
In reply to Lynda:
Lynda played a good role in the Campaign for Renters Rights for a time. However, she ultimately proved herself to be unable to work in a collective way and is unable to accept it when she does not get her way. I hesitate to get into details, which might come across as the sort of petty, "he said;she said" that seems to unimportant. However, I know of no way to reply without doing so, so here goes: One example occurred when a leaflet she proposed regarding a particular tenant's case was rejected by that tenant, she was unable to accept this. In addition, Lynda has been unable to accept it when she has made serious mistakes, such as crudely threatening the life of somebody, even after she was asked to stop by the tenant involved in that particular case.
In addition, Lynda has proven herself to be blatantly dishonest over and over again. She removed herself from the CRR e mail list, then claimed that she had been removed (presumably against her will), then reversed her claim without ever acknowledging that what she had said at first was false. She objected to LMV using a photo of the CRR people "without their permission" (which, in itself was not true; the intended use of the photo was stated in advance). Then, when it was pointed out that she had done the same thing in an article she'd written for "Street Spirit," she again changed her tune, complaining that LMV was demanding "exclusive rights" to all "images" of the CRR. This is a total lie; no such thing has ever been said at any time.
Another problem has been Lynda's misuse of the telephone. A number of people have complained about being constantly called by Lynda, to the point that they feel harassed by her. In fact, some people have had to get "caller I.D." because of Lynda's constantly calling them. As far as the CRR e mail list - This is a monitored list for a good reason: Many tenants are afraid of retaliation from their landlords (or their employer in one case) and don't want their involvement openly known and don't want their postings sent all around outside the list. Others were not happy about Lynda's diatribes on the CRR list; they weren't interested in this sort of thing.Richard Mellor, who has been designated list monitor at a CRR membership meeting sent Lynda a very friendly private note suggesting that she not use swear words on the list as this might be offensive to some on the list, in particular some who are quite religious. Lynda was enraged at such a suggestion and refused to recognize it had any validity.
As far as LMV "controlling" the CRR - my reply to that has already been posted above. It is a false accusation, as are so many other things Lynda has claimed. Nor have we ever hidden who we are; we have always made our written material available and, in fact, invited Lynda to our meetings many times.
Meanwhile, and more importantly, the CRR continues to move forward. Yesterday, we had a very successful protest in front of the home of one of Oakland's most notorious landlords - Richard Thomas. Thomas has ripped off tens of thousands of dollars from his tenants by refusing to return their security deposits to them when they move out. Some dozen Thomas tenants and other CRR members went through Thomas's neighborhood with a leaflet informing his neighbors what sort of person Thomas is. Most of the neighbors were very sympathetic to us and several said they would talk with him.
CRR meetings are the first Monday of the month at 6:30 at the Temescal Library in Oakland. All those seriously interested in helping tenants organize to carry out public direct action in defense of their rights are welcome.
John Reimann
Lynda played a good role in the Campaign for Renters Rights for a time. However, she ultimately proved herself to be unable to work in a collective way and is unable to accept it when she does not get her way. I hesitate to get into details, which might come across as the sort of petty, "he said;she said" that seems to unimportant. However, I know of no way to reply without doing so, so here goes: One example occurred when a leaflet she proposed regarding a particular tenant's case was rejected by that tenant, she was unable to accept this. In addition, Lynda has been unable to accept it when she has made serious mistakes, such as crudely threatening the life of somebody, even after she was asked to stop by the tenant involved in that particular case.
In addition, Lynda has proven herself to be blatantly dishonest over and over again. She removed herself from the CRR e mail list, then claimed that she had been removed (presumably against her will), then reversed her claim without ever acknowledging that what she had said at first was false. She objected to LMV using a photo of the CRR people "without their permission" (which, in itself was not true; the intended use of the photo was stated in advance). Then, when it was pointed out that she had done the same thing in an article she'd written for "Street Spirit," she again changed her tune, complaining that LMV was demanding "exclusive rights" to all "images" of the CRR. This is a total lie; no such thing has ever been said at any time.
Another problem has been Lynda's misuse of the telephone. A number of people have complained about being constantly called by Lynda, to the point that they feel harassed by her. In fact, some people have had to get "caller I.D." because of Lynda's constantly calling them. As far as the CRR e mail list - This is a monitored list for a good reason: Many tenants are afraid of retaliation from their landlords (or their employer in one case) and don't want their involvement openly known and don't want their postings sent all around outside the list. Others were not happy about Lynda's diatribes on the CRR list; they weren't interested in this sort of thing.Richard Mellor, who has been designated list monitor at a CRR membership meeting sent Lynda a very friendly private note suggesting that she not use swear words on the list as this might be offensive to some on the list, in particular some who are quite religious. Lynda was enraged at such a suggestion and refused to recognize it had any validity.
As far as LMV "controlling" the CRR - my reply to that has already been posted above. It is a false accusation, as are so many other things Lynda has claimed. Nor have we ever hidden who we are; we have always made our written material available and, in fact, invited Lynda to our meetings many times.
Meanwhile, and more importantly, the CRR continues to move forward. Yesterday, we had a very successful protest in front of the home of one of Oakland's most notorious landlords - Richard Thomas. Thomas has ripped off tens of thousands of dollars from his tenants by refusing to return their security deposits to them when they move out. Some dozen Thomas tenants and other CRR members went through Thomas's neighborhood with a leaflet informing his neighbors what sort of person Thomas is. Most of the neighbors were very sympathetic to us and several said they would talk with him.
CRR meetings are the first Monday of the month at 6:30 at the Temescal Library in Oakland. All those seriously interested in helping tenants organize to carry out public direct action in defense of their rights are welcome.
John Reimann
For more information:
http://labors Militant Voice.com
LYNDA CARSON HAS BEEN ENGAGED IN TENANT ACTIVISM IN THIS AREA FOR YEARS. LOTS OF PEOPLE KNOW HER, AND WE ARENT FOOLED BY THESE SLANDEROS REMARKS.
WHEN THE TENANTS ASSOCIATION WAS TAKEN OVER BY THUGS SHE WAS THE ONLY ONE TO SPEAK OUT. THEY CALLED HER CRAZY TOO BECAUSE THEY DID NOT KNOW HOW TO RELATE TO REAL PEOPLE. NOW SHE IS THE ONLY ONE SPEAKING OUT AGAINST COMMUNISTS TRYING TO BUILD A CAREER OUT OF OUR STRUGGLES.
I WAS A MEMBER OF THE BLACK PANTHER PARTY AND IN THOSE DAYS, OUR RESISTANCE CAME FROM POOR BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS.
LYNDA KNOW WE ARE WITH YOU!!!
WHEN THE TENANTS ASSOCIATION WAS TAKEN OVER BY THUGS SHE WAS THE ONLY ONE TO SPEAK OUT. THEY CALLED HER CRAZY TOO BECAUSE THEY DID NOT KNOW HOW TO RELATE TO REAL PEOPLE. NOW SHE IS THE ONLY ONE SPEAKING OUT AGAINST COMMUNISTS TRYING TO BUILD A CAREER OUT OF OUR STRUGGLES.
I WAS A MEMBER OF THE BLACK PANTHER PARTY AND IN THOSE DAYS, OUR RESISTANCE CAME FROM POOR BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS.
LYNDA KNOW WE ARE WITH YOU!!!
1. "As we said before, we used a group picture as a front cover for an issue of our magazine one time and everyone in that picture was asked, including Lynda."
2. "(which, in itself was not true; the intended use of the photo was stated in advance)"
which Party Line is correct comrades?
2. "(which, in itself was not true; the intended use of the photo was stated in advance)"
which Party Line is correct comrades?
Campaign for Renters Rights is a front for Labors Militant Voice. Good or bad, it is a lie for LMV Members to portray it as being otherwise.
Recently, (3 months ago?) it was members of Labors Militant Voice who tried to dismantle the CRR. One day Reimann claimed that it had already ocurred and that the new name from now on was to be OCAP-CRR.
I called Rooke to ask what happened, who said that Reimann was wrong and the group was still the CRR for the moment.
Different stories, and one could not tell where this was going in the future or how to invest time & energy into an unstable group.
Rob Rooke, John Reimann, and Richard Mellor were key players in trying to split up the CRR at that point, and during a number of meetings they kept pushing tenant members to go along with ending the CRR as we knew it. This shift to end the CRR came down from on high in an LMV Meeting as to my understanding. I helped to block this move, and was not the only one in the group who objected to splitting up the CRR. Richard Mellor claimed that he believed it was a big mistake to remain focused on tenant issues, and in anger stated that they (LMV) could have over rode me in a vote.
As for the photos in the LMV of CRR Members. The second time that I found myself in a photo of an LMV Issue, I directly asked John Reimann how this happened without my consent or notification. Reimann shouted me down for asking questions, claiming that I had no consideration for what he was trying to do. This happened in a truck on the way to Rob Rookes place for an evening party while his brother was in town, and I demanded to be returned home immediately to get away from the prick. No party for me.....
During the next CRR Meeting, I was shouted down again for asking about the LMV using CRR Images. I needed to know how this works. How do photos from a CRR Meeting end up being published in an LMV Newsletter without the consent of the CRR Members? Who makes the decisions, and how do the tenants of the CRR participate in the decision making process. No answers, were forthcoming. Just shouting. Reimann and Mellor double teamed me that evening, and it turned into a shouting match in the Library Meeting Hall. This was the moment that Mellor claimed all rights for the LMV to use CRR Images, and stated that if the rest of us wanted to use the images that we had to ask him first. Rooke was out that evening.
Eric Gee apollogized to me and others on behalf of the LMV for using CRR Images without our consent in advance. I was grateful that at least one of the LMV Members had the decency to be some what gracious. Reimann and Mellor just tried to thug their way through the mess with a bunch of crap, and since then did their best silence me or keep me out of needed phone conversations to keep the CRR going in an attempt to make me persona non grata in the group.
The new January Issue of Street Spirit will be mostly an issue of Poetry. I was offered the chance to run a front page story about the CRR and Thomas tenants being ripped off of the Security Deposits, but, it was a joint decision to pull the plug on the story until it is resolved in the CRR about the LMV claiming to be in control of the group.
No one wanted to run a story saying; The CRR a tenants group which is a front for Labors Militant Voice, has taken on the notorious slumlord, etc....
So long as the tenants in the CRR are being pushed around by those in Labors Militant Voice, there is not much to write about.
Reimann wants to run for Mayor of Oakland, with a slate to back him. I declined to be a part of the slate when Reimann asked me to join him, and felt pressure from Reimann to keep quiet about his plans. This was directly after I helped out the Pain Patients (2,000 of them) from Summit being dumped from the Out Patient Pain Clinic. I helped them to organize, and was the publicist to get them lots of media attention leading to a Hearing at City Hall to probe into Summits unfair treatment of patients. Reimann felt that I had name recognition from this action and believed he could use that to his advantage if I teamed up with him. I declined his invitation.
I do not want to run for office, nor ever considered doing so. I can't stand most politicians, and would rather uncover their dirty deeds to expose them to the light of day.
From my experience, the CRR is so top heavy with LMV folks that the CRR tenants do not fare very well in the group if they start asking to many questions. Why the LMV fails to tell new comers to the CRR about the relationship with the CRR, this is something that I have been kept in the dark about. When I speak up about it, they only scream at me for breaking silence.
It's a tenants group, and should be controlled by tenants who really know the desperation of tenant life under the eviction for profit system.
They should be shown that they have right's as tenant's, and if necessary Direct Action to back up their rights. The CRR promotes Direct Action, not tenants rights.
The good work done by the CRR is only undermined by those with plans to use it for ulterior motives.
My hope is that it become's a tenant's group strong enough to become independant from any other groups who may wish to exploit it. As is, there are too many secrets going on in the group with the CRR Members kept in the dark by the LMV Members who believe that they control the group and have a need to silence the critics.
Sincerely,
Lynda Carson
Recently, (3 months ago?) it was members of Labors Militant Voice who tried to dismantle the CRR. One day Reimann claimed that it had already ocurred and that the new name from now on was to be OCAP-CRR.
I called Rooke to ask what happened, who said that Reimann was wrong and the group was still the CRR for the moment.
Different stories, and one could not tell where this was going in the future or how to invest time & energy into an unstable group.
Rob Rooke, John Reimann, and Richard Mellor were key players in trying to split up the CRR at that point, and during a number of meetings they kept pushing tenant members to go along with ending the CRR as we knew it. This shift to end the CRR came down from on high in an LMV Meeting as to my understanding. I helped to block this move, and was not the only one in the group who objected to splitting up the CRR. Richard Mellor claimed that he believed it was a big mistake to remain focused on tenant issues, and in anger stated that they (LMV) could have over rode me in a vote.
As for the photos in the LMV of CRR Members. The second time that I found myself in a photo of an LMV Issue, I directly asked John Reimann how this happened without my consent or notification. Reimann shouted me down for asking questions, claiming that I had no consideration for what he was trying to do. This happened in a truck on the way to Rob Rookes place for an evening party while his brother was in town, and I demanded to be returned home immediately to get away from the prick. No party for me.....
During the next CRR Meeting, I was shouted down again for asking about the LMV using CRR Images. I needed to know how this works. How do photos from a CRR Meeting end up being published in an LMV Newsletter without the consent of the CRR Members? Who makes the decisions, and how do the tenants of the CRR participate in the decision making process. No answers, were forthcoming. Just shouting. Reimann and Mellor double teamed me that evening, and it turned into a shouting match in the Library Meeting Hall. This was the moment that Mellor claimed all rights for the LMV to use CRR Images, and stated that if the rest of us wanted to use the images that we had to ask him first. Rooke was out that evening.
Eric Gee apollogized to me and others on behalf of the LMV for using CRR Images without our consent in advance. I was grateful that at least one of the LMV Members had the decency to be some what gracious. Reimann and Mellor just tried to thug their way through the mess with a bunch of crap, and since then did their best silence me or keep me out of needed phone conversations to keep the CRR going in an attempt to make me persona non grata in the group.
The new January Issue of Street Spirit will be mostly an issue of Poetry. I was offered the chance to run a front page story about the CRR and Thomas tenants being ripped off of the Security Deposits, but, it was a joint decision to pull the plug on the story until it is resolved in the CRR about the LMV claiming to be in control of the group.
No one wanted to run a story saying; The CRR a tenants group which is a front for Labors Militant Voice, has taken on the notorious slumlord, etc....
So long as the tenants in the CRR are being pushed around by those in Labors Militant Voice, there is not much to write about.
Reimann wants to run for Mayor of Oakland, with a slate to back him. I declined to be a part of the slate when Reimann asked me to join him, and felt pressure from Reimann to keep quiet about his plans. This was directly after I helped out the Pain Patients (2,000 of them) from Summit being dumped from the Out Patient Pain Clinic. I helped them to organize, and was the publicist to get them lots of media attention leading to a Hearing at City Hall to probe into Summits unfair treatment of patients. Reimann felt that I had name recognition from this action and believed he could use that to his advantage if I teamed up with him. I declined his invitation.
I do not want to run for office, nor ever considered doing so. I can't stand most politicians, and would rather uncover their dirty deeds to expose them to the light of day.
From my experience, the CRR is so top heavy with LMV folks that the CRR tenants do not fare very well in the group if they start asking to many questions. Why the LMV fails to tell new comers to the CRR about the relationship with the CRR, this is something that I have been kept in the dark about. When I speak up about it, they only scream at me for breaking silence.
It's a tenants group, and should be controlled by tenants who really know the desperation of tenant life under the eviction for profit system.
They should be shown that they have right's as tenant's, and if necessary Direct Action to back up their rights. The CRR promotes Direct Action, not tenants rights.
The good work done by the CRR is only undermined by those with plans to use it for ulterior motives.
My hope is that it become's a tenant's group strong enough to become independant from any other groups who may wish to exploit it. As is, there are too many secrets going on in the group with the CRR Members kept in the dark by the LMV Members who believe that they control the group and have a need to silence the critics.
Sincerely,
Lynda Carson
As a 30 year tenant activist in Richmond, it burdens me to see the same old tricks. Attention Liberals and Party Commisars: we dont need organized, educated or disciplined.
While all these full-time activists on SSI debate and insult each other about photos and who's doing what, the fact remains that Nobody knows who the CRR is and what it does. It is the picture of a far left in-group: there's, like, 14 people in the group and it's splintering, stagnating and full of drama.
I have no idea what the CRR is, stands for or has actually accomplished. As a tenant in Oakland, the last ring I want to throw my hat into is a group with a bunch of lefty egos battling for purity.
And I just looked on the LMV website and there's an article calling for "Justice for Lynda Carson." That seems pretty supportive to me. Who cares if a photo on the cover of a marginal Trot fishwrap is used without everyone's express permission? I guarantee you that there's not one landlord or politicians that even knows of the existence of that magazine, much less has a copy, so don't worry about "retaliation."
Again, I know the folks who did EE, but I've never heard of the fringe "activists' in the CRR.
I have no idea what the CRR is, stands for or has actually accomplished. As a tenant in Oakland, the last ring I want to throw my hat into is a group with a bunch of lefty egos battling for purity.
And I just looked on the LMV website and there's an article calling for "Justice for Lynda Carson." That seems pretty supportive to me. Who cares if a photo on the cover of a marginal Trot fishwrap is used without everyone's express permission? I guarantee you that there's not one landlord or politicians that even knows of the existence of that magazine, much less has a copy, so don't worry about "retaliation."
Again, I know the folks who did EE, but I've never heard of the fringe "activists' in the CRR.
I was contacted by the CRR about two months ago when they got my name from public court records, as I had filed a small claims suit against my landlord for the return of my security deposit.
Up to that point, frustrated and frazzled, I was about to give up my case - I hadn't been able to serve the papers to this elusive landlord, and had spent so many hours dealing with it, I was just going to kiss my deposit goodbye. Along comes the CRR. Since then, my association with them has vanquished feelings of being alone and helpless in the matter.
They're really my hero, simply put. Thus, I will champion them here and give them what humble support I can.
As regards the accusations that the CRR is a front for the LMV, I have to ask:
What political advances for LMV were made at 11am on a cold Saturday morning when we protested out side of my former landlord's house? What political advances for LMV were made on the other occasions that I gathered with these people to further MY CAUSE? I don't see the connection here, folks.
As I know it, the CRR is a group of kind and generous people who have given tremendous support, and countless hours, to tenants who have been screwed out of their security deposits, and have prevented at least one tenant from being evicted without cause.
When we stood 30 strong, in the foyer upstairs at City Hall and were faced with making a decision whether to accept their concessions, WE HELD A VOTE - the CRR isn't controlling these tenants, nor imposing their policies or beliefs on them. At the gatherings I've been to, there's always an emphasis on what the group wants to do, not any individual or party. The CRR is giving strength and volume to tenants' voices that alone would be drowned by the beaurocracy.
I am not a full-fledged member of the CRR, and because of other commitments in my life I've been unable to attend their regular monthly meetings. Even so, I have not seen any evidence that the actions of the CRR have been used to further the cause of the LMV. Just a lot of petty rhetoric.
Can someone bring forth the evidence please, before we burn this "witch"?
I'm serious, because if I am being unwittingly used to further a cause I'm unaware of, I'd really like to know.
I suspect, however, that I'm going to be the one benefitting most from my association with them, not the LMV.
Up to that point, frustrated and frazzled, I was about to give up my case - I hadn't been able to serve the papers to this elusive landlord, and had spent so many hours dealing with it, I was just going to kiss my deposit goodbye. Along comes the CRR. Since then, my association with them has vanquished feelings of being alone and helpless in the matter.
They're really my hero, simply put. Thus, I will champion them here and give them what humble support I can.
As regards the accusations that the CRR is a front for the LMV, I have to ask:
What political advances for LMV were made at 11am on a cold Saturday morning when we protested out side of my former landlord's house? What political advances for LMV were made on the other occasions that I gathered with these people to further MY CAUSE? I don't see the connection here, folks.
As I know it, the CRR is a group of kind and generous people who have given tremendous support, and countless hours, to tenants who have been screwed out of their security deposits, and have prevented at least one tenant from being evicted without cause.
When we stood 30 strong, in the foyer upstairs at City Hall and were faced with making a decision whether to accept their concessions, WE HELD A VOTE - the CRR isn't controlling these tenants, nor imposing their policies or beliefs on them. At the gatherings I've been to, there's always an emphasis on what the group wants to do, not any individual or party. The CRR is giving strength and volume to tenants' voices that alone would be drowned by the beaurocracy.
I am not a full-fledged member of the CRR, and because of other commitments in my life I've been unable to attend their regular monthly meetings. Even so, I have not seen any evidence that the actions of the CRR have been used to further the cause of the LMV. Just a lot of petty rhetoric.
Can someone bring forth the evidence please, before we burn this "witch"?
I'm serious, because if I am being unwittingly used to further a cause I'm unaware of, I'd really like to know.
I suspect, however, that I'm going to be the one benefitting most from my association with them, not the LMV.
this list Richard Mellor
Dec 29, 2002 14:21 PST
I just wanted to let people know that Lynda has opened up a debate regarding her claims of some of us "controlling" the CRR on Indymedia a public bulletin board. I think she is using various e mail addresses to conduct this debate. I noticed there were numerous
messages from this list there.
Any person wanting to write or reply to any e mail from Lynda should feel perfectly free to do so but you should do so with the understanding that it is not necessarily a private correspondence. Taking mails off this list without people's permission was one of the things that concerned some people and Lynda simply ignored people's fears.
Richard
"Just because you don't take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you." Pericles, 430 BC
Read Labor's Militant Voice issue #10 at: http://www.laborsmilitantvoice.com
Richard Mellor
Member: AFSCME Local 444 Oakland CA
Dec 29, 2002 14:21 PST
I just wanted to let people know that Lynda has opened up a debate regarding her claims of some of us "controlling" the CRR on Indymedia a public bulletin board. I think she is using various e mail addresses to conduct this debate. I noticed there were numerous
messages from this list there.
Any person wanting to write or reply to any e mail from Lynda should feel perfectly free to do so but you should do so with the understanding that it is not necessarily a private correspondence. Taking mails off this list without people's permission was one of the things that concerned some people and Lynda simply ignored people's fears.
Richard
"Just because you don't take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you." Pericles, 430 BC
Read Labor's Militant Voice issue #10 at: http://www.laborsmilitantvoice.com
Richard Mellor
Member: AFSCME Local 444 Oakland CA
Is it a secret that Campaign for Renters Rights is controlled by a Trotskyist Group?
Moscow Red
Click below for Trotskyist Publications;
See Labors Militant Voice.
http://lexdave.home.attbi.com/WhatsLeft/Communist2.html
Moscow Red
Click below for Trotskyist Publications;
See Labors Militant Voice.
http://lexdave.home.attbi.com/WhatsLeft/Communist2.html
The Set Up.
Krystal wants to know; What's the set up guy's?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
What's three middle class older white guy's (John, Rob, & Richard) who are home owners (one in San Leandro) getting out of sucking up all the attention from the struggles of desperate Oakland renters?
Krystal needs to know.
Krystal wants to know; What's the set up guy's?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
What's three middle class older white guy's (John, Rob, & Richard) who are home owners (one in San Leandro) getting out of sucking up all the attention from the struggles of desperate Oakland renters?
Krystal needs to know.
"I suspect, however, that I'm going to be the one benefitting most from my association with them, not the LMV."
Krystal, this is the part where it gets confusing. LMV supports an archaic political philosophy which calls for them to seize control of the government and implant a dictatorship, until they can ease us into communism. This is not a lie, this is the actual plan of "Trotskyists".
Since most normal people find this plan to be a little off, Trots have to resort to trickery in order to get common people to support these plans. So, they find poor people in desperate situations, offer to help them, and then use this to build a political base.
This is the exact same tactic that Christians use with their involvement in things like the Salvation Army.
If you are just some normal person, and you think you can get something out of it, then go ahead. But at least be aware you are feeding the wolves who come to your neighborhood.
Krystal, this is the part where it gets confusing. LMV supports an archaic political philosophy which calls for them to seize control of the government and implant a dictatorship, until they can ease us into communism. This is not a lie, this is the actual plan of "Trotskyists".
Since most normal people find this plan to be a little off, Trots have to resort to trickery in order to get common people to support these plans. So, they find poor people in desperate situations, offer to help them, and then use this to build a political base.
This is the exact same tactic that Christians use with their involvement in things like the Salvation Army.
If you are just some normal person, and you think you can get something out of it, then go ahead. But at least be aware you are feeding the wolves who come to your neighborhood.
So the LMV members are reading these messages, why wont they respond to these simple questions?
John, does LMV discuss CRR in their meetings?
Do LMV members attempt to form a bloc within CRR?
What is the strategic advantage of having so many of LMV's local resources spent on one group?
What strategic advantage is fundamentally driving LMV's involvement in CRR?
You said LMV members founded CRR. Does this give LMV any special claim to the credit or responsibility for CRR?
What is the long-term goal of LMV? Can you explain how your group expects to seize state power? Can you explain how involvement in CRR moves you towards this goal?
I think these questions are the ones we all want answered.
John, does LMV discuss CRR in their meetings?
Do LMV members attempt to form a bloc within CRR?
What is the strategic advantage of having so many of LMV's local resources spent on one group?
What strategic advantage is fundamentally driving LMV's involvement in CRR?
You said LMV members founded CRR. Does this give LMV any special claim to the credit or responsibility for CRR?
What is the long-term goal of LMV? Can you explain how your group expects to seize state power? Can you explain how involvement in CRR moves you towards this goal?
I think these questions are the ones we all want answered.
My New Year’s Resolution to Save the Campaign for Renters Rights.
A) Remove all power from the Labor’s Militant Voice rascals who recently tried to split up the Campaign for Renters Rights (a tenants group) up into something different to suit the needs of Labors Militant Voice (LMV).
B) Hand the group over to the real hero’s of the Campaign for Renters Rights who are the ones to have actually made a stand against the landlord’s no matter what the risks were to themselves.
I recommend Sue Doyle, Doris Stancil, Vivian Haine, Sandra Miguel, Corrine James, and Lorraine Key to remain in charge of the CRR because they are the ones who took a real risk in fighting their evictions and were willing to face whatever the corrupt system was going to throw at them for being trouble makers in the world of the ruling class. They were not the ones who tried to split up the group for LMV purposes, and Sue Doyle was the spirited one to hold firm against the breakup and helped to motivate the group into collecting signatures for Measure EE.
These above brave woman know the value of the Campaign for Renters Rights more than the LMV Homeowners could ever grasp, and their battles were not done for political gain. They were fighting for their lives from the eviction for profit system in the best way they knew how.
Let them run the group since they have the real spirit of those struggling to be a part of a tenants movement who refuse to bow down to the ruling class.
I recommend Sue Doyle to be the Resident Caretaker of the group because she has been the one to be the most honest and active in the CRR to promote and protect renters rights in Oakland ever since her own experience of being dumped upon the streets by another asshole wannabe landlord.
Sue Doyle worked hard to bring about the differing factions of rebelling tenants in Oakland without seeking political gain, and worked extra hard to support Just Cause with the depths of her heart.
Your way too Kool Sue! Right on!
These are the real hero’s of the Campaign for Renters Rights!
Happy New Years to All
Sincerely,
Linda Carson
A) Remove all power from the Labor’s Militant Voice rascals who recently tried to split up the Campaign for Renters Rights (a tenants group) up into something different to suit the needs of Labors Militant Voice (LMV).
B) Hand the group over to the real hero’s of the Campaign for Renters Rights who are the ones to have actually made a stand against the landlord’s no matter what the risks were to themselves.
I recommend Sue Doyle, Doris Stancil, Vivian Haine, Sandra Miguel, Corrine James, and Lorraine Key to remain in charge of the CRR because they are the ones who took a real risk in fighting their evictions and were willing to face whatever the corrupt system was going to throw at them for being trouble makers in the world of the ruling class. They were not the ones who tried to split up the group for LMV purposes, and Sue Doyle was the spirited one to hold firm against the breakup and helped to motivate the group into collecting signatures for Measure EE.
These above brave woman know the value of the Campaign for Renters Rights more than the LMV Homeowners could ever grasp, and their battles were not done for political gain. They were fighting for their lives from the eviction for profit system in the best way they knew how.
Let them run the group since they have the real spirit of those struggling to be a part of a tenants movement who refuse to bow down to the ruling class.
I recommend Sue Doyle to be the Resident Caretaker of the group because she has been the one to be the most honest and active in the CRR to promote and protect renters rights in Oakland ever since her own experience of being dumped upon the streets by another asshole wannabe landlord.
Sue Doyle worked hard to bring about the differing factions of rebelling tenants in Oakland without seeking political gain, and worked extra hard to support Just Cause with the depths of her heart.
Your way too Kool Sue! Right on!
These are the real hero’s of the Campaign for Renters Rights!
Happy New Years to All
Sincerely,
Linda Carson
Let's not be so narrow minded here - There are capitalists in the CRR, too, I imagine, but nobody blinks an eye at that because it's the majority viewpoint in this society. What other parties may be represented in the CRR-- are there socialists, anarchists, Democrats, Republicans? I imagine there are a good number of CRR members and tenants that have affiliations with established groups, religious or political. I don't wish to support those parties unwittingly either.
The point is, even though there are these affiliations with the LMV, by the founding members and the apparent leadership of the CRR, I just don't see what actual advances are being made by the LMV by the actions of the CRR.
You are right to bring up Christians, because there are Christians in the group, too, in fact I hear that some lean toward the fanatic side; you may as well be saying to me, "by being a part of the CRR, you are feeding the Christians." This kind of logic is flawed. Naturally, ones beliefs, religious or political are going to influence ones individual actions, but as I said before, the actions of the CRR that I've been involved with are based on a democratic agreement by the group; *Tenants*, first and foremost, LMV members, Christians, et al. So you're saying that by associating with "Trotskyists" in actions that support tenants rights I am supporting the "Troskyist" cause? No, that's a logical fallacy.
I think there's a big fear factor here, and I think you're letting it get in the way of rational thinking.
I'm not married to any political dogmas nor proscriptions, and I'm truly open to any evidence you may have to support your claims, but I haven't seen any, and I'm still not convinced. It would disappoint me to learn that what you're charging is true, and I think it's important if you're going to make such claims that you back them up with a sound and logical argument.
By the way, "disclosure", not to be rude, but how about disclosing your identity? Do you have a first name? Why the anonimity?
The point is, even though there are these affiliations with the LMV, by the founding members and the apparent leadership of the CRR, I just don't see what actual advances are being made by the LMV by the actions of the CRR.
You are right to bring up Christians, because there are Christians in the group, too, in fact I hear that some lean toward the fanatic side; you may as well be saying to me, "by being a part of the CRR, you are feeding the Christians." This kind of logic is flawed. Naturally, ones beliefs, religious or political are going to influence ones individual actions, but as I said before, the actions of the CRR that I've been involved with are based on a democratic agreement by the group; *Tenants*, first and foremost, LMV members, Christians, et al. So you're saying that by associating with "Trotskyists" in actions that support tenants rights I am supporting the "Troskyist" cause? No, that's a logical fallacy.
I think there's a big fear factor here, and I think you're letting it get in the way of rational thinking.
I'm not married to any political dogmas nor proscriptions, and I'm truly open to any evidence you may have to support your claims, but I haven't seen any, and I'm still not convinced. It would disappoint me to learn that what you're charging is true, and I think it's important if you're going to make such claims that you back them up with a sound and logical argument.
By the way, "disclosure", not to be rude, but how about disclosing your identity? Do you have a first name? Why the anonimity?
Here is a response to "fuck em," "boring," "yuri," "yyyyy(sic)," "SeeingEye," "Oaklander," "renters," "confused," "oaktowner," "ANTI-RED," "Curious Joe," "trotwatch," and, yes, "diclosure." You are all shitheads. Who is to believe you when you do not post your names and e-mail addresses? What indication is there that you even live in the Bay Area, much less have attended meetings of the CRR? For all we know, these postings could have all been made by the same person.
What is there to believe? We are just putting our opinions. Linda Carson is the only one making accusations, which appear to be true. You don't know how to get a hold of this person? Or do you just prefer to sling mud back at legitimate questions?
First, I live in the Bay Area. In Oakland, in fact. No, I have never been to a CRR meeting.
I will have to say that I support Lynda in her efforts to have women who have actually faced their landlords and won take control of the CRR from three men who own their own homes outside of Oakland.
Wow, how novel: overbearing men take control of progressive institution and turn everyone off! Women who are members are opposed!! Film at 11!
I will have to say that I support Lynda in her efforts to have women who have actually faced their landlords and won take control of the CRR from three men who own their own homes outside of Oakland.
Wow, how novel: overbearing men take control of progressive institution and turn everyone off! Women who are members are opposed!! Film at 11!
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