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Measure G, Political Nastiness, & the lies of liberal democrats - EDITORIAL
The fact that two different classes - workers and bosses have squared off, thereby exposing a longtime contradiction within the Democratic Party and the shallowness of so-called Santa Cruz's progressive/liberal mainstream, has not gone over the head of just our former state assemblyman...
"The working class and the employing class have nothing in common. There can be no peace so long as hunger and want are found among millions of the working people and the few, who make up the employing class, have all the good things of life." (Preamble to the Wobblies manifesto 1905)
While riding towards Taqueria Vallarta this past Saturday, I spotted one of Santa Cruz's best loved former state assemblymen sweeping the sidewalk outside his Victorian home. Occasionally, I approach this high ranking democrat as we live in the same neighborhood, and ask his opinion on various local issues. Considering the undeclared war between the proponents of the living wage, a.k.a. Measure G initiative and local business owners, both of which are Democrats, I couldn't help but take a detour and ask him point blank – Is there any tension within the local democratic party over this?
Being the nice good guy politician that he is, he equivocated and said he empathized equally with the anti-Measure G position of local "progressive" business owners like recently elected county board of supervisor and Bookshop Santa Cruz owner Neal Connerty and his son, city council member Ryan Connerty as well as the pro-Measure G position of longtime living wage activist Nora Hochman.
When pressed about the fact that Santa Cruz is a solidly Democrat town and that this issue would seem to have pitted the "family" owned business democrats against the union supported worker democrats he shrugged and said he didn't really see this as a hot potato issue as it is a non-partisan race.
Not a hot potato issue?
It would seem the two of us live in the same town but in very different worlds. How could our very affable former state assemblyman (possible future U.S. House Rep) not notice the huge "NO on G" billboards that sprung up like bull thistle around town this past week? I ride my bike from the Westside, through downtown, and near the Eastside everyday and can state without question businesses, big and small are united in a big "FUCK NO" on Measure G. Greasy-spoon stalwart the Santa Cruz Diner even has gone so far as to print up a separate giant sign denouncing G and place it on their roof - How big are we talking? Let's just say space aliens should be able to read it.
The fact that two different classes - workers and bosses have squared off, thereby exposing a longtime contradiction within the Democratic Party and the shallowness of so-called Santa Cruz's progressive/liberal mainstream, has not gone over the head of just our former state assemblyman. Last week at a coalition meeting, the head of one of the only radical working-class unions casually mentioned the anti-Measure G forces being Republican - When I pointed out that the majority of anti-Measure G folks are actually Democrats he quickly changed the subject.
What's wrong with this picture?
Even if we accept the schism over the living wage initiative between bourgeois Demos and proletariat Demos as nothing more than a temporary one that will evaporate after Nov.7th, it would seem important for the latter group to remember that the Democratic Party, when push comes to shove, is still a pro-Capitalist party. To most longtime Democrats both pro-business and pro-union alike, the previous point is always met with a big "Duh!" And yet, if this issue is settled, then why does the same question that's been asked since 1947 keep coming up?
"Why doesn't American labor have its own political party"?
As labor history buffs might recall, it was in 1947 that American labor power was at its zenith - the New Deal and World War II had helped unite unskilled and skilled workers into the huge (now not so huge) American Federation of Labor & the Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) a few years earlier. The industrial capacity of Europe and Asia had been wrecked by war which meant American factories were free to take over - Up went production, productivity, and wages. In short, it was good to be in a union. Then 1947 came - the left wing of the AFL-CIO decided the American working class would benefit by having its own political party (a standard concept practiced by most industrialized countries at the time). This didn't sit too well with the Democratic Party establishment, which had only recently (and begrudgingly) accepted the card carrying union man into their ranks - Another red scare followed and to make a long story short, many a good socialist and communist unions were expelled from the AFL-CIO.
Flash forward almost 60 years later - American labor is at its weakest point since Free Trade agreements began liquidating the living standards of those at the very bottom of the Capitalist pyramid over 10 years ago. Democrats voted in favor of these agreements, continue to do so, and yet organized labor, pushed into a corner with nowhere to turn, continues to support them. In regards to that fateful year, a long running joke within the union movement is, "In 1947, American Labor shot off its left wing, ever since then it's been flying around in circles."
But history isn't a static thing - The current alignments within the Democratic Party are only 30 years in the making. Just as religious white-male blue-collar red-state workers may someday realize that voting Republican isn't in their class' interest, blue-collar blue-state workers may realize they can do better with their own political apparatus. Of course, that's if Americans can get back into the habit of thinking in terms of class.
Back here in Santa Cruz, it would seem that Measure G is gonna be a showdown at the O K coral. The true face of the business classes, regardless of their so-called progressive leanings, is coming out, and it ain't pretty. Almost six years ago, the City of Santa Cruz passed one of the highest living wage laws in the country - that law, applied only to city (county?) jobs - i.e. not private enterprise. Now that union folks have set their eyes on lifting up the majority of low-wage workers, who do not work in the public sector, the business folks are throwing all their weight against it.
While I can't speak for the political insights of my neighbor, I can tell you that on my way to work Monday morning, while riding on King St, I noticed a large "No on G" sign had been defaced with graffiti - About 2 miles further down by Kelly's Bakery I rode past what was left of a "Yes on G" sign – It had been torn to pieces.
While riding towards Taqueria Vallarta this past Saturday, I spotted one of Santa Cruz's best loved former state assemblymen sweeping the sidewalk outside his Victorian home. Occasionally, I approach this high ranking democrat as we live in the same neighborhood, and ask his opinion on various local issues. Considering the undeclared war between the proponents of the living wage, a.k.a. Measure G initiative and local business owners, both of which are Democrats, I couldn't help but take a detour and ask him point blank – Is there any tension within the local democratic party over this?
Being the nice good guy politician that he is, he equivocated and said he empathized equally with the anti-Measure G position of local "progressive" business owners like recently elected county board of supervisor and Bookshop Santa Cruz owner Neal Connerty and his son, city council member Ryan Connerty as well as the pro-Measure G position of longtime living wage activist Nora Hochman.
When pressed about the fact that Santa Cruz is a solidly Democrat town and that this issue would seem to have pitted the "family" owned business democrats against the union supported worker democrats he shrugged and said he didn't really see this as a hot potato issue as it is a non-partisan race.
Not a hot potato issue?
It would seem the two of us live in the same town but in very different worlds. How could our very affable former state assemblyman (possible future U.S. House Rep) not notice the huge "NO on G" billboards that sprung up like bull thistle around town this past week? I ride my bike from the Westside, through downtown, and near the Eastside everyday and can state without question businesses, big and small are united in a big "FUCK NO" on Measure G. Greasy-spoon stalwart the Santa Cruz Diner even has gone so far as to print up a separate giant sign denouncing G and place it on their roof - How big are we talking? Let's just say space aliens should be able to read it.
The fact that two different classes - workers and bosses have squared off, thereby exposing a longtime contradiction within the Democratic Party and the shallowness of so-called Santa Cruz's progressive/liberal mainstream, has not gone over the head of just our former state assemblyman. Last week at a coalition meeting, the head of one of the only radical working-class unions casually mentioned the anti-Measure G forces being Republican - When I pointed out that the majority of anti-Measure G folks are actually Democrats he quickly changed the subject.
What's wrong with this picture?
Even if we accept the schism over the living wage initiative between bourgeois Demos and proletariat Demos as nothing more than a temporary one that will evaporate after Nov.7th, it would seem important for the latter group to remember that the Democratic Party, when push comes to shove, is still a pro-Capitalist party. To most longtime Democrats both pro-business and pro-union alike, the previous point is always met with a big "Duh!" And yet, if this issue is settled, then why does the same question that's been asked since 1947 keep coming up?
"Why doesn't American labor have its own political party"?
As labor history buffs might recall, it was in 1947 that American labor power was at its zenith - the New Deal and World War II had helped unite unskilled and skilled workers into the huge (now not so huge) American Federation of Labor & the Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) a few years earlier. The industrial capacity of Europe and Asia had been wrecked by war which meant American factories were free to take over - Up went production, productivity, and wages. In short, it was good to be in a union. Then 1947 came - the left wing of the AFL-CIO decided the American working class would benefit by having its own political party (a standard concept practiced by most industrialized countries at the time). This didn't sit too well with the Democratic Party establishment, which had only recently (and begrudgingly) accepted the card carrying union man into their ranks - Another red scare followed and to make a long story short, many a good socialist and communist unions were expelled from the AFL-CIO.
Flash forward almost 60 years later - American labor is at its weakest point since Free Trade agreements began liquidating the living standards of those at the very bottom of the Capitalist pyramid over 10 years ago. Democrats voted in favor of these agreements, continue to do so, and yet organized labor, pushed into a corner with nowhere to turn, continues to support them. In regards to that fateful year, a long running joke within the union movement is, "In 1947, American Labor shot off its left wing, ever since then it's been flying around in circles."
But history isn't a static thing - The current alignments within the Democratic Party are only 30 years in the making. Just as religious white-male blue-collar red-state workers may someday realize that voting Republican isn't in their class' interest, blue-collar blue-state workers may realize they can do better with their own political apparatus. Of course, that's if Americans can get back into the habit of thinking in terms of class.
Back here in Santa Cruz, it would seem that Measure G is gonna be a showdown at the O K coral. The true face of the business classes, regardless of their so-called progressive leanings, is coming out, and it ain't pretty. Almost six years ago, the City of Santa Cruz passed one of the highest living wage laws in the country - that law, applied only to city (county?) jobs - i.e. not private enterprise. Now that union folks have set their eyes on lifting up the majority of low-wage workers, who do not work in the public sector, the business folks are throwing all their weight against it.
While I can't speak for the political insights of my neighbor, I can tell you that on my way to work Monday morning, while riding on King St, I noticed a large "No on G" sign had been defaced with graffiti - About 2 miles further down by Kelly's Bakery I rode past what was left of a "Yes on G" sign – It had been torn to pieces.
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This story has a nice flair, and the ring of truth.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Nice article, though I take issue with a few of the assertions.
Strong point of clarification: I just talked to the chair of the county's Dem. CC and she said that Measure G was never brought before them for endorsement. She actually sounded positive about it and thought that it might have passed. That is why the County Dems haven't taken a position on it. This is not an endorsement, but an explanation.
I would advise you to think strategically rather than to just bullheadedly generalize all people who fall under the same umbrella. I don't even think that political parties can throw someone out. Why, then, would you judge someone based on one affiliation rather than looking at the big picture? It's simple to be an idealogue -- it takes less time and brainpower. All you have to do is decide you're a "______ist/an/at" and then you obligingly slap your idealogical mantras on every single issue.
I wish I could do that. It would save me so much time. However, I live in a WORLD THAT IS BURNING DOWN with FASCISTS AT THE HELM and I am going to try to do everything I can to prevent or ameliorate the effects of that. If it means voting for a person who will do a good job of working for the environment, but doesn't have the right label, I'm still going to vote for him/her. Look around. Civilization hasn't "collapsed" yet. And it doesn't look like it is going to in the near future. I strongly urge you to make the most of the time you have, especially during this critical window of time we *may* have (no guarantees) to actually do something about global warming. In my opinion, you can either continue to play make believe and stubbornly refuse to compromise.... or you can try to create coalitions with people and get as much done NOW in the short time we *may* have left.
By the way, please don't misconstrue my point. I think that these faux-liberals who are fighting Measure G deserve a good, ol' financial ass-kicking. The answer is a BOYCOTT. Let them know you will boycott them and then follow through with it. When these pompous and selfish people run for public office, EXPOSE them for the fakes they are.
(Oh, that reminds me.....
Mike Rotkin ---- BIG, FAST-TALKING FAUX-LIBERAL
Cynthia Matthews ---- GRUMPY FAUX-LIBERAL
Lynn Robinson ---- ANTI-WORKER FAUX-LIBERAL CANDIDATE
Put your words into action and give these candidates a shot for Santa Cruz City Council:
Simba Kenyatta
Bruce Van Allen
Chris Cobb
I can't imagine these folks being any worse than those previously mentioned.)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Updated list:
***BOYCOTT THESE ANTI-WORKER BUSINESSES***
-Kianti's
-Hoffman's Bakery Cafe
-Fresh Prep Kitchen (on Front Street)
-Bad Ass Coffee Company
-Pacific Cookie Company
-Rosie McCann's
-The Hat Company
-Rogue
-Zoccoli's Deli
-Bookshop Santa Cruz
-Cafe Brazil
-Fedex Kinkos (they have a huge sign in front of their property, and I've heard they have financially supported the No on G Campaign.)
-Avanti's
-Goodwill
-Costa Brava Taqueria
-Walnut Ave. Cafe
-99 Bottles of Beer
For more info and to add other businesses to the boycott list:
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2006/10/12/18319975.php
Strong point of clarification: I just talked to the chair of the county's Dem. CC and she said that Measure G was never brought before them for endorsement. She actually sounded positive about it and thought that it might have passed. That is why the County Dems haven't taken a position on it. This is not an endorsement, but an explanation.
I would advise you to think strategically rather than to just bullheadedly generalize all people who fall under the same umbrella. I don't even think that political parties can throw someone out. Why, then, would you judge someone based on one affiliation rather than looking at the big picture? It's simple to be an idealogue -- it takes less time and brainpower. All you have to do is decide you're a "______ist/an/at" and then you obligingly slap your idealogical mantras on every single issue.
I wish I could do that. It would save me so much time. However, I live in a WORLD THAT IS BURNING DOWN with FASCISTS AT THE HELM and I am going to try to do everything I can to prevent or ameliorate the effects of that. If it means voting for a person who will do a good job of working for the environment, but doesn't have the right label, I'm still going to vote for him/her. Look around. Civilization hasn't "collapsed" yet. And it doesn't look like it is going to in the near future. I strongly urge you to make the most of the time you have, especially during this critical window of time we *may* have (no guarantees) to actually do something about global warming. In my opinion, you can either continue to play make believe and stubbornly refuse to compromise.... or you can try to create coalitions with people and get as much done NOW in the short time we *may* have left.
By the way, please don't misconstrue my point. I think that these faux-liberals who are fighting Measure G deserve a good, ol' financial ass-kicking. The answer is a BOYCOTT. Let them know you will boycott them and then follow through with it. When these pompous and selfish people run for public office, EXPOSE them for the fakes they are.
(Oh, that reminds me.....
Mike Rotkin ---- BIG, FAST-TALKING FAUX-LIBERAL
Cynthia Matthews ---- GRUMPY FAUX-LIBERAL
Lynn Robinson ---- ANTI-WORKER FAUX-LIBERAL CANDIDATE
Put your words into action and give these candidates a shot for Santa Cruz City Council:
Simba Kenyatta
Bruce Van Allen
Chris Cobb
I can't imagine these folks being any worse than those previously mentioned.)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Updated list:
***BOYCOTT THESE ANTI-WORKER BUSINESSES***
-Kianti's
-Hoffman's Bakery Cafe
-Fresh Prep Kitchen (on Front Street)
-Bad Ass Coffee Company
-Pacific Cookie Company
-Rosie McCann's
-The Hat Company
-Rogue
-Zoccoli's Deli
-Bookshop Santa Cruz
-Cafe Brazil
-Fedex Kinkos (they have a huge sign in front of their property, and I've heard they have financially supported the No on G Campaign.)
-Avanti's
-Goodwill
-Costa Brava Taqueria
-Walnut Ave. Cafe
-99 Bottles of Beer
For more info and to add other businesses to the boycott list:
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2006/10/12/18319975.php
What is interesting to me in this debate is why business owners aren’t rallying against the institutions that make it so hard to survive as a small business these days. Where is the solidarity with workers against health insurance companies and the incredible spiraling costs of basic health care? According to the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health Research and Educational Trust, premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance in the United States have been rising five times faster on average than workers' earnings since 2000. (source: National Coalition on Health Care) Not to mention the telecommunications giants that overcharge for internet and phones, How about big banks and their ridiculous charges that nickel and dime everyone? Solidarity against ever-increasing energy costs?
What progressive small businesses need to do is get together to fight the monopolies that make it hard for them to survive, not the workers that have a right to demand fair wages.
What progressive small businesses need to do is get together to fight the monopolies that make it hard for them to survive, not the workers that have a right to demand fair wages.
That's pretty lame to basically call out businesses to boycott because they don't support an iniative that is written so badly and is full of half truths and misinformation. GOODWILL??? really? they are evil???
Most of those places listed are not against paying a living wage. If you really want to protect workers you should be encouraging choice in the workplace not trying to hurt small business- that just ultimately hurts the workers. Santa Cruz is not for everyone- I know it first hand and I struggled hard when I moved here too. But to think that local businesses are exploiting workers because they are reacting to the dictates of a seasonal tourist economy is ridiculously nearsighted. Big chains like Gap, Urban Outfitters and Borders will thrive if G is passed by EXPLOITING their salaried employees to make up for payroll cuts. (Not to mention the entire Capitola Mall-ick!). The City of Santa Cruz isn't San Francisco San Jose or Oakland. It's tiny and cannot support an economy dictated by students who leave here once they are done with their education. see-http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2006/September/28/local/stories/01local.htm oh and I love the suffering single mother aspect that always gets thrown in..
Instead of punishing businesses who work hard to grow and provide opportunities in SC we should be focused on encouraging more businesses to stay here and invest in the local economy. Don't let your idealogy get in the way of your common sense. It is possible to be progressive and liberal and own a business. AND think Measure G stinks!
FYI: I'm very progressive, very liberal, a "worker" AND I get paid hourly.
Most of those places listed are not against paying a living wage. If you really want to protect workers you should be encouraging choice in the workplace not trying to hurt small business- that just ultimately hurts the workers. Santa Cruz is not for everyone- I know it first hand and I struggled hard when I moved here too. But to think that local businesses are exploiting workers because they are reacting to the dictates of a seasonal tourist economy is ridiculously nearsighted. Big chains like Gap, Urban Outfitters and Borders will thrive if G is passed by EXPLOITING their salaried employees to make up for payroll cuts. (Not to mention the entire Capitola Mall-ick!). The City of Santa Cruz isn't San Francisco San Jose or Oakland. It's tiny and cannot support an economy dictated by students who leave here once they are done with their education. see-http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2006/September/28/local/stories/01local.htm oh and I love the suffering single mother aspect that always gets thrown in..
Instead of punishing businesses who work hard to grow and provide opportunities in SC we should be focused on encouraging more businesses to stay here and invest in the local economy. Don't let your idealogy get in the way of your common sense. It is possible to be progressive and liberal and own a business. AND think Measure G stinks!
FYI: I'm very progressive, very liberal, a "worker" AND I get paid hourly.
Small businesses are often the worst and most exploitative. In Santa Cruz they have a despicable record of supporting the worst anti-poor policies and politicians that masquerade under a false facade of "progressivism". These businesses and politicians opposing a minimal wage increase for the poorest is only the latest in a long history.
Rachel, your program of supporting small businesses reflects in many ways the program of the local Democrat Party and that of the Green Party.
In Santa Cruz, where the Green Party has elected their party member Tim Fitzemaurice to office, Tim Fitzemaurice, along with elected Democrats, has backed the fears of local shop owners by voting for anti-homeless laws such as the law that makes it illegal for the homeless to sleep at night. While criminalizing those who cannot pay the high rent Fitzemaurice refuses to take a stand for rent control. Likewise Tim Fitzemaurice has refused to take any stand against police violence used against anti-war protesters in 1999 and other repressive measures against activists including my arrest and beating for distributing literature and the police murder of homeless activist John Dine. Recently Fitzemaurice did take a stand against police infiltration of the organizers of a Santa Cruz anti-war parade, but his stated reason for doing so was an attempt to maintain the credibility of the Santa Cruz police.
Tim Fitzemaurice is not a leader for change in Santa Cruz. He is instead a pillar of the status quo. This is the future of all political parties and politicians that do not have a clear program for the overthrow of the capitalist system.
The Green Party is clear in their program. They state that they are for a system of small capitalism. Yet the small capitalists commonly have a smaller profit margin and often exploit workers worse than the big capitalists. In opposition to such a vision of small and inefficient capitalist exploiters, I look to labor struggle and the nationalization of industry under workers’ control as the way to fight and neutralize the corporate exploiters and bring justice for the working class.
Santa Cruz Green Party In Power Fails The Test
http://sf.indymedia.org/mail.php?id=111297
Raise The Minimum Wage, Yes On Measure G!
http://indybay.org/newsitems/2006/10/20/18321935.php
Rachel, your program of supporting small businesses reflects in many ways the program of the local Democrat Party and that of the Green Party.
In Santa Cruz, where the Green Party has elected their party member Tim Fitzemaurice to office, Tim Fitzemaurice, along with elected Democrats, has backed the fears of local shop owners by voting for anti-homeless laws such as the law that makes it illegal for the homeless to sleep at night. While criminalizing those who cannot pay the high rent Fitzemaurice refuses to take a stand for rent control. Likewise Tim Fitzemaurice has refused to take any stand against police violence used against anti-war protesters in 1999 and other repressive measures against activists including my arrest and beating for distributing literature and the police murder of homeless activist John Dine. Recently Fitzemaurice did take a stand against police infiltration of the organizers of a Santa Cruz anti-war parade, but his stated reason for doing so was an attempt to maintain the credibility of the Santa Cruz police.
Tim Fitzemaurice is not a leader for change in Santa Cruz. He is instead a pillar of the status quo. This is the future of all political parties and politicians that do not have a clear program for the overthrow of the capitalist system.
The Green Party is clear in their program. They state that they are for a system of small capitalism. Yet the small capitalists commonly have a smaller profit margin and often exploit workers worse than the big capitalists. In opposition to such a vision of small and inefficient capitalist exploiters, I look to labor struggle and the nationalization of industry under workers’ control as the way to fight and neutralize the corporate exploiters and bring justice for the working class.
Santa Cruz Green Party In Power Fails The Test
http://sf.indymedia.org/mail.php?id=111297
Raise The Minimum Wage, Yes On Measure G!
http://indybay.org/newsitems/2006/10/20/18321935.php
Steve Argue, your post exemplifies the problem with this measure. It tells one side of the story - "my arrest and beating for distributing literature" (Really? And you're sure you did nothing else? And that you really were "beaten"? And what kind of literature? Shakespeare?) and pointedly ignores the other. It's the fringe elements like yourself, Robert Norse, Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, etc. (that is to say, the sanctimonious jerks who think they know better than the rest of us how to get to heaven) who reduce the debate to a shouting match of inane one-liners.
Measure G is at best a stew of half baked ideas addressing the real societal problem of the widening gap between haves and have-nots. At worst it is the product of a tired pattern of vilifying businesses for making money. 5 years from now, the minimum wage will be $12 and the poor folks you say you wish to help won't be able to purchase anything in the city limits. I guess when all the poor people are in Watsonville, you would have solved the poverty problem in Santa Cruz. Nice work!
Measure G is at best a stew of half baked ideas addressing the real societal problem of the widening gap between haves and have-nots. At worst it is the product of a tired pattern of vilifying businesses for making money. 5 years from now, the minimum wage will be $12 and the poor folks you say you wish to help won't be able to purchase anything in the city limits. I guess when all the poor people are in Watsonville, you would have solved the poverty problem in Santa Cruz. Nice work!
The minimum wage keeps going down with inflation, this would be a step in the right direction.
As for being arrested and beaten for distributing literature, that is exactly what happened, and that is why I won a $20,000 lawsuit against the city government.
As for being arrested and beaten for distributing literature, that is exactly what happened, and that is why I won a $20,000 lawsuit against the city government.
I've really only got a moment for such an unimpmortant subject, but I take it you mean the one where you punched a cop in the nose, fled the scene, were sentenced to nine months in jail, served at least part of that time and then filed a $1,000,000 lawsuit for whatever supposed wrong you suffered through all that. It sounds like $20,000 was to make you go away and stop being a McDonalds-coffee-woman type nuisance. Whatever. As I said, there's always more to these things than y'all let on. Stop it with the sound bites. We're not that ignorant.
Listen up, “Simplicism”. Raising the minimum wage would be a good thing despite your denials.
This is not about me, but since you choose to attack me with your ignorance of the facts I must respond.
And No, the police incident you refer to has nothing to do with what I referred to, nor do you have your facts straight on that one either.
ARRESTED FOR DISTRIBUTING LITERATURE
The cops arrested me and beat me while I was distributing literature in 1998 on Pacific Avenue. They held me for 4 days and never charged me with anything because I had broken no laws. The day I was arrested for nothing my picture was in the Sentinel (along side Council members Chris Krohn and Keith Sugar) speaking to a protest of 100 protesting the police murder of John Dine. We filed a lawsuit in federal court for my arrest and beating and won $20,000.
TO WHAT YOU REFER
This had nothing to do with the May 22, 1999 anti-war protest where a cop was brutalizing a woman with a small child in her arms, and I intervened against the police violence with a well-deserved punch in the nose. That happened later.
See, there is always more to these things than you assume you know from the corporate press and (fellow?) officers.
This is not about me, but since you choose to attack me with your ignorance of the facts I must respond.
And No, the police incident you refer to has nothing to do with what I referred to, nor do you have your facts straight on that one either.
ARRESTED FOR DISTRIBUTING LITERATURE
The cops arrested me and beat me while I was distributing literature in 1998 on Pacific Avenue. They held me for 4 days and never charged me with anything because I had broken no laws. The day I was arrested for nothing my picture was in the Sentinel (along side Council members Chris Krohn and Keith Sugar) speaking to a protest of 100 protesting the police murder of John Dine. We filed a lawsuit in federal court for my arrest and beating and won $20,000.
TO WHAT YOU REFER
This had nothing to do with the May 22, 1999 anti-war protest where a cop was brutalizing a woman with a small child in her arms, and I intervened against the police violence with a well-deserved punch in the nose. That happened later.
See, there is always more to these things than you assume you know from the corporate press and (fellow?) officers.
Steve Argue,
I actually discovered my error in confusing your impressively long rap sheet and posted an apology last night, but it was apparently taken down. Anyway, on behalf of my fellow officers, business leaders and other pigs, I do apologize for mixing up your episodic run-ins with the law.
How was I to know you had been arrested, jailed and convicted so many times?
Regarding the minimum wage, you are incorrect, but debating this further would be a waste of time, I see.
I actually discovered my error in confusing your impressively long rap sheet and posted an apology last night, but it was apparently taken down. Anyway, on behalf of my fellow officers, business leaders and other pigs, I do apologize for mixing up your episodic run-ins with the law.
How was I to know you had been arrested, jailed and convicted so many times?
Regarding the minimum wage, you are incorrect, but debating this further would be a waste of time, I see.
I am not ashamed to say I’ve gone to jail for justice.
But “Simpleton”, once again you choose to lie about me. I have not been convicted multiple times.
But back on topic:
The poor in Santa Cruz that are working for the current minimum wage of $6.75 an hour often suffer homelessness and hunger and are constantly forced to make hard financial decisions about necessities that cause constant stress.
Measure G will not solve all of this, but it will help. It will raise the minimum wage to $9.25 an hour. That would be a good thing.
Vote Yes on Measure G
But “Simpleton”, once again you choose to lie about me. I have not been convicted multiple times.
But back on topic:
The poor in Santa Cruz that are working for the current minimum wage of $6.75 an hour often suffer homelessness and hunger and are constantly forced to make hard financial decisions about necessities that cause constant stress.
Measure G will not solve all of this, but it will help. It will raise the minimum wage to $9.25 an hour. That would be a good thing.
Vote Yes on Measure G
Is this not a bit of a drastic increase all at once? And only in the city?
If, by some stroke of stupidity (and I wouldn't put it past Cruzans at large) this measure were to pass, it would give me a raise, yet I still remain against it for all the havoc it will instantly wreak on businesses supported by high school/college workers and tourism.
Santa Cruz is a great city with unparalelled compassion for its less-fortunate.
Can't hack it here on what you make? Then move. That's my plan, soon as I save up the scratch.
If, by some stroke of stupidity (and I wouldn't put it past Cruzans at large) this measure were to pass, it would give me a raise, yet I still remain against it for all the havoc it will instantly wreak on businesses supported by high school/college workers and tourism.
Santa Cruz is a great city with unparalelled compassion for its less-fortunate.
Can't hack it here on what you make? Then move. That's my plan, soon as I save up the scratch.
Steve Agree,
You misspelled my name. It's "Simplicism", not "Simpleton". Someone else you know perhaps?
That last post I think brings the issue into some focus. When people say they have to leave because they can't afford it here, you have an island economy. Raising the minimum wage above that of surrounding cities will exacerbate, not solve the problem.
And it is a problem. It's not okay to simply vote the poor people out of town to make the communists and "activists" among us feel better because they stuck it to the man.
This will have the same exclusionary effect that our no-growth land use policies have had on real estate. Creating scarcity through legislation and ordinance simply elevates prices. Elevated prices exclude poorer people. This is why they are boiling stones for soup in Cuba while we can buy a whole grocery-store-aisle worth of Top Ramen for $50 and feed the homeless all day long on it. I realize that commerce theory is not as much fun as cat-calling from the sidelines, but it is what actually matters in the end.
Before you go calling me names, I will tell you I am a card-carrying member of the ACLU, an ex-member of the Communist Party in my home country and an ex-poor person. I'll never vote for another Republican as long as I live (I would vote Green if it wasn't for some of the jerks who belong to the party locally) and I give plenty of money to charities that support the causes of the economically disadvantaged - although, again, not here, strictly because of the (same) jerks involved in "supporting" their cause locally. I'm a local business owner and we employ scores of people here on hourly rates that average $15/hour for "unskilled" work. Those are my bonafides.
As for Measure G, it won't actually have any impact on my business. I just think it's ill-conceived. There are far better alternatives.
I hope you also take good care of the people who work hard to make your business a success, Mr. Agree. I also hope you pay them way above minimum wage. It's the right thing to do.
You misspelled my name. It's "Simplicism", not "Simpleton". Someone else you know perhaps?
That last post I think brings the issue into some focus. When people say they have to leave because they can't afford it here, you have an island economy. Raising the minimum wage above that of surrounding cities will exacerbate, not solve the problem.
And it is a problem. It's not okay to simply vote the poor people out of town to make the communists and "activists" among us feel better because they stuck it to the man.
This will have the same exclusionary effect that our no-growth land use policies have had on real estate. Creating scarcity through legislation and ordinance simply elevates prices. Elevated prices exclude poorer people. This is why they are boiling stones for soup in Cuba while we can buy a whole grocery-store-aisle worth of Top Ramen for $50 and feed the homeless all day long on it. I realize that commerce theory is not as much fun as cat-calling from the sidelines, but it is what actually matters in the end.
Before you go calling me names, I will tell you I am a card-carrying member of the ACLU, an ex-member of the Communist Party in my home country and an ex-poor person. I'll never vote for another Republican as long as I live (I would vote Green if it wasn't for some of the jerks who belong to the party locally) and I give plenty of money to charities that support the causes of the economically disadvantaged - although, again, not here, strictly because of the (same) jerks involved in "supporting" their cause locally. I'm a local business owner and we employ scores of people here on hourly rates that average $15/hour for "unskilled" work. Those are my bonafides.
As for Measure G, it won't actually have any impact on my business. I just think it's ill-conceived. There are far better alternatives.
I hope you also take good care of the people who work hard to make your business a success, Mr. Agree. I also hope you pay them way above minimum wage. It's the right thing to do.
They don't boil stones to make soup in Cuba, you have present day Cuba confused with the pre-revolutionary days under the murderous U.S. supported Batista dictatorship that kept the farmland in the hands of Rockefeller's United Fruit Company and allowed the peasants to literally starve in the off season. People are better off in Cuba than they were before the revolution.
Back to Santa Cruz: Although we do need a revolution, Measure G will not be that. It will only be a small increase in the pay for extremely poor workers in a very rich town.
Even according to the city government’s own studies, raising the minimum wage will have very little impact on the local economy, except putting a little more money in the pockets of some of the poorest Santa Cruzens and causing some business owners to pass on small price increases to consumers. The economy won’t suddenly shut down, and the boardwalk and other low wage exploiters aren’t going to pack up and move to San Jose or Watsonville.
The minimum wage keeps going down with inflation. It is not an acceptable compensation for the hard work given to the bosses to make them rich and make this economy run, but Measure G would be a small step in the right direction.
Back to Santa Cruz: Although we do need a revolution, Measure G will not be that. It will only be a small increase in the pay for extremely poor workers in a very rich town.
Even according to the city government’s own studies, raising the minimum wage will have very little impact on the local economy, except putting a little more money in the pockets of some of the poorest Santa Cruzens and causing some business owners to pass on small price increases to consumers. The economy won’t suddenly shut down, and the boardwalk and other low wage exploiters aren’t going to pack up and move to San Jose or Watsonville.
The minimum wage keeps going down with inflation. It is not an acceptable compensation for the hard work given to the bosses to make them rich and make this economy run, but Measure G would be a small step in the right direction.
I would have to agree with the premise of Simplicism's argument. Getting rid of all the poor people by excluding them from the economy smacks of fascism.
By the way, I worked several summers at the Boardwalk. The kids there don't work "hard" and they're not being "exploited". The Boardwalk is doing their parents a favor getting them out of the house and keeping them out of trouble in the summer. That's it. They don't earn, nor do they mind not receiving, more than minimum wage.
A revolution? Sounds like fun.
By the way, I worked several summers at the Boardwalk. The kids there don't work "hard" and they're not being "exploited". The Boardwalk is doing their parents a favor getting them out of the house and keeping them out of trouble in the summer. That's it. They don't earn, nor do they mind not receiving, more than minimum wage.
A revolution? Sounds like fun.
"I would have to agree with the premise of Simplicism's argument. Getting rid of all the poor people by excluding them from the economy smacks of fascism."
OK, great, so you agree that they need to be paid enough to live!
And while all workers in this society are exploted, minimum wage workers do work very hard (in many cases the hardest) and are exploited to the extreme.
OK, great, so you agree that they need to be paid enough to live!
And while all workers in this society are exploted, minimum wage workers do work very hard (in many cases the hardest) and are exploited to the extreme.
Yes, I do agree that people ought to be paid enough to live. That sentiment is not the sole prerogative of the saints. I believe decent people agree on this.
What you are doing is vilifying people by calling them "exploiters" and whatnot, for the simple crime of disagreeing with you on how to solve a problem. That sort of arrogance is what marginalizes you.
I have yet to see you respond intelligently to any of the cases put forward by Simplicism for rethinking this measure. Shouting is not discourse.
I was going to vote for Measure G, but you just convinced me not to.
By the way, improving on the Batista regime in Cuba is not some miracle of modern governance. It is difficult to imagine them not having done so. What is striking is how little they have accomplished in the last 50 years.
I see that you must always have the last word, so I will let you do so.
What you are doing is vilifying people by calling them "exploiters" and whatnot, for the simple crime of disagreeing with you on how to solve a problem. That sort of arrogance is what marginalizes you.
I have yet to see you respond intelligently to any of the cases put forward by Simplicism for rethinking this measure. Shouting is not discourse.
I was going to vote for Measure G, but you just convinced me not to.
By the way, improving on the Batista regime in Cuba is not some miracle of modern governance. It is difficult to imagine them not having done so. What is striking is how little they have accomplished in the last 50 years.
I see that you must always have the last word, so I will let you do so.
I am on social security disability due to Muscular Dystrophy and I take care of my wife who has Scleroderma and only gets her retirement income...we can't work at anything to supplement our income due to physical limitations...my check when divided by 160 hours which is a normal work month...comes out to around $4.75 hr...factor in inflation, the devalued dollar on world markets, increases in cost of food, fuel and health care and it doesn't take a genius to figure out that we are hurting big time...after the mortgage and health care premiums...we have little remaining...$150 per month for food including one meal out...$50 per month for fuel...and whatever is left goes to all the insurances, taxes, utilities, clothing, medical equipment and so forth...because of all of this...our buying power has been cut almost in half in the last several years, we have no more savings, hold a weekly yardsale of whatever we can dig up around the house that's remaining and typically run out of money by the end of the first week of the month and food about a week short of the end of the month...I try to grow vegetables and hit up the local food banks but they are getting hit hard too with ever-increasing numbers of poor and middle-class families in similar situations to us...
I support not only increasing the minimum wage but also taking a look at adjusting disability benefits so that they reflect at least a symbolic attempt to maintain sufficient incomes for those who cannot otherwise raise needed funds, re-enter the workforce or have any other resources remaining to offset the negative forces in our household budgets...seniors, disabled, Veterans and single parent households are in terrible shape these days...and we are being ignored like a bunch of Blacks in Florida voting booths...as Indians on a Reservation...the survivors of hurricanes Katrina and Rita...or like tens of thousands of active duty service persons who have been wounded in illegal wars...
Mike Price
Disabled Navy Veteran 1968-76
Wolf Clan Saco Tribe of the Abenaki Nation
I support not only increasing the minimum wage but also taking a look at adjusting disability benefits so that they reflect at least a symbolic attempt to maintain sufficient incomes for those who cannot otherwise raise needed funds, re-enter the workforce or have any other resources remaining to offset the negative forces in our household budgets...seniors, disabled, Veterans and single parent households are in terrible shape these days...and we are being ignored like a bunch of Blacks in Florida voting booths...as Indians on a Reservation...the survivors of hurricanes Katrina and Rita...or like tens of thousands of active duty service persons who have been wounded in illegal wars...
Mike Price
Disabled Navy Veteran 1968-76
Wolf Clan Saco Tribe of the Abenaki Nation
RACHEL WRITES: "That's pretty lame to basically call out businesses to boycott because they don't support an (sic) iniative that is written so badly and is full of half truths and misinformation. GOODWILL??? really? they are evil??? Most of those places listed are not against paying a living wage. If you really want to protect workers you should be encouraging choice in the workplace not trying to hurt small business- that just ultimately hurts the workers."
BECKY: Boycotting businesses that advertise they pay their workers low wages, and want every other business in Santa Cruz the opportunity to do the same does seems quite appropriate!
GOODWILL INDUSTRIES are supposed to HELP poor and homeless people. How will their workers ever improve their lot with such low wages? A LIVING WAGE in the City of Santa Cruz for a position with no benefits is $13.56. So $9.25/hr is a full $4.31/hr SHORT. And GOODWILL is fighting this minor wage increase? And fear-mongoring by threatening to leave the City limits entirely?
If this is not evil, for a respected non-profit that benefits from thousands of individual contributions from area residents under the name of helping the poor and homeless, to stand in the way of improving their substandard wages slightly, certainly requires some kind of pejorative.
In the cities where the minimum wage was raised, there was no noticable increase in business closures, job loss, or lack of jobs for youth. Most costs were passed on to consumers in slightly higher prices.
See the City of Santa Fe, NM. for their stats.
As for hurting family businesses, THAT is misinformation! There is an exception for family members,
and it doesn't apply to businesses with less than 10 workers. Mom and Pop will be fine. More fear-mongoring.
The Seaside Company, notorious for low wages, lack of benefits, and poor working conditions (as well as sinister anti-union activities) is one of the main opponents of passing this ordinance.
They, more than any other business, may finally be forced to pay their workers decent wages.
Both Cynthia Mathews and Mike Rotkin are part of the No on Measure G force. Both are supported by Charles Canfield and the Seaside Company. Vote them out too!!
BECKY: Boycotting businesses that advertise they pay their workers low wages, and want every other business in Santa Cruz the opportunity to do the same does seems quite appropriate!
GOODWILL INDUSTRIES are supposed to HELP poor and homeless people. How will their workers ever improve their lot with such low wages? A LIVING WAGE in the City of Santa Cruz for a position with no benefits is $13.56. So $9.25/hr is a full $4.31/hr SHORT. And GOODWILL is fighting this minor wage increase? And fear-mongoring by threatening to leave the City limits entirely?
If this is not evil, for a respected non-profit that benefits from thousands of individual contributions from area residents under the name of helping the poor and homeless, to stand in the way of improving their substandard wages slightly, certainly requires some kind of pejorative.
In the cities where the minimum wage was raised, there was no noticable increase in business closures, job loss, or lack of jobs for youth. Most costs were passed on to consumers in slightly higher prices.
See the City of Santa Fe, NM. for their stats.
As for hurting family businesses, THAT is misinformation! There is an exception for family members,
and it doesn't apply to businesses with less than 10 workers. Mom and Pop will be fine. More fear-mongoring.
The Seaside Company, notorious for low wages, lack of benefits, and poor working conditions (as well as sinister anti-union activities) is one of the main opponents of passing this ordinance.
They, more than any other business, may finally be forced to pay their workers decent wages.
Both Cynthia Mathews and Mike Rotkin are part of the No on Measure G force. Both are supported by Charles Canfield and the Seaside Company. Vote them out too!!
Becky,
Thank goodness you are the fringe of the fringe. It would be awful if anyone took your diatribes seriously!
$13.56 is for City workers (the ones who HAVE to deal with the likes of you and Robert Norse on a daily basis). It's not enough.
For the rest of us, you probably would like all businesses to leave so that we can all join you in the ranks of the severely unaccomplished. At $9.25, we have a 37% increase in minimum wage. That's not "minor" to anyone actually writing the check. So yes, I imagine some of our bosses will ultimately think about leaving. I'm sure also that new businesses will think twice before coming here. That just seems obvious. And hats off to the folks who set Steve Argue straight!
Thank goodness you are the fringe of the fringe. It would be awful if anyone took your diatribes seriously!
$13.56 is for City workers (the ones who HAVE to deal with the likes of you and Robert Norse on a daily basis). It's not enough.
For the rest of us, you probably would like all businesses to leave so that we can all join you in the ranks of the severely unaccomplished. At $9.25, we have a 37% increase in minimum wage. That's not "minor" to anyone actually writing the check. So yes, I imagine some of our bosses will ultimately think about leaving. I'm sure also that new businesses will think twice before coming here. That just seems obvious. And hats off to the folks who set Steve Argue straight!
Hats Off To Becky Johnson & Steven Argue!
Thanks for standing up for the people.
I'll be voting yes on G and so will everyone else I know.
Thanks for standing up for the people.
I'll be voting yes on G and so will everyone else I know.
If "everyone" you know is voting one way on this, you need to get out more often!
I'm poor, and frankly I prefer not to know people that would vote to take food from the mouths of poor people.
Becky Johnson,
I'm not so sure about "fear-mongoring" (sic) from the "sinister" Canfield company. Sounds to me like you've never worked there. Who told you work conditions there are sub-standard? I HAVE worked there, and it was ridiculously easy work and quite enjoyable for a high school kid with no job skills. I wouldn't do it now, of course, but for a kid it was good work and paid appropriately. That said, I too wouldn't mind seeing them have to pay more money to the kids. I don't know about $9.25 an hour though. Seems like the California minimum of $8.00 is adequate.
I looked up Santa Fe, NM and it turns out the wage ordinance increased the minimum to $8.50 in 2004, and will increase it to $9.50 in 2006 and finally to $10.50 in 2008. It exempts businesses with less than 25 employees (almost all small businesses in a downtown area such as ours) and allows restaurants (the rest of the businesses!) to count tips as part of the wage. Effectively, the increase there affects agriculture, light manufacturing and large service businesses (janitorial companies, etc.). This seems wholly fair, as a lot of those folks really are hardworking people with low skill sets trying to make ends meet. They deserve a leg up.
Your comparision is completely meaningless. Sounds to me like YOU are "myth-mongering"!
I'm not so sure about "fear-mongoring" (sic) from the "sinister" Canfield company. Sounds to me like you've never worked there. Who told you work conditions there are sub-standard? I HAVE worked there, and it was ridiculously easy work and quite enjoyable for a high school kid with no job skills. I wouldn't do it now, of course, but for a kid it was good work and paid appropriately. That said, I too wouldn't mind seeing them have to pay more money to the kids. I don't know about $9.25 an hour though. Seems like the California minimum of $8.00 is adequate.
I looked up Santa Fe, NM and it turns out the wage ordinance increased the minimum to $8.50 in 2004, and will increase it to $9.50 in 2006 and finally to $10.50 in 2008. It exempts businesses with less than 25 employees (almost all small businesses in a downtown area such as ours) and allows restaurants (the rest of the businesses!) to count tips as part of the wage. Effectively, the increase there affects agriculture, light manufacturing and large service businesses (janitorial companies, etc.). This seems wholly fair, as a lot of those folks really are hardworking people with low skill sets trying to make ends meet. They deserve a leg up.
Your comparision is completely meaningless. Sounds to me like YOU are "myth-mongering"!
Johnson,
Please tell me that you are not proposing unionizing high-school kids working summer jobs selling cotton candy! Or is this some other "sinister anti-union" activity you're referring to?
Beware of standing too far off to the left (or right)...there's a cliff somewhere out there and you will surely fall off it in the darkness that your poorly considered "ideas" represent!
Please tell me that you are not proposing unionizing high-school kids working summer jobs selling cotton candy! Or is this some other "sinister anti-union" activity you're referring to?
Beware of standing too far off to the left (or right)...there's a cliff somewhere out there and you will surely fall off it in the darkness that your poorly considered "ideas" represent!
Thanks to the citizenry of Santa Cruz for the extraordinary intelligence with which they voted. It is gratifying to see Mathews, Rotkin and Robinson deservedly elected to council and to see Measure G so handily rejected. It goes to demonstrate that the adversaries of these people and proponents of the measure really are a shrill minority. Reason thankfully has prevailed and our employers will be able to continue to offer employment and living opportunities to a diverse group of people and to share our beautiful city with them! Thanks especially to Johnson, Norris-Kahn and Argue for the entertaining posts!
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