SWOPblogger

June 30 Youth delegation to Chiapas Report back at: 803 La Vega SW - 6 pm
July 8 5:30 pm Tardeada at SWOP office 211 10th Street
July 13 6 pm Universal health Presentation at SWOP office
July 15 5 pm Tardeada at SWOP office
July 23 Membership meeting - site and time TBA
July29 5 pm Tardeada at SWOP office
August 6 Mayor Forum - site and time TBA
August 10 Electoral Empowerment Training - site and time TBA

August 12 5 pm Tardeada at SWOP office
August 26 5 pm Tardeada at SWOP office
August 27 Jovencitos Art Opening at Offcenter Art Gallery (8th and Central @ 6:30 pm)
September 9 Concert with Quetzal and the B-Side Players, at the El Rey - call 505 247-8832 for tickets
September 16 5 pm Tardeada at SWOP office
September 30 5 pm Tardeada at SWOP office
October 8 Unidos sin Fronteras Border Mobilization - at Border
October 15 Chile Harvest Festival - site and time TBA
November 18 Membership meeting
December 3 End of the year celebration

January 21, 2006 25th Aniversary Banquet and Dance
505-247-8832 for info and tickets

Monday, June 27, 2005
N.M. Minuteman Patrols Start in Oct.

By Rene Romo
Journal Southern Bureau
COLUMBUS, N.M.— The Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, the group whose civilian patrols in Arizona drew national attention to illegal immigration in April, will be coming to New Mexico's southern border in October— whether welcomed by everyone or not...[More - paid subscibers]

Well this is not going to be a story telling you guys what I think about the article in the Albuquerque Journal this morning...wait, I suppose it is. My bad! Jim Ludwick wrote an interesting article that made the front page of this mornings paper. Of course Mr. Granger was the main attraction. But hey! The faithful soldiars and supporters of the Wage Increase got a picture in there as well. So WoHoo For that too.
The article titled "20,000 Sign Petition For Wage Increase" brought some confusion to me. First Mr. Ludwick states that M.Chavez "recently won support from the US Conference of Mayors for an increase in the Federal Minimum Wage", but then later states that M. Chavez is opposed to the wage increase..... Does that confuse anyone else or is it just that my brain is warped this morning?????? Is somebody trying to please as many people as 'he' can to get re-elected? ...aumbers... did the little voice inside me say something I wasn't supposed to? Well, as a student at UNM I know that it is impossible to live on your own on minimum wage. As I tried and repeatedly found myself back home. The wage that they have now ::cough:: 5.15, doesn't give enough for the rising prices. Now, you would think... rising prices...rising pay?!?!?! But unfortunately that isn't the case. Seeing my sister with her son breaks my heart. She is trying to go to school, pay rent, work full time, by the Baby what he needs, buy food, pay for her transportation, gas, light, and water... Well, she is now living at home too... and guess what that is with her making above minimum wage. So who is Brad Winter to oppose the Minimum wage increase... he who gets paid well and who doesnt have to worry about living in a Box... note: the box thing... slight exageration.. But come on! People need to live. Many people in Albuquerque have the desire and want to survive and we try, believe me. One of the opposers as I recall stated that We should just go to school and become lawers like Johnson... was that stated without thinking that nobody woud write an article using that quote...hmmmm




Guess what! There are around 25,000 students at UNM trying to do something similar to that, but sadly many drop out because it is nearly IMPOSSIBLE to work full time and go to school full time without BURNING some of the FUSES we have in our THINKING CAPS. I was considered an above average student in High School.. Gifted and all. But guess what... college is hard for me too. I don't have rich parents to pay for my schooling and don't you dare come at me about the financial aid thing.. because they deny more students because there aren't sufficiant funds... thats right and the LOttery.. it is hard to keep it. If you fall under 12 credits you automatically lose it.. and you end up oweing money back to them.



Many people after High School do not have the opportunity to go to College so they take up a job to begin life.
So all of you who are opposed to the Minimum wage increase.... what was your case. Were your parents well off??? I'm interested in knowing...
Have you ever lived 11 years without water, electricity, or sewage? Do you know what it is like to live in a car because your Mother is working a full time minimum wage job to support her 4 kids?
Think about the people and not about selfish reasons. You are supposed to be representing ALL the people, not just the folks that are already rich just so you can make an extra buck.

WOw!!! I kinda went off on my own there for a second. Keep gaining more signatures.. I know that this will get on the ballot. Don't forget to vote for the new Mayor as well... I want to see thousands upon thousands of people out in the polls voting for a mayor. I am not going to tell you who to vote for, but I believe I made it clear who I am not voting for. I really hope you guys enjoyed this blog.. Sorry I hadn't written one sooner. CHOW!!


Signing off!!!!!

-YeSi G

My name is Jeremy Giannini. I am 22 years of age and a summer intern at SWOP. The line of work we are doing directly involves many different groups in society. We deal with politicians, communities, authorities, businesses and other organizations. One entity that we also deal with is the media.

Since the media is such a large outlet to bring awareness and news on different issues to the people, it is important to understand how the media works. SWOP continually provides training on different subjects to the staff and to us interns. One of the recent trainings that I underwent was Blogging and Media Analysis. It is said by Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR) and many others that "Press has power so we must challenge them to be fair and accurate." So this is my question, The Media; to be or not to be truthful and accurate?
To answer my own question, I found an article on the internet titled "Child Porn: Yahoo Shuts Down Sex Chat Rooms". (You may read this article by clicking on the link) I will attempt to briefly analyze this article using the tools we learned in our Blogging and Media Analysis Training. Some of these tools are as follows: sources, point of view, stereotypes, sensationalism and advertiser influence. I invite you and strongly recommend that you read this article first to help you understand my brief analysis. To read this article click on the articles title above.

The article is mainly about Yahoo.com shutting down user-created chat rooms to keep pedophiles from luring in minors. At least, that is what it seems to be about. On the other hand, does them shutting down these user-created chat rooms have anything to do with advertiser influence? Are the sources credible? There are many questions we have to ask as a consumer to media. This article states, "...a Houston-based TV netwok showed the online service is being increasingly exploited by pedophiles to lure minors." The underlying problem is that we don't know who this "Houston-based TV network" is. It may consist of one channel or a series of them. The article also refers to and frequently uses the words "media sources" and "a television report" without stating specifics. This leads me to believe that these unspecified sources could actually be little Susie's grandma glorified as a "media source". And to top it off, she could have a neighbor who is a sex offender that influences her thoughts toward pedophiles.

The next thing that I noticed was a point of view leaning in Yahoo's favor. "...a Yahoo spokeswoman maintained that the company closed down user-created sites to make enhancements and to ensure users were adhering to the site's terms of service". My response and sarcastically thinking: "Of course, how could we possibly think that pedophiles would utilize Yahoo chat rooms to lure in minors. How ridiculous!" Little Susie's mother might also read this article and ban Yahoo.com from her computer so that her daughter would not become a victim. This would be very detrimental to Yahoo.com's success. So it makes sense that a Yahoo spokeswoman would say that they closed these user-created sites to "...make enhancements...".
Let's just throw that source out the window. It is obviously from Yahoo's point of view.

The third thing we need to look at are stereotypes. This article could be making pedophiles look completely inhumane. I mean, not that I agree with what they do, but I still wouldn't put them down in an article. This article states that a television show (again, which one?) exposed pedophiles' online in Yahoo chat rooms luring in minors. I have one question, "How in the world does this television show know that 'tecky165_' or 'scorpio2005' are pedophiles just by their user names. I will leave the rest to you to determine whether this stereotype of pedophiles in chat rooms is legitimate or not.

Fourth is sensationalism. When skimming the news online or in print these are some of the words that you may read in article titles. "Soccer...kids....water....Authorities....officials....books.... education....PORN...delegates...etc." Do you notice how much the word porn sticks out? Sensationalism is what attracts our senses to read a news story. The publisher putting out this article could have simply chosen this story to attract more readers which will, in turn, generate more income through advertising sales.

This leads me to my last point: Advertiser influence. According to this article "...advertisers including PepsiCo, State Farm Insurance, Countrywide Mortgage and T-Mobile pulled out their ad placements from all Yahoo! chat rooms.". These companies have very big influence on what Yahoo!.com hosts on their website because a huge amount of revenue comes from selling ads. If these companies were even spooked by anyone stating what was going on in Yahoo! chat rooms then it would be enough to pull ads from them. Loss of money for Yahoo!.com means that they will have to "...make enhancements...to ensure users were adhering to the site's terms of service." My response: "Of course, Yahoo! is cleaning their chat rooms so that little Susie's mom will still use Yahoo! and PepsiCo will still buy ads so Yahoo! will still make money. It makes sense; advertiser influence." Why don't we just forget about freedom of speech and the right to say what we want in chat rooms. It should be little Susie's mom and grandma who regulate what she's getting into, not websites regulating what they are getting into.

I leave you the reader to decide for yourself with this article and any other. Truth and accuracy in media; to be or not to be?
Jeremy Giannini

25 yes

2 no

http://www.smartclickz.com/pollhost/poll.php?id=886

(Albuquerque, Atlanta and San Francisco all have submitted proposals)

from an email:

USSF Site Selection Update

On June 20th, the Site and Outreach Committee held a conference call to decide on a host city for the USSF. All of the Planning Committee members were invited in order to participate in the discussion. 16 people from the Planning Committee participated in a very long discussion that was based on the important factors to consider when selecting a site to host the USSF. This call involved a detailed discussion with representatives from the host cities to better understand where they were at in the process and what would be the strengths and weaknesses around hosting the USSF.

3 very in depth proposals were received that were all analyzed by the committee. Each exemplified the amount of work, research and thought that was given to hosting such a huge event as well as they clearly shared their vision for having the USSF in their cities. All the cities have strong political support from their local elected officials.

No decision has been made at this time, but given the importance of the decision there was a consensus that everyone needed more time to reflect on all the information that was presented and analyzed in the proposals and on the call.

Another important factor that will be taken into consideration is the involvement of Indigenous communities. This piece was not included in the initial criteria and there was consensus that we needed to recognize the importance of those communities involvement as well as the welcoming of the USSF to the land. Tom Goldtooth will check in with communities and organizations in and around all 3 cities and will provide the Planning Committee with the response he receives.

Those that participated on the call will continue to be in communication via e-mail and will try to reach a decision prior to the next Planning Committee call on June 30th. We want to thank each representative for being on the conference call as well being committed to envisioning a successful USSF. We all recognize this is a very difficult decision and everyone is committed to considering all the factors presented by each city.

In Solidarity,

The USSF Outreach & Site Committee

*****************************************
I am now using a new e-mail address, please respond to:

joann@ggjalliance.org

Thanks!

Karlos says:

Rumor has it that many closest to McKernan voted no confidence...

********************************
STAND WITH US WE SAY NO TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL AND STEVE MCKERNAN

PICKET

JUNE 28, 2005

6:30 AM -8:30 AM

UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

2111 LOMAS NE

• On June 21, 2005 District 1199 NM called for a vote of no confidence against University Hospital CEO Steve McKernan.
• Since calling for the vote workers in some areas have been told by management not to participate in the vote implying they may lose their jobs if they do.
• Workers are now being asked to sign a loyalty oath promising not to speak poorly of the hospital and if they do they will not receive a satisfactory evaluation.
• The Hospital has stopped deducting union dues from workers in some areas of the hospital in an apparent to harass the Union.

All this adds to the reasons the Union called for the “vote of no confidence in the first place”. Those reasons are as follows:

• Steve McKernan requires the services of an $8,000 per week consultant in order to perform his job.
• The Hospital’s $185 per hour Union buster has stalled contract negotiations telling the workers the hospital can only offer 2% pay increase while management can receive up to 20% in an incentive bonus. This amounts to $62,000 for Steve McKernan.
• University Hospital is turning away patients who cannot afford a co-pay for clinic visits, if they don’t have money for prescriptions they go without.
• UNMH continues the policy of making patients pay 50% up front if they are uninsured and need surgery or any other kind of health care.

JOIN US AS WE DEMAND JUSTICE!

SWOP's youth group is planning a party up on Pajarito Mesa this evening at 8pm. There will be dancing, food, a camp fire and a scary movie. According to the flyer, the event is BYOP (Bring Your Own Pillow to sit on).

The flyer also says it's for ages 14 and up.

A recent community census by the Pajarito Mutual Domestic Water Association counted 60% of residents ages 18 and under. Residents are still struggling for basic services - water, electricity, roads and fire and emergency services.



There has been many victories as of late:

*Road Grader
*School transportation closer to the community
*Special Use Permit to build well from Bernalillo County
*Emergency Grant from USDA
*Legal Aid agrees to help

And much more...

How to get there: South on Coors to Pajarito Road. Turn Right and drive until pavement ends on top of the hill...

**We will meet you at the top of THE HILL and guide you to THE SPOT**

When you reach the top of the hill call the following number to meet you:

505.615.5168

From an email circulating around...

Dear SWOPistas and friends,

This is Rosina Roibal of the SouthWest Organizing Project here in Albuquerque. I coordinate Jóvenes Unidos, SWOP's cultural work for youth and children.

Please help us in gathering youth/children for our summer projects.



Your children are invited to participate in our activities. This year is the 25th Anniversary of SWOP and as part of the year of celebration, Jovenes Unidos paricipants will have a major event Saturday August 27th 6:30PM-8:30PM at the Offcenter Art Gallery (8th St. and Central). Our art, graffiti art, music, dance, and poetry will be displayed/performed.

Here are the dates and events (which are all free to everyone of all ages):

• Wed June 22 6PM-7:30PM Graffiti workshop I at SWOP
• Fri June 24 6PM-7:30PM Graffiti workshop II at SWOP
• Wed June 29 6-7:30PM Music/rap practice at SWOP
  
• Fri July 1 6-7:30PM art/SWOP History at SWOP
  
• Fri July 8 6-7:30PM Break Dance workshop I at SWOP(&BBQ)
• Fri July 15 6-7:30PM Break Dance workshopII at SWOP (&BBQ)
• Fri July 22 6:00-7:30PM dance/music rehearsal at SWOP
• Wed July 27 6-7:30PM finish/frame art
  
• Fri July 29 6-7:30PM dance/music rehearsal
  
• Wed August 3 6-7:30PM music/dance rehearsal
  
• Fri August 12 6-7:30PM music/dance rehearsal (&BBQ)
  
• Sat Aug 13 2PM performance at Folk Fest Robinson Park
• Sat Aug 20th-Sept 1st art exhibit at Offcenter
  
• Fri August 26 6-7:30PM dress rehearsal at Offcenter
  
• Sat Aug 27 6:30-8:30PM opening reception at Offcenter
  

SWOP is located at 211 10th Street, at 10th and Park (South of Central), a pink building.

For more info call me at SWOP--247-8832, or at 243-1256.

SouthWest Organizing Project put in a gamble bid for Albuquerque to host the 2006 United States Social Forum (USSF), parallel to de-centralized World Social Forum events taking place around the world. (You can vote later in this post or to the right.) Albuquerque is now a finalist along with Atlanta and San Francisco. The proposals from the other two sites really are developed, thoughtful plans, and Albuquerque could just be in it for perspective, but...

The event is predicted to draw at least 20,000 people. ABQ city councilors Debbie O'Malley and Eric Griego sent the USSF site committee a letter in support of the bid.

The letter states: "...Our city has become a hub for progressive thinking and community organizing, with a variety of current citywide initiatives leading our political landscape, including a citywide 'Living Wage' campaign and a regional 'Planned Growth Strategy.' ...If chosen as the host site, please rest assured that our local public and private sector entities will work together to assist every logistical coordination need of the event and that we will also put forth every amount of effort necessary to ensure that the Forum's realization is a success."

Other elected officials support the proposal, but did not sign the letter.

Hundreds of thousands of people attend the WSF every year as a people's response to the World Economic Forum where leaders of rich nations and multinationals gather annually in Davos, Switzerland to decide our collective economic fate. It has proven to be valuable space for people's movements critical of corporate globalization to converge and network in solidarity.

A SWOP representative is scheduled to be on a conference call with the USSF site committee on Monday, June 20, 2005.

Do you support ABQ's bid to host the United States Social Forum?
Yes
No
Don't know
Want to know more
[View Results] [SmartClickz.com Free Polls]

Karlos says:

The weakest part of our proposal to hold the USSF in ABQ is support from other organizations, activists or even our membership. Of the cities in contention, none would benefit more than Albuquerque, both in terms of economic development and to consolidate a progressive vision for the city. Organizations and Unions are encouraged to vote in the webpoll, post comments and contact me, particularly if interested in contributing to bringing the USSF to Albuquerque. (Ultimately, the other sites are really strong.)


(from 2003 WSF - SWOP in front of large march)

From the SWOP proposal:"We propose Albuquerque, New Mexico as a site for [the 2006 USSF] as the metropolitan center of a region confronted with the daily realities of a militarized border separating empire from the global south, as a virtual resource colony of the United States, and as an area with a large representation of people of color. We believe it is essential [the USSF] happen in the heart of the struggle in the United States, in areas that will enable the most representation from farmworkers, immigrants and working, low income families."

"The location of the USSF in one of the poorest states, one of the most profound areas of struggle in the nation, would also send a clear message that we are a movement located at the grassroots."

Personally, I believe there is no better place to begin to Take Back America from the interests of the powerful, rich and few. In the end, this will not happen in Washington or the coasts.

Hi am Alisha, I go to west mesa high and i am also an intern at swop. I work on the youth rights and the pro youth platform.

Hi fellow SWOPbloggers! I am an intern at SWOP working on the youth rights campaign. I will be posting information about our pro youth mayor platform and our outreach leading up to the elections so stay tuned.

I am really excited to participate in all of the work that SWOP undergoes. There are really great things happening and my goal is to contribute to the efforts as much as possible. I look forward to posting new stories or events. Thanks again.

My name is Yesenia G. and i am a summer intern at SWOP and I am working on the Pajarito Mesa Project. We are doing a lot of things out there... I will inform you all on them a little more later.

SWOPblogger would like to welcome our new contributors:

Celia Fraire, Graduate of Valley High School and summer intern at SWOP

Alisha Lozano, Senior at West Mesa High School and summer intern at SWOP

Jeremy Giannini, Musician, substitute teacher and summer intern at SWOP

Yesenia Garcia, UNM student and summer intern at SWOP

Please come back for news and views from SWOP's summer interns.

What: Grassroots Fundraising Drive Kickoff
When: Today, Friday June 10, 2005 from 5:30 - 7pm
Where: SWOP office - 211 10th SW - corner of 10th and park, a block south of Central
*There will be Frito Pies and refreshments - It is also a pot luck.

*****************************************************************************
SWOP yard sale
SWOP youth are having a yard sale to raise funds for their program.

The sale will be held on Friday & Saturday, June 17-18, 9-3pm.

It will be at the SWOP house downtown, 211 10^th Street SW, between Park and Gold.

Please donate any items you may have to help out.

You can drop items off at SWOP, or we can arrange a time to come by to pick items up.

Call us to arrange pick-up: 247-8832, or email Marjorie.

Also, please mark your calendars and come by on the days of the sale.

SWOP youth greatly appreciate your support!

Friday, June 10, 2005
Minutemen Coming to New Mexico

By Rene Romo And Leslie Linthicum
Journal Staff Writers
LAS CRUCES— The Minuteman Project is coming to New Mexico, with a plan to man the state's southern border with volunteers for a month this fall.

But members of New Mexico's congressional delegation— along with the mayor of New Mexico's busiest border-crossing town— said they don't think civilian volunteers are the answer to illegal border crossings.

Farmington resident Mike Gaddy, a 58-year-old Army veteran, said Thursday he is the head of New Mexico's chapter of the Minuteman Project, the controversial Arizona-based volunteer group that positioned its members along the Mexican border in April to turn away border jumpers. More:

Karlos says:

My favorite argument against the minimum wage increase goes something like this: 'Everyone knows that if you raise the minimum wage, you have to raise wages for everyone else too...'

That's really going to sway voters to vote against the proposal, especially here in Albuquerque where everyone is so happy with their paychecks!

Here's for hoping minimum wage opponents use this message for the inevitable PR campaign against the proposal.

Study Finds Significant Pay Raises, Minimal Employment Loss Under Living Wage

Groundbreaking Report by University of California Researchers Shows Most Benefits Go to Low-Income Workers

Los Angeles -- A new study by University of California economists finds that the Los Angeles living wage ordinance has raised pay for nearly 10,000 jobs -- with minimal employment loss.

Nearly 70 percent of workers affected by the law are low-income and only 4 percent are teenagers, according to the report, which was funded in part by the Ford Foundation.

Examining the Evidence: The Impact of the Los Angeles Living Wage Ordinance on Workers and Businesses offers the most definitive analysis of any living wage policy in the country. It is the first such study to use random sample surveys of affected workers and businesses - the only method that assures accurate results.

More than 125 cities and counties across the country have enacted living wage policies over the past 11 years, but little research has been done to assess the effectiveness of these laws.

"This study offers compelling evidence that living wage laws can improve the quality of life for low- income workers," said David Fairris, a Professor of Economics at the University of California Riverside and a co-author of the study.

In 1997, Los Angeles became one of the first major cities to pass a living wage law. The city's policy currently requires city contractors, among others, to pay workers $10.03 an hour, or $8.78 plus a $1.25 contribution to health benefits (the wage is adjusted annually). It also provides workers with 12 paid days off and ten unpaid days off per year.

The total of 10,000 jobs in Los Angeles where pay was increased due to the living wage is among the largest in the nation, after New York and San Francisco. The majority of jobs were at Los Angeles International Airport and Ontario International Airport. The average mandatory pay increase was $1.50 per hour, or $2,600 per year.

Critics of living wage laws argue that these policies will lead to large-scale employment reductions, hurting both business and workers. They also contend that living wage laws do not benefit low- income workers.

The findings of Examining the Evidence contradict these claims.

"Our research shows that the Los Angeles living wage ordinance has provided significant wage increases to mostly low-income workers with minimal job reductions," said co-author David Runsten, Associate Director of the North American Integration and Development Center at UCLA. Employment reductions amounted to one percent of all jobs affected by the living wage.

The study also finds that businesses have experienced some positive results, including declines in employee turnover and absenteeism. On average, affected firms recovered 16 percent of the increased cost of the mandatory wage increase through turnover reductions.

Employers have adapted to the remaining costs in a variety of ways. These include cutting fringe benefits and overtime, hiring more highly trained workers, cutting profits and passing on costs to the city or to the public.

One objective of the living wage policy was not achieved: the law has not prompted firms to set up health insurance plans for their workers, although some firms have improved their existing plans or extended coverage to more workers, affecting 2,200 jobs.

While Examining the Evidence finds that workers and their families experienced measurable gains from the living wage, it also shows that many workers still struggle to get by. Thirty-one percent of affected workers lack health benefits, and 44 percent rely on at least one government assistance program.

Living wage laws have proliferated around the nation, partly as a response to the stagnation of state and federal minimum wages, as well as to the increasing privatization of city services as a means to cut costs. These laws are designed to remove the incentive for government to contract out jobs to low- wage employers, thus leveling the playing field for city contractors.

More than a dozen cities, including Miami, Phoenix, Memphis, Little Rock and Richmond, are currently considering living wage legislation.

Examining the Evidence, which also received funding from the University of California and Los Angeles World Airports, was co-authored by two researchers from the nonprofit Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy.

For more information on the report, please see www.losangeleslivingwagestudy.com or contact Celia Alario at 213-380-0451 or 310-721- 6517

Greg LeRoy
Executive Director
Good Jobs First

email: goodjobs@goodjobsfirst.org

phone: 202-626-3780 ext. 27

web: http://www.goodjobsfirst.org

Looks like most folks who answered a recent SWOPblogger webpoll about the proposed minimum wage increase want to see, to say the least, more livable wages - particularly when the jobs are tied to development, subsidies and taxbreaks. But how do we hold subsidized companies accountable? Who pays and who benefits from subsidizing private deals?

Illinois now has a web-based business subsidy reporting system. In a copied and pasted article below, the author asks why haven't other states, cities and local governments done the same?

In a city such as ours struggling through economic development reform - after years of scant accountability for decision makers and the companies that benefit the underground world of business recruitment - more transparency is desperately needed.

June 02, 2005 - by Greg Leroy, Good Jobs First

Illinois made accountability history this week, with the launch of its Web-based business subsidy reporting system. The new system is one requirement of the Corporate Accountability in Tax Expenditures Act, which was signed into law as Public Act 552-93 in 2003 and is phasing in over two years.

For a list of subsidized companies, go to:
www.corpacctportal.illinois.gov/ProgressReport.aspx

And for a sample company-specific report, go to:
www.corpacctportal.illinois.gov/output/2004/2004- Target%20Cor-DeKalb_137.pdf which shows that a Target warehouse planned for DeKalb will receive EDGE tax credits, even though more than 80 percent of the projected jobs will pay less than $22,000 annually.

This makes Illinois the fourth state to post job subsidy disclosure data on the web. Other states that post reports on the web include:

North Carolina
www.dor.state.nc.us/publications/williamslee.html
Minnesota
www.deed.state.mn.us/Community/subsidies/MBAFYe ar2004.htm
Ohio
www.odod.state.oh.us/ez/base/

Under the new Illinois law, companies getting state subsidies in 2004 and after must report basic data on promised job creation, broken down into job classifications with average wage levels. They must also update that information with yearly progress reports. While only companies will be able to add data to the site, all data reported will be accessible to the general public.

The new website includes company-specific summaries listing all the subsidies received from state agencies.

Users of the site will also be able to sort data by subsidy program. The data will even include company- specific data on state corporate income tax credits received under the controversial Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) program. The value of the credits will be estimated for the first two years, and reported with exact figures after.

Failure to submit an annual company compliance reports will trigger clawback actions. For companies failing to meet job creation or job retention pledges and lacking a waiver from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity's (DCEO) director, clawback (or recapture) proceedings will begin at once. Waivers will be posted on the website as soon as they are granted. This year, subsidized Illinois companies have until May 15 to submit progress reports, plus a 53-day grace period. Starting in 2006, they will have only 30 days to comply after the due date before DCEO attorneys initiate recapture proceedings.

The Unified Economic Development Budget, also mandated by Public Act 552-93, will be published by September 30, three months after the end of the state's fiscal year.

On the new website's home page, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich claims his administration has been guided by three principles when making job investments - analysis, accountability and transparency. However, most of the credit for this giant step towards open government goes to member organizations of the Corporate Accountability Coalition formed in 2002. Led by the Illinois AFL-CIO, the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability, AFSCME, SEIU, and Citizen Action/Illinois, they drafted the original bill and resisted attempts to water it down. Good Jobs First helped make the case for more accountability in its January 2003 report, A Better Deal for Illinois, and we testified about our findings at the request of state legislators.

It's 2005: shouldn't *your* state's economic development subsidies be on the web?

Greg LeRoy
Executive Director

Good Jobs First

email: goodjobs@goodjobsfirst.org

phone: 202-626-3780 ext. 27

web: http://www.goodjobsfirst.org

Another Tardeada this Friday!


Above: Tardeada and SWOP open house, from last month.

When: Friday, June 3 from 5:30 to 7 pm - Informal Candidate's Forum 6 to 6:30pm.

Where: The SWOP office, 211 10^th Street SW, downtown on 10^th between Park and Gold.

Our summer Tardeadas are popular education/social events designed to spark discussion about community issues and give folks a chance to get to know eachother.

We will provide Frito Pies and beverages – please bring a dish or other beverages to share!

This week we will also have Special Guests: Candidates for Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District Elections

Four positions for the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District Water Board are up for election on Tuesday June 7, 2005. Position’s 3 and 4, both Bernalillo County seats, are up for a vote. (Socorro and Sandoval Counties also have seats up for election.)

SWOP has many supporters and members who live in ABQ’s North and South Valley, and we are looking to make sure folks feel they can make an informed decision and participate in next Tuesday’s election. (Qualified Elector Requirements: Must own property within MRGCD benefited area; Voters need not be registered to vote for other county elections.)

At least 3 of the candidates have said they’d be at the SWOP office on Friday to participate in an informal candidate’s forum – William Turner and John W Sparks and James M Abeita have agreed to participate. At 6 pm a moderator will give each candidate or candidate’s representative 5 minutes to speak. 2 other candidates have issued written statements.

All of the candidates for the Bernalillo County seats have been invited.

Candidates:

William M. Turner
Bill R. Joiner
David L. Bradley
John W. Sparks
Lora Anne Lucero
James M. Abeita
Gil E. Cordova
James C. Roberts

A Trib Article recently pointed to concern over voter turnout. For candidates responses to ABQ Trib’s voter questionnaire go to abqtrib.com or email a request to anvanews@aol.com.

Early voting – April 28 to June 4. 1931 2^nd Street SW.

Vote by Mail – To request a ballot call 865-VOTE (8683) or 247 0234

Polling Places

• 4-HCenter 1500 Menaul Blvd. NW 87107
• Alvarado Elementary 1100 Solar Rd. NW 87107
• Los Rancho Elementary 7609 Fourth Street NW 87107
• Taylor Middle School 8200 Guadalupe Trail NW 87114
• Raymond G Sanchez Community Center 9800 4^th NW 87114
• Los Duranes Community Center 2920 Leopoldo NW 87104
• Los Padillas Elementary 2525 Los Padillas Rd. SW 87104
• MRGCD Boardroom 1931 Second Street SW 87102
• Armijo Elementary 1441 Gatewood Rd. SW 87105
• Barcelona Elementary 2311 Barcelona Rd. SW 87105

This is a partial list: go to MRGCD's website for a full list...