THE ENQUIRER
by John Eckberg
For more than two decades, Kucinich's message has been constant, ever since he was mayor of Cleveland and was blamed for letting his city slide into bankruptcy. That isn't exactly what happened, however. Blame for the default belongs with Cleveland-area bankers, who refused to roll over city notes because Kucinich had, in turn, refused to sell a public electric distribution system to an investor-owned utility company. That's the same company that years later would bring us the blackout of the summer of 2003 and a near meltdown the year before that at the Davis-Besse nuclear power plant. In the ensuing years, residents of Cleveland saved some $250 million because Kucinich held his ground against the power brokers who wanted to profit from a public system. For more on this story: http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2004/06/13/biz_biz1eckberg.html
Personal News - Part XXV
A happy, sunny, warm Sunday to you all! Weather wise we here in NYC had wonderful Springtime temps and loads of sunshine this weekend. Yesterday was truly glorious and I even got abit of a sunburn on neck and arms. But I'm getting ahead of myself and not relating the whole week of newsie tidbits.
As I related earlier this week on my blog ... Rob Jereski made his "announcement" in running for Congress in the 14th district on Monday, June 7th, down in Union Square. That event went well, of which I made abit of a report [w/photos] here on the Duchess Blog. The following evening of June 8th, I joined Rob Jereski in his neighborhood at Tudor City [eastside of midtown Manhattan] to help him get signatures on a petition. [People running for congress, in a particular district, need 1250 signatures to get on ballot.] The two of us were out and about for 1 1/2 hours meeting folk on his street. It was an interesting experience, as not all are registered Democrats. Some are Republicans [they were not civil & the Democrats were], others were open-minded Independents and since Tudor City is near the UN, many were non US citizens and not eligible to vote. We got about 30+ signatures from a variety of individuals and that's not bad for a first day of canvassing/petitioning. The deadline is July 14th or there abouts. Many folk were coming home and then out again to walk their dogs. One was the most sweet tempered little dog a white, fluffy Pompoo ... which I was told by the owner is a mix of Pomeranian & Poodle. They are so adorable!
Work has been very productive this past week and getting things organized for another all day conference in early July. This coming week may be abit quiet ... as most of upper management in Insurance Tax dept will be at a 4 day conference down in Baltimore. This will afford me some "time" to work on and research for Rob's campaign and Kucinich committee items. On the home front ... work was done this week on indoor and outdoor gas pipes. Not by me ... no way ... by my landlady and outside contractors. I've also been trying to catch up on my reading of THE NATION subscription. Plus reading on the internet true reporting on the late President Reagan and not that spin crap broadcasted on stations like CNN or Fox News. [That man should of been impeached for the Iran-Contra scandal. It cost the lives of thousands of individuals and brought on troubles that we're still dealing with today. Clintons scandal with Monica didn't kill anyone. Worthy of impeachment? HELL NO! It was just an embarrassment, nothing else, but what Reagan Administration did over 8 years is horrible.] They did put on a decent funeral at that DC cathedral last Friday, with many world dignitaries in attendance. Hard to believe its been since the early 1970s when we last had a big presidential funeral.
Yesterday was a glorious weather day and also very productive for yours truly. Started off joining Rob and other Jereski supporters [ie: John & Bud] out at Roosevelt Island [situated between Manhattan and Queens in East River]. It was their annual Roosevelt Island Day celebrations and the island is part of the 14th Congressional District. So we were out there for at least 2 1/2 hours getting signatures on petitions. Plus it was my first time in visiting the island and I found it to be quite charming. One gets the feeling that it is its own separate and unique community or village, which is predominately Democrat. Hurray! We did very well in obtaining signatures and many of the locals really dislike Carolyn Maloney. She is the conservative, right wing Democrat incumbent of the 14th district. She really comes across as Republican lite these days, especially with voting for the Iraq occupation. Maloney was there at "event" with her three 20-something preppie minions [total dorks] trying to obtain signatures. Maloney even checked out what we were doing and tried to hand out her flyers. [The damn cow even snubbed Rob!] She approached me and attempted to give me a flyer, but I gave her a hard look and said "I want nothing to do with you". Enough on that ... we wrapped things up around 2:30pm and I headed back into Manhattan.
[Rob Jereski Out At Roosevelt Island Festival Day On June 12th]
Got some late lunch, briefly stopped by the office and then headed up to Lincoln Center for the annual Art & Craft Show. Lots of booths with different artisans selling their lovely items. I enjoy chatting with some about their unique bits of work. So many pretty things and me with little or no funds in my pocket. I did purchase a cute pin with my name on it and before heading home enjoyed a delicious ice cream cone. Last night I watched "Patriot Games" on DVD [ie: Harrison Ford & Sean Bean].
On Saturday, June 19th, Help Bridge the Gap in Healthcare
MoveOn.Org hopes you can join tens of thousands of people in a powerful action in support of health care for all Americans. The event, called "Bridging the Gap", is organized by our friends at SEIU, the Service Employees International Union. Details are below. We hope you can make it -- please sign up today to take part. Here are the details, from SEIU:
On Saturday, June 19th, tens of thousands of people -- those who have health insurance and those who don't, those who fear losing coverage and those who have too little -- will join together across the country to "bridge the gap" in health care. Bridging the Gap events generate local visibility and media coverage about the urgent need for health care reform. They range from local rallies or marches through town to "honk-and-wave" visibility events to walks across local bridges. To join in, go to: http://www.bridgingthegapforhealthcare.org?rID=14
If there isn't detailed information about where to go for your event on the website, just RSVP and the event organizers will email you shortly with directions. One goal of Bridging the Gap is to put a human face on the health care crisis by sharing personal stories. Online and at the events, Bridging the Gap participants will be talking about how lack of access to comprehensive health care insurance has effected them. You can share your own story by clicking on the link above. The story of Janelle Scott is a heart-wrenching illustration of the need for health care reform:
Lisa's daughter Janelle was 18 years old when she began experiencing chest pains and blackouts. She went to the doctor several times over a period of months, paying out of her own pocket because she didn't have any health coverage despite working two jobs. A week before she died, Janelle asked the practitioner to please do a chest x-ray because she was in so much pain. They turned her down because they said an x-ray would be too expensive without insurance. One week later, Janelle died. "If Janelle had had health insurance, her doctor would have run every test possible until they found out what was wrong with her. What happened to my daughter should not happen to anyone, especially in a country like the United States."
This situation is a crisis; 44 million Americans are uninsured and millions more are underinsured. In the time it will take you to read this e-mail, 5 more people will lose their health care coverage. In the next week, nearly 50,000 mothers, fathers, sons, daughters and grandparents will lose access to afford quality health care. On June 19th we will demand action by our elected officials.
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