Jewish Alliance for Law & Social Action » sandyo

Environmental Task Force Met on July 1 Discussing Green Jobs

sandyo — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 20:10:02 +0000

JALSA Task Force on Environmental Justice:

Green Jobs: the Big Picture. Making the Connection between Jobs and Training

Recent issues pertaining to the qualifications necessary for solar jobs have highlighted the need for getting the big picture about green jobs. What training is required for all the positions that a green economy could generate, considering the entire supply chain involved? Creating the training that’s needed is part of creating the infrastructure that brings green companies to this area, as well as enhancing the chances that green jobs will play a role in revitalizing local economies.

We met with:

Greg Watson, Senior Advisor for Clean Energy Technology, Commonwealth of Massachusetts; and

Travis Watson, whose work with the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative is to bring local residents and trade unions together to work out ways that the goals of unions and local residents seeking jobs can mesh.

Crunch Time at the State House

sandyo — Tue, 25 May 2010 18:51:11 +0000

From Sheila Decter – May 25

It is crunch time at the State House. Committees are obligated to release bills with their recommendations, although we understand that there are over 800 bills that have “extensions” and are still in committee.

We need to expand continued energy to get those bills we care about passed. So, please understand if you get several messages over the next few weeks.

For more information go to JALSA Pages: Crunch Time Details

Call House on Paid Sick Leave

Call Senate on discriminatory provision on Savings Bank Life Insurance

CORI reform vote —Passed House by 138 to 17 vote> next step is merging House and Senate Bills.

Restore Dental funding

Full-funding for METCO

Support Shaw’s Fired Workers Let Shaw’s Markets know you won’t shop until they return to the Bargaining Table

National Popular Vote for President (Agreement by state governments that would allow the national popular vote to elect the President) – Passed House – next step is Senate.

Encourage a vote on Transgender Protection.

Embrace Transparency in Budget Considerations

Thank Governor Patrick for the newly required Civil Rights Impact Assessment

Public School’s Reporting

sandyo — Sat, 15 May 2010 08:40:02 +0000

The May 14, Boston Globe article, “We Need It, but Who’ll Pay for a Longer School Day?” by Scot Lehigh, engages once again in reporting and editorializing which belittles and denies the rights of educators to just decisions on their working conditions.

The misinterpretation of research on charter and public schools is absolutely unconscionable and occurs over and over in the Globe. The paper needs to be called to account for such behavior and hear loud and clear that in this city and this state the bottom line must be honest information and balanced reporting.

There are many points to be disputed in this article but the worst seems to be that Mr. Lehigh believes that the teachers in the most challenged schools in the city should voluntarily give up their rights to fair compensation for their work and instead work for free for the equivalent of more than 62 additional days.

Ann O’Halloran, CPS Board Member, Legislative Chair, retired teacher

Bills Under Consideration – Contact Legislators

sandyo — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 21:39:58 +0000

– Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities – (S810). Health Care Financing Committee.

– Paid Sick Leave – Now in the Ways and Means Committee (Released by Health Care Financing Committee).

– Protect Tenants and Victims of Predatory Foreclosures. (S2355) “Act to Stabilize Neighborhoods” On April 29, 2010, passed unanimously in the Senate. Will now move to House.

– Include Transgender Individuals in Protections of State Anti-Discrimination Law – (Budget Amendment #764) – Joint Committee on Judiciary

Bill to Provide Civil Rights Protections for Trangender Individuals

sandyo — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 21:38:41 +0000

Budget Amendment #764 would add transgender individuals to the Commonwealth’s existing anti-discrimination law. Senator Cynthia Creem is one of the many co-sponsors of the bill and is co-chair of the Joint Finance Committee considering the bill.