Georgia Rural Urban Summit

Fighting Foreclosures: Picketing Wachovia Bank in Atlanta, 4/21/09

2009-04-21T20:36:00.000-07:00

The Fighting Foreclosures Coalition gathered a diverse crowd of at least 100 enthusiastic people participated for a
picket and rally in front of Wachovia Bank at Peachtree and 10th street this
morning, including a big contingent from the Communications Workers of
America, most of the other coalition member organizations, and 10 or 12 DSA
members.

Media covering the event included all 4 major TV channels, AJC, Atlanta
Inquirer, Atlanta Progressive News, and another online news outlet.

A delegation attempted to present a letter to Wachovia/Wells Fargo
management but were turned away - no surprise. There were no unpleasant
incidents.

Where do we go from here? We promised that Wachovia is only one of many
banks that need to be held accountable (in fact the problem is systemic, as
we know) so our work is not done. . . .

More info:
www.georgiasummit.org
www.dsa-atlanta.org

Economic Recovery Teach-In and Town Hall

2009-01-06T09:14:00.000-08:00

Georgia Rural Urban Summit

announces the debut of

GRUS Third Thursdays at the Capitol

Thursday, January 15, 2008
Room 310 Coverdell Legislative Office Building
2:00 – 3:30 pm

Join GRUS for a Town Hall and Teach-In on the current economic crisis and the Road to Recovery. Find out how we got here and how we can get out, with an Economic Recovery Package as a down payment on the

Next New Deal (www.NextNewDeal.org).

As we all know, this is the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, and now many major economists – both conservative and liberal – are saying that it may be worse than the Great Depression.

•During the three-month period from the beginning of September to the end of November, 1,256,000 jobs were lost, the second-highest such figure in more than 60 years.

•Even with action, unemployment is expected to reach 7 percent by January and 8 percent by next summer. Without action, it will reach 9 percent by the end of next year and 10 percent in 2010.

Any Economic Recovery Package must include these 4 elements, which bring the most dollars back to Georgia and will directly help those most in need:

Returns on $1
food stamps: $1.73
extending unemployment benefits: $1.64
infrastructure: $1.59
aid to states: $1.36

Join the Town Hall and Teach-In…For Georgia's Sake

GRUS is the Georgia affiliate of USAction / TrueMajority, and as such we've been receiving frequent briefings on the evolving crisis and what will likely be included in a recovery package. USAction / TrueMajority affiliates are mobilized around the country in support of a major Economic Recovery Package. Join us as we arm you with the most updated information, so that we can push Georgia's Congressional delegation to support the Economic Recovery plan.

For more information, contact iafcoordinator@aol.com or brooksGRUS@gmail.com, or go to www.NextNewDeal.org.

For now, a victory at Grady

2009-01-06T08:15:00.000-08:00

For now, a victory at Grady.

http://www.ajc.com/search/content/news/stories/2009/01/06/grady.html

But since the board decided to not take up the issue of cuts at the Monday meeting, it remains to be seen what will happen when they do talk about it.

If health care is an issue that you care about (and the vast majority of Americans do), visit

http://www.HealthCareforAmericaNOW.org

GRADY HEARING MONDAY

2009-01-03T14:42:00.000-08:00

From Bert Skellie:

The Grady Coalition will meet at 3:30 PM Monday (1/5) at McDonald's at Grady to discuss our plans for the board meeting. Everyone is welcome. Please do plan to come to the Board meeting on Monday (Jan. 5) at 4:30 PM at Grady on second floor at conference room B206 & speak against the proposal to cut free care.

You can also write or call CEO Young at
404.616.4252
and
myoung@gmh.edu
to voice your opposition to cutting free care to those with income above 125% of the federal poverty level.

We may have a press event just before the 4:30 Board meeting - I will let you know if so.Peace, Bert 404.378.5883

How to Act to Stop the Cuts at Grady

2008-12-21T15:55:00.000-08:00

Bert Skellie of the Grady Coalition has sent this information on how to take action to stop the cuts:

"Please call or write CEO Young & Chair Pete Correll to urge them not to cut patients with incomes up to 250% of poverty from the rolls of Grady free care.

. . .

We plan to provide more details later on who else to contact & other addresses, but meanwhile you can call CEO Young's office at Grady at 404-616-4252 , and you can also leave a message for Pete Correll, Chair of Grady Board at the same number. Also, you can send a letter to either or both of them c/o Grady Health System, 80 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive, SE, Atlanta, GA 30303. You can also send an email to CEO Young at myoung@gmh.edu.

Here's the text of an email I have just sent over. Please send your own letter or email by adding your own personal information at the beginning & putting in your own words concerns you have about the 250 – 125 cut.

'Greetings Mr. Young,

I am writing to urge you not to remove patients with incomes of up to 250% of poverty from the rolls of free care at Grady. As a resident of DeKalb County for most of my life, I appreciate Grady's crucial role as the safety net hospital for our area. I have had experience with Grady's good care of my son after an accident several years ago, and I have many friends who depend on Grady for their lives.

Thank you for referring the Grady Coalition to Mr. Ayers, who gave some of us a presentation on the proposal to change financial requirements for Grady patients.

I'm writing to urge you not to lower the free care income limits for Fulton and DeKalb patients from 250% to 125% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. I am concerned that most savings, if any, from this change, will come at the expense of the health and lives of patients who will be affected. Since many patients will understand that they must pay to get service, I believe thousands below this level of income ($26,000 for a single individual) will suffer, and some will die rather than seek the primary care they need.

Please do not make this dangerous change.'

Thanks for your help. Please circulate this email widely. A vote on this proposal is likely to be made at the January 5, 2009, Grady Corporation Board meeting."

How to Get Involved in the Grady Coalition

2008-12-19T11:39:00.001-08:00

To get involved in the Grady Coalition (discussed in the post from yesterday), contact Bert Skellie at bertskellie@gmail.com or 404.378.5883.

Press Conference to oppose Cuts at Privatized Grady Hospital

2008-12-18T18:42:00.001-08:00

The Grady Coalition held a press conference in front of Grady Hospital today to protest proposed cuts in service. As many of the speakers stated, if the cuts go through, "PEOPLE WILL DIE."

A statement from the Grady Coalition is below. And following that are two of the 19 video clips from the Press Conference. To view all of them, go to www.youtube.com/GRUSvideos.

And stay tuned to Georgia Rural Urban Summit to find out how to get involved in STOPPING THESE CUTS.

"We have been informed by Michael Ayers, Grady CFO, that he plans to bring to the new Grady Board [the Grady Memorial Hospital Corporation] on January 5 a proposal to stop providing free care to large numbers of Grady paients [sic]. At present, Grady provides free care to patients with income up to 250% of the federal poverty guidlines [sic] (fpg), or up to $26,000 annually for a single person. Under the proposed rule, Grady will provide free care only to those earning under 125% of fpg, or $13,000 for a single person. Patients in Fulton & DeKalb from 126% - 250% will be required to pay 40% of the cost of services. Mr. Ayers did not tell us how many patients will be affected, but we believe it will be in the thousands."

Atlanta Activists in Usher Video!

2008-12-15T12:16:00.001-08:00

A certain GRUS blogger did City Year many, many years ago, and saw on City Year's Facebook page that Usher was wearing a City Year jacket in his new video.

So I watched the video and saw that one of the very first shots is of Stand For Peace, the weekly anti-Iraq War vigil* that's been going on at Colony Square in Atlanta since the lead-up to the war, and the people in that shot are Veteran for Peace Bob Goodman(on the right) and Brian S. Sherman of WRFG 89.3 FM (on the left). And then Bob Goodman gets a close-up. Peace activists as rock stars!

*Major players in Stand for Peace are WAND Atlanta, Georgia Peace and Justice Coalition, Grandmothers for Peace, Veterans for Peace, International Action Center, and Georgia Rural Urban Summit. (If we've missed someone, let us know.)

Health Care for America Now! Endorsed by A.B.L.E.

2008-11-17T17:45:00.000-08:00

On October 23, A.B.L.E (Atlantans Building Leadership Empowerment) held its annual Faith and Democracy Public Meeting. The group discussed issues of Health Care, Immigration, Education, and Affordable Housing with the public and elected officials, and endorsed Health Care for America Now! (HCAN), including giving a half-page statement of support for HCAN in the evening's program.

RUNOFF VOTING INFO

2008-11-14T15:48:00.000-08:00

RUNOFF ELECTION DAY IS TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2

You do NOT need to have voted in the general election in order to vote in the runoff.

(But you must have been registered to vote for the general election - on or before October 6, 2008 - in order to vote in the runoff.)

Below please find info on how to be a good Progressive and VOTE EARLY, either in person or by absentee ballot.

Absentee Ballots

IF YOU INTEND TO VOTE BY ABSENTEE BALLOT, PLEASE APPLY FOR A BALLOT IMMEDIATELY AND NO LATER THAN NOVEMBER 19.

Click here for the absentee ballot application: http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/elections/voter_information/absentee.htm

You will have to:

1. Download, print, and fill out the form provided (it is a PDF); and

2. Mail, fax, or hand-deliver the completed form to your county elections office. Click here to get the address or fax number.

Given the short amount of time before the runoff, we recommend that you fax or hand-deliver the application if possible.

If the ballot does not arrive before November 25, please call your county's elections office. Click here for the contact information.

Absentee ballots will not be counted unless they are received before the closing of the polls (7:00 p.m.) on the day of the runoff, December 2.

Also, because of the limited time we have, you may want to consider forgoing the absentee ballot process and just planning to do Early Voting or Advance Voting instead.

Early Voting (One Location Generally Open Per County)

Early voting in person may begin as soon as Monday, November 17, depending on your county. For more information, please call your county's elections office.

You can find your county election office's contact info here: http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/elections/voter_information/2000_voter_info.asp

Advance Voting (Different from Early Voting - More Locations Open)

Advance, in-person voting for the runoff will begin on Monday, November 24 and run through Wednesday, November 26 (and possibly also Friday, November 28 -- See below.) (the week before the runoff).

There will be NO advance voting on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 27.

Depending on your county, there may also be NO advance voting on Friday, November 28, the day after Thanksgiving.

And there will be NO advance voting on Monday, December 1, the day before the runoff.

Theoretically, you should be able to click here for information on the advance voting schedule and locations in your county BUT please note that, as of November 13, the site is not up to date with runoff information: http://www.sos.ga.gov/elections/advanced_voting.htm

Better yet, simply call your county elections office. Once again: http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/elections/voter_information/2000_voter_info.asp

You will need an approved photo ID in order to vote in person. More information is here: http://gaphotoid.com/

Election Day

Runoff Election Day is Tuesday, December 2.

The Secretary of State has a "poll locator" that tells you where to vote on Election Day. Click here to use the poll locator: http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/polllocator/PollLocator.aspx

Again, you will need an approved photo ID in order to vote in person. And again, more information is here: http://gaphotoid.com/

Military and Overseas Ballots

If you are a military or overseas voter and would like an absentee ballot, please click here for the request form: http://www.martinforsenate.com/FVAP-FPCAandGeorgiaInstructions.pdf

Click here for general information: http://www.sos.georgia.gov/elections/uocava/

Please complete the absentee ballot request application and fax it to your county elections office immediately. Click here for the fax number: http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/elections/voter_information/2000_voter_info.asp

As soon as you receive your absentee ballot via mail, send it back as directed.

It must be postmarked on or before December 2 and be received by your county elections office by 5:00 p.m. on December 5.

If you do not receive your absentee ballot by November 25, you should consider submitting the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot with the names of your candidate written in the appropriate lines.

This general federal ballot may be obtained by clicking here.

GEORGIA ELECTION PROTECTION

2008-10-17T14:18:00.000-07:00

Want to help protect Voters’ Rights in this election? Volunteer with Georgia Election Protection. Every volunteer must attend one training session; to volunteer for this non-partisan effort and register for one of the below listed trainings, please sign-up directly at http://www.ncffe.org/page/s/Volunteer.

Georgia Election Protection Coalition’s Non-Partisan Election Protection Volunteer remaining training schedule includes:

Saturday, October 18, from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Ben Hill United Methodist Church
2099 Fairburn Rd. SW, Room 301, Atlanta, GA30331
Capacity: 25 max
Parking: In the church lot

Thursday, October 23, from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Atlanta's John Marshall Law School
1422 West Peachtree St., N.W., Room #301, Atlanta, Georgia 30309
Capacity: 75 max
Parking: Parking in adjacent deck will be validated

Saturday, October 25, from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm
Auburn Avenue Research Library
101 Auburn Avenue 4th floor Auditorium, Atlanta, GA 30303
Capacity: 160 max (no food or drink allowed inside)
Parking: In the rear of the library

Monday, October 27, from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
SUTHERLAND
999 Peachtree Street, N.E. Courtroom, 28th floor, Atlanta, GA 30309-399
Capacity: 100 max
Parking: Parking in adjacent deck will be validated

Thursday, October 30, from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
SUTHERLAND
999 Peachtree Street, N.E. Courtroom, 28th floor, Atlanta, GA 30309-399
Capacity: 100 max
Parking: Parking in adjacent deck will be validated
To volunteer, you must attend one 2-hour training session. The coalition also needs your help to get more volunteers! The goal is to train 800 volunteers and they’re going to need your help to make it happen. Please invite anyone who might be interested. Contact Helen Butler at 404.653.1199 or hbutlergcpa@gmail.com.

EARLY VOTING IN GEORGIA

2008-10-17T14:16:00.000-07:00

Early Voting, Advance Voting and Absentee Voting – What are they? In person, Early Voting for the 2008 Georgia General Election is in process. Now, through Friday, October 24, if you are a registered voter in Georgia, you may cast your ballot in person on weekdays, during business hours, at the office of the county registrar. The following links will identify your Early Voting location and hours of operation in your county:

Counties A-F http://www.dontwaitin08.com/more/index.cfm?Fuseaction=Early_Voting_Lo§ion=more_51296

Counties G-W http://www.dontwaitin08.com/more/index.cfm?Fuseaction=Early_Voting_Lo§ion=more_51296

For questions about Early Voting in your county you can contact your local county registrar via info from the official contact information on the Georgia Secretary of State's website http://sos.georgia.gov/elections

No reason is needed to Vote Early, but photo ID is required. For Voter ID requirements visit www.gaphotoid.com or call toll free 877.725.9797

Advance Vote Week (different from Early Voting)– no excuses needed, will be held from Monday, October 27, through Friday, October 31. Most counties will have multiple voting centers and even extended hours. The sites and times are at: http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/11_04_earlyvoting.pdf A photo ID is required to vote in person.

Voting Absentee is different from in person Early Voting. No reason is needed to request an absentee ballot. You can download the request by going to http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/absentee_voting.htm Then, you can vote by mail and avoid the lines and you are not required to include any identification when you mail your ballot.

TROY DAVIS - WHAT YOU CAN DO

2008-10-17T13:39:00.000-07:00

Troy Davis was denied clemency by the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles on Friday, September 12, and the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear his petition on October 14. This means that he may be scheduled for execution in the very near future.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 6:00 PM: Rally at the Georgia State Capitol. Please attend or organize solidarity rallies or other public events to demand justice for Troy Davis on this date. This is a GLOBAL call to action. If you organize another event, please email jcohn@aiusa.org with a time and place of your event.

CONTACT THE FOLLOWING STATE AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS:

1. Ask the U.S. Attorney to Investigate prosecutorial misconduct of Spencer Lawton in Chatham County in the Troy Davis death penalty case. Spencer Lawton's record is riddled with prosecutorial misconduct and 4 exonerations, 2 death penalty exonerations. To open the case of Troy Davis.
The United States Attorney's Office:
DAVID E. NAHMIAS, U.S. Attorney
Richard B. Russell Federal Building
75 Spring Street, S.W.
Suite 600
Atlanta, GA 30303-3309
Tel: 404.581.6000
Fax: 404.581.6181

2. Ask the White House to issue a Presidential Pardon and ask tat they look into the case and demand the Parole Board Reconsider Clemency. We understand this is a state case but a federal law is what has hindered the new evidence from being heard. Anti-terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act signed into law by Bill Clinton in 1996.

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Phone Numbers

Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461

TTY/TDD

Comments: 202-456-6213
Visitors Office: 202-456-2121
E-Mail: comments@whitehouse.gov. (Please submit messages in text format only. This inbox is unable to receive e-mails that contain graphics or attachments. After it arrives, you will receive an e-mail confirmation indicating successful delivery.)
Vice President Richard Cheney: vice_president@whitehouse.gov

3. Fax Directly to the Georgia Parole Board and demand reconsideration based on 6 eyewitnesses and 2 additional witnesses.

4. Send op-eds: Mrs. Cynthia Tucker at the Atlanta Journal Constitution is currently soliciting letters from the public about Troy. She can be reached at: cynthia@ajc.com

5. Ask the Ga. Attorney General to ask the Parole Board to reconsider:
Thurbert E. Baker
Attorney General of Georgia
Phone: 404-656-3300
FAX: 404-657-8733
Thurber Baker Office of the Attorney General 40 Capitol Square, SW Atlanta, Ga 30334 Phone: (404) 656-3300 Fax: (404) 657-8733 tbaker@law.ga.gov

DETAILS FROM AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL ABOUT WHAT TO DO FOR OCTOBER 23 EVENTS:

Emphasize that this execution is taking place despite that fact that Troy Davis’ strong claims of innocence have never been resolved.

Express your sympathies for the family of Troy Davis and the family of Officer Mark Allen MacPhail.

Emphasize that this execution, like all executions, will solve nothing and only add to the pain caused by the original crime.
Call for abolition of the death penalty.

IDEAS FOR SOLIDARITY EVENTS:
Candlelight vigils (religious or secular) – Provide at least one speaker to put the event in context and to open and close the event. If possible, you might want to close the event with music or singing (the tone should be somber and serious). Be sure to provide candles and signs and/or banners with brief versions of the above messages. Have Troy Davis fact sheets on hand to give to interested passersby.

Public rallies – Provide a few speakers, and a bullhorn or microphone. If possible, you might also want to include music or singing in the event (the tone should be somber and serious). Be sure to provide signs and/or banners with brief versions of the above messages. Have Troy Davis fact sheets on hand to give to interested passersby.

Prayer service - Go here - http://salsa.net/peace/vigilsvc.html - for an example of an execution watch prayer service.

RESOURCES: Photos and fact sheets are available at http://www.amnestyusa.org/troydavis.

Million Doors for Peace

2008-10-06T09:39:00.000-07:00

On September 20, 2008, GRUS led a group of volunteers in the Grant Park neighborhood of Atlanta as a part of the national Million Doors for Peace effort.

We met some pretty cool people most of whom were fed up with just about everything about the current administration, including the Iraq War.

If you want to register your opposition to the war, go to www.MillionDoorsForPeace.org.

***Pic 1: Darci Rodenhi of Atlanta Women's Action for New Directions (WAND) and volunteer Lydia profilin' while they welcome volunteers. Note the fly name tags/arm bands.
Pic 2: Brooks Emanuel (left), Executive Assistant at Georgia Rural Urban Summit (GRUS), talks with volunteers, including Minnie Ruffin, an Atlanta Grandmother for Peace (in pink shirt).
Pic 3: Bobbie Paul, Executive Director of WAND, and Brooks Emanuel speak at the Press Conference, with scrolls containing the names of all those U.S. soldiers who had died (up to that point) in the Iraq War.
Pic 4: Larry Pellegrini, Executive Director of GRUS, and Bobbie Paul speak at the Press Conference.
Pic 5: Mike Hearington, an Iraq Veteran for Peace, speaks at the Press Conference.