New Location for the Blog

Hey folks, we made some pretty big changes over at Sum of Change.

If you have been checking in here to see our blog, you will want to bookmark a new address. From now on, all of our blogs will be posted at SumofChange.com, in our Articles section. Please check it out, and let us know what you think of the new site design.

Thanks!

EMILY's List Announces EMpower

cross-posted from Sum of Change

On Thursday, June 17th 2010, EMILY's List announced a new program called EMpower. We were filming WIN's 21st Annual Women Opening Doors for Women, where Stephanie Schriock, President of EMILY's List, announced the new program:

What is EMpower?

Twenty-five years ago, 25 women gathered in a basement, rolodexes in hand, to send letters to their friends about a network they were forming to raise money for pro-choice Democratic women candidates. Today, EMILY's List is one of the nation's largest and most successful political action committees. But the fight isn't over, and while the tools are different, the mission remains the same. It's time to EMpower the next generation of Democratic women. It's our time. EMpower is a place to network, to learn about candidates throughout the country, to collaborate, and to see our individual and collective impact make a real difference.
Learn More »

CWA Endorses CA's Control and Tax Ballot Initiative

I do not typically think too much of endorsements, but this one is an exception:

COMMUNICATIONS WORKERS OF AMERICA, LOCAL 9415 ENDORSES CALIFORNIA INITIATIVE TO CONTROL AND TAX CANNABIS

Initiative could create tens of thousands of new jobs, billions in wages in California

(Oakland, CA) Today, the Communications Workers of America (CWA), Local 9415 announced its support for the California initiative to control and tax cannabis.

“The labor movement is coming together behind this initiative,” said Sally Venable, President of CWA, Local 9415. “With California’s state budget in disarray, and people out of work, it’s time to harness this incredible revenue stream and create tens of thousands of high quality, union jobs, by controlling and taxing cannabis in California.”

According to a study by the California Chapter of NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws), a controlled and taxed cannabis market could create between 60,000 and 110,000 new jobs, and $2.5 – $3.5 billion in new wages for workers each year.

Last month, almost 100 workers in Oakland’s medical cannabis industry voted to unionize and joined United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), Local 5.

UFCW Local 5’s Dan Rush, who oversees statewide ballots matters for the Union and who has been assigned by Local 5 to work full time on the campaign, said controlling and taxing cannabis could help save thousands of public sector jobs which are currently on the chopping block. “California is laying off teachers, firefighters, and nurses left and right,” Rush said. “Controlling and taxing cannabis will generate billions in revenue to help us save these vital services and jobs.”

Rush and CWA, Local 9415 join a broad and growing coalition supporting the Initiative, including medical professionals, law enforcement professionals, faith leaders, economists, and elected officials.

Similar to current alcohol and tobacco laws, the Initiative will give local governments the ability to control and tax the sale of small amounts of cannabis to adults age 21 and older. The Initiative includes significant safeguards and controls: it will increase the penalty for providing marijuana to a minor, expressly prohibit the consumption of marijuana in public, forbid smoking marijuana while minors are present, ban possession on school grounds, and maintain the current law against driving under the influence.

California’s tax regulator, the Board of Equalization, estimates that marijuana taxes could generate $1.4 billion in revenue each year. www.boe.ca.gov/legdiv/pdf/ab0390-1dw.pdf

The California Legislative Analyst's Office states that in addition to generating new revenue, the Initiative would allow correctional and law enforcement resources to be redirected to more pressing needs. The LAO says that in addition to generating “a few hundred millions of dollars annually” it could also save “several tens of millions of dollars annually” and permit the “redirection of court and law enforcement resources.” http://www.lao.ca.gov/ballot/2009/090512.aspx

A summary of the Initiative’s fiscal benefits is available at: http://www.taxcannabis2010.org/index.php/pages/fiscal-benefits-fact-sheet

A summary of the Initiative’s public safety benefits is available at: http://www.taxcannabis2010.org/index.php/pages/public-safety-benefits-fact-sheet

This Union endorsement is sure to reinforce the message that we can create jobs in a time of economic turmoil with sensible regulations and a legal cannabis market along the lines of alcohol.

David Waldman - Filibuster Reform at America's Future Now! 2010

cross-posted from Sum of Change

Thanks to our friend Jeremy Koulish, who spent the first half of this week filming and livetweeting the America's Future Now! Conference, we get to bring you some highlights from the event.

I wanted to get this next video out right away. As the health care debate dragged on and on, talk of filibuster reform came up with increasing frequency. Well, there is still plenty of talking left to do, but according to David Waldman, the Editor in Chief of Congress Matters and a Contributing Editor at Daily Kos, it's time to seriously start focusing it:



He also spoke to a question that is often asked, what about when Republicans regain control of the Senate?



And don't forget Democrats:

[LIVE] DC4D Candidate Meet N' Greet

Tonight, at 6:00pm (EST) we are fortunate to be filming DC for Democracy's pre-endorsement candidate meet n' greet with numerous candidates for DC's Democratic Primaries. You can find bios on all the candidates that will be attending at our 2010 DC Primary Elections page.

Candidates confirmed to attend include:

U.S. Congressional Delegate

• Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (incumbent)
Norton is the longstanding incumbent for the position of D.C. Representative. For several decades, she has focused her political drive toward securing full representational rights for the District of Columbia in Congress... read more

• Doug Sloan
Sloan is the current Democratic challenger for the U.S. Congressional Representative seat for the District of Columbia. A native Washingtonian. He owns a public affairs consulting firm, Sloan Consulting, LLC... read more

Mayor

• Mayor Adrian Fenty (incumbent)
Adrian M. Fenty was elected the fifth Mayor of the District of Columbia in November 2006... read more

• Council Chairman Vincent Gray
Mr Gray was first elected as the Council Chairman in 2006 running on a campaign message of "One City"... read more

• Leo Alexander
Leo Alexander chaired the public relations committee for the DC Federation of Civic Associations. Since 2005, he has served as an executive board member of the Development Corporation of Columbia Heights (DCCH)... read more

Council Chair

• Councilmember At Large Kwame Brown
Kwame Brown was first elected to the City Counsel in 2004. He currently chairs the Committee on Economic Development... read more

• Vincent Orange
Former Councilmember and current VP of Pepco, Vincent Orange is attempting to get back into politics... read more

Councilmember At-Large

• Councilmember At Large Phil Mendelson (incumbent)
Phil Mendelson was first elected to the City Council in November 1998. He is the Chairman of the Committee on Public Safety and the Judiciary... read more

• Clark Ray
Clark Ray has served as Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation for DC, the Director of External Affairs for DC Sports and Entertainment Commission, a Neighborhood Services Officer, and in several offices in the Clinton/Gore administration... read more

• Kelvin Robinson
Kelvin Robinson has held various senior-level positions within state and local government in Florida... read more

Ward 1

• Councilman Jim Graham (incumbent)
Jim Graham was first elected in 1998, and re-elected in 2002... In his first term on the Council, Mr. Graham chaired hearings and an investigation that uncovered major fraud and theft at the Office of Property Management... read more

• Jeff Smith
Jeff Smith is a a D.C. native and long time resident of Ward 1, was an elected School Board Member and in 2007 became the Executive Director of DC VOICE... read more

• Bryan Weaver
Bryan Weaver is a long-time community activist, an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner (ANC) serving in his fourth-term, and a communications professional... read more

Ward 5

• Councilman Harry Tomas, Jr. (incumbent)
Councilman Tomas was first elected in 2006 and is Chair of the D.C. City Council’s Committee on Libraries, Parks, and Recreation... read more

• Kenyan McDuffie
Kenyan McDuffie worked as a trial attorney for the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice... read more

Shadow Representative

• Shadow Representative Mike Panetta (incumbent)
Mike Panetta has been the District of Columbia shadow representative since 2007. He started the District of Columbia Olympic Committee... read more

• Nate Bennett-Fleming
Mr Bennet-Fleming was a staff assistant and intern in Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton's office and has worked on numerous campaings... read more

• Jon Kuhl
Mr Kuhl works as the Speaker and Congressional Affairs Manager at the Congressional Youth Leadership Council... read more

DC Residents to Vote for AG?

cross-posted from Sum of Change

Earlier today, the City Council for the District of Columbia voted to let DC residents decide on a possibly change in the way it chooses the Attorney General, according to WTOP.

Currently, the Mayor selects the AG for the state. In November, DC residents will vote on whether or not the AG seat should be on the ballot. The majority of states choose their Attorneys General by vote, with only nine states and the District appointing the AG (14 if you include American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands).

Here is the list of appointed Attorneys General, according to the National Association of Attorney's General (NAAG):

Alaska
*American Samoa Attorney General
District of Columbia
Hawaii
Kansas
Maine
New Hampshire
New Jersey
*Northern Mariana Islands
*Puerto Rico
South Dakota
Tennessee
*Virgin Islands
Wyoming

Description from the about NAAG page:

[The AG] is appointed by the governor in five states (Alaska, Hawaii, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Wyoming) and in the four jurisdictions of American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. In Maine, the Attorney General is selected by secret ballot of the legislature and in Tennessee, by the state Supreme Court. In the District of Columbia, the Mayor appoints the Attorney General whose powers and duties are similar to those of the Attorneys General of the states and jurisdictions.

One has to wonder if this will have any impact on turnout in the DC election. Statehood is a top-of-the-list issue to DC voters, and they will likely find excitement in measures that are perceived as more power for your vote.

CNN Turkey: Israeli Flotilla Attack

CNN Turkey's coverage of the Israeli attack on a flotilla. They give some great background on this issue. I set the video to finish when the English part ends:

DC Dem Profiles: U.S. Congressional Delegate

This Summer, Sum of Change will be bringing you extensive coverage of D.C. local elections. To kick it off, we've been invited by D.C. for Democracy to film their pre-endorsement candidate meet n' greet on Wednesday, June 2. In preparation, we put together some bios on all the candidates that will be attending. Bios for Republican candidates for these seats will be coming shortly. To find all our current DC candidate bios, please visit our 2010 DC Election Page.

These are the Democratic Candidates for U.S. Congressional Delegate

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (incumbent)

From Congresswoman Norton's official bio page:

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, now in her tenth term as the Congresswoman for the District of Columbia, is the chair of the House Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management. She serves on three, rather than the customary two, committees: the Committee on Homeland Security, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Norton is the longstanding incumbent for the position of D.C. Representative. For several decades, she has focused her political drive toward securing full representational rights for the District of Columbia in Congress. She also previously appeared on the Colbert Report.

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Better Know a District - District of Columbia - Eleanor Holmes Norton
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Fox News

The Congresswoman has a long history with activism. From Wikipedia:

While in college and graduate school, Norton was active in the civil rights movement and an organizer for theStudent Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. By the time Norton graduated from Antioch, she had already been arrested for organizing and participating in sit-ins in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Ohio.

Doug Sloan

From Doug Sloan's official bio page:

Douglass Sloan is a native Washingtonian and currently owns a public affairs consulting firm, Sloan Consulting, LLC, in Washington, D.C. Sloan Consulting provides consulting services to non-profit and community development corporations, real estate developers, and various businesses in the Washington Metropolitan area.

Sloan is the current Democratic challenger for the U.S. Congressional Delegate seat for the District of Columbia. Also a vocal supporter of DC statehood, Sloan has recently advocated drastic measures to pressure lawmakers:

"If you really want to talk civil unrest, if you want to talk about shutting the city down and doing something that's really going to get Congress' attention, there's about six or seven bridges between D.C. and Virginia," Sloan said on The Politics Program With Mark Plotkin on WTOP Friday.

DC Dem Profiles: Mayor

This Summer, Sum of Change will be bringing you extensive coverage of D.C. local elections. To kick it off, we've been invited by D.C. for Democracy to film their pre-endorsement candidate meet n' greet on Wednesday, June 2. In preparation, we put together some bios on all the candidates that will be attending. Bios for Republican candidates for these seats will be coming shortly. To find all our current DC candidate bios, please visit our 2010 DC Election Page.

These are the Democratic Candidates for Mayor of the District of Columbia

Mayor Adrian Fenty (incumbent)
From Mayor Fenty's official online bio:

Adrian M. Fenty was elected the fifth Mayor of the District of Columbia in November 2006. He has made quality public education for all and efficient and accountable government hallmarks of his administration....

Going forward, Fenty is committed to meeting the economic challenges facing the District by creating new jobs, spurring neighborhood economic development and investing in local infrastructure in an effort to stimulate the city’s economy. Improving education will also remain a cornerstone of the Mayor’s agenda, with special attention paid to improving graduation rates and reducing truancy. With encouraging progress surrounding the city’s congressional voting rights status, Fenty has committed to work with the Obama Administration to make a voting member of Congress for the District a reality.

Over the last year-and-a-half, local media has reported on numerous corruption issues facing Mayor Fenty. From Wikipedia:

Mayor Fenty and his administration came under increasing scrutiny in 2009 in local media, including the Washington Post, the Washington City Paper, and local news radio station WTOP. Of note are two "secret trips" taken by Fenty in early 2009.[45] According to WTOP, one of those trips was to Philadelphia and another was to an undisclosed location in the Middle East. The same article also cites city officials who say that Fenty did not disclose to anyone where he was going.

Fenty also came under scrutiny in November 2009 when WTOP reported numerous cases of use of police motorcades. These events include using them to protect him during bicycle rides on streets in and outside of Washington, some of which were on parkways which ban bicycles.[46]

Fenty came under national criticism during the snow storms of February 2010 for the District of Columbia's inadequate response to the historic snowfall, during which the United States Federal Government was effectively shut down for almost a week.[47]

Fenty has been embroiled in a number of additional controversies reported on by the Washington Post, including withholding skybox tickets to the Washington Nationals, despite not being legally entitled to them. He eventually handed the tickets over to the city council.[48] and allowing personal acquaintances to drive city-owned vehicles.

Council Chairman Vincent Gray
From Chairman Gray's official online bio:

Vince’s dedication to his community and the residents of Ward 7 inspired a successful campaign for elected office in 2004 where he handily defeated the incumbent in the primary. During his first term as City Councilman from Ward 7, he chaired a Special Committee on the Prevention of Youth Violence, and created the Effi Barry HIV/AIDS initiative. Two years after joining the Council, Vince ran for the citywide office of Chairman of the Council. Running on the theme of “One City,” he continued his focus on uniting the disparate racial and economic groups in his hometown. He won the general election with 98% of the vote.

As Chairman, Vince has been a leader in efforts to improve the Council’s operations, transparency and oversight capacity, and has been a true champion for school reform. As Chairman, he spearheaded the Pre-K Expansion and Enhancement Act, which established a voluntary, high-quality pre-school program which will provide 2,000 new classroom slots for three and four year olds over the next six years.

Chairman Gray recently received the endorsement of DC police and firefighters, and endorsement that appears to be as much about their disapproval of Mayor Fenty as it is their approval of Gray.

"Mayor Fenty has done nothing to warrant the endorsement and support of D.C. firefighters," said Ray Sneed, president of the firefighters' Local 36. "From a labor standpoint, he is unreachable, unapproachable and our correspondence goes unanswered."

Chairman Gray took some heat recently when his proposed budget basically eliminated the popular streetcar line. By the end of the day, most of the the funding had been restored after the Chairman's office was inundated with calls from DC residents.

From an interview for the Washington Post, published on May 30th, 2010:

In graduate school, I had a professor who said to me, "What do you know about mental retardation?" I was a clinical psychology major, and I said, "Well, to be honest, not a lot." She said, "I'm on the board of the Association for Retarded Citizens, and I would really like you to think about taking a summer job there and see what you think." So I did. They sent me to a conference at Forest Haven, a really infamous institution. I walked around the grounds, up to this really high chain-link fence. While I was standing there, this staff person literally herded about 20 women out who had absolutely no clothes on and started hosing them down. It was one of the most dehumanizing things I've ever seen. I stood there, I looked at it, and it was one of those defining moments. I said: I think I could do something that makes a difference here.

Leo Alexander
From Leo Alexander's official online bio:

In 1999, Leo Alexander became a Ward 4 resident homeowner and an active member of the Brightwood Civic Association. He exhibited leadership and tenacity in helping the Association wage its successful campaign to block construction of a transfer station in Brightwood, a largely middle‐class African‐American community. This empowering experience launched his commitment to community and political activism in the District. He volunteered in a full range of campaigns; from President Obama’s historical win, to local races for mayor and council chair.

He chaired the public relations committee for the DC Federation of Civic Associations and in these duties; he produced and moderated the last major candidates’ forum for the 2006 local mayoral election. That same year, he was named the Delegate of the Year for the DC Federation of Civic Associations. Since 2005, he has served as an executive board member of the Development Corporation of Columbia Heights (DCCH). The DCCH is responsible for spearheading most of the affordable housing and commercial redevelopment projects along the 14th Street corridor; i.e., The Tivoli theatre, Giant Supermarket and DCUSA shopping mall.

DC Dem Profiles: Council Chair

This Summer, Sum of Change will be bringing you extensive coverage of D.C. local elections. To kick it off, we've been invited by D.C. for Democracy to film their pre-endorsement candidate meet n' greet on Wednesday, June 2. In preparation, we put together some bios on all the candidates that will be attending. Bios for Republican candidates for these seats will be coming shortly. To find all our current DC candidate bios, please visit our 2010 DC Election Page.

These are the Democratic Candidates for Council Chair

Councilmember At Large Kwame Brown

Committee Assignments:
• Committee on Economic Development, Kwame R. Brown - Chairperson
• Committee on Government Operations and the Environment
• Committee on Libraries, Parks and Recreation
• Committee on Finance and Revenue
• Committee on Public Works and Transportation

Kwame Brown started service on the DC Council in 2005. In a short time, Kwame has emerged as a national leader in Washington. He currently serves as chair of the Council’s Committee on Economic Development and Vice-Chair of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. He is the first DC Councilmember to be a member of the Congressional Award Foundation Board of Directors, a national organization that promotes volunteerism, public service, personal development and physical fitness.

From Councilman Brown's official online bio:

In addition to his leadership roles, Kwame’s first term in office led to the revitalization of Phelps High School in Ward 5, passage of the School Modernization Act, a reform of the District’s domestic violence laws, and an unprecedented focus on neighborhood revitalization, job training and local small business development.

Kwame was recently named one of the top 10 people to watch in 2009 by the Washington Business Journal.

Vincent Orange

Former Councilmember and current VP of Pepco, Vincent Orange is attempting to get back into politics by challenging Kwame Brown.

From Wikipedia:

On September 12, 2006, Orange lost his bid for mayor in the Democratic primary of the 2006 Washington, D.C. mayoral election. Orange is now the regional vice president for Pepco Holdings Inc. for the Washington, D.C., metro area.

Orange is an attorney and a certified public accountant. He graduated from the University of the Pacific, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, 1979, and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications, 1980. In 1983 he earned a Juris Doctor from Howard University. In 1988, he graduated from the Georgetown University Law Center, where he earned a Master of Laws in Taxation.

Orange served as chair of the Committee on Government Operations. There are numerous agencies under the Committee on Government Operation's purview that play an integral role in developing the overall policy for the District of Columbia. He also sat on three standing committees: Public Services, Public Works and the Environment, and Labor, Voting Rights and Redistricting.

DC Dem Profiles: At-Large Council Member

This Summer, Sum of Change will be bringing you extensive coverage of D.C. local elections. To kick it off, we've been invited by D.C. for Democracy to film their pre-endorsement candidate meet n' greet on Wednesday, June 2. In preparation, we put together some bios on all the candidates that will be attending. Bios for Republican candidates for these seats will be coming shortly. To find all our current DC candidate bios, please visit our 2010 DC Election Page.

These are the Democratic Candidates for At-Large Council Member

Councilmember At Large Phil Mendelson (incumbent)

Committees:
• Committee on Public Safety & the Judiciary – Chairperson
• Committee on Public Works and Transportation
• Committee on Human Services
• Committee on Housing and Workforce Development
• Committee on Libraries, Parks and Recreation

From Councilman Mendelson's official online bio:

Phil Mendelson was first elected to the City Council in November 1998. He is the Chairman of the Committee on Public Safety and the Judiciary and is a member of four additional committees: Housing & Workforce Development, Human Services, Public Works & Transportation, and Libraries, Parks, and Recreation. Along with representing the Council at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, he's also President of the Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations (AMPO).

Phil has been active with District issues since 1975 when he joined the McLean Gardens Residents Association in the fight to save that 43-acre housing complex from destruction. He ran for a seat on the Advisory Neighborhood Commission in 1979 and continued to serve as an ANC Commissioner until he took office as an At-Large member of the Council.

Clark Ray

Clark Ray has served as Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation for DC, the Director of External Affairs for DC Sports and Entertainment Commission, a Neighborhood Services Officer, and in several offices in the Clinton/Gore administration. He is a strong supporter of education reform.

From Clark Ray's official online bio:

Clark’s leadership at the Department of Parks and Recreation resulted in some of the most dramatic improvements seen in the District’s neighborhoods in many years. Clark opened new and renovated recreations centers, installed new artificial turf and natural turf fields, renovated and maintained existing fields, constructed the first official city dog parks, expanded summer camp for city youth from 8,500 to over 12,500, and created partnerships with non-profit groups to help supplement recreational and educational programming.

Clark’s service to the people of the District has also included walking the beat as a Reserve Officer for the Metropolitan Police Department, working out of the Third District and the City’s Gay and Lesbian Liaison Unit. Clark also served as the Founding President of Metropolitan Washington Gaymes Committee, the nonprofit entity tasked with bidding for the 2014 Gay Games. Clark and his partner, Aubrey Dubra, reside in Ward Four’s Crestwood neighborhood.

Kelvin Robinson

From Kelvin Robinson's official online bio:

Kelvin J. Robinson is a seasoned public servant with more than 15 years of service, having held various senior-level positions within state and local government in Florida. From 1994 to 2001, Mr. Robinson was the Director of Legislative and Public Affairs for the Florida League of Cities, where he served as chief lobbyist and spokesperson for Florida's more than 400 cities. In this capacity, he successfully represented the issues of Florida's cities to the members of Congress, the Florida Legislature, various agencies of state and federal government, as well as before business and civic organizations. During his tenure, Florida's cities experienced an increase in their home rule and fiscal authority, securing passage of a number of local organizational and revenue reforms. Florida's municipalities also enhanced their relations with federal and state policymakers as well as statewide business interests.

Before joining the Florida League of Cities, Mr. Robinson served as Director of the Division of Hotels and Restaurants where he was responsible for the licensing and regulation of Florida's public food service and lodging industry, as well as elevators. In that capacity he was recognized for having successfully consolidated food and lodging inspections under one agency, as well as for streamlining inspection processes, which resulted in less costly and more efficient operations.

DC Dem Profiles: Ward 1

This Summer, Sum of Change will be bringing you extensive coverage of D.C. local elections. To kick it off, we've been invited by D.C. for Democracy to film their pre-endorsement candidate meet n' greet on Wednesday, June 2. In preparation, we put together some bios on all the candidates that will be attending. Bios for Republican candidates for these seats will be coming shortly. To find all our current DC candidate bios, please visit our 2010 DC Election Page.

These are the Democratic Candidates for the Ward 1 Council

Councilman Jim Graham (incumbent)

From Councilman Graham's official online bio:

Jim Graham was first elected in 1998, and re-elected in 2002... In his first term on the Council, Mr. Graham chaired hearings and an investigation that uncovered major fraud and theft at the Office of Property Management. This work led to felony criminal indictments and restitution to the DC Government of millions of dollars.

In his second term, as chair of the Committee on Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, Mr. Graham was a strong advocate for tenant rights and consumer protection, extending and tightening the District’s rent control laws, creating a “bill of rights” for tenants, and ending abusive, illegal evictions of tenants.

Mr. Graham is now chairman of the Committee on Public Works and Transportation. That assignment includes oversight of alcohol regulation. He is also a member of the Committee on Aging and Community Affairs, the Committee on Housing and Workforce Development and the Committee on Public Services and Consumer Affairs. Mr. Graham is a voting member of the Metro/WMATA board of directors. He has been a voting member of the board since 1999 and previously served as chairman in 2003 and 2009.

Jeff Smith

From Jeff Smith's official online bio:
Spending the past 25 years in Washington, D.C., Jeff works hard to give back to the community that’s given him so much. After receiving his undergraduate and law degree from Howard University, Jeff immediately immersed himself in community activities where he could ensure D.C.’s continued progress and growth. Jeff has worked with policy makers, and later in the classrooms of the DCPS school system and as an elected School Board Member. In 2007, Jeff became the Executive Director of DC VOICE where he continues to engage the community in DCPS issues and reform.

As a D.C. native and long time resident of Ward 1, Jeff is committed to advancing the interests of the neighborhoods and communities of D.C. in sight of what he sees as a long pattern of neglect and inadequate representation. Jeff believes his friends and neighbors in Ward 1 deserve safer neighborhoods, more responsible economic development, schools that play a central role in the life of the community, and an overall improved quality of life. These goals cannot be addressed adequately with ad hoc responses to problems as they present themselves but must be approached with attention to the broad social dynamics at the root of the challenges the community faces.



Bryan Weaver

From Bryan Weaver's official online bio:

Bryan Weaver is a long-time community activist, an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner (ANC) serving in his fourth-term, and a communications professional with over 15 years of experience in progressive causes. He has worked on coalition building in local and national politics, promoting livable and affordable urban neighborhoods, crime prevention, education, community and economic empowerment, affordable housing issues and nonprofit work geared toward youth leadership development. He is a true believer in the economic and cultural diversity of Ward One and all of Washington D.C., and uses his elected office as a platform to give a voice to those who have been forgotten by the city government.

Bryan is serving is fourth term (seventh year) on the Adams Morgan Advisory Neighborhood Commission. He served as Chair for three years. An extremely active and engaged commission, it routinely deals with complex issues such as public safety; liquor licensing; building livable, urban communities; strengthening multi-cultural neighborhoods; and encouraging business development. As such, Bryan has years of leadership experience in one of the busiest, diverse and dynamic communities of Washington, D.C.

DC Dem Profiles: Ward 5

This Summer, Sum of Change will be bringing you extensive coverage of D.C. local elections. To kick it off, we've been invited by D.C. for Democracy to film their pre-endorsement candidate meet n' greet on Wednesday, June 2. In preparation, we put together some bios on all the candidates that will be attending. Bios for Republican candidates for these seats will be coming shortly. To find all our current DC candidate bios, please visit our 2010 DC Election Page.

These are the Democratic Candidates for the Ward 5 Council

Councilman Harry Tomas, Jr. (incumbent)

From his website:

Harry “Tommy” Thomas, Jr. campaigned for and successfully won the D.C. Ward 5 Council seat in November 2006. He was sworn into office in January 2007. Councilmember Thomas is Chair of the D.C. City Council’s Committee on Libraries, Parks, and Recreation. He sits on four additional committees: Finance and Revenue, Housing and Workforce Development, Government Operations and the Environment, and Aging and Community Affairs. Councilmember Thomas is the son of late three-term Ward 5 Councilmember Harry Thomas, Sr., and former D.C. Public School principal Romaine B. Thomas. Councilmember Thomas attended D.C. Public Schools and graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School. He holds a degree in Public Relations/Marketing from Bowie State University. Councilmember Thomas was Vice President of Public Affairs for the Public Benefits Corporation (formerly D.C. General Hospital)...

Councilmember Thomas is a former Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner, and has served as Chair of the Woodridge Health Clinic. He is a past President of the D.C. Young Democrats and a former At-Large elected member of the D.C. Democratic State party, for which he coordinated local and national events. Councilmember Thomas has worked for the national Democratic Party, holding the office of Treasurer. He has also served as the Adult and Youth Chair of the Neighborhood Planning Council. Councilmember Thomas is a member of the YMCA, NAACP, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, and Woodridge Boys and Girls Club.

Kenyan McDuffie

From his website:

Kenyan worked as a trial attorney for the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, where he conducted investigations and managed cases throughout the United States regarding enforcement of key federal civil rights statutes, including defending the rights of the mentally ill, nursing home residents, and persons with disabilities, and also working to reform the policies and procedures of police departments throughout the country. Prior to joining the Justice Department, he worked as an Assistant State's Attorney in Prince George’s County, where he prosecuted misdemeanor and felony cases in District Court and on appeal in Circuit Court. He also served as a judicial law clerk for an Associate Judge on the 7th Judicial Circuit of Maryland...

Kenyan, an experienced attorney and civil rights advocate, is a proven community leader whose campaign, like his life’s work, is focused on your future. For more than a decade, Kenyan has dedicated himself to improving the lives of Ward Five residents and the collective life of the Ward Five community.

DC Dem Profiles: Shadow Representative

This Summer, Sum of Change will be bringing you extensive coverage of D.C. local elections. To kick it off, we've been invited by D.C. for Democracy to film their pre-endorsement candidate meet n' greet on Wednesday, June 2. In preparation, we put together some bios on all the candidates that will be attending. Bios for Republican candidates for these seats will be coming shortly. To find all our current DC candidate bios, please visit our 2010 DC Election Page.

These are the Democratic candidates for Shadow Representative

Shadow Representative Mike Panetta (incumbent)

From Mike Panetta's official online bio:

Mike Panetta has been the District of Columbia shadow representative since 2007...

Panetta has run several high-profile campaigns for D.C. representation, including starting the District of Columbia Olympic Committee and leading efforts to rebrand RFK Stadium as “Taxation Without Representation Field”.[2][3] Panetta has pledged to make District of Columbia voting rights a national issue that is embraced by progressive activists across the country.

Panetta was reelected in 2008, facing no opposition in the Democratic primary[4] and defeating D.C. Statehood Green Party candidate Joyce Robinson-Paul in the November election by 86 to 13 percent.

Nate Bennett-Fleming

From Nate Bennett-Fleming's official online bio:

Nathan's work in public service was launched in 2001, when Nathan was a staff assistant and intern in Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton's office. After learning from Congresswoman Norton, Nathan has worked on several national, state, and local campaigns including the Ben Cardin for U.S. Senate campaign, where he was a regional field coordinator and the John Kerry for President campaign, where he was the deputy national director of African-American Religious Outreach.

In 2009, Nathan worked on crafting a comprehensive strategy to achieve statehood and congressional representation with the D.C. Councils Special Committee on Statehood and Self Determination, chaired by Councilmember Michael A. Brown. In addition, Nathan has gained legislative and legal experience as a summer attorney at two Washington D.C. law firms. Nathan also has finance experience gained as an summer analyst at the Wall Street investment banking powerhouse, Goldman, Sachs & Co. The variety and depth of Nathans professional experiences leaves him as the best qualified candidate to advocate for self-determination and to represent D.C.s residents as a liaison to the United States House of Representatives.

Jon Kuhl

From Jon Kuhl's official online bio:

Having always been passionate about civic involvement, Jon works as the Speaker and Congressional Affairs Manager at the Congressional Youth Leadership Council, a non-partisan organization that runs leadership conferences for students from across the country. In addition to managing the organization’s relationships on Capitol Hill, Jon organizes weekly visits to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives for groups of high school students. As part of his work, Jon also moderates a bi-monthly webcast featuring former members of Congress discussing various topics designed to give high school students a better understanding of how our government works.

Jon believes strongly that the District of Columbia should have full voting rights in Congress, and is intent on building a national coalition of support to end our city’s taxation without representation. Unsatisfied with the status quo, Jon wants to engage his fellow Washingtonians in an effort to increase pressure on Congress. With Democratic majorities in the House and Senate, and with President Obama in the White House, now is the time to demand representation.

Making States More Green

cross-posted from Sum of Change

The question on how states and local level governments can assist the green wave is commonly considered, especially when discussing the current job market and nation’s economy. Michael Fedor, the Pennsylvania state director for Repower America, and Adam Graber, PennEnvironment, bring up various ways to support this process.

The following clips were filmed at the 2010 PA Progressive Summit, held this last January in Harrisburg, PA. In the first video, Fedor and Garber answer a question regarding the Maglev System (a budding green friendly train system appropriate for state wide and city commuting) and how to gain federal funding for a project such as this. In the final video, Garber and Fedor specifically address plans to decrease coal dependency in Pennsylvania, another solution to help states become greener.

For more info on the Pennsylvania Progressive Summit and it's organizer, Keystone progress, please go to paprogressivesummit.org and keystoneprogress.org

"We're Not Out Of The Woods Yet"

cross-posted from Sum of Change

History repeats itself. It is 1948. Not literally of course, but we are about to relive a moment of U.S. history. A moment in history when our government, with the President leading the charge, took steps to remove a form of bigotry from our armed forces. For several years leading up to that point, the government had experimented with integrated units, providing black soldiers with a chance to serve in the normal people's army (kind of).

As the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy (the homosexual's equivalent to experimental desegregation) takes center stage amidst reports of a potential deal, the folks from Get Equal are cautioning people not to celebrate too quickly.

This language shifts responsibility for repeal from Congress to the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff -- two-thirds of whom were not elected by a supportive American public.[1] Repeal hinges on a subjective study to ensure that our presence in the military won't have a negative impact on the military, there is no date given to end military discharges of LGBT servicemembers, there is no change to the DADT law right now, and there is no guarantee that repeal will happen -- whether or not the conditions on the amendment are met.

We're happy that Congress may take the first step this week in repealing this discriminatory legislation -- but we're not out of the woods yet.

If there is one thing we have learned from recent fights, the Republican party is going to use every available avenue to derail this legislation. This debate is just beginning and the debate will be ugly. We know the debate will be ugly because we have lived through this before.

We have seen how the conservatives react when liberals attempt to use the armed services as a vehicle to drive a radical, social experiment.

They told us that "To change would destroy morale and impair preparations for national defense...no experiments should be tried . . . at this critical time."

They told us that "Experiments to solve social problems would be 'fraught with danger to efficiency, discipline, and morale'."

These were the rational arguments they made the last time the nation took steps to remove bigotry from our military. Those calmly stated arguments in favor of bigotry were matched by lone wolf attacks on black service members and their families.

So, while Democratic leaders may be getting giddy over a possible deal, I have to agree that "we're not out of the woods yet." But for the first time since this President has taken office, I am confident that we are going to have the chance to really have this fight. And for the first time, I am confident that we are going to see an end to Don't Ask Don't Tell, a major step forward for the LGBT community.

Jean du Preez on the Comprehensive Test-Ban Treaty

cross-posted from Sum of Change

Back in April, we spoke with Dr. Peter Wilk of Physicians for Social Responsibility about the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START). That treaty has been hailed as a major step forward in the interest of arms reduction. Yet arms reduction is just the tip of the iceberg. To deal with this issue, we need to not only reduce armaments but conceptually rethink our entire policy regarding nuclear arms.

There are many aspects of nuclear non-proliferation where action is seriously needed. We are going to delve into some of these areas, but today I would like to talk specifically about the Comprehensive Test-Ban Treaty. This treaty was signed in 1996, but the United States Senate failed to ratify it. President Obama has pledged to work aggressively getting it ratified by 2011.

For more context, and a little bit of looking forward, check out this interview with Jean du Preez:

You can find a lot more information about nuclear non-proliferation from the good folks at NPT TV, a student run operation to shed light on these issues.

Ex-Presidents and Former Presidents

I get emails from all kinds of folks. I make it a point to get emails from both liberal and conservative groups, and I make it a point to actually read as many of them as possible. So, there was nothing strange about me scanning over the roundup of "headlines" from LifeNews.com. I got distracted right away when I saw them refer to President Clinton as "ex-President Bill Clinton."

I thought it interesting that they used the word "ex" instead of "former." My immediate thought was, they are trying to attach a bad connotation to him. It implies that his exit was... well... not-so-nice. I would love to say that the petty word tricks like this do not work, that it is usually best to ignore it. But they do matter. The Republican National News Network, you know, Fox, understood that calling it the "government option" instead of the "public option" would have an affect on its popularity (ultimately, they were a little late to the game and the term "public option" was far too ingrained into common rhetoric to simply be replaced because some news anchor wanted it so).

Back to LifeNews.com. I decided to employ the awesomeness of google and do a little analysis of their use of the terms "ex-President" and "Former President." The latter was used almost exactly the same number of times to describe Republicans and Democrats. Nothing really to note about that. Yet their use of the term "ex-President" tells a different story.

That term has, as far as google knows, only been used thirteen times at LifeNews.com. Once, was quoting FORMER President Jimmy Carter speaking about himself. Every other time, they are speaking about FORMER President Clinton.

I am sure that the partisan nature of the anti-choice movement has nothing to do with this. It is simply a coincidence that while LifeNews.com more often than not refers to past U.S. Presidents as "former President," 100% of the times they have used the term "ex-President" it has been in reference to a Democrat who served two full terms and remains popular to this day.

PA-Sen Primary Eve: Recap from PA Progressive Summit

cross-posted from Sum of Change

As Pennsylvania gets ready to vote in, arguably, the most-watched primary of the year, we thought folks might appreciate one last look at the two candidates, Senator Arlen Specter and Congressman Joe Sestak, back-to-back on the issues. (Videos from the PA Progressive Summit)

--Question 1- What Do You Think of a Partial Spending Freeze?

--Question 2- What Would You Do To Increase Manufacturing Jobs in the US?

--Question 3- What is Your Opinion of Same-Sex Marriage?

--Question 4- Will You Vote For The Employee Free Choice Act With Card Check?

--Question 5- What Are you Going to do About the Trade Deficit?

--Question 6- Do You Support Comprehensive Immigration Reform?

--Question 7- What Should We Do About the Filibuster?

Video from K Street Protest

cross-posted from Sum of Change

Today, despite the persistant rain, thousands of people showed up on K Street in Washington, DC to protest the actions and lobbying efforts of big banks and to demand economic justice. The Washington Post is comparing the anger to what we have seen at Teaparty protests.

--Mark Freeman, foreclosure victim and SEIU member

--Kia Alvarez, member of Alliance to Develop Power

--Trenda Kennedy, Illinois People's Action

--Al Marshall, SEIU Local 1021

Interview with Neil Franklin of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition

cross-posted from Sum of Change

On Friday, May 14th 2010, I got the chance to sit down with Neill Franklin, the Executive Director of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP). (Full interview at the bottom)

Neill Franklin, LEAP's incoming executive director, is a 32-year law enforcement veteran who spent more than two decades with the Maryland State Police (leading the drug division's education and training) and then moved to Baltimore PD. Like a character from HBO's "The Wire," Neill could tell you stories of colleagues being gunned down in the line of fire, as he did in this Washington Post op-ed.

--Neill Franklin Shares His Story

To sum up: Mr Franklin is a 32-year law enforcement veteran. Many things he experienced doing that work led him to speak out against drug prohibition, but there were two events that really changed him. First off, he served on Mayor Kurt Schmoke's Board for Needle Exchange in Baltimore. Mayor Schmoke was an advocate for rethinking our policies regarding the war on drugs. But it was not until 2000 when he lost a good friend named Edward Totely. Mr Totely was assassinated while making an undercover drug buy. That is when Mr Franklin began to examine the negative consequences of the war on drugs.

--On the Obama Administration's Drug Policy

To sum up: Mr Franklin feels that President Obama's "balanced new approach" is balanced in rhetoric only because two thirds of the money goes to enforcement (not including the costs of incarceration).

--On the Gateway Drug Theory

To sum up: Mr Franklin feels it is a fallacy and that cigarettes and alcohol are greater gateway drugs yet remain legal.

--Drug Laws and the Fourth Amendment

To sum up: Mr Franklin argues that the laws surrounding drugs create an environment where police are under pressure to search for drugs, which leads many officers to unintentionally push the limits of the law.

--The CA Ballot Initiative and the Federal Response

To sum up: Mr Franklin congratulates the people of California for putting this issue on the ballot, and encourages people to get involved with that campaign. As for the federal response, he has some concern that the federal government may try to "flex their muscles and go into California and start arresting people." He says the federal government should allow that state to go ahead with control and regulation. "They should be bringing smart people together to figure out what the future policies will look like."

--Law Enforcement Reaction to Franklin's Work

To sum up: Mr Franklin finds that most law enforcement officials respond positively to his position.

Full, Unedited Interview

Celebrating One Year Of Grassroots Video

Today, Thursday May 13th 2010, marks one year since we signed the paperwork to register Sum of Change. We did not know what to expect when we started but we are proud of what we have accomplished so far. We feel privileged to be able to do this work and wake up every day more appreciative of this opportunity.

Below we have compiled links to many of our best projects for you to enjoy. Below that, we present our plans for the coming year, of which you are a major part. Please take some time this weekend to watch and digest as much as possible, then let us know what you think and what you would like to see in the future.

Sum of Change In Year One

Soon after Dr George Tiller was assassinated, we filmed and released our first video from the vigil that took place outside the White House in his honor and felt compelled to take our website live, before we had originally intended. Before long we were covering important events around town, such as the election in Iran. That event captivated many Americans and we captured their feelings of solidarity as they took to the streets of Washington DC.

From there, our work has blossomed. We shed light on the struggles of former felons in Virginia to restore their rights, well before the national media took notice. We covered labor issues like EFCA and union busting. We heard from inspiring voices for change, like William McNarry, Stewart Acuff, Richard Trumka, Michelle Singletary, Darcy Burner, Howard Dean, and our good friends from Grow the Hope.

We started production on our first feature documentary, titled Best When Boring, about pro-choice clinic escorts and the Washington Area Clinic Defense Task Force. Not long ago, we released the first preview.

We delved into the world of music, beginning with an interview with Tim Westergren from Pandora Internet Radio. From there were inspired to explore further and have highlighted talent from today like Nicky Egan, Petworth, and Dub FX, and talent from yesteryear like Elvis, Dizzy Gillespie, and Louis Armstrong. We also covered local cultural events like FlavorTripDC and Obscura Day.

Besides for these DC based events, we traveled to some fantastic conferences, including Netroots Nation, Organizing 2.0, the PA Progressive Summit, Democracy for America's Campaign Academy, and the Good Jobs Green Jobs Conference.

Out of all of this, however, health care reform was our primary focus. When our nation re-initiated the health care fight, we were there. We were there for the town halls. We were there with experts to educate the public about the facts of reform, including this simple explanation of the public option. We were there to see people sharing their personal stories with neighbors and legislators. We were there to challenge misinformation. When they said reform would fund abortion, we pressed the President of Operation Rescue and the folks at the March for Life in a fruitless search for someone who could explain how.

And we were there as reconciliation went through the final steps of the process. After reform passed, we were still there reaching out to grassroots folks, including David Waldman of Congress Matters, Dr. Margaret Flowers of Physicians for a National Health Program, and Jim Lindsay of the Virginia Organizing Project, to discuss what lessons were learned.

Throughout all of these events this past year, we worked aggressively on the front lines of the new media movement. We magnified the power of our work using cutting-edge web, video, and social networking technologies. Hand-in-hand with bloggers and other progressive video groups, we took steps to combat the forces of Status-Quo™ that dominate mainstream news outlet, as perfectly explained by our friend Chris Hayes at a Sum of Change housemeeting.

Moving Forward In Year Two

After the passage of health care reform, we knew we had to establish a new platform of issues upon which to provide in depth coverage. Health care dominated the headlines at Sum of Change, as it dominated political discussion across the country.

We deliberated, researched, and sought advice from viewers, and over the last couple months we explored a variety topics to see what the response would be. We continue to strive to cover all relevant stories, but it is important to have a core set of issues so that we can focus our efforts in the most productive way.

Therefore, we have decided upon 5 issues where we feel our focus is most needed: Green Energy, Immigration, Reproductive Justice, LGBT Rights, and The 2010 Elections. Over the next year (and beyond) you can expect a focused stream of in depth material on these topics.

Please continue to send us your input on these and any other topics that you find important. Without viewers like yourself, none of this would be possible and our work is based on interactive communication, not one-way dissemination.

We expect year two to be even more exciting than year one. Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to sharing a brighter future together.

Thank you,
Mitch Malasky and Will Urquhart

[UPDATED @ noon] National Nurses United Rally for Nursing-Ratio Limits

cross-posted from Sum of Change

About 1,000 nurses, with a handful of doctors mixed in, rallied today on Capitol Hill for National Nurses Week to "press the case for moving beyond insurance reform to improving the quality of care in U.S. hospitals and other healthcare settings."

One of the big topics of discussion, S 1031/HR 2273, The National Nursing Shortage Reform and Patient Advocacy Act (pdf). The focus of this legislation is to establish a minimum nursing-ratio, much like the law in California. We were able to grab Senator Boxer for a very quick explanation of the California law everyone was talking about:

We also got a minute to speak with Congressman Anthony Weiner to get his thoughts on the days events:

Senator Boxer's remarks on the National Nursing Shortage Reform and Patient Advocacy Act (pdf):

Senator Al Franken's opening remarks:

Congressman Weiner's opening remarks:

We've got lots more video from this event. Check Sum of Change for updates.

UPDATE: Permeable Cone Stocking (Oil Corral): Oil Spill Solution?

cross-posted from Sum of Change

UPDATE: Eric Lewis put together a more detailed drawing of the proposed permeable cone stocking, and there is a good discussion about it taking place over at Daily Kos.

UPDATE2: Just got an email from the Coast Guard, they have received 4,800 proposals to stop/contain the spill from all across the world.

Last night, I came across this picture on Daily Kos. With the failure of the containment dome, BP and the US government are now scrambling for a solution. We are joined today by Eric Lewis who came up with the permeable cone stocking idea.

Mr Lewis received a reply from Deep Water Horizon Response (DWHR), nothing significant most likely a stock response. We reached out to DWHR this morning and will update this post with any response.

The following inquiry was submitted to Deepwater Horizon Response on
05/10/10 10:27 (259571):
From : Joint Information Center
Date : 05/10/10 10:49

Dear Mr Lewis,

Thank you for your comments and suggestions. Unified Command is considering all options for mitigating both the response and clean-up efforts.

A telephone number has been set up to receive calls - 281 366 5511, and also an email account: horizonsupport@oegllc.com

For the most current information on the Deepwater Horizon Response, visit www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com.

Sincerely, Joint Information Center Team
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
From : Eric Lewis
Date : 05/10/10 10:27

I think I may have come up with an idea that will help contain the Gulf spill and can be manufactured relatively quickly. I am not an engineer, but I do have a Master of Industrial Design degree from The Rhode Island School of Design, where I received the Rachel Carson
Environmental award for ecologically responsible design.

Please find the attached jpeg sketch of a "Permeable Cone Stocking" concept.

The thought behind this is that it would avoid the complicated chemistry involved in deep sea high-pressure capture efforts, by making the tube between the leak and the surface PERMEABLE. As a result, this method allows some oil to escape, but more or less contains it within
the cone.

The drawing shows the bottom of the cone nailed to the ocean floor, but upon further consideration, it could simply be attached to a rigid steel hoop and positioned less precisely over the leak - so long as the majority of the spewing was going into the cone.

I very much hope you are able to find a solution soon. Thank you very much, and good luck!

Sincerely,

Eric Lewis