We are in the last
days of the 2012 electoral
season.
Here are some of my
thoughts:
The amount of money
being spent on our
local elections this
year is truly obscene.
Chevron has spent over
1.2 million dollars
to defeat the progressive
direction of Richmond.
Big soda corporations
are spending 2.5 million
dollars to defeat Measure
N, the Soda Tax which
is geared toward steering
our young people into
healthier lifestyles.
Almost 4 million dollars
have been thrown at
our city NOT for productive
programs, but for corporate
campaign advertising!!
Advertising that seeks
to saturate people
with messages of no
substance and lots
of lies and distortions.
Advertising that goes
by the belief that
if something is big
enough and said enough
times (regardless of
the lies and distortion)
people will pay attention
and adhere to the message
(regardless of its
lack of substance and
lies and distortions).
Chevron and Big Soda
want us to reach the
point of surrender,
but I think we will
say by way of our votes
on Tuesday: Enough
is enough! I do not
think that the Richmond
community has "surrender" in
our vocabulary. We
are a tough and strong
community and we are
unwilling to go backward.
To preserve our positive
gains, we must and
will show we are unwilling
to let candidates hand-picked
by Chevron (Nat Bates,
Gary Bell, and Bea
Roberson) take the
reins of this city.
We have seen the horrendous
hostility displayed at
city council meetings
by a couple of our
councilmembers, one
being Nat Bates, who
attempt to polarize
our community by race
over and over again.
The movement for racial
justice has included
in the past, and will
include in the future,
people of all races
standing together.
It is a complete set-back
in time to reject those
who understand that
racism is affront to
all thinking and feeling
humanity, regardless
of one's race. All
the great civil rights
leaders have welcomed
people of all races
to show solidarity
with the heroic struggle
of people of color.
We need to recognize
that we are in a struggle
for a better humanity,
a better community,
a better Richmond -
and we need everyone
possible to join together
to build such a society
free of racism, sexism,
homophobia, ageism,
prejudice toward those
living with disabilities,
economic and environmental
injustice, and health
disparity. Yes, this
is a big task, but
we must continue to
take positive steps
along this journey.
We must be unwilling
to let Big Soda tell
us that the future
of our Richmond youth
plays second-fiddle
to their big profits.
The youth of today
are the first generation
in history slated to die
earlier than their
parents. Is this the
kind of historic trend
we want to display?
Richmond will certainly
be on the cutting edge
of this trend, unless
we change course to
a new trend. With the
Soda Tax, we can begin
to turn the corner
to a new historic direction
- one that prioritizes
healthy living by limiting
our sugary beverages.
We have witnessed
the harm that big corporations have
brought to Richmond
by way of Chevron's
massive refinery fire
on August 6. We have
witnessed the impact
of Big Soda on our
youth by way of the
epidemic of diabetes,
heart disease and obesity
in our community. And
we are witnessing the
all-out attack on our
democracy as big corporations
attempt to buy this
election. But we are
beyond their reach.
Corporations have a
role in private enterprise
- that role is to make
money for their stockholders.
Through their ever-growing
intrusion on our electoral
arena, they are displaying
an historic "conflict
of interest." Corporations
are not people and
they must not be allowed
to control our democracy
that was born of, by
and for the people!
For a safe,
healthy and democratic
Richmond:
Vote Marilyn
Langlois, Eduardo
Martinez and Tom
Butt for City Council
Vote YES on
Measure N, the Soda
Tax and
Vote Yes on Advisory
Measure O to
put the money into
healthy programs
and sport fields.
Vote YES on
P - calling
for a constitutional
amendment saying
corporations are
not entitled to the
rights of real people.
Thank you
to the countless
people working on
these campaigns. Along
with our wonderful
candidates, it is
the tireless efforts
of Richmond grassroots
organizers and volunteers
that are making the
difference. We are
a growing movement
in Richmond thanks
to the day-in/day-out
work of many, showing
that people are the
makers of change,
not corporations!
If you agree with
this message, please
know your help is needed
to keep us going in
the same positive,
progressive direction. Please
give some of your time
on Election Day and
experience the joy
of reaching out with
a healthy and positive
message to other members
of the community. Please
call the Richmond Progressive
Alliance at (510) 412-2260
to volunteer some of
your time and energy.
Every volunteer hour
counts!
And please
foward this email
to others to get
the word out.
This is our city, our democracy,
and our destiny...let's
keep buildling a
better Richmond for
all!