Circle the chairs and lets form a snake line. Today's suggested topic is about Rev. William Barber's call to action and my thoughts on how it applies to the Vallejo School Board election of 3 new members of to the Board. (Vallejo, California) This is an Open Thread / Coffee Hour and all topics of conversation are welcome.
What is for dinner? How are you doing? What is on your mind. If you are new to Street Prophets please introduce yourself beyond the fold in a comment.
The upcoming Vallejo School Board race has become a referendum on the 2013 Solano County Grand Jury report on the safety of Vallejo Schools. See: Safety at Vallejo High School.
Hazel Wilson, long term board member, Must take responsibility for creating the lawless environment on the Vallejo School campuses that prompted the county to convene the Grand Jury and investigate the Vallejo School District.
This is a excerpt of Hazel Wilson's reply to the Grand Jury:
(snip} The Grand Jury plays an important role as a check and a balance against abuses of athority and misuses of public funds. In this case, however, it appears that the Grand Jury's findings and recommendations suffer from factual and legal errors. (snip}
Signed by Hazel Wilson, President VCUSD Board of Education
Signed GJ Response Letter 8 7 2013 VCUSD
Based on Hazel Wilson's rejection and denial of the Grand Jury findings I am recommending to all the voters in Vallejo not to vote for her or any of her affiliates that are running on her coattails.
The election filing period closed on the 8th and below are the candidates running for the three open seats on the Vallejo School board. I have included links to their campaign websites. Some have not launched their campaigns yet.
Candidates running for Vallejo School Board in 2014
Dr. A. C. 'Tony' Ubalde, Jr. (incumbent)
Adrienne Waterman (incumbant)
Hazel A. Wilson (incumbent)
Ruscal Cayangyang
B. A. Groves
John Lewis
Shelee Loughmiller
Burky H. Worel
Brisbain Pucan
Richard Porter
November 2014 Candidate Filed Log - Current as of 8/8/2014
Street Prophets Moral Monday Action Tip #3
"All politics is local"
The phrase, "All politics is local" is a common phrase in U.S. politics. The former Speaker of the U.S. House Tip O'Neill is most closely associated with this phrase, which encapsulates the principle that a politician's success is directly tied to the person's ability to understand and influence the issues of their constituents. Politicians must appeal to the simple, mundane and everyday concerns of those who elect them into office. Those personal issues, rather than big and intangible ideas, are often what voters care most about, according to this principle.
From Wikipedia: All politics is local
A local school board election is about as local as you can get in politics. But, often the process of a local election mirrors the national process. Hazel Wilson over the last 10 years has used wedge issues in the political process to retain her control over the School Board and the staff of the Vallejo School District.
I would like to thank Rev. William Barber for giving me the guidance and strength to view the issues surrounding the Vallejo School board election through the lens of morality and empathy. It is about time morality and empathy return to local political discussions.
In future Street Prophets Moral Monday Coffee Hours I will be discussing the moral & empathic failure of the Vallejo School Board and Hazel A. Wilson's role in creating the overwhelming loss of public confidence in the Vallejo School system.
Below is a quick round up of diaries on Daily Kos about Rev. William Barbers ideas for those that have not been following the Moral Mondays movement.
Street Prophets Moral Monday Coffee Hour: Barber, Lakoff and Morality
Street Prophets Moral Monday Coffee Hour: Above The Snake Line by linkage
This week in the war on workers: 'We're going to win this if we keep fighting. We can't stop.' by Laura Clawson for Daily Kos Labor
Rev. William Barber's electrifying speech at Netroots Nation 2014 by Egberto Willies
William Barber Takes Us to Church at Netroots Nation by Frederick Clarkson
Moral Monday - Street Prophets Coffee Hour by linkage
Sad, But True: Activism Just Ain't Sexy to the So-Called Netroots by shanikka
Rev. Barber may be the one I've been waiting for by Arrogant Ape
NN14, Rev. Barber, and the snake line by dkmich
North Carolina's Moral Mondays Movement: 90% of Success is Just Showin' Up by DocDawg
I'm glad I didn't miss it: Transcript of The Rev. Dr. William Barber at NN14 by TrueBlueMajority
Morality As A Secular Concept by kevinbr38
(please bring to my attention any other diaries that should be on this list in the comments below and I will add them.)
Best,
Jonathan Gordon (linkage on Daily Kos)