This is my last post before I unsubscribe.
I gave some money, a lot of time, but most important my faith to Barack Obama. The first two were wasted. The last has been greivously betrayed. The loss of the first two is minimal, but the ability to believe that the participation in the political process matters once lost cannot be regained.
Shame on you Barack Obama
There are several key events occurring in the next few weeks regarding health care reform that may interest you. These events offer an opportunity to stand up for change and to push for the change you want to see. Health care reform and the public option hang in the balance. Here are the events in chronological order:
Tonight August 25: Geoff Berman from Organizing for America will hold a meeting at the Huntington Public Library (338 Main Street) to outline Organizing for America’s mission, to take feedback and to answer your questions. The meeting will run from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. You can click here to learn more and sign up to attend: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gpfz7t.
August 27: Representative Tim Bishop will hold a Town Hall Meeting. On Thursday, August 27 at 6:30pm, Congressman Tim Bishop will host a Town Hall meeting at Brookhaven Town Hall, located at 1 Independence Hill in Farmingville. The meeting is open to all members of the public. Constituents may ask the Congressman about any issue. It will be important that many supporters of health care reform attend to ensure a representation of all views and a civil discourse.
There will be extensive media coverage of this event and it provides a critical opportunity to demonstrate the popular support for healthcare reform on Long Island. Many people and groups are organizing to demonstrate support for health care reform at this meeting and we do expect the opposition forces to be out in force. The best thing you could do is show up to demonstrate your support for health care reform. Organizers are asking volunteers to do the following:
• Give any time you can, but if possible, show up early, by 5 p.m.• Bring a sign supporting health care reform or the public option or whichever issues you feel most strongly about. You can make the sign out of any material, but it if you put the sign on a stick, you will not be allowed into the meeting. • Bring flyers to hand out. If you need a flyer, I can email you one.• Wear a white or blue shirt to differentiate health care reform supporters from the opposition numbers who usually wear read.
If you have additional questions, email Sue Hornik at Suehornik@aol.com.
August 29: Unity Rally and Walk for Health Care in Times Square. On Saturday, August 29, 2009, New Yorkers will walk from all parts of the city for the first ever United We Walk for Reform Rally in support of the historic health reform legislation before Congress. MID-MORNING, ACROSS THE CITY: Grassroots groups will meet in front of hospitals and health clinics across the city to walk to rally at Times Square. Check out mybarackobama.com for meeting locations in the next week (or set up one of your own). 2 - 3:30 PM - UNITY RALLY: Rally for health care at Times Square, 42nd St. and 7th Avenue. For more information, check out www.nycforchange.org or aug29rally@gmail.com or call 212-925-1829.
September 1: The Huntington League of Women Voters will hold a health care informational meeting at the Haborfields Public Library. The session will run from 7 p.m. and feature multiple speakers. The library is located at 31 Broadway in Greenlawn. If you have questions, you can call 631-421-5164.
September 22: The League of Women Voters of East Nassau will present a forum on health care reform at the Plainview-Old Bethpage Library. There will be multiple speakers and the event will begin at 7:30 p.m.
Wrap Up
I hope this information proves useful to you. For more information or for updates, you can check the web site www.LI4Change.com or go to www.barackobama.com.
Mark X. CroninLong Islanders for ChangeH 631-425-9217C 516-902-6964mxcronin@LI4Change.com
The push for true health care reform has reached a critical juncture. The future of real change depends on each of us standing up and making our voices heard. It is important that our neighbors, the media and most of all, our elected representatives, hear from us, hear informed messages about the truth of health care reform, and hear informed calls for real change.This email will cover the following:
• A note on the lessons learned from the “Honk for Health Care” Held Last Week• Actions you can take now; get involved, make your voice heard• Events that may interest you, including a listening tour with Organizing for America, a rally in Times Square, a Town Hall meeting with Tim Bishop and other events.
Lessons Learned from Encounters with the “Tea Baggers” Last Saturday, we staged an event dubbed “Honk for Health Care,” during which many supporters of health care reform gathered at the intersection of Route 110 and Jericho Turnpike to display signs calling for health care reform, hand out informational flyers, and engage with voters. It turned into a counter demonstration as a large number of “Tea Baggers” also appeared at the same spot. Events got ugly as some of the Tea Baggers took to yelling at people and intimidating our supporters. But not all of them did. Some were concerned citizens, worried about the country’s future. Some were confused and open to hearing more and, when they did, they changed their points of view.
There are many lessons coming from last week’s Honk for Health Care rally. One is to avoid situations that descend into mere shouting. It is important not to demonize the opposition as many are concerned citizens that are doing the right thing to organize. We can expect they will work to make their voices heard and if we want to see real health care reform, we will need to organize and make our voices heard. And it is critically important to understand the much of the fear and concern arises from ignorance.
Here's what each of us can do to help at this critical time: 1. Know the facts and refute the rumors2. Call your Senators and Congressional Representative3. Sign the online petition with President Obama’s Organizing for America 4. Collect petition signatures supporting health care reform
1) Know the facts and refute the rumors:
There is a tremendous amount of misinformation and ignorance swirling about the health care debate. We heard the fears that arise from ignorance. Don’t get mad, get informed. Learn the truth and talk to your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers. Send an email to people you know and refute any lies that come your way.The White House has a new healthcare information section that refutes the most egregious lies: www.whitehouse.gov/realitycheck. You might also check out that AARP’s “Don't Let the Myths about Healthcare Reform Scare You.” You can find that link here: http://aarp.convio.net/site/PageNavigator/Myths_vs_Facts
2) Call your members of Congress! Urgent!Because Sens. Schumer and Gillibrand and Rep. Israel, Bishop and McCarthy have all come out in favor of reform and the public option, too many of us who are pro-reform are not calling to register our opinions. That means we are in danger of having the anti-reform contingent win the tally even though the vast majority of voters in our area favor reform. We want our elected officials to be able to say to the media and to the rabble-rousers that the overwhelming majority of calls favor reform. This is a numbers game and we've got the numbers, but only if you call today.Rep. Timothy Bishop (CD-1) (631) 259-8450Rep. Steve Israel (CD-2)(631) 951-2210Rep. Peter King (CD-3)516-541-4225Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (CD-4)516-739-3008 Sen. Charles Schumer631-753-0978 Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand(631) 249-2825
Better yet, send a letter to their local office. You can find their addresses at the Long Islanders for Change Web Site: www.LI4change.com.Some of the representatives are hosting Town Hall Meetings (Time Bishop has one scheduled for August 27 – see below). You can call and ask about Town Hall meetings or request one. Steve Israel is taking names for such a meeting and has been inviting people to a private session on August 24. Call his office to find out more (631) 951-2210.
3) Sign the online petition with President Obama’s Organizing for America. You can go hear to sign this online petition: http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/health-care-action-center/. Forward this link to others to sign. 4) Carry or sign a healthcare petition: 12 days, 12 signaturesYou're well informed and thoughtful, and we need you to refute the rumors and educate your neighbors and friends about healthcare reform, while pressuring Congress to keep working for meaningful legislation. Help make sure the Tea Partiers and lobbyists don't win!
The best way to do that: Talk to people and get them to sign the attached petition. We're asking you to get 12 signatures in 12 days. If you collect more signatures, bravo!! The more, the better!! Invite friends over to tea, go door to door, hand out flyers and get signatures in front of a busy store, or just ask people to sign during your daily routine. One signature a day is easy!
You can download a petition and flyers at the Organizing for America web site: http://my.barackobama.com/page/votercontact/landing
Events that May Interest YouAugust 23: Yes! We Can Long Island Picnic in the Park. This event will take place in Picnic Area #1 at Wantagh State Park. The group bills it as “a great opportunity for progressives to come together to share a day of fun, food, and politics.” The contact person for this event is Bob Young, robertstevenyoung@gmail.com; 516-809-6766 x 702
August 25: Geoff Berman from Organizing for America will hold a meeting at the Huntington Public Library (338 Main Street) to outline Organizing for America’s mission, to take feedback and to answer your questions. The meeting will run from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. You can click here to learn more and sign up to attend: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gpfz7t.
August27: Representative Tim Bishop will hold a Town Hall Meeting. On Thursday, August 27 at 6:30pm, Congressman Tim Bishop will host a Town Hall meeting at Brookhaven Town Hall, located at 1 Independence Hill in Farmingville. The meeting is open to all members of the public. Constituents may ask the Congressman about any issue. It will be important that many supporters of health care reform attend to ensure a representation of all views and a civil discourse.
August 29: Unity Rally and Walk for Health Care in Times Square. On Saturday, August 29, 2009, New Yorkers will walk from all parts of the city for the first ever United We Walk for Reform Rally in support of the historic health reform legislation before Congress. MID-MORNING, ACROSS THE CITY: Grassroots groups will meet in front of hospitals and health clinics across the city to walk to rally at Times Square. Check out mybarackobama.com for meeting locations in the next week (or set up one of your own). 2 - 3:30 PM - UNITY RALLY: Rally for health care at Times Square, 42nd St. and 7th Avenue
September 1: The Huntington League of Women Voters will hold a health care informational meeting at the Haborfields Public Library. The session will start at 7 p.m.
Wrap UpI hope this information proves useful to you. I will be away until August 24th and will have limited access to email (we’re riding our bicycles up to Cape Cod for some of that time). For more information or for updates, you can check the web site www.LI4Change.com or go to www.barackobama.com.
It is time to act; time to stand up for what we believe and make our voices heard.
The anti-change forces have been gaining much media notoriety; we want to demonstrate our support for real health care reform. Come join Long Islanders for Change and Organizing for America at our “Honk for Health Care” event this Saturday, August 8 from 10:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the intersection of Route 110 and Jericho Turnpike (Route 25) in Huntington Station, right near the Walt Whitman Mall.
We need to stand up for our convictions or the only voices heard will be the anti-change people. Stand up for what you believe.
We will wave homemade signs, handout informational flyers and collect petition signatures supporting real health care reform. We want Long Islanders to know about the urgent need to pass health care reform legislation and to know that this change has broad and deep support in our communities. We expect good media coverage and there may be a counter demonstration by anti-government groups.
Won’t you join us? Won’t you commit some time - just 30 minutes or an hour - to join fellow Long Islanders in supporting this critical national change? Join us in standing up to the naysayer and those anti-change forces that shout down any conversation. Join us to demand real health care reform. You will feel good about getting involved and it will be fun.
We will meet at the intersection of Route 110 and Jericho Turnpike. You can park in the mall parking lot and take the short walk to the intersection. Bring a friend and join the movement. Make a homemade sign that reflects your point of view (here are some examples: “Health Care for All,” “Affordable Health Care for You and for Me,” “Health Care is a Right,” “Make Health Care Affordable”).
Brenda Reiss will be the lead organizer on this event. You can reach her at H 631-261-7093, C (516) 316-0038 or habrenda@earthlink.net.
I have been an active Obama supporter since 11/2007. There were 100,000's of other NYers who did likewise. We labored on in the face of a Dem Party leadership that refused to recognize our existence.
There are so many people in NY who contributed so much to Obama's victory
We won. So my question is why is this organization headed by an aide to a Congress member who campaigned against Obama and continued to advocate for Clinton long after the primaries were over.
It's not that I'm advocating a spoils system or doubting Ms. DeRosa's sincere commitment. I'm just saying it might be better to have one of the many people who committted to Obama's agenda and techniques early on to lead this effort.
(BTW, I hear something similar is going on in South Carolina)
We had a great Family Health Kit Service Day thanks to all whoparticipated. Nearly three dozen volunteers came together on Saturday, June27 to sort through the donations and assemble over 150 Family Health Kits.The Family Health Kits included information on good eating habits and goodhealth habits as well as toothbrushes, toothpaste, Children’s Tylenol,Band-Aids, soap, shampoo, hand sanitizers and many other items. TheOutreach Center at St. Hugh’s Parish will arrange for the distribution ofthe Family Health Kits.
Marna Schoenwald did a great job as the lead organizing for the day.Volunteers organized the donated items on long tables and then created ahuman assembly line where they walked along the tables filling the bags tocreate the Family Health Kits.
The volunteers were able to sort through several car loads of donationsthanks to the terrific work of Linda Kundla in organizing the collectioneffort. A tip of the cap to Bruce Dansker and Deanna Hutchinson, whocollected donations outside a local supermarket, picked up a contributionfrom a local business (Bennett Medical) and lent a helping hand on Saturdayto assemble the kits.
Thanks to the Cinema Arts Centre for allowing us to put a donation box intheir lobby. And a thanks to the St. Hugh’s Parish Outreach Program forallowing us to use the parish hall for our work on Saturday and fordistributing the Family Health Kits.
We have sent out several follow up press releases all designed to callattention to the event and our support for real health care reform. You cansee photos from the event at http://li4change.com/FamilyHealth.aspx.
We organized this event as part of Organizing for America’s effort tocall attention to the need for real health care reform. If you have notdone so, please contact your federal representatives to let them know thatyou want health care reform now, reform that embodies these principles:
- Reduced costs — Rising health care costs are crushing the budgets ofgovernments, businesses, individuals, and families, and they must bebrought under control
- Guaranteed choice — Every American must have the freedom to choosetheir plan and doctor – including the choice of a public insurance option
- Ensure quality care for all — All Americans must have quality andaffordable health care
You can find a sample letter and contact info for your electedrepresentatives here: http://li4change.com/healthcare.aspx.
If we do not speak up, who will? Real change is up to us.
Thanks for all you do. Please forward this email to others and send yourfriends and neighbors to the Long Islanders for Change web site(www.LI4Change.com).
Be well,
Mark X. Cronin
Long Islanders for ChangeH 631-425-9217C 516-902-6964mxcronin@LI4Change.com
Here’s a reminder about events coming this Saturday’s National HealthCare Day, part of a national effort sponsored by Barack Obama’sOrganizing for America. To learn more, you can check out the Long Islandersfor Change web site (www.LI4Change.com) orwww.barackobama.com. Here are the two local events:
- Saturday, June 27 Family Health Kit Service Day in Huntington Stationfrom Noon to 2 p.m.
- Saturday, June 27 Health Care Service Day in Brentwood from 10 a.m. to 6p.m.
In addition, it is important to reach out to our elected official to letthem know that you want to see real health care reform now. This emailincludes information on action you can take to make health care reform areality.
Family Health Kit Service Day in Huntington Station
Long Islanders for Change is sponsoring a “Family Health Kit” ServiceDay on Saturday, June 27 from Noon to 2 p.m. in the Cafeteria a St.Hugh’s Parish Hall. We will assemble Family Health Kits for distributionto needy families in the Huntington area. Please stop by to drop offmaterials or to help assemble the kits.
The Family Heath Kits will include contributed items such as toothbrushes,tooth paste, soap, aspirin, band aids as well as flyers with information onways to promote good health. We are doing this to benefit these familiesand to call attention to the national debate on health care reform and callfor health care reform.
Get Involved and Make a Difference
Contribute Items for the Good Health Kits
We are looking for the following or similar items: Band Aids,Toothbrushes,Toothpaste,Soap, Sun Screen, Hand Cleaners, Aspirin,Gauze Pads,Adhesive Tape, Ace Bandages, Tweezers
You may have some of these items in your home or you can buy some the nexttime you make a trip to the supermarket/pharmacy/Costco, etc. You can dropthem off at the following locations:
The Kundla Home: 7 Great Neck Court, Huntington, NY 11743
The Cronin/Schlitt Home: 11 Upper Drive North, Huntington Bay, NY 11743
Cinema Arts Centre: 423 Park Avenue, Huntington, NY 11743
You can bring your donation to the Long Island Progressive Forum onCouncil Districts on June 25 from 7 – 9 p.m. at the Huntington PublicLibrary – Village Branch. You can also bring your donation to the St.Hugh’s Parish Center on Saturday, June 27 from noon to 2 p.m.
If you have questions or ideas or want to make arrangements to pick up ordrop off donations, please contact Mark Cronin (631-425-9217 or mxcronin@li4change.com)
Help Assemble the Good Health Kits
We will need volunteers on the day of the event to assemble the GoodHealth Kits. Come with a smile and lots of energy:
When: Saturday, June 27 Noon to 2 p.m.
Where: St. Hugh’s Parish Center, Corner of Pulaski Road and New YorkAvenue (Route 110), Huntington Station, NY 11746
If you have questions or want to help assemble the kits, please contactMarna Schoenwald (631-673-6449 or wiildflowers@aol.com).
Thank you for your help. If you have general questions, please feel freeto contact Mark X. Cronin (631-425-9217 or info@LI4Change.com).
Health Care Day of Service in Brentwood from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Held in Timberline Park on Route 111, this event will feature petitionsigning, collections for food banks, a planting program in a communitygarden and other activities. For more information, contact John Green at(631) 902-0798 or gruen126@aol.com.
Take Action to Make Real Health Care Reform Happen
After years of talk and inaction, we are finally at a point where we havea real chance for national health care reform. President Obama is pushinghard for this change, but real change will only come with our support andaction.
Please contact your elected representative. A letter works best or a phonecall or email to their local office. I have included the contactinformation at the end of this email. Here's a sample letter orcommunication:
Dear xxx,
I support President Obama's healthcare reform and I am asking you to voteto support real reform now. Real reform must include:
I am part of Long Islanders for Change working for real change forAmerica.
Thank you,
Your nameYour address and contact information
We will schedule additional activities to support real health care reform.You can check the web site www.LI4Change.comfor updates or email info@LI4Change.com
Affordability is obviously STILL the missing LINK to stablize the real estate, mortage, lending... industries.Greenspan did his experimentations to prove his Economic Theory and Bernanke is working on fixing the ill effects of such "theory".In truth, there are ways to allow "affordability" to take place again, and the experts do know how. The question is are THEY willing to make affordability happen instead of keep on trying to bury this administration by attempting to link the BAILout$$$ and the fall of mortages to this administration.They can make the mortage notes longer ... irregardless of the life expectancy of the borrower by having "ballon" payments at reasonable time say every 7 years and have it amortized over the current "maximum". There's NO DOUBT that such SAFE and Responsible mortage options will again bring our economy back, as Housing is STILL the major purchase and American Dream.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/ALL-BUSINESS-Bondmarket-rout-apf-15457158.html?.v=4
I hope all is well with you. We have a broad array of meetings and activities that may interest you as a member of Long Islanders for Change. This note will cover the following:
• Upcoming Meetings in Islip (June 2) and Huntington (June 5). These meetings will address the President’s Health Care Reform Program.
• A Wrap Up on our Last Service Day: A Book Event for Children Held on May 15
• Volunteers from the Obama Campaign Who Are Announced Candidates for Political Office
• President Obama’s Nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court
• Information on the Marriage Equality Act in New York
Long Islanders for Change Meetings
We have two upcoming Long Islanders for Change meetings. These are great opportunities to meet like-minded people, to discuss hot political issues and to determine how as individuals and as a group we can take action:
• Tuesday, June 2, at 7 p.m. in Central Islip at the Painters Union Hall (103 Carleton Avenue, Central Islip). For more information, you can contact Pat Murphy (homemurphy@msn.com or (631) 567-4298) or John Green (gruen126@aol.com). The meeting will cover the health care debate and other issues suggested by attendees.
• Friday, June 5, at 7:30 p.m. in Huntington. This Meeting will be Part of Organizing for America’s Health Care Kick-Off. The meeting will take place at the Cronin/Schlitt Home next Friday at 7:30 p.m. (11 Upper Drive, Huntington Bay, NY 11743). We will discuss the impact of the health care crisis on our lives, review the Obama health care proposal and organize support for health care reform. To learn more, you can contact Mark or Carol at 631-425-9217, email mxcronin@schlittlaw.com or click here: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gpclb3.
At our last meeting in Huntington, we held a vigorous debate on the question of pursuing investigations of Bush Administration officials over torture and other potential violations of law. Nat Board and Bruce Dansker kicked off the discussion with thoughtful presentations on the issues cogently presenting both sides. Over the next hour and a half, the crowd of 30 people dug in and explored many facets of this issue. While not all agreed, there was a general consensus that any wrongdoing needed an investigation to hold individuals responsible since no one is above the law, to learn from our mistakes and to demonstrate that our nation was living up to of laws and ideals.
If you are interested in hosting a meeting in your community, let me know and we can work to make that happen.
Our Children’s Book Event Service Day on May 15 Was a Great Success
For our last service day, we collected books for children culminating in an event on May 15 at the Enrichment Center in Huntington Station where volunteers read to the children, played games and did a little face painting. All told, we collected well over 200 new and slightly used books and entertained nearly forty children. Thanks to all who contributed and participated especially the lead organizer, Janet Egan.
Volunteers from the Obama Campaign Who Are Announced Candidates for Political Office
The Obama campaign on Long Island brought many new people into the political process and created a forum for many new voices. Some elected officials are running for re-election or new positions and some of the volunteers are now stepping into the political arena themselves and running for office. These include:
• Jon Cooper: Jon is already a Suffolk County legislator, but is now exploring a run for the U.S. Senate. You can check out his web site here: http://cooperfornewyork.com. Jon is also running for re-election to the Suffolk County Legislature.
• Vivian Viloria-Fisher: Along with Jon Cooper, one of the few elected officials who endorsed President Obama early in the race. She is running for re-election to the Suffolk County Legislature.
• DuWayne Gregory: A Suffolk County Legislator, he took an active role in the campaign last summer and is running for re-election to the County Legislature.
• Earl Toulon Jr. is running for Suffolk County Legislature in the 12th District. You can check his web site here: http://www.friendsoftoulon.com.
• Carrie Solages of Elmont is running for Nassau County Clerk.
• Pablo Sinclair is exploring a run for the Nassau County Legislature.
There may be others out there, so if you know of them, please pass their names along. While it is important to work for change at the national level, we need to bring new voices at the local level too and it is great to see these early supporters and volunteers taking on that challenge.
President Obama’s Nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court
We cannot underestimate the importance and impact of a President’s Supreme Court nomination. In tapping Judge Sotomayor, President Obama has picked a brilliant, experienced and extremely capable judge who has earned support from her colleagues, adversaries and both sides of the political aisle (she was first named to the Federal bench by the elder President Bush.) The attack machine has already started cranking out slime to undermine her nomination. Loudmouth Lindbaugh and Newt Gingrich have called her a bigot and a racist; what a perversion. You can show your support for Judge Sotomayor by clicking here: http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/sotomayorstand.
Information on the Marriage Equality Act in New York
Our moral and political landscape is changing so that all members of society can look forward to a future where everyone is afforded equal rights. All of the New England states now recognize gay marriage and New York stands to be next in line to grant equality. The Marriage Equality Bill has already passed the New York State Assembly and Governor Patterson promises to sign it. The bill faces a tough time in the State Senate with the Long Island members – both Democrat and Republican – holding key votes.
This is an opportunity to make your voice heard by contacting your State Senator. Our State Senators often receive only a handful of written letters on any one issue; our individual actions can make a difference. The State Senate expects to end their session by June 20, so there is little time to act. If you want to get involved in this issue, you can go to this helpful and powerful web site put together by some of the Obama campaign’s grassroots organizers: http://www.newyorkequality.com.
About Long Islanders for Change
Long Islanders for Change is a group that grew out of the Obama Campaign and is part of the national effort: Organizing for America (www.barackobama.com). We host meetings where we discuss critical issues and take actions to support selected policies. We also sponsor Service Days and you can learn more about our second service day below. Here is our mission statement:
“Long Islanders for Change is a community-action group of concerned citizens of all political affiliations. Our mission is to support and work to achieve the vision and goals outlined in the Obama campaign.”You can join us on Facebook at the Long Islanders for Change group (http://www.facebook.com/groups.php?ref=sb#/group.php?gid=110017170360) or contact me for more information. We expect to have a web site soon.
As always, thank you for all you do. Please contact me if you have any questions or suggestions.
Be well,Mark X. CroninLong Islanders for Change
Thay want to take him out of everything.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10103521/
The Helping Families Save Their Homes Act expands an existing $300 billion program that encourages lenders to write down an individual's mortgage if the homeowner agrees to pay an insurance premium. Among other things, the program, set to expire in 2011, would swap out a homeowner's high interest rate for a 30-year fixed loan backed by the Federal Housing Administration.
The Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act authorizes $490 million over two years to hire fraud prosecutors, increase enforcement actions and add funds to the Secret Service and Housing and Urban Development Inspector General.
"These landmark pieces of legislation will protect hardworking Americans, crack down on those who seek to take advantage of them, and ensure that the problems that led us into this crisis never happen again," Obama said during the signing ceremony.
Natalie
We knew healthcare reform would face fierce opposition -- and it's begun. As we speak, the same people behind the notorious "swiftboat" ads of 2004 are already pumping millions of dollars into deceptive television ads. Their plan is simple: torpedo healthcare reform before it sees the light of day by scaring the public and distorting the President's approach. We need the resources to take them head on with an urgent, grassroots campaign to pass real healthcare reform in 2009. When the swiftboaters flood the airwaves with distortions, we'll flood the streets with volunteers armed with facts. When they send lobbyists to tell Congress to back down, we'll send millions of calls, letters, and stories from real Americans asking them to stand up. Can you donate $25 or more by midnight Sunday to fight back against these phony attacks and take our message of reform to the American people?
Clients are not receiving proper treatment from the agency called FEGS.
When a family member of a resident requests an evaluation of the resident's medication or type of medication,FEGS staff is threatening the family member with action under the Adult Protection Service Law. This discourages a family member from advocating for their relative who is receiving services fron FEGS.
Requests for progress reports have been denied. Options should be given in discharge planning.When patients are discharged from the hospital they should not be forced to return to an agency that they previously had problems with. Other treatments need to be considered. Holistic methods of care should be considered in the decision making process as well to reduce expense to the federal, state and local governments.
Here’s a quick update on Long Islanders for Change. This email will cover the following:
* Upcoming Meetings in Huntington (May 13) and Islip (June 2)
* Our Next Service Day: Donate a Book/Read a Book to a Child (May 15)
Long Islanders for Change Meetings We have two upcoming Long Islanders for Change meetings. These are great opportunities to meet like-minded people, to discuss hot political issues and to determine how as individuals and as a group we can take action:
* Wednesday, May 13 at 7 p.m. in Huntington at the Huntington Public Library (338 Main Street, 3 blocks west of Route 110). As usual, we will discuss recent political events. One topic this month will cover the idea of investigating or prosecuting Bush appointees over the torture memos. A good idea or one that will bog us down? Come share your ideas. We also discuss plans for our next service day, a book event for children. You can find more information at http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gptgjy.
* Tuesday, June 2, at 7 p.m. in Central Islip at the Printers Union Hall (103 Carleton Avenue, Central Islip). For more information, you can contact Pat Murphy (homemurphy@msn.com or (631) 567-4298) or John Green (gruen126@aol.com). The meeting will cover the health care debate and other issues suggested by attendees.
“Long Islanders for Change is a community-action group of concerned citizens of all political affiliations. Our mission is to support and work to achieve the vision and goals outlined in the Obama campaign.”
You can join us on Facebook at the Long Islanders for Change group (http://www.facebook.com/groups.php?ref=sb#/group.php?gid=110017170360) or contact me for more information.
Our Next Service Day: Give a Book/Read a Book to a Child, Friday, May 15
For our next service day, we will be distributing books as gifts to the children and spending time with them drawing, reading, doing puzzles, playing games, etc. We are collecting books now and will hold the Read to a Child event on Friday, May 15 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Enrichment Center in Huntington Station (1264 New York Avenue at the intersection with Depot Road).
There are many opportunities to get involved:
Read a Book to a Child or Play Some Games: If you have a special talent (face painting or making balloon animals), please share that talent with the children. We need your energy, imagination and desire to make a difference in a child's life! Come for all three hours or any part of the event. It promises to be a wonderful and rewarding day. You can sign up online (http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/communityservice/gptggq) or contact Janet Egan (janjim16@optonline.net or (631) 424-4647).
Donate a Book: We need books in good condition for children from pre-school to pre-teen. We need to receive the donations by May 13 so that we can prepare for the Reading Event. You can bring your donations to the Long Islanders for Change meeting on Wednesday May 13 at the Huntington Public Library at 7:00 p.m. or drop off at one of three locations:
The Huntington Station Enrichment Center: 1264 New York Avenue [Route 110]Huntington Station, NY 11746 631.425-2640 Monday through Friday 9:30 AM to 7:00 PM On the east side of Route 110 just south of the Huntington LIRR Station. At the corner of E 2nd Street just before the intersection of 110 and Depot Road
Cinema Arts Centre: 423 Park Avenue, Huntington, NY 11743 The Cinema is open every day. Doors open 1/2 hour before the first show, generally around 1:30 PM. For 24-Hour Showtime Information Call 631.423-3456 or 423-2696
The Cronin/Schlitt Home: 11 Upper Drive North, Huntington Bay, NY 11743 631-425-9217
If the above are not convenient, call Janet Egan [631.424-4647] to arrange a drop-off or pick-up location and time.
Long Islanders for Change
By ANNE FLAHERTY – 1 hour ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Democratic-controlled Senate on Thursday defeated a plan to spare hundreds of thousands of homeowners from foreclosure through bankruptcy, a proposal that President Barack Obama embraced but did little to see through.
A dozen Democrats joined Republicans in the 45-51 vote to scuttle the measure, which Obama had said was important to saving the economy and promised to push through Congress. But facing stiff opposition from banks, Obama did little to pressure lawmakers who worried it would encourage bankruptcy filings and spike interest rates.
"The vote today was a bipartisan rejection of an interest-rate hike, which is exactly the wrong solution for jobs, homeowners and the economy," said Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.
Democratic leaders lamented that they were powerless, with the 45 votes falling far short of the 60 to overcome procedural hurdles. The newest Democrat, Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, voted against it.
"The banks that are too big to fail are saying that 8 million Americans facing foreclosure are too little to count in this economy," said Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin of Illinois, who championed the measure and had spent weeks negotiating with financial lobbyists in a bid to strike a deal.
Obama long has backed the proposal to give debt-ridden individuals the option of asking a bankruptcy judge to reduce their mortgage payment. He cited that support last fall as he privately lobbied skeptical Democrats to back the $700 billion Wall Street bailout. And once he was president, he had promised, he would push for its passage.
In February, the newly inaugurated president included the proposal as the stick in a housing plan full of carrots for the banking industry. The broader rescue plan encouraged, but did not require, lenders to cut homeowners' monthly payments and refinance loans for individuals whose home's market value has sunk below what they owe.
The following month, the House passed the bankruptcy legislation along party lines in a 234-191 vote.
But the bankruptcy option got only a tepid endorsement from Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner. As debate on the measure brewed, Geithner was pushing for the creation of a government-sponsored program that would rely on private investors to buy the risky mortgage-backed securities weighing down the market.
The forced easing, or "cram-down," of a mortgage by a bankruptcy judge would have likely introduced additional uncertainty for investors.
Congressional Democrats also questioned the merits.
"Do I want to have my rate go up so that somebody else might be able to cram down" their mortgage payment? asked Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., who voted against the measure.
In recent days, as it became clear the measure would fail, the administration did little to counter the aggressive lobbying by banks fighting the proposal and focused its efforts instead on a more popular bill targeting credit card companies.
Spokeswomen at the Treasury Department and White House did not respond to requests for comment, and absent from the debate was any statement of administration policy.
Obama supporters blamed the banks.
"There was a lot of fear-mongering," said Andrew Jakabovics, associate director for housing and economics at the Center for American Progress in Washington. "The banks put on a good show, saying, 'Hey, if you force us to take more losses, we're going to go out of business.'"
Indeed, the banking industry had a direct line to Capitol Hill. Officials from some of the biggest banks, including JP Morgan Chase & Co., Bank of America Corp. and Wells Fargo & Co., as well as groups representing credit unions and community banks, negotiated for weeks with Durbin and other leading Senate Democrats.
Trying to win support, Durbin narrowed the provision substantially. The latest proposal would have restricted eligibility to homeowners already in foreclosure whose lender had not offered them better terms. Homes would also have to be worth less than $729,000 and apply to mortgage loans originated before 2009.
Durbin had offered the measure as an amendment to a housing bill aimed at easing the nation's credit crunch. That bill would guarantee bank deposits up to $250,000 through 2013.
The bill also would permanently increase the borrowing authority for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. from $30 billion to $100 billion. Increasing the FDIC's credit would allow the agency to reduce large new premiums it has begun charging banks to insure deposits.
The Senate is expected to vote on that measure next week. Durbin said he would try to restore the bankruptcy provision in conference with the House, although it was considered unlikely he would succeed.
"I'll be back," he said. "I'm not going to give up."
Since Banka were the one's to create my situations, I see no reason for them to be shown any mercy. They have taken advantage of every day citizens too long. It doesn't take 30 years to pay for anything.We pay for properties 10 times over. It's called usury.
