California NOW

Monday's Action Checklist: Hunger

Four Actions to Take in this Holiday Season to End Hunger in America

Congress is on recess until December 8th, but more layoffs and pay cuts are happening every day, and hunger is growing every day.  Here are four ways that you can act over the next few days to initiate meaningful solutions to eliminate hunger in our communities. 

1. Click here to share your vision of a hunger-free America with President-elect Obama as he invites your input on his website.  Enthusiastically support his commitment to end childhood hunger by 2015 and to cut poverty in half.

2. Call your Members of Congress toll-free at (800) 473-6711* and urge them to pass right away a temporary boost in SNAP/Food Stamp benefits as a key step in their economic stimulus/recovery work.  For talking points, read this letter supporting a SNAP boost.

3. Write a letter to the editor highlighting the recent USDA Food Insecurity data that shows hunger on the rise through 2007 - - with worse in store for 2008. For information specific to your state see the state profiles page on the FRAC Web site.

4. Although hunger may be a focus during this holiday season, remember it occurs year-round, and peaks during the summer months when regular year school meals programs stop.  Tell your Senators and Representative via e-mail or at meetings or forums while they are home to expand and improve the federal child nutrition programs and WIC in the upcoming 2009 reauthorization.  

*This toll-free number is provided courtesy of the American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker organization which works for economic justice and peace.  AFSC welcomes groups to circulate and use the number in support of non-partisan work for policies that benefit the common good and without linking it to a website soliciting donations or actions which support partisan lobbying or work.

Thanks to the Coalition on Human Needs for this great action list!

Author Asks: Where Are You Wearing?

Yesterday was Buy Nothing Day, but for those of you who did do some shopping (and there were a lot less than usual) do you know where the stuff you bought was made? Kelsey Timmerman’s guest post asks: “Could that ugly Christmas sweater made in Bangladesh that your grandma is going to give you be advancing women’s rights?" 

Jeffrey Sachs, Director of the Earth Institute and advisor to the UN Secretary General on the Millennium Development Goals, think so. In his book, The End of Poverty, he refers to the garment industry in Bangladesh and other developing nations as the first rung of the global economic ladder. He writes: "Not only is the garment sector fueling Bangladesh’s economic growth of more than five percent per year in recent years, but it is also raising the consciousness and power of women in a society . . . this change and others give Bangladesh the opportunity in the next few years to put itself on a secure path of long-term economic growth.” 

Women who have jobs are likely to have fewer children. Missing work while pregnant, having a baby, or caring for a newborn is, in a sense, expensive. Therefore, working women have fewer children to feed, clothe, and keep healthy, and more money to do so. Sachs writes that in 1975, the total fertility rate – the average number of children a woman has over her lifetime – in Bangladesh was 6.6. Today, it’s 3.1. Educating and employing women is one of the best ways to lift a society from poverty. 

While I was in Bangladesh researching my book, “Where am I Wearing: A Global Tour to the Countries, Factories, and People That Make Our Clothes,” I decided to explore Sachs theory. I spent the day with a garment worker named Arifa who earned $25 per month. 

Happy Buy Nothing Day!

Instead of running around at 3 am to buy something, check out these Buy Nothing Day resources:

Buy Nothing Christmas

Holiday Gift Exemption Voucher

Conscious Consumer pamphlet

UC Davis Study: Women Underrepresented in Business

Previous studies show that a more diverse a company's employees are, the better it performs.  So, there is only good ole sexism and the ever present glass-ceiling to blame, then, for the dismal findings of the annual UC Davis Study of California Women Business Leaders report, to be released today.  

The report shows that of the state's 400 largest public companies fully half have no women in top executive positions, only 13 have a woman chief executive, and women hold only 11 percent of board seats and executive positions.  

Those at the top of the list for gender equity include Los Angeles-based community and business lender Nara Bancorp topping the list, with half of its executive positions and board seats occupied by women.  San Francisco-based cosmetics firm Bare Essentuals, has women in 46 percent of top leadership posts; Brisbane based Bebe Stores has 43 percent women in top spots; San Diego-based AMN Healthcare Services, with 36 percent; and Los Angeles-area youth apparel chain Hot Topic, at 36 percent.

Kudos to those companies with women in or near parity among the executive positions, and shame on the rest for contributing to the continuation of marginalizing women in business.

Like Obama said in his election night speech, just electing him is not the change we seek; it is only the beginning.  We must work for change in every institution in society to turn this country into all that it can be, for everyone.  

State Budget Crisis: It Ain't Over Yet

Unrealistic budgeting, and the nationwide economic crisis mean California now faces an immediate $11.2 billion budget deficit. Governor Schwarzenegger has called the legislature into special session to deal with the issue. Schwarzenegger has proposed over $10 billion in spending cuts to education, health care and social services. He is also proposing $14 billion in tax increases, including a temporary 1 1/2-cent sales tax increase, an extension of the sales tax on services, a severance tax on oil production and a 5-cents-per-drink increase to the tax on alcohol. The Governor's latest budget proposals also weaken environmental laws and enforcement in an effort to save the state money. 

Meanwhile, the state economy loses $28 billion each year to the health effects of pollution. Researchers calculated that the highest costs were in the Inland area -- an average $1,500 to $1,600 per person.  Interestingly, this $28 billion is the exact amount of the budget shortfall projected by the Legislative Analyst's office over the next two years. 

The 28 incoming Assemblymembers, a third of the total Assembly, will inherit the budget woes and decisions of their predecessors. But bills sent to the Governor after November 15th could face a legal challenge, which would limit the state's ability to deal with the financial crisis. 

The Candidates on the Economic Issues

The Economists' Policy Group for Women's Issues is tired of hearing about the Joe's (Joe Six Pack, Joe the Plumber) and wants to hear more about, "What about Josephine the Working Mother, Wanda the Waitress, and Sarah the School Teacher? These working women care about health care, pay equity, retirement security, paid time off, and child care and want to know how the candidates stand on these issues.” EPGWI recognize that the state of the economy is a crisis that will disproportionately affect women, as it is women and children who live in poverty in larger numbers. They know that, "The financial crisis and the threat of severe recession make it particularly important that the next president be cognizant of the problems that women face, and be determined to address those problems."

So a team of thirty economists analyzed the candidates records, and statements and took the candidates to school, issuing each a report card and grades on each of ten issues affecting women. We told you yesterday about their overall grades, but today let's break it down to each issue.

Candidates Graded on Women and the Economy

The Economists' Policy Group for Women's Issues has released their grading of the Presidential candidates. The non-partisan organization was formed in 1992 to evaluate the positions of presidential candidates on economic issues affecting women. The two candidates were graded in ten categories, and the final grade was Obama: B, McCain: D.

From the report: "The financial crisis and the threat of severe recession make it particularly important that the next president be cognizant of the problems that women face, and be determined to address those problems. Women of all ages and children will be among those hardest hit by the recession because they already comprise a majority of Americans living in poverty. And women perform a majority of low-wage and unpaid carework in precarious economic circumstances. It is important that the policies taken to deal with economic distress account for the situation and interests of American women and their families." Read the full report.

The economy is taking a harder toll on California too. Governor Schwarzenegger will be calling a special session of the Legislature in November to tackle the state's growing financial crisis.

The budget is already at least $3 billion in the red, and is expected to fall further behind as the economic crisis worsens. Although the special session will not be called until after the election, it would be filled by current Assemblymembers and state Senators, not the newly elected officials. Legislators are expected to take up emergency budget cuts and tax increases, which may be easier to pass once the election is over.

We'll keep you informed on how much harder California's social safety net programs will be hit when the special session convenes, and let you know what you can do to help protect low-income women and children during the financial crunch.

Judge This ACORN by Its Fruits

Today is the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, so it seems fitting to talk about an organization that is working on poverty issues here in the U.S. That organization is ACORN.

ACORN, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, has been in the news a lot, lately. ACORN has been accused of being a radical organization, of perpetrating voter fraud, of precipitating the housing crisis that led to Wall Street's financial collapse, of so many things that they've actually had to set up a website specifically devoted to fighting the smear campaign. Here's a great video clip that gives the real ACORN story.

I guess it is pretty radical in this country to give the working poor a chance to own a home without having to submit to the kinds of predatory lending practices that caused the financial crisis. It's radical to help working class families build over $6 billion of wealth through homeownership in a ten year period. It's radical to work to eliminate racism from the loan approval process.

Maybe some people still think it's extreme to try to ensure that every person gets a chance to vote. Maybe helping 1.3 million citizens- many of them African Americans, Latinos, low-income citizens, and youth- apply to become registered voters in 2007 and 2008 really is more dangerous to our country and our rights than working to disenfranchise people by removing them from the voting rolls if their house was foreclosed, or trying to disqualify voters who put "Ave." instead of "Street" on their registration forms.

I guess I must be an unreformed socialist for thinking that it's a positive thing for the federal government to help get lead paint out of children's homes, and offer counseling to families faced by foreclosure, and make sure that families eligible for food stamps know how to apply for them.

Who was it that said, "Ye shall know them by their fruits?" I believe he was another community organizer dedicated to working with the poor and the disenfranchised. Judging ACORN by its fruits, by the millions of individuals and families that they have helped, California NOW is proud to proud to be associated with them, and to continue working with ACORN on social justice and poverty issues in California.

Economic Crisis: The State of the State

We've been holding off on more writing about the economy, because it seems every day brings a new revelation of the severity of the problem and a new deal to attempt to straighten things out, and even the folks who follow economics professionally are getting a bit lost.

We can't always keep you completely up-to-date on the latest turn the economy is taking, or details of the plan to fix it. What we can do is give you a bit of a handle on where things stand, and especially how it's affecting women, children, those already in poverty, and the state of California as a whole. We'll also help by giving you actions you can take to try to make the situation a little bit better for everyone.

This week the state started selling bonds through the state Treasurer's Office in an attempt to raise $4 billion to keep the state afloat until tax receipts come in next Spring. Governor Schwarzenegger himself has bought $100,000 in the bonds, which generally pay a 3-5% interest rate and will pay off by next June. Individuals can buy the bonds, which are considered a safe investment even in these financially rocky times, but must buy at least $5,000 worth. Buying has now been opened up to investment firms, as well as individuals.

Unfortunately, the state still needs a $7 billion short-term loan to keep going, and that loan would also need to be repaid in June. With rising unemployment (California is already at 7.7% unemployment), slowing sales, and the large hit from the housing industry collapse, the likelihood is that the 2008-2009 state budget is already $5 billion in deficit.

Services for the poor and elderly were the hardest hit in the recent budget, with the sharpest cuts, and now suggestions are coming that more cuts are needed. Cuts included cuts $21 million to counties for Medi-Cal, reducing MediCal payments to doctors and hospitals by 10%, cutting $6 million for adult protective services, and cutting $400,000 for Alzheimer’s resource centers.

The November ballot could increase the problem, with four bond propositions that would cost the state nearly $30 billion by the time they were repaid with interest. Local measures, like San Francisco's Prop. B which would set aside money for affordable housing, could also have a serious impact. Lean budgets mean dollars mandated to one program will be stolen from others, and it is usually social services which bear the brunt of the resulting cuts.

Schwarzenegger and the state legislature will soon take up the issue of how to rebalance the state budget. Contact your state legislators and let them know that social services can't take further cuts. Urge them, especially conservative legislators, to raise revenues by increasing taxes on the wealthy during this time of economic need for so many.
Look up your state legislators.

Say You Have $700 Billion Dollars....

I watched as much of the debate last night as I could stand. By half way through I found myself screaming "aren't there any other issues than the economy?!"

I know, I know. It's a crisis. It's a big crisis and I don't mean to underplay that. It's just, there are other issues that are important to people. Remember all those social issues Obama talked about a lot before? I asked this after the VP debate, too, but where is any discussion of race or gender in this bid for the White House? Do you ever hear Obama talk about poor people any more? Plus, there is more to the bailout than just Wall Street and Main Street. Like the fact that more people will be sleeping on the street.

And what about what could have been done with that giant chunk of change? Well, the fabulous Allison Stevens at Women's eNews breaks it down in an exploration of what that $700 billion dollar bailout could have done to change the world.