March 1, 2004

Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action - www.jewishalliance.org.
18 Tremont Street, Suite 320, Boston, 02108 - tel: 617-227-3000 fax: 617-227-3453

8 Adar 5764 Purim is Coming March 1, 2004

Week of March 1, 2004

Dear Friends:

Tuesday is a voting day in Massachusetts. Presidential Primaries will be held and vacancy elections. If you live in the NORFOLK, BRISTOL AND MIDDLESEX district (Franklin, precincts 2 to 4, inclusive, Millis, Needham, Norfolk, Plainville, Wellesley, precincts B, F and G, and Wrentham, in the county of Norfolk; Attleboro, wards 1 and 2, ward 3, precinct A, and North Attleborough, in the county of Bristol; and Natick, precincts 6, 7, 9 and 10, Sherborn and Wayland, in the county of Middlesex), you have a vacancy election for state senator. It is important to exercise your vote.
Sheila Decter

1. THIS WEEK at the JEWISH ALLIANCE

JALSA Executive Committee Meeting
Tuesday, March 2, 12:30 pm
JALSA Office, 18 Tremont Street, Suite 320

Committee on Law and Social Action
Friday, March 5, 12:30 pm
JALSA Office, 18 Tremont Street, Suite 320
We return to our Friday meeting times for the month of March.
Preparation of a complaint in the charter school case;
continuing work on issues under US Patriot Act, efforts to oppose DOMA.
Meetings open to all who are interested in public policy.

2. UPCOMING JEWISH ALLIANCE AND COALITION EVENTS

Other March Meetings of the Committee on Law and Social Action
Friday, March 12, 19, 26, 12:30 pm
JALSA Office, 18 Tremont Street, Suite 320

Alliance for High Standards NOT High Stakes
Monday, March 15, 10:30 am.
JALSA Office, 18 Tremont Street, Boston, Suite 320

JALSA Executive Committee Meeting
Tuesday, March 16, 12:30 pm
JALSA Office, 18 Tremont Street, Suite 320

JALSA Young Social Activists
Sunday Night Forum
Sunday, March 28, 5 - 7:00 pm
Temple Ohabei Shalom, 1187 Beacon Street, Brookline
Environmental Justice for All Communities: Confronting Power and Demanding Change
Co-Sponsored by COEJL (Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life), Boston
Affiliate (a program of the JCRC of Greater Boston)
Presenters:
Klare Allen, Co-Director, Roxbury Environmental Empowerment Project and
Community Organizer, Alternatives for Community & Environment (ACE)
Eugene Benson, Staff Attorney, Alternatives for Community & Environment (ACE)
Based in Roxbury, Alternatives for Community & Environment (ACE) has been
working in partnership with low-income communities and communities of color to
achieve environmental justice since 1994. ACE provides legal and technical
support, educational programs, and organizing assistance to community groups
throughout New England to solve environmental problems and develop local
environmental leadership. Come hear about two recent ACE campaigns – opposing
Boston University Medical Center’s proposed Bio-terrorism Lab, which would be
built in the South End/Roxbury area, and the “Beat the Fare” initiative, which
united community organizations, environmental groups, and MBTA riders in
opposition to increases in public transit fares.
For more information on our presenters, see: http://jewishalliance.org/info/0000006c.htm.

Light Supper served ($5 voluntary contributions appreciated); potluck appetizers
and desserts. RSVP to Cindy@jalsa.org

Citizens for Public Schools
March 30 12 noon Location: tba
Guest: Harry Spence, Commission of Department of Social Services
Talking about At Risk Children and Inter-agency Responsibility.

JALSA Board Meeting
Wednesday, March 31, 7:30 pm
Home of Barbara Cullen, Newton
Address and directions to be mailed.
Open to all JALSA members; Call office if interested in attending.

Washington Women's March for Reproductive Freedom - April 25

JALSA is a co-sponsor of the March.
Hundreds of thousands of people from around the country are expected to participate
to protect reproductive freedom and women’s health. JALSA hopes we will be represented
by a broad contingent of men and women.
Download our flyer (Adobe Acrobat pdf file) and circulate to your organizations and friends.
Attach: marchposter2.pdf
Write our local chairperson - Ellen Fisher with any questions or to offer help
to organize a group from your congregation or organization. epfisher1@comcast.net.
Transportation information on the flyer and also at: http://jewishalliance.org/info/0000006d.htm.

The March will begin from the Lincoln Memorial at noon. Prior to the March,
the Union of Reform Jews will sponsor a special breakfast starting at 9:30 a.m.
Location: Holiday Inn on the Hill, a program which will begin at 10 am. and featuring
Boston's Peri Smilow at the guitar. The group will go as a whole to the March.
The Religious Coalition on Reproductive Rights will hold a service at 10:00 am.
Location: Capitol Reflecting Pool Area, between Pennsylvania Avenue NW and Maryland Avenue NW and 1 st and 3 rd Streets NW
After marching on Washington, a rally will be held from 1-4 p.m. on the National Mall.
Special seating will be available for people with disabilities.
The rally program will be signed for the hearing impaired. The route is wheelchair accessible
and transportation will be provided for those who cannot negotiate the route.
Further national information: www.marchforwomen.org/.

3. LEGISLATIVE AND ACTION ALERTS

a). Continue our work opposing a state or federal DOMA
Continue opposing both state and federal DOMA proposals.
Defense of Marriage Amendments would insert discriminatory language into
state and federal constitutions.
JALSA is opposed to such language in our basic political documents.
We believe that the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court got in right in ruling
that the Massachusetts Constitution does not allow second-class citizenship.
All Massachusetts citizens are entitled to the benefits of citizenship. While religious
bodies may determine the criteria for marriage within the faith, the state cannot
deny civil/secular marriage and all the benefits that flow from that status to same
sex couples. JALSA is opposed to efforts at so-called "compromise language"
for the Massachusetts Constitution. Such "compromise language would add
discriminatory language to the Massachusetts Constitution and would represent
an effort to overturn the ruling of the SJC.

Helpful reading to understand the difference between the rights enjoyed under "civil unions" and the rights enjoyed under "marriage" can be found at www.MassEquality.org website.

The next session of the Constitutional Convention (joint session of the two houses of the
legislature meeting) is scheduled for Thursday, March 11.

What do we Need You to Do?

Write your legislator. Go to www.MassEquality.org. . Type in your name and street address.
The website will show you the name of your state representative and state senator and tell you how the legislator voted at the earlier Constitutional Convention.

For Key talking points: see: http://jewishalliance.org/info/0000006e.htm.
For Background information: see http://www.massequality.org/about_issue.php.
http://www.mglpc.org/today.php

Call your friends and relatives across the state. Help them to review the position
of their reps on www.MassEquality.org. Urge them to call their legislators.

Attend the following events to help convey the importance of this issue.
An Assembly, March 2; meet with members of Temple Israel, Boston to continue discussing the
obligation to act to defend the civil rights and equal legal protection of gay and lesbian
families. An Assembly from 7-9 will commit to a series of actions.
Interfaith candlelight Vigil March 10
State House (meet outside at the Park Street T station
on the Boston Common at 5:45 p.m.).

MASS EQUALITY is a coalition increasing in membership each day:
JALSA sits on the Steering Committee of Mass Equality.

b) State Budget Hearings Continuing

Wednesday, March 3rd @ 10:00 AM at Somerset Middle School
Senate Chair: Senator Marc R. Pacheco/ House Chair: Representative Patricia Haddad
- Executive Office of Health and Human Services III
- The Office for Disabilities and Community Services
1. The Department of Mental Retardation
2. Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission
3. Massachusetts Commission for the Blind
4. Massachusetts Commission for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
5. Chelsea Soldiers' Home
6. Holyoke Soldiers' Home

Thursday, March 4th @ 10:00 AM at Springfield Community College
Senate Chair: Senator Michael R. Knapik/ House Chair: Representative Benjamin Swan
- Executive Office of Health and Human Services IV
- The Department of Elder Services
1. The Department of Elder Affairs
(Long Term Care/Medicaid)
- The Department of Veterans' Services

c) Senate 2055, Sweatshop Disclosure Bill.
JALSA has worked very closely with members of the State Legislature on a bill that would
provide information on the conditions under which goods are made or services provided.
Write members of the Ways and Means Committee to report favorably on the bill and to release it. For information about high school and college student activities on this bill, write Shirley Partoll at partoll@verizon.net.
For further information, call Jonathan Fine at the JALSA office: 617-227-3000. See: http://jewishalliance.org/info/0000006f.htm.

d) MCAS Appeals process
Question currently under review
Emergency Regulations on the Performance Appeals Process
Under the provisions of a new law, SPED students may now file a performance
appeal under new provisions:
1) even if they have not scored 216 on both the ELA and Math MCAS
2) parents of SPED students may request that an appeal be filed (under the old system
only the superintendent could initiate an appeal)
3) SPED students do not have to have a cohort with which to be compared in order
to apply for an appeal (low incidence students and students from small school systems
sometimes do not have like students with whom to be compared and therfore were not
eligible to file an appeal)
The DOE in its Notice of Public Comment asks if these changes should apply to all students
or just students with disabilities.
JALSA and its education coalitions are very much in favor of these changes applying to ALL STUDENTS.

DEADLINE FOR COMMENTS TO DOE IS MARCH 12
*The proposed emergency regulations can be found on the DOE website. They are to be voted on at the Board of Education meeting on March 30.

e) Federal legislation:
Urge Members of Congress to Oppose the Houses of Worship
Free Speech Restoration Act (H.R. 235), introduced
by Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC), which would amend the tax code to permit houses of worship
to engage directly in political campaigns while maintaining their privileged status
as tax-exempt organizations. The bill would allow houses of worship to endorse or
oppose candidates for public office and even solicit contributions for federal candidates
during religious services or gatherings—potentially transforming sanctuaries into
political campaign centers and blurring the line between church and state.

Oppose H.R. 1997, a dangerous bill that attempts to endow a fetus, embryo, or zygote with personhood and the full rights of a person. This bill, commonly known as the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, is also known as "Laci and Conner’s Law" in an attempt to exploit the memory of Laci Peterson, a pregnant woman who was tragically murdered in 2002. The bill seeks to establish criminal liabilities and punishments for those who harm a fetus while committing a federal crime, whether or not they intended that harm or knew the woman was pregnant. Under the bills, maximum punishment for harm to the fetus would be the same as for the assault or murder of the mother. Instead of protecting women, this bill would set a dangerous legal precedent by establishing in law that an "unborn child" is an individual separate from a woman. Explain your personal and religious convictions that a fetus should not have the same legal status as a woman.

4. OUR WISH LIST

Office needs: Secretarial Chairs, PC Notebook
Contact decter@jalsa.org. or call 617-227-3000.

Volunteers:
Legal briefs are in preparation and JALSA-encouraged legislation is pending.
Please let us know if you would like to work on one of these.
Contact Sheila Decter in the office: decter@jalsa.org.

5. COMMUNITY EVENTS OF NOTE

Ellen Bravo, National Director of 9 to 5 National Association of Working Women
"Fighting for Economic Justice in the Global Economy: How Will Women Face the Challenge?"
Tuesday, March 2, 6-8:30 pm
Boott Mills, Lowell National Historical Park, 400 Foot of John Street, Lowell
UMass Lowell Labor Extension Program and our many union and labor council co-sponsors
Light refreshments, presentation and discussion. . For more information call 978/934-3256.

Free Immigration Clinic
March 3, April 7 & 21, 12 noon-3 pm
Mayor’s Office of New Bostonians
City Hall, Room 803
For more info call 617-635-2980

National Healthcare Day of Action - Jobs with Justice
March 4
Join hundreds of thousands of people across America to bring attention to the Healthcare Crisis!!
Visit www.massjwj.net. or email skogstrom@massjwj.net. for a sign up form
and great ideas on what your workplace or organization can do to participate!

Health Care For All
Health Action Conference 2004
On the Road to Health Reform:
Friday March 5, 9:00am - 4:00pm
Early Bird Session at 8:00am
Hoagland-Pincus Conference Center, 222 Maple Avenue, Shrewsbury, MA
Join Health Care For All members, health activists and community leaders to prepare for the state budget!
Participate in workshops on local and statewide issues and skills for organizing.
Featured Speakers:
Judith Kurland, Former Regional Director, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services
Hubie Jones, Professor, Boston University School of Social Work
See: www.hcfama.org.

Friday, March 5th, 2004
Celebrate the Year of the Monkey with the Chinese Progressive Association
at Hong Kong Cuisine (88 Beach St. in Chinatown) from 6:00-9:00pm.
For more information and tickets call (617) 357-4499 or email justice@cpaboston.org.

Congressional Black Caucus Town Hall Meeting
March 6, 9:00 a.m
Harvard University, Austin Hall, Ames Courtroom
"Having our Say in the 2004 Presidential Election"
The purpose of the town hall is to set the stage in advance of the Democratic Convention
for an African-American agenda.
Sponsored by: Harvard Professor Charles Ogletree and the Harvard Black Law Students Association
C-Span will cover and air the event.

A 2004 Public Policy - School Education Funding Forum
A CHAPTER 70 ROUNDTABLE -
A Decade of Education Reform:
The Push for Greater Adequacy, Equity, & Accountability
Monday, March 15, 7:00 to 9:30 pm
The Forum, D. Justin McCarthy College Center, Framingham State College
Panelists:
Representative Marie St. Fleur, Co-Chair Education Committee
Glenn Koocher, Massachusetts Association of School Committees
David Tobin, Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents
Mary Frantz, The League of Women Voters of Massachusetts
David Danning, Massachusetts Teachers Association
Jerry Wasserman, Suburban Coalition
John Ladner, Residents Advocating Governmental Equity
Co - Sponsors:
Rep. Karen E. Spilka, Framingham State College, Ashland School Committee,
Framingham School Committee, Joseph P. Keefe Technical School Committee,
Alliance for Educational Equity, MASC, LWV, Suburban Coalition,
Residents Advocating Governmental Equity, Equity in Chapter 70 Committee
PLEASE RSVP: Rep. Karen Spilka (508) 872-6677 or
Jessica.Kemp@hou.state.ma.us.

"Save the Safety Net: Jewish Community Advocacy Day 2004"
JCRC Advocacy Day.
March 22, 9:00 am to 11:30 am
State House.

LifeSavor - April 1
Community Serving's annual fundraiser
Community Servings is the organization initiated by JALSA members,
the local organization that provides hot meals to all persons with AIDS and
their care-givers.

8th Annual Immigrants' Day at the StateHouse
Wednesday, April 7, 9:30-11:00am
Gardner Auditorium
Meet with your representatives and senators from 12:00-3:00pm
Advocate for immigrant access to: Health Care Education Worker’s Rights
Educate your representatives and senators about issues affecting the immigrant community,
and build a strong voice for immigrants.

Health Care For All For the People, Against the Tide
Friday, April 23, at The Westin Copley Place
Senator Edward Kennedy will be honored for his years of work towards
improving health care in our nation.

Important Reading

The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center announces the release of
“Cuts That Hurt: An Examination of Some of the Painful Cuts in the FY2004 State Budget”
This report reviews the impact of cuts to some of the most essential services
our government provides, including education and healthcare. The cuts described
in this report are part of the price that is being paid for the approximately $3 billion
in tax cuts that occurred between 1990 and 2003. In 2000, when a $1 billion income tax rate cut
was approved by the voters, supporters of the cut stated that a vote for the tax cut
would “provide a tax cut for working families without cutting a single program.”
As the FY2004 budget makes clear, when tax cuts reduce revenue by billions of dollars,
spending must eventually be reduced unless the tax cuts are repealed.
The report is available on the MBPC website: http://www.massbudget.org/article.php?id=194..

6. SUPPORT THE JEWISH ALLIANCE

The Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action----
dedicated to continuing a strong, progressive, inter-generational voice
inspired by Jewish teachings and values for social justice, civil rights, and civil liberties.

Membership is open to all who wish to work for progressive goals in the development of public policy. Join us!

Please keep us in mind so that we can continue to make a difference.

Visit www.jewishalliance.org and fill out the online donation form today!

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