October 27, 2002

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

fax: 617-227-3453 or fax: 617-812-2429

Week of October 27, 2002 - Cheshvan 21, 5763

Preface - A Note from Alliance Director Sheila Decter
1. This Week’s Jewish Alliance Events
2. Upcoming Jewish Alliance Events
3. Legislative and Action Alerts
4. Other Events of Interest
5. Our “Wish List” and Volunteer Opportunities
6. Support the Jewish Alliance!

In Memorium
Senator Paul Wellstone (D-Minn.)

We have lost a "mensch" that cared and fought for social justice.

May his life be an inspiration to us and his death a reminder of the shortness of time for all of us to make a difference in perfecting the world.

Preface - A Note from Alliance Director Sheila Decter

Dear Friends and Colleagues :

We thank all of you that worked to help Boston's janitors. All of us hope that the settlement leads to better working arrangements and access to health care for full and part-time workers.

This week we ask that you concentrate on getting out the vote for next week's state elections and working to educate family, friends, and neighbors to oppose Question #2 on the ballot. This anti-bilingual initiative would replace the comprehensive bilingual reform measure passed by the legislature in July with both Democratic and Republican support with a program advanced by a businessman from California who is on a personal mission to end bilingual education. Unz has bankrolled similar measures in California, Colorado, and Arizona. Many of us believe that this is not an intellectual debate about the best way to teach English, but a mean-spirited initiative, reflecting both anti-immigrant sentiments and the Far Right "English Only" movement. Please become well informed about this initiative and notify your friends and email contacts to oppose this question.

Sheila Decter

Note: The longer gestation period for this email issue was due to a new software program for the email. Do let us know if it arrived “intact” or if the lines were broken up. Thanks.

1. THIS WEEK'S JEWISH ALLIANCE AND COALITION EVENTS

Weekly Working Meeting on Law and Social Action
Friday, November 1, 12:30pm
18 Tremont Street, Suite 320, Boston
Working Meetings are open to all who are concerned about public policy. In recent weeks, we've signed on to two amicus briefs, one supporting the equal marriage appeal in Massachusetts and the second challenging the right of the government to suspend constitutional guarantees for an American citizen accused of terrorist activities.

This week we will discuss our amicus brief in the Boyette Case, opposing a constitutional challenge from supporters of vouchers that they should be allowed to put the issue before voters as an initiative, notwithstanding the specific constitutional language that prohibits such an initiative.

Continuing issues on the agenda:

· Bilingual Education - E-mail opposition campaign

· ballistics database and taggant markers for explosives

· Massachusetts legislation to require sweatshop disclosure

· Judicial Nominations - opposition to candidates with records against civil rights laws.

· Maintenance of an independent judiciary in Massachusetts

Volunteers currently needed:

· persons interested in organizing a broad coalition committed to an independent judiciary in Massachusetts

· attorney willing to do a legal memo for a disabled descendent of Holocaust survivors for a German government agency

Civil Rights Summit
Greater Boston Civil Rights Coalition
Wednesday, October 30, 8:45-12:30 pm
Suffolk Law School, First Floor Function Room

Leaders of Greater Boston's key civil rights organizations will meet for a working summit on coalition advocacy to protect our shared democratic values in challenging times

Presentations by:

Sue Hyde, Mass Equality.Org

Jenni Lopez, Committee for Fairness to Children and Teachers

Lewis Finfer, Greater Boston Interfaith Organization

Tito Fuster, Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative

Call the JALSA office immediately if you would like to attend

2. UPCOMING JEWISH ALLIANCE AND COALITION EVENTS

JALSA Executive Committee
Week of November 4-8. Time/date tba
18 Tremont Street, Boston Room 320

Citizens for Public Schools
Thursday, November 7, 12:00 pm
18 Tremont Street, Boston Room 320
Agenda: Focus on Charter Schools

Rep. Tom O'Brien, Key supporter of the proposed legislative moratorium on charter schools. Also invited, but not confirmed: the associate commissioner of the DOE in charge of charter schools.

Weekly Working Meetings on Law and Social Action
Fridays, November 8, 15, 22 12:30 pm
18 Tremont Street, Suite 320, Boston
Priority agendas listed in the weekly notice

JALSA’s First “Brown Bag Conversation”

A Conversation with Felix Arroyo: A Vision for the City of Boston

Tuesday, November 12, 12:00 noon

Hill and Barlow, 125 International Place, 20th Floor, Boston

Join JALSA for a monthly lunch meeting at which we’ll have an interesting speaker and discussion of cutting edge public policy topics. You bring the lunch, and we’ll provide the scintillating conversation.

RSVP’s a Must! Building Security Requires you to be listed on the

attendance list. RSVP by Friday, November 8th if you think you may

be attending: cindy@roweresources.com or 617-227-3000 x10

Felix Arroyo will very shortly become Boston’s first Latino City Councilor. For over 25 years, he has served in many government and non-profit organizations, working to promote world-class public education for every child regardless of social class, language, disability, race, gender, sexual-orientation, or place of residency. He has served as President of the Boston School Committee, and also as Chairman of its Arts Policy Committee. Arroyo currently is Director of Advocacy at HOPE (the Hispanic Office of Planning and Evaluation) and is a member of the boards of several organizations promoting peace on a local and global level.

Alliance for High Standards not High Stakes

Wednesday, November 13, 11-1:00 pm

18 Tremont Street, Boston, Room 320

Agenda: Strategy for dealing with the state board's proposed certificates (of achievement? of attendance? ). First coalition meeting following state election and state conference of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees and Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents and their consideration of resolutions dealing with local school committee's issuing of diplomas.

MCAS appeals process.

Boston Jewish Women's Studies Coalition

Thursday, November 21, 9:30 am

Hebrew College, Newton

Discussion on organizational programming for women and girls

Presenter: Sara Zacharia, Faculty Member, New Jewish High School

"Meeting the needs of Jewish teenage girls"

Joint meeting of Massachusetts Coalition for Equitable Education (MCEE) and

State Racial Imbalance Advisory Council
Thursday, November 21 12:00 pm

18 Tremont Street, Boston

Agenda: Goals and Objectives for Racial and Social Justice Issues in Schools

Closing arguments Lynn Case

Thursday, December 5 at 2:30 pm

Moakley Federal Courthouse, South Boston

Responding to a challenge of the school admission guidelines in Lynn and the Massachusetts Racial Imbalance Law. Case being heard by Judge Nancy Gertner. Richard Cole representing the Office of the Attorney General of Massachusetts defending the Racial Imbalance Law and the equity guidelines in the Lynn School admission procedures. Be present to show our JALSA support of the Massachusetts Racial Imbalance Law and voluntary efforts by school systems to implement racially fair admission practices.

JALSA Young Social Activists

First Sundays Event
Sunday, December 8 5 - 7 pm

Temple Ohabei Shalom, 1187 Beacon Street, Brookline

Guest speaker: Political Consultant Michael Goldman

"A Post-Election Analysis: What Happened and Why We Should Care "

The Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action is organizing a series of events for young social activists in their 20's, 30's, and 40's. On the first Sunday evening of every other month, we will be holding a meeting with a speaker addressing a cutting-edge public policy topic. We'll have good food, and time to socialize as well. Children are welcome (for children 18 months and older, we'll have a separate nearby room set up with children's activities and a babysitter during the presentation).

The Sunday December 8th program :

On Election Day, November 5^th, people in our state and across the country will get out and vote. How will the election results affect us directly here in Massachusetts? What will elected officials do in the areas of public education, civil rights, health care, job creation, housing, women’s rights and the environment? How will their actions affect you, your friends, and your family members? What can you do to make sure that your elected officials are enacting the types of policies you want to see adopted?

Our presenter, Michael Goldman, is the President of Goldman Associates, a communication consulting firm which specializes in providing public relations, government liaison, and campaign consulting services to both private sector and political clients. Over the past two decades, he has served as a political commentator and analyst on virtually every major radio and television station in America. Mr. Goldman has hosted numerous radio programs on WRKO in Boston, and is currently co-host of “Simply Put” on Bloomberg Radio in New York. He’s received three Best of Boston Awards for Excellence from Boston Magazine, and was included on its list of “100 Most Powerful People” in Massachusetts.

Please RSVP by Monday, December 2 to Cindy at jalsa@RoweResources.com or 617-742-1836. If you are bringing children, please let us know how many and their ages so we can plan appropriately. Call for an invitation with more specific details.

JALSA - First Annual Membership Meeting
Save the Date! Sunday, January 26 brunch
Holiday Inn, Brookline

Honorary Chair: Lawrence Locke

Special Honorees: Edward Barshak, Gerald Berlin, Sumner Z. Kaplan

3. LEGISLATIVE and ACTION ALERTS

State Election Day: Tuesday, November 5

Vital to get the vote out

Participate in the campaign of the candidate of your choice

Help groups working to get out the vote

Ballot Issues

Question #1: Question would abolish the income tax in Massachusetts

JALSA urges a NO vote

See: http://www.jewishalliance.org/info/00000022.htm

http://www.massbudget.org/q1flyer.pdf

(Please copy these site directions to your browsers.)

Question #2: Question would end bilingual and transitional education programs,

segregate immigrant children in total immersion classes in all cities and towns

for all age groups.

JALSA urges a NO vote

See: http://www.jewishalliance.org/info/00000022.htm

http://www.dontsueteachers.org official website opposing Question #2

http://jewishalliance.org/issues/unz_10.htm

Question #3. - Question would allow the Clean Election Law to be retained

JALSA urges a YES vote

See: http://www.jewishalliance.org/info/00000022.htm

http: www.SaveCleanElections.org official website supporting

Clean Elections on the November ballot.

Take Action this week on our Priority Issues

Public Education

Opposition to Question #2 which would impose only English only immersion

on all immigrant children

· Help educate the public about the anti-immigrant bill on the November ballot

· Send a message opposing Question #2 to everyone in your computer address book.

· Leave your home 15 minutes early and circulate flyers at your MBTA stop

· Talk to people at work

· It is "not enough" to talk to people who understand and agree with you.

· Attend Boston City Council Hearing - Committee on Education
Docket 1222 -
Opposing 2002 Ballot Question #2:
"The UNZ Initiative: English Language Education in Public Schools"
Tuesday, October 29-- - 5th floor 2--3:45 pm
Iannella Chamber--City Hall, Government Center

MCAS High Stakes

· Write the Board of Education opposing the proposed state-endorsed certificates for those who have not passed the MCAS, but have completed local graduation requirements and some additional state requirements. Comment period ends Friday, November 8.

The Alliance for High Standards not High Stakes tells JALSA that this certificate is not a high school diploma. This DOE proposed certificate is different from the decision voted on by several school committees to grant high school diplomas to students who do not pass MCAS, but meet the requirements of the local school board. The Alliance believes that the proposed state certificates creates a two-tiered system, where certificate holders will likely be relegated to the low level job market, are ineligible to enter state four year colleges and universities, or all military branches, or to receive federal financial aid.

The proposed certificate is to be voted on at the Board of Education's meeting on Tuesday, November 26. The only time oral comments will be heard is on the day of the final vote by the Board. The Alliance asks you to write the Board, opposing these certificates.

see: http://jewishalliance.org/info/00000025.htm

· MCAS suit needs more persons and funding for expert witnesses.

A suit has been filed in federal court in Springfield by students and parents. Over the last three years, many parents and students have contacted advocates encouraging such a lawsuit. There is the opportunity for additional plaintiffs to be added to this suit. If you have children in the class of 2003 with special needs or otherwise students who have yet to pass either the math or language arts exam and are interested in joining the suit, contact Atty. Maura Kelly at the Center for Law and Education in Boston. E-mail: mkelly@clewewb.org. Phone: 617-451-0855. The confidentiality of the students is protected. Contact the JALSA office if you would like the complaint e-mailed to you. office@jalsa.org

Constitutional Liberties

· Write senators on the Judiciary Committee against the nomination of judges who would not uphold constitutional guarantees on separation of church-state or reproductive rights.

see: http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oid=103

http://www.independentjudiciary.com.

http://jewishalliance.org/info/0000001c.htm on Michael McConnell

· Testify at the hearings on the impact of the US Patriot Act on Boston area residents to be held by the Boston City Council
Monday, November 7 - Time: tba
Dudley Square Library
Docket #0933 - Hearing on a resolution in defense of the United States Bill of Rights and the

United States Constitution
Boston City Councilor Chuck Turner will be holding hearings regarding civil liberties

concerns since 9/11 and the passage of the US Patriot Act. Boston City Council

Boston City Council contact information: http://jewishalliance.org/info/0000001e.htm

· Attend a public hearing called by the NAACP regarding the newly created Boston City Council seats in Districts 4 @ 5. Residents and stakeholders are encouraged to participate and give testimony, for or against, the new redistricting plan and its impact on the Mattapan community.

Tuesday, October 29 6:30 - 8:30 pm

The Church of Christ, 1505 Blue Hill Ave.,Mattapan, MA 02126

For further information or questions contact: Roscoe Morris or

Leonard Alkins at (617) 427-9494.

also see: http://www.cityofboston.gov/citycouncil/redistricting.asp

Social and Economic Justice

Thank you to everyone who extended time, energy, and financial support to work for justice for the striking janitors.

· Extension of Federal Unemployment benefits

Write your congressional representatives:

The Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act of 2002 - would extend unemployment benefits for an additional 13 weeks, and the possibility of an additional 7 weeks in specific circumstances.

Click here: http://jewishalliance.org/info/00000019.htm

To find the phone number of your US representative, call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121. The White House can be reached at (202) 456-1414.

The Religious Action Center of the Reform Movement provides an online legislative directory at: http://capwiz.com/rac/dbq/officials/directory/directory.dbq?command=congdir. You can look up representatives at that address by name or committee. In addition, the RAC's provides an online Chai IMPACT Legislative Action Center to send a direct e-mail message to congressional representatives: see: http://capwiz.com/rac/home/

· Health care cuts

Write your state and congressional representatives about the very serious health care cuts taking place in Massachusetts.

Massachusetts Health Care Programs are in serious jeopardy due to budget cuts and proposed additional cuts. The FY03 budget has eliminated MassHealth Basic, the state Medicaid program that provides health coverage for long-term unemployed adults. This cut is scheduled for April 1, 2003 and would result in 50,000 people losing their health coverage. See the MassHealth Defense website for up-to-date information about what you can do to protect health care access for all Massachusetts citizens. See: http://www.hcfama.org/hcfa_contents.php3?fldID=148

Federal support of State Health Care Concerns

Write your congressional representatives asking for temporary additional funds so that 40,000 persons will not lose health care in April when their Massachusetts funding will be eliminated.

See: http://jewishalliance.org/info/00000018.htm

Gun control

· Write your congressional representatives to work for a federal database of ballistic information and taggant markers on explosives; write your Massachusetts legislators to support Massachusetts legislation; see a documentary on Columbine.

see: http://jewishalliance.org/info/00000026.htm

Cuts in Human Services in Massachusetts Budget -

· The Massachusetts Human Services Coalition has asked that we write the Governor urging no further cuts in human services. Major cuts have already been made in programs that support seniors, at-risk children, low-income families, persons with disabilities, frail elders, recent immigrants. more at http://jewishalliance.org/info/0000001d.htm

4. EVENTS OF NOTE:

First Annual Faith and Freedom Awards Banquet

Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice of MA

Dr. Mary E. Hunt, co-founder and co-director of the

Women’s Alliance for Theology, Ethics and Ritual (WATER) in Silver Spring, Maryland.

November 16 6:30 pm

Holiday Inn Newton

Mary E. Hunt, Ph.D., is a feminist theologian. A Roman Catholic active in the

women-church movement, she lectures and writes on

theology and ethics with particular attention to liberation issues.

See: www.rcrcofma.org

Memorial ceremony for Maida Abrams, former Executive Director, Very Special Arts

November 16 3:00 pm

John F. Kennedy Museum, Columbia Point

The family of Maida Abrams and Maida’s colleagues at VSA Arts of Massachusetts have organized a celebration of Maida’s life and work. All are invited to attend. Guests are welcome to share any stories or photographs that can be included in a book of memories. These may be sent to Charles J. Washburn, Executive Director, VSA Arts of Massachusetts, China Trade Center, 2 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116. You may like to read the tribute to Maida that appears in the current edition of Access Expressed. You can link to that at www.vsamass.org/cultural/newsletter-online.htm#tribute.

RSVP to617-350-7713 or memorial@vsamass.org.

Request for additional organizations concerned about genetic testing

(information courtesy of the Jewish Women's Coalition on Breast Cancer)

·    Genetic testing for breast cancer continues to be a concern for many women.

In recent years Ahkenazi Jewish women with a family history of breast cancer

have been encouraged to be tested for breast cancer genes. Myriad Genetics,

the biotech company that has exclusive rights to do genetic testing for

BRCA1 and BRCA2, is starting a marketing campaign directed to the public

that encourages all women to be genetically tested for breast cancer.

The Jewish Women's Coalition on Breast Cancer

indicates that there are ethical, social and legal implications that consumers

should be aware before undergoing testing.

For further information or to secure a speaker for a community event,

contact Jane Matlaw, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; chair, Jewish

Women's Coalition on Breast Cancer. 617 667-7320.

Horace Seldon Birthday Party

Saturday, November 2, 3-5: p.m.

Sproat Hall St. Paul's Cathedral, Tremont St., Boston

               A celebration in honor of our good friend and JALSA supporter

               Horace Seldon's 79th Birthday.

               Each year, Horace celebrates his birthday by giving a party and

               honoring Little Giants, local organizations he feels that are doing

               exceptional work.

                              This year's Little Giants are:

                               Community Change

                               Fair Housing Center of Greater Boston

                               Boston Society of Vulcans

                               Political Research Associates

               Party-goers are encouraged to contribute to the Little Giants.

Pie in the Sky

Community Servings

Many of JALSA’s members were instrumental in the establishment of Community Servings,

Boston’s home-delivered hot-meals program for persons with AIDS.  Community Servings currently delivers

700 meals a day to individuals ill with AIDS that have nowhere else to turn for their daily nutrition.  (When AJCongress  started the program, we started serving 30 meals per week.)

Each year, Community Servings sells donated pies for Thanksgiving.  The pies, selling for $20 each, raise money for this important food program.  Pie in the Sky is your chance to treat your guests to a wonderful pie from one of Boston’s best known bakers while helping Community Servings prepare and deliver nutritious meals to individuals and families ill with AIDS in Boston. Thousands of pies are donated each year by hundreds of Boston’s favorite bakers, restaurants and caterers, such as Blue Ginger, Clio, Rialto, Gourmet Caterers, Maison Robert, and Rosie’s Bakery, just to name a few. Choose from Apple, Pecan, Pumpkin, and Sweet Potato pies.  For you big spenders (and those of you who want to truly impress the guests at your Thanksgiving table), there are also Celebrity Pies available for $100!  People like the David Bowie, Dame Edna, Neal Diamond, and Robert B. Parker have all lent their support (and recipes) to help make Pie in the Sky 2002 our biggest yet!

You can order your pies from Sheila Decter, who continues to represent our founding interest on the Community Servings board, or you can go to the website: www.pieinthesky.org.

Recommended Reading

Publications of Political Research Associates

“Do not allow fear-mongers to scare you away from political participation.

               www.publiceye.org/liberty/Security_for_Activists.htm

Series of articles in Political Research Associates on security, the US Patriot Act, Dissent,

Terrorism, Counter-terrorism.

  www.publiceye.org/liberty/repression/current.htm

The Pioneer Institute, Privatizing the Common Wealth

The Pioneer Institute for Public Policy Research has manipulated

Massachusetts politics to advance and profit from their libertarian

agenda,to the detriment of the taxpayers. This recent report, co-authored by

veteran journalist Paul Dunphy and researcher Mark Umi Perkins, examines how

the free-market ideas advocated by the Pioneer Institute have taken hold in

a traditionally Democratic stronghold. According to the report,

"Appointments to the Board of Education, the Department of Education and the

executive branch itself, allowed Pioneer staff to implement the policy

prescriptions they developed while at Pioneer." The report also reveals how

Pioneer affiliates positioned themselves to profit from the government's

implementation of their ideas. You can order the report by visiting PRA’s

online store. You can read the Executive Summary, Forward, Table of Contents at

www.publiceye.org/libertarian/

CURP Roundtable 10.14.02

“The janitors' strike in Boston is closely tied to the affordable housing problems the Greater Boston region is facing reports the Center for Urban and Regional Policy (CURP)  (Northeastern University.)  The Center has released its first Greater Boston Housing Report Card.

Although the janitors' strike is centered on demands that health insurance be provided for more workers, as CURP director Barry Bluestone pointed out, it is indisputably difficult for janitors to survive in this city not just because of health insurance issues, but also because of a lack of affordable housing. The major findings of the new report show that only 12 of the 161 cities and towns in the Greater Boston area have housing stocks that are more than 10 percent affordable. In the past four years, median home prices in the region have climbed from $198,500 to $298,350, and rents have gone up from $744 to $1,035 between 1995 and 2000. To read the complete Greater Boston Housing Report Card, please visit the CURP Web site at www.curp.neu.edu. Considering the findings of the report, what housing options are left for many of our region's workforce, such as janitors, firefighters, and teachers?

5. OUR WISH LIST:

Volunteers Needed: Help is needed in the office as we continue getting "moved in." Filing, answering the phone, ordering supplies, etc. Let us know if you can help any morning or afternoon on a regular basis. Contact: <