Stories from City Council Meeting
The protest before tonight’s meeting was focused on the issue of teachers’ retirement. To be honest, I was a bit underwhelmed as I was expecting to see people out front with signs for various issues. At least one of the signs gave me a laugh, as it has a really perverted (and totally wrong!) alternate meaning.
Inside City Hall, a group of children demonstrated how funding is dispersed to the various branches of the library. The Downtown branch was the trunk and had the most “money” tied to it. The neighborhood branches were a bit smaller, and the Blue Hills and Mark Twain branches had no “leaves” on them.
Unfortunately, I had to leave the meeting early, but there were something like 45 people signed up to speak. Many voiced their concern about the library closures, violence, retirement situation, and the immigration ordinance. One person called for a boycott of the Downtown Branch of the Hartford Public Library. A few others pointed out how ridiculous the curfew is, since the recent shootings all occurred during daylight hours. Another said that this curfew was unfair, as it punished many for the crimes of a few.
A couple mainstream media outlets were there, and they left about 90 minutes into the session. Before the session began, I spotted a man affiliated with WTNH-8 dancing mockingly while protesters were chanting and circling. How objective and professional!
I’m hoping that others who were able to stay for the full session can add their comments about what else ensued.
8 comments
I posted a report on the passage of the immigration ordinance over at <a/ href="http://hartfordimc.org/blog/2008/08/12/hartford-city-council-votes-unanimously-to-support-immigrant-rights/">Undercurrent.<a/>"
Okay, so my html skills are not so good…but in any event the Undercurrent post is at http://hartfordimc.org/blog/2008/08/12/hartford-city-council-votes-unanimously-to-support-immigrant-rights/
Great reports, Kerri and Peter!
On a side note, one speaker, urging Hartford to remove questions about criminal convictions from employment applications stated:
"People who have served their sentence should not be given a life sentence of unemployment."
Hopefully this will be one of the next struggles for human rights in Hartford and the state.
Thanks Keri and Peter for this. As a person who works 2nd shift and gets no pay if I don't work I am always thankful when comrades report on the different struggles that they attend. Keri I love the sign about teachers. DADA lives!!! Now that is one for your archives and photo show. The Money Tree is a real good piece of political artwork. Peter thanks for the posting over at the Undercurrents and the link for us to follow. What solidarity of the People United. Someday I wish that you would write on just that: The People United who push and get it done.
Frank & Richard–Thanks for the kind words and support! I loved the money tree, but kids will be kids, which means that non-blurry pictures were impossible for this amateur photographer.
The City Council resolved to appropriate an additional $200,000 for the Library providing that both branches reopen. The Library will do that, but will cut Saturdays at all branches and reduce the public hours in six of the nine branches to 19 hours per week.
As Peter has reported, the Hartford City Council voted unanimously to pass an ordinance that Hartford police will not enforce immigration laws. Now, it is uncertain whether Mayor Perez will sign the bill. It appears that he believes that many aspects of the bill are already in practice and that a law may be unnecessary. If you agree with the ordinance, please send a quick email to the mayor. He's getting lots of emails from the anti-immigrant groups. The email address is: 311@hartford.gov
Eddie Perez signed the new ordinance!
http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-cthfdimmigration0819.artaug19,0,4295758.story
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