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Please Join Us As We Campaign to Win for Working People Dear Members:
 America is in trouble. With our financial institutions melting down, gas prices sky high, health care costs skyrocketing; it’s time for a change. With just six weeks to go until the general elections on Nov. 4, the choice has never been clearer for AFSCME 3090 members. Barack Obama is the most compelling and forthright candidate for President of the United States. Although his opponent, John McCain has attempted to “claim” the word change, Mr. Obama’s philosophy and life’s work has consistently been about changing the conditions of workers, the community and the disenfranchised. He entered politics to change the system so that it works for everyone, especially those in need.
Don’t be fooled by John McCain. His voting record says it all. He has voted with George Bush 95% of the time! Those votes have gone against the interest of working people.
On the other hand, Barack Obama is committed to working to displace the old ways. That’s why he was a community organizer, a noble position that the GOP denigrated. An Obama presidency means more comprehensive health care, cycling out of Iraq, supporting economic justice for workers, particularly the Employee Free Choice Act, and he is the only candidate to state he would create a White House Office on Urban Policy. Who but Obama, who voted 100 percent of the time with working families in the senate, would talk about the need for balanced and rational approach to energy policies in one breath, and the need to not neglect our inner cities in the next breath? The people who would come to power under an Obama administration are leagues apart from the anti-public education, anti-union, business as usual managers that we have seen over the last eight years. Can we afford to continue on this path?
The choice is clear. More than just the ideas and opportunities an Obama administration affords, who’s in office will determine what caliber of justice sits on the Supreme Court, initiatives that address instead of ignore Global Warming, and a foreign policy that respects others in the world by taking a calculated and rational perspective on this key matter.
Obama is complexity versus simplicity, balance versus unilateralism.
I was lucky enough to have attended the recent Democratic National Convention in Denver as an alternate delegate. The enthusiasm and well-thought out plan to unite Americans and move the country forward was obvious. Sisters and brothers, these are critical times and we will have to make a critical decision. Please take the time to study the issues and the candidates’ position on those issues. If you do and vote your interest, you will make the right decision.
We in Local 3090 can not only make a difference on the national scene but here locally too. We can be on the right side of history in the progress of the County of Los Angeles. State Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas is running for the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisor, 2nd District. Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas has shown that he understands and is willing to stand up for working people when he served on the Los Angeles City Council, in the State Assembly and now in the State Senate. He too was a Community Organizer who places the need for healthcare and the delivery system, emergency hospitals, in the forefront. He has also strongly advocated for education and neighborhood empowerment. Again, please take the time to study the issues and the candidates’ and vote your interest.
Union-endorsed and Local 3090 member Mayor of Pomona, Norma Torres was successful in the primary and is now running on the Nov. 4 ballot for the State Assembly District 61. Another AFSCME member, Carole Lutness, is running for Assembly District 38.
In all of these races, precinct walking and phoning for the candidate will make the difference in winning their races in November. It is important that we actively participate in the process. Phone banking opportunities begin Sept. 15, Monday thru Thursday, 5 to 9 pm at the following locations: - L.A. County Federation of Labor, 2130 James M, Wood Blvd (9th Street) L.A., CA 90006
- San Gabriel Valley: 880 S. Oak Park Rd., #200, Covina, CA 91724
- San Fernando Valley: 400 Chatsworth Dr., San Fernando, CA 91340
- Harbor Area: 350 W. 5th St., Ste. 200, San Pedro, CA 90731
Join us as we campaign to win for working people. -- Alice Goff, President |
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