Meretz USA Statement Shared by David McReynolds

Meretz USA calls for immediate and absolute cessation of violence between Israel and Hamas

New York, New York - December 29, 2008 Meretz USA Chairman, Theodore Bikel, and Honorary Life President, Harold Shapiro, have called for an, "immediate and absolute cessation of violence between Israel and the Hamas," stressing the urgent need to, "forestall a humanitarian disaster in Gaza, preserve Israel's security, and maintain space for diplomatic progress."

Bikel and Shapiro stated that any cease-fire must be accompanied and buttressed by three elements:
· Sustained diplomatic talks between the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority;
· The verifiable termination of weapons smuggling into the Gaza Strip;
· The lifting of the economic blockade on Gaza.
The full text of the statement by the Meretz USA Chairman and Honorary Life President follows:

Meretz USA calls for the immediate and absolute cessation of violence between Israel and the Hamas.

Understanding that only such a result can forestall a humanitarian disaster in Gaza, preserve Israel's security, and maintain space for diplomatic progress, we urge all parties concerned to engineer an urgent and complete cease-fire that will be accompanied and reinforced by the following elements:

1. Sustained diplomatic talks between the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority.
Such talks should be aimed, in the short term, at easing conditions in the West Bank and Gaza in order to reduce tension and strengthen Palestinian moderates; and, in the long term, at the achievement of an equitable two-state solution which hardliners on both sides - Hamas being one of them - continue to oppose.

2. The verifiable termination of weapons smuggling into the Gaza Strip.
The cease-fire should not serve as a respite during which the Hamas expands and improves its armaments and military capability.

3. The lifting of the economic blockade on Gaza.
The consistent provision of humanitarian aid must be guaranteed and the security situation must not be exploited by Israel to collectively punish the Palestinian people through the smothering of their economy.

Neither the Israeli government nor the Hamas are beyond reproach. Hamas' policy of intentionally targeting Israeli non-combatants; its public declaration ending the cease-fire earlier this month; its dangerously provocative rocket and mortar fire into Israel to underscore its defiance; and its notorious unwillingness to recognize Israel or abide by the agreements made by the Palestinian Authority should not be overlooked by those quick to blame Israel for all ills.

At the same time, Israel has been the dominant party in the conflict for 40 years - continuing its settlement policy unabated, trying to impose its will on the Palestinian people and leadership, denying civil and human rights to millions of Palestinians under occupation, and far too often failing to adequately distinguish in its harsh reprisals between legitimate military targets and the Palestinian civilians who are made to suffer.

At this perilous time, we prevail upon all sides to step back from the brink, lest an ill-advised Israeli ground offensive in Gaza multiply the pain and suffering on both sides and push the prospect of peace even further away.

About Meretz USA
Meretz USA for Israeli Civil Rights and Peace works for a genuine peace between the State of Israel and its neighbors including the creation of a viable, peaceful Palestinian state based on a negotiated land-for-peace solution. Meretz USA supports full civil and human rights for Israeli citizens, regardless of ethnicity, race, religion, gender, national origin, or sexual orientation.
Website: http://www.meretzusa.org/

Rhode Islanders' Rally on Dec. 31: End The Occupation

Thanks to the facebook group,US Campaign To End The Israeli Occupation,
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2758106908&ref=ts

I learned of the following planned event.

Wednesday, December 31, 6-7PM
Burnside Park (opposite Kennedy Plaza)

Contact: Martha Yager, AFSC-SENE,
401-521-3584 or MYager@afsc.org

As a Recovering Zionist ( and I increasingly think all nationalisms are chronic illnesses), I find the current "defensive" attacks by Israel to be heartbreaking. There was a time when I would have justified them. That time was when I was in elementary and high school. I missed the 25 year reunion a couple of years ago...

Grace Paley's solidarity with Palestinians and advocacy for human rights for all is one of the roots of this blog.

Hanukah: Holiday of Spiritual Renewal or Jewish Nationalism?

Richard Silverstein's reflects: "I’ve always felt ambivalent about Hanukah. American Jews seem to have elevated Hanukah far out of all proportion considering its role as a minor holiday in the traditional Jewish calendar. I’ve always thought this was because Jews felt left out of the Christmas holiday. Hanukah became a sort of consolation prize..."

read more | digg story

Honoring Tillie Frank (Nomi's Bubbe)

"We are sending donations to the Yiddish Book Center in memory of Til. They can send checks or donate via the Internet."

http://yiddishbookcenter.org/

Sholem Aleichem Fund
National Yiddish Book Center
The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Bldg.
1021 West Street
Amherst MA 01002

My grandmother never had the chance to visit this center, but it was a place she was enthusiastic about...

Mayor Cicilline Supports The Five Endangered Branches

Well this is good news:

Mayor Cicilline expressed his opposition last Friday, December 19th to plans by the Providence Public Library to reduce the number of neighborhood library branches from nine to four. The City of Providence is the largest donor to the Providence Public Library, a privately-endowed, not-for-profit institution, giving approximately $3.4 million last year.

“As I have made clear for many years, I am opposed to any plan that reduces the presence of library services in our neighborhoods,” said Mayor Cicilline. “I understand the financial difficulty of administering a large, public institution, especially in these times, but it is critical that we uphold the 100-year-old mission of the Providence Public Library for today and for the future.”

Library trustees cited as critical to their decision a proposal to obligate the City to incur the costs of administering a number of neighborhood branches as “Neighborhood Learning Centers.” Such a proposal was presented to the City the previous day, Wednesday, December 17th, with no discussion on the matter by Library and City officials.

News outlets incorrectly reported last week that there was support from the City administration for the Library plan.

Happy Birthday, Miss Poppy!

http://www.misspoppy.com/

This Jesus Sports Statue is only $9.95.

Dick Cheny explains the 'enhanced interrogation'

The outgoing vice president said CIA interrogators subjected 33 detainees to the harsh techniques, which critics say constitute torture, and he vigorously defended the practice. In Cheney's view, it would have been immoral not to use sleep deprivation, forced nudity, stress positions and waterboarding.

read more | digg story

Providence snow angel !

Providence Community Library, a Public Library For All

I missed the board meeting yesterday, but am grateful to Pat Crowley for his "liveblogging" it on behalf of RIFuture.
http://www.rifuture.org/showDiary.do?diaryId=4948

Here is the text of an email from Patricia of the Library Reform Group

Dear library advocates,

At yesterday's PPL board meeting, the board voted to continue library operations only at Central and four branches after June 30, 2009. The Governor's representative on the board, Mark McKenney, voted against the plan, while the Mayor's representative (Kas DeCarvalho) abstained. All ten non-public board members who were present at yesterday's meeting voted in favor of the proposal.

The Library Reform Group emphatically rejects PPL's plan. We have formed a new non-profit organization called Providence Community Library. We have drafted a budget, worked out staffing projections, and planned for a community-based governing body. We have shown our proposal to urban library directors in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, who have concluded that our plan is feasible. We call upon the City to transfer its funding from PPL to the Providence Community Library in order to protect library services for city residents in ALL our neighborhoods.

During the Public Response period, Elaine Heeber of the Library Reform Group quoted a 2006 ProJo editorial that recommended PPL should "seriously consider giving the City of Providence any or all of its branches, while keeping its flagship facitlity on Empire Street. Then the library. . .would be able to better serve the public, and protect and even expand the major collections." Marcus Mitchell, one of the organizers of the Providence Community Library, followed up on Elaine's comment by reading a statement announcing the formation of the Providence Community Library and urging the City to turn the branches over to the PCL (see below).

We will need your support in the weeks ahead as we work to convince the City that it is time to transfer the stewardship of our branches to a new community-based organization that will run them efficiently and responsibly--and will put the welfare of library patrons first.

Patricia

Marcus Mitchell's statement:


The dilemma facing us today is the culmination of several years of processing. Unfortunately, the Providence Public Library Board appears to have assumed a position that will dramatically reduce library services to the communities of Providence.



A severe reduction of library services to neighborhoods throughout Providence will greatly affect the quality of life and social fabric of our city. Our children, our seniors, job seekers, our students and the administration of scores of programs will be adversely affected. Especially during these economic troubling times, a reduction of library services in our neighborhoods is unacceptable and not seen by the citizens as a “sustainable system”.



In anticipation of an “unacceptable reduction of services” model proposal, several community leaders, concerned citizens and community-based organizations have formed a coalition: The Providence Community Library. This entity has examined the issues of our library management and budgetary challenges: and is prepared to assume the management & administration of all 9 branches of the public library system. We will be presenting a full budget and proposal to the Mayor & City Council, and actively pursuing the City’s full support of the Providence Community Library. We disagree with PPL’s “sustainable model”, their budget projections and several management decisions.



Providence Community Library will be holding public forums and press conferences in the very near future to unveil our plans to maintain the current level of services to the neighborhoods of the city of Providence.



(Note: to contact the Providence Community Library directly, write to providencecommunitylibrary@isp.com )

Rhode Island Braces For Impending Snow Storm.

The Providence Schools will be closed tomorrow. ! The Providence Libraries will be closed. ( Well, on Fridays they are not open until after Noon...)

See the RI Future post on this topic.
http://www.rifuture.org/showDiary.do?diaryId=4952

Services for Mother of Alonzo Jones, Technical Director of Rites And Reason Theatre

Funeral services for the beloved


Mrs. Iona Ragland

Saturday, December 20th, 2008
9:00am – Viewing 10:00am– Services

Mount Hope Community Baptist Church
734 Hope Street and Rochambeau
Providence, RI 02906

Interment immediately following services:
Riverside Cemetery
752 Pleasant Street
Pawtucket, RI 02860

Repast following interment:
Rites and Reason Theatre
Brown University
155 Angell Street
Providence, RI 02912

Five Library Branches In Providence Are In Jeopardy

Below is a letter from Patricia of the Library Reform Group:
Dear library advocates,

The PPL Board of Trustees is meeting tomorrow (Thursday) at 12 noon in the Central Library's Barnard Room, 3rd floor.

By contract, PPL has only until December 31 to approve a plan for a "sustainable system," to be put into effect by July 1 of next year. It appears that the plan most likely to be approved by the full board would be keeping Central open, as well as four branches. The other five branches would be closed. The four branches to be maintained would be Rochambeau, Mount Pleasant, Knight Memorial and South Providence. The closed branches would be Smith Hill, Olneyville, Fox Point, Wanskuck and Washington Park--should it ever reopen in the first place.

While some on the Sustainability Committee are recommending that PPL donate the threatened buildings--with their books and computers--to community groups to operate as community centers, it is unclear where the funding for such a proposal would come from. If the City helped with the funding, then the City Council would probably want to cut its funding for the four "real" library branches proportionately, since the City has no extra money in these troubled financial times for EXTRA library funding.

We believe that it is possible to run all nine branches--with more aggressive fund-raising and more efficient adminstration--and we are opposed to PPL's Central Plus Four plan. Many of the City's neighborhoods that most need support will be hurt by the closing of their branch libraries. In this economic climate ESPECIALLY, Providence Public Library should have come up with a more creative solution to its own economic problems.

If PPL persists in adopting Central Plus Four, we will call upon the City to reject this proposal.

Please attend tomorrow's Board meeting, if you can, and stand up for ALL of the City's branch libraries.

Patricia

These branches are vital to the neighborhoods. I cannot understand why the mayor has done so little to support them. The Providence Public Library functions with less and less transparency...


http://libraryreformgroup.wordpress.com/
http://notaboutthebuildings.com/

Petition For the Release of the Shoe Thrower

This signature campaign demands the release of the Iraqi Journalist, Montadhar Al-Zaydi who hurled a pair of shoes at George Bush on 12/14/2008 in Baghdad in reaction to Bush’s immoral invasion of Iraq and the war-crimes committed by the occupying forces with the aid of local warlords.


We hereby sign below to demand the immediate release of the Journalist Montadhar Al-Zaydi, without any constraints or conditions. We also hold Al-Maliki’s government and the Bush administration accountable and responsible for his life, dignity, and well-being

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/iwffomuntatharalzaidi

O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth,
That I am meek and gentle with these butchers!

William Shakespeare

Support the Olneyville Neighborhood Association (ONA)

From my friend Shannah of ONA comes the following:

Need a great idea to get your Holiday shopping done?

Help your friends and family eat great Olneyville food whenever they want by getting them a copy of "What's cooking, Olneyville?" the brand new cookbook with dozens of recipes from people who live and work in el barrio. Whether it's mangú made from green platanos, Philipino chicken adobo, or Jolof Rice from Bea's Kitchen, this book will fill everyone's stomach and heart! And at only $10 each or 2 for $15, it won't empty your pocketbook. At the same time, you'll be supporting the struggle for justice. For your copy, call Olneyville Neighborhood Association (ONA) at (401)228-8996 or email onaprovidence@gmail.com.




From the introduction by Norman Ospina:



This collection of Love, Community and Compañerism@ - thinly veiled as a food recipe book/ fundraiser – is an invitation to come together often, to share in the spirit of family and friends and to celebrate our Resistance and Revolution as we turn individual ingredients into fresh, collective and delightful masterpieces.


* * * * * * *



¿Necesitas buena idea de que cosa regalar para las Fiestas?


Déles a sus amistades y familiares la oportunidad de cocinar la comida tan rica de Olneyville - "¡Se ve, se Siente, la Comida está Caliente!" es el nuevo libro de cocina que consiste en mas de 20 recetas de personas que viven y trabajan en el barrio. Si sea mangú de plátanos verdes, el pollo adobo de los filipinos, o Arroz "Jolof" del restaurante Nigeriano "Bea's Kitchen," este libro llenará su barriga igual que el corazón. Y cuesta solo $10 cada uno, o 2 por $15, así dejará algo en tu bolsilla. Al mismo tiempo estas apoyando la lucha por la justicia. Puedes llamar la Asociación de Vecinos de Olneyville para comprar lo tuyo, o envíanos un correo electrónico al onaprovidence@gmail.com.


De la introducción por Norman Ospina:



Esto es una colección de Amor, Comunidad y Compañerism@ - compuesto tras el velo de un libro de recetas o una recaudación de fondos. Es tambien una invitación para juntarnos mas frecuentemente, para compartir en el espiritu de la Familia y de la Amistad, y para celebrar nuestra Resistencia y nuestra Revolución mientras que convertimos ingredientes individuales en obras maestras frescas, colectivas y repletas en deleite.

Note: I have changed "Christmas shopping" to "Holiday/Fiestas shopping" for no particular reason. I considered changing it to Seasonal Shopping ( consumption!!)...Also I have added an area code, since as far as I can tell the majority of the visitors/readers here are not from Rhode Island.

Providence's Louttit Laundry Hazard Is Being Excised!

A long vacant and decrepit building is being removed from Providence's West End. I am pleased because I have feared that the monstrosity would burn and endanger my friends at John Hope Settlement House.

Some of my neighbors have been trying to save it.
http://wiki.ppsri.org/tiki-index.php?page=Louttit+Laundry%2F+What+Cheer+Laundry

Here is another link, I've just discovered:
http://www.artinruins.com/arch/?id=decay&pr=loutit

Here's an article in the Providence Journal from October 2007. Amazing that it took 14 more months for the demolition to occur.
http://www.projo.com/ri/providence/content/MC_LOUTTIT_10-24-07_0V7JIFT.314ab04.html

Obama Comes Clean

http://www.truthdig.com/cartoon/item/20081211_obama_comes_clean/

Thank you, Mike Luckovich!

12/12 Action of Rhode Island's I.W.W. is Canceled

The following is an email I've just received:

The Republic Window workers of Chicago's UE local 1110 have requested that all solidarity events for them be canceled this week. The Providence IWW has called off the solidarity rally scheduled for 4pm today. We respect the wishes of our brothers and sisters in local 1110 and wish them all the luck for the future. The Providence IWW regrets inconveniencing anyone with this last minute cancellation.
Sincerely,
Providence, RI General Membership Branch of the Industrial Workers of the World

Jason (Hiu Lui) Ng's Records Are In Limbo ("Continued")

PROVIDENCE RI — Superior Court Judge P. Hurst yesterday told lawyers she needs more information before deciding whether the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility must release records pertaining to Hiu Lui “Jason” Ng, a detainee who died while in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. She continued a hearing to Jan. 29.

read more | digg story

BoA Is Not Off The Hook In Rhode Island

Below is the email I received from Jason:

Yes, Nomi, the event is certainly still on. We are celebrating the victory in Chicago and still demanding a Peolple's Bailout in RI and across the US. Thanks for your support, and hope to see you there.
New Press Release below and attached.

Friday Dec. 12
4 PM
Bank of America Building 111 Westminster Street

Jason F.
Providence IWW
Branch Delegate, IU 330

Late last Wednesday night marked the end of the factory occupation at Republic Window and Door, a momentous victory for both the striking workers and the working class and working poor across the nation. The 260 Republic workers of UE local 1110 voted "yes" unanimously to accept a $1.76 million offer covering eight weeks salary, severance pay, extended health benefits and legally due vacation time. Bank of America spokespeople assured these funds were specifically for the workers and not for Republic management and owners' "bonuses" and "luxury cars."

The Providence branch of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) has made a call to action this Friday Dec. 12 in solidarity with the striking workers at Republic and to condemn Bank of America's actions. The event will be a victory celebration for the Republic Window Workers, for their noble direct actions which they themselves have called "an example for many workers, if companies treat them unfairly." At 4 pm this Friday at the Bank of America building at 111 Westminster we will salute our brothers and sisters in Chicago.

Those two paragraphs are from the press release of today...

??? Rhode Island Wobblies' Rally: December 12, '08

I have just received a wonderful email from Jobs With Justice:

http://www.jwj.org/bailout/republic.html#back

Perhaps the rally will be rescheduled...

ProvidenceIWW@gmail.com

An Injury to One is an Injury to All


Providence IWW Supports Chicago's Republic Window Workers' Message; Bank of America –

“You Got Bailed Out, We Got Sold Out!”

Friday, December 5 marked the beginning of a factory occupation and sit-in strike by the workers employed at Republic Door and Window in Chicago, a manufacturer of energy efficient doors and windows. The factory occupation was sparked by news delivered on Dec. 2 that the factory would be closing in three days due to a cancellation of credit by Bank of America. In addition to losing their jobs, management informed the workers that severance pay and pay for vacation time would not be paid, due to the swift revoking of credit by Bank of America. The total amount owed to workers is reported to be just over $1 million. As part of the recent Congressional bailout of Wall St., Bank of America received over $25 billion to extend credit to faltering businesses like Republic Door and Window.

The 200 Republic workers, supported by their union, UE Local 1110, have occupied the factory in shifts, supplied with only lawn chairs and food brought by families and Chicago community groups.

The Providence Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) join millions in proudly supporting the Republic workers in their message to Bank of America and corporate America - “You got bailed out. We got sold out.” Across the nation, the IWW joins the UE and other labor unions and community groups in demanding a “People's Bailout.”

The Providence IWW has organized a picket of Bank of America in conjunction with hundreds of other actions this week in solidarity with Republic workers. Our message is of class solidarity and of the demand that Bank of America financially ensure that Republic workers receive all their benefits and that the factory will reopen. On Friday, December 12th at 4 pm the IWW and supporters will rally and picket at the Bank of America Building, 111 Westminster street, downtown Providence.

The Industrial Workers of the World is a fighting labor union that believes that the interests of labor can be fully served only when working people are united as a class. The IWW wants to see all workers on the same job united, in the same industry in one union, who work for wages in one big union. Membership is open to all workers, regardless of race, gender, nationality or legal status.


Contact IWW member Justin Kelley for more info. 508.367.6434.

Joel Zarum, Mensch, We Will Always Remember You

Joel Zarum

ZARUM, JOEL, 76, of Punta Gorda, FL, formerly of Warwick, passed away Thursday, Dec. 4, 2008, peaceably at home.

He was the beloved husband of Marjorie (Mayerson) Zarum, Cherished father of Michael Zarum of Newton, MA and Warwick, RI and Ella Zarum Walker and her husband Kit of Olema, CA; Loving brother of Dorothy (Zarum) & Richard Bookbinder of Boca Raton, FL; Dear uncle of Jeffrey, Bruce and Edward Bookbinder, their spouses and children, and many other relatives and friends.

Born in Portland, ME, he was the son of the late Edward and Lillian S. (Wainer) Zarum. Prior to retiring to PGI, Joel was a vice president of Ross-Simons, Inc. He was a board member of Temple Beth-El in Northport, FL and a past president of its Men's Club. He attended URI, was a SCUBA diver, underwater photographer, avid boater, golfer and musician.

Funeral services Tuesday, Dec. 9th at 1:00 p.m. in SHALOM MEMORIAL CHAPEL, 1100 New London Ave., Cranston. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society at www.leukemia.org. Shiva will be observed at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Bookbinder, 39 Landmark Rd., Warwick, Tuesday 7-9 and Wednesday 2-4 & 7-9 p.m.

Read .and shake your head

Nomi:

I put this up at my place as well.



Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Hubris has a new name, FoMoCo.

Well, I'm a guy who owns a Ford Ranger. Almost 9 years of relatively trouble free service and I might be inclined to buy another one, if I had any requirement or money for one. Until today.

That's when I got the following e-mail:
____________________________________________________________________________
Dear Member,

I appologize for this email. I don't normally email the members but this is an emergency.

Today, (December 9, 2008) I received a letter from the law offices of Howard, Phillips & Andersen that represent the Ford Motor Company. Ford is forcing us to surrender the name 'therangerstation.com' to them and stop using it. Ford states that using the name 'Ranger' when used in reference to the Ford Ranger is a trademark violation. In addition they are wanting me to pay them $5,000.

As you may know, The Ranger Station has been around for the past 10 years and has been a valuable resource to Ranger enthusiasts.

If Ford does this to us, where will they stop?

I have 10-days to surrender the name and pay them $5,000. I'm asking that you contact Ford online and ask them to reconsider making us change our name and prohibiting us from using the word 'Ranger'.

You can contact them at:

https://secure.ford.com/footer/contact-ford/contact-us-email?contactMainTopic=PublicAffairs

a sample of what one of the members wrote is:

"To whom it may concern:

I am writing concerning your recent legal attacks on various "fan" websites for vehicles such as the Mustang and Ranger. I am insulted by this careless misuse of our legal system and am reconsidering any further vehicle purchases from your company until you cease and desist from any further legal action concerning this subject. I have been a Ford owner for many years and I had hoped to stay that way. These attacks are morally wrong since they are geared towards your customers, and do not instill the least bit of confidence in your brand. For the sake of your business, I ask you to please reconsider immediately.

Thank you."

Thank you for your support and I applogize for this email.

Jim Oaks
TheRangerStation.com

____________________________________________________________________________


Jesus on a pogo stick aerating a golf course--is FoMoCo completely fucking clueless or what?

a couplea couplets for the suits at FoMoCo.

Brains of sawdust, ears of tin;

Stupid is your major sin.

hearts of stone and balls of brass.

Mullaly, you can kiss my ass.


Check this out, over at Jim Voorhies blog.

http://jimvoorhies.com/index.php


What a buncha fukin' idiots.

Feel free to send any or all of this to your new, improved congressional delegations.

Free The Shministim, Israeli Conscientious Objectors!

How little we read and hear in the U.S. about Israelis who support human rights!

Please visit this site:

http://december18th.org/

Washington Park Branch Library: "Guarded Good News"

Washington Park library branch, shuttered 2 years, to reopen

01:00 AM EST on Tuesday, December 9, 2008

By Philip Marcelo

Journal Staff Writer



A new lease will pave the way for reopening the refurbished Washington Park library branch, which was closed in 2006.

The Providence Journal / Mary Murphy

PROVIDENCE -- A lease between the city and the nonprofit Providence Public Library Foundation, which runs the public library system, will be in place this week, paving the way for the reopening of the Washington Park branch, according to Mayor David N. Cicilline.

But community groups, who have been vocal in the two years since the building, owned by the city, was closed due to structural deficiencies, say they are holding off on celebrating just yet.

"It remains to be seen," said Duane Clinker, pastor of Open Table of Christ Church. "It has been a very long time and we have not had the courtesy of a reply from either the mayor or the library. … We hope that the doors do open."

Clinker and church members protested in front of the Central Library, on Empire Street, and staged a "read-in" in front of the Washington Park branch, on Broad Street, on Saturday.

About 30 people holding banners or drumming red plastic pails stood outside the Central Library, before entering the library and checking out dozens of books to bring back to Washington Park. Outside the library branch, about 80 people gathered, some reading to children from books that were checked out earlier.

Clinker said that the actions were meant to draw attention to the apparent inaction from the city and library since renovation work was completed at the end of the summer.

Cicilline says that the city spent $225,000 renovating the branch building, which is in a former firehouse.

Work included a new roof, repointing of exterior brickwork, a new entrance, upgraded electrical systems, a new fire alarm system, new carpeting and a fresh coat of paint for interior walls and a renovated bathroom.

The city has identified needed improvements for the second floor and allocated an additional $175,000 for the work, but the building is ready for use, according to Cicilline.

A proposed lease for the city-owned space is currently under review by the city law department. Cicilline says that the two sides are still negotiating min! or detai ls of the contract language.

Tania Mason, a spokeswoman for the library foundation, said it anticipates moving back into the building once the city signs off on the lease. Mason says that once open, the branch library would have the same three- to four-member staff as before and will operate Monday to Friday for a total of 31 hours a week, like other branches.

The building has been maintained by the city since the foundation was forced to close the branch in 2006.

At the time, it was reported that building contractors found serious structural problems and considerable water damage from a leaking roof.

After the closing, the foundation relocated its after-school program to the home of the Washington Park Foundation, a local nonprofit organization housed in a former Benny's auto parts store at 1380 Broad St. That temporary library site closed earlier this year.

The news of the branch library's likely reopening comes about a month after the city and the library foundation reached an agreement to have the foundation operate the library system as is -- with the Central Library downtown and nine neighborhood branches -- until July 1, 2009 -- even if it means running an operating deficit.

The city, under the agreement, will contribute $3.4 million to the library system this fiscal year, about the same as in previous years.

pmarcelo@projo.com

Below is the foreword from Patricia Raub:

Dear library supporters,
It's too soon to celebrate, but there's guarded good news about the Washington Park Branch Library! Thanks to the hard work of the Open Table of Christ youth group, the City Councilors, and everyone else who exerted pressure to get things moving.
(See photos of Dec. 6 branch library events, including Washington Park Read-In here:

http://media.umb.edu/december6/

Patricia

Solidarity With Chicago Workers of Republic Windows and Doors

All over the internet, tv, newspapers is the story of these deserving workers...Here is a link to an on-line petition, the simplest way to show support...

http://www.petitiononline.com/solidfac/petition.html

I don't doubt that Grace Paley and Marsha Z. West, Harold Rogovin, and Tillie Miller Frank are all WITH these workers in Spirit...

Miss Dottie, We Love You

Doris M. "Miss Dottie" Leavens
November 18, 1943 - December 4, 2008

Doris M.,Leavens 65, died December 4, 2008 after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Born in Providence, she was the daughter of the late William J. and Catherine A. (Mullaney) Leavens. “Miss Dottie” was a teacher’s assistant at John Hope Settlement House for the past 25 years. She loved being a part of the children’s lives she touched every day.

She is survived by her 2 sons, Eugene H. Leavens and his wife, Charlotte of Providence and Keith E. Leavens and his wife, Maria of East Providence. She also leaves 2 sisters, Patricia A. Pierce of Cranston and Anne Marie Long of Middletown, CT. Dottie was the grandmother of 10 grandchildren and great-grandmother of 3. She was a much loved aunt, great-aunt, cousin, and friend to many more.

A funeral will be held Tuesday at 9am from Bell Funeral Home, 571 Broad St., Providence, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10am in Holy Name Church, Camp St. Calling Hours Monday 4-7pm in Bell Funeral Home. Burial will be private.At the family request donations in her memory to John Hope Settlement House or Home and Hospice Care of RI would be greatly appreciated by her family.

http://www.johnhope.org/

http://www.hhcri.net/

Miss Dottie was one of my son's teachers 7 years ago, and her wisdom and kindness will always be with us. My heart is with her family...

Here is the link to an online "Guest Book"
http://www.legacy.com/providence/GB/GuestbookView.aspx?PersonId=121085544

Prison Where Jason Ng Died Is Facing Inquiry and Will Get No More Immigrant Detainees

The Rhode Island facility is under investigation for its treatment of a Chinese computer engineer from New York who died in custody last summer.

read more | digg story

About four years ago, one of my clients was held at the Wyatt Detention Center. He was born in the U.S., but had collected benefits with two social security numbers. Federal benefits...I met him before and after his incarceration. He had AIDS and looked like Ichabod Crane, before being locked up. I mean before the client was locked up -- I don't think that was Mr. Crane's situation...My client sent me letters from Central Falls detailing the medical neglect and horrors visited upon him by some of the staff. Ironically, or not, the ones who helped him were other inmates, some of whom had been his associates on the streets. He was so frail...I forwarded his letters to his primary doctor and to his attorney...Thanks probably to their efforts or to ??? a H.P. ???, this colorful and fragile person was sent to a nursing home for part of his confinement...My last conversation with him was sheer serendipity: in the (now endangered) Smith Hill Library.

Stronger Than Their Walls, a RI documentary...

From the RI Family Life Center, http://riflc.org/index.php?name=homepage,
comes the following


Stronger Than Their Walls
Guilty Though Proven Innocent
watch trailer at strongerthantheirwalls.com

A documentary about struggles for justice in Rhode Island
RI law allows people on probation to be incarcerated for crimes for which they have been found innocent or for which the charges have been dismissed. This documentary follows the story of several men who were presumed guilty and never given a fair chance to demonstrate their innocence. The families of these imprisoned men take the issue to the Rhode Island Statehouse, where they tell their stories in an effort to reform the law.

Stronger Than Their Walls is currently organizing screenings around Rhode Island. Please contact strongerthantheirwalls@gmail.com to arrange a screening--at your house, your church, your community center, anywhere.


Watch the full movie at a screening near you:

check strongerthantheirwalls.com for new dates

Providence South Side
Tuesday, 9th at 6:00
RI Family Life Center
841 Broad Street

Providence North Side
Tuesday, Dec 9th at 7:30
Mount Hope Neighborhood Association
142 Camp Street

Downtown Providence
Thursday, December 18 at 7:00
Black Repertory Theatre
276 Westminster St.
with panel discussion sponsored by Rhode Island Council of the Humanities

Newport
Sunday, January 4 at noon
St. Paul's Church
12 Marlborough Street

Birthday Blogging: Ari Savitzky, Carl Ericson and David W. Harrington

Happy Birthday, Three Fair Bloggers!

Ari Savitzky of the Providence Daily Dose
http://www.providencedailydose.com

Carl Ericson aka Actor 212 of Simply Left Behind
http://simplyleftbehind.blogspot.com/

and also of New York,
David W. Harrington, Creator of the Infamous Sarah Palin Baby Name Generator,
http://www.politsk.com/

Washington Park Read-In on Sat. 12/06/08

From Patricia Raub comes the reminder:

Before you go to the Washington Park Read-In at 12:15 p.m. this Saturday, stop by the Smith Hill Branch Library for the 2nd Annual Christmas Bazaar sponsored by the Smith Hill Library Friends' Group. This family event will feature a book and bake sale, presents and games for kids and informational booths from area community organizations. It starts at 10:00 AM and continues until 2:00 PM.

For more information, consult the Smith Hill Community Development Corporation's Library page at http://www.smithhillcdc.org/sh-library (And check out the rest of the Smith Hill CDC's new website while you're at it.)

Here is some background information also from Patricia:

Washington Park

Washington Park is STILL closed! It seems that the City and PPL both are willing to reopen the branch, but the City is requiring that PPL sign a lease before it moves back in, and the lease seems to be stuck in the office of the City's lawyer. The Washington Park community is way beyond feeling impatient. They have decided to hold another Read-In in front of the closed library building on Saturday at 12:15. I hope you can attend and help support people in Washington Park, who have been without a full branch library for nearly three years and who have been without ANY branch library at all since the end of the summer.

Rites And Reasons' RAWDITIONS Dec.7 and 8.

RAWDITION ANNOUNCEMENT

ACTORS – STAGE MANAGERS – SET CREW TECHNICAL CREW – COSTUME CREW

THE DEPARTMENT OF AFRICANA STUDIES'
RITES AND REASON THEATRE
(The place where you are free to be who you are becoming)

IS HOLDING AUDITIONS FOR

GEVER/SHABAB
by Noam Dorr, RUE '09

GEVER/SHABAB is an intimate look at the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through the eyes of two men, It is a story of captivity and freedom, choices and inevitabilities, examining what happens when you can't help but become close to your enemy, and the overwhelming forces that try to keep you apart.

Director: Professor Elmo Terry-Morgan
Movement Director: Meida McNeal

SUNDAY, 12/7/08, 3:30 P.M. – 5:30 P.M. at Rites and Reason Theatre
MONDAY, 12/8/08, 6:00 P.M. – 8:00 PM. at Leeds Theatre

PERFORMANCE DATES: THURSDAY-SUNDAY, 2/19-22/2009 & THURSDAY-SUNDAY, 2/26-3/01/2009

NO PREPARATION NECESSARY. WE WILL READ SCENES FROM THE SCRIPT.

"Our Research Creates New Art."

Details Emerge on Hiu Lui Ng's Detention at Wyatt Center (RI)

128 Dorrance Street
Suite 220
Providence, RI 02903
(p) 401 831-7171
(f) 401 831-7175
riaclu@riaclu.org


NEWS RELEASE
MONDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2008


ACLU CHARGES WYATT DETENTION FACILITY WITH

MISLEADING PUBLIC ON DEATH OF IMMIGRANT DETAINEE



Relying on a just-released court transcript, the Rhode Island ACLU charged today that officials at the Wyatt Detention Center were deliberately misleading in their public pronouncements on the death of Hiu Lui Ng, a Chinese national, at their facility in August. The transcript, the ACLU said, also lends credence to the view that Ng, near death and experiencing great pain, was dragged from his cell at Wyatt by immigration officials and forced to travel to Hartford, Connecticut in reprisal for a petition filed on July 29th by family lawyers seeking his release from prison because of his severe medical condition. Mr. Ng died a week later, on August 6th, as the result of complications from advanced cancer; he was also found to have a broken spine. The RI ACLU is preparing a civil suit on behalf of the family.



At a hearing held before U.S. District Judge William Smith on July 31, 2008, less than a week before Ng’s death, the transcript reveals that the attorney for the federal government claimed that Ng was getting “more than adequate medical care” and that “any suggestion that he hasn’t received adequate medical care is really stretching it.” At the same time, the government attorney also stated, just days before Ng died of advanced cancer, that Wyatt’s medical records revealed only that Ng had “lower back strain and sciatica.” This stands in direct contradiction to a statement that Wyatt officials issued shortly after Ng’s death, in which they claimed that Ng’s “diagnoses came as the direct result of medical care and special diagnostic evaluation recommended by the facility’s medical staff.”



The transcript further reveals that federal officials had no logical answer as to why, just one day after attorneys filed the lawsuit seeking his release from Wyatt, he was dragged from his cell and transported to Hartford, Connecticut for a day. The following colloquy on that issue took place at the in-chambers court hearing:



THE COURT: I don’t get it. Nobody knows why he was in Hartford, why he was taken to Hartford?

[GOV’T ATTORNEY]: …My understanding is that he was taken to Hartford so they could afford him a better opportunity to speak by telephone with his counsel in private . . .

THE COURT: Why would they take him from Wyatt to Hartford to talk to attorneys and talk to family members? That doesn’t make any sense. All the facilities are available at Wyatt.

[GOV’T ATTORNEY]: I’m not sure, your Honor. I don’t know exactly why that transpired that way.



RI ACLU volunteer attorney Jack McConnell, from the law firm of Motley Rice, LLC, has also been having difficulty getting records of Mr. Ng’s stay at the facility from Wyatt officials. A court hearing to compel disclosure is scheduled in R.I. Superior Court for December 10th. McConnell said today:

“We are seeking justice for the unfortunate death of Mr. Ng, yet we are being stymied by Wyatt at getting to the truth.”

http://www.riaclu.org/01122008.htm

Travesty: Bush to receive 'International Medal of Peace'

For the man who is leaving national and international wreckage strewn about, this is incredible. And to top it off, the award will be presented by megachurch pastor Rick Warren.

read more | digg story

Tillie Frank, June 24, 1914 -- November 30, 2008

Tillie, my Bubbe, died yesterday morning following a day of visits from many relatives, including myself and Ethan.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=823236&l=b9510&id=804492845

If the link above works, it is a photo taken by Ethan of Virginia, Tillie, Esther and myself some months ago...

It is hard to imagine not having her physical presence, voice on the phone, attention to detail. She lived long enough to see Barack Obama elected.