Next General Meeting
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Where:
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Ann Arbor Community Center, 625 North
Main Street, Ann Arbor, MI
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When:
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Saturday, July 11, 2009 from 9:30
am to noon
(new member orientation and
Socializing 9:30 am)
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What:
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City Council Candidate Forum
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July’s Tentative Agenda
9:30 a.m. New Member Orientation and Social Time
Regular meeting starts at 10:00
a.m
Announcements
Business Agenda
Per our bylaws, no resolutions will
be considered until September.
Program
Ann Arbor City Council Candidates on the Aug. 4, 2009 Ballot
Ward 3: Stephen
Kunselman
Ward 3: Leigh Greden
Ward 3: LuAnne
Bullington
Ward 5: Mike Anglin
Ward 5: Scott
Rosencrans
Adjourn at 12:00 p.m.
Executive Board Meeting: Immediately following adjournment of the general
meeting.
Contributions are welcomed to defray
the cost of renting the room.
Please bring can goods for donations to
Food Gatherers.
May’s
Resolutions Passed
1. Resolution
to Revise the Felony Employment Process of the City of Ann Arbor
2. Ann
Arbor Democratic Party Strategy for Community Mobilization on Health Care
Downloadable Documents:
Example
Letter to your Family and Friends (Word Document)
Example Letter to
your Senator or Representative (Word Document)
List of
Congressional Committees (Word Document)
President
Obama’s Letter to Senators Baucus and Kennedy (PDF Document)
3. A
Resolution from the Ann Arbor Democratic Party Supporting Affordable,
Quality, Comprehensive Health Care
Coverage for All Citizens
A
RESOLUTION TO REVISE THE FELONY EMPLOYMENT PROCESS
OF THE CITY OF ANN ARBOR
WHEREAS, approximately 250 citizens return to Washtenaw County from
prison each year; and 1
WHEREAS, the lack of employment opportunities for individuals with a
criminal record is a principal factor for recidivism; and 2
WHEREAS, the recidivism rate for returning citizens in Washtenaw
County is 76% (the national average is nearly 50%); and 3
WHEREAS, reduced recidivism will greatly improve community safety;
and
WHEREAS, taxpayers will save from reduced recidivism given that we
spend approximately $32,000 annually per prisoner on incarceration costs;
and 4
WHEREAS, returning citizens in Michigan and Washtenaw County are
likely to be unemployed or underemployed; and 5
WHEREAS, people of color are arrested, convicted, and incarcerated
in numbers disproportionate to their representation in the population,
which also disproportionately impacts the families and communities of these
individuals; and 5
WHEREAS, the City of Ann Arbor contracts for
goods and services with hundreds of vendors who each have numerous
employees; and 6
WHEREAS, our City
has a responsibility to ensure that its vendors have fair policies relating
to the screening and identification of persons with criminal backgrounds;
and 6
WHEREAS, the City of Ann Arbor’s
adoption of this ordinance serves as a model for private sector employers
to enact similar policies; and
WHEREAS, several cities and counties throughout
the country have adopted ordinances and policies similar to this resolution
— these areas include Battle Creek and Kalamazoo, MI; Boston and Cambridge,
MA; Chicago, IL; Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN; San Francisco, CA; Baltimore,
MD; the County of Alameda (Oakland area, CA); the County of Multnomah
(Portland area, OR); and the County of Travis (Austin area, TX); and 7
WHEREAS, several counties and cities are currently
deciding on whether or not to adopt ordinances and policies similar to that proposed by this resolution — these areas
include the County and City of Los Angeles, CA; the County and City of
Philadelphia, PA; Newark, NJ; and Oakland, CA; and 7
WHEREAS, it is a priority of the Washtenaw County Board of
Commissioners to “support programs which result in successful reintegration
of persons who have come through the criminal justice system”; and 8
WHEREAS, the Democratic Party of Ann Arbor is supportive of the
efforts of the Michigan Prisoner Re-entry Initiative to ensure successful
return of prisoners to our community:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Democratic Party of Ann
Arbor urges the City of Ann Arbor to enact a city ordinance to the effect
that the City of Ann Arbor and its vendors shall not conduct a background
check on applicants unless it is required by law for a given position;
and 5and 6
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that if it has been established that a
position requires a background check, the City and its vendors will not
conduct that check until after the applicant is determined to be otherwise
qualified and received a conditional offer of employment for the position;
and 5
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City and its vendors will revise
their employment applications to eliminate the requirement of disclosure of
past criminal records on applications for public employment, as this
information is sought and revealed in any necessary background
investigation; and 5
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City
and its vendors shall consider any evidence presented by the applicant
regarding the nature and seriousness of the crime(s) for which convicted,
all circumstances relevant to the crime(s) including mitigating circumstances
or social conditions surrounding the commission of the crime(s), the age of
the person at the time of the crime(s), the length of time elapsed since
the crime(s), and all other competent evidence of rehabilitation and
present fitness; and 5 and 6
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that if a background check is conducted and
an applicant is found to have a criminal record that is likely to interfere
with that applicant’s abilities to carry out the responsibilities of the
position, the City and its vendors (after
thoroughly considering all of the above mitigating factors) are entitled to
refuse, rescind, or revoke the offer of a position to the applicant; and 6
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that if employment is rescinded or revoked,
the employer must notify the applicant of the potential adverse employment
action, providing the applicant with a photocopy of the background report
received by the employer, informing the applicant of the specific parts
from the report that concern the employer, providing an opportunity for the
applicant to discuss the report with the employer including an opportunity
for the applicant to present information rebutting the accuracy and/or
relevance of the report, reviewing any information and documentation
received from the applicant, and documenting all steps taken to comply with
the policies of this resolution; and 6
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City urges private employers to adopt fair hiring
practices that encourage the successful reentry and/or rehabilitation of
individuals in our society who have previously been incarcerated or
convicted of criminal sanctions; and 5
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the chair of the Democratic Party of Ann
Arbor convey, in writing, this resolution to the Ann Arbor City Council
within one month of its passage.
Submitted by Lou Glorie
ANN ARBOR DEMOCRATIC PARTY STRATEGY FOR
COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION ON HEALTH CARE
Resolving our national health care crisis was a
driving issue in the 2008 presidential campaign and has been a Democratic
priority for many years. With
control of the White House and Democratic majorities in Congress, we are
presented with a rare opportunity for change. However, forces arrayed against reform
continue to exert intense pressure to maintain our current, inequitable
system. We seek to counter that by
elevating the voices of the people.
OUTLINING OUR ACTION PLAN
Defining
our Priorities and Delegate Responsibilities
The resolution on health care reform is the
defining document that will guide our advocacy and communications as well as
define the key leadership roles.
Party Chair will contact other political entities/parties to pass
similar resolution. We need to
appoint a leadership team and liaisons to various organizations.
Communicate
Our Support to Decision-Makers and Civic Leaders
We seek to support Congressman Dingell’s
efforts to coordinate and lead members of Congress and also to affirm with
him the position of his constituents on this issue. We should share our
resolution with Michigan lawmakers and to the chairs of all the five
congressional committees and the two senate committees guiding policy
development. Our leads will form contacts with congressional and White
House staff to keep us up on changes in the overall strategy. We will also
focus on building support among local civic and business constituencies,
such as hospitals and health care nonprofits.
Develop
an Advocacy Support Package
To help members communicate on this issue we
will develop a packet of materials that includes sample letters, talking
points and other campaign materials. We will make this available via our
website.
Engage
Our Friends and Neighbors
Members should contact friends inside and
outside Ann Arbor urging them to contact their members of Congress.
Working with Congressman Dingell’s office we will identify and create
opportunities for community members to learn and engage on the issue.
Partner
with Other Organizations
Numerous organizations are involved in pushing
for health care reform, many of them sharing our objectives. Members can work with OFA to circulate
petitions. Members should work with their favorite advocacy groups and
encourage them to engage their members of congress on this issue.
SUPPORTING AFFORDABLE,
QUALITY, COMPREHENSIVE
HEALTH CARE COVERAGE
FOR ALL CITIZENS
Whereas, 46 million Americans are without
health care coverage, millions more have inadequate health insurance, and
at least 18,000 of them die unnecessarily each year as a result; and
Whereas, the United States ranks 45th
in infant mortality and 50th in life expectancy among the
world’s nations; and
Whereas, the United States is the only
industrialized nation that does not guarantee access to health care as a
human right; and of the 28 industrialized nations that do provide universal
health care none spends as much per capita on health care as the United
States; and
Whereas, the costs of providing coverage are
far outpacing inflation, and individuals’ inability to pay their medical
bills is now the leading cause of personal bankruptcy in the United States;
Whereas, the nation could save more than $286
billion dollars annually in total health care costs, while still covering
all the uninsured and providing full prescription drug coverage for
everyone in the United States; and
Whereas, health care coverage is no longer just
an issue of humanitarian concern but rather economic survival and
viability, and our industries and communities must have a national health
care plan in order to compete in a global economy;
Whereas, the Democratic Party has been the
force that enacted such landmark heath care reforms over the last half
century as Medicare, Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance
Program (SCHIP); and
Whereas, President Barack Obama by placing a
national health care plan in the federal budget is calling on Congress and
America to take action on this critical issue;
Therefore,
Be It Resolved
That the Ann Arbor Democratic Party declares
that a national health care program comports with Democratic ideals and
philosophy and that health care for every American should now and in the
future be a right of all Americans and not a privilege; and
That the Ann Arbor Democratic Party believes a
single payer system, such as proposed in H.R. 676 and H.R. 15, is the most
desirable of all methods; and we support the pragmatic and progressive
approach that a health care reform must include a strong public option,
providing an alternative to private and/or for-profit health insurance;
That the Ann Arbor Democratic Party supports a
health care plan
That is universal, meaning every citizen
must have coverage;
That is portable, meaning health care
coverage must not depend upon one’s job or on being employed or unemployed;
That is unconditional, meaning coverage
cannot be denied on the basis of preexisting conditions;
That is irrevocable, meaning coverage
cannot be taken away when a serious illness arises;
That is affordable, meaning every
individual or family must be able to get access to it;
That is cost-comparable, meaning the
nation takes advantage of efficiencies and makes full use of technological
innovations that are critical to cost reduction to ensure that the total
cost to cover every citizen is less than the total cost of the current
system;
That is comprehensive, meaning the services
covered include but are not limited to preventative care, primary care,
inpatient, outpatient and emergency hospital care, comprehensive
reproductive health care, prescription drugs, durable medical equipment,
hearing, dental and vision care, chiropractic treatment, mental health
services, and long-term care; and
Be It
Further Resolved
That the Ann Arbor Democratic Party calls on
our elected federal leadership to fight with passion, vigor and the support
of this body, to ensure that they secure the passage of national health
care legislation that embodies and contains the principles and conditions
aforementioned in this resolution; and that our elected representatives in
the House of Representatives and Senate fight with vigor and vote against passage
of health care legislation that does not include publically funded health
insurance options as outlined in this resolution.
That we direct the chair of the Ann Arbor
Democratic Party to communicate this resolution to President Obama,
Senators Levin and Stabenow and Congressmen Dingell and Schauer; and
That we delegate to Thomas Johnson the
authority to act on behalf of this party to coordinate with other political
and advocacy organizations in support of this resolution and to serve as
this party’s liaison to our federal delegation on this issue and that we
direct the chair to appoint a liaison to the Organizing for America; and
That we urge members of the Ann Arbor
Democratic Party to communicate their support of this resolution to family,
friends and colleagues around the state and the nation, encouraging them to
share their own support with various members of Congress, the Senate and
the President of the United States of America.
Join the Party
To be added to the Ann Arbor Democratic Party's email/mail list and hear
about upcoming events and elections, please email us at info@aadems.org or call us.
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you love Ann Arbor? We do too!
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Arbor Democratic Party is working hard to keep this a place we can all be
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