I just want to clarify, before submitting this, that I am not contributing these comments as "an objective journalist". What follows are the sort of observations that are bound to come up for any citizen in the course of civic engagement. I hope you'll see fit to share your thoughts here as well.
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I was fortunate enough to attend this event and owe a great deal of gratitude to RISC members and organizers for taking up the Living Wage campaign in the City of Richmond. These folks really did their homework and pulled off a major coup by pushing city council-members to take responsibility for how our tax-dollars are spent. This event demonstrated the power that grassroots citizens can have when galvanized by results oriented community organizing. To be in that room was to experience a palpable excitement, empowerment, and for once, real racial diversity.
The dynamic that RISC set up was powerful. They weren't asking the council-members to act, they were telling them to do the right thing and why. They verbally bolted all the escape routes by explaining away any possible excuse that the council-members could come up with. "Virginia procurement law says that cities are allowed to establish measures to ensure high quality work." Confronted with this spectacle, city council had no choice but to follow - their inability to lead so visibly evident. This is why RISC asked three direct question that were in essence: Do you agree with the principle? Do you agree to take this specific action by a certain date? Do you agree to meet with us after that date so that we can make sure that you've stuck to your promise?
When Ellen Robertson squirmed under the pressure of these simple yes or no questions, she showed us all a bit of the problem with our city government. Their allegiance is often to business interests, rather their constituents who are living in poverty. Nearly 25% of Richmond's population lives below the federal poverty line. When Robertson asked for help from the congregations present, she was admitting her own weakness as a leader. On a personal note, Ms. Robertson called my house on the eve of what would be her election to 6th District City Council. She was making routine get-out-the-vote calls. I let her know immediately that I had campaigned hard for one of her opponents and that my vote was certain, but that as her constituent I needed to know where she stood on the potential Living Wage ordinance. She paused, just as she did three years later on the stage of the Ginter Park Presbyterian Church. "Yes," she eventually replied, clearly just an empty campaign promise. On this night it was more of the same; no vision, no direction, and no principles.
When Bill Pantele took the mic, he had learned from Ms. Robertson before him to be quick with a "Yes" answer. However, he immediately tried to pass the buck by saying that we should focus on passing a living wage ordinance in the counties, suggesting that City jobs would somehow relocate to the counties. Bill should write novels, because this is science fiction. You will not have to roll your supercan out to Henrico every Wednesday to have it emptied. We will not have to wait for the autumn leaves to blow into Chesterfield before they can be raked. And no one will have to line up in Hanover to have their ticket checked for events at the downtown coliseum. No. Bill Pantele is worried that corporate campaign contributors will funnel their money to county politicians rather than Richmond council-members if the city passes humane labor standards for city jobs. Should we forgive him for failing to even comprehend the language of compassion and justice? Probably not. He is a greedy man, hard-wired to the whims of rich elites.
Although voicing his support for Living Wages, Hilbert followed Pantele's lead by attempting to shirk responsibility his authority over the situation, for unscrupulous use of public dollars and his stewardship of public welfare. Marty Jewell, who helped found the Richmond Coalition for a Living Wage in 2000, was on point during his short time on the stage. However, he also has a debt to pay to those of us who have been singing his praises for years, our brightest hope for a progressive city council. His strategic alliance with cowboy Doug Wilder has not resulted in a Living Wage ordinance or even cooperation from the mayor's office.
In the end, I think we have reason to believe that our elected representatives will feel consequences for their inaction. Accountability may finally enter their vocabulary. This time, perhaps it will come from the people, rather than headline-grabbing federal indictments.
Rather than focus on negativity any further, I think we should read the role-call of those who stood up for the working poor on this night. This list was read off at the beginning of the event and it really set a tone. Each congregation was greeted with thunderous applause for turning out such a significant number of people from their congregations.
First Union ------------ 11 in attendence
Crusade for Christ ----- 70
Ginter Park Presb. ----- 78
Bon Air Presb. --------- 95
2nd Baptist Church ----- 65
St. Paul's Episc. ----- 17
Islamic Center -------- 57
*RCLW members carpooled with 15-20 working poor and homeless Richmonders. All of whome stood and were recognized for enduring the city's addiction to temp labor.
When RISC mobilizes for their next action, will you help them fill the pews? How about the seats in City Hall? How about a public rally? After this great event, I think we should all staying tuned for the next step in this campaign.
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Re: RISC pressures city council to commit to Living Wage by Oct 1st
07 Jun 2006
Date Edited: 07 Jun 2006 07:17:43 PM
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I was fortunate enough to attend this event and owe a great deal of gratitude to RISC members and organizers for taking up the Living Wage campaign in the City of Richmond. These folks really did their homework and pulled off a major coup by pushing city council-members to take responsibility for how our tax-dollars are spent. This event demonstrated the power that grassroots citizens can have when galvanized by results oriented community organizing. To be in that room was to experience a palpable excitement, empowerment, and for once, real racial diversity.
The dynamic that RISC set up was powerful. They weren't asking the council-members to act, they were telling them to do the right thing and why. They verbally bolted all the escape routes by explaining away any possible excuse that the council-members could come up with. "Virginia procurement law says that cities are allowed to establish measures to ensure high quality work." Confronted with this spectacle, city council had no choice but to follow - their inability to lead so visibly evident. This is why RISC asked three direct question that were in essence: Do you agree with the principle? Do you agree to take this specific action by a certain date? Do you agree to meet with us after that date so that we can make sure that you've stuck to your promise?
When Ellen Robertson squirmed under the pressure of these simple yes or no questions, she showed us all a bit of the problem with our city government. Their allegiance is often to business interests, rather their constituents who are living in poverty. Nearly 25% of Richmond's population lives below the federal poverty line. When Robertson asked for help from the congregations present, she was admitting her own weakness as a leader. On a personal note, Ms. Robertson called my house on the eve of what would be her election to 6th District City Council. She was making routine get-out-the-vote calls. I let her know immediately that I had campaigned hard for one of her opponents and that my vote was certain, but that as her constituent I needed to know where she stood on the potential Living Wage ordinance. She paused, just as she did three years later on the stage of the Ginter Park Presbyterian Church. "Yes," she eventually replied, clearly just an empty campaign promise. On this night it was more of the same; no vision, no direction, and no principles.
When Bill Pantele took the mic, he had learned from Ms. Robertson before him to be quick with a "Yes" answer. However, he immediately tried to pass the buck by saying that we should focus on passing a living wage ordinance in the counties, suggesting that City jobs would somehow relocate to the counties. Bill should write novels, because this is science fiction. You will not have to roll your supercan out to Henrico every Wednesday to have it emptied. We will not have to wait for the autumn leaves to blow into Chesterfield before they can be raked. And no one will have to line up in Hanover to have their ticket checked for events at the downtown coliseum. No. Bill Pantele is worried that corporate campaign contributors will funnel their money to county politicians rather than Richmond council-members if the city passes humane labor standards for city jobs. Should we forgive him for failing to even comprehend the language of compassion and justice? Probably not. He is a greedy man, hard-wired to the whims of rich elites.
Although voicing his support for Living Wages, Hilbert followed Pantele's lead by attempting to shirk responsibility his authority over the situation, for unscrupulous use of public dollars and his stewardship of public welfare. Marty Jewell, who helped found the Richmond Coalition for a Living Wage in 2000, was on point during his short time on the stage. However, he also has a debt to pay to those of us who have been singing his praises for years, our brightest hope for a progressive city council. His strategic alliance with cowboy Doug Wilder has not resulted in a Living Wage ordinance or even cooperation from the mayor's office.
In the end, I think we have reason to believe that our elected representatives will feel consequences for their inaction. Accountability may finally enter their vocabulary. This time, perhaps it will come from the people, rather than headline-grabbing federal indictments.
Rather than focus on negativity any further, I think we should read the role-call of those who stood up for the working poor on this night. This list was read off at the beginning of the event and it really set a tone. Each congregation was greeted with thunderous applause for turning out such a significant number of people from their congregations.
First Union ------------ 11 in attendence
Crusade for Christ ----- 70
Ginter Park Presb. ----- 78
Bon Air Presb. --------- 95
2nd Baptist Church ----- 65
St. Paul's Episc. ----- 17
Islamic Center -------- 57
*RCLW members carpooled with 15-20 working poor and homeless Richmonders. All of whome stood and were recognized for enduring the city's addiction to temp labor.
When RISC mobilizes for their next action, will you help them fill the pews? How about the seats in City Hall? How about a public rally? After this great event, I think we should all staying tuned for the next step in this campaign.