~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Brittney Berry: Low Pay Is Not Ok

03/23/2015 Nativegrl77

I’m Brittney Berry of the organization Low Pay Is Not Ok, and I started a petition to U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez which says:

Four out of five fast-food workers have been burned on the job—most repeatedly, many badly.¹ To make matters worse, many fast-food restaurants don’t even have a properly-equipped and accessible first aid kit and try to treat workers’ injuries with mustard and other condiments instead of getting them the treatment they need. It is unconscionable that fast-food companies value their own profits over basic safety for their workers. I urge you to investigate the fast-food industry’s failure to provide safe working conditions or proper treatment for severe injuries.

Sign Brittney’s petition

An expectant mother is told by her manager to treat a bad boiling-water burn with mustard. Mustard.

A fast-food worker gets third-degree burns from a blisteringly hot, totally unsafe fry lamp.

A cook sears the entire palm of his hand on a too-hot grill—and his supervisor makes him work for hours before getting it treated.

This is the truth about the serious, painful and often permanent injuries that occur every single day in fast-food kitchens across the country. Dangerous conditions, insane “first-aid treatments” like mustard and butter on burns, and poor management have led to this: Four out of five fast-food workers have been burned, most repeatedly. That’s 2.8 million workers burned this year.²

Call on the Department of Labor to investigate an industry that is putting millions of fast-food workers’ health and safety at risk every day.

Click here to add your name to this petition, and then pass it along to your friends.

Thanks!

–Brittney

Sources:

1. “Survey Of Fast Food Workers: Some Bosses Told Employees To Use Condiments As Medical Supplies”, CBS New York, March 17, 2015
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=303566&id=109984-17809870-sW0blux&t=1

2. Ibid.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Davan, L.A. Times

03/23/2015 Nativegrl77

Today’s Headlines

A Cuban tale
As a Cuban Jew, Frida Zaitman could have left many times. “I could have gone to Israel; they pay everything,” she says. She stays not so much out of loyalty to a land that gave her family refuge from the Holocaust. Her touchstone is her friendship with Magda Danger, an 88-year-old Afro-Cuban. Tracy Wilkinson weaves together a poignant and peculiarly Cuban story.

Light a candle for this “botánica”
If you’ve visited downtown L.A. lately, you may have noticed that Latino businesses are being replaced by stores catering to the new DTLA (as hipsters call it) gentry. Farmacia Million Dollar, which sells bath washes, statues and candles for people seeking solutions to everyday worries, is the latest mainstay on the Broadway corridor battling for survival. Read Brittny Mejia’s story on a changing downtown.

He made Singapore Inc.
Once asked whether straight-laced Singapore — where even chewing gum was barred — would ever lighten up, Lee Kuan Yew replied: “I hope never…. We’d have more poor people in the streets… more drugs, more crime, more single mothers and delinquent children, a troubled society and a poor economy.” That’s vintage Lee, who died Sunday at 91. Read how he transformed a backwater city-state into one of the world’s most successful business centers.

~ my 2cents ...

Ferguson bias

03/23/2015 Nativegrl77

just another rant …

Ferguson is back in the news and most of the media whether from the states or overseas describes Ferguson as an “embattled city” has also had some positive changes happen since that DOJ report.

This report not only informed America that a small town has been under control, it has been used as a revenue source and subject to search seizures stops while driving ,shopping, walking for just being black. Ferguson is 67% black 85% cited and those residents make up 93% of all arrests. However, their police department is about 96% white and if you listen to the Mayor or police officials their excuses are that far and few Blacks apply, or are not qualified to be on the force. The DOJ report in my opinion validated what residents were saying after Mike Brown was killed, some say has been going on for years possibly decades lest we include comments about other “Ferguson’s” all over our country is obviously disturbing. It is now our 21st Century reality that comes from fear, politicians who get votes from fear mongering and a learned behavior culture that should be followed and reformed as the DOJ report suggests even if this scathing report comes from outside authorities. Yet, after watching the press conference, the viewer gets the idea that the information from that DOJ report is devastating, brutal and based on fact though Ferguson officials appear to be acing like they are going to stall or shove immediate changes to the back burner. We all saw Mayor Knowles reaction and it may have been a natural response by folks in leadership or those in positions of power, but the longer they wait to implement change the tougher it will be to hold his title even if folks have been leaving or supposedly fired. This finding by the DOJ was validating and clearly just the beginning as real change will take elections that replace the problem and get those into office that will have the courage to diversify Ferguson. They need leaders that create solutions, take responsibility and not run or hide from it. Finding out that some of these people in leadership positions will be paid for a year is offensive. I object to paying people who clearly ignored, avoided, closed their eyes or participated quietly if those emails were sent out in-house only with racial slurs or bias is on the backs of those leaders in the police department.

Anyway, I was checking my email looking at blogs when a blogger exercising their 1st amendment rights seemed to have sparked a response from me and as stated on their blog ~~ feel free to respond and that response is below …

This is just my opinion and quite possibly it has some ill feelings attached, but maybe you should re-read your entry because you constantly state that you only know what is being reported yet you write.

“In my mind’s eye I can almost envision some backward baseball cap vigilante thinking to himself/herself that he or she was taking the appropriate action required to “Take Murica Back.”

I hope folks know that what gets reported can be subjective and while there are several reports from Wednesday are that the shots came from across the street, which they say were almost a block down, behind and away from where the peaceful protestors were. It was also reported that police drew guns within seconds on what seemingly were peaceful protestors even while there was “agitation” prior to the shooting and quite possibly “outside agitators.” We all need to be reminded that this is also something that has not occurred since August, which could very well mean someone from the outside was at it again and or it could have been a resident. I want to make sure you know believe me anyone who shoots at civilians and or police for no reason are guilty, but you have decided to tell your readers what that looks like and that is just wrong. Why, because we do not know if the shooter/vigilante had a backward baseball cap yet. Unfortunately, this seems to be code for “black male” and if that assumption is wrong, I would definitely stand corrected. I was taught to know, that not all white folks are bad, racists , wear White Hoods, feel like overseers, slave owners or as if what’s needed is to put absolute control over a community that is over 67% Black 85%cited and 93%arrested fined and has been the police/town revenue …fundraiser since who knows how long

Black History

the Senate CONGRESS 3/23 the House

03/23/2015 Nativegrl77

The Senate stands adjourned until 12:00pm on Monday, March 23, 2015.

Following any Leader remarks, we expect Senator McConnell will move to proceed to consider the budget resolution. Prior to adjourning on Thursday, Senator McConnell announced that senators should expect at least one roll call vote on an amendment to the budget at 5:30pm.

Budget Resolution

By voice vote, the Senate adopted the motion to proceed to the consideration of S.Con.Res.11, setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2016 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal year 2017 through 2025.

Under the law governing the Budget’s consideration, there will now be up to 50 hours for debate equally divided on the concurrent resolution. Each first degree amendment is subject to 2 hours for debate equally divided and second degree amendments are subject to 1 hour for debate equally divided. We expect to vote on a few amendments each day. Upon the use or yielding back of time, the Senate will dispose of any pending amendments. There is no limit to the number of amendments that can be offered at the end of the debate time and before a vote on adoption of the concurrent resolution. As a result, there will be a number of roll call votes at the end of that time. We expect to begin the so-called “vote-a-rama” around noon on Thursday.

Debate time today

Debate time today will be controlled as followed:

The time until 1pm equally divided between the managers or their designees (20 minutes on Democratic side)

1-2pm under the control of the Majority

2-3pm under the control of the Democrats

3-4pm under the control of the Majority

4-5pm under the control of the Democrats

5-5:30pm equally divided

5:30pm vote/s expected tonight

At 5:30pm we expect to vote in relation to amendments to the Budget resolution. We are told the Republican’s first amendment will be on a deficit neutral reserve fund on medically complex children in Medicaid offered by Senator Portman. Senator Sanders intends to offer the first amendment on the Democratic side on infrastructure. Another message will be sent when the votes are scheduled. We expect to vote in relation to the Portman and Sanders amendments tonight, not necessarily in that order.

Quorum calls equally divided

By consent, all time in quorum calls will be charged equally to the resolution.

Use of calculators on floor and tablets by managers at the managers’ desks only

Also by consent, for the duration of the Senate’s consideration of S.Con.Res.11, the Majority and Democratic managers of the bill while seated or standing at the managers’ desk will be permitted to deliver floor remarks, retrieve and edit documents, and send email and other data communications from text displayed on wireless personal digital assistant devices and tablet devices. The Use of calculators will be permitted on the floor during consideration of the budget resolution. This agreement does not alter the existing traditions that prohibit the use of such devices in the Chamber by Senators in general, officers and staff. It does not allow the use of videos or pictures, the transmitting of sound, even through earpieces, for any purposes, the use of telephones or other devices for voice communications, any laptop computers, any detachable keyboards, the use of desktop computers or any other larger devices.

Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony on Tuesday at 3:00pm

There is a Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony honoring Jack Nicklaus on Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. in the Rotunda of the Capitol. We expect the Senate to be in session during the ceremony, but roll call votes are not likely.

Joint Meeting with the President of Afghanistan on Wednesday at 11:00am

On Wednesday, at 11:00 a.m., His Excellency Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, the President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, will address a Joint Meeting of Congress in the Hall of the House of Representatives in the U.S. Capitol. Senators will gather in the chamber at 10:35am and depart as a body to the Hall of the House of Representatives at 10:40am. The Senate will be in recess for the joint meeting.

The Sanders amendment #323 (infrastructure) to S.Con.Res.11, Budget, is pending. We hope to reach an agreement to vote in relation to the amendment around noon tomorrow. The Republicans may have a side by side to the Sanders amendment, but nothing has been filed yet.

Below you will find a list of amendments, in no particular order, that have been mentioned as amendments that could be offered in the first part of the week. None of the amendments listed have been filed, other than the Sanders amendment, and thus text is not available at this time.

Sanders infrastructure

Republican side by side to Sanders infrastructure

Portman-Medically complex children in Medicaid

Cornyn-President’s budget

Dem side by side?

Ayotte-Choice card

Dem side by side

Blunt -Carbon tax

Dem side by side?

Barrasso-WOTUS (EPW water rule)

Dem Side by side?

Mikulski-equal pay for equal work

Fischer-Ayotte side by side

Dem -Social Security

Republican side by side

Murray -Sequester

No Republican side by side at this time

The following amendments are pending to S.Con.Res.11, Budget:

Sanders amendment #323 (infrastructure)

5:30pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #19, William P. Doyle, of Pennsylvania, to be Federal Maritime Commissioner.

Confirmed: 89-0.

The Doyle nomination was confirmed 89-0.

Senators should expect a roll call vote in relation to Sanders amendment #323 (infrastructure) at noon tomorrow, with at least one additional roll call vote in the stack before lunch (likely in relation to yet to be named side by side to Sanders).

The Senate is in a period of morning business with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each. There will be no further roll call votes today.

When the Senate resumes consideration of S.Con.Res.11, Budget, there will be 38 hours of debate time remaining.

WRAP UP

Roll Call Votes

Confirmation of Executive Calendar #19, William P. Doyle, of Pennsylvania, to be Federal Maritime Commissioner; Confirmed: 89-0.

Legislative Business

Executive Business

===============================================================

Last Floor Action:
8:25:01 P.M. – SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House continued with further Special Order speeches.

Last Floor Action: 3/19
1:59:55 P.M. – The House adjourned pursuant to a previous special order.

The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on March 23, 2015.

12:00:30 P.M.		The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
12:00:34 P.M.		The Speaker designated the Honorable Steve Womack to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
12:00:54 P.M.		MORNING-HOUR DEBATE – The House proceeded with Morning-Hour Debate. At the conclusion of Morning-Hour, the House will recess until 2:00 p.m. for the start of legislative business.
12:15:42 P.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 P.M. today.
2:00:20 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of March 23.
2:00:24 P.M.		Today’s prayer was offered by Reverend Elias Correa-Torres, O.S.B., Belmont Abbey, Belmont, North Carolina
2:01:52 P.M.		The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.
2:01:55 P.M.		PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Pittenger to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
2:02:13 P.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches.
2:06:41 P.M.		The House received a message from the Clerk. Pursuant to the permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she had the honor to transmit a sealed envelope received from the White House on March 20, 2015, at 2:24 p.m., and said to contain a message from the President whereby he transmits the District of Columbia’s Fiscal Year 2015 Budget Request Act.
2:07:08 P.M.		The Speaker laid before the House a message from the President transmitting the District of Columbia’s Fiscal Year 2015 Budget Request Act. – referred to the Committee on Appropriations and ordered to be printed (H. Doc. 114-19).
2:08:04 P.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for approximately 4:00 p.m. today.
4:00:37 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of March 23.
4:00:43 P.M.		The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until a time to be announced.
4:00:48 P.M.	H.R. 233	Mr. Stivers moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 233 — “To allow reviews of certain families’ incomes every 3 years for purposes of determining eligibility for certain Federal assisted housing programs.”
4:01:36 P.M.	H.R. 233	Considered under suspension of the rules.
4:01:37 P.M.	H.R. 233	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 233.
4:09:12 P.M.	H.R. 233	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
4:09:14 P.M.	H.R. 233	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
4:09:45 P.M.	H.R. 360	Mr. Pearce moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 360 — “To reauthorize the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996, and for other purposes.”
4:09:55 P.M.	H.R. 360	Considered under suspension of the rules.
4:09:57 P.M.	H.R. 360	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 360.
4:38:45 P.M.	H.R. 360	At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
4:39:32 P.M.	H.R. 216	Mr. Miller (FL) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 216 — “To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit to Congress a Future-Years Veterans Program and a quadrennial veterans review, to establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs a Chief Strategy Officer, and for other purposes.”
4:39:44 P.M.	H.R. 216	Considered under suspension of the rules.
4:39:46 P.M.	H.R. 216	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 216.
4:49:31 P.M.	H.R. 216	At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
4:50:45 P.M.	H. Res. 162	Ms. Ros-Lehtinen moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution. H. Res. 162 — “Calling on the President to provide Ukraine with military assistance to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
4:51:07 P.M.	H. Res. 162	Considered under suspension of the rules.
4:51:10 P.M.	H. Res. 162	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 162.
5:24:44 P.M.	H. Res. 162	At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
5:25:17 P.M.	H. Res. 53	Mr. Royce moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended. H. Res. 53 — “Condemning the cowardly attack on innocent men, women, and children in the northeastern Nigerian town of Baga.”
5:25:35 P.M.	H. Res. 53	Considered under suspension of the rules.
5:25:37 P.M.	H. Res. 53	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 53.
5:49:09 P.M.	H. Res. 53	On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
5:49:16 P.M.	H. Res. 53	The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
5:49:22 P.M.	H. Res. 53	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
5:50:00 P.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 6:30 P.M. today.
6:30:40 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of March 23.
6:30:55 P.M.		UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question on adoption of motions to suspend the rules which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
6:31:35 P.M.	H.R. 360	Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 360 — “To reauthorize the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996, and for other purposes.”
6:59:59 P.M.	H.R. 360	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 297 – 98 (Roll no. 130).
6:59:59 P.M.	H.R. 360	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
7:00:00 P.M.		MOMENT OF SILENCE – The Chair asks that the House now observe a moment of silence in remembrance of our brave men and women in uniform who have given their lives in the service of our Nation in Iraq and in Afghanistan and their families, and all who serve in our Armed Forces and their families.
7:02:30 P.M.	H. Res. 162	Considered as unfinished business. H. Res. 162 — “Calling on the President to provide Ukraine with military assistance to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
7:09:28 P.M.	H. Res. 162	On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 348 – 48 (Roll no. 131).
7:10:03 P.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.
7:18:04 P.M.		Board of Directors of the Office of Compliance – the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader appointed pursuant to section 301 of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1381), as amended by Public Law 114-6, the following individuals on March 23, 2015, each to a 2-year term: Mr. Alan V. Friedman, Los Angeles, CA; Ms. Susan S. Robfogel, Rochester, NY; and Ms. Barbara Childs Wallace, Ridgeland, MS..
7:19:17 P.M.		SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.
8:25:00 P.M.		Mr. Woodall filed a report from the Committee on Rules on H. Res. 163.
8:25:01 P.M.		SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House continued with further Special Order speeches.

8:59:34 P.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is subject to the call of the Chair.
10:05:37 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of March 23.
10:06:12 P.M.		Mr. Curbelo (FL) asked unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 9:00 a.m. on March 24. Agreed to without objection.
10:06:15 P.M.		Mr. Curbelo (FL) moved that the House do now adjourn.
10:06:16 P.M.		On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.
10:06:17 P.M.		The House adjourned pursuant to a previous special order. The next meeting is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on March 24, 2015.

=====================================================

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Tennessee State Alum helps Immigrant helps others adjust to new life in Nashville

03/23/2015 Nativegrl77

28th & Jefferson

That’s where Hassan fell in love with the idea of helping other new Americans, and he went to Tennessee State University to get a degree in political science. His entire college tuition was paid for with a few grants and two part-time jobs.
Since graduating, Hassan has started a consulting company to help other new Americans, and he has purchased a coffee shop where fellow Africans gather. Hassan spends many hours outside work helping those who have recently immigrated to Nashville.
“My favorite part of coming to America – leaving a place where there were no options in life, coming to a place that is increasingly challenging and rewarding at the same time,” he said.
“Here, despite challenges, you are the driver of your destiny.”