$103.39 for SWOP-FREE for you!!

So far, we have made $103.39 from searches and online shopping for SWOP-
so easy to do and it’s FREE!

We have something new and exciting we'd like to share with you! It’s the new SouthWest Organizing Project toolbar – once added to Internet Explorer or Firefox, each time you shop at more than 1,300 stores (from Amazon to Zazzle!) a percentage of your purchase will automatically be donated to SouthWest Organizing Project – at no cost to you (and you may even save money as the toolbar provides coupons and deals as well!).

The toolbar also has a search box and each time you search the Internet, about a penny is donated to SouthWest Organizing Project.

http://www.goodsearch.com/toolbar/southwest-organizing-project

Pajarito Mesa Video

High Country News has posted a video that provides a really nice snapshot of life on Pajarito Mesa. The residents of the Mesa have been struggling for decades to bring adequate services to their community, and SWOP has been fighting along with them. Construction has finally begun on a water filling station which will open later this year.

The video for High Country News was put together by Cally Carswell and focuses on the efforts of Organizer Sandra Montes and her experience in bringing water and other services to Pajarito Mesa.

Illegal dumping is just one of the hardships that burden everyday life on Pajarito Mesa, an unincorporated rural community southwest of Albuquerque. Because it's more than 150 miles from the Mexican border, the community doesn't meet the official federal definition of a colonia. But by all other standards - lack of access to drinking water, electricity, sewage systems and adequate housing - living conditions on the mesa are little different than those found in the hardscrabble settlements near the border.

Check out HCN's Pajarito Mesa video here.

Combined Reporting Not A Job Killer

Combined Reporting is a proposed tax reform that would close the loophole which allows large, multistate corporations to avoid paying state income taxes. Combined reporting rules can help generate millions of dollars in state revenue. Pop quiz: Can you name the one western state that doesn't require combined reporting? That's right: it's The Land Of Enchantment!

Legislators take a look at combined reporting again this month as they try to balance the state budget. Business groups oppose combined reporting, saying that it will scare off large corporations and the jobs they bring to the state- a myth debunked by a new report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP). The report analyzes 78 multistate companies with more than 250 jobs in New Mexico and finds that 71 of them already conduct business in states that require combined reporting. In fact, many of these companies' headquarters are located in combined reporting states!

The report is authored by Michael Mazerov, senior fellow at the State Fiscal Project, CBPP. From his report:

"The question, however, is whether the dislike that some multistate corporations harbor toward combined reporting will actually result in harm to the economy of a state that adopts it. Would its adoption by New Mexico cause existing corporations to leave the state or... would corporations not presently doing business in New Mexico be dissuaded from doing so by combined reporting?

The data on the facility location decisions of major New Mexico employers discussed above provide significant evidence that the answer to both questions is "no." This conclusion is supported by the job-creation track record of the combined reporting states and by academic studies as well."

If small businesses and families pay their fair share of taxes, shouldn't large companies like Mal-Wart? Or should we continue protecting corporations from the cruel, cruel world while our State services crumble?

Read an article on combined reporting in New Mexico here and read the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities report here.

SWOP Executive Director Robby Rodriguez on Environmental Justice

A key moment in SWOP’s history is highlighted in the current edition of the High Country News. In 1990 we sent a letter to ten large mainstream environmental organizations that challenged them to expand their definition of environmentalism and to look to communities of color for leadership. The letter was signed by a broad cross section of our allies in the environmental justice movement. A briefing paper was written by SWOP back in 1990 explaining the reasons for the letter.

The High Country News article describes the reasons for the letter, along with reflections today from those big 10 organizations about the impact of the letter. We recommend reading that article in light of the 1990 briefing paper.

The focus on what we call “the letter to the group of 10” but is referred to by others as “the SWOP letter” was paired with an article about organizing in Mountainview, a low-income, Chicano community in Albuquerque that is inundated with pollution from industrial facilities. To be honest, we find this article to be an incomplete account if its intent was to represent the achievements of the EJ movement. We also think it does a disservice to the residents of Mountainview who for the last 20 years have remained committed to transforming their community, and who deserve all the credit for keeping the struggle alive.

To follow are the thoughts of SWOP Executive Director Robby Rodriguez about the environmental justice movement. Later this year, look for our own take in our Voces Unidas magazine about how things have changed since the Letter to the Group of 10, and about the EJ movement itself.

Environmental Justice: A Vision for Change

A High Country News Blog, by SWOP Executive Director Robby Rodriguez

“The Environment for us is where we live, work and play.” Jeanne Gauna, SWOP co-founder and longtime co-director crystallized the inspiration and sentiment of the environmental justice movement with this simple yet profound idea. In addition to transforming and reinvigorating the environmental, labor, indigenous and civil rights movements, environmental justice established a vision for change so bold and revolutionary that we are just now beginning to realize both its wisdom and impact.

The genius behind Jeanne’s mantra and the environmental justice movement’s vision is the understanding that the key to shifting public consciousness toward living sustainably and in harmony with Mother Earth was including people and the economy as part of the ‘environment’ conversation. The environment for us is also where we pray and go to school. In other words, the decisions we make to protect the environment need to include and be grounded in our everyday reality.

Like the First People of Color Summit on the Environment held in 1991, the SWOP Letter to the Group of Ten was a landmark event and a galvanizing moment for people of color throughout the United States. The summit and the letter brought us together, and were also our way of of reaching out to the mostly white environmental movement—a necessary challenge to broaden their perspective and deepen their analysis or risk becoming irrelevant and ineffective. Policy solutions needed to include a lens toward racial and economic justice. So, interesting as it may be to learn the perspectives of the recipients of the SWOP letter twenty years later, it would be perverse and one dimensional to measure the environmental justice movements success only through the eyes of those who helped exacerbate the crises of environmental racism in the first place, because the aims of the EJ movement were much larger than transformation of mainstream environmental organizations.

There are obvious successes of the environmental justice movement. Executive Orders on Environmental Justice signed by President Clinton and New Mexico’s Governor Richardson are examples of the environmental justice movement’s influence on policy at the highest levels. The Obama administration’s appointments of EPA Chief Lisa Jackson and Green Jobs Czar Van Jones are examples of the leadership the EJ movement has produced. Additionally, and probably more importantly, grassroots organizations are responsible for countless ordinances and regulations passed within cities, counties , tribes, and states throughout the country that work to protect human health and the environment from the type of pollution that is causing our global ecological crisis.

The not so obvious success of the environmental justice movement is the impact its vision has had on our narrative of how we as people interact with Mother Earth. The Principles of Environmental Justice wove a narrative of social change grounded in the values of equity, justice and sustainability. It is a solution oriented story that is anchored by the notion that a rising tide will lift all boats. Today, concepts like green jobs, a green economy, renewable energy, zero waste, corporate responsibility and triple bottom lines, have all seeped into the mainstream of public consciousness.

And although this expanded definition of the environment is becoming mainstream, we obviously must deepen our work and our challenge to power. Last December in Copenhagen, corporate heads of state failed to make the necessary agreements to save us from ourselves. Our society runs the risk of embracing energy solutions that continue to cause extremely serious localized pollution of low-income communities of color—like nuclear energy and coal, neither of which can ever be green or clean. Every day, our corrupt political system makes it incredibly hard for communities all over the world, including the community of Mountain View, to realize their dream of living in a clean and healthy environment.

The environmental justice movement united urban, struggling suburban and rural communities from every corner of the country under a tent that connected and reframed key and timely concepts like conservation, sustainability, health, workers’ rights, corporate responsibility, indigenous sovereignty, the economy and democracy. It also situated our struggle within a larger international movement for global justice. It hasn’t been easy work and it certainly has had its ups and downs but we did it. And we’re still doing it. The environmental justice vision of change was and still is a road map of how we can transform the greatest crises we’ve ever encountered into our greatest opportunity.

Report: Less Than Half Of NM Households Have Internet Access

The Social Science Research Center (SSRC) recently published a report of their findings in New Mexico, which indicates that there is a serious digital divide in our state. Less than half of New Mexico households have access to the internet, a serious problem in the modern world.

This article by Gloria Williams investigates the impact of internet access in New Mexico in the wake of the SSRC report. In the article, Andrea Quijada of the New Mexico Media Literacy Project touches on the importance of the internet:

"As all information gets moved online, people's very real lives depend on the Internet, from public assistance, to immigration statues, to health, to education, to people's right to live with self-determination."

These issues are important today because the Federal Communication Commission is currently developing policies around Internet usage. Groups like NMMLP and SWOP are pushing for the FCC to adopt principles of net neutrality and universal broadband, to assure that the Internet is controlled by the people that use it and accessible to everyone.

Not surprisingly, telecom corporations are opposed to these ideas.

Tomás Garduño On Your Call Podcast

SWOP's Mass Based Political Organizer Tomás Garduño was a guest on the Your Call podcast today, as part of a conversation in response to President Obama's State of the Union address last night. Here is part of Tomás' response when asked about concern among the Latino community that immigration only got a passing reference in the speech:

"The Latino community is not a single-issue community but immigration is a very serious issue for us, particularly around workers' issues, broadly speaking, in the U.S. The fact that Obama led with language about "securing our borders" when speaking to immigration reform should be of serious concern for everybody... It's important to understand where President Obama fits in the broader social justice movement."

Check out the podcast here.

What did you think about President Obama's speech?

Howard Zinn (1922-2010)

It was with great sadness that SWOP heard of the death of Howard Zinn on January 27, 2010. He was 87 years old and was in Santa Monica, California to present a speech when he suffered a heart attack. He lived in Massachusetts. Zinn wrote the extremely popular book "A People's History of the United States" which sold over a million copies. If you haven't read it yet, get yourself a copy and learn the real history of our country. For more on Zinn visit http://www.howardzinn.org/

SWOP was very proud that Zinn's recommended reading list was published in Rolling Stone Magazine (10/17/96) and included our "500 Years of Chicano History in Pictures," which we published in 1991.

There have been tons of accolades on Zinn and his life on the web. My favorite post was: In lieu of flowers, organize.

Howard Zinn, ¡Presente!

U.S. Social Forum Website Is Live

The U.S. Social Forum website is live and awaiting your mouse click. Find out more about the forum, the people and places involved, and the issues that are at stake. Contribute to forums, join the email list, and register for the Forum in Detroit this summer!

SWOP is going to be there in full force in June, but don't wait for us to get involved. Check out the USSF '10 website- www.ussf2010.org -and keep checking back here for local updates.

Rey Garduño Op-ed

The Albuquerque Journal ran an interesting Op-ed by City Councilor Rey Garduño on Monday. If you have a Journal account, you can read it here.

Councilman Garduño encourages President Obama and Congress to implement a large-scale public works program to put people to work and help the country get back on it's feet. From the article:

"Jobs created through a federal jobs program should pay good wages and have strong labor protections. There are a number of ways to pay for this kind of program. One idea is to place a small fee on financial investment transactions, which some economists say could raise $100 billion a year. Given our bailout of Wall Street, such a tax would be a just way to bail out main street."

I don't know, Rey. Invest in communities? Sounds kinda crazy.

Haiti Benefit Tonight!

SWOPistas...let's keep it going! Here's a benefit for Haiti we support.

RISE UP! NEW MEXICO STANDS WITH HAITI

a benefit concert event

Thursday January 28th 7:00 pm

Albuquerque Little Theatre

224 San Pasquale SW
Albuquerque, NM

$10.00

All net proceeds will go directly to Direct Relief International's efforts in Haiti
www.directrelief.org

a multi-genre evening of music featuring:

R A H I M A L H A J

S O U L K I T C H E N

A S P E R K O U R T

P O E M A

M A R I A C H I M Y S T E R Y T O U R

Tickets available at ALT Box Office
by phone: 505-242-4750 ext. 2
online at: www.albuquerquelittletheatre.org
or at the door

If you can't make the concert, WATCH the FREE LIVE STREAM at http://MusicFromtheQ.com

PLEASE DONATE to Direct Relief International Now > http://DirectRelief.org

Presented by Avokado Artists, Albuquerque Little Theater, ¡Globalquerque! and Music From The Q
_________________________________________________________________________________

The Performers:

RAHIM ALHAJ
Two-time Grammy nominee (most recently 2010), Iraqi oud virtuoso and composer Rahim AlHaj is no stranger to hardship. A refugee from his home country where he was jailed and tortured over a two year period, Rahim has found a new home in Albuquerque even as his star has risen internationally. He has performed and recorded with master musicians from around the globe. Next month he will perform as part of the Cultural Olympiad at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver. This September he will release an amazing project entitled Little Earth: Voices For Peace, a two-CD set which feature Rahim's compositions performed in collaboration with the likes of Bill Frisell, Robert Mirabal, REM's Peter Buck, Maria de Barros, Lui Fang, Guy Klucevsek, Yacouba Sissoko, Argentina's Santa Fe Guitar Quartet and many others.

SOUL KITCHEN
Something of an ABQ super group, Soul Kitchen features vocalist extraordinaire Hillary Smith, winner of Albuquerque the Magazine's 2009 Best Vocalist and whose latest CD No Easy Way walked away with five 2009 NM Music Awards including Best of the Year), guitar hero Chris Dracup (Albuquerque the Magazine's 2009 Best Musician and musical journeyman Tommy Elskes, who has done everything from perform with the likes of Lyle Lovett and B.B. King to writing songs for The Flintstones! Together they are much more than the sum of their parts. Soul Kitchen creates a dynamic blues-drenched soul that musically wanders somewhere between Saturday night revelry and Sunday morning redemption.

ASPER KOURT
Even though he refers to Jack Johnson, Ben Harper, and John Mayer as musical favorites, Asper Kourt’s singer-songwriter Kevin Herig writes and plays music in a class all his own. While he does pull from his influences to gain inspiration, most of Herig’s songs and lyrics are wittingly and expressively written about his own personal experiences. Still a very young group - Asper Kourt formed in 2007 with Mat Beston (Bass), Nate Boitano (Lead Guitar), Kurt Sorenson (Keyboard) and Heath Warren (Drums & Percussion) - the band was recently voted Best Local Band Headed for Stardom by Albuquerque the Magazine. Their fan base continues to grow throughout the southwest and beyond. In November 2008, Asper Kourt recorded their first EP, Changing Times which was released nationally February 23, 2009.

POEMA
Although they didn’t necessarily know how it would play out in their future plans, music has always played a key role in the lives of Shealeen and Elle, two sisters (19 and 17 years old, respectively) who’ve discovered that songwriting is a pretty great vehicle for saying exactly what’s on their minds. Unlike many siblings who spar and fight at the drop of the hat, Shealeen and Elle’s don’t use their songs to vent their frustration against each other. Instead, the lilting melodies and memorable harmonies they’ve created only underscore the beauty of collaboration. With song inspiration ranging from a Pride & Prejudice moment of hopeless romanticism (“Safe to Say”) to an ode to a shall-remained-nameless member of the opposite sex (“Blue Sweater”), Shealeen and Elle love serving up these melodic slices of life. Recently signed to indie label Tooth & Nail, look for Poema's new CD later this year.

MARIACHI MYSTERY TOUR
Lorenzo and Rob Martinez grew up in a musical family headed by their father Roberto, the patriarch of New Mexico's legendary Los Reyes de Albuquerque. They cut their teeth as part of their father's band, with which they still perform. Along the way, Lorenzo became a National Endowment for The Arts Heritage Fellow. What is maybe less known, is that while the Martinez hermanos are committed to their New Mexican music roots, they have an abiding love of pop and rock music, having performed and recorded such music collectively and separately over the years Their latest project brings together two parts of their musical worlds: the song canon of the Beatles done ala mariachi! It is a musical fusion that is flawlessly executed and a whole lot of fun!

Very Special Thanks to the following folks for their help and spirit: Michael Davenport at Expressive Artists Management, Andres Martinez, Dennis Gromelski at the Cell Theater, Nancy Laflin at the NM Music Commission, Carrie Wells at City of Albuquerque Film Office, Neal Copperman at AMP Concerts, Joseph Wasson, Jr. at National Hispanic Cultural Center

PLEASE HELP SPREAD THE WORD!

www.avokado.net
www.albuquerquelittletheatre.org
www.globalquerque.com

Tom Frouge
Avokado Artists
505-771-3166
tfrouge@cabq.gov


Brad Stoddard
Producer/Director
Music From The Q
MusicfromtheQ.com
b@bradstoddard.net
505-440-7034

Anthony DellaFlora
Producer
Music From the Q.com
tcempire@mindspring.com
505-440-9987

Better Choices In The Roundhouse

The Better Choices New Mexico coalition held their press conference yesterday in the Capitol Rotunda and SWOP was there to help make sure our voices were heard. The message from dozens of groups was clear: close corporate tax loopholes, fix our regressive tax structure, raise revenue and stop the cuts to essential programs.

Youth Coordinator Emma Sandoval spoke on the importance of supporting our youth and the programs that are underfunded year after year. Senators Peter Wirth, Dede Feldman and Tim Keller voiced their support, as did Representatives Rick Miera and Ken Martinez. Mayor of Santa Fe David Cross, representatives from faith-based groups, union leaders, and a host of social advocacy groups were there to show their support.

Hopefully, the Governor and legislators heard the message and will explore all the options for balancing our state budget without further cutting essential programs.


Here's a video of Sen. Peter Wirth, courtesy of The New Mexico Independent:

Roundhouse Press Conference Tuesday

Please join us next Tuesday, January 26th, at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe, where we'll join with our allies in the Better Choices New Mexico coalition in demanding that our state legislators hold the line on further cuts to crucial state programs and services.

We'll be holding a press conference in the Rotunda at 10:45. Several unions are serving lunch at noon to benefit a furlough fund for state workers who were forced to take five days off without pay. We'll then make the rounds communicating with individual legislators.

If you'd like to join us, please be at the SWOP office at 9:00 AM Tuesday morning. We'll return to Albuquerque by 2:30 PM.

Please RSVP so we can plan for transportation and lunch.

SWOP Office
Phone: 247-8832
Address: 211 10th Street SW, Albuquerque, NM (downtown)

WHAT: Better Choices New Mexico Press Conference & Lobby Day

WHO (Speakers): Mayor of Santa Fe - David Cross
NM Conference of Churches
Santa Fe Alliance
Senator Peter Wirth
SWOP
AFT/NM
Representative Rick Miera
NEA/NM
NM Coalition to End Homelessness
HANM
Senator Dede Feldman
AFSCME
League of Women Voters/NM
CWA Local 7076

WHERE: New Mexico State Capitol Building Rotunda

WHEN: Tuesday, January 26, 2010, 10:45am

Better Choices New Mexico unites New Mexico's faith community, working families, small businesses and nonprofit social advocacy groups that believe it is harmful to scale back investments to education, health care, services and public safety.

SWOP 2010 Census Awareness Campaign needs your help

SWOP is about to begin our 2010 Census Awareness campaign, and we need your help. We will be door knocking and phone banking to create awareness about the 2010 Census with the residents of the South Valley over the next month.

Join us this Saturday, January 23rd, from 9:30am to 2:00pm at the SWOP offices for a short training, and then hit the doors to get our community excited about the Census. We will continue Door knocking and phone banking Monday – Thursday from 5pm – 8pm and Saturdays 10am – 2pm until the last weekend in February.

What: SWOP Census Awareness Campaign Kickoff
When: January 23, 2010

Time: 10:00am - 2:00pm

Where: SWOP Organizing Office at 1000 Park Ave.
Why: Get our community educated and ready to participate in the 2010 Census

Please bring a jacket, walking shoes, and a water bottle. We will provide snacks and coffee.

We are looking for volunteers for the entire campaign. If you cannot make it on Saturday please contact me and we can schedule you for a time that works for you.

Michael Montoya
Mass Base Organizer
(505) 247-8832 (ext.124)
michael@swop.net

Happy Martin Luther King Day

We Need An Open Internet

The FCC got a big stack of truth dropped on it's desk today as stories and comments from rural, urban, low income, Latino, Native American and African American communities urged the Commission to champion an open internet. The comments, organized by advocacy groups including Media Action Grassroots Network, ColorofChange.org, Presente.org, Applied Research Center, Afro-Netizen, National Association of Hispanic Journalists, Native Public Media and Rural Broadband Policy Group, were in response to the proposed rule making "In the Matter of Preserving the Open Internet and Broadband Industry Practices."

From the press release:

"Like telephones, the Internet is increasingly an essential part of everyone's daily lives," says Malkia Cyril, Executive Director of Center for Media Justice, which coordinates the Media Action Grassroots Network (MAGNet). "Ensuring strong rules to keep the Internet free and open for communities in the midst of a widening digital divide is fundamental to a vibrant and representative democracy, and cultural and human rights."

So, what do you think? Should large companies be able to limit your access to information over the internet or do we need strong Net Neutrality rules?

Attention: Youth Who Like Cool Stuff

Are You Interested in Media?

Is Social Justice Important to you?

Are You Between 13 and 17 Years Old?
Join the
KUNM YOUTH RADIO Project

• Learn how to serve the community through interviews, roundtable discussions, and blogging!
• Learn how to Produce Radio!
• Be a part of a unique and exciting Youth Media Project!
• Learn how to Engineer and Broadcast!
• Be an on-air music DJ/Write a Commentary!
• Meet other cool teens who are passionate about media, civic engagement and youth as leaders!

If you can commit 10 hours per week to training, preparation and on-air broadcast and want to find out more, contact Roberta Rael at 730-2728 ASAP.

Visit the Youth Radio website to learn more: kunm.org/youthradio or go to Facebook: KUNM YouthRadioProject

KUNM Youth Radio is committed to diversity and equality in recruitment.

The Census Is Coming! April 1st!

Our community's political future and over $400 billion are at stake!

Every 10 years the United States conducts a count of EVERY person that lives here. This includes renters, homeowners, documented and undocumented residents. The data from the US Census is not only used for a count but also to allocate federal funds as well as federal representation and to re-draw local political districts. Some of the federal programs that rely on federal funds include highways, head-start, veteran's assistance, waste/water management, reading programs, public healthcare, public libraries, youth recreation, and student loans. This all comes from data collected from the Census.

In this time of economic chaos, New Mexico deserves as much of the federal money we can get. The 2000 Census only counted 60% of our residents! That is almost half of the federal funding we lost that we could desperately use right now!

How can you help?

Fill out and mail back the census form for every person that lives in your household most of the time. This includes babies, elderly, foster children; everyone including those living in RV's or vehicles at your home- if they lived there on census day, April 1st, they should be counted. Encourage your relatives, friends and neighbors to fill out the form wherever they may be. Remember: your information is confidential and cannot be shared with anyone. This includes even the President of the United States!

How else can you help?

Apply to work for the Census. Right now the Census is hiring people in our community to work in the Question and Answer Centers (QAC) as well as various other positions including field workers (Enumerators) and field crew leaders. You will earn good pay and be paid weekly. If you are considering applying you must be able to speak English, but people who have bilingual skills are needed in communities where a large number of residents primarily speak other languages like in the SE heights (International District) and the South Valley where more than 26 different languages are spoken. If you have the appropriate language skills and cultural knowledge to communicate well in your community, we encourage you to apply! You will have to pass a short test as well as a background check. Testing sessions are offered every day including weekends. There are part and full-time positions with flexible hours including on weekends. Pay ranges from $9.75 to $14.50 an hour.

If you are interested or have any questions please contact our Census Rep., Sherri Gonzales at tnysherri@yahoo.com or (505)685-5440

Invincible and Finale Photos

A big "thank you"- THANK YOU - to everyone that came to check out the concert on Saturday night. Burque artists like People's Republic and Bat Wings For Lab Rats were on the same stage as Detroit's dynamic duo of Invincible and Finale. The performers were excellent, the vibe was awesome and the crowd was great. Albuquerque represented itself well and our guests from around the country had nothing but good things to say about our city.

The National Planning Committee for the US Social Forum has dispersed back to their hometowns across the country for now, but we can't wait to see you all again in Detroit this summer!

If you're interested in participating in the Social Forum, go to their website or contact SWOP and find out how to get involved: (505) 247-8832

Carlsbad Complete Count Committee

The Carlsbad Compete Count Committee held its fifth meeting on January 7, 2010 at the local SWOP office and made final decisions on the 2010 Census campaign. Those in attendance were, SWOP Field Organizer, Kathy Kelly, Linda Ramirez, Nick Salcido, Irene Runnels, Ethyl Hurd, Tommy Orgain, Kristy Beasley, Ashley Ramirez and Eric Luna (our newest member). We want to welcome Eric aboard as he turned out to be an awesome asset to the cause. He fell right in with great ideas and gave valuable contact information for getting our banners, stickers and magnetic signs at a cheaper rate than previously quoted.

We want to give a special thank you to Sherry Gonzalez, Census Specialist Assistant for providing us with additional DVD's of "Portrait of America" that we will be using at the local Drive-In to help spread the word to get our locals to take part in the surveys once they receive them.

During the meeting SWOP presented Linda Ramirez, Nick Salcido and LULAC with certificates of outstanding achievements for their continuing support of SWOP and for being community activists throughout the years.

So it's "full steam ahead" for the CCCCC. We will make that difference in the upcoming 2010 Census ensuring that "EVERYONE BE COUNTED!

Reminder: Town Hall

WHAT: Fiscal Crisis Town Hall

WHERE: Barelas Community Center
801 Barelas Rd SW
Albuquerque, NM

WHEN: Thursday, January 7th @6pm

Workshop With Detroit Hip Hop Artist Invincible

Join us this Friday the 8th at 6:00pm in the SWOP youth office (211 10th Street, youth office is located in the back) for a workshop with Invincible around Hip Hop and Media Organizing. Come meet and talk with some of the youth working to build and create a youth presence at the 2010 US Social Forum and find out how you can get involved. Dinner will be provided.

For more info please contact Emma Sandoval: (505)353-2941

Invincible and Finale at the Launchpad Saturday

SWOP is working with the U.S. Social Forum National Planning Committee to present For the Love of Hip Hop this Saturday at the Launchpad. Detroit artists Invincible and Finale will be performing along with various local artists as a fundraiser and awarenessraiser (I made that word up) for the US Social Forum that will be held this summer in Detroit.

Hundreds of organizers from all over the country will be in Albuquerque this week, strategizing in anticipation of the Social Forum. Come to the show this Saturday and join the build-up to the US Social Forum this summer!

Fiscal Crisis Town Hall

Please join us this week for a Town Hall meeting on New Mexico's fiscal crisis!

New Mexico's Legislative session begins in a few short weeks, and our state legislators will be engaged in a huge debate about how to close the budget deficit. On the table are a wide range of revenue raising options as well as proposals to cut much-needed programs and services.

SWOP is holding a Town Hall on New Mexico's state fiscal crisis this Thursday to talk about what led us to the current financial difficulties and what steps our state needs to take to make it through these tough economic times. Please join us!

WHAT: Fiscal Crisis Town Hall

WHERE: Barelas Community Center
801 Barelas Rd SW
Albuquerque, NM

WHEN: Thursday, January 7th @6pm

Light refreshments will be provided. Please RSVP if you need English to Spanish interpretation.

Hope to see you there!!

US Social Forum & SWOP on KUNM's Espejos de Aztlán Tonight!

Tune in to Espejos de Aztlán tonight Monday, January 4, 2010 at 7:00pm MST on KUNM-FM, when we will discuss the upcoming US Social Forum in Detroit, and this week’s meeting in Albuquerque of the National Planning Committee of the USSF.

The US Social Forum is a space provided to social movement organizers, organizations and institutions, as well as activists, to develop and strengthen their relationships and their work. Over 180 New Mexicans participated in the first USSF in Atlanta in 2007, and over 20,000 participants from throughout the United States are expected in Detroit for USSF II June 22-26 of this year.

We will have with us tonight Emma Sandoval of the SouthWest Organizing Project, Genaro López-Rendón of Southwest Workers Union in San Antonio, Texas, Cindy Weisner of the Grassroots Global Justice Alliance. Also we will have Detroit-based hip hop artist Invincible with us, talking about culture and the importance of Detroit as the site of the upcoming Social Forum. Invincible will be performing this coming Saturday night at the Launchpad in downtown Albuquerque along with local artists as part of a benefit for the USSF.

That’s all tonight at 7:00pm on Espejos de Aztlán, produced by the Raices Collective of KUNM. 89.9 FM Albuquerque, Santa Fe, 88.7 Socorro, 90.9 Arroyo Seco, 91.9 Las Vegas, 91.9 Española, 91.9 Nageezi, 90.5 Eagle Nest, 91.1 Cuba. Also streaming online at http://kunm.org/listen/.

Forget that SunCal TIDD

SunCal Corporation has been sued for $180 million by several lenders who loaned money for the purchase of the 55,000 acre Atrisco Land Grant on Albuquerque's west side. Apparently, the land was included in collateral the company put up for the loan, so it's possible that the land could be seized by the three lenders, Barclays, Five Mile Capital and iStar Financial. This isn't a certain outcome--as the ABQ Journal reports in its article, SunCal could also negotiate an extension with the three lenders.

But if the land is seized, what happens then to the vast tract of land that until 2006 belonged to the Westland Development Corporation, which in turn was formed decades ago to manage the property on behalf of the Atrisco land grant heirs?

Most likely it would be carved up and sold off.

Let's conjecture further. What if the State Legislature had given bonding authority for the $400 million TIDD obtained by the company back in 2008, before the massive real estate crash that has brought SunCal Corporation to its knees? SunCal is a giant California real estate company that has faced bankruptcies and foreclosures in other states. If New Mexico had given the company the $400 million tax revenue stream it requested, it's conceivable that instead of simply asking, "What will become of the land?", we'd also be asking "What kind of project will be built with our tax dollars?" OR "Will anything be built with our tax dollars??"

As far as we know, the INCREDIBLY FlAWED state statute that governs tax increment development districts doesn't say anything about what happens to a TIDD funded project if the developer goes belly up. The bonding happens on the front end, which locks in the tax dollar revenue stream.

It's time the state legislature revisited the state statute and removed the provision that allows tax dollars to be handed over for large, brand new developments planned for undeveloped land on the outskirts of our cities.

The faltering of SunCal illustrates best the kind of risk government should not be taking on. After all, government isn't a business, contrary to the rhetoric we often hear.

Action Alert: Speak Up for Indian Country TODAY

SWOPistas!

Speak Up for Indian Country TODAY:

Include Indian Health Care Improvement Act in the Senate Health Care Reform Bill!

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (NV) and the Senate continue to debate the Senate Health Care Reform Bill - "The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act."

Senator Byron Dorgan (ND) has introduced Senate Amendment 2923 that would add the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA) to the Senate bill.

Indian Country is close to realizing the reauthorization of the IHCIA but it is not a done deal yet!

The next step is to include the IHCIA amendment into a potential "Manager's amendment." Doing so would ensure that the IHCIA is included in the Senate health care bill and passage of IHCIA this year.

Action Needed: Contact Senator Reid and Your Senators TODAY!

Tell Senator Reid and Your Senators:

1. WE SUPPORT Senator Dorgan's amendment to include the Indian Health Care Improvement Act into the Senate health care reform bill.

2. The Indian Health Care Improvement Act is a TOP PRIORITY FOR INDIAN COUNTRY.

3. To support a healthy Indian Country, Senator Reid needs to include the IHCIA Amendment in his manager's amendment.

To Contact New Mexico Senators:

Senator Jeff Bingaman:
(202) 224-5521

Senator Tom Udall:
(202) 224-6621

Here is an excellent article in the New York Times describing why this is important:

New Hopes on Health Care for American Indians

By PAM BELLUCK

The meeting last month was a watershed: the leaders of 564 American Indian tribes were invited to Washington to talk with cabinet members and President Obama, who called it “the largest and most widely attended gathering of tribal leaders in our history.”

Topping the list of their needs was better health care.

“Native Americans die of illnesses like tuberculosis, alcoholism, diabetes, pneumonia and influenza at far higher rates,” Mr. Obama said. “We’re going to have to do more to address disparities in health care delivery.”

The health care overhaul now being debated in Congress appears poised to bring the most significant improvements to the Indian health system in decades. After months of negotiations, provisions under consideration could, over time, direct streams of money to the Indian health care system and give Indians more treatment options.

Read the rest here.

Climate Change & Copenhagen

An article in USA Today about the climate solution summit in Copenhagen this month shines a light on Sister Joan Brown, ecology minister in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe as well as Albuquerque resident, who will be attending the summit to help arrive at long-range solutions to emissions of greenhouse gases. Her words, from Brian Winter's article:

"I'm going to speak the truth to the delegates there, and try to educate people back here," she says. "It's our obligation for posterity to leave a world that exudes the beauty of the Creator for future generations."

The article also mentions that faith groups from around the world have very different views on the climate change dilemma. This will be an interesting debate to participate in and contribute to...

SWOP Holiday Party!

Students, Others Denied at APS School Board Meeting

SWOP youth representatives attended an APS school board meeting Wednesday night to speak on the need for equal access in schools. Many other organizations were there as well to echo a similar idea- that if there is a military influence in schools, there needs to be other opportunities as well. Unfortunately, Board Chair Marty Esquivel decided that listening to his constituents was a little too bothersome for him, and kicked out dozens of people waiting to make their public comments.

Maybe Esquivel hopes that this whole "equal access" issue will go away. Well, it won't. Parents think it's important, students think it's important, the local media thinks it's important, and we here at SWOP think it's important. And since they were denied their right to a public forum, we'll just have to discuss it here. Here's what some SWOP members intended to discuss at the school board meeting last night:

Lillian Fernandez: "Hello my name is Lilian Fernandez, a junior at Nuestros Valores Charter School. When attending Rio Grande High School, they didn't provide us with the opt-out form, I didn't even know opting-out from providing info to military recruiters was an option. Being at Nuestros Valores really opened my eyes to different organizations that can provide us with resources. We need to enforce the equal access policy so that organizations other than the military, like SWOP, can provide low income students of color with resources."

Samantha Montaño: "I am a junior at Rio Grande High School. Many of the students who attend are low income and from families of color. Rio Grande has a 72% drop out rate. Many people say that youth just don't care but that's not true. Youth do care, but we don't have enough resource to be successful. I put my name on the councilor's list almost every day and I am never called out. I am barely learning about FASFA and other scholarships and it's not through my school. I'm getting the help from a non-profit organization. My mom is a single mother raising four kids on her own and trying to make ends meet. I want to make my mom proud and go on to college, but right now my school isn't helping with the colleges. College recruiters aren't even allowed on campus but military recruiters are there all the time. I want all youth to have all the resources they need to go to college and make something out of their lives. As a young woman of color, I want to make a change for my generation and succeed in this world in ways other than joining the military."

Don't Segregate the Internet

The Center for Media justice, Afro-Netizen and Free Press published an excellent column today discussing why Network Neutrality is one of the most important civil rights issues we are facing today.

Basically, we have to demand an open internet that is available to all people and ideas, not just the interests of major telecom corporations. The authors- Malkia Cyril, Chris Rabb, and Joseph Torres- make an excellent case for Net Neutrality and explain how the internet can create a segregated environment that seriously restricts free speech.

If that's not enough, there's also a video of Glen Beck explaining why Neutrality is evil. So you know it must be good!

Marty's legacy...bulldozing a sacred site...ghetto-izing young people...

One of former Mayor Marty Chavez's legacies mentioned in yesterday's Albuquerque Journal was that he built a road "at" the Petroglyph National Monument...which of course begs to be corrected.

Chavez built a road "through" the Monument...a Sacred Site to indigenous people.

Another was that he removed graffiti. Fine. He also denigrated young working class youth of color for engaging in their art form. Remember when he pulled the plug on the Rock Out With Your Cause Out event planned for Civic Plaza? He said it was because our "graffiti battle" was "ghetto-izing" the city. But in fact, he was "ghetto-izing" SWOP youth. We noticed recently at a city hall sponsored event on civic plaza a similar event--organized by a decidedly different set of people--with one activity focused on "aerosol art." If only we had known the proper term for graffiti battles...

To us, Marty was paternalistic and vindictive, which in the press is euphemistically referred to as "hard to get along with." Disagree with the guy and you're chopped liver--forever. No wonder he seemed in constant conflict with the Council...it was an attitude that permeated how he did business. 

To the larger world, we think out of all his accomplishments Marty will be known as the Mayor of Sprawl for his roads and boosterism of rampant home building on the west side. And he never met a tax break for big corporations he didn't like. These actions are at odds with steps he made toward sustainability in the city proper, which are laudable. Overall it's a legacy in conflict with itself.

That may be appropo, though, given that he seems a man in conflict with himself. He may have been Mayor three times, but at every step he was trying to leave for another office.

Well, we wish him good luck in the future. He has drive, determination, and smarts...and in a venue that doesn't include his thumb on the common space we all share, we think he has the potential to do great things.

LULAC Trophy Finally Finds it's Way Home!

Back in September of '09 Carlsbad-SWOP participated in the annual 16th of September Parade and took third place in the group category. For three months we have been trying to get our trophy (the correct one) since we were given the wrong one, and I am happy to report, it's home! We are very proud of this achievement and look forward to winning 1st place next year!

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

Carlsbad was hit hard by a winter storm on Monday December 1, 2009. We got 6-8 inches of the beautiful "white stuff" throughout the city and had several power outages because of the heavy snowfall. The roads were slushy by 8:00am and schools were delayed for 2 hours. This is the most snow Carlsbad has seen for quite sometime.

"By the time I had a chance to take some pictures alot of the snow had started melting" says Kathy Kelly-SWOP Field Organizer-Carlsbad. Makes our Christmas season more realistic for a change. Hope we have more of this cold flaky snow the week of Christmas! Let the "Snowman building began"!

The Story of Cap & Trade

The creative media minds at the Story of Stuff Project have just released their latest short film, The Story of Cap & Trade. It's a creative, interesting, cute short film about the current climate solutions debate.

As The Story of Cap & Trade website says, "if you've heard about cap and trade, but aren't sure how it works (or who benefits), this is the film for you."

Check out the website and see their other short film, The Story of Stuff.

Here's a short teaser for the new film:

Action Alert: Protest proposed denial of student right to drive!

The Public Education Department will conduct a public hearing on December 14, 2009 from 10 a.m. to 12:00 p.m to obtain input on a proposed state rule that ties a student’s academic proficiency in math and reading and school attendance to whether that student may receive a New Mexico driving instruction permit.

This is not a real solution to the struggles that underachieving students encounter. We need to support, fund, and encourage under achieving students, not punish them. This policy hurts families and is out of touch with the realities of students. Denying students the right to drive particularly hurts low-income families that already have limited access to transportation option to get to and from work, and to get their children to and from school. High school students in lower-income communities in particular rely on their ability to drive to get to much needed jobs and activities.

This proposed punishment is reactive to a problem that our state as a whole has with education, and it unfairly penalizes communities that can least afford it.  There are BETTER proactive solutions out there to helping young people graduate from high school.

Year after year our state dropout rate and test scores are some of the worst in the country, and this year we have some of our worst drop out rates ever. The state's Education Fund got cut also. When are we going to stop scapegoating students and realize that our education system has major problems that we can only fix by encouraging, funding, and supporting students, especially underachiever students?

We ask you to come support us at this very important meeting--to submit testimony about how important access to transportation is for all people, but particularly for young people who are becoming productive citizens for society.

The public meeting at which testimony needs to be given is on December 14th from 10am to 12 pm at Mabry Hall, Jerry Apodaca Education Building, 300 Don Gaspar, in Santa Fe. 

Please join us! But if you can't travel to Santa Fe, you can send your comments to:

Willie Brown, Office of General Counsel, Public Education Department, Jerry Apodaca Education Building, 300 Don Gaspar, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501.

Written comments must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on December 14, 2009. We would also like to see what you had to say--please send a copy to Swop as well. Our address is 211 10th Street SW, Albuquerque, NM, 87102.

Thank You!
Samantha Montano and Lilian Fernandez, SWOP youth interns

Youth Want Equal Access in Schools

The military presence in public schools has been a concern of SWOP youth for years, and the debate continued at a recent APS board meeting public forum.

Samantha Montaño, a SWOP youth intern, spoke at the forum and shared her personal experience at Rio Grande High School, where military recruiters are a much larger presence than college recruiters or prospective employers. SWOP youth have been denied an equal opportunity to speak with students and let them know that war includes things other than "leadership development."

The military has done a good job of turning public schools into a pipeline for feeding young people directly into service. Other organizations need to have a presence in schools to let the students know that they have options.

Check out the Albuquerque Journal article to see Samantha's comments.


Other interesting notes from the article...

Under the No Child Left Behind Act, schools are required to provide the military with students' contact information.

Military-style leadership programs are also being developed in Middle Schools.

Court Grants SWOP, CCP Full Attorney's Fees

State District Court Judge Judith Herrera ruled yesterday that the State of New Mexico must pay $72,000 in attorney fees and costs to the Center for Civic Policy and the Southwest Organizing Project.

In 2008, our organizations were forced to seek protection in federal court against Secretary of State Herrera’s decision to require New Mexico Youth Organized and Southwest Organizing Project to register as “political committees.”

In August, Judge Herrera issued a decision granting summary judgment in favor of the nonprofits, ruling that the speech of NMYO and SWOP is protected by the First Amendment - and the Secretary of State is without power to regulate it.

Despite the decisive victory in District Court and despite the clearly settled law in this area, New Mexico Attorney General Gary King has decided to appeal the ruling to 10th Circuit Court. If that appeal is unsuccessful, it could cost taxpayers even more in attorney's fees and costs.

SWOP is pleased with the ruling but not with the position our organizations have been put in by the Attorney General and Secretary of State. While we fight for accountability in public offices and quality of life for all New Mexicans, the state wastes tax payer dollars trying to shut us up. SWOP and CCP have the resources to defend ourselves, but many other local organizations aren't so fortunate. The recent trend of political attacks against nonprofits is something we all need to be aware of as we continue to defend ourselves.

Anyway... if they're this mad with us, we must be doing something right!

Click the links to read more coverage of the court case:

http://www.swopblogger.org/2009/08/ya-bast-federal-judge-upholds-swop.html
http://www.swopblogger.org/2009/08/non-profits-and-free-speech.html

$5 Friday This Friday!

Hope you can make it. Contact Marisol with questions: 247-8832 ext. 126; marisol@swop.net

Come break bread with SWOP.

$5 will buy you a variety of wonderful foods and fantastic company!

When: Every 3rd Friday of the month, 12pm

Where: SWOP Main Office; 211 10th St SW

Why: To hang out with SWOPistas and have great food!

Call for Latina/o Writers

Somos un escrito is a new online literary magazine designed to provide exposure to Latino/Hispano writers. They are sending out a call to writers of Chicano, Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban or any other Latino origin to submit their manuscripts.

Armando Rendón, the author who is launching the revista, believes that the Latino community in the U.S. needs to excel in literary endeavors as it has in music, sports, the fine arts, business, and science. This online magazine is designed to take advantage of the internet as an outlet for talented Latino authors.

Somos un escrito accepts all forms of literature in English or in Spanish. The magazine's website is www.ollin.com/somos and submissions can be emailed to somossubmissions@gmail.com

So dust off that old short story you were working on or start a new poem or essay and submit your work!

Come attend our Self Awareness Workshop…

This November 21st, we are going to have a Self Awareness Workshop at the SWOP youth office. The workshop is from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. and lunch will be provided. The workshop will be about centering and self awareness; anyone can come, bring family and friends. THIS WORKSHOP IS MADATORY FOR ALL COIN YOUTH!!! Don’t miss out on a GREAT OPPORTUNITY!!! We guarantee you will have a lot of fun!!!

The Workshop will be held at the SWOP offices
at 211 10th St. SW. For more information please contact Emma @ (505)353-2941
office: (505)247-8832 ext.123 or email: Emma@swop.net.

Lou Dobbs Leaving CNN

After months of pressure from multiple campaigns trying to oust him, Lou Dobbs is finally leaving CNN. This is a great victory for our communities- not just because we silenced his anti-immigrant rhetoric, but because we came together and demanded that hatespeech be removed from the airways.

Congratulations and thank you to everyone that participated to the Basta Dobbs campaign!

Search "Basta Dobbs" in this blog to follow our coverage of the campaign.

http://www.bastadobbs.com/blog/2009/nov/11/bastadobbscom-announces-victory-lou-dobbs-leave-cn/


Dobbs announces that he is stepping down.


Roberto Lovato of presente.org explains the Basta Dobbs campaign.

The fight to reclaim the media isn't over yet... keep checking this blog to find out about our latest work for media justice!