New York City

Hello!

I've moved to NYC and its been loads of fun. I'm surrounded by friends and family and am feeling more fulfilled by the work and creative outlets every day.

I have been working as an organizer with New York Communities for Change and have learned a tremendous amount in the 6 short months here so far. I have been organizing on the Brooklyn Team, a fantastic group of mostly local folks who know how to get shit done and have a good time. I'll never forget these people. My bosses and mentors at the organization, especially Harold Miller, have taught me so so so so much about organizing, life, balance and New York City.  Its been great exploring so many neighborhoods at this job and the folks in the community I'm organizing with are great.

The living situation has also been pretty ideal. I live in Bushwick in Brooklyn in the McKibbin Lofts with a revolving door of artistic and dynamic roommates and houseguests. The current incarnation of the core squad in our 8 bedroom house is sleek, solid and amazing.

Halloween was a hoot but Hurricane Sandy has really made a profound impact in NYC. Occupy Sandy has been doing a great job.  It has inspiring to see neighbors and communities coming together in this difficult time.

Tonight a collective of 19 individuals came to our apartment to try to start something new. Basically a locally based news, arts and culture blog and video hub. Its going to be revolutionary and incredible, stay tuned for more updates. The next meeting is Sunday the 18th at 7 for a potluck dinner and 8 for the meeting if you want to swing by leave a comment or call me or whatever.

Happy fall everyone!

Millions Suffer Under Anti-Immigration Policies

Over two million immigrants enter the United States each year, more than any other country in the world. In general, they come looking for work; to build a better life for themselves, their children and their families back home. Yet immigrants, in particular those from Latin America, are regularly and explicitly targeted by ill-conceived policies, proposed by Republicans and Democrats alike. These restrict the ability of many to live normal lives and to participate fully in the American economy.

Ironically, U.S. foreign policy may have encouraged immigration. With the establishment of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1993, American corporations began manufacturing in Mexico. According to Aaron Schneider, political science professor at Tulane University, “the intensification of the integration with our economy makes life more difficult for people in their country.” A spike in Mexican immigration soon followed NAFTA.

Now, economic pressures caused by the recession, together with heightened security concerns following 9/11, have shaken up the immigration reform debate. Conservatives argue that widespread legal immigration will lower wages for all Americans. Yet, according to Marshall Fitz, director of Immigration Policy at the Center for American Progress, immigrants “are overall a net benefit, and clearly so, to the national economy.” Furthermore, says Casa de Maryland advocacy specialist Helen Melton, “the buying power of the immigrant population here is huge.” She adds, however, that “a lack of political power limits the access to opportunities they need.”

Concerning 9/11, Fitz says that, “the state of the immigration debate changed … in an instant.” The attacks re-framed immigration as a homeland security and anti-terrorist issue, with fatal consequences. According to Schneider, “Our securitization has made the border more dangerous, which is why we see more deaths [of people irregularly crossing]”.

This has not stopped controversial anti-immigrant initiatives, such as “Secure Communities”, from being introduced in Arizona and Alabama. Schneider argues that criminalizing immigration “scare[s] workers out of organizing, [and] keeps wages low and jobs bad.” In many places, however, immigrant rights activists are kicking back with vociferous opposition. Moreover, evidence suggests that Latino emigration resulting from “Secure Communities” has actually hurt their local economies. “There are disparate impacts” says Fitz. “Some border communities feel the strains, in their hospitals and school systems for example, more than others”.

During a recent Republican presidential debate on foreign policy, Newt Gingrich said he was willing to “take the heat” for advocating for a more “humane” approach to immigration policy. Yet, while guest worker initiatives such as the H-2A Program have been tried before, contemporary paths to citizenship such as the Agricultural Job Opportunities, Benefits, and Security Act (AgJOBS) and the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act (DREAM) have been shot down by the Republican congress.

Meanwhile, Fitz says, the Obama administration’s failure to push significntly towards immigration reform has been “very, very harmful to that relationship [between Democrats and Latinos].” Luckily for the Administration, Fitz reflects, “the Republican candidates are absolutely batshit crazy on this.”

Estimates suggest there are approximately 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the U.S. As long as America sells the American dream to the world, it will face tough questions. For Schneider, the most pertinent are: “why people move, why people suffer in transit, and how people fit in to our society.” For now, the most that can be agreed on is that the current system does not work.

Originally published for the Occupied Washington Times on January 3: http://owt.occupydc.org/millions-suffer-under-anti-immigration-policies/

The Beginning is Near

by Tara Vivian
 
 
A wake
 
A path
 
Creosote soaked
 
Black, translucent, petrified leaves
 
Fracture and burn
 
Inside of skull
 
 
 
Pellet breath
 
And a heart roaring, destroying
 
These souls no longer
 
Flat and cut from a flag of
 
Blood, lies and idolatry
 
 
 
Red, white and hypocrisy
 
Terror in peace packed, moon-caked boots
 
A nightmare purpose on this plane
 
 
 
Christmas bulbs snap between teeth
 
Our lacerating smile of
 
Crimson teeth in a blood filled mouth
 
Swallow. Rise.
 
We will no longer stay silent.