Fix the Economy, NOW!

Fix the Economy, Now!

Layoffs, home foreclosures, stagnating wages, benefit cuts, bankruptcies, vanishing retirement security and more, OH MY. We are facing the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. Jobs with Justice and other groups have been mobilizing to demand strong, immediate action to create jobs and restructure our economy to work for everyone, not only the people at the top.

President Obama and Congressional leaders are developing a recovery and reinvestment plan that addresses immediate economic needs, creates jobs and invests in the infrastructure America needs for recovery. It will also invest in America's families and America's workforce by ensuring that states can fund the services they depend on, including health care, public safety and education.

We have already seen and heard much regarding the Patterson’s proposed budget cuts to education and we already know what devastating affects these cuts will have on a city like Buffalo. The depletion of State funding stream to Buffalo has and will continue to cut essential programming, hurt our already floundering public schools, and inevitably grow the already staggering 7.2% unemployment rate. We are hit hardest in Buffalo, a city already deep in it’s own depression, and we need a Plan that prioritizes the People

This plan will not fix all our problems and is not the end of the campaign, but it is an essential immediate step that will create jobs and invest in renewable energy, energy efficiency, transportation, schools and health care.

While some progressive economists believe this plan will not be big enough or bold enough to stem the crisis, conservatives in Congress are trying to block the plan, apparently copying the Herbert Hoover strategy of responding to crisis by doing less, rather than more. Some Republicans have argued for more CEO tax breaks, rather than funding for unemployment insurance or food programs for hungry children.

Don't let them block the first step towards recovery. Don't let Congress sit idly by while millions more Americans lose their jobs and homes.

Already the politics of Congressional negotiations have plagued the Recovery and Reinvestment Plan. We need a strong economic stimulus package, and caving to narrow special interests is a surefire way to stall the process and prolong the passage of a much needed plan!

Late last week the House Appropriations Committee approved an amendment in the "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009" that would require all businesses and public private entities that contract to receive money from the stimulus package to use E-Verify, the flawed federal program that is riddled with error and has been documented to promote workplace discrimination.

The E-Verify provision in the stimulus will:

• Harm workers who are either falsely denied work or are targeted by employers abusing the E-verify program;
• Create substantial new burdens for businesses, especially small businesses, at precisely the wrong time;
• Send the wrong signal to new voters that the Congress prefers to play politics by enacting symbolic and ineffective immigration "enforcement" measures over serious and effective economic stimulus or serious immigration reform.

Please call your Congressional Representatives and tell them you SUPPORT a Stimulus package for the rest of us, for all of us!

Partnership for the Public Good

One of CEJ's core values is Coalition Building. Parallel to that and just as valuable is community based economic development. A few years ago, as part of a state effort to develop regional economic development plans, CEJ in bringing together over 20 organizations to vision a revitalized Buffalo. This initial meeting was the birthplace for the Partnership for the Public Good, a project of CEJ.

The Partnership for the Public Good's (PPG) premise is that Buffalo does not need to start from scratch in seeking revitalization and it does not need to chase silver bullets or throw itself on the mercy of big business. Rather , we need to patiently cultivate assets such as our highly skilled workforce, many universities, historic architecture, location near the border, waterfront, cultural diversity, locally owned, independent business, active non-profit community, and rich hostory. The deep and broad collaboration was launched to promote a community-orientsed vision of reitalized BUffalo. PPG is a thing-and-do tank that will perform research and advocacy and will support the efforts of the broad array of organizations working to breath new life into Buffalo.

Last year, PPG crafted a 10 point platform that over 30 organizations endorsed. The platform encopassed city, county, and state legislative issues ranging from housing and vacancy, living wage expansion, good government reform and investments in our arts and culture.

Just recently, the PPG developed a 2009 platform. Representatives from 30 different organizations participated in crafting this document and already organizations are endorsing the plaform to demonstrate public support.

To find the full list of 2009 priorities and more information on the Partnership please refer to the wiki site.

2009 Living Wage

The Living Wage, based on the annual Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA), is as of January 1st, 2009, at $10.31 an hour for employees with health benefits and $11.57 for those without. Currently, the Living Wage in the city of Buffalo applies to all city employees and employees of companies that contract with the City, due to a law passed over 10 years ago through City Hall. CEJ fought long and hard to see the law upheld and in 2007 pressured public representatives to not only enforce their own policy, but to amend the law to include the COLA.

The New Year, including the impending "Greatest Depression," offers an opportunity to reflect on the need for innovative initiatives to stimulate the economy and protect ALL Americans, not just the obscenely wealthy. We have seen what an unregulated Market can offer, economic chaos and social devastation. The bailout of Wall Street and the "Big 3" Automotive Manufactures are too recent to see fully the ripple effect of those "stimulus" packages, however, it's not too recent to watch CEO's walk away from their failed financial institutions with tax payers money and the freedom of immense wealth. The Wall Street bailout or stimulus package were intended to, oddly enough, stimulate, boost, breath new life into the economy, and instead were pumped back into the pockets of the very same individuals who created the mess to begin with, and back to individuals who are more likely to save or invest their money then SPEND their money.

Living Wages. Even as we watch Wall Street burn, their still exists severe reservations and criticism regarding alternative stimulus options. It's a fairly simple argument; Pay low-wage workers more than a minimum wage. Low-wage earners are more likely to spend their money locally, boosting Main Streets everywhere. The fear is that Living Wages will destroy jobs, but their is no proof of this. Researchers have returned to Baltimore, Maryland, the first city to enact a living wage law back in the early '90's and have shown that job loss due to Living Wages is statistically negligible.

Truly beyond any economic argument, is the moral argument. It seems in direct defiance of all faiths to employ individuals at wage levels that KEEP them in POVERTY. We are a Country that places defines self worth by employment and material wealth, and yet, our policy makers, our public representatives are more than willing to veto legislation that would allow those who work to make livable wages. This is truly about what is fair and just for all, not just the few. It's unclear whatever happened to inalienable rights.


For basic facts on Living Wages, please see the fact sheet created by the Economic Policy Institute.