2011 - Blogs - TheBlackList Pub2024-03-28T14:03:45Zhttps://www.theblacklist.net/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/2011"Black Wall Street Kansas City" will host the 3rd Annual 2012 National Black Wall Street Conventionhttps://www.theblacklist.net/profiles/blogs/black-wall-street-kansas-city-will-host-the-3rd-annual-20122011-10-31T10:28:56.000Z2011-10-31T10:28:56.000ZMark S. Allenhttps://www.theblacklist.net/members/MarkSAllen<div><p>"Black Wall Street Kansas City" will host the <br />3rd Annual 2012 Black Wall Street USA National Convention</p><p>OAKLAND NATIONAL HQ - In the official record for the recent 2011 Black Wall Street USA National Convention & General Delegates Session in Gary, Indiana resolution BWSUSA11-07 was introduced by Rev. Michael Carter, Sr., National Chairman. This move adds Kansas City, MO as an official Black Wall Street USA District. A second resolution, resolution BWSUSA11-08 was introduced and states that the Black Wall Street District Kansas City, MO will event plan and direct the 3rd Annual 2012 Black Wall Street USA National Convention in October 2012. The resolution was introduced by General Parker who is Chairman of Black Wall Street Peoria, IL.</p><p>The event planning team for the 2012 Black Wall Street USA National Convention will be lead by Theodore McFedders who was appointed as the new Black Wall Street District Kansas City chairman. "This is a great move in the Spirit of Tulsa and Oakland" said Mark S. Allen, Chief of Staff to the national president. Allen directed, maintained and once again brought a calming Spirit to a trying and often testing 2011 convention weekend.</p><p>Black Wall Street District Kansas City, MO will receive in exchange for event planning 100% of 2012 Convention sponsorships, booth fees and all promo advertising. Black Wall Street USA National will receive all 2012 Convention registrations directly through online registrations at BlackWallStreet.org, including new and renewed Black Wall Street USA memberships.</p><p>McFedders is CEO of Kansas City-based World Wide Distribution Network (<a href="http://www.worldwideone.net">www.worldwideone.net</a>). World Wide Distribution Network is one of the premire product distibution networks in the country. McFedders said, "God said clearly to him, after bringing you back form two heart attacks, I (God), have provided you with everything you need to build a Black Wall Street District in Kansas City"</p><p>The Kansas City disrict team development of the selected area will take about 8-10 months. The team will use the14 year old (Tulsa 181 years) template provided by Black Wall Street USA to target and expand a physical community & business district in the Kansas City area. McFedders will oversee the establishment of an official board of directors, the drafting of articles of incorporation, adoption of bylaws, business and merchant support and development.</p><p>Commenting on next Autumns Convention, Carter, Sr., said, "This is not a spiritual movement yet, it's a movement In the Spirit, which will soon cause a genuine Spiritual movement"</p><p>For latest news about registrations and the 3rd Annual 2012 Black Wall Street USA National Convention visit <a href="http://www.BlackWallStreet.org">www.BlackWallStreet.org</a>.</p><p>Black Wall Street District USA is a national organization that represents 32 Black Wall Street District communities throughout the United States. Some cities Include Atlanta, Baton Rouge, Chicago-Regional (13 Districts including 47th Street in Bronzeville, E 75th Street, Madison Street, Stoney Island, Peoria, IL and Gary, IN and seven others), Kansas City, Minneapolis, Newark, Oakland, and Seattle, Washington. Black Wall Street District USA headquarters are in Oakland. For more information visit: <a href="http://www.blackwallstreetdistrict.com">www.blackwallstreetdistrict.com</a> <a href="http://www.blackwallstreet.org">www.blackwallstreet.org</a>.</p></div>The Chicago Defender Editorial - Carol Moseley Braun For Chicago Mayorhttps://www.theblacklist.net/profiles/blogs/the-chicago-defender-editorial2011-02-16T22:20:12.000Z2011-02-16T22:20:12.000ZMark S. Allenhttps://www.theblacklist.net/members/MarkSAllen<div><div class="yiv1438452520entry-content"><h1 align="center"><b>THE CHICAGO DEFENDER</b></h1><h1>We endorse Carol Moseley Braun for Mayor Feb. 22</h1><span class="yiv1438452520author"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.chicagodefender.com/articles.by.Author-1154.html"><span class="yiv1438452520yshortcuts" id="yiv1438452520lw_1297882086_0">Editorial</span></a></span> <a id="yiv1438452520thumb10079" target="_blank" href="http://www.chicagodefender.com/imgs/hed/art10079widea.jpg" class="yiv1438452520highslide" name="yiv1438452520thumb10079"><img src="http://www.chicagodefender.com/imgs/hed/art10079nar.jpg" alt="art10079nar.jpg" /></a><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:15px;">For the first time in more than five decades, there won't be a Daley on the ballot for <span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" class="yiv1438452520yshortcuts" id="yiv1438452520lw_1297882086_1"><span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1297894615_0">mayor of Chicago</span></span>.</span></p><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"></p><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Verdana;">That alone would make the Feb. 22 election historic, but it also happens to fall on the same day that <span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" class="yiv1438452520yshortcuts" id="yiv1438452520lw_1297882086_2"><span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1297894615_1">Harold Washington</span></span> was elected to his first term in 1983. There is also the promise that this election will produce a city council that actually serves its constituents, instead of doing the bidding of <span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" class="yiv1438452520yshortcuts" id="yiv1438452520lw_1297882086_3">Mayor Richard M. Daley</span>.</span></p><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"></p><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Verdana;">But this isn't Daley's election, and it isn't Harold's election. This is YOUR election.</span></p><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"></p><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Verdana;">It is your election to determine the direction of this city for the next generation, and to determine just what kind of leadership this city will have.</span></p><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"></p><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Verdana;">In pursuit of that leadership, several community groups sought to find the "consensus" candidate that would draw the support of the entire Black community. It was a process fraught with obstacles, chief being that the Black community has never been monolithic. Deciding just what is best for 1 million African Americans in this city is something that can only be left up to those 1 million people, who tend to resist being classified, and resist even more being told what to do.</span></p><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"></p><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Verdana;">But the flawed process was helpful in identifying those who were frauds, those who clearly didn't measure up, and those who simply didn't have the stomach for the kind of bare-knuckle campaigning that is Chicago politics.</span></p><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"></p><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Verdana;">And the process did draw out a candidate with an incredible set of qualifications that are head and shoulders above all others. A candidate who has proven over a stellar career of public service that has ranged from the <span class="yiv1438452520yshortcuts" id="yiv1438452520lw_1297882086_4"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1297894615_2">Illinois State Senate</span></span>, to the State's attorney's office, to <span style="background:transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;" class="yiv1438452520yshortcuts" id="yiv1438452520lw_1297882086_5"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1297894615_3">Cook County Recorder of Deeds</span></span>, to the <span class="yiv1438452520yshortcuts" id="yiv1438452520lw_1297882086_6"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1297894615_4">United States Senate</span></span> and to two ambassadorships abroad. She is one of only two candidates to win citywide office, and the only one to win a statewide office.</span></p><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"></p><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Verdana;">That candidate is <strong><span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" class="yiv1438452520yshortcuts" id="yiv1438452520lw_1297882086_7"><span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1297894615_5">Carol Moseley Braun</span></span></strong></span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Verdana;">.</span></p><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"></p><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Verdana;">We wish she had run a smoother campaign, and had not allowed herself to be drawn into petty arguments with marginal candidates. We wish that she had chosen a more politically sophisticated camp to get her message out.</span></p><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"></p><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Verdana;">But the bottom line is that of these half dozen candidates, Carol Moseley Braun is clearly the most qualified. She has expressed a vision for <span class="yiv1438452520yshortcuts" id="yiv1438452520lw_1297882086_8"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1297894615_6">Chicago</span></span> that doesn't hide behind Daley's machine, that doesn't stress Washington connections, isn't simply beholden to an association with Mayor Washington from a quarter of a century ago, isn't a quixotic exercise with marginal support, and isn't built upon community activism and little else.</span></p><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"></p><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Verdana;">While some voters will wag their tongues about "temperament," they seem to forget who is the current occupant of the mayor's office, and forget the bombast of the past 22 years. We're still embarrassed by some of the things that have come out of Richard Daley's mouth as the mayor the city. It was just Richie being Richie, and he gets a pass. It was <span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" class="yiv1438452520yshortcuts" id="yiv1438452520lw_1297882086_9"><span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1297894615_7">Rahm Emanuel</span></span> who mailed a dead fish to a pollster and is known for his "colorful" language. No one is "tsk-tsking" about Emanuel's temperament. He was Rahm being Rahm.</span></p><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"></p><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Verdana;"><span class="yiv1438452520yshortcuts" id="yiv1438452520lw_1297882086_10"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1297894615_8">Carol Moseley Braun</span></span> has apologized for her indiscretions on the campaign trail and a campaign "crack" should not undermine her 30 years of stellar public service.</span></p><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"></p><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Verdana;">That Carol Moseley Braun isn't first in the polls is not a function of her message or her qualifications, but more than likely the result of multi-millions of dollars raised by one of her opponents, who seemed to swoop back into town with the blessing of his former boss, <span class="yiv1438452520yshortcuts" id="yiv1438452520lw_1297882086_11"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1297894615_9">President Barack Obama</span></span>, and suck all of the air and suspense out of the mayoral race.</span></p><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"></p><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Verdana;">The reality is that Rahm Emanuel has not shown that he has a grasp on Chicago, with a flawed plan for righting Chicago's listing financial ship or addressing Chicago's abysmal public school problems or altering the perception that crime is running rampant in some of our neighborhoods. Emanuel had to be introduced to our neighborhoods, because he had no idea where they were, and still has no idea who lives there.</span></p><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"></p><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Verdana;">More importantly, Emanuel has shown no affinity for those 1 million African Americans in Chicago. His voting record in Washington ran counter to Black interests, and he presided over the part of the <span class="yiv1438452520yshortcuts" id="yiv1438452520lw_1297882086_12"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1297894615_10">Bill Clinton administration</span></span> that tore wide holes in the safety net under the guise of "welfare reform." His response to the question at the <span class="yiv1438452520yshortcuts" id="yiv1438452520lw_1297882086_13"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1297894615_11">Chicago Defender</span></span> debate about reparations for descendents of slaves suggested that the nation could not afford reparations because of our <span class="yiv1438452520yshortcuts" id="yiv1438452520lw_1297882086_14"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1297894615_12">budget deficit</span></span>. He doesn't suggest that Israel wait on U.S. aid while we deal with our budget deficit, but he suggests that descendents of Americans who built this nation ought to wait until economic conditions are better.</span></p><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"></p><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Verdana;">Candidate Gery Chico has tried to position himself as the anti-Rahm, and in doing so has bent so far to the right that he has even tried to fit himself under the mantle of the Tea Party (which has, as one of its main objectives, making sure Obama is a one-term president). He has since said he would not accept the Tea Party endorsement, while his campaign spokesman said it was her candidate's attempt to represent ALL Chicagoans. Whose endorsement would he NOT accept?</span></p><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"></p><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Verdana;">Chico's touting of the Fraternal Order of Police endorsement and promising to add 2,000 more police officers, in the midst of a $600 million deficit is the worst kind of pandering.</span></p><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"></p><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Verdana;">We're curious about Miguel del Valle's campaign. He seems to say the right things, but he never gives the impression that he expects to win, or even make a good showing. This race doesn't need a protest candidate, it needs a qualified <span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" class="yiv1438452520yshortcuts" id="yiv1438452520lw_1297882086_15"><span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1297894615_13">mayoral candidate</span></span>.</span></p><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"></p><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Verdana;">William "Dock" Walls is an earnest, thoughtful person, who has run in several contests. He describes his run last year for governor as a "dry run" and notes he was never on the ballot. But this is his second run for mayor, and he still has gained no further qualifications for the position beyond being an aide to Harold Washington two decades ago. Since then, aside from running for office, he has done nothing to earn a vote for this most important position.</span></p><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"></p><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Verdana;">We are also intrigued by Patricia Van Pelt Watkins. She has burst onto the scene and positioned herself as the people's candidate. However, most of her support has come from her pastor, and it is not clear what relationship her pastor would have with a Mayor Watkins. However, her energy, intelligence and outspokenness would make her an able public servant, just as her record shows she has been a good community servant.</span></p><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"></p><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Verdana;">While the pollsters suggest that there are five candidates vying for second place next Tuesday, voters don't go to the pollsters, we go to the polls. That is where we can elect the most qualified person for the job of mayor, not the one with the most money or the one who ran the best campaign or the one who has the closest ties with the outgoing mayor. This is not the time to simply throw votes at the leader in the polls to attempt to ride with a winner. That is how you get 22 years of Richard M. Daley, with a plurality of Black votes.</span></p><p class="yiv1438452520MsoNormal"></p><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Verdana;"><br />Copyright 2011 Chicago Defender<br /><br /></span></div><div class="yiv1438452520entry-footer yiv1438452520pkg"><p><span class="yiv1438452520yshortcuts" id="yiv1438452520lw_1297882086_16"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1297894615_14">Tagged</span></span> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.chicagonow.com/tags/CHICAGO+DEFENDER">CHICAGO DEFENDER</a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.chicagonow.com/tags/CHICAGO+MAYORAL+ENDORSEMENTS"><span class="yiv1438452520yshortcuts" id="yiv1438452520lw_1297882086_17">CHICAGO MAYORAL ENDORSEMENTS</span></a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.chicagonow.com/tags/CHICAGO+MEDIA"><span class="yiv1438452520yshortcuts" id="yiv1438452520lw_1297882086_18">CHICAGO MEDIA</span></a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.chicagonow.com/tags/Rahm+Emanuel">Rahm Emanuel</a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.chicagonow.com/tags/William+"><span class="yiv1438452520yshortcuts" id="yiv1438452520lw_1297882086_19">William "Dock" Walls</span></a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.chicagonow.com/tags/carol+moseley+braun">carol moseley braun</a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.chicagonow.com/tags/chicago+mayor%27s+race+in+2011"><span class="yiv1438452520yshortcuts" id="yiv1438452520lw_1297882086_20">chicago mayor's race in 2011</span></a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.chicagonow.com/tags/chicago+politics"><span class="yiv1438452520yshortcuts" id="yiv1438452520lw_1297882086_21">chicago politics</span></a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.chicagonow.com/tags/gery+Chico"><span class="yiv1438452520yshortcuts" id="yiv1438452520lw_1297882086_22">gery Chico</span></a></p></div><div style="border:medium none;overflow:hidden;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-align:left;text-decoration:none;"><br />Read more: <a style="color:#003399;" target="_blank" href="http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/and-the-ordinary-people-said/2011/02/the-chicago-defender-endorses-carol-moseley-braun-for-chicago-mayor.html#ixzz1E9I7xblV"><span class="yiv1438452520yshortcuts" id="yiv1438452520lw_1297882086_23">http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/and-the-ordinary-people-said/2011/02/the-chicago-defender-endorses-carol-moseley-braun-for-chicago-mayor.html#ixzz1E9I7xblV</span></a></div><br /></div>Dr. Cornel West Led Black History Month Rally For Carol Moseley Braunhttps://www.theblacklist.net/profiles/blogs/dr-cornel-west-led-black2011-02-13T23:40:39.000Z2011-02-13T23:40:39.000ZMark S. Allenhttps://www.theblacklist.net/members/MarkSAllen<div><h1 style="text-align:center;" class="yiv1283251727entry-title">Major Media Not Reporting The Mobilization For Carol Moseley Braun !!</h1><div style="text-align:center;"><font style="font-style:italic;" size="4"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1297640134_0">Dr. Cornel West</span> today led a Black History Month Rally For <br /><span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;background:transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1297640134_1">Carol Moseley Braun</span></font> !!</div><br /><div class="yiv1283251727entry-header yiv1283251727pkg"><div class="yiv1283251727entry-meta"><div class="yiv1283251727userpic yiv1283251727pkg"><a><img style="border:2px solid #ffffff;" src="http://www.chicagonow.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-23645-100x100.png" alt="user-pic" width="24" height="24" /></a></div><span class="yiv1283251727vcard yiv1283251727author"><a class="yiv1283251727fn yiv1283251727url" target="_blank" href="http://www.chicagonow.com/profiles/Marksallen"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1297640134_2">Marksallen</span></a></span> on 02.13.11 at 4:11 PM | <a target="_blank" href="http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/and-the-ordinary-people-said/2011/02/major-media-not-reporting-the-mobilization-for-carol-mosleley-braun.html#comments" class="yiv1283251727comment"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1297640134_3">no comments</span></a> |</div><div class="yiv1283251727about-the-blogger yiv1283251727pkg"><div class="yiv1283251727userpic-large yiv1283251727pkg"><div class="yiv1283251727userpic yiv1283251727pkg"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.chicagonow.com/profiles/Marksallen"><img src="http://www.chicagonow.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-23645-100x100.png" alt="user-pic" width="62" height="62" /></a></div></div><div class="yiv1283251727blogger-info"><span class="yiv1283251727vcard yiv1283251727author"><a class="yiv1283251727fn yiv1283251727url" target="_blank" href="http://www.chicagonow.com/profiles/Marksallen">Marksallen</a></span><p class="yiv1283251727short-bio">One of the first community organizers to work with <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1297640134_4">Barack Obama</span> in Chicago for over 20 years. Now Associate Editor of The South Street Journal Newspaper and 37 year activist/journalist, recently selected as 2010 Who's Who In Black Chicago. <span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1297640134_5">312-624-8351</span> or <span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1297640134_6">773-392-0165</span></p><div class="yiv1283251727follow-blogger"><span>Follow on:</span></div></div></div><div style="display:block;float:left;margin-left:0pt;" id="yiv1283251727share-tools-wrapper" class="yiv1283251727pkg yiv1283251727horizontal-share"><h3 id="yiv1283251727share-tools-title">Share</h3><div id="yiv1283251727share-tools" class="yiv1283251727clearfix yiv1283251727pkg"><ul><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagonow.com%2Fblogs%2Fand-the-ordinary-people-said%2F2011%2F02%2Fmajor-media-not-reporting-the-mobilization-for-carol-mosleley-braun.html&t=Major%20Media%20Not%20Reporting%20The%20Mobilization%20For%20Carol%20Mosleley%20Braun%20%21%21" title="Share on Facebook" class="yiv1283251727smedia yiv1283251727facebook"><img alt="Share on Facebook" src="http://www.chicagonow.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-static/addons/ChicagoNow.pack/images/facebook.png" /><span id="yiv1283251727facebook-share"></span></a><div class="yiv1283251727count">Facebook (1)</div></li><li><a title="Tweet this story" class="yiv1283251727smedia yiv1283251727twitter"><img alt="Tweet this story" src="http://www.chicagonow.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-static/addons/ChicagoNow.pack/images/twitter.png" /><span id="yiv1283251727tweetmeme-share"></span></a><div class="yiv1283251727count">Retweet (0)</div></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://digg.com/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagonow.com%2Fblogs%2Fand-the-ordinary-people-said%2F2011%2F02%2Fmajor-media-not-reporting-the-mobilization-for-carol-mosleley-braun.html&title=Major%20Media%20Not%20Reporting%20The%20Mobilization%20For%20Carol%20Mosleley%20Braun%20%21%21" title="Digg this story" class="yiv1283251727smedia yiv1283251727digg"><img alt="Digg this story" src="http://www.chicagonow.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-static/addons/ChicagoNow.pack/images/digg.png" /><span id="yiv1283251727digg-share"></span></a><div class="yiv1283251727count">Digg (0)</div></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagonow.com%2Fblogs%2Fand-the-ordinary-people-said%2F2011%2F02%2Fmajor-media-not-reporting-the-mobilization-for-carol-mosleley-braun.html&title=Major%20Media%20Not%20Reporting%20The%20Mobilization%20For%20Carol%20Mosleley%20Braun%20%21%21" title="Stumble this entry" class="yiv1283251727smedia yiv1283251727stumbleupon"><img alt="Stumble this entry" src="http://www.chicagonow.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-static/addons/ChicagoNow.pack/images/stumble.png" /><span id="yiv1283251727stumbleupon-share"></span></a><div class="yiv1283251727count">Stumble</div></li></ul></div></div></div><div class="yiv1283251727entry-content"><br />The major media goes to great lengths to report when Carol Moseley Braun goes down in major media polls but doesn't seem as balanced to report events like this weekend when over 500 people attended The Rainbow/PUSH Coalition Get-Out-The-Vote Rally featuring Carol Moseley Braun, The Rev. <span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1297640134_7">Jesse L. Jackson Sr</span>, Jonathan Jackson, Congressman Bobby Rush, representatives of The National Organization for Women. After that rally, over 100 new volunteers signed up for The Braun campaign. The Black History Month radio specials on WVON radio have generated hundreds of new volunteers. During this upcoming Black History Month election, the major media did not report how Braun and others pointed out where Rahm Emanuel's career as a Congressman voted 128 times against legislation sponsored by The <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1297640134_8">Congressional Black Caucus</span>!!<br /><br />And continuing with the Black History Month mobilization for Braun to make Black political history again by becoming the next Black to be elected Mayor since <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1297640134_9">Harold Washington</span>, Dr. Cornel West, Dr. <span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1297640134_10">Conrad Worrill</span> led a rally today at The Parkway Ballroom adding to the momentum for Carol Moseley Braun. This is a historic <span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1297640134_11">election day</span> for it was on February 22nd that Chicago elected its first Black Mayor and its on this same February 22nd date that the Black community can use it's power to elect Carol on the same date as Harold -- a theme that most major media or political pundits wont discuss, but for Carol-like Harold, the grassroots community will keep on pushing while we keep challenging the major media for fairness and balance in its reporting on the Braun campaign.<br /><br /></div><div class="yiv1283251727entry-footer yiv1283251727pkg"><p><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1297640134_12">Tagged</span> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.chicagonow.com/tags/black+history+month"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1297640134_13">black history month</span></a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.chicagonow.com/tags/carol+moseley+braun">carol moseley braun</a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.chicagonow.com/tags/chicago+mayor%27s+race+in+2011"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1297640134_14">chicago mayor's race in 2011</span></a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.chicagonow.com/tags/chicago+mayoral+election"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1297640134_15">chicago mayoral election</span></a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.chicagonow.com/tags/chicago+politics"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1297640134_16">chicago politics</span></a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.chicagonow.com/tags/congressional+Black+Caucus"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1297640134_17">congressional Black Caucus</span></a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.chicagonow.com/tags/conrad+worrill">conrad worrill</a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.chicagonow.com/tags/cornel+west"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1297640134_18">cornel west</span></a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.chicagonow.com/tags/Harold+To+Carol"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1297640134_19">Harold To Carol</span></a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.chicagonow.com/tags/media"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1297640134_20">media</span></a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.chicagonow.com/tags/politics"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1297640134_21">politics</span></a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.chicagonow.com/tags/polls"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1297640134_22">polls</span></a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.chicagonow.com/tags/Rahm+Emanuel"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1297640134_23">Rahm Emanuel</span></a></p></div><div style="overflow:hidden;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-align:left;text-decoration:none;border:medium none;"><br />Read more: <a style="color:#003399;" target="_blank" href="http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/and-the-ordinary-people-said/2011/02/major-media-not-reporting-the-mobilization-for-carol-mosleley-braun.html#ixzz1DsjL7Iau"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1297640134_24">http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/and-the-ordinary-people-said/2011/02/major-media-not-reporting-the-mobilization-for-carol-mosleley-braun.html#ixzz1DsjL7Iau</span></a></div><br /></div>Huffington, ABC Latest To Mislead Voters On Carol Moseley Braun's Campaign - They Did It to Harold, now on Carolhttps://www.theblacklist.net/profiles/blogs/huffington-abc-latest-to2011-02-10T01:49:36.000Z2011-02-10T01:49:36.000ZMark S. Allenhttps://www.theblacklist.net/members/MarkSAllen<div><h1 class="entry-title">Huffington, ABC Latest To Mislead Voters On Carol Moseley Braun's Campaign - They Did It to Harold, now on Carol</h1><div class="entry-header pkg"><div class="entry-meta"><div class="userpic pkg"><a><img src="http://www.chicagonow.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-23645-100x100.png" alt="user-pic" width="24" height="24" /></a></div><span class="vcard author"><a class="fn url" href="http://www.chicagonow.com/profiles/Marksallen">Marksallen</a></span> on <abbr class="published" title="2011-02-09T18:16:18-06:00">02.09.11 at 6:16 PM</abbr> | <a href="http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/and-the-ordinary-people-said/2011/02/huffington-abc-latest-to-mislead-voters-on-carol-moseley-brauns-campaign---they-did-it-to-harold-now-on-carol.html#comments" class="comment">no comments</a> |</div><div class="about-the-blogger pkg"><div class="userpic-large pkg"><div class="userpic pkg"><a href="http://www.chicagonow.com/profiles/Marksallen"><img src="http://www.chicagonow.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-23645-100x100.png" alt="user-pic" width="62" height="62" /></a></div></div><div class="blogger-info"><span class="vcard author"><a class="fn url" href="http://www.chicagonow.com/profiles/Marksallen">Marksallen</a></span><p class="short-bio">One of the first community organizers to work with Barack Obama in Chicago for over 20 years. Now Associate Editor of The South Street Journal Newspaper and 37 year activist/journalist, recently selected as 2010 Who's Who In Black Chicago. 312-624-8351 or 773-392-0165</p><div class="follow-blogger"><span>Follow on:</span></div></div></div><div style="display:block;float:left;margin-left:0pt;" id="share-tools-wrapper" class="pkg horizontal-share"><h3 id="share-tools-title">Share</h3><div id="share-tools" class="clearfix pkg"><ul><li><a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagonow.com%2Fblogs%2Fand-the-ordinary-people-said%2F2011%2F02%2Fhuffington-abc-latest-to-mislead-voters-on-carol-moseley-brauns-campaign---they-did-it-to-harold-now-on-carol.html&t=Huffington%2C%20ABC%20Latest%20To%20Mislead%20Voters%20On%20Carol%20Moseley%20Braun%27s%20Campaign%20-%20They%20Did%20It%20to%20Harold%2C%20now%20on%20Carol" title="Share on Facebook" class="smedia facebook"><img alt="Share on Facebook" src="http://www.chicagonow.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-static/addons/ChicagoNow.pack/images/facebook.png" /><span id="facebook-share"></span></a><div class="count">Facebook (0)</div></li><li><a title="Tweet this story" class="smedia twitter"><img alt="Tweet this story" src="http://www.chicagonow.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-static/addons/ChicagoNow.pack/images/twitter.png" /><span id="tweetmeme-share"></span></a><div class="count">Retweet (0)</div></li><li><a href="http://digg.com/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagonow.com%2Fblogs%2Fand-the-ordinary-people-said%2F2011%2F02%2Fhuffington-abc-latest-to-mislead-voters-on-carol-moseley-brauns-campaign---they-did-it-to-harold-now-on-carol.html&title=Huffington%2C%20ABC%20Latest%20To%20Mislead%20Voters%20On%20Carol%20Moseley%20Braun%27s%20Campaign%20-%20They%20Did%20It%20to%20Harold%2C%20now%20on%20Carol" title="Digg this story" class="smedia digg"><img alt="Digg this story" src="http://www.chicagonow.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-static/addons/ChicagoNow.pack/images/digg.png" /><span id="digg-share"></span></a><div class="count">Digg (0)</div></li><li><a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagonow.com%2Fblogs%2Fand-the-ordinary-people-said%2F2011%2F02%2Fhuffington-abc-latest-to-mislead-voters-on-carol-moseley-brauns-campaign---they-did-it-to-harold-now-on-carol.html&title=Huffington%2C%20ABC%20Latest%20To%20Mislead%20Voters%20On%20Carol%20Moseley%20Braun%27s%20Campaign%20-%20They%20Did%20It%20to%20Harold%2C%20now%20on%20Carol" title="Stumble this entry" class="smedia stumbleupon"><img alt="Stumble this entry" src="http://www.chicagonow.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-static/addons/ChicagoNow.pack/images/stumble.png" /><span id="stumbleupon-share"></span></a><div class="count">Stumble</div></li></ul></div></div></div><div class="entry-content">The Huffington Post-Chicago section today reported that Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun has not aired one single TV Ad for her campaign while in fact THREE TV Ads of the campaign have been released and have been running for two weeks on several TV stations on Chicago CAN-TV Network with the capacity to broadcast to all of Chicago citizens just like the major commercial TV stations can. In order for Braun to win, she must reconnect her campaign to the grassroots voters who have felt that no major campaign really try to cater to them and they are ignored, so it was and is plus for the Braun campaign to first invest their funds to the very grassroots voters and Black voters she needs to turnout for this election that is being held during Black History Month and on the very day February 22nd that Chicago's first Black Mayor was elected. Since Braun's campaign does not have the multi millions of dollars that Rahm Emanuel or Gery Chico have been spending on the commercial TV stations with their TV Ads, then it made sense for Braun to take advantage of still being able to reach hundreds of thousands of Chicago viewers who watch the stations on The CAN-TV Network.</div><div class="entry-content"></div><div class="entry-content">The Huffington writers/editors showed a clear bias against Braun by publishing today that Braun Campaign has not released a single TV Ad when three such TV ads are running, and that Huffington also received copies of when they were released. I have sent Huffington request requesting that they clarify that they only consider TV Ads as legitimate if they are bought on Commercial TV stations, while the stations of the CAN-TV Network can reach the same viewers from grassroots constituencies that Braun needs.<br /><br />With all the history surrounding this February 22nd election and with a 42% Black population in Chicago, it was hard to believe that Chicago's ABC7 News station would release a new poll that alleges that Rahm Emanuel is the overwhelming choice of Black voters and that Braun campaign received just 6% support. Just a couple of weeks ago Braun was polling at over 20% in a WGN-TV/Chicago Tribune poll, and since those TV spots have been running, along with a radio campaign on Chicago's WVON mobilizing for Braun, more people have been joining her e-mail database, coming in to her volunteer offices across the city, and then with that momentum comes this ABC7 poll saying the exact opposite. Its is clear to me you get an absolute difference in polling based on who the pollster calls, and I can assure you that Richard Day was not calling the thousands of people tuning in to the WVON "Harold To Carol" Black History Month mobilization shows, or they did not call the thousands of voters who have been watching her TV Ads that have running on the stations on the CAN-TV network or the hundreds of thousands of Chicago voters getting weekly e-blasts from the Braun campaign and from other social media services..<br /><br />These major news agencies are showing their clear bias against Braun, for whenever a grassroots news report shows momentum for Braun, it receives NO ATTENTION yet when there is something negative about Braun. Huffington and ABC jumped at the opportunity to now portray Braun's campaign in the worst way and to keep elevating this unbelievable and unbeatable status of Rahm Emanuel, who I guess must receive some major media rewards for the millions that he is pouring in to the commercial media. I guess it is embarrassing for Rahm not to be receiving better poll results after weeks of TV ads with President Obama and former President Clinton.<br /><br />You would think that in a majority Black city and a majority of women registered voters that there would be more talk about whether or not Black voters will use the symbolism of the exact date of Chicago first Black Mayor being elected on February 22nd to make Black history again during this Black History Month election and elect another Black Mayor -- Or if Chicago's majority female population want to use this election to elect another woman Mayor since Jane Byrne.. You will see no such focus by Huffington, ABC or any of the mainstream media because those two scenarios would add to the momentum for another politically historic election of Carol Moseley Braun, but the media historically shown their biases against the election of Harold and they show it today with their bias against Carol. But Carol, like Harold can still win and make history for women and Blacks during this Black History Month and on the date that elected Harold and Carol.</div><br />Read more: <a style="color:#003399;" href="http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/and-the-ordinary-people-said/2011/02/huffington-abc-latest-to-mislead-voters-on-carol-moseley-brauns-campaign---they-did-it-to-harold-now-on-carol.html#ixzz1DVzkCGzq">http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/and-the-ordinary-people-said/2011/02/huffington-abc-latest-to-mislead-voters-on-carol-moseley-brauns-campaign---they-did-it-to-harold-now-on-carol.html#ixzz1DVzkCGzq</a><br /></div>113th EarthLight Ilebration Dr. L. P. Howell June 2011https://www.theblacklist.net/profiles/blogs/113th-earthlight-ilebration-dr2011-02-08T05:04:30.000Z2011-02-08T05:04:30.000ZSiata Hodeshhttps://www.theblacklist.net/members/SiataHodesh<div><p>FiyahhhhIses to all.</p><p>Just this short update from the meeting this past Saturday February 5th, 2011.</p><p>The schedule is at follows: -Tuesday May 31st (tentatively) Press Conference-Sunday June 12th...Running African Program on L.P Howell...Irie FM</p><p>-Tuesday June 14th..Opening Ceremony: UWI Symposium...family and other presenters</p><p>-Wednesday June 15th....Continuation of the UWI Symposium...full day....Family and other presenters .....Binghi Celebrations begin at Pinnacle.</p><p>-Thursday June 16th....Tredegar Park Family Fun Day...Peace March through the Tredegar Park Community....Continuation of Binghi at Pinnacle</p><p>-Saturday June 18th....Concert at Sligoville Sports Complex Sligoville , Jamaica...Midnite Reggae Band Main ???which Marley Muta, Yasus Afari, Lyutan Fiyah, Richie Spice Tarrus Riley, and more</p><p>-Sunday June 19th...General tour of Pinnacle (journey would begin from St. Thomas<a href="{{#staticFileLink}}3828523268,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-full" src="{{#staticFileLink}}3828523268,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="640" alt="3828523268?profile=original" /></a></p></div>Carol Moseley Braun Endorsed By Multi-Denominational Religious Leaders January 20thhttps://www.theblacklist.net/profiles/blogs/carol-moseley-braun-endorsed2011-01-20T20:26:12.000Z2011-01-20T20:26:12.000ZMark S. Allenhttps://www.theblacklist.net/members/MarkSAllen<div><div><span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;background:transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1295554544_0">MAYORAL CANDIDATE</span> CAROL MOSELEY BRAUN ENDORSED BY MULTI-DENOMINATIONAL RELIGIOUS LEADERS. JANUARY 20, 2011.</div><div> </div><div>See media advisory attached.</div><div> </div><div>CAROL FOR CHICAGO</div><div>Renee Ferguson</div><div>T. <span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1295554544_1">312-848-4432</span></div><div> </div><div><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="yiv1964142806MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<span> </span> Contact: Renee Ferguson</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="yiv1964142806MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Thursday, January 20, 2011<span> </span> <span> </span> 312-848-4432</font></p><p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></p><p style="text-align:center;" align="center"><b><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">MEDIA ADVISORY</font></font></b></p><p style="text-align:center;margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="yiv1964142806MsoNormal" align="center"><b><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">MAYORAL CANDIDATE CAROL MOSELEY BRAUN</font></font></b></p><p style="text-align:center;margin:0in 0in 0pt;" class="yiv1964142806MsoNormal" align="center"><b><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">ENDORSED BY MULTI-DENOMINATIONAL RELIGIOUS LEADERS</font></font></b></p><p><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><b>WHAT:</b> Mayoral candidate <span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;background:transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1295554544_2">Carol Moseley Braun</span> stands with the Clergy For Community Change as they announce their endorsement. . Rev. K. D. Smith, president of CFCC, stated, “This is not a black or white issue. We are endorsing Carol to let Chicagoans know that we are supporting a mayor who will work for every neighborhood.”</font></font></p><p><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><b>WHEN:</b> 6:00 pm</font></font></p><p><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><b>WHERE:</b> Carol for <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1295554544_3">Chicago</span> campaign headquarters, <span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;background:transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1295554544_4">405 E 35th Street, Chicago</span></font></font></p><br clear="all" /><br />--</div><div>Debra Johnson</div><div>Press Assistant</div><div>CAROL FOR CHICAGO</div><div><a target="_blank" href="http://us.mc595.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=debra@carolforchicago.com"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1295554544_5">debra@carolforchicago.com</span></a></div><div><span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1295554544_6">312-528-0480</span> (o)</div><div><span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1295554544_7">773-469-4889</span> (c)</div><div> </div></div>Independent Media Center (<a href="http://www.indymedia.org">www.indymedia.org</a>) - Convergence Funding Requests, Baba Bob Shipmanhttps://www.theblacklist.net/profiles/blogs/independent-media-center2011-01-19T02:39:12.000Z2011-01-19T02:39:12.000ZBaba Bob Shipmanhttps://www.theblacklist.net/members/BabaBobShipman<div><h1 align="center" class="style3">The IMC-Africa Working Group is convening next month at the World Social Forum in Dakar, Senegal. Please DONATE to help fund DELEGATE TRAVEL EXPENSES. Deadline: Sunday, Jan 23, 2011</h1><p><a target="_blank" href="http://la.indymedia.org/dakar2011.html">Dakar, Senegal Donation link</a>\</p><p> </p><p>I want to take this time to pause and thank each of you for your prayers and good wishes, your efforts and support has helped me get to this point. I love you all!<br /><br />Bob<br /><br />If you are receiving this email , it is because you are important in my life. Today, I got great news, I was asked at a meeting to join the staff of whyy newsworks.org project, a small part but the door could / will open . As you may know, there is a Huge forum for independent journalist being held in parts of the African continent. NewsWorks opportunity is a blessing<a href="http://www.newsworks.org/">http://www.newsworks.org/</a> . I have worked in good faith past few months contributing to the growth of the new venture. Day and night I have contributed information, this seems to have paid off. I want/need the community to get the resources that they need to survive, as I care for the General Welfare of the community.<br /><br />My goal until the 23rd of January is $600 bucks, 12 ppl donating $50 or 24 ppl donating $25 or 48 ppl donating $12.50 .... i have tried everything last venture was shoveling snow, raised $10 donation. It hurts so bad...<br /><br />I am blessed to have you as a family member. I am so humbled by the efforts of ppl all around the country raising funds and my expenses are included. STOP, I am not asking you for a dime! I'm serious, times are hard. I just want you to celebrate this effort with me. The trip will come and go, as if i have continued good health i will make one pilgrimage to Africa before it is all over.<br /><br />I now realize and understand a lot about me...the struggle continues, as the revolution will not be televised.<br /><a href="http://la.indymedia.org/archives/archive_by_id.php?id=1999&category_id=3">http://la.indymedia.org/archives/archive_by_id.php?id=1999&cate...</a><br /><br />---------- Forwarded message ----------<br />From: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<br />Date: Tue, Jan 18, 2011 at 8:04 PM<br />Subject: draft note to xxxxx<br /><br />hi xxxx, xxxx, bob -- any feedback on this?<br /><br />---------------<br /><br />Dear Mr. XXX,<br /><br />XXXX forwarded me the email she sent to you about the Philadelphia<br />IMC's funding request. We spoke last night and she encouraged me to email<br />you directly.<br /><br />I have been involved in Philly IMC since it started, though since 2005 I<br />have also had other roles in the global IMCs and with other local IMCs.<br />With Philly, I do remember learning about your support early on, although<br />I was not a part of the initial fundraising. Without question, the<br />coverage we did of the RNC protests that summer changed my life and my<br />perception of what was possible. Thank you for providing the yeast for<br />that!!<br /><br />The gathering next month in Dakar is another event that could change<br />lives, I believe. XXXXX has summarized it well, so I'll just add a few<br />details. We are still looking for funds to support African delegates'<br />travel, as well as to support sending 2 delegates from Philly IMC's<br />editorial team. The proposal XXXXXX attached to her email outlines the<br />way our editorial team works, relying on liaisons with other key media and<br />social networking outlets -- both established and emerging. For this<br />reason, our priority is to send Bob Shipman, a longtime organizer and<br />servant leader in Philadelphia's black community. Bob has mastered a range<br />of social networking tools and effectively uses them to get the word out<br />about the newest developments in social networking. His work honors all<br />the different players involved in the process of spreading<br />community-centered news. One of his recent stories, on the grassroots<br />reporting on the Georgia prison strike, demonstrates this well:<br /><br />LINK HERE <a href="http://phillyimc.org/en/word-out-striking-georgia-prisoners-gain-national-support">http://phillyimc.org/en/word-out-striking-georgia-prisoners-gain-na...</a><br /><br />Here are a few more of Bob's recent reports:<br /><br />LINK HERE <a href="http://phillyimc.org/en/tracker/70">http://phillyimc.org/en/tracker/70</a><br /><br />As you can see, Bob's stories focus on the organizing in the Black<br />community in a way that makes them accessible to all. Both his area of<br />focus and his familiarity with social networking tools will make Bob a<br />very valuable contributor to the gathering in Dakar. The use of cell<br />phone-based technology is high on the priority list for training due to<br />its technical accessibility in many African countries (versus the relative<br />inaccessibility of broadband internet). And the value of communication<br />links between black liberation organizers in Africa and the US cannot be<br />overstated.<br /><br />The pdf explains our goals for the gathering in more detail. (I can<br />re-send it if you need.) Due to challenges with funding, we have delayed<br />it slightly so that it starts on Feb 2nd and ends on Feb 13 now. But just<br />today we have had good news from one of our past funders, so it is with<br />hope that I turn to you as well.<br /><br />I'd be pleased to meet or speak via phone to answer any questions that you<br />might have. My cell is xxxxxxxx<br /><br />Best,<br />xxxxxxxxx<br />>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><br />just in .......................................<br />its hard to do things that others don't understand. but i believe that in<br />time god puts the people in our lives who can see what we are doing.<br /><br />look!! we just got very good news for the project:<br /><br />On 1/18/11 6:30 PM, xxxxx wrote:<br />> Hey everybody<br />> I am pleased to break the news that xxxxxxx will fund the<br />> convergence with 7500 Euros (we had asked for ca 13000 Euros= $<br />> 20.000).<br /><br />HOORAY!!!!<br /><a href="http://la.indymedia.org/archives/archive_by_id.php?id=1999&category_id=3">http://la.indymedia.org/archives/archive_by_id.php?id=1999&cate...</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />--<br /><br />Bob Shipman<br /><br />Donations to The Shipman Family Services Fund is being used for the<br /><br />2011 WORLD SOCIAL FORUM IN DAKAR, SENEGAL<br /><br /><br />ome 100 media-makers from Africa will be joined by delegations from across the<br />world for a three-week experience of training, networking and collaboration.<br />Organizers seek donations of funds, equipment and food.<br /><a href="http://shipmanfs.bbnow.org/">http://shipmanfs.bbnow.org/</a><br /><br /><br />Mission to provide individuals, families and organizations with disability, health, life information and other resources.<br /><br />The Shipman Family Services Fund is an international membership non-profit organization dedicated to meeting the non-medical needs of children, their families and communities. Our mission is to enhance lives through programs and services that offer friendship, good times, great memories, and social and emotional support." We refer and assist with insurance and disability information and products. We assist with NON Profit set ups, creating relationships with fiscal agents for your<br /><br />Good news, you can use your debit or pre paid card to help....thanks</p></div>Chicago's Leading Black Mayoral Candidates Meet To Discuss Unityhttps://www.theblacklist.net/profiles/blogs/chicagos-leading-black-mayoral2010-12-23T11:41:29.000Z2010-12-23T11:41:29.000ZMark S. Allenhttps://www.theblacklist.net/members/MarkSAllen<div><p> </p><div style="border:medium none;text-align:left;background-color:transparent;color:#000000;overflow:hidden;text-decoration:none;"><h1 class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510entry-title">Yesterday the three leading Black candidates for Chicago Mayor met to discuss the possibility oftheir uniting around one, and while other Black leaders did not publicly respondwith any specific scenario to shape a united front, I am glad that I DIDpublicly offer one and STILL it was the best scenario to ADD to the Blackpolitical base and not lose ANY hard fought Black political seniority at theState and Federallevels.</h1>**************************************************************************************************<br /><br /><h1 class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510entry-title">Why Carol Moseley Braun Should Be The New Consensus Candidate From The Black Community -- IfSaving Black Political Seniority and Making New Black and Women PoliticalHistory Are Factors</h1><div class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510entry-header pkg"><div class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510entry-meta"><div class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510userpic pkg"><a><img alt="user-pic" src="http://www.chicagonow.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-23645-100x100.png" width="24" height="24" /></a></div><span class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510vcard author"><a class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510fn url" href="http://www.chicagonow.com/profiles/Marksallen" target="_blank"><span id="yiv1310808804yiv96949746lw_1292723986_0" class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yshortcuts">Marksallen</span></a></span> on12.18.10 at 6:13 PM | <a class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510comment" href="http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/and-the-ordinary-people-said/2010/12/why-carol-moseley-braun-is-the-new-consensus-candidate-from-the-black-community----if-saving-black-political-seniority-and-making-new-black-and-women.html#comments" target="_blank"><span id="yiv1310808804yiv96949746lw_1292723986_1" class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yshortcuts">no comments</span></a> |</div><div class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510about-the-blogger pkg"><div class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510userpic-large pkg"><div class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510userpic pkg"><a href="http://www.chicagonow.com/profiles/Marksallen" target="_blank"><img alt="user-pic" src="http://www.chicagonow.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-23645-100x100.png" width="62" height="62" /></a></div></div><div class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510blogger-info"><span class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510vcard author"><a class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510fn url" href="http://www.chicagonow.com/profiles/Marksallen" target="_blank"><span id="lw_1293101842_43" class="yshortcuts">Marksallen</span></a></span><p class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510short-bio">One of the first community organizers to work with <span id="yiv1310808804yiv96949746lw_1292723986_2" class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yshortcuts"><span id="lw_1293101842_44" class="yshortcuts">Barack Obama</span></span> in <span id="yiv1310808804yiv96949746lw_1292723986_3" class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yshortcuts"><span id="lw_1293101842_45" class="yshortcuts">Chicago</span></span> for over 20 years. Now Associate Editorof The South Street Journal Newspaper and 37 year activist/journalist, recentlyselected as 2010 Who's Who In Black Chicago. (Office) <span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" id="yiv1310808804yiv96949746lw_1292723986_4" class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yshortcuts"><span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" id="lw_1293101842_46" class="yshortcuts">312-624-8351</span></span> and (Cell) <span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" id="yiv1310808804yiv96949746lw_1292723986_5" class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yshortcuts"><span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" id="lw_1293101842_47" class="yshortcuts">773-392-0165</span></span></p><div class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510follow-blogger"><span>Follow on:</span></div></div></div><div style="display:block;float:left;margin-left:0pt;" id="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510share-tools-wrapper" class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510pkg horizontal-share"><h3 id="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510share-tools-title">Share</h3><div id="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510share-tools" 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this story" src="http://www.chicagonow.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-static/addons/ChicagoNow.pack/images/digg.png" /><span id="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510digg-share"></span></a><div class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510count">Digg (0)</div></li><li><a class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510smedia stumbleupon" title="Stumble this entry" href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagonow.com%2Fblogs%2Fand-the-ordinary-people-said%2F2010%2F12%2Fwhy-carol-moseley-braun-is-the-new-consensus-candidate-from-the-black-community----if-saving-black-political-seniority-and-making-new-black-and-women.html&title=Why%20Carol%20Moseley%20Braun%20Is%20The%20New%20Consensus%20Candidate%20From%20The%20Black%20Community%20--%20If%20Saving%20Black%20Political%20Seniority%20and%20%20Making%20New%20Black%20and%20Women%20Political%20History%20Are%20Factors" target="_blank"><img alt="Stumble this entry" src="http://www.chicagonow.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-static/addons/ChicagoNow.pack/images/stumble.png" /><span id="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510stumbleupon-share"></span></a><div class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510count">Stumble</div></li></ul></div></div></div><div class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yiv1001442510entry-content"><br /><div align="center"><font style="font-size:1.25em;"><font size="5"><span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" id="yiv1310808804yiv96949746lw_1292723986_6" class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yshortcuts"><span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" id="lw_1293101842_48" class="yshortcuts">Why Carol Moseley Braun</span></span> Should Be The New Consensus Candidate From The Black Community -- If SavingBlack Political Seniority and Making New Black and Women Political History AreFactors</font></font><br /><br />Last week on radio station WVON several Blackpolitical analysts and journalists and the three leading Black candidates wereasked to discuss a scenario that would make one of them the stronger candidateby which the other two could unites around, yet no one actually produced a realscenario to consider, so I am putting forth a scenario where I believe that puts<span id="yiv1310808804yiv96949746lw_1292723986_7" class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yshortcuts"><span id="lw_1293101842_49" class="yshortcuts">Carol Moseley Braun</span></span> as the clear front runnerthat <span style="background:transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;" id="lw_1293101842_50" class="yshortcuts">Senator James Meeks</span> and <span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" id="yiv1310808804yiv96949746lw_1292723986_8" class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yshortcuts"><span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" id="lw_1293101842_51" class="yshortcuts">Congressman Danny Davis</span></span> couldunite around. This scenario would save much needed Black political seniority atthe State and Federal levels while adding to our political base by a Blackwinning City Hall. <br /><br />A Scenario I called "From Harold To Carol," for thiswill be the first election in over 20 years with no Daley on the ballot andwhere a Black candidate has the chance to be elected Mayor since <span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" id="yiv1310808804yiv96949746lw_1292723986_9" class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yshortcuts"><span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;background:transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;" id="lw_1293101842_52" class="yshortcuts">Harold Washington</span></span>, thus mysymbolic title "From Harold To Carol." And for women, who are the majority ofChicago's registered voters, Carol would make women political history again,with Braun now becoming the first women to be elected Mayor since <span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" id="yiv1310808804yiv96949746lw_1292723986_10" class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yshortcuts"><span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" id="lw_1293101842_53" class="yshortcuts">Jane Byrne</span></span>. And this "Haroldto Carol" is even more symbolic in that Harold DID call on Carol to be his <span id="yiv1310808804yiv96949746lw_1292723986_11" class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yshortcuts"><span id="lw_1293101842_54" class="yshortcuts">floor leader</span></span> in The State Legislature, and HaroldDID call on Carol to be on his 1987 re-election "<span id="yiv1310808804yiv96949746lw_1292723986_12" class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yshortcuts"><span id="lw_1293101842_55" class="yshortcuts">DREAM TICKET</span></span>," and now again its "Harold toCarol."<br /><br />The Black community fought a long time politically to be in aposition to have a Senator Meeks with a Chairmanship and the seniority to push anew City legislative agenda from City Hall, just as Braun was in a position topush the City Education agenda for Harold. No one with Meeks seniority wouldreplace him with the same authority if he were to leave his position so Isuggest that our community maintain our Seniority in the State Senate withMeeks. Just this week, it has been proven how important the seniority of <span id="yiv1310808804yiv96949746lw_1292723986_13" class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yshortcuts"><span id="lw_1293101842_56" class="yshortcuts">Danny Davis</span></span> and his vote is in Congress with hisseniority and member of the most power House Ways and Means Committee, and likeMeeks in the state, there is no Black with the same seniority to replace Davisif he would leave his position now with a Republican in line to take his place,just as we are going to be trying to regain his authority if Democrats regainpower in 2012. So, it is my suggestion that we maintain our political seniorityin Congress with Davis.<br /><br />Carol Mosley Braun, has NO <span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" id="yiv1310808804yiv96949746lw_1292723986_14" class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yshortcuts"><span id="lw_1293101842_57" class="yshortcuts">political office</span></span> to give up, only a few paidboards that she may give up in order to focus full time on the Mayor's race, butin Braun, as Mayor, we ADD to our political base at the City, state, and federallevel with Braun as Mayor backed with the power and seniority of Meeks and Davisto push the Chicago agenda at the State and Federal levels. With this currentscenario, Davis and Meeks could sustain their state and federal power base,unite behind Braun and that unity is the foundation in place, then the rest isup to educating the people to mobilize, expand their <span id="yiv1310808804yiv96949746lw_1292723986_15" class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yshortcuts"><span id="lw_1293101842_58" class="yshortcuts">political power base</span></span> and with Carol MoseleyBraun, her candidacy now pl;aces Chicago in the eyes of the world again, poisedto make Black, women, and political history again. Now in the background I amhearing the words of a Staples Singers song "LETS DO IT AGAIN" in that thepeople of Chicago voted and did it before, by making history with Braun as thefirst Black female elected <span id="yiv1310808804yiv96949746lw_1292723986_16" class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yshortcuts"><span style="background:transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;" id="lw_1293101842_59" class="yshortcuts">United States Senator</span></span> and thepeople can "do it again" with this same woman poised to put Chicago in the <span id="yiv1310808804yiv96949746lw_1292723986_17" class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yshortcuts"><span id="lw_1293101842_60" class="yshortcuts">political history books</span></span> again with her electionas next <span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" id="yiv1310808804yiv96949746lw_1292723986_18" class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yshortcuts"><span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" id="lw_1293101842_61" class="yshortcuts">Chicago Mayor</span></span> - the firstwomen to be elected Mayor since Byrne, and the first Black to be elected sinceHarold - From "Harold to Carol".<br /><br />The next major item for a strong winningcampaign is money and of course Carol Moseley Braun's campaign can get nostronger financial base of supporters than John Rogers<br />and ElzieHigginbottom, and her "collective" outreach team has some of the absolute bestand brightest in political operations to reach voters across racial, ethnic,women, and grassroots lines. Carol's campaign kicked off with the strongendorsement of Congressman Bobby Rush and last week more Chicago electedofficial publicly endorsed her, and she won the N'DIGO/WVON Chicago Mayoralpoll, and she is about to open even more campaign offices across thecity.<br /><br />Of course there were a few "consensus" candidate selectionprocesses that took place in Chicago's Black community which led to Davis,Meeks, and Braun as the leading candidates from the Black community, and nowwith the latest discussion on WVON last week among the three on how they couldcould come to a consensus around one candidate brought a lot of discussion butnone of the candidates, leaders or journalists offered a real scenario toactually lead to the decision on one, so as a veteran Black political organizer,journalist, and activist myself, I will take the bold step of actually offeringup this political scenario of "Harold To Carol," one that preserves politicalseniority and adding to our political base. And with the election being heldduring Black History Month, this may indeed be a motivating factor that couldstimulate voter registration, voter education and Getting out the vote in theBlack community to make Black and political history again.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">And today, about 100 women gathered this morning to discuss yet another womens movement to electBraun as the first women <span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" id="yiv1310808804yiv96949746lw_1292723986_19" class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yshortcuts"><span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" id="lw_1293101842_62" class="yshortcuts">Mayor of Chicago</span></span> since JaneByrne. Chicago made history with Braun before and can "do it again with Braun.And "electability" -- even during her last re-election bid she lost in 1998, shestill won 14 out of 15 elections and in 1998 with the attacks on her, she STILLwon the entire City of Chicago with 79.5% of the entire City of Chicago votes.<br /><br />"Harold To Carol."</div></div></div><div style="border:medium none;text-align:left;background-color:transparent;color:#000000;overflow:hidden;text-decoration:none;"><span><br /><br />Read more: <a style="color:#003399;" href="http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/and-the-ordinary-people-said/2010/12/why-carol-moseley-braun-is-the-new-consensus-candidate-from-the-black-community----if-saving-black-political-seniority-and-making-new-black-and-women.html#ixzz18WDbhDgL" target="_blank"><span id="yiv1310808804yiv96949746lw_1292723986_20" class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yshortcuts">http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/and-the-ordinary-people-said/2010/12/why-carol-moseley-braun-is-the-new-consensus-candidate-from-the-black-community----if-saving-black-</span></a></span></div><div style="border:medium none;text-align:left;background-color:transparent;color:#000000;overflow:hidden;text-decoration:none;"><span><a style="color:#003399;" href="http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/and-the-ordinary-people-said/2010/12/why-carol-moseley-braun-is-the-new-consensus-candidate-from-the-black-community----if-saving-black-political-seniority-and-making-new-black-and-women.html#ixzz18WDbhDgL" target="_blank"><span class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yshortcuts">political-seniority-and-making-new-black-and-women.html#ixzz18WDbhDgL</span></a></span></div><div style="border:medium none;text-align:left;background-color:transparent;color:#000000;overflow:hidden;text-decoration:none;"></div><div style="border:medium none;text-align:left;background-color:transparent;color:#000000;overflow:hidden;text-decoration:none;"><span><span class="yiv1310808804yiv96949746yshortcuts">..<br /></span></span></div></div>Why Carol Moseley Braun Should Be The New Consensus Candidate From The Black Community -- If Saving Black Political Seniority and Making New Black Political History Are Factorshttps://www.theblacklist.net/profiles/blogs/why-carol-moseley-braun-should2010-12-19T03:39:00.000Z2010-12-19T03:39:00.000ZMark S. Allenhttps://www.theblacklist.net/members/MarkSAllen<div><p><span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:x-small;" id="yiv1066596918role_document"></span></span></p><div class="yiv1066596918yiv1001442510entry-content"><span><br /></span><div align="center"><span><span style="font-size:1.25em;"><span style="font-size:large;"><span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" id="yiv1066596918lw_1292723986_6" class="yiv1066596918yshortcuts"><span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;background:transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1292728237_5">Why Carol Moseley Braun</span></span> Should Be The New Consensus Candidate From The Black Community -- If Saving Black Political Seniority and Making New Black Political History Are Factors</span></span><br /><br />Last week on radio station WVON several Black political analysts and journalists and the three leading Black candidates were asked to discuss a scenario that would make one of them the stronger candidate by which the other two could unites around, yet no one actually produced a real scenario to consider, so I am putting forth a scenario where I believe that puts <span id="yiv1066596918lw_1292723986_7" class="yiv1066596918yshortcuts">Carol Moseley Braun</span> as the clear front runner that Senator James Meeks and <span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" id="yiv1066596918lw_1292723986_8" class="yiv1066596918yshortcuts"><span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1292728237_6">Congressman Danny Davis</span></span> could unite around. This scenario would save much needed Black political seniority at the State and Federal levels while adding to our political base by a Black winning City Hall. <br /><br />A Scenario I called "From Harold To Carol," for this will be the first election in over 20 years with no Daley on the ballot and where a Black candidate has the chance to be elected Mayor since <span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" id="yiv1066596918lw_1292723986_9" class="yiv1066596918yshortcuts"><span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1292728237_7">Harold Washington</span></span>, thus my symbolic title "From Harold To Carol." And for women, who are the majority of Chicago's registered voters, Carol would make women political history again, with Braun now becoming the first women to be elected Mayor since <span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" id="yiv1066596918lw_1292723986_10" class="yiv1066596918yshortcuts"><span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1292728237_8">Jane Byrne</span></span>. And this "Harold to Carol" is even more symbolic in that Harold DID call on Carol to be his <span id="yiv1066596918lw_1292723986_11" class="yiv1066596918yshortcuts"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1292728237_9">floor leader</span></span> in The State Legislature, and Harold DID call on Carol to be on his 1987 re-election "<span id="yiv1066596918lw_1292723986_12" class="yiv1066596918yshortcuts"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1292728237_10">DREAM TICKET</span></span>," and now again its "Harold to Carol."<br /><br />The Black community fought a long time politically to be in a position to have a Senator Meeks with a Chairmanship and the seniority to push a new City legislative agenda from City Hall, just as Braun was in a position to push the City Education agenda for Harold. No one with Meeks seniority would replace him with the same authority if he were to leave his position so I suggest that our community maintain our Seniority in the <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1292728237_11">State Senate</span> with Meeks. Just this week, it has been proven how important the seniority of <span id="yiv1066596918lw_1292723986_13" class="yiv1066596918yshortcuts"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1292728237_12">Danny Davis</span></span> and his vote is in Congress with his seniority and member of the most power House Ways and Means Committee, and like Meeks in the state, there is no Black with the same seniority to replace Davis if he would leave his position now with a Republican in line to take his place, just as we are going to be trying to regain his authority if Democrats regain power in 2012. So, it is my suggestion that we maintain our political seniority in Congress with Davis.<br /><br />Carol Mosley Braun, has NO <span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" id="yiv1066596918lw_1292723986_14" class="yiv1066596918yshortcuts"><span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1292728237_13">political office</span></span> to give up, only a few paid boards that she may give up in order to focus full time on the Mayor's race, but in Braun, as Mayor, we ADD to our political base at the City, state, and federal level with Braun as Mayor backed with the power and seniority of Meeks and Davis to push the Chicago agenda at the State and Federal levels. With this current scenario, Davis and Meeks could sustain their state and federal power base, unite behind Braun and that unity is the foundation in place, then the rest is up to educating the people to mobilize, expand their <span id="yiv1066596918lw_1292723986_15" class="yiv1066596918yshortcuts"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1292728237_14">political power base</span></span> and with Carol Moseley Braun, her candidacy now pl;aces Chicago in the eyes of the world again, poised to make Black, women, and political history again. Now in the background I am hearing the words of a Staples Singers song "LETS DO IT AGAIN" in that the people of Chicago voted and did it before, by making history with Braun as the first Black female elected <span id="yiv1066596918lw_1292723986_16" class="yiv1066596918yshortcuts">United States Senator</span> and the people can "do it again" with this same woman poised to put Chicago in the <span id="yiv1066596918lw_1292723986_17" class="yiv1066596918yshortcuts"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1292728237_15">political history books</span></span> again with her election as next <span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" id="yiv1066596918lw_1292723986_18" class="yiv1066596918yshortcuts"><span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1292728237_16">Chicago Mayor</span></span> - the first women to be elected Mayor since Byrne, and the first Black to be elected since Harold - From "Harold to Carol".<br /><br />The next major item for a strong winning campaign is money and of course Carol Moseley Braun's campaign can get no stronger financial base of supporters than John Rogers<br />and Elzie Higginbottom, and her "collective" outreach team has some of the absolute best and brightest in political operations to reach voters across racial, ethnic, women, and grassroots lines. Carol's campaign kicked off with the strong endorsement of Congressman Bobby Rush and last week more Chicago elected official publicly endorsed her, and she won the N'DIGO/WVON Chicago Mayoral poll, and she is about to open even more campaign offices across the city.<br /><br />Of course there were a few "consensus" candidate selection processes that took place in Chicago's Black community which led to Davis, Meeks, and Braun as the leading candidates from the Black community, and now with the latest discussion on WVON last week among the three on how they could could come to a consensus around one candidate brought a lot of discussion but none of the candidates, leaders or journalists offered a real scenario to actually lead to the decision on one, so as a veteran Black political organizer, journalist, and activist myself, I will take the bold step of actually offering up this political scenario of "Harold To Carol," one that preserves political seniority and adding to our political base. And with the election being held during Black History Month, this may indeed be a motivating factor that could stimulate voter registration, voter education and Getting out the vote in the Black community to make Black and political history again. And today, about 100 women gathered this morning to discuss yet another womens movement to elect Braun as the first women <span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" id="yiv1066596918lw_1292723986_19" class="yiv1066596918yshortcuts"><span style="border-bottom:2px dotted #366388;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1292728237_17">Mayor of Chicago</span></span> since Jane Byrne. Chicago made history with Braun before and can "do it again with Braun. And "electability" -- even during her last re-election bid she lost in 1998, she still won 14 out of 15 elections and in 1998 with the attacks on her, she STILL won the entire City of Chicago with 79.5% of the entire City of Chicago votes. <br /><br />"Harold To Carol."</span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div></div><p></p></div>Chicago Press Conference on Easier Ballot Access and Petition Signature Reformshttps://www.theblacklist.net/profiles/blogs/chicago-press-conference-on2010-12-06T05:33:13.000Z2010-12-06T05:33:13.000ZMark S. Allenhttps://www.theblacklist.net/members/MarkSAllen<div><div align="center"><font style="font-size:1.25em;"><b>The "Democracy Now" Easy Ballot Access and Voter Restoration Project Petition Signature Reform Advocacy Campaign Press Conference on <br />MONDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2010 AT 8:00 AM at<br /> 69West Washington<br /></b></font></div><br /><div style="text-align:center;">POSITION PAPERS ON "BALLOT ACCESS" AND PETITION SIGNATURE REFORM<br /> PUBLIC POLICY CHANGES<br /></div><br /><br />The Voter <span style="background:transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;" class="yiv66081223yiv1362067493yshortcuts" id="yiv66081223yiv1362067493lw_1291579244_0">Restoration Project Plans</span> Field Hearing <br /> On<br /><br /> Nominating Petition Reforms <br /> DEMANDS CHANGES TO PROCESS THAT DISENFRANCHISES CITIZENS CHOICE<br /> BY <br /> FAVORING <span style="border-bottom:2px dotted rgb(54,99,136);" class="yiv66081223yiv1362067493yshortcuts" id="yiv66081223yiv1362067493lw_1291579244_1">INCUMBENTS</span><br /><br /><span class="yiv66081223yiv1362067493yshortcuts" id="yiv66081223yiv1362067493lw_1291579244_2">MarkAllen</span>, lead organizer of the Voter Restoration Project, a voter-rightsand <span class="yiv66081223yiv1362067493yshortcuts" id="yiv66081223yiv1362067493lw_1291579244_3">public policy community</span> organizing campaign of the <span style="background:transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;" class="yiv66081223yiv1362067493yshortcuts" id="yiv66081223yiv1362067493lw_1291579244_4">Black LeadershipDevelopment Institute</span> (BLDI) aimed at reforming the political nominatingprocess that favors incumbents, today, along with coalition partner,the Monroe Foundation, announced plans for " A Community PoliticalAccountability Hearing and Advocacy Campaign On Petition Signature Reforms", to be held later thismonth. Location and Time will be sent out next week. <span class="yiv66081223yiv1362067493yshortcuts" id="yiv66081223yiv1362067493lw_1291579244_5">Lance GoughExecutive Director</span> and Atty. Langdon Neal, Chairman of The <span style="border-bottom:2px dotted rgb(54,99,136);" class="yiv66081223yiv1362067493yshortcuts" id="yiv66081223yiv1362067493lw_1291579244_6">Chicago Boardof Elections</span> have indicated their willingness to work with The VoterRestoration Project, hear testimony and <span style="background:transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;" class="yiv66081223yiv1362067493yshortcuts" id="yiv66081223yiv1362067493lw_1291579244_7">support public policy changes</span>.<br /><br /><div align="center">Allen, a veteran political activist including being a former National staff member to the <span class="yiv66081223yiv1362067493yshortcuts" id="yiv66081223yiv1362067493lw_1291579244_8">Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr</span>and FieldDirector for Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, former Voter Education Specialistfor The Chicago Urban League, and founder of the Black LeadershipDevelopment Institute (BLDI). a community organizing training center forBlack organizers, will invite elected officials and policy-makers withthe Chicago and <span style="border-bottom:2px dotted rgb(54,99,136);" class="yiv66081223yiv1362067493yshortcuts" id="yiv66081223yiv1362067493lw_1291579244_9">State Board of Elections</span>to hear testimonies fromcitizen-voters who believe they have been historically disenfranchisedfrom votingfor the candidates of their choice because of the current petitionsignature challenge process where thousands of voters whose currentsignature is valid when obtaining actual ballots to vote on electionday, yet ruled illegitimate on petitions because that same signature nowdoes not look like the signature on their original voter registrationcard.<br /></div><br />The Voter Restoration Project is seeking registered voters, previously disqualified candidates whofeel disenfranchised by this current electoralprocess that favors established party candidates and incumbents andsupport public policy reforms on the petition signature process. .<br /><br /><br />- Some of the Proposed Reforms are:<br /><br /><br />- COMPUTERIZED VOTER REGISTRATION ON-LINE THAT ARE KEPT IN A DATABASE, THAT IS UPDATED <br />- COMPUTERIZED SIGNATURE EACH TIME A REGISTERED VOTER VOTES IN A PRIMARY OR GENERAL ELECTIONS<br /><br /><br /><br />RSVP for the Voter Restoration Project Field Hearing By Emailing<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Name:<br />Organization(if applicable)<br />Phone:<br />Email:<br />To: marksallen2800@yahoo.com<br /><br /><br /><span style="background:transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;" class="yiv66081223yiv1362067493yshortcuts" id="yiv66081223yiv1362067493lw_1291579244_10">Mark Allen</span><br /><span style="background:transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;" class="yiv66081223yiv1362067493yshortcuts">Black</span> <span style="background:transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;" class="yiv66081223yiv1362067493yshortcuts" id="yiv66081223yiv1362067493lw_1291579244_11">Leadership Development Institute</span>/Voter RestorationProject<br />449 East 35th Street, 1st Floor<br />Chicago, Illinois 60616<br /><span style="border-bottom:2px dotted rgb(54,99,136);background:transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;" class="yiv66081223yiv1362067493yshortcuts" id="yiv66081223yiv1362067493lw_1291579244_12">(773) 392-0165</span><br /><br />**********************************************************************************************************<br /><br /><div id="yiv66081223post-67" class="yiv66081223post-67 page type-page hentry"><h1 class="yiv66081223entry-title">Ballot Access (by Jay Stone)<br /></h1><div class="yiv66081223entry-content"><p><strong><span id="yiv66081223more-67"></span>Reduced Required Signatures for Mayor from 12,500 to 350 or 700</strong></p><p>The current requirement of 12,500 signatures to get on the ballot for mayor of Chicago is 10 to 25 times higher than it should be. Limitingpolitical competition is the one and only reason for the excessivenumber of signatures to run for mayor of Chicago. Experts recommendcandidates file three times the number of required signatures becauseof the ease in which challenged signatures can become invalid. SinceChicago requires 12,500 signatures, if candidates follow the advice ofexperts, they will file 37,500 signatures.</p><p>After doing research, Stone carefully chose 350 valid signatures to get on the ballot for mayoral candidates who pay a $300.00 filing fee or700 signatures if candidates choose not to pay filling fee. Stone didnot arbitrarily come up with his number of required signatures to get onthe ballot. His number of signatures to run for mayor is the result ofan analysis of other cities’ ballot requirements (explained below).</p><p><br /></p><p>Stone does not believe in total access to get on the ballot. Total access would allow anybody to get on the ballot by merely requesting todo so. Stone believes in minimal ballot access restriction to eliminatepeople who just want to see their name on the ballot. Requiringcandidates to collect 350 or 700 signatures to get on the ballot islarge enough to attract only serious candidates for mayor, but not toolarge that it will keep qualified candidates off.</p><p><br /></p><p>Typically hundreds of candidates will apply for a single job. Why not have 5 or 10 candidates seeking the job of mayor of Chicago? In theirlast municipal elections, 12 candidates ran for mayor of New York, 10candidates competed for the mayor of Los Angeles, and 10 candidatessought to become the mayor of San Antonio.</p><p><br /></p><p>Avoiding voter confusion was the reason politicians previously restricted ballot access. Politicians asserted that if there were easyaccess to the ballot, a large number of candidates would burden andconfuse the voter. The voter confusion myth was dispelled when 135candidates ran for California governor after Governor Gray Davis wasrecalled. According to newspaper accounts, 135 candidates did notconfuse the voters or cause them to vote for the wrong candidate.</p><p><br /></p><p>350 to 700 signatures to get on the ballot for mayor of Chicago would not create a massive or confusing amount of candidates, but it wouldcreate political competition. Is there anything wrong with having morecandidates for mayor touting their ideas to improve Chicago?</p><p><br /></p><p>Table A lists the 10 largest cities in the U.S. The table compares each city’s population, number of signatures to get on the ballot formayor, and the number of days each candidate has to collect thesignatures. For example, Chicago has a population 2,853,114 people. Acandidate for mayor must collect 12,500 valid signatures within thespecified 90 day time period. Now you can compare what it takes to geton the ballot for mayor in Chicago with that of Los Angeles, New York,or San Antonio.</p><p><br /></p><p>When you compare the number of signatures other cities require to run for mayor with Chicago, you can clearly pinpoint how ballot access isone of the ways Chicago and state of Illinois politicians purposelylimit political competition. For example, the city with the closetpopulation to Chicago is Houston. The city of Houston requires nosignatures if candidates pay a $1,250.00 filing fee. If Houston mayoralcandidates don’t want to pay a filing fee, they must submit 587signatures to run for mayor compared to the 12,500 signatures Chicagorequires.</p><p><br /></p><p>Los Angeles has nearly one million more people than Chicago but only requires 500 signatures if a candidate pays a $300.00 filing fee, or acandidate must submit 1,000 signatures if a candidate refuses to pay afilling fee. The City of Los Angeles with one million more people thanChicago requires only 4% (filing fee) or 8% (no filing fee) of Chicago’srequired 12,500 signatures.</p><p><br /></p><p>New York city has a population nearly three times the size of Chicago.Does New York city require three times as many signatures torun for mayor than Chicago does? Hardly. Though New York city’spopulation is nearly three times larger than Chicago, New York requiresonly 3,750 signatures, or 30% of the 12,500 signatures that it takes toget on Chicago’s ballot.</p><p><br /></p><p>The City of Phoenix has a population that is 55% less than Chicago, but Phoenix’s requirement of 1,500 signatures to get on the ballot is12% of Chicago’s 12,500 signatures. Furthermore, candidates cancirculate petitions in Phoenix for twice the amount of time (180 days)as Chicago (90 days).</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>Number of Signatures to Run for Mayor</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"></p><table style="text-align:center;" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" border="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" width="88">City</td><td valign="top" width="85">Population</td><td valign="top" width="147">Number of Signatures</td><td valign="top" width="147">Number of Days</td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="88">New York</td><td valign="top" width="85">8,363,710</td><td valign="top" width="147">3,750 Valid Signatures</td><td valign="top" width="147">35 Days</td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="88">Los Angeles</td><td valign="top" width="85">3,833,995</td><td valign="top" width="147">500 Valid Signatures with $300.00 filing fee</td><td valign="top" width="147">25 Days</td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="88">Los Angeles</td><td valign="top" width="85">3,833,995</td><td valign="top" width="147">1,000 Valid Signatures if Candidate Pays No Filing Fee</td><td valign="top" width="147">25 Days</td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="88">Chicago</td><td valign="top" width="85">2,853,114</td><td valign="top" width="147">12,500 Valid Signatures</td><td valign="top" width="147">90 Days</td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="88">Houston</td><td valign="top" width="85">2,242,193</td><td valign="top" width="147">No Signatures Required if Candidates pay a $1,250 Filing Fee</td><td width="147">Does Not Apply</td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="88">Houston</td><td valign="top" width="85">2,242,193</td><td valign="top" width="147">587 Valid Signatures</td><td valign="top" width="147">90 Days</td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="88">Phoenix</td><td valign="top" width="85">1,567,924</td><td valign="top" width="147">1,500 Valid Signatures</td><td valign="top" width="147">180 Days</td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="88">Philadelphia</td><td valign="top" width="85">1,447,395</td><td valign="top" width="147">1,000 Valid Signatures for Partisan Candidates</td><td valign="top" width="147">21 Days</td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="88">San Antonio</td><td valign="top" width="85">1,351,305</td><td valign="top" width="147">No Signatures Required. Candidate Pays $100 Fee</td><td width="147">Does Not Apply</td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="88">San Antonio</td><td valign="top" width="85">1,351,305</td><td valign="top" width="147">361 Valid Signatures Required if Candidate Pays No Filing Fee</td><td width="147">Unavailable</td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="88">Dallas</td><td valign="top" width="85">1,279,910</td><td valign="top" width="147">473 Valid Signatures</td><td valign="top" width="147">As Soon As the City Council Publishes Election Date</td></tr><tr><td width="88">San Diego</td><td width="85">1,279,329</td><td valign="top" width="147">200 Valid Signatures with a $500 Filing Fee</td><td width="147">29 Days</td></tr><tr><td width="88">San Diego</td><td width="85">1,279,329</td><td valign="top" width="147">2,200 Signatures if Candidates Pay No Filing Fee</td><td width="147">29 Days</td></tr><tr><td width="88">San Jose</td><td width="85">948,279</td><td valign="top" width="147">50 Minimum Valid Signatures<p>60 Maximum Valid Signatures</p><p><br /></p></td><td valign="top" width="147">25 Days</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align:center;"></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>Table A</strong></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>A Democrat or Republican candidate for governor of Illinois needs 5,000 signatures compared to 12,500 signatures to run for mayor ofChicago. It takes 2/12 times the number of signatures to run for mayorthan it does to run for Governor. The mayor of Chicago represents 2.9million people and the Illinois governor represents 12.9 million people.The IL governor represents 4.5 times the number of Chicago residentsand yet a candidate needs 2.5 times the number of signatures to get onthe ballot for mayor compared to a candidate for the governor ofIllinois. The same onerous and restrictive ballot access for mayor alsoapplies to candidates running for city clerk and city treasurer.</p><p><br /></p><p><strong>The Number of Days to Collect Signatures</strong></p><p></p><p>The number of days that Chicago candidates have to collect signatures is also a tool to restrict political competition. For example, for the2011 mayor’s race, candidates can start to collect signatures on August24. However, Chicago weather plays a factor in how many signaturescandidates can collect. In October, the weather starts getting colder,and it starts to get dark earlier in the evening. Furthermore, inOctober the clocks are turned back one hour later. Less daylight hoursin the fall reduces the amount of time candidates have to collectsignatures. Chicago’s colder weather and reduced daylight hours isanother reason why Chicago should decrease the number of signatures toget on the ballot to 350 if a candidate pays a filing fee or 700 if acandidate does not pay a filing fee.</p><p><br /></p><p>Chicago should increase the number of days it allows candidates to circulate petitions for mayor from 90 days to 180 days. Phoenix allowsmayoral candidates to collect signatures for a 180 days. Given Chicago’sinclement fall weather and reduced daylight hours, it is only fair thatcandidates have more time to collect signatures.</p><p><br /></p><p>Chicago’s current 12,500 number of signatures to run for mayor and the cool, dark, fall Chicago weather heavily favors the candidate whohas the support of the Chicago political machine. Even with the Shakmanmonitors watching over city and county governments, each Chicago wardstill has 20 to 80 patronage workers ready at a moments notice to go outand collect signatures for a machine candidate. The machine can stillcrank out 25,000 signatures in seven days if it needed to.</p><p><br /></p><p>Mayor Daley and his lackeys will tell you the number of signatures to get on the ballot is irrelevant because in the last two municipalelections no mayoral candidates were challenged off of the ballot. Thethreat of a ballot access law suit was the real reason Mayor Daley andhis minions did not challenge any mayoral candidates. By not challengingthe petitions of candidates for mayor, the court has not had anopportunity to reduce the number of signatures needed to run for mayor.The fact that the 12,500 signature law exists means there is apossibility that someone can legally challenge a candidate based on thishighly restrictive ballot access law. For once let our government beproactive, not reactive. Let our city and state reduce the number ofsignatures required to run for mayor to 350 with a filing fee or 700with no filing fee before a lawsuit requires the city and state to doso.</p><p><br /></p><p></p><p></p><p><strong>The Number of Valid Signatures Per the Number of People</strong></p><p><strong><br /></strong></p><p></p><p>As with Table A, Table B includes the names of the 10 most populated U.S, cities, the population of each city, and the number of signatureseach city requires to get on the ballot for the mayor of that respectivecity. The fourth column in Table B comes from dividing the populationof the city (Column B) by the number of signatures (Column C). Theresult is the number of signatures per residents for that particularcity. For example, New York city requires one signature to run for mayorfor every 1,115 people that live in New York city.</p><p>The higher the number of signatures a candidate has to collect per population, the greater the city has ballot access. For instance, let’scompare ballot access for mayoral candidates in Chicago and Los Angeles.Depending on whether a candidate pays a filing fee, it takes acandidate for mayor in Chicago to collect either 17 or 34 times moresignatures per resident than Los Angeles.</p><p><br /></p><p>A Chicago candidate for mayor has to collect one signature for every 228 citizens that live in Chicago. Houston, which has the closetpopulation to Chicago, requires one signature for every 3,819 citizensif a candidate opts not to pay a filing fee. If Houston mayoralcandidates pay a filing fee, Houston candidates don’t have to collectone signature.</p><p>The required number of signatures per citizen is a fair way to compare each city’s ballot access with one another. Chicago is fivetimes more restrictive than Phoenix because Chicago candidates have tocollect one signature per every 228 residents compared to Phoenixcandidates who must collect one signature for every 1,045. Besides beenless restrictive with the number of signatures required, Phoenix alsoallows mayoral candidates double the amount of time to collectsignatures (180 days) for its candidates than Chicago (90 days).</p><p><br /></p><p>Look what will happen if Chicago were to adopt Stone’s idea of reducing the number of signatures to get on the ballot. With 350signatures and a filing fee required to run for mayor, Chicagocandidates would collect one signature per every 8,152 residents. If 700signatures were required to run for mayor, candidates will then collectone signature for every 4,076 Chicago residents.</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>Number of Signatures Per Capita</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"></p><table style="text-align:center;" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" border="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" width="88">City</td><td valign="top" width="85">Population</td><td valign="top" width="147">Number of Signatures</td><td valign="top" width="147">Number of Signatures Per City Residents</td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="88">New York</td><td valign="top" width="85">8,363,710</td><td valign="top" width="147">3,750 Valid Signatures</td><td valign="top" width="147">2,230</td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="88">Los Angeles</td><td valign="top" width="85">3,833,995</td><td valign="top" width="147">500 Valid Signatures with $300.00 filing fee</td><td valign="top" width="147">7,668</td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="88">Los Angeles</td><td valign="top" width="85">3,833,995</td><td valign="top" width="147">1,000 Valid Signatures if Candidate Pays No Filing Fee</td><td valign="top" width="147">3,834</td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="88">Chicago</td><td valign="top" width="85">2,853,114</td><td valign="top" width="147">12,500 Valid Signatures</td><td valign="top" width="147">228</td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="88">Houston</td><td valign="top" width="85">2,242,193</td><td valign="top" width="147">587</td><td valign="top" width="147">3,819</td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="88">Phoenix</td><td valign="top" width="85">1,567,924</td><td valign="top" width="147">1,500 Valid Signatures</td><td valign="top" width="147">1,045</td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="88">Philadelphia</td><td valign="top" width="85">1,447,395</td><td valign="top" width="147">1,000 Valid Signatures for Partisan Candidates</td><td valign="top" width="147">1,447</td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="88">San Antonio</td><td valign="top" width="85">1,351,305</td><td valign="top" width="147">361</td><td valign="top" width="147">3,743</td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="88">Dallas</td><td valign="top" width="85">1,279,910</td><td valign="top" width="147">473</td><td valign="top" width="147">2,705</td></tr><tr><td width="88">San Diego</td><td width="85">1,279,329</td><td valign="top" width="147">200 Signatures If Candidate Pays Filing Fee</td><td width="147">6,397</td></tr><tr><td width="88">San Diego</td><td width="85">1,279,329</td><td valign="top" width="147">2,200 Signatures if Candidates Pays No Filing Fee</td><td width="147">582</td></tr><tr><td width="88">San Jose</td><td width="85">948,279</td><td valign="top" width="147">50 Minimum Valid Signatures<p>60 Maximum Valid Signatures</p></td><td width="147">18,966</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align:center;"></p><p style="text-align:center;"></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>Table B</strong></p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong><br /></strong></p><p style="text-align:left;"><strong>More Ballot Access for the Offices of City Clerk, City Treasurer, and Alderman</strong></p><p style="text-align:left;">The number of signatures required for a city clerk or city treasurer candidate is 12,500. If city clerk and citytreasurer candidates follow political experts advice, their nominatingpetitions will have 37,500 signatures. Limiting political competitionand protecting machine candidates are the reasons why Chicago requires12,500 signatures for city clerk and city treasurer candidates.</p><p style="text-align:left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align:left;">Jay wants to reduce the number of signatures for city clerk and city treasurer from 12,500 signatures to350 signatures if candidates pay a $300.00 filing fee or 700 signaturesif candidates do not pay a filing fee.</p><p style="text-align:left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align:left;">Each of Chicago’s 50 aldermen has approximately 60,000 people living in his or her ward. The number ofsignatures required to run for alderman is 2% of the ward’s aldermanicvote in the last election. For a candidate’s name to appear on theballot for alderman in Chicago, the number of signatures range from alow 88 signatures in the 12th ward to a high of 429 signatures in the19th ward. The number of signatures to run for alderman in the otherwards falls between 88 and 429 signatures.</p><p style="text-align:left;"><br /></p><p>An independent candidate for governor, lieutenant governor, state comptroller, attorney general, and U.S. senate all need signaturesamounting to 1% of the number of total voters in the last election. Acandidate for alderman must submit 2%, which is double the number ofsignatures for that of candidates for higher Illinois offices.Furthermore, the Illinois General Assembly decided that Chicagocandidates shall have no party affiliation. By law, Chicago candidatescannot declare Democrat, Republican, or Green party. Why shouldcandidates for alderman be required to have twice the number ofsignatures than independents when the Illinois General Assembly decidedthat Chicago political office seekers must run as non-partisancandidates? Candidates in Chicago are held to a standard higher than anindependent candidate without having the choice to run as an independentor run with a party affiliation.</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align:left;">Now lets compare the number of signatures it takes for a candidate to run for alderman versus the number ofsignatures that are required to run for mayor of cities in Table A andB. In some cases more signatures are required to run for a Chicagoalderman than are required to run for mayor. For example, San Jose with apopulation of 948,279 requires 50 signatures to run for mayor, which islower than the number of signatures to run for alderman in every wardin the city. Furthermore, the San Jose mayor represents 948,279 peopleand a Chicago alderman represents about 60,000 people.</p><p style="text-align:left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align:left;">Houston has a population of 2,242,193 and San Antonio’s population is 1,351,305. Yet, both Houston and San Antoniodon’t require any signatures for candidates for mayor if the candidatespay a filing fee. Why is it harder to run for alderman in Chicago thanit is to run for mayor of cities with populations much larger than whatan alderman represents?</p><p style="text-align:left;">First Jay is calling for all alderman submitting the same number of signatures for their nominating petitions.Aldermen represent the people in their ward regardless of whether theirconstituents voted or not. Since each alderman represents about thesame number of people, each alderman should be required to submit thesame number of signatures with their nominating petitions.</p><p style="text-align:left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align:left;">Jay is calling for the number of signatures to run for alderman in all wards to be reduced to 35 signatures if acandidate pays a $100.00 fee, or 60 signatures if a candidate opts notto pay a filing fee.</p><p style="text-align:left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align:left;">The purpose of nominating signatures is to separate the serious candidates from those who only want their name toappear on the ballot. Too many candidates for alderman have had theirpetitions successfully challenged, which means candidates names were notallowed to appear on the ballot. Other candidates have won theirchallenges, but machine candidates use petition challenges to tie uptheir challengers’ time and money. The lowering of the number ofsignatures to run for alderman increases political competition andeliminates machine alderman using nominating signature challenges tounduly stop or hinder their challengers’ campaigns.</p><p></p><p></p></div></div><h3 id="yiv66081223comments-title">2 Responses to <em>Ballot Access</em></h3><div id="yiv66081223comment-123"><div class="yiv66081223comment-author vcard"><img alt="" src="http://0.gravatar.com/avatar/87b10cc1af3787d4a43d921a505c2431?s=40&d=identicon&r=G" class="yiv66081223avatar avatar-40 photo" width="40" height="40" /><cite class="yiv66081223fn"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.ballot-access.org/" class="yiv66081223url">Richard Winger</a></cite> <span class="yiv66081223says">says:</span></div><div class="yiv66081223comment-meta commentmetadata"><a target="_blank" href="http://stoneformayor.com/issues/increase-political-competition/#comment-123">November 22, 2010 at 3:08 pm</a></div><div class="yiv66081223comment-body"><p>New York city voters voted on November 2, 2010 to amend the city charter, so that the new requirement to run forMayor of New York city is 3,750 signatures, not 7,500 as the chart aboveshows. So Jay’s case is even stronger than his chart above says. Ihope his webmaster amends the chart.</p></div><div class="yiv66081223reply"><a class="yiv66081223comment-reply-link" target="_blank" href="http://stoneformayor.com/issues/increase-political-competition/?replytocom=123#respond">Reply</a></div></div><div class="yiv66081223comment-author vcard"><img alt="" src="http://0.gravatar.com/avatar/4781fbae8e470a584e15da64eb20f397?s=40&d=identicon&r=G" class="yiv66081223avatar avatar-40 photo" width="40" height="40" /><cite class="yiv66081223fn">JayStone</cite> <span class="yiv66081223says">says:</span></div><div class="yiv66081223comment-meta commentmetadata"><a target="_blank" href="http://stoneformayor.com/issues/increase-political-competition/#comment-132">November 23, 2010 at 6:40 pm</a></div><div class="yiv66081223comment-body"><p>Richard, you are right. New York residents voted to lower the number of required signatures to 3,750. Imade the changes above. It would be nice if Chicago residents were giventhe opportunity to vote on election laws. Richard, I appreciate you andyour help.</p><p>Jay Stone</p></div><br /><table border="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="font:inherit;" valign="top"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div>Chicago Mayoral Candidates and Other Local Independent Candidates Need To Endorse Petition Signature Challenge Process Now!https://www.theblacklist.net/profiles/blogs/chicago-mayoral-candidates-and2010-09-13T11:31:02.000Z2010-09-13T11:31:02.000ZMark S. Allenhttps://www.theblacklist.net/members/MarkSAllen<div>The Race For Chicago Mayor and other 2011 local elective offices beginswith a candidate being able to first to make the ballot with enoughpetition signatures to make the ballot. Far too many candidates foroffice spend too much time working on issues that come after making theballot and far too many prospective candidates never make the ballotbecause many of the valid signatures are traditionally ruled invalid.Today, we continue our outreach to prospective candidates for ChicagoMayor and other 2011 local elective offices to publicly endorse publicpolicy reforms that will surely benefit their 2011 campaign to make theballot and for future independent local candidates and voters from beingdisenfranchised!!<br /><br /><br /><br /> Nominating Petition Reforms <br /> DEMANDS CHANGES TO PROCESS THAT DISENFRANCHISES CITIZENS CHOICE<br /> BY FAVORING INCUMBENTS<br /><br />MarkAllen, lead organizer of the Voter Restoration Project, a voter-rightsand public policy community organizing campaign of the Black LeadershipDevelopment Institute (BLDI) aimed at reforming the political nominatingprocess that favors incumbents, today, along with coalition partner,the Monroe Foundation, announced plans for " A Community PoliticalAccountability Hearing On Petition Reforms", to be held later thismonth. Lance GoughExecutive Director and Atty. Langdon Neal, Chairman of The Chicago Boardof Elections have indicated their willingness to work with The VoterRestoration Project, hear testimony and support public policy changes.<br /><br />Allen,veteran political activist, former National staff member to the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr and FieldDirector for Rainbow/PUSH Coalition and founder of the Black LeadershipDevelopment Institute (BLDI). a community organizing training center forBlack organizers, will invite elected officials, grassroots independent local candidates,. and policy-makers withthe Chicago and State Board of Elections to hear testimonies fromcitizen-voters who believe they have been disenfranchised from votingfor the candidate of their choice.<br /><br />The Voter Restoration Projectis seeking registered voters, who have traditionally witnessed disenfranchisement by an electoralprocess that favors voters to testify at the hearing and lobby for these important reforms.<br /><br /><br />- Some of the Proposed Reforms are:<br /><br /><br />- COMPUTERIZED VOTER REGISTRATION ON-LINE THAT ARE KEPT IN A DATABASE, THAT IS UPDATED <br /><br />- COMPUTERIZED SIGNATURE EACH TIME A REGISTERED VOTER VOTES IN A PRIMARY AND ELECTIONS<br /><br /><i>Longtimeregistered voters and other registered voters have to STOP beingdisenfranchised on the basis of "your current signature today does notlook like the original signature on your voter registration card."</i><br /><br /><br />RSVP for the Voter Restoration Project Field Hearing By Emailing<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Name:<br />Organization (if applicable)<br />Phone:<br />Email:<br />To: marksallen2800@yahoo.com<br /><br /><br />Mark Allen<br />Black Leadership Development Institute<br />(773) 392-0165<br />.<br /></div>