LovingA2andMI
LovingA2andMI's JournalThe UNFILTERED Truth About Detroit's Water Crisis
From Actual Detroit Citizens and not the Corporate Media:
Part 1:
Part 2:
Independent Underground Radio LIVE Reaches Podcast Milestone with over 1 Million Podcast Listens
Officially, on July 31, 2014, Independent Underground Radio LIVE (IURL) - A Michigan's Based Top Politico Podcast achieved a cherished milestone in the on-demand radio news and commentary industry.
Known by the short code letters of IURL, the program reached over 1 Million Downloads and Listens since its inception October 2010.
"We're indeed honored to have met and exceed our initial vision for IURL in less than four years," said Executive Producer and Host of Independent Underground Radio LIVE Monica RW.
"What started as a vision to change the way news, commentary and information is received on Michigan and National Politics from topics ranging from economics to finance and important analysis of pending legislation on the State and Federal level, has citzens from across our nation listening in."
A Featured Politics podcast on the Blog Talk Radio Network, IURL begun as Reach Out Job Search Radio (ROJS-R) in late 2010. The program focus comprised of building an advocacy and resource point for America's Long-Term Job Seekers - unemployed and underemployed citizens near exhaustion points of Federal jobless benefit extensions - then up to 99 weeks in length.
Read more: http://www.reachoutjobsearch.com/2014/08/independent-underground-radio-live.html#ixzz39RpqmITN
State of emergency declared in Lucas County after toxins found in Toledo water
Source: Toledo Blade
"A state of emergency was declared today in Lucas County and the greater Toledo area after tests at the Collins Park water-treatment plant in East Toledo produced two toxin sample readings.
Chemists testing water at Collins Park plant found two sample readings for microcystin -- a toxin that is released by algae blooms -- that exceeded the recommended “do not drink” standard of one microgram per liter standard. About 400,000 people in and around Ohio‘s fourth-largest city are affected.?
Within hours after the warning was issued, Ohio Gov. John Kasich declared a state of emergency for Toledo and the surrounding areas affected, including Fulton County. Early today, residents descended on stores, quickly clearing shelves of bottled water.
Toledo Mayor D. Michael Collins and health leaders asked residents to remain calm and said they may have answers later today on when Toledo-area water supply will be safe to drink again. Water samples were sent to Michigan and Cincinnati for testing; a third sample is headed to Columbus at about 3:30 today. Mayor D. Michael Collins said each test is different and will allow a “triangulation” of tests. The mayor declined to say when test results might be available. He did not want to “put a burden of time” on results."
Read more: http://www.toledoblade.com/local/2014/08/02/City-of-Toledo-issues-do-no-drink-water-advisery.html
Don't know about you however, this is a bit concerning indeed. Let's see. Detroit - Water Shut Off Crisis, California -- Water Drought and limiting of Water Resources for reservation purposes, Toledo, Ohio -- No One Can Drink the Water, Period.
Ran into a lady from Toledo, Ohio this morning on the way to a weekly political forum at Speedway.
The nice lady, "I hope he (the cashier) won't think I'm crazy having to buy 10 cases of bottled water.
Reply, "What's wrong? Are you living in Detroit?"
Nice Lady, "No, I'm from Toledo. They just declared a water emergency and we can't drink or boil our water."
Reply, "What the hell?".
Nice Lady, "In fact, they are saying the water is contaminated from Lake Erie."
Reply, but thought in head first (Oh, Shit --- Lake Erie -- Hello our water in S.E. Michigan could be at risk for contamination too), "Wow....just wow. We have not heard a peep about this on local news. Will tell others. Thanks and hope you'll will be okay."
Ummm...is anyone else concerned? Just wondering.
TYT Detroit Meetup and Wolf PAC set to Visit Ann Arbor for Michigan Progressive Candidate Mixer 8/16
"For Politically aligned Progressives and Independents seeking to mix fun, activism and politics, The Young Turks Detroit Organization, Wolf PAC Michigan and Independent Underground Radio LIVE (IURL) - Michigan's TOP Politico Podcast, will host a casual event to meet candidates and discuss the issues that matter most in 2014.
According to the event organizers, all progressive candidates are welcome, with a focus on candidates seeking public office from Livingston and Washtenaw counties.
The event will take place on Saturday, August 16, 2014 at 7:00 pm at the famous Pizza House, 618 Church Street in Ann Arbor, Michigan."
READ MORE HERE: http://www.reachoutjobsearch.com/2014/08/tyt-detroit-meetup-and-wolf-pac-set-to.html#axzz3918Xdmj4
If you are living locally, stop by and bring a friend or two!
Michigan's Proposal 1 of 2014, is another Tax Shift disguised as Fathom Jobs....
"To say that Michigan's Proposal 1 coming to an PRIMARY election ballot near you August 5, 2014 is a hot pile of stinking mess, is a understatement. Commercials are marketing pitches, whose core design is to make the business, product, person or entity appear to be the best option to take.
Remember this statement when as a Michigan resident, you view the commercials sponsored by the States' Chamber of Commerce regarding how Proposal 1 of 2014 will magically create 15,000 jobs on its' own.
Why is Michigan's Proposal 1 of 2014 is a hot pile of stinking mess?
Problem One:
Well, a number of reasons but first and foremost, the appointed board who would decide where Usage Tax Funds are allocated. The Usage Tax in Michigan would increase on services such as renting a car, staying in a hotel room, receiving a haircut from a barber or hairdresser or buying equipment on Amazon.com.
Wait, buying equipment off of Amazon.com? Yes, that too as the State would ensure Amazon or any other e-commerce operated business charge the Michigan Sales Tax (6.0%), plus a new Usage Tax Fee on equipment purchases made over the internet.
Back to the "Appointed Board" determining where revenue received by Proposal 1 of 2014 Usage Tax is allocated to municipalities throughout the state. Normally, state governmental units quasi "Appointed Boards" are made up of political operatives who someone owe a favor, or the appointees themselves owe many favors to the Appointing Official(s).
For Proposal 1 of 2014 behalf, if passed into law, the board members would be Appointed by the Governor in office at the time. Yet, another reason this Proposal is a deep, long pile of stinking hot mess, while taking a moment to reflect on the last three years of Republican controlled and operated State Government in Michigan.
Problem Two:
Michigan's Proposal 1 of 2014 tall tales claims of tax savings for alleged "small businesses" the propaganda filled commercials boasting loudly about on a TV screen near you, are not the only businesses who will be the benefactors' of this "tax break".
Say hello to large businesses, yet again, getting another tax break at our expense."
Read more: http://www.reachoutjobsearch.com/2014/07/oped-business-property-tax-measure.html#ixzz38hfdrHYt
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Actor/Activist Mark Ruffalo attends the Detroit Water Shutoffs Protest - 7.18.14
EXCLUSIVE IU News & Talk Video:
Actor and Activist Mark Ruffalo attended the Detroit Water Shutoffs Protests at Netroots Nation on July 18, 2014. Upwards to 3,000 Detroit Residents per week with an inability to pay water bills due to a 40% average poverty rate in the city, have been subject to shutoffs.
Protest was organized by National Nurses United, Robin Hood Tax USA with the support of the National Writers Union.
Video Link:
Video Credit: Independent Underground News & Talk
Follow Independent Underground Radio LIVE on Twitter @IUNewsTalk
Listen to Independent Underground Radio LIVE -Michigan's TOP POLITICO Podcast at: http://www.BlogTalkRadio.com/ROJSRadio
Detroit's Bankruptcy, An Unique Opportunity To Transfer Wealth Assets-The March 2013 Interview
"Looking back on the nearly 18 month period since the City of Detroit entered the roads leading to U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Steven Rhodes Court, we reflect on the variety of twists and turns traveled.
From the Fiscal Crisis first declared by Michigan Governor Rick Snyder (R) in early 2013 and then former State Treasurer Andy Dillon, to a forced Consent Agreement for a period of nine months, ultimately leading to the appointment of former Jones Day Bankruptcy Attorney from way of Maryland, Kevyn Orr's rein as Detroit's Emergency Manager."
Minutes after 5:00 pm on July 11, 2014, several local media resources revealed an unnamed source affirmed Detroit Retirees voted for what is known as the Grand Bargain -- an legislative deal designed to cut earned pensions 4.5% or more, along with health and life insurance. Up to 20,000 retirees will be impacted by the true results of this vote. This is despite language in Michigan's Constitution and Funding Document declaring promised pension benefits SHALL NOT be impaired.
U.S. Federal Bankruptcy Judge Rhodes is scheduled to make a finalized decision on Detroit's Bankruptcy July 18, 2014.
Over in Illinois during the first week of July, the State's Highest Court - Supreme Court of Illinois stuck down an 2012 Public Act which sought to cut health care benefits earned to retirees. Citing language in Illinois State Constitution in Article 13, Section 5 Illinois Supreme Court in a 6 to 1 majority barred State Legislative leaders or other resources of impairing retirees pension and health benefits - irregardless to whatever "fiscal crisis" of the moment is boasted.
However, Detroit's road to Bankruptcy Court sets it apart from any other State in the latest rounds of Austerity Focused legislative officials displaying a strong willingness to cut pension and benefits to retirees, before ever deceasing their own. Today, the focus is Water, plus in particular Detroit and by extension Michigan's natural resource of abundance, called The Great Lakes."
READ MORE: http://www.reachoutjobsearch.com/2014/07/oped-full-circle-detroits-bankruptcy.html#ixzz37NnWyPSf
(Illinois) State Supreme Court says retiree health benefits are protected by constitution
Source: AFSCME Council 31 - Illinois
"In a major victory for state of Illinois and state university retirees, the Illinois Supreme Court has reversed a lower court’s dismissal of lawsuits challenging SB 1313, which effectively repealed promised retiree health care benefits. One of the suits was brought by AFSCME and its union partners – the IFT, the FOP and INA.
The court found that health care benefits for retired state and university employees are protected by the pension protection clause of the state constitution (Article XIII, Section 5) and cannot be diminished or impaired. The court sent the case back to Circuit Court for further proceedings.
“Giving the language of article XIII, section 5, its plain and ordinary meaning, all of these benefits, including subsidized health care, must be considered to be benefits of membership in a pension or retirement system of the State and, therefore, within that provision’s protections,” the court wrote in its opinion.
"The Supreme Court ruled today that men and women who work to provide essential public services – protecting children from abuse, keeping criminals locked up, caring for the most vulnerable and more – can count on the Illinois Constitution to mean what it says," Council 31 Executive Director Henry Bayer said. "Retirement security, including affordable health care and a modest pension, cannot be revoked by politicians.
"Unions representing public employees and retirees have stood virtually alone against political and corporate-funded attacks on retirement security," Bayer added. "Time and again we have urged legislators to respect the constitution they are sworn to uphold, and to work together with us to develop fair and constitutional solutions to the state's very real fiscal challenges. We remain ready to work in good faith with anyone to do so."
The opinion, and its validation of the pension protection clause, is an encouraging sign as AFSCME and other unions seek to overturn laws that would cut pension benefits for state of Illinois and state university retirees (SB 1 –Public Act 98-599) and City of Chicago retirees (SB 1922)."
Read more: http://www.afscme31.org/news/state-supreme-court-says-retiree-health-benefits-are-protected-by-constitution
This could have HUGE implications for Detroit, Michigan retirees.....if they can change their votes --- to NO on the Grand Bargain--- before July 11th.
Illinois Supreme Court Ruling on Pension Benefits Could Change the Landscape of Detroit's Grand Bargain Deal
"The Supremacy Clause. According to Cornell University Law School, the Clause confirms in, "Article VI, Paragraph 2 of the Constitution... that the federal constitution, and federal law generally, take precedence over state laws, and even state constitutions." Scary language when City of Detroit retirees in less than a week are facing a life altering decision.
The open question is if these former and current workers vested in Detroit's Pension Plans vote yes to a 4.5% cut to monthly annuity income, or face upwards of a 27% reduction or more by voting no.
Furthermore, U.S. Sixth Circuit Court Bankruptcy Judge Steven Rhodes could pull a "trump card" of sorts if retirees were to deny what is known as the "Grand Bargain" using a Austerity focus safety net -- Supremacy. Or will he?
The decision made on Thursday, July 3, 2014 over the course of a busy holiday weekend in S.E. Michigan was heard like an ant crawling across a floor. Pretty much, not at all. Yet, the Illinois Supreme Court ruling was ground shaking.
As another state facing what the austerity hyper-focus call a pension short-fall, a bi-partisan Illnois State Legislator voted to diminish a core benefit retirees via Unionized contracts approved in good faith.
Public Act 97-695 of 2012 allowed the Illinois to charge retired workers for health care insurance premiums, which many did not have to pay depending on how long they worked for the state.Legal challenges to the Public Act took nearly two years to land within Illinois' Supreme Court Docket.
After a thorough review in a 6 to 1 strong majority decision, the state court decided to affirm language in Article 14, Section 9 of Illinois Constitution -- setting a possible future U.S. Supreme Court Case in motion, whether or not City of Detroit Retirees vote yes or no to its' Grand Bargain plan."
READ MORE: http://www.reachoutjobsearch.com/2014/07/oped-llinois-supreme-court-ruling-on.html#ixzz36iK6ZG00
llinois Supreme Court Ruling on Pension Benefits Could Aler Landscape of Detroit's Grand Bargain
"The Supremacy Clause. According to Cornell University Law School, the Clause confirms in, "Article VI, Paragraph 2 of the Constitution... that the federal constitution, and federal law generally, take precedence over state laws, and even state constitutions." Scary language when City of Detroit retirees in less than a week are facing a life altering decision.
The open question is if these former and current workers vested in Detroit's Pension Plans vote yes to a 4.5% cut to monthly annuity income, or face upwards of a 27% reduction or more by voting no.
Furthermore, U.S. Sixth Circuit Court Bankruptcy Judge Steven Rhodes could pull a "trump card" of sorts if retirees were to deny what is known as the "Grand Bargain" using a Austerity focus safety net -- Supremacy. Or will he?
The decision made on Thursday, July 3, 2014 over the course of a busy holiday weekend in S.E. Michigan was heard like an ant crawling across a floor. Pretty much, not at all. Yet, the Illinois Supreme Court ruling was ground shaking.
As another state facing what the austerity hyper-focus call a pension short-fall, a bi-partisan Illnois State Legislator voted to diminish a core benefit retirees via Unionized contracts approved in good faith.
Public Act 97-695 of 2012 allowed the Illinois to charge retired workers for health care insurance premiums, which many did not have to pay depending on how long they worked for the state.Legal challenges to the Public Act took nearly two years to land within Illinois' Supreme Court Docket.
After a thorough review in a 6 to 1 strong majority decision, the state court decided to affirm language in Article 14, Section 9 of Illinois Constitution -- setting a possible future U.S. Supreme Court Case in motion, whether or not City of Detroit Retirees vote yes or no to its' Grand Bargain plan.
READ MORE: http://www.reachoutjobsearch.com/2014/07/oped-llinois-supreme-court-ruling-on.html#ixzz36h84j12d
Op/Ed: Does Voting for Detroit's 'Grand Bargain' Deal Make Financial Sense for City Retirees?
"How many times have you been told something is good for you, when in reality it might not be. Pressure to suppress doubt can become overwhelming. Especially when nearly every elected leader, print, broadcast media resource, plus some fellow citizens boast loud as one can hear or read -- do this or else.
The Economic Basis of Careful Review For or Against "Detroit's Grand Bargain" Deal
City of Detroit retirees are facing a life transformation choice. Whether proposed cuts are 4.5% or 30% in monthly pension, any reduction in revenue has real life consequences.
Utilities, fuel oil, car repairs, food. rent or mortgage obligations normally are not negotiable with creditors to reduce by 4.5% or 30% in view of the debtors monthly income has decreased. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) May 2014 report:
"The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.3 percent in April on a seasonally adjusted basis, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 2.0 percent before seasonal adjustment.
The indexes for gasoline, shelter, and food all rose in April and contributed to the seasonally adjusted all items increase. The gasoline index rose 2.3 percent; this led to the first increase in the energy index since January, despite declines in the electricity and fuel oil indexes. The food index rose 0.4 percent for the third month in a row, as the index for meats rose sharply."
Let's break these numbers down a bit. From April 2013 to April 2014 all items: Food, Utilities and Shelter, Medical Care, Airline Fares, New Vehicles, Used Cars or Trucks, and Recreation rose 2.0%. During the previous period of study - March 2012 - March 2013, BLS cites the Consumer Price Index rose, "1.5 percent increase for the 12 months ending March." Thus, the average cost of living increase from March 2012 to April 2014 in prices for basic consumer goods, necessaries and services rose 3.5%."
Detroit Retirees are being asked to reduce monthly annuity income by 4.5% or more, but notwithstanding eliminate any future cost of living pension adjustments over the course of their lifetime."
Read more: http://www.reachoutjobsearch.com/2014/06/oped-does-voting-for-detroits-grand.html#ixzz34kV3LTNP
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