Week starting July 21

In this week's report:





UPDATED






Peace & Justice Organizations


Bill of Rights Petition


Also see the
Suffolk Progressive Vision
web site for links to the
Suffolk Peace Network Counter Military Recruiting Committee
and much more.


______________________________________________



The East End Report is heard on Bill McNulty's"Lunch on Thursday" 12N, Thursday WUSB
Stony Brook 90.1 FM and WUSB.org

East End Report excerpts on Jim Krivo's Long Island Report Wednesdays 6:45am on 'Wake Up Call' WBAI 99.5 FM NYC and WBAI.org

_______________________________________

The East End Report is compiled by Tony Ernst.
Comments and corrections may be sent to eastendreport@optonline.net

East Hampton Library Expansion: One Last Chance

A proposal by the East Hampton Library to expand their facilities needs last minute support in the form of messages to Governor Pataki by Friday to support legislation which will enable the project. The background from a letter by activist and Library supporter Michael O'Neill is below along with a sample letter to the Governor's chief of staff.

"In East Hampton, our public library, after careful survey and assessment, determined the biggest need in our community for the services they can offer, is the underserved Latino community, especially its children.

Libraries are no longer the warehouses of books where people go around whispering as if they were at church as when we were kids. New models of public libraries serve more as community centers, providing resources available to families ....

If libraries attract a large number of users by services and programs they can then assess needs of families.. They can refer the parent or child to available health services, training programs, etc. ....

The library board went to the drawing table and proposed an addition on to its present location in ...the middle of our town's village, to better able serve families, especially childrens' needs.

Village residents overwhelmingly defeated the proposed bonding referendum to pay for the
3.5 million or so needed for construction of the addition.

In letters to the newspaper it was made clear by insinuation and code that the new addition would bring in Latinos who reside mostly in the working class district of Springs outside of the village. It was argued the increased traffic would cause gridlock, that "those" folks would be walking through their fancy, quiet village neighorhood in the daylight ...

They put up big money ... to hire electoral professionals to direct their campaign and lawyers to tie up their efforts for years if they lost. The referendum was soundly and easily defeated in a special election, with its expected low turnout.

One [village woman] said "Why pay to have others baby-sit illegal children?"

Now before Gov. Pataki to sign, is a very narrow bill ushered through by our Assemblyman, Fred Thiele (R) and State Senator, Ken LaValle, that would streamline the many hurdles needed by the library to fund and build the addition. "

Supporters of the bill fear that the Republican Mayor of East Hampton is using his influence in Albany to persuade the Governor not to sign the bill.

A bill on Gov. Pataki's desk would permit all the libraries in Suffolk to go around restrictive, gridlock zoning hurdles. Below is sample letter to Pataki's chief of staff who is point person on this, and might well be making the decision on this legislation. Organizational support would be especially appreciated. The deadline for signing the bill is Friday July 22.

Send a copy of your letter to Michael O'Neill at leoneill@optonline.net

__________________________________________

Jeffrey Lovell,
Secretary to the Governor
Executive Chamber
The State Capitol
Albany, New York 12224

Senate Bill: S559/Assembly Bill: A875

Dear Mr. Lovell,

We wholeheartedly support this bill and urge the Governor to sign it. This legislation facilitates the delivery of library services to residents of the State and helps to eliminate overlapping or conflicting regulatory requirements without eliminating local zoning control. The bill streamlines
the building permit process by eliminating a special permit requirement which can result in conflicts with existing Regent's policies regarding library services. The bill guarantees that for a library to benefit from this bill, it must conform to dimensional and area requirements of the local zoning code, meet all site plan requirements, historic district requirements, and environmental SEQRA requirements at the local level. The local municipality retains zoning control of the library.

This bill balances the interest of New York State in providing library services to all of its residents, in particular to underserved people of color, especially children who do not speak English at home, and others less affluent in our society who rely heavily on local libraries for information regarding their day-to-day lives, citizenship, job training, English as a second language and literacy.

Libraries provide a constructive, positive environment where families and children, including recent immigrants, should feel welcomed and part of the community.


For these reasons, libraries have a very special place in our society. They are vital educational institutions providing all of our citizens and future citizens with the knowledge and tools they need to fully participate in and strengthening our American system of government. An informed and educated electorate is the underpinning of our democracy.

Please enact this bill.

(signed)

Governor's fax:

518-486-9671 (physical copy has heft & is visible)
office: 518-486-9671

email:

Jeffrey.lovell@chamber.state.ny.us

Peace & Justice Calendar - Starting July 21

UPDATED July 22

* July 21 (Thursday): Bill of Rights Defense Committee Meets in Southampton at 7pm

* July 22 (Friday): Deadline to Submit Comments on LI Offshore Wind Park

* July 23 (Saturday): Island-Wide Demonstrations at Military Recruiting Stations Starting 10am

* July 23 (Saturday): Reading: "The End of the Hamptons: Scenes from the Class Struggle in America's Paradise" in Sag Harbor, 6 pm

* July 23 (Saturday): Meeting with Scott Harris of WPKN on East End News Project in Sag Harbor, 7:30 pm

* July 26(Tuesday): Richard and Max Wolff - Current Political & Economic Conditons - Bayshore at 7:15pm

* July 27 (Wednesday): Whose Life Is It? - Making Ethical End-of-Life Decisions: Discussion in Bridgehampton at 7:30pm

* July 28 ( Thursday): Rally in Support of Bill of Rights in Southampton at 12 noon

* July 28 (Thursday): Could You Be Drafted? and Military Recruitment in Ronkonkoma at 6:30pm

* July 29 (Friday): Reading of "Visa for Avalon" at Canio's in Sag Harbor at 6pm

* July 30 (Saturday): Peace Action Meeting on Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in East Hampton at 5pm

* August 6 (Saturday): World Peace Vigil on Hiroshima Anniversary in Bellport at 3:30pm

* August 10 (Wednesday): Vanishing Landscapes - Photographer Kathryn Szoka - in Bridgehampton at 7:30pm

* Repeating Events: "Herstory" Writing Workshops in English and Spanish: Thursdays in East Hampton at 7 pm

Details follow:


July 21 (Thursday): Bill of Rights Defense Committee Meets in Southampton at 7pm

The South Fork Bill of Rights Defense committee will meet at the United Methodist Church in Southampton at 7pm Thursday July 21. The group is petitioning the Southampton and East Hampton Town Boards to pass a resolution in support of the Bill of Rights and in opposition to the US Patriot Act. ( see East End Report 'Bill of Rights Day in Southampton', posted last week).

Also see July 28 rally in support of the petition in Southampton in this calendar.

For more information on the South Fork Bill of Rights Defense Committee contact Myrna Truit at myrna.truitt@worldnet.att.net

___________________________________________________

July 22 (Friday): Deadline to Submit Comments on LI Offshore Wind Park

Visit www dot LIoffshoreWindEnergy dot org for more information and to download the printable public comment form

___________________________________________________

July 23 (Saturday): Island-Wide Demonstrations at Military Recruiting Stations Starting 10am

The Long Island Counter Military Recruiting Committee will be holding a "Caution - Do Not Enter" demonstration on Saturday July 23. Volunteers will be holding yellow caution tape and leafletting to youth and citizens who are being bombarded with falsehoods regarding military service. Get involved in getting the truth out!!

Call 631-875-8647 or email spncr@active.ws for the recruiting station near you!
___________________________________________________


July 23(Saturday): Reading: "The End of the Hamptons: Scenes from the Class Struggle in America's Paradise" in Sag Harbor, 6 pm

Author Corey Dolgon, former Southampton College sociologist reads from his book "The End of the Hamptons: Scenes from the Class Struggle in America´s Paradise" at Canio's Books, 290 Main St. in Sag Harbor More info at 631-725-4926

___________________________________________________

July 23 (Saturday): Meeting with Scott Harris of WPKN on East End News Project in Sag Harbor, 7:30 pm

Scott Harris, radio journalist of WPKN/WPKM ' s Counterpoint and the nationally syndicated radio news magazine "Between the Lines" will meet members of east end activist groups to discuss the WPKN east end news initiative. This informal meeting will follow the Corey Dolgon reading (see above) at Canio's Books, 290 Main Street in Sag Harbor.

More info at eastendreport@optonline.net and Between The Lines

___________________________________________________

July 26(Tuesday): Richard and Max Wolff - Current Political & Economic Conditons in Bayshore at 7:15pm

Richard Wolff, Professor of Economics at U. Mass, Amherst and Max Wolff, economic analyst will speak at the Bayshore - Brightwaters Library on Tuesday, July 26 at 7:15pm. The lecture will cover war and the economy including trade issues.

more info: Brian at worker515@juno.com

___________________________________________________
July 27(Wednesday): Whose Life Is It? - Making Ethical End-of-Life Decisions: Discussion in Bridgehampton at 7:30pm

A discussion with The Rev. Elsie Smith, Lutheran . Part of the Series "Religion and Ethics" Every other Wednesday 7:30 to 9:00 at Incarnation Lutheran Church, Montauk Highway & Hayground Road, Water Mill

Contact: Rev. Rose Ann Vita (631) 537-1187 pastorvita@fnol.net
___________________________________________________
July 28 ( Thursday): Rally in Support of Bill of Rights in Southampton at 12 noon.

A rally in support of the Bill of Rights and in opposition to the US PATRIOT act is planned for Thursday at Noon at the Rogers Memorial Library on Windmill Lane in Southampton.
Speakers will include historian Blanch Wiesen-Cook of East Hampton and Jared Feuer of the Suffolk- New York Civil Liberties Union.

The rally is sponsored by the South Fork Bill of Rights Defense Committee
For more information contact Myrna Truit at myrna.truitt@worldnet.att.net

___________________________________________________

July 28 (Thursday): Could You Be Drafted? and Military Recruitment in Ronkonkoma at 6:30pm

Members of the LI Counter Military Recruitment Committee will be holding an event to raise awareness about and to get people involved in the continuing struggle against military recruitment. Will include discussion of recruiting tactics and why the Draft seems almost certain. The prgram will be at the Freespace at 23 Union Avenue in Ronkonkoma.

For directions and more info LI Freespace
___________________________________________________

July 29 (Friday): Reading of "Visa for Avalon" at Canio's in Sag Harbor at 6pm

Poets Kathy Engel and Jan Freeman along with Blanche Wiesen-Cook and Clare Coss will read excerpts from Bryher's amazing novel Visa For Avalon at Canio's Books on Friday July 29th, 6 PM. The program is an hour long.

"Visa for Avalon is a visionary and haunting novel. Bryher wrote this book forty years ago, but it speaks directly to the politics of today. It's a warning against apathy and should be read by anyone who's worried about civil rights." --Grace Paley

Canios is at 290 Main St in Sag Harbor. 725 - 4926

___________________________________________________
July 30 (Saturday): Peace Action Meeting on Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in East Hampton at 5pm

The Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty Review Conference held in May at the UN ended in deadlock. The organization Peace Action has been working nationally to get our elected officials
to put pressure on the administration to stop development and deployment of bunker-busters, nukes in space, etc.

A meeting to extend this campaign to the east end is scheduled for East Hampton at the home of Judy Lerner on Saturday July 30. Speakers including historian Blanche Wiesen-Cook and state and national Peace Action representatives will be heard.

For directions contact Judy Lerner at 631-324-5480 or judyct12@aol.com

___________________________________________________
August 6 (Saturday): World Peace Vigil on Hiroshima Anniversary in Bellport at 3:30pm

Hiroshima Day, Saturday, August 6, 2005, will mark 60 Years since the atomic devastation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This year, as in the past 22 years, participants wearing traditional white for mourning will meet at 3:30PM at the sidewalk adjacent to Woodlawn Cemetery located on Station Road, Bellport Village, just south of Head of Neck Rd.

They will mark the day with a silent, commemorative walk to the Great South Bay for a
live program at the Bellport Village Bandshell.

All who yearn for World Peace and an end to the threat of nuclear annihilation are invited to join the vigil.

This year's very special 60th Anniversary Memorial includes:

* South Country Peace Group Co-chair Dennis Urlaub speaking on 21st Century Concerns: the Nuclear Agenda.

* Susan June Blake of PeaceSmith’s, featured speaker!

* Paul Ames to highlight proposed legislation and peace actions.

* Nina Uchida on Robert Oppenheimer, atomic weapons designer, now anti-nuke peace activist

* Catherine Synan Greene is back by popular demand with her very moving musical
selections.

* Susan McKeon, LI Poet Laureate and Diane Atkinson, reading their original work dedicated to the World Peace Vigil

* Tiffany Russo & Company, interpretive dance performance.

For more information call 286-1803 or email wilkds@suffolk.lib.ny.us
___________________________________________________

August 10 (Wednesday): Vanishing Landscapes - Photographer Kathryn Szoka - in Bridgehampton at 7:30pm

Photographer Kathryn Szoka talks about her series "Vanishing Landscapes" which documents dissapearing rural east end scenes.

7:30 to 9:00 at Incarnation Lutheran Church, Montauk Highway & Hayground Road, Water Mill

Contact: Rev. Rose Ann Vita (631) 537-1187 pastorvita@fnol.net
___________________________________________________

Repeating Events:

"Herstory" Writing Workshops in Spanish and English: Thursdays in East Hampton

Every Thursday women come together to share their writing with one another and receive feedback on how to structure and shape their lifewriting.The East Hampton workshop is open to East Hampton Town residents. Itmeets every Thursday, 7-9 p.m., at the Senior Citizens Center, 128Springs-Fireplace Road.

___________________________________________________

Send event listings for next week's report to

eastendreport@optonline.net

by 5 pm next Tuesday.

Plain old text would be appreciated!
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)