Granny Peace Brigade Blog

(Click on the photos for larger images.)

You see those plastic bags people are carrying today in Union Square?  They’re approaching the table where they will concentrate on voting with the 20 pennies in each bag.  It’s all about how they believe tax dollars should best be spent.

People are getting on board with their votes and those empty tubes will tell the tale in time.  Everyone knows the results will be posted on our blog.

Bud Korotzer, peace and justice activist on the scene photographically documenting grassroots activity, people “voting” where their taxes should be spent and…

…viewing War Resisters League literature.

“Take our twenty pennies and with them, vote where you want your tax dollars to go.”

There were many votes for Education but today most votes were cast for

JOBS, JOBS, JOBS!  There were stories shared by folks who were out of work and looking for employment.  Note  Ms. Gizmo’s JOBS tube.  We actually had to remove some pennies to make room for more before the event ended.

- Caroline Chinlund (photos 1&2)
- Phyllis Cunningham (photos 3,5&7)
- Bud Korotzer (photos 4&6)
- Edith Cresmer (chart)
- Eva-Lee Baird (technical support)
for the Granny Peace Brigade

(Return to blog home)

(Return to GPB website)

The GPB and CodePink went to Hunter College with Ms. Gizmo on V-Day and International Women’s Day. We invited students and teachers to vote their tax preferences using a package of 20 pennies as their vote. We told them to imagine they were Congresspeople distributing 20 billion dollars among our eight categories.

The results of their votes are shown below. Not surprisingly education was the top draw.

After they allot their pennies, we give voters a copy of the War Resisters League pie chart flyer – “Where Your Income Tax Money Really Goes” so they can compare their ideas to the actual Federal budget.

- Edith Cresmer and Eva-Lee Baird
for the Granny Peace Brigade

(Return to blog home)

(Return to GPB website)

On a windy Thursday, October 14 we were back in Brooklyn with Ms. Gizmo asking people to show how they would like their tax dollars spent.

Ms. Gizmo has eight categories: Arts & Culture, Education, Environment & Clean Energy, Health Care, Housing, Jobs, Military and Transportation. The voters get 20 pennies to distribute in these categories however they think is best. It isn’t easy, people have to make some hard choices.

We’ve hit the streets with Ms. Gizmo seven times now and the results vary a bit from place to place. But each and every time New Yorkers say…

Spend the most money on Education, Health Care and Jobs.
Spend the least on the Military.

After the election our senators and representatives will be hearing this message loud and clear.

Got that?
More on Education, Health Care and Jobs.
Less on the Military.

New Yorkers may be irascible, but we are peace-loving too.

- Eva-Lee Baird
for the Granny Peace Brigade

(Return to blog home)

(Return to GPB website)

Dial 202-224-3121 and ask for your Senator or Representative by name. The Washington phone lines of the NY senators are often busy so we leave messages at local offices. Dialing locally should work for other Senators too. Get the numbers from their web sites.

Senator Schumer: New York City 212-486-4430;
Albany 518-431-4070; Long Island 631-753-0978
Senator Gillibrand: New York City 212-688-6262;
Albany 518-431-0120; Long Island 631-249-2825

Will you make seven phone calls this week? Let us know how any or all of them went at grannypeace@gmail.com.

1. Call one Senator. Ask him/her to vote no to  Obama’s $33 billion request for supplemental war funding.*

2. Call your other Senator. Ask him/her to vote no to  Obama’s $33 billion request for supplemental war funding.*

3. Call your Representative. Ask him/her to vote no to  Obama’s $33 billion request for supplemental war funding.*

4. Before Wednesday, March 10 call your Representative. Ask him/her to co-sponsor Kucinich’s resolution, H. Con Res. 248, requiring the House of Representatives to debate whether to continue the war in Afghanistan. It is scheduled to be debated next week. H. Con Res. 248 isn’t a proposed bill – it’s a resolution calling for debate, so  ask your Representative to co-sponsor and speak up at the debate.

5. Call your Representative and ask him/her to co-sponsor H.R.4650: To phase out the use of private military contractors. Sponsor: Janice D. Schakowsky,  [IL-9].

6, 7. Call each of your Senators and ask them to sign on as co-sponsors to S.3023: To phase out the use of private military contractors. Sponsor: Bernard Sanders,  [VT].

- Eva-Lee Baird
for the Granny Peace Brigade

*Hill To Weigh War Supplemental Next Month
Defense Daily, March 2, 2010, Volume 245, No. 39, pg. 2
By Emelie Rutherford

Congress is expected to start considering in mid-April President Barack Obama’s $33 billion request for supplemental war funding for the current fiscal year, which is expected to be approved without any major skirmishes.

Though Obama pledged to end the Bush administration practice of funding the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan through such emergency appropriations bills, he has requested the $33 billion FY ’10 supplemental to fund a buildup of troops in Afghanistan.

The House Appropriations Committee (HAC) is expected to kick off consideration of the measure with a markup session on or around April 15. That date falls on the week after a two-week congressional recess set to begin on March 27. Until then, the congressional defense committees will continue to be enmeshed in hearings on the Pentagon’s request for a $548.9 billion base budget and $159.3 billion in war funding for FY ’11, which begins Oct. 1.

Senate appropriators are also expected to take up the FY ’10 supplemental soon after the congressional recess.

(Return to blog home)

(Return to GPB website)

Thursday, February 4th  – Port Authority Bus Terminal NYC

Nydia encouraged this young man to call. I was honored when he used my phone to leave a message asking Senator Schumer to vote no on future war funding. The twinkle in his eye as he completed the call was special too. In the background Caroline is talking to Carla from Chelsea who was a great addition to the gang.- Eva-Lee Baird

This young man was encouraged by his friend in the photo above
to make a call. -Nydia Leaf

And he did exactly that with Joan Pleune looking on.

These women were passing through for a day in the city. They were so happy to see us and encouraged to call on the spot.  They write to their representatives, but thought this action was wonderful. They were persistent in getting through to Senator Menedez and made 2 successful calls. - Barbara Harris

I’m assisting two young Bronx college students identify their Congressional and City Council Representatives using the “Directory of Elected Officials” published by the  League of Women Voters . - Phyllis Cunningham

Edith Cresmer and Eva-Lee Baird, two troublemakers in front of the police sign encouraging Free Speech.

Myron Johnson, manager, in his “house” (Port Authority) demanding that grannies “close shop.” - Phyllis Cunningham

GET YOUR FREE SPEECH PERMIT HERE!*

This is the Administrative Office in the Bus Terminal and anyone who wants to set up a table or give out literature needs to get a permit here. The permits, called “Expressive Activity Directed at the Public” permits, must be applied for during four hours of the day and can be submitted for two week periods; they must be applied for not less than 36 hours nor more than seven days prior to the beginning date. 13 indoor and 5 outdoor locations are designated, each of which has different rules regarding the number of persons, whether tables can be used and the space within which you are required to remain, such as no more than 5 feet from the wall against which you are located.**

Unfortunately for us Granny Peace Brigade phone-o-thoners, we are used to roaming in greater spaces, so we were told to leave.  - Edith Cresmer

* Monday-Friday 8:30-10:30AM, 1:30-3:30PM — only.
** Got that?

(Return to blog home)

(Return to GPB website)

Worried about our Supreme Court’s recent decision overturning campaign spending limits on corporations? Help is on the way from Donna Edwards who has introduced H.J.RES.74:  John Conyers has co-sponsored.

It’s a great resolution but they can’t do this alone. Call them and thank them. Then call your Representative and ask her/him to sign on. Congressional switchboard 202-224-3121.

JOINT RESOLUTION

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States permitting Congress and the States to regulate the expenditure of funds by corporations engaging in political speech.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled (two-thirds of each House concurring therein), That the following article is proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years after the date of its submission for ratification:

`Article–

`Section 1. The sovereign right of the people to govern being essential to a free democracy, Congress and the States may regulate the expenditure of funds for political speech by any corporation, limited liability company, or other corporate entity.

`Section 2. Nothing contained in this Article shall be construed to abridge the freedom of the press.’.

More details: thomas.gov

- Eva-Lee Baird
for the Granny Peace Brigade

(Return to blog home)

(Return to GPB website)

On Thursday, January 28 we took ourselves to the 42nd Street Port Authority Bus Terminal for our first phone-a-thon of 2010.

Encouraging someone to take the plunge and call when he’s never done it before…  - Nydia Leaf

Running to a business meeting, this gentleman thought it important to call Senator Lautenberg (NJ) and speak with his aide about not funding war, creating jobs, and getting programs that provide for people’s needs. - Phyllis Cunningham.

A U.S. citizen born in Romania and now living in Queens knew her representative was Anthony Weiner. She had contacted his office in the past.  She wanted to tell him to “stop the war by stopping the funding;” she knew from war and knew it could be horrible.  The noise in the Port Authority is always a challenge and the connection was poor so I had to give her message to the staffperson, who knew exactly what we were asking and said she’d pass the message along. - Edith Cresmer

Sean Vergara, a young film writer/director, contacted Senator Lautenberg letting him know his pain, “My friends have been injured and their lives damaged – stop funding war.” No one wins in war. - Barbara Harris

This young man did not agree with Polly Feingold.

Alerting Senator Gillibrand’s staffer. We want to hear the senator’s voice loud and clear that the Supreme Court decision must be countered.  How will she go forth to make it clear that corporate personhood does not our democracy make? We are watching! - Caroline Chinlund

Frank Morales the housing organizer of Picture the Homeless stops to talk. He tells us NYC can help the homeless without costing the city one extra penny by spending less on shelters and more on housing. We agree the U.S. should spend less on war – and use that money for housing, healthcare, education, job creation. - Eva-Lee Baird

PLEASE DO NOT BE SILENT! Call your senators and representatives 202-224-3121. Tell them to stop funding war.

- The Granny Peace Brigade
Photos by Caroline Chinlund and Eva-Lee Baird

(Return to blog home)

(Return to GPB website)

Grannies and CodePink set up the peace table and dynamite new signs by the fountain in Borough Hall Park.

The Greenmarket is on; school kids are learning about vegetables; smart, powerful voters show up to call representatives and let them know they want an end to spending tax money for wars.

Read the signs, or read our cue sheets (we call them breastplates), take home our flier with home office numbers for senators in case their DC lines are busy!

It feels good, as you can see.

- Caroline Chinlund
Photos from the top:
first – Eva-Lee Baird, second through fifth – Caroline Chinlund
for the Granny Peace Brigade

(Return to blog home)

(Return to GPB website)