SB 1507 - Caucus - Who's Asking Questions?!?

Behold the differences in discussion regarding SB 1507.  Do YOUR elected officials care about our economy? Jobs? Our air?  Our water?  Our communities?  Our children?  Our PLANET?

Watch for yourself to find out.

Republican Caucus Discussion (Ummm = NONE)



Democratic Caucus


SIGN THE PETITION TO STOP SB1507!!!

SB1507 - House Rules Committee Video - March 26, 2011

Update to SB1507 - Kill Bill - Not the Movie

Today Jeff Frost and I went to the AZ State Capitol to attend the House Rules Committee meeting to see what would happen with SB1507 which had scuttled under the radar until now.  You can read my previous post on it HERE and sign the online petition I created to stop this bill HERE.

This shall serve as an educational piece to get everyone brought up to speed on what the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development is, as well as to give you a list of some of the numerous reasons as to why this bill needs to be KILLED - and never brought back to life.  Because Uma Thurman isn't here to kick anyone's ass for us...

In 1992, the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development met in Rio de Janeiro.  Not only did they reaffirm the Declaration of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment which had been adopted at Stockholm in 1972; their mission was to build upon it "with the goal of establishing a new and equitable global partnership through the creation of new levels of cooperation among States, key sectors of societies and people" - "working towards international agreements which respect the interests of all and protect the integrity of the global environmental and developmental system" - and  "recognizing the integral and interdependent nature of the Earth, our home."

Twenty-seven principles were adopted into the Rio Declaration.  The principles have to do with everything that is good and just - to protect people, planet and profit.  Please read them for yourselves HERE.

Last year, the tea partiers started spinning propaganda about how the green/sustainable movement was just a big conspiracy for a socialist society takeover to distribute wealth to the poor, take away the "American Dream" and that the Rio Declaration (known as Agenda 21) was the evil step-mother and wicked witch rolled into one.  It started gaining some momentum and press, like THIS article.  My favorite thing to read was that -

"Colorado Republican gubernatorial candidate Dan Maes accused his Democratic opponent of using a bike-sharing program to convert Denver into a "United Nations Community."

But we don't have an obesity problem in America, do we?  Everyone knows that only hippies and 10 year old's ride bikes, right???  All of the money that Minneapolis has spent on bike safety and walkability was probably just a waste of cash - even though they've been rated the most bike-friendly city two years in a row.  (Yep - a place that sees negative double digits is a million times more bike-friendly than us.  Sad but true.)

Forget that the majority of these extreme political zealots are usually very keen on inserting their ideology into places like my womb, but when I read the Rio Declaration it seems to answer the questions of "What would Jesus do"?  I'm so confused...  I wish the extreme right would just make up their minds already.

So what are some of the things that could happen if this bill is allowed to pass?  Well we'll get into that, but not before I remind you that because this bill was snuck in with a strike-all amendment, it has been like a slithering serpent passing through both House and Senate Committees and met with approval by some people who appear to not know any better.  There is no time for public commentary or conversations with sustainability experts.  That time has passed.  Many of the "ayes" in the group appear to be a band of sheep-like zombies, voting their party line without asking any questions, without thinking about the ramifications, and certainly without asking the question that may resonate with them the most - "What would Jesus do"?

So off the top of my head, as a person who has been passionate about this topic for a very long time, this is my list of what we stand to lose if we don't pull together and KILL this BILL:

• Jobs - The green and sustainable job market is one of the only consistently growing markets in this State.  Speaking of which, any and all Federal funding for green job training would be history.  We also have green sects throughout our government at both City and State levels.  What would happen to those jobs?
• Business/Industry - Nearly every large corporation and industry (and many small businesses) have  Sustainability Plans.  This is now a way of life - as well it should be because it's smart.  Sustainability Plans are meant to save companies money by using less energy, increasing productivity, lessening environmental impacts, and a myriad of other things that again, are good for People, Planet + Profit.  People from Intel have already signed my petition.  Would other companies like Intel want to set up shop in a State that was opposed to the Rio Declaration in this day and age?  The answer is an emphatic NO.
• Health - Green building programs and policies improve the health of our people - thus saving millions of dollars in healthcare costs.  As someone who has worked as an indoor air/environmental quality consultant for 10 years, I would be happy to point anyone to hundreds of peer-reviewed and published studies with regard to the health benefits associated with green building, as well as less absenteeism and improved test scores in green-built schools.
• Economy - Our economy is still down and many people are still un or under-employed.  Energy programs such as Energize Phoenix (which was possible through a Federal energy grant) and serves to help people lower their utility costs (which is a huge burden in our State especially during summer months) by offering extremely low out of pocket costs to upgrade HVAC systems, add insulation, make sure ducts are sealed and offer shade screens would simply go away.  Some of our State Legislators apparently think it's a horrible idea to take Federal grant money to help our citizens save money in these difficult economic times.  Go figure.
• ASU - A core part of our urban core is ASU.  A core part of ASU is the School of Sustainability.  Need I say more?
• Social Equality/Environmental Justice - Sustainability only works if it reaches across all socio-economic levels.  Into every neighborhood and touching every group of people in our ethnically diverse state.  Gone would be funding for TOD (transit oriented development) various HUD programs, and I can bet that Habitat for Humanity probably wouldn't get much love either.  Basically, the working poor and people living at poverty level would be the hardest group hit if this bill were to pass.  They are also the group that stands to benefit the most from these programs, the funding, and the general tenets of the Rio Declaration and everything it stands for.  I hope all of the Legislators keep in mind that they could be one major family illness/catastrophe from homelessness themselves.  And let us not forget the giant toxic plume that lives under a good part of Phoenix and is causing carcinogenic vapor intrusion issues into homes and schools.  We should probably not study that stuff anymore.  Cancer clusters aren't really a big deal, right Legislators?  
• Common Sense - I can't help but add it to this list, because it's the one thing that seems to have completely missed the boat at our current State Legislature.  Common sense is defined by Merriam-Webster as, "sound and prudent judgment based on a simple perception of the situation or facts."[1] Thus, "common sense" (in this view) equates to the knowledge and experience which most people already have, or which the person using the term believes that they do or should have. The Cambridge Dictionary defines it as, "the basic level of practical knowledge and judgment that we all need to help us live in a reasonable and safe way".[2]  It's obviously time to help get new people elected who understand this seemingly very complicated and difficult concept.  Egads.  Seriously...  Sustainability is about taking care of people and our planet.  How can you argue with that?  How can you be pro-life and hate the environment?  She's our biggest Mother.  (That was my liberal hippie comment for you.)

ACTION ITEMS:

Stay tuned for updates on the next reading of this bill.  Contact your State Representatives IMMEDIATELY as this bill is a quick moving serpent.  Contact them by email, by phone, through social media channels and in person.  Come down to the Capitol when it's heard.  Your presence is noticed, trust me.  Even when we can't add public comment.  Today we were able to supply the Committee with the Rio Declaration language as Jeff was smart enough to print it out and bring it with us.  It came in handy.

I would like to close with a heartfelt thank you to Chad Campbell (D) and Bob Robson (R) who both took time to ask questions, vote no, and brought up the fact that if this bill is passed, it will undermine programs to help eliminate poverty and all things connected to sustainability or green building programs - including solar and energy research at many of our institutions.  Thank you to the other nay voters as well.  We need you to clone yourselves please.

Now, let's KILL BILL (SB1507)!!!!!!

Senator Judy Burges is Hell Bent on Killing Sustainability in Arizona with SB1507

Anti-Sustainability Senator Burges

Did you know that sustainability isn't about the environment or trying to make sure we have a livable planet for future generations???  According to Arizona Senator Burges, sustainability- and AGENDA 21- is just a covert operative to "hurt the middle class and working poor by controlling what we eat and where we live."  It's a game of world domination where the Europeans are surely poised to pounce on us at any time to start demanding we live more sustainable lifestyles.  Sustainability is BAD BAD BAD.  Maybe this anti-environmental bill from Senator Burges shouldn't come as such a big shock though, given her past employment with Cyprus Bagdad Copper Company, a significant violator of the Clean Air Act.

I wish I was joking.  I wish our extremist and crazy state legislators would stop giving daily fodder to Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert.  But they don't...  And I live here.  And not only do I live here, I've worked as an environmental consultant for 10+ years and have been a sustainability activist for much longer than that.

Watch testimony (and votes) HERE for yourself (and cringe).


This is a bill that has slipped through the cracks unnoticed.  Like a cockroach.  In this instance, the building is infested with them.  They are scurrying on the inside of the walls, multiplying, crapping their allergenic crap everywhere.  SB1507.

How did this bill slip through the cracks for so long unnoticed and without any input from the environmental community?  Well, it's a little thing called a "Strike All Amendment."  The original title of SB1507 was "unemployment insurance; technical correction."  Sounds fairly harmless, right?

This was then changed with the Strike All Amendment to now be: "United Nations Rio declaration; prohibition."  Not so harmless anymore. 

The following excerpt from the Arizona Republic sheds light on this phenomenon:
Sometimes called the “Hail Mary Pass” of the political process, here’s how Strike-All amendments work:
1.)  A bill fails in a House or Senate Committee or Floor Vote or is arbitrarily held by a committee chairman.
2.)  The stalled bill’s sponsor takes another unrelated bill assigned elsewhere that is still moving and, with permission of its sponsor, guts it and replaces the wording with the contents of the stalled bill.
3.)  “Stikers” can be a useful method to introduce new ideas, or to put stalled bills that might otherwise enjoy majority support to a vote.  But, they can also be used to by-pass the committee hearings where the public might testify.
Without doubt, “Strike All” amendments lead to public confusion about pending legislation.

I simply like to call this total bullshit.  This is a sneaky, awful way to pass bills without public input or concerned party testimony and should not be allowed, in my opinion.

I could list at least 1000 reasons why sustainability is good.  Good for our economy, good for our households, good for our cities, good for our State, good for our PLANET.  We are just finally starting to make some good progress, which this bill serves to instantaneously try to destroy.  Sustainability is not a party line topic.  It just makes sense.  This bill is simply about conspiracy theories and extremism and does nothing to create jobs (which the green/sustainability movement does) or serve to protect and improve our environment (which is a necessity).

Anyway, we don't have time to hear all of the reasons about why sustainability is good - because this bill will be heard in the House Committee on Rules TODAY (March 26th) at 1 p.m. and we need a small ARMY of people who care about sustainability to SIGN THIS ONLINE PETITION, CONTACT the Rules Committee Members, write to your Representatives and Senators telling them you OPPOSE SB1507, come to TESTIFY at committee, and help us stop this insulting bill.

We must stand together for change.

Arizona Senators Not Protecting Women - A Day of Testifying Before the AZ State Senate Public Safety and Human Services Committee

Last week I went to testify before the Public Safety and Human Services Senate Committee in opposition of one bill, and in favor of the un-amended version of another one.  Both of these Bills, SB1127 and SB1248 have to do with something that has slipped through the cracks in a monstrous way in our state (and nation) – domestic violence within the family law court system.

SB1127, which I opposed (but was passed by committee) will scare victims away from exposing abuse in child custody cases unless they have ample evidence such as police reports or hospital records.  Without this “evidence,” the judge can make the determination of “false allegation” and use this determination when custody is established.  So unless there are tape recordings of verbal abuse or eye witness accounts of emotional and physical abuse, expect these victims to keep their mouths shut for fear of losing their children to the abusers.  The fact of the matter, is that false allegations of abuse are extremely rare.  Some substantive evidence can be read in Barry Goldstein's talking points on Domestic Violence, Abuse and Child Custody.

SB1248 would have for the first time added coercive control to the family law rules language which would have been instrumental to finally shedding some light on this growing problem in the family law courts, and make it a determining factor for judges to weigh when determining child custody.  The bill was amended by Senator Gray just the day before it was heard, literally gutting the bill of all mention of the term coercive control.

Even though there is ample evidence, research, statistical data and documents that point out the dire need for the courts to become educated and act upon coercive control within family law and custody disputes, most of the Senators on the Public Safety and Human Services Committee stated they were reluctant to place a Pandora's Box in front of judges.  Senator Gray even gave some examples which I found to be simply ridiculous.  

I would urge all of the Senators present, as well as any Legislators moving forward on any Bills pertaining to domestic violence, to familiarize themselves with a document called "A Judicial Guide to Child Safety in Custody Cases" written by the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges Family Violence Department.  I would also point them to a 2003 study conducted by the Arizona Coalition Against Domestic Violence titled "Battered Mothers’ Testimony Project:  A Human Rights Approach to Child Custody and Domestic Violence."

Men who sue for full custody (outside of situations where mom has a drug problem, mental health issue, or is abusive to children) statistically have abusive personalities with a history of domestic violence.   In the state of Arizona, these men, even when there is documented proof of physical abuse (and sometimes sexual abuse as well) are winning either sole or joint custody up to 70% (or more) of the time.   They often take the woman back to court more than once, in an effort to maintain and exert control after she has left the abusive relationship.  Many times their goal is to intimidate and bankrupt the victim, making outlandish allegations and filing motion after motion.

When most people think of domestic violence, they think of black eyes and split lips.  Many people often place blame on the victim (or survivor) questioning why *she didn’t leave sooner, or wondering what she did to instigate the aggressive behavior.  Many people act as if violence toward women isn’t a huge problem – even though one out of every three women will experience sexual or physical violence in their lifetime – and for many women, they will experience both.   One in three women.  This is a sad and unacceptable statistic.

What many people don’t understand, including the majority of Senators who voted on these bills last week  (and a HUGE and HEARTFELT THANK YOU to Senator Lopez for speaking UP about the importance of the coercive control language being IMPORTANT to include in this bill, though she was ultimately out-voted) is that the main component of domestic violence doesn’t necessarily stem from physically hurting someone.   It stems from the need to control another human.  Often times, when the victim finally musters the courage to leave an abusive (emotional, physical or both) relationship, the abuser will use the legal system (in this case the family law courts) to continue a cycle of abuse that can, and often does, go on and on for years and years.  This form of abuse can be just as exhausting as the abuse which occurred while in the relationship.  It can be both emotionally and financially debilitating.  

And I am certainly not proud to admit that I know this from first-hand experience, but I am tired of being bullied, and I'm tired of thinking that the courts may do something to stop it.  I'm horrified at the prospect of enduring this ongoing legal abuse and harassment for another 13 years. Which is why I was there, taking time out of my very busy day as a small business owner, single mom, and community activist to have my voice be heard by the people who are supposed to help PROTECT women just like me.

Yet most of these lawmakers don’t seem to care.  Looking at the outcome of how both bills were voted on, it doesn’t appear they even want to understand.  And it certainly doesn’t appear that they are willing to listen to the experts who deal with these cases every day, or the women who have first-hand experience of the problem for that matter.  

I was livid at the treatment the one other mom who came to testify and I received at this hearing.  Though there were eight people who were present to testify in opposition to the coercive control language (7 men and 1 woman) - the only people who were rudely cut off and limited in their testimony were me and the other mom, a woman named Joy.  At less than two minutes, Joy was blatantly interrupted by Senator Gray (though Joy stuck up for herself and finished saying what she had to say).  I was cut off at just under two and a half minutes by Senator Gray, and completely shut down at just under three and a half minutes, though two of the men after me were allowed to speak for eight minutes and twenty seven seconds and another for five minutes and twenty four seconds without being interrupted or stopped by Senator Gray.  This is simply appalling to me.  Apparently your voice will be heard if it's in line with the ideology and beliefs of the Committee Chair - in this case, Senator Gray.  Shame on her, and shame on the other Senators who didn't stand up for their constituents who came to speak out about very uncomfortable and personal situations for not only themselves, but for women everywhere.

We must pay attention.  We must vote.  We must let our voices be heard.  Our rights as women are being trampled upon on a daily basis at the State Legislature.  Whether it is our reproductive freedoms (there were also THREE anti-abortion bills being heard that same day) or bills disguised to protect men from "false" abuse allegations that will only serve to muffle the voices of women being victimized throughout the state, the truth must be told.  Where are you media?  Where are you women?  If we don't start fighting for our basic human rights, who will?  

As the recent producer of the V-Day Phoenix events, including a production of The Vagina Monologues, it is my hope that women and men will find their voices to help stop violence against women.  Women are our future.  We must be respected and protected.

I leave you with the words of Eve Ensler and her plea for change.  

*I acknowledge that men can be victims of both emotional and physical abuse, but have used “she” throughout this piece as it pertains to my experiences, observations and research.

How To Get Your Vote On - Myth Busting and Mad Dash to the Phoenix Mayoral Election to Ensure Greg Stanton is Our Winner

It seems like this Phoenix Mayor race has been going on forevvver, because well, it kind of has been.  But here we are - FINALLY - down to the wire.  Back in June, I wrote a post about one of the debates I had attended which you can read HERE if you're interested.  I had personally endorsed Candidate Greg Stanton well before this debate, because I believe he is the best person for the job.

Phoenix, the 6th largest city in the U.S., (recently losing out to Philly for 5th) has a dismal voter turnout record (only about 15% of registered voters turned up to vote in the recent primary) which quite frankly just pisses me off.  So many people I've talked to, not just about this particular election but about voting in general, have an extremely blase' attitude about it.

It's become one of those rights that people seem to take for granted, and as a woman who will be forever grateful to my past soul sisters who fought for years for me to have this right - within the past 100 years mind you, I don't take it lightly.  Did you know women in Saudi Arabia still don't yet have the right to vote?  There should never be an excuse of "I'm just not informed." Or "I'm too busy."  That's just bullshit.

U.S. women suffragists demonstrating for the right to vote, February 1913

So in my many conversations I've been having, some things have come up that are concerning to me with regard to this Mayoral election that is now right around the corner.

I hope you can all help me spread this message, get out the facts, and in turn, GET OUT THE VOTES.

The job of Mayor for the 6th largest city in the U.S. is an important one, especially given the "hell in a hand basket" past few years we've had with our city and state politics, as well as some of our wretched legislation, our dismal unemployment rate, our lack of action to environmental quality concerns and our blatant disregard to the importance of quality education.  Arizona's reputation is in the gutter to the rest of the country.  (Unless of course you're having a beer with an extremist Neo-Nazi who owns 72 guns, thinks Sheriff Joe is the shit, knows that climate change is a hoax and owns a very large truck to compensate for his very small penis.)  Seriously though.  We look f*cking CRAZY to the rest of the world - which is going to prevent this state from putting our economy back on track because no one is going to want to come here.  Industry OR people.  We the (sane) people, need a leader in our corner for a change.  And for those of you who say you don't vote because politicians are politicians, I would say this: At the end of the day, we're all just humans, some nicer than others.  Take the time to do your homework and engage.  Get your candidate of choice to pinky promise you that they'll try their best to do a great job.  In my world, the pinky promise is golden...

Here are talking points to share beginning NOW so we can see Greg Stanton be elected Mayor of Phoenix, instead of a lobbyist.

• TODAY is your last chance to register to vote in this election if you need to do so.  You also need to re-register if you have moved or changed your name.  You can register to VOTE online.  Please ask everyone you encounter today who is a Phoenix resident if they are registered to vote, and if they're not, please show them how.
• If you voted for Stanton in the Primary election, that doesn't mean you don't need to vote again - YOU DO.  This is a very important message, as many people seem to be under the impression that he has already won.  You need to VOTE again by early ballot (if you're already signed up) or at the POLLS beginning on Nov. 5, 2011.
• Get involved.  Talk to your neighbors, talk to your customers.  Tell people who you're voting for and why.  Get neighbors to put out signs.  Knock on doors.  This election will be won with grass roots effort and determination. 

 We MUST be the change we wish to see.

Dear Diary - Some days my life is like a dark comedy...

Dear Diary,

This happened to me today:

I went to see a client and came upon a semi truck in idle at a stop sign. The driver was in the street, totally NAKED, screaming, cussing and shaking his fist at a building. He kind of lunged at my car - totally naked.

911

Me: Hi there. I'd like to make a report of a semi truck driver who is completely naked in the middle of the street at 2nd St. & Garfield.

911: Which corner is he on?

Me: The one with the idling semi truck and naked guy in the street. I don't think you can miss it.

911: What ethnicity is he? Mexican? Black?

Me: White. And naked.

911: Does he have a weapon?

Me: Just his penis (said while slightly chuckling).

Roughly 10 minutes later a meter maid cop pulls up in her golf cart thingie which makes me burst out laughing.

Five minutes later, real cops - and naked semi driver is arrested.