Press Conference on Duke Energy Rate Hike
Last week, on Tuesday, October 11, two of Action NC's members spoke out at the NC Utilities Commission hearing on Duke Energy's proposed rate hike. Duke is asking that the Utilities Commission approve a raise of 17.4% on North Carolinians' power bills. Additionally, they are asking that a 14% rate hike be approved for small businesses.
To discuss the issue, the NC Utilities Commission has scheduled 5 hearing around the state, to hear from the citizens of North Carolina. October 11, was the date of the one in Charlotte.
As you can see from the video, this rate hike does not sit well with the people in Charlotte. This press conference was the result of a strong collaboration between groups like Action NC, Greenpeace, and a host of other groups in the Charlotte area.
About halfway through the video, you can see Action NC State Board member Rogelio Reyes speak out against this raise in people's power bills. Valued ally and Greenpeace organizer, Monica Embrey interpreted for Rogelio in English.
One interesting thing that Rogelio says is "My employer is not going to give me a raise on my paycheck, in order to subsidize the raise in my power bill". Rogelio feels that the hike is bad for the community in general and it will raise the cost of living for the average North Carolinian. He partially attributes this to small business owners having to pay for 2 rate hikes (17.4% at home and 14% at their places of business). According to Rogelio, business owners might raise the cost for their goods and services, in order to recuperate their power bill expenses.
Watch the video, for more.
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What I learned at Troy Davis' Execution
A few minutes before Troy Davis was scheduled to be poisoned to death in Jackson, Ga., on Sept. 24, I made the sign of the cross, took a deep breath and, with my friend Kurt, calmly stopped traffic and walked across the street into a phalanx of heavily armed police and SWAT officers at the gates of the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison. We were surrounded.
"I am here to stop the execution of Troy Davis," I said.
They screamed at me to leave.
At that moment, with a thousand people standing behind us watching and cheering, I knew things would never be the same in the movement to abolish the death penalty. There were too many new faces in the crowd.
"I am here to stop the execution of Troy Davis."
They screamed into my face and grabbed me.
"We are nonviolent. We are unarmed. We mean you no harm, officers."
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The Rest of Us
It’s strange what people are paying attention to these days. While most are still breathless with anticipation at the next detail of the Kardashian wedding, schools are failing, roads are crumbling, and people are being needlessly deported. While thousands are occupying cities all over the country calling for economic justice, unemployment continues to soar and banks are foreclosing on homes.
Oh well – it’s not our problem, right? I mean really, if the public schools fail, we can just invoke the magic of the private sector and fix all of the government problems. Private schools are always better than those dirty public ones anyway, right? In fact, let’s privatize everything!
No. Let’s not. Read more1 reaction
Something is Ineffective
Alabama is squarely in the top five, and I’m not talking BCS rankings. No, as much as I enjoy the Crimson Tide, the State of Alabama is now ground zero for awful conservative legislation. Not only are they surpassing Arizona for extreme anti-immigrant legislation, but they are now attempting to execute their own citizens.
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Support Rodrigo Cruz
16 year old from Charlotte faces deportation
TAKE ACTION NOW!
Rodrigo, a bright 16 year old, will have to check in with ICE with a one way ticket back to Mexico in hand this Tuesday, October 4th. Join us at 10:00 a.m. this Tuesday in Charlotte as we hold a press conferernce and gather in support of Rodrigo and his family!
Rodrigo was brought to the United States when he was only 10 years old. Originally from Mexico, for the past 6 years he has made Charlotte, North Carolina his home. Now 16 years old, Rodrigo finds himself fighting his deportation to a country he no longer calls his home.
Earlier this year, Rodrigo was accused of shoplifting at his local mall. Since North Carolina is one of only two states that prosecute 16 and 17 year-olds as adults, Rodrigo, despite being 16, was processed through the 287-g program. Since that day the criminal charges have been dropped, yet Immigration and Customs Enforcement still wants to deport him to a country that is no longer his home.
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