DFSC Members Work for Human Right Commision in County

Luis Moscoso

Jackie Minchew

Over the past several months, DFSC board members, Luis Moscoso and Jackie Minchew have been working with several other community leaders (with input from the Washington State Human Rights Commission) to develop language for the Snohomish County Council that would lead to an ordinance establishing a county-wide Human Rights Commission. Yesterday the fruits of their labor were presented to the County Council for their review. Their story appeared in the Everett Herald this morning.

Published: Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Snohomish County human rights agency sought
An advocacy group wants the county to create a new commission to protect minority rights

By Jeff Switzer
Herald Writer

"EVERETT -- Bias and bigotry in hiring and housing continues to be a problem for immigrants, minorities and disabled people in Snohomish County.

About 100 complaints citing their unequal treatment reach the state every year.

"We've had 600 complaints in five years that we didn't even know about," said Luis Moscoso, a minority rights advocate with Snohomish County Citizens for Human Rights. "We need to reach out and educate people on human rights issues."

Moscoso and others from the group on Monday asked the County Council to create a local, independent human rights commission with the power to settle disputes and investigate discrimination complaints everywhere in the county.

A grass-roots group spent 10 months writing a proposed county ordinance to create the commission. They used the state Human Rights Commission as their model." The rest of the article may be found here

Council Chair, Dave Somers has said that the council will look at the language of the proposal but did not set any deadlines for action. If the ordinance were to be enacted it would represent the first regional Human Rights Commission in the state.

We look forward to updates on this story from Jackie and Luis at future DFSC meetings.

Peace,
Chad Shue
Chair, Democracy for Snohomish County

Minchew Challenges "Piecemeal Approach" to Energy Policy

DFSC Vice-Chair and Peak Oil Advocate, Jackie Minchew, submitted the following letter (re-printed here at the request of the author) to the readership of the Everett Herald:

Published: Monday, June 2, 2008

"Since the first of the year, the price of crude oil has risen by more than 30 percent (after a 60 percent increase in 2007.) The question of how best to respond to this precipitous rise in energy costs is not a simple one. We could look for someone to blame, I suppose. (Big Oil? Congress?) There is surely some degree of market manipulation and exploitation taking place. But from an economic system that is driven by the twin demons of fear and greed, while completely lacking a moral compass to guide it, what should we expect?


We could complain of a lack of leadership from our elected officials. There is also a measure of validity to this position. The piecemeal approach that seems to be the norm from City Hall to the halls of Congress holds out little hope for a comprehensive solution to anything, in my opinion.


Or we could do what few might dare: Seek to figure it out for ourselves! We could bring together our best and brightest, as our neighbors in Portland did, and set them to identifying the particular local vulnerabilities presented by the changing energy picture and, for that matter, climate change as well.


For almost two years now, I have been advocating for just that sort of systematic look at both energy and climate vulnerabilities for our own city and region. So far, local policy-makers have shown scant interest. But still I persist. With the Portland example to model on, it seems irresponsible not to try.


Can we agree that a systematic, well-reasoned approach to problem solving is preferable to piecemeal?"

With each passing day, the evidence of Peak Oil is becoming more clear as the car companies spend billions adverstising their latest hybrids and the oil companies become "energy" companies touting the investments into "alternative fuels." It has become widely acknowledged that the rising cost of food is directly attributed to the rise in fuel costs. However, just as with Global Climate Change, there is still much work to do in moving government into action. Jackie (and others in other communities) has started the ball rolling. However, it is time for this movement to grow. It is time to demand that our local governments adopt a more direct roll in addressing our future energy vunerabilities. The Portland model that Jackie refers to is a good place to start.

For more on this and on ways you can help advance this issue, contact Jackie Minchew at:

JWMchew@aol.com

Peace,
Chad Shue
Chair, Democracy for Snohomish County

DFSC to Screen "Power of Community"

On Saturday, July 26th, DFSC will be screening the acclaimed documentary, "Power of Community (How Cuba Survived Peak Oil)"

Join us at Papi's Pizza (1816 Hewitt Ave.) for an evening of (no-host) pizza and beer as we learn about one country's early response to an impending energy crisis.

From the good folks at Community Solutions:

"When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1990, Cuba's economy went into a tailspin. With imports of oil cut by more than half – and food by 80 percent – people were desperate. This film tells of the hardships and struggles as well as the community and creativity of the Cuban people during this difficult time. Cubans share how they transitioned from a highly mechanized, industrial agricultural system to one using organic methods of farming and local, urban gardens. It is an unusual look into the Cuban culture during this economic crisis, which they call "The Special Period." The film opens with a short history of Peak Oil, a term for the time in our history when world oil production will reach its all-time peak and begin to decline forever. Cuba, the only country that has faced such a crisis – the massive reduction of fossil fuels – is an example of options and hope."

Please make the most of the evening by coming early to order your food and beverage prior to the start of the movie at 7:00PM.

Peace,
Chad Shue
Chair, Democracy for Snohomish County

Joe Wilson for Superior Court Judge

At the May 13 General/Business meeting of Democracy for Snohomish County the motion was made and approved (unanimously) to endorse the candidacy of Joe Wilson for Snohomish County Superior Court Judge.

In reviewing the available materials and hearing from members who have had the oppportunity to hear the three candidates for this position speak and field questions it was determined that Joe Wilson's professional and personal history make him the best qualified individual to sit on the bench. While Wilson has numerous endorsements from the political community it is probably most significant that he is endorsed by current Superior Court Judge, Richard Thorpe (the very judge that he would replace due to retirement)

We encourage our membership and friends to contribute whatever time or funds you are able to help Joe Wilson succeed in the Primary and then again in the General Election in November.

Chad Shue
Chair, Democracy for Snohomish County

DFSC Endorses Scott Olson and Fred Walser

In April, DFSC was pleased to endorse the campaigns of Scott Olson



and Fred Walser.

Scott is running to unseat Dan Kristiansen as the State Representative (Pos. 1) and Fred is challenging current State Senator, Val Stevens. This is Olson's 2nd run and the first for Walser. Both men are running on platforms that highlight needed highway safety fixes for both US 2 and SR 522. Considering the failures of the incumbents to produce any effective results in that area (and the many traffic fatalities related to those failures), we believe it is imperative for the citizens of the 39th LD to make a change; and that Scott and Fred would provide real solutions to the issues impacting that district.

Fred brings a lifetime of public service in the area of law enforcement and traffic safety to bear in his race. After serving 28 years with the Washington State Patrol, Fred served as Police Chief for the City of Sultan for the past 11 years. He has also served as Chair of the US 2 Safety Coalition. Fred is also concerned about education reform and told us that he would bring together all interested parties to come up with working solutions for the this urgent issue.

Scott comes to his race as a concerned citizen who has lived and worked in the district for many years. He has owned a small business in the area and keeps in touch with the locals as a bartender in Monroe. His previous electoral experience includes a term on the Sultan City Council. Scott is particularly concerned about education and healthcare.

DFSC is proud to lend our support to these fine candidates and encourage folks both in and out of the 39th LD to lend their support in every way possible.

Chad Shue
Chair, Democracy for Snohomish County