"The Peoples Agenda" Draft, Feb 5, 2011 - For Review And Revision

People's Agenda February 5, 2011 DRAFT

Comments or revision suggestions can be submitted at the Peoples Agenda meetings (See invitation to Feb 13, 2011 meeting  )

or to the People's Agenda email listserv at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/peoplesagenda/

For background on the history, issues and evolution of this document, see the People's Agenda Archives at http://louisvillepeoplesagenda.blogspot.com/

For comparison, here is the original 2002 Peoples Agenda, version 1.0

DRAFT TEXT BELOW: 

THE

PEOPLE’S

AGENDA

Another Community Is Possible: Heal, Restore, Transform

VISION STATEMENT

We, The Coalition for The People’s Agenda, look forward to the day when our governing bodies represent all the people of the community—particularly those individuals and groups that have been traditionally marginalized and historically underserved; when the culture in which we live, work, learn and play is socially and economically just; and when ALL peoples, regardless of age, color, disability, economic status, gender, national origin, religion or sexual orientation are treated with equality and fairness.

HISTORY

On August 24, 2002 at Quinn Chapel AME Church, an historic conference of more than 100 individuals from over 50 organizations worked together and developed The People’s Agenda. Since then, especially in the months and years immediately following, the Coalition has continued to work on refining the document and making plans for its implementation. On November 14, 2010, a group of individuals decided to revive and update The People’s Agenda in light of intervening events.

THE AGENDA

THE METRO GOVERNMENT SHALL TAKE THESE ACTIONS IN THE FOLLOWING

EIGHT AREAS:

1. CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS
   • PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION:

Maintain and strengthen current laws prohibiting discrimination

based on age, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion,

sexual orientation, and/or economic status.

• GUARANTEE AFFIRMATIVE ACTION POLICIES:

Maintain, strengthen, and enforce laws in employment and

awarding of contracts.

• FUND CULTURAL PROGRAMS:

Provide tools and resources for traditionally under-funded com-

munity groups that use arts to build multicultural diversity. Dismant-

ling racism, bigotry, sexism and attitudes destructive to humanity can

be achieved with and through the arts.

2. COMMUNITY GOVERNANCE
   • INCREASE VOTER PARTICIPATION:

Send direct mail notices—before registration closes—to every

household notifying residents of who will be on the ballot. Institute

same-day voter registration.

• DIVERSIFY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS:

Include a strong presence of youth, people of color, working-class

whites and other underrepresented groups to ensure diverse represen-

tation on government boards and commissions.

• CONDUCT REGULAR PUBLIC FORUMS:

All branches of the Metro Government should sponsor public

forums—at times when working people can attend—where the public

can have input and get feedback, especially well in advance of major

city expenditures or policy changes.

3. CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND CITIZEN PRO-

TECTION

• FUND TREATMENT PROGRAMS:

Redirect spending priorities from incarceration to adequately

funded drug and mental health treatment programs, education and

grassroots economic development.

• CONVICTION INTEGRITY UNIT:

Implement and fully fund a Conviction Integrity Unit (C.I.U.) in

the Commonwealth Attorney’s office to review all substantially ques-

tioned convictions, overturn those found to be in error, and free and

officially exonerate (expunge the alleged crimes from their records)

all those wrongly convicted.

• CIVILIAN REVIEW BOARD:

Implement and fully fund a Civilian Review Board and Office of

Independent Investigation to investigate charges of police misconduct,

brutality and use of deadly force.

• END RACIAL PROFILING:

Prohibit racial profiling by police and other law enforcement of-

ficers.

4. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THROUGH COM-

MUNITY EMPOWERMENT

• PUBLIC OWNERSHIP OF L G & E:

Actively seek local public ownership of L G & E.

• SUPPORT NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS:

Set aside a portion of the city’s budget to build the capacity of

neighborhood organizations in ALL areas of the city.

• CREATE JOBS:

Focus on attracting businesses that create jobs for residents of the

communities in which they are located. Develop government-

sponsored training programs for these jobs.

• CREATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL:

This group shall be made up of representatives from the 26 Metro

Council districts and play a key role in economic-development

decision-making.

5. EDUCATION AND YOUTH EMPOWERMENT
   • ENCOURAGE YOUTH LEADERSHIP:

Provide resources to programs and organizations that youth can de-

velop and run themselves.

• SUPPORT YOUTH PROGRAMS:

Consult youth groups to prioritize the funding of programs that

provide job training, employment opportunities, counseling, recrea-

tion and health services for youth.

• PROVIDE STUDENT ASSISTANCE:

Ensure that all branch libraries are open every evening and provide

students with assistance such as tutoring, reading groups, and other ac-

tivities.

• [a section is to be added including the phrases “equally excellent

schools” and “safe schools where no violence or bullying is

tolerated.”]

6. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, PUBLIC

HEALTH, AND HUMAN SERVICES

• IMPLEMENT ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

ORDINANCES:

Support STAR and REACT and secure passage of local ordinances

that hold corporations accountable for environmental protection and

worker health and safety.

• HEALTH CARE:

Support single-payer health care—expanded and improved

Medicare for all. Health care is a human right.

• IMPROVE AND EXPAND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

SYSTEM:

Develop policies that reduce dependence on more highways and

divert these resources to improve and expand public transportation.

• PRESERVE GREEN SPACE:

Emphasize the prevention of sprawl in any development plan, in-

cluding sustainable economic development, home building, transporta-

tion, industry, schools and recreation.

7. HOUSING
   • PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING:

Secure local, state and federal resources and change zoning regu-

lations to ensure affordable and quality housing in ALL areas of the

county.

• SUPPORT THE COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS

and implement a plan to eliminate homelessness in Metro

Louisville during the current mayor’s administration.

• FORECLOSURE MORATORIUM:

Support an immediate local, state and national moratorium on

foreclosures on owner-occupied homes.

• ELIMINATE PREDATORY LENDING:

Adopt measures that eliminate predatory lending by capping

interest rates.

8. WORKERS’ RIGHTS
   • ORGANIZED LABOR:

Support the Employee Free Choice Act and resist any attempts to

make Louisville or Kentucky a “right-to-work” entity.

• UNEMPLOYMENT:

Support unemployment benefits, and unemployed workers, at all

times, with adequate extensions in tough economic times.

• EXPAND THE LIVING-WAGE ORDINANCE:

Create a specific, adequate wage level for all public employees and

employees of companies that receive significant tax breaks, public

subsidies and government contracts.

• MAINTAIN WORKER PROTECTION LAWS AND POLICIES,

Including collective-bargaining guarantees, prevailing-wage poli-

cies, affirmative-action requirements, and Right to Organize clauses.

Discourage privatization of any public service.