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THE D.C. STATEHOOD GREEN PARTY
MEDIA ADVISORY
For immediate release:
Friday, September 27, 2002
Contact:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator
202-518-5624, scottmclarty@yahoo.com
STATEHOOD GREENS PRESENT 'FAIR TAXES FOR D.C.', AN ALTERNATIVE TO MAYOR WILLIAMS'
PROPOSED CUTS *** Statehood Greens will join the weekend's protests at the World Bank and
IMF *** Ralph Nader will speak at a fundraiser for D.C. Statehood Green
candidates, Saturday, September 28 WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Candidates and activists in the D.C. Statehood Green
Party will testify before D.C. Council today in an effort to block cuts in
funding for housing, education, and other public services proposed by Mayor
Anthony Williams in response to the $323 million revenue shortfall in the FY
2003 budget. They will speak at a public hearing of Council's Committee of
the Whole at 10:00 am on Friday, September 27 in Room 412 of the Wilson Building. Testimony will be presented by Debby
Hanrahan, Statehood Green candidate for D.C. Council Chair; Michele Tingling-Clemmons, candidate for Council
At-Large; Gail Dixon, candidate for Council Ward 5; Jenefer Ellingston,
candidate for Council Ward 6; David Schwartzman, chair of the party's Taxation and Finance
Committee; and party activist Dean Murville. The speakers will offer an alternative budget plan, titled 'Fair Taxes for
D.C.," which includes repeal of the Tax Parity Act, lowering sales taxes on
essentials, and making D.C.'s income tax more progressive. The plan would
shift the tax burden away from low-income and working residents, and compel
corporations and D.C.'s wealthiest individuals to pay their fair share. Statehood Greens will also demand an end to wasteful corporate handouts,
such as the Mayor's plan for a major taxpayer-funded ballpark and the $47.9
million planned in executive bonuses from the planned sale of CareFirst.
The goal, say party members, must be improvement of the social safety net,
including restoration of D.C. General Hospital, D.C.'s only full-service
public health facility, which was privatized and dismantled by Mayor Williams in 2001. More information: Fair Taxes for DC ("Where's the Money?")
http://dcstatehoodgreen.org/testimony/2001/ftx1001.htm
*** Members of the D.C. Statehood Green Party will be joined by Greens from
all over the U.S. in the demonstrations against the World Bank and
International Monetary Fund (IMF) throughout the weekend. Adam Eidinger,
the Statehood Green candidate for 'Shadow' U.S. Representative, and party
activists Martin Thomas, Crystal Sylvia, and others have played leading
roles in the organization of many of the events.
Party members have criticized the 'structural adjustment' imposed by these
institutions on nations around the world, forcing them to privatize and
dismantle public services and resources such as health care and drinking
water. The World Bank and IMF, say Statehood Greens, are anti-democratic
authorities that have undermined national and local environmental, labor,
and human rights protections; the result of these policies has been
increases in poverty and disease, loss of jobs in the U.S. and abroad, and
the collapse of national economies in countries like Argentina.
More information: Mobilization for Global Justice
http://www.globalizethis.org
Anti-Capitalist Convergence http://www.abolishthebank.org
*** The social highlight of the weekend for D.C. Statehood Greens will be a
fundraiser for the party's candidates. Ralph Nader, 2000 Green presidential
candidate, will be the featured speaker.
The fundraiser begins at 6:30 p.m. and will take place at Local 16, a new
restaurant in Washington, D.C. Admission to the fundraiser is a minimum
$20.00 donation. (NOTE TO MEDIA: Reporters wishing to cover the event will
be admitted free.) For further information about the fundraiser, call
202-296-1301.
MORE INFORMATION
Index of 2002 D.C. Statehood Green candidates
MAYOR
Steve Donkin
202-986-9438, sdonkin@smart.net
http://www.donkinformayor.org
AT-LARGE MEMBER OF COUNCIL
Michele Tingling-Clemmons
202-397-2277, Mirico5@aol.com
CHAIR OF COUNCIL
Debby Hanrahan
202-462-2054, debosly@aol.com
WARD 1 MEMBER OF COUNCIL
Edward Chico Troy
202-986-7733, Liberalgladiator@aol.com
http://www.troy2002.org
WARD 3 MEMBER OF COUNCIL
Michael Jollen
202-363-7419, mikejollon@att.net
WARD 5 MEMBER OF COUNCIL
Gail Dixon
202-248-9643
WARD 6 MEMBER OF COUNCIL
Jenefer Ellingston
202-546-0940, jellingston@erols.com
DELEGATE
Sam Jordan
samunomas@msn.com
U.S. ('SHADOW') SENATOR
Joyce Robinson-Paul
202-462-4908, AJPaul@bellatlantic.net
U.S. ('SHADOW') REPRESENTATIVE
Adam Eidinger
202-232-1724, enrages@bellatlantic.net
http://www.Adam4Shadow.com
The D.C. Statehood Green Party http://www.dcstatehoodgreen.org
1314 18th Street, NW, lower level, Washington, DC 20036, 202-296-1301
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