Etcetera
Agenda is interested in receiving items from you for etcetera. Press clippings, press releases, summaries of local events and any other ideas or suggestions are welcome. Just mail them to: Etcetera Editor, AGENDA, 220 S. Main St., Ann Arbor, MI 48104.
HIV Prevention Planners Needed
People with HIV infection, individuals from communities affected by the HIV epidemic, and representatives of agencies providing HIV prevention and related services are invited to join a statewide effort to put together a new, comprehensive, community-based plan for addressing HIV/AIDS prevention concerns in Michigan.
The planning process is being required by the federal government, which has also made about $235,000 available to Michigan this year to support the process. The goal of the planning process is to set priorities for the state's HIV/AIDS prevention programs and resources on the basis of a comprehensive needs assessment and planning effort carried out at the community level. Interested individuals should contact Vicki Nighswander at the Washtenaw County Health Department, 313-484-6762.
Write an Essay to Protect Local Rights
Gay and lesbian tenants in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti are currently protected from housing discrimination by local ordinances. But a state ballot initiative which is expected to come to a vote in November would prohibit the state from enacting any civil rights legislation which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. The initiative would also void any existing local ordinances protecting lesbians and gay men from discrimination in housing, education, employment or public accommodations.
The Ann Arbor Tenant's Union has pledged to fight passage of such an initiative and is soliciting essays which explain why this issue is important, not only to gay and lesbian tenants, but to all tenants. If your essay is published in The Tenant's Voice (the AATU's newsletter) you will win one free AATU membership and a t-shirt donated by Common Language Bookstore. Send essays to: The Tenant's Voice c/o AATU, 4304 Michigan Union, Ann Arbor, Ml 48109.
Ending the Cold War at Home
The second Freedom to Travel Campaign (FTC) arrived in Cuba on June 23 with more than 200 people. Citing the 1917 Trading for the Enemy Act and the 1992 Cuban Democracy Act, the U.S. Treasury Department froze the group's $43,000 bank account. The government's attempt to prevent the group from going was only offset by a last-minute fundraising call to major donors and friends.
In spite of the U.S. ban on travel to Cuba, FTC members have joined others in exercising their constitutional right to travel freely. "I consider the Treasury Department's action to be arbitrary and illegal," said Michael Krinsky, the campaign's lawyer who announced that FTC is suing the U.S. government to release their assets.
The Campaign's position is that the security reasons that existed during the Cold War for imposing the ban on travel to Cuba no longer exist Because of their trip, FTC members face a possible 10-year prison sentence and a $250,000 fine.
FTC would appreciate donations in the form of money orders to help defray costs. Send to: Tony Newman, 2017 Mission St. #303B, San Francisco, CA 94110; 415-558-9490.
Low-Income Business Loans Available
The Ann Arbor Community Development Corporation (AACDC) is offering free Commercial Micro-Loan Pool Orientations on Thursday, July 14 from 2-4 pm and Wednesday, July 27 from 6-8 pm. Both sessions will be held at AACDC, 2008 Hogback Rd, Suite 2A, Ann Arbor.
The Loan Pool is aimed at promoting local economic development opportunities for low income income individuals, including women, minorities, and people with disabilities. The orientation will help people determine whether they are eligible, and explain the application and loan process. To reserve a space in the program, contact Dina Sanders at 677-1400.
Volunteer for Art
Volunteers are needed by the Ann Arbor Art Association to help with art activities with children at area summer festivals. The ArtVentures Festival Workshop will provide materials and instruction for a variety of art projects. Upcoming festivals include: Huron River Days, Sun., July 10; Ypsilanti Heritage Festival, Sat and Sun., Aug. 19 & 20; and the Ann Arbor Blues and Jazz Festival, Sat and Sun., Sept 17 & 18. Contact Marty or Marsha at 994-8804 to volunteer.
Raise Your Consciousness
For more than 20 years, National Organization for Women consciousness-raising sessions have provided the thinking space needed for feminist development. They were designed to provide a safe environment for women to discuss the link between their lives and social patterns based on sex discrimination.
Michigan NOW is offering a free day-long CR workshop on August 20, from 10 am to 5 pm on Lake Michigamme in Marquette County. To register, send your name, address and phone to Bev Fish, 1406 W. Cross, Ypsilanti, Ml 48197 or Karen Sundberg, 980 Whitmore Rd. #100, Detroit, MI 48203.
Meijer's Paid Picketers Justified
For those of you who have been confused by the Ann Arbor Meijer situation, here's an editorial comment.
Toledo United Food and Commercial Workers (Local 954) has been carrying out informational leafletting at the Meijer stores on Ann Arbor-Saline Rd. and Carpenter Rd. in Ann Arbor since early June. The picketers are asking consumers to boycott Meijer in response to management demands that workers take cuts in benefits and hours at the Toledo, Ohio Meijer store. With the cuts, many workers - especially single parents - will no longer be able to support their families on their paycheck.
It is true that Local 954 has hired picketers to join them on the line. The picketers are paid because the Toledo union local is not large enough to staff picket lines outside their area. Ann Arbor Meijer workers, by contract, are not allowed to join the picket lines.
A2 News Eats up The Ypsilanti Press?
As AGENDA went to press, we were informed that our printer of eight years, The Ypsilanti Press, had been shut down and would not be printing this issue of AGENDA. Our dismay at our own misfortune soon gave way to sadness and grief for the 91 workers who will be losing their jobs.
The same day, The Ann Arbor News reported that The Ypsilanti Press had shut down due to "adverse business conditions." While asserting non-complicity, The News reported that starting Tuesday, they would be offering a "new product," called The Ypsilanti Press, an edition of The Ann Arbor News. What The News did not mention, but was reported on WEMUFM news, was that The News had already appointed an editor of the new product (Tony Dearing) and that the "new" Ypsilanti Press would be on the street the next day!
To some observers, the The Ann Arbor News appeared a lot more prepared for it's former competitor's shutdown than even Ypsilanti Press publisher Wayne Studer, who was only given 48 hours notice.
AGENDA
EDITORS - Ted Sylvester, Phillis Engelbert, Laurie Wechter
ASSOCIATE EDITOR - Eric Jackson
MUSIC EDITOR - William Shea
EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS - Joan Bruggers, Patrick Lawrence, Mia Song
DISTRIBUTION - Kimberly Armstrong, Chris Jones, TRAILBLAZERS: John Berry, Mary Cleasby, Steve Darty, Joy Koepfgen, Lenny Kovacs, Greg Reese, Joyce Roberts, Dave Seymour, Robert Stoddard
THANKS - Orin Buck, Williams & Williams
AGENDA is an independent, nonaligned newsmonthly published by Agenda Publications, 220 S. Main St., Ann Arbor, MI 48104, 313/996-8018, ISSN 1047-0727. Vol. 9, No. 4, JULY/AUGUST 1994, Copyright Agenda Publications. Subscriptions: $15/year U.S., $30/year international.
20,000 free copies of AGENDA are distributed at the beginning of every month from over 325 locations in the Ann Arbor Metro Area.
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