Feedback from Staff of Speier, Harris, and Feinstein on "Close the Camps"

I heard the chant "Close the camps!" at a vigil called Liberty Lights and started wondering whether the camps could really be closed.   So I contacted some of the people chanting this, and they told me, "Good question."  Since they didn't know, I tried contacting Congresswoman Jackie Speier and Senators Harris and Feinstein.  I just sent this to a group of people I'll be with at an ICE protest.

Hi!

As you know I wrote to Senator Feinstein, Senator Harris, and Congresswoman Speier to get their takes on "Close the camps."  What would happen to the migrants  if the camps closed?  Does the chant "Close the camps" mean "Open Borders"?  

I got one form letter back from Congresswoman Speier saying what we'd expect her to say but not answering the questions.

So today I called to talk to staff members, who often know as much as the legislators they represent.  (I even learned the correct pronunciation of Kamala and got a mnemonic device:  Kama is pronounced like comma.)

No one could answer the question "What would happen to the migrants if they closed the camps." They also said they couldn't speculate.  One of the staff members said that at one time children coming in were sent to a relative in the US or kept with the family once they got to the border, but that isn't possible now that the numbers are so huge.

But they all said the same on my second question, "Are those who advocate closing the camps also advocating open borders?"

No.  Staff members said these representatives believe in the importance of keeping out arms and  narcotics and preventing human trafficking.  They also cautioned against saying "open borders" because the Republicans are using that as a scare tactic.

Alexandra Carter is the caseworker and field representative for Congresswoman Speier.  She said that Congresswoman Speier is concerned that the detention centers have been privatized  The idea that this could become a profitable business (like prisons) is worrisome.  She also made a distinction between the job of CBP, Customs and Border Protection, and ICE, which controls migrants within the USA.  

Everyone advocated adhering to our 20-days limit on the detention of migrant children (The Flores Agreement).  

As would be expected, they all advocated sending more resources to the border, but no one mentioned the fact that Jeff Sessions cut the number of judges available to hear cases.  They acknowledged that when I brought it up.  I would think that increasing the number of judges available to hear cases would be a major talking point.

Anyway, I wanted to share this info, such as it is, with you before our action today at 630 Sansome.  See you there at noon!

Tina

Revolution Book's Panelists for the Discussion of Arnitauff's "Life of George Washington Mural"

Lope Yap Jr.—filmmaker and vice president of the George Washington High School Alumni Association. Author of the op-ed, “The San Francisco School Board is flunking history.”

Matt Gonzalez—Chief Attorney of the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office. He previously served as president of the SF Board of Supervisors. Author of the article, “Don’t whitewash history: Historic murals depict uncomfortable truths about our nation’s past.”

Rafael Kadaris—Revolution Club member and author of the article, “Identity Politics Hustlers Sanitize ‘Life of George Washington’.”

Dewey Crumpler—Associate Professor of Painting at the San Francisco Art Institute and artist who created the “response murals” at George Washington High School. See “Professor Dewey Crumpler defends GWHS murals.”

Stolen from this article:

 https://revcom.us/a/610/panel-discussion-on-life-of-george-washington-mural-en.html

Uber Rides Again--but Why Can't They Get Jobs with MUNI or BART?

This is a message I just sent to three women who are planning a discussion of ballot measures at Fromm.  We've been discussing Uber and Lift and AB5.

Good morning!

I realize that I thought I was reading Barbara Lee yesterday, not Barbara Boxer.  Anyway, today there are letters to the editor accusing her of being a consultant for Uber.  (I'm sure she'll respond to that.)  One letter-writer ignores the paragraph in which Barbara Boxer does advocate living wages, etc.  

There's also an article about the Uber drivers protest advocating for AB5, but I think it's so sad when one good cause sabotages another.  They clearly didn't care about the traffic congestion they caused when they held the demonstration without a permit or the fate of MUNI and bicyclists.  

BART ridership has gone way down since Uber came up.  I wish those drivers would get a job with  MUNI or BART!  That would be so much better for the environment--both in terms of climate change and traffic congestion.

Tina

For 12 Hours Women are Represented in Statues at Ferry Building

I just sent this message to Ryan Kost, who wrote "Statues reflect on gender gap.

Dear Mr. Kost,

I was so excited about this exhibit when I saw the headline in today's newspaper.  I was planning to tell my friends to check it out, and I was going to do that too.  

But after reading the article, I see that it was only there for 12 hours on Monday.

Is there any possibility that it will return?  If so, how can I know in advance?

Thank you!

Tina Martin

An Open Letter to Matt Gonzalez on Messages Pertaining to the Mural--and Trauma

I  agree with what you said at Revolution Books this past Thursday.  Could you be more specific about how you think "traumatized" students should be counseled and otherwise helped?

I just got a message from someone that I don't know well but who has very strong feelings against the mural.  When my letter to the editor appeared in the SF Chronicle on August 8, she sent me a message suggesting that I be forced to see the Rape of Nanking on a daily basis.    From today's message I get the impression that her daughter is a Native American--maybe the Dana whose letter is being read in the video of the SF Board meeting August 13.  Here is her message and my response followed by the link to the video.



Her message:

Tina I hope you recall my daughter. The reminders need to be in a museum, not the school in Sfusd where the majority of children have more trauma

My Response:

 Thank you, Shelley. I feel very sympathetic to people like Dana, I'm wondering what Washington High School and the SF Board of Education are doing for students who feel the way Dana does other than censoring this mural. I'll share the video with other people who have the same question I have.


Commissioner Sanchez reads former Indigenous wash student's letter

Open Letter to Justin Phillips on Supporting Black-Owned Restaurants

Here's a letter I got off  just now (8:05 am Friday, August 16, 2019) to Justin Phillips, whose new column in the SF Chronicle has held my interest.  Today's column was on the need for more diners in black-owned restaurants.

Dear Mr. Phillips,

I would really like to support black-owned restaurants, and I'd really like black-owned restaurants to support the plant-based revolution so important at this time of climate change.  

When I was in New York City, I ate at Seasoned Vegan in Harlem.  I've also read the book Sistah Vegan:  Black Female Vegans Speak on Food, Identity, Health, and Society.  I think it's notable that the chef-in-residence at MOAD, Bryant Terry, is vegan and has written a vegan cookbook.

Could you write articles on supporting both black-owned restaurants and the planet?

Your faithful (and vegan) reader,

Tina Martin

OPINION // LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Letters to the Editor: Raise awareness on murals

San Francisco Chronicle Aug. 8, 2019

Comments

Photo: Associated Press/Eric Risberg

The controversial 13-panel, 1,600-square foot mural, the "Life of Washington" by Victor Arnautoff, is seen at George Washington High School during an open house for the public Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019, in San Francisco. More than a 100 people packed the public high school to view a controversial mural criticized as racist and degrading for its depiction of black and Native American people. School officials opened the school Thursday to allow the viewing of the "Life of Washington" mural. The 83-year-old fresco is slated to be destroyed after the San Francisco School Board voted last month to paint over it.

Regarding “Voters want to keep mural, poll says” (Aug. 7) and “Black leaders back Washington mural” (Aug. 7): At a time when many students and faculty weren’t even aware of Diego Rivera’s Mural of Pan-American Unity at City College, we used a grant for instructional improvement to create lessons on it across the curriculum — English, history, art, graphic design, women’s studies, transitional studies, Latin American history, etc.

According to Phil Matier’s report, a poll shows that voters of color oppose the school board’s decision to paint over Victor Arnautoff’s mural at Washington High School 72% to 12%, and as Michael Cabanatuan reported “Black leaders back Washington mural,” so why doesn’t the San Francisco Board of Education focus on promoting a program that would increase the awareness of all aspects of the mural instead of painting over it?

Students could be given agency to take a close look at it instead of away from it and create artwork and written work expressing their thoughts and feelings. I was shocked at the viewing that they had only provisional signage. They could use a QR code to keep commentary current and inclusive. The Board of Education needs to add to, not subtract from, student learning.

Tina Martin, San Francisco

A 2-hour Viewing of Arnautoff's Controversial Mural at Washington High School

After seeing the headline "Contentious mural on public display" in the SF Chronicle Friday morning, August 1, I shared the news with friends I'd already discussed Arnautoff's "Life of Washington with including a visitor I'd told about the controversy the previous evening, shortly after she'd arrived because it was of such great interest.

We were among the people who viewed the mural yesterday, Thursday, August 1, from 1-3 at Washington High School, where the turnout was greater than we'd anticipated with such short notice.

I added my name to a sign saying that the solution is to  "Educate  no Eradicate," as did Tom Miyoko, a former student at Washington High School.  But I was disturbed by reports that Washington High School has not been educating students on the mural.  Yesterday there was only temporary signage, and apparently it isn't part of the curriculum in classes on art and history.

Why isn't there permanent signage and an orientation for all new students?  Why isn't it a part of the curriculum?