Category Archives: Advocate

Peralta Board Supports the 99%

photo from Occupy Oakland- we are the 99%

How can progressive elected officials help built the 99% movement? At the November 15, 2011 Peralta Board meeting, Trustee Abel Guillen and I presented a resolution to divest our financial assets from for-profit corporate banks and to move our banking to Coop and Community Banks. I’m thrilled to report that our resolution passed unanimously!

I view this as a perfect example of the kind of advocacy elected officials can engage in– good progressive public policy that supports and mirrors the work being done through progressive grassroots organizing. Imagine what kind of powerful movement we could build if EVERY elected official in the East Bay and throughout the state and nation began to align the use of our public resources with the needs of the 99% while simultaneously supporting popular efforts to organize and to empower regular people?  Continue reading →

Students Vote for Discount Transit Passes

(reposted from a Press Release from Assembly Member Sandré Swanson’s website. Original article by Semaj D. La Niger for the Laney Tower)

Students of the Peralta Colleges were joined by Assembly Member Sandre Swanson (D-Oakland) as well as Peralta and AC Transit officials to celebrate the passage of AB 1980, the Peralta Colleges Transportation Accessibility Act July 24 at Laney College. The bill was signed into law by governor Schwarzenegger last week.

“At a time of rising gas prices, this bill will bring economic relief for hardworking students,” said Swanson, an alumnus and former student body president of Laney College. “It will also contribute to a greener economy and healthier environment by taking more cars off the road.” Continue reading →

YES on Prop. 92: would insure investment in success and a skilled workforce

(This op ed was printed in the San Jose Mercury News on January 31, 2008)

by Nicky Gonzalez Yuen

Voting for Proposition 92 in the Feb. 5 primary is not only the most important thing voters can do to improve the lives of 2.5 million community college students in California, it is also the most important thing voters can do to revitalize our ailing economy. The only question is this: Will voters be able to see through the campaign of disinformation and outright lies being put forward by opponents of Proposition 92? Continue reading →