http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=174935459243842

Tuesday, August 2, 4:30 – 7 PM, at the bull

The debt ceiling battle is being fought by representatives of the rich with no input whatsoever by the people. We’re being asked to sit on the sidelines while the Democrats and Republicans duke it out. Possibly we can root for one side or another.

In this drama, August 2 is the deadline for Washington to raise the debt ceiling.

The Bloombergville activists have another goal for that date. We have named August 2 as the day for a People’s Assembly on Wall Street – in other words, August 2 is the day that we assert ourselves, and insert ourselves, into the life-and-death decisions over programs that affect our lives.

We’re the only force that could insert any sanity into this drama. If we had any semblance of involvement in budget questions, someone would ask the common sense question: What about raising the debt ceiling to create a massive jobs program to achieve full employment?

Or better yet, don’t raise the debt ceiling, and instead use interest payments — federal debt service is $29 billion a month — to create jobs rebuilding the crumbling infrastructure. What is interest, after all, but money banks collect for doing nothing?

The debt ceiling has been raised dozens of times. The reason it is a crisis now is that the $14 trillion handed to Wall Street three years ago has depleted a treasury already maxed out by wars and made worse by the recession.

Having looted the treasury, the banks and bondholders want to make sure they’ll still get their interest payments on time.

This is the true crux of the “crisis” facing Washington – and it’s a high-volume drama that’s blocking out the REAL crisis: the effects on our lives by the relentless insistence by banks and bondholders that they get their interest payments on time.

The REAL crisis is that, already, clinics that rely on Medicaid to provide desperately needed services are worrying about whether they can continue to provide services. At Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in Brooklyn, for example, about 84% of net patient revenue comes from Medicaid and Medicare.

The REAL crisis is that, as food shelters report a rise in hunger in every part of the country, Congress is proposing a $187 billion cut in the food stamps program, which is currently relied upon by 44 million people.

The real crisis is mass layoffs. Hunger. Homelessness. Millions of homes in some stage of foreclosure. The bank-sponsored demolition of foreclosed homes. Looting of pensions. Dismantling of public schools. Furloughs. Union-busting.

And while the Democrats willingly offered up cuts in Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare and food stamps, nobody knows what other programs and services are actually being eliminated by these millions in cuts.

No matter what happens in Congress, we are the only force that can stop this madness. On August 2, we will meet on Wall Street, at the bull — the scene of the crime — to decide what to do about it. We’ll discuss the planned occupation of Wall Street set for September 17, or we may come up with a new date. Whatever we decide, we need YOU there!

No matter what happens on August 2 — default or no default — not one penny should be withheld of benefits or entitlements. Let the bankers miss their payments — not the people!

http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=174935459243842

“The 13 protesters arrested Tuesday for blockading the entrance to an office building in which City Council members were making final preparations to approve a city budget laden with budget cuts were freed Wednesday evening.”

http://www.indypendent.org/2011/06/30/bloombergville-13-released/ 

Democracy Now!:  New York City: 13 Activists Arrested In “Bloombergville” Budget Cut Protest 

“In New York City, 13 members of the group, New Yorkers Against Budget Cuts, were arrested Tuesday for barricading themselves in the lobby of the City Council to prevent a vote on a compromise budget deal. The activists have slept outside of City Hall for two weeks at a camp they called “Bloombergville,” in protest of Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s budget proposal, which would have cut 6,100 teachers and made deep cuts to education spending and other social services.” 

http://www.democracynow.org/2011/6/29/headlines

NY1, “City Council Approves $66 Billion Budget,” June 29, 2011

NY1, “City Council Postpones Budget Vote,” June 28, 2011

NEWSPAPERS

Workers World, “Bloombergville’s Larry Hales talks about what’s next”, Dee Knight, June 29

Workers World, “Talking with ‘Bloombergville’ arrestee Sara Flounders”, Dee Knight, July 1

The Indypendent, “Bloombergville 13 released reflect on a night in Jail“, John Tarleton, June 30.

Amsterdam News, “‘Bloombergville’: Activists’ shantytown springs up in protest to the mayor,” by Juan Espinal, June 30, 2011

Gotham Gazette, “Council Passes Budget, Taking a Bow for Saving Teachers, Fire Companies,” by Gail Robinson, June 30, 2011

El Diario, “Por el presupuesto ‘menos malo’,” by Catalina Jaramillo, June 29, 2011

City Hall News, “Tough City Budget Faces Final Delay,” by Jon Lentz, June 29, 2011

RADIO

WNYC, “City Council Votes to Pass 2012 Budget,” by Bob Hennelly, June 29, 2011

Free Speech Radio News, “New York City council approves budget as protests against cuts continue,” June 29, 2011

WEB SITES AND BLOGS

Rhodes Pictures: “Bloombergvillle Direct Action at the New York City Council” By Messiah Rhodes

Peoples Video: Activists from Bloombergville resist the budget cuts

People’s Video Network: “Children’s March and Arrests-NYC Council Budget Deal-Banks Got Bailed Out-People Got Sold Out-Struggle Continues”

Dane101, “Protests follow Walker to the Empire State; Bloombergville connects with Walkerville,” by Jesse Russell, June 29, 2011

AlterNet, “Bloombergville: Students Camping in to Fight NYC Mayor’s Austerity Plans,” by Rae Gomes, June 28, 2011

Job Party, “Bloombergville Skypes Spain & Walkerville,” by Harry Waisbren, June 28, 2011

Education Notes, “Today: UFT Delegate Assembly to Sell Deal, Bloombergville Protests, Plus Video of Activists at PEP Last Night (And Happy Last Day of School!),” by Norm Scott, June 28, 2011

DNAinfo.com, “Protesters Arrested as City Council Budget Vote is Delayed,” by Jill Colvin, June 28, 2011