I am ashamed of Austin!

I am saddened by the City I call home. Three weeks ago I though this city was on the right track. The City Council unanimously passed the 'Responsible Banking' Resolution. This resolution gave the city 60 days to research moving their money from the Bank of America into local credit unions or banks. Now, 21 days later they have decided to move their money into J.P. Morgan Chase.

Rolling Stone put out this article today. These big banks are operating like Mafia around the country. They are basically stealing our tax payer dollars and using it for their corporate interests.

It is outrageous that our City Council would give our money to this bank that lies and cheats and steals. They are taking my money that I work hard for and they are giving it away to criminals. We cannot let this stand. We must make sure that the City of Austin knows that we are opposed to this immoral action.

They have an ethical and moral responsibility to the people of Austin to make sure that our money is in the hands of honest bankers. They have failed us. If they will not listen to us while they are in office than we must put people in office who will listen to us.

Each and every member up for re-election must know that Occupy Austin is not going to sit idly by. We are not placated by a resolution passed to keep us happy until the real decisions were made.

No more. Council members Spellman, Martinez and Cole, you need to know that your time is up. Here is what I say to you: "Occupy Austin is going to make a difference in this election. We are for the rights of the people. We are looking out for them because you are certainly not."

I am not going to simply be sad and ashamed of this this city; I am going to work to make it a city I am proud to call home.

Occupy Southby

I realized that as I was just getting involved in the Occupy movement I had much more time to post about what I was seeing, experiencing and feeling. Now I have immersed myself fully and no longer have time for anything except planning and actions. (I don't even have time for many of the actions that I wish I could go to).

This week should be my most stressful week. In January, I stepped up to be the magnet for a group called "Occupy Southby". We have been planning and putting together teach ins and performances to coincide with the festival of SXSW. The few weeks leading up to this were very stressful. This week, we are seeing all of our hard work pay off. Admittedly, I might be counting my chickens before they hatch, but based on our first two days - things are amazing. Everyone that is coming out is enjoying our events and we are building bridges within the community. We are educating ourselves. We are creating new life. This week is not stressful for me, it is a beautiful example of what we can do when we work together!

I am so grateful that I have been able to, and will continue to be, a part of this group. There has been some drama about the way things have been done, but overall we are able to overcome those differences to work together. I believe that we are a stronger community with more ties to the broader Austin community now.
We have some hard work ahead of us to finish out this week, but I know that we will be successful. I have to go back to my 'paying' job tomorrow. I know that the last two days will be wonderful. I am upset that I cannot participate, but I am not at all stressed about how those days will be proceeding. That is the beauty of decentralized, group organizing. This group is so amazing!

I wanted to make sure I got all of this down. I am just filled with hope and inspiration from making all of this hard work into something real.