March52013
Occupy movements like Occupy Phoenix drew national attention to the American Legislative Exchange Council, also known as ALEC. Occupy Phoenix hosted several prostests, made petitions and fliers, and other forms of direct action in order to raise awareness of what ALEC has done nationwide and in Arizona. The most notable actions have been large-scale protests both as part of a nationwide movement on February 29th, as well as on  November 30th when  the annual nationwide ALEC conference was held at a Phoenix hotel. After enduring pepper spray and arrest on Day One, some protesters returned to mic-check an ALEC member dinner during that same conference. Occupy Phoenix has also worked to reduce the influence that ALEC has in Arizona (the Arizona legislator has one of the largest number of ALEC members in the country) by filing a complaint with the Corporation Commission against the regulated utilities who are members of American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) on behalf of 88 consumers. The complaint is Inquiry No. 2012 103081 filed on 4 April 2012. Occupy Phoenix, in the complaint, asks the Corporation Commission to do an investigation regarding the rates and conflict of interest issues.   After nationwide attention and hard work from a coalition of groups and Occupy movements, ALEC has lost the support of roughly half a dozen companies. Some of these companies including some of the largest and best-known brands in American business— such as McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, Kraft, Wendy’s, Pepsi, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.  Video of the November ALEC protest can be found here. 

Occupy movements like Occupy Phoenix drew national attention to the American Legislative Exchange Council, also known as ALEC. Occupy Phoenix hosted several prostests, made petitions and fliers, and other forms of direct action in order to raise awareness of what ALEC has done nationwide and in Arizona. The most notable actions have been large-scale protests both as part of a nationwide movement on February 29th, as well as on  November 30th when  the annual nationwide ALEC conference was held at a Phoenix hotel. After enduring pepper spray and arrest on Day One, some protesters returned to mic-check an ALEC member dinner during that same conference.

Occupy Phoenix has also worked to reduce the influence that ALEC has in Arizona (the Arizona legislator has one of the largest number of ALEC members in the country) by filing a complaint with the Corporation Commission against the regulated utilities who are members of American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) on behalf of 88 consumers. The complaint is Inquiry No. 2012 103081 filed on 4 April 2012. Occupy Phoenix, in the complaint, asks the Corporation Commission to do an investigation regarding the rates and conflict of interest issues.  

After nationwide attention and hard work from a coalition of groups and Occupy movements, ALEC has lost the support of roughly half a dozen companies. Some of these companies including some of the largest and best-known brands in American business— such as McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, Kraft, Wendy’s, Pepsi, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. 

Video of the November ALEC protest can be found here. 

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June32012

Got NYC to Pass a Responsible Banking Ordinance (No Kidding!)

http://www.governing.com/blogs/view/los-angeles-new-york-pass-responsible-banking-rrdinances.html

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April262012
Occupy measurably boosted small businesses across America with Bank Transfer Day 5.6 million Americans have switched banks in the last 90 days (Feb 2012) In large part due to the Occupy Wall Street movement’s call for a ‘Bank Transfer Day’ This is 3 times the normal rate. More than $4.5 billion has shifted from big banks into the nation’s roughly 7,000 credit unions alone, according to the Credit Union National Association (CUNA). That’s a big win for small businesses, thanks to Occupy. 610,000 US adults (or 11% of the 5.6 million) cited Bank Transfer Day as their reason.

Occupy measurably boosted small businesses across America with Bank Transfer Day

5.6 million Americans have switched banks in the last 90 days (Feb 2012) In large part due to the Occupy Wall Street movement’s call for a ‘Bank Transfer Day’ This is 3 times the normal rate.

More than $4.5 billion has shifted from big banks into the nation’s roughly 7,000 credit unions alone, according to the Credit Union National Association (CUNA). That’s a big win for small businesses, thanks to Occupy.

610,000 US adults (or 11% of the 5.6 million) cited Bank Transfer Day as their reason.

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April232012

Occupy proved that it is possible to create a sustainable and green home.

At Liberty Plaza, the Sustainability and Sanitation teams worked constantly, in collaboration with the Kitchen, to keep the Occupation clean and green.  Through the work of then strangers, we coordinated trash and recycling disposal, compost removal and delivery of food waste to NYC Community Gardens, grey water systems, and energy produced by bicycles.  As gadfly journalists were drawn to these efforts and carting companies vied for our nutrient-rich compost, we prevailed, building bigger teams of volunteers to cart waste, empty wash bins, bag cans. 

Occupy brought like-minded, environmentally and sustainability oriented people out of their smaller communities and in front of the world to see.

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April222012

Occupy provides economic analysis that is easy to understand

Via the OWS Alternative Banking group

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10PM

Provided a productive forum for people who want to create change in the world

Occupy has forged networks & relationships for the next generation of activism. But more than that, it has provided space for people who feel powerless to change a system that was founded by “we the people.” Occupy has given many people a community where they can contribute to real change in the world.

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April172012

Occupy Wall Street put wealth disparities into Obama’s State of the Union Address.

We can either settle for a country where a shrinking number of people do really well, while a growing number of Americans barely get by, or we can restore an economy where everyone gets a fair shot, and everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same set of rules.

What’s at stake aren’t Democratic values or Republican values, but American values. And we have to reclaim them.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/state-of-the-union-2012-obama-speech-excerpts/2012/01/24/gIQA9D3QOQ_story.html

Next: count press hits—income disparity and the plight of poor people got way, way, more media attention after Occupy Wall Street started than it did before OWS existed.

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