Minutes of GA 12/02/3011

[myanswer]

Ruben (1st Note Taker)

Moderator: Travis
Stacker: Edgar

Moderator reviews rules and procedures.

Sugar breaks format to address the crowd

As you may know I was the victim of violence. During that I got shoved, I have a statement to CRC, I have been really sick. I have not been able to be able to attend but they've had my cooperation. Since then I have received many messages asking me to defend the man who was violent to me. This is ridiculous unnecessary and inappropriate. I think violence drug use, etc. should be removed from the movement.

Committee announcements

Zoe:
We're voting on a place tonight. There have been issues of Housing not being transparent and tonight brought them in. So if you want to read minutes I have them all right here.

Mike:
I'm also from the housing committee. I'm here to remind everyone that housing has a lot of work to do. Including establishing satellite locations throughout the city. So please don't think our work is done. We need you to participate. We're tired. We love new faces, come help us.

--Samwise (2nd Note taker)

Arielle:
I have 2 announcements. Occupy your future 4pm at HQ invitation from all statewide occupations, be there/
The second one is high school outreach. I've been invited to speak at Downer's Grove South a Suburbs HS. On Thursday and I'd like some help. They're little kids. So if anyone wants me to say certain things come find me to help me. Arielle is POC

Crystal: I'm coming from Occupy El Barrio. I'm here to announce an event. Dec. 10th against the coal plants in Pilsen and the ones they want to build on the SE side. It will be from noon at 18th and blue island to 4 pm. From there, we're marching to HQ which also happens to be right near the HQ of the Midwest Generation. If anyone's interested in Occupy El Barrio, we'll be meeting Sunday either at 1 or 2 probably at the Jumping Bee on 18th street.
Second thing, the free free market. That will be Dec. 17th and I'm making a call out for donations because we need to make 400 toys and about 600 care packages, so start collecting.


Trina: from Arts & Rec. I'm here to announce 2 events.: tonight at multikulti right now is a concert, head there after GA 1000 n Milwaukee off blue line.
2nd thing Dec 17th Keep your children occupied! First one got us lots of good outreach. Emily is organizing and she needs help w/ flyering, outreach, baking for bake sale, crafts, music anything else you can think of. E-mail arts@occupychi.org 1770 w Berteau 1-4

Kristy CLDC: if you were arrested, please talk to the committee. A large group are fighting the charges because they don’t like them (for good reason) stats.occupychi@gmail.com.
As a member of housing, Kristy will pass out the proposals

Abel donations: crossroads & 8th accounts set up, our fiscal sponsorship account is complete. We had $22,462. Money at Grace Place converted to cashiers check brought to one of those places. We will have $26,000 next week.

Ed Comm: 2 great teach ins today: debate w/ 150 people there.
Upcoming. Tomorrow at 3 “perception of crisis: marketing foreclosures.” Hogan lecture 623 Wabash. Info on website.
Sunday 3 “concrete alternatives to capitalist healthcare.” Weds 6pm “immigrants & 99%” (events on website, get later)

Mark: asked to make announcement on behalf of orgcomm: Grace Place have confiscated possessions from 1st round of arrests. Please get in touch with orgcomm if you want them back

Kelvin secretariat: Official GAs now limited to 4 days a week, allowing us to better publicize proposals and agendas.
2nd Facilitation training for GAs and comm. Meetings. 430 pm Saturday at Grace Place.

99 Outreach: 1st Metra strike appears to be off, no need to do outreach.
2nd people have asked if we should make an advisory statement about Sunday GA. We are supporting a pastor who is trying to end violence. There is room for 20-30 more tents with Pastor Brooks. Lots of room on the roof of the motel. Rahm supports occupy at 66th & MLK. This could be our first overnight encampment.

Calls for assistance
Bunny: I really want to go on Sunday to occupy. I need a dog sitter or a ride for both of us.

99: It’s 48 hrs away. We have some ppl with tents and lots more people who just learned of the opportunity. We need tents and sleeping bags.

Mark: Housing is potentially drawing near getting a winter HQ. Let’s start working on sketches for a mural at our new HQ! Come to arts & rec to talk about this, too. Monday at 6pm at Roosevelt on 2nd floor for arts & rec meeting.

David: OCMAILLIST@gmail.com direct people to e-mail there for general info.

Max: Tomorrow at 3pm rally for marriage equality. HQ to county clerks office in solidarity with Sydney for intl marriage equality!

Samwise: As you see me typing, I’m taking the minutes. I volunteered at last minute and losing battery. (Battery pack available)

Housing proposal
Moderator
We are going to be strict about keeping people on topic
Housing proposal {append text later}

Stack
• Mod reminds that stack is about this proposal not Housing committee or its members. By temp check stack will be limited to 1 minute because of length
o Jacuzzi is an insurance liability. Painting needs to be negotiated, security concerns were dismissed. “we can do better.”
o Dr Laura: vote no because a compromise was offered and we need to work on that. We are going to spend too much money on this. We need a public face. Vote no and wait for compromise.
o Sarah: I’ve lived in this neighborhood for years. “the candy factory” already has a community of artists who will work with us. Very safe neighborhood good Chinese food.
o Vote no on this lovely building. There are 50 neighborhoods, we need to spread our wads.
o Justin: utilities included/no sec deposit both suggest that it’s sketchy. Many of the windows are replaced with wood. Not a good choice.
o I’ve read over the minutes. We need a space to keep warm, it’s going to be -20. If we don’t like it we can leave
o I think we should move there. I can’t say enough good about this. We will be able to connect with Occupy el barrio & occupy south side. We can put pressure on coal plants on south side. This neighborhood is great.
o Keilah: 2 concerns: we don’t know max occupancy. Before it got cold, we were having 300-400 people. We need more options presented.
o Mark Donaghy: Vote no, we don’t know capacity. There has been no inspection. Building is poorly maintained. Vote no, in two weeks we’ll have a better proposal
o I’ve been down there. It’s great Housing comm. Meets 3 times a week. We’ve discussed this, we’ve looked at 100s of locations, this is the best. It’s cold. Edcomm needs places for teachins, we need a place to go. The community is waiting to welcome us into it.
o Boarded up windows are a serious problem. They are not sufficient. It is bad that there is no security deposit. If something goes wrong, and we have to pay out of pocket, it could be a huge problem, we could be making interest on sec deposit. We should be challenged and not just go where we’ll be loved.
o We can fix windows. Honorary Cesar Chavez road. Natural light, we could grow herbs.
o I’ve been to this location twice. I’m from the suburbs, and as a short little girl whose not that tough, I feel safe there! We are working on ways to make everyone feel safe there.
o I’ve worked in this building for two years, it’s a great building. It snowed last night, we need to get in doors. Maybe we’ll find something better. Re power plant. Particulate matter is dense, we won’t be exposed to it indoors. It’s not the Ritz, I’m from the projects I don’t mind.
o I’m Joshua from houseing comm. This place is month to month. We can move in while we look for somewhere better.
o Keep in mind: encampments nationally have been shut down. This will help us move forward. We need to show that winter isn’t going to kill us.
o This is an excellent outreach opportunity. We should get in there and remobilize south side.
o Another little girl feels safe there. This is urgent, GA attendance is dropping. We need storage space and space for teachins.
o Lynette: I vote yes. I lived in a car, it’s safer than that.
o Matt: moving way from downtown makes us less accessible and is a death sentence to HQ
o This isn’t the last place but the first place. Winter is coming a vote against is a vote for the death of OCHI
o Complaints are all addressed in the minutes. Boarding up windows is legit and done. Busted windows are not in arms reach.
o We are voting on whether we want to have outdoor presence in the loop. We need more time to discuss larger issues
o I’m abstaining. I want to talk about safety. We are a community we have a safety comm.. if people aren’t comfortable, we can have buddy systems. We will look out for each other.
o I think it would be foolish without friendly amendments. 2300 s Michigan can hold 600-700 and is $1500 cheaper. If we take a smaller and more expensive place, it influences potential donors.
o I have thought a good bit about this and was party to some of these discussions. I think we should vote yes. There are valid concerns. We can channel our energy against the Pilsen coal plants underwritten BOA
o This is not our only choice. We found 2 other places easily. Where are the pictures? Some feel uncomfortable. Vote no.

Point of clarification: RE not pictures, yes there have been and they have been posted on the forums and I have them here if you want to see them.

Stack extended for new speakers only? Temp Check yes

o In support: housing worked hard and I have faith in them. Very valid point re HQ. It’s a perfect spot for actions. We can still have a presence there. It’ll be a big deal when occupy shows up
o I’m in support. From Safety & security: people & especially women are afraid to come to LaSalle and Jackson. We will be able to keep junkies out because it’s ours. If you smoke, you have no room to talk about air quality.
o I’m asthmatic and I’m not worried about the air quality here. As a construction worker, I know that wooden window boards are legit. This place will be safer than HQ.
o Who will sign the lease? DR: working group is trying to figure that out.
o It’s month to month, if we don’t like it, we can leave. This space will be 24/7 too.
o IF the windows than lets build them. IF the community s bad, lets be a positive force. I want to be warm.
o I’m on tech. one concern is net quality. Lots of people who complain about HQ never go there. DR: Comcast business class is available.
o This space is good enough to move into right away. It’s not perfect, we need to keep looking. We need to not get complacent. Friendly amendment?: have a subgroup to look for alternatives. POClar: Housings duty is not over after tonight, please join, we are also looking for satellites. [FA to be discussed]
o Not sure it’s the best place but let’s say yes tonight. 1 other places are available, but we need to decide ASAP. FA that we do a month to month lease!
o Vote no: there is a bigger cheaper option. POC: There is a private benefactor putting up at least 3000$ for expenses wherever we go.


Clarity re private benefactor: it is in the minutes
This space is not just for GA, but for teach ins, art projects, anything we want besides sleeping.
Mark: Friendly amendment RE size: Housing committee will continue to look for alternatives. We’ll figure out fire code capacity. If at any point 1 of these 3 things will activate a process to move into new place: 1 if average GA attendance exceeds 75% capacity. 2 If three consecutive weekends exceeds 75% capacity. 3 If it comes to our knowledge that the building has lied to us and are not in good legal standing.
It’s already true that housing will continue its work looking for new space.
The issue of where GAs will be is separate.
Is there a limit set on monthly rent budget? We also have minimum $18000 pledged from benefactor. OWS has pledged 10000 and to set up a kickstarter to direct their donors to for us. We have the money to get this space for 6 mos.

VOTING TIME
Opposed: 16
For 68
proposal did not pass

General Announcements
Speaker: would like to meet people/ dissenters
Sp: peacekeeping person would ask people to allow people indoors we will all get pneumonia
Sp: how many toes and fingers do you want to lose
Sp: small group can hijack GA, we need to change 90%
Sp: We should have had a house a month and a half ago. It’s getting cold we are going to get sick. “this is the winter of our discontents.” We need a home where we can stay warm and plan for the future.
Sp: 9/10s is important. This conversation will continue
Sp: this vote didn’t pass because there was no attempt at consensus
Sp: we need to be a family, promote love, remember this will be resolved; calls for respect- also direct action 3 pm meeting Sunday at McDonalds Wabash and? So sorry please someone help on location
Sp: wonders who voted no, hasn’t seen them before
Sp: encourages continued discussion
Sp: DA had same infighting problem, cites as example of how they made it work with constructive ideas; housing has different problem- dissenters act only as dissenters, perhaps personal reasons
Sp: idea- this didn’t pass- BUT – have at GA both property options discussed, one chosen
Sp: previous proposal WAS option that was denied by presenters
Mod: stack was already closed, but after Daniel stack is closed, get on NOW if you want to talk
Sp: Billy: was at Wall St, inspired, Wall Street blocks better, dissent isn’t handled same, use them as more effective model
Sp: voted no because he felt it was right, still wants other property discussion
Sp: voted yes, but wants respect for both sides, GA is not over. Don’t all have to agree, respect consensus
Sp: wants to talk about respect- we’re all talking about the same thing, moving forward, learn and listen
Sp: minority left to continue discussion, voted no because works with property. Also, wants respect
Sp: no vote isn’t failure- means we need to work on it
Sp: may not agree w/ what you believe, will defend to end your right to say it. We can have dissenting views w/out disrespect, name-calling, threats
Sp: Mark D: passed around flier earlier, wants vote of no confidence in housing committee—behavior w/in housing committee, actions on both sides should be condemned by GA. Ordered by GA to conduct work cordially, w/ camaraderie. Infighting – we should censure these disrespectful acts
Sp: Kelvin: moderator meeting 637 s Dearborn at Grace Place at 4 at Saturday (?Saturday? please also check website, it will be posted there as well sorry!!)
Sp: failure to build consensus- people opposed no matter what seemingly- we need to have a discussion about this. But discussion needs to happen separately. Still need housing. Month- to- month lease should have been safeguard in order to find more places. But, yes, need discussion
Sp: not speaking about all no-voters in above statement- open to discussion about property
Sp: non hierarchical. Everyone gets vote and voice. Need to have that here. No matter how new. Will join housing committee. You should too if you’re angry. We need to work together, and be respectful.
Sp: Ramona: we are losing jobs everyday in this country. We need to start website and people can post their invention online- put jobs back in US- send fliers to companies, companies come to everyday people. People can have something made, have somewhere to turn legal safeguards, better business bureau, will be in place to protect everyone. Occupy Chicago can research to protect inventor. Movement needs to put this in action- specific action for people who need it, everyone can grow. Will create jobs.

Mod- adjourn meeting? Motion
Seconded.
Meeting adjourned at 10:14

Sorry for last half of notes, first time!

Edited/Posted by Keith