Lincoln area: Congressional District 1
THE NEW ARENA QUESTION: VOTE TUESDAY . . . CD 1 Nebraska Greens co-sponsored the only Haymarket Arena Opposition Forum with the UN-L Progressive Student Coalition Wednesday, May 5, 2010, at Mary Riepma Ross. The full house audience heard presentations by members of the No2Arena group, and independent concerned citizens raising issues of environmental contamination at the toxic railyard waste site; extracting diesel from the soil; the cost–much larger than any other regional arena facility; financing; engineering; infrastructure and parking. Soil and groundwater samples from a lumber yard parcel of the site had volatile organic compounds, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, and arsenic, at concentrations exceeding health benchmarks. The lumber yard is slated to be capped and converted into parking–in the flood plain. Natural Resources Director Steve Larrick focused on the flood plain issue, presenting a simulated video of what will happen when Salt Creek waters inevitably rise creating a flooding disaster at the proposed location.
A May 5th Lincoln Journal Star article says “The campaign to convince Lincoln voters to approve an arena project next week has a war chest of about $680,000–almost 54 times the size of its opponents’.” Click here for financial report coverage, including individual and business donor lists. Click here for “Everything you ever wanted to know about the arena vote,” the final feature story on this issue, Sunday, May 9th. Letters to the editor opposing arena development in Lincoln’s Historic Haymarket District outnumber pro-arena letters eight to one in this last Sunday edition before the vote. Click here for the full page of letters, and here for Scott Wendt’s Local View, “No vote is the right vote.”
The May 11th vote is on a $25 Million Bond Issue, a small percent of the unknown actual costs to Lincoln taxpayers, projected by No2Arena to be at least $808 Million. The fake democracy of such a vote is another reason to question the City’s agenda. We also know that Nebraska law was changed by LB 402, signed by the governor May 22, 2009, requiring 50 percent of voters, rather than 51 percent, to approve the bond. Read the bill here. [pdf] The development project can now go ahead with a reduced percentage of the vote, not 51% as had been previously required by law. More fake democracy, slipped past voters and enacted without notice.
“City, developers yet to ink arena agreement,” a May 2, 2010 LJS article, is here. It reports “The agreement would release BNSF from paying for any environmental damage.”
The proposed arena site is highly contaminated with toxic railyard waste. The City of Lincoln will be assuming liability for cleaning up 130 years of toxins. The railroads will have no clean-up responsibility after this proposed deal. Click here for a list of toxic contaminants at the Haymarket site.
Click the links here to download Kandra Hahn’s presentation from the “Haymarket Arena: Yes or No?” question and answer session, “Top 10 Reasons to Vote Against the Arena Ballot Issue.” Phone Kathy at 402.202.8153, or e-mail KathyKBD [at] aol [dot] com to learn more. Click here to become a “Vote NO to Lincoln’s Haymarket Arena” Facebook fan. Join the collective opposition affirmation that “We will win the No2Arena Vote.” Spread the information. Share the intent. And plan to join Greens and Haymarket development opponents for an Election Night Victory Party at Uncle Ron’s, 2137 Cornhusker Hiway, starting at 7:00pm, Tuesday, May 11th. SAVE THE HAYMARKET.
VIGIL AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY . . . Every Monday, noon to 1:00pm, Nebraskans for abolition of the death penalty meet at the information desk on the lower level of the State Capitol. The lunch-hour presence reminds senators of a constituency that does not want state killings. Weekly vigils have taken place year-round since July, 1991. All abolitionists are welcome to participate for a few minutes, or the hour. For information about Nebraskans Against the Death Penalty, click here.
TUESDAY IS ELECTION DAY . . . A sample ballot is here. [pdf] If you haven’t voted yet, please do your research and vote. Save the Haymarket.
LINCOLN PEACE VIGILS . . . Lincoln peace vigils continue at the Federal Building, 15th and O streets, every Wednesday from 5:00 to 6:00pm. Contact Mark at 402.499.6672 or e-mail mark [at] weddleton [dot] com for more information.
BIKE TO WORK WEEK . . . Lincoln residents are encouraged to participate with the bicycling community and Bike to Work Monday, May 17th through May 21, 2010. On Friday, May 14th, there will be a Kickoff Event. Bikers can join local celebrities, 7:30am, at one of four locations and bike as a group to Centennial Mall. Meet at Peter Pan Park, 32nd and Y streets; Champions Club, Stadium Drive; Lincoln Children’s Zoo, 27th and B streets; or Salt Creek Levee Trail, west end of A Street viaduct. An 8:00am rally on Centennial Mall outside the State Office Building will feature refreshments, exhibits and drawings for prizes. For details, contact Mike Heyl, mheyl [at] lincoln [dot] ne [dot] gov or phone 441.3889.
CITY BUDGET INPUT . . . The next Taking Charge all-day discussion on the city budget is Saturday, May 15, 2010, at the County-City Building, 555 South 10 Street, LIncoln. All residents will be able to participate in an online discussion on the city’s Facebook page. The city of Lincoln is preparing a budget for the 2010-2011 fiscal year, which begins Sept. 1.
To participate online, send an e-mail to mayor@lincoln.ne.gov. Portions of the May 15th event will be carried live on 5 CITY-TV, and streamed live at lincoln.ne.gov (click on the 5 CITY-TV logo).
BIRDATHON FIELD TRIPS . . . Two Wachiska Audubon field trips are planned for Saturday, May 15, and Sunday, May 16, 2010. Meet in the Wilderness Park parking lot off Saltillo Road west of 27th Street, Saturday at 9:00am, to tally as many species as possible for the 22nd annual Birdathon fundraiser. Sunday, May 16th, a scenic Stone Creek hike will begin at 8:00am. Click here for “A Birder’s Eye View,” by John Carlini. Phone John at 475.7275 for more information.
LUNCH AND LEARN . . . Reservations are due by Monday, May 17th, for this month’s League of Women Voters Lunch & Learn, Thursday, May 20, 2010, at the 20th floor US Bank Building, 13th and M Streets, Lincoln. W. Cecil Steward, professor and dean emeritus of the University of Nebraska College of Agriculture, will present “Sustainability in Lincoln” at the noon event. Click here for “Sustainable landscaping the logical choice,” a Green Page article by Steward in the LJS Neighborhood Extra, May 1, 2010. Phone 475.1411 to make reservations, or e-mail lwv-ne [at] inebraska [dot] com.
LINCOLN FARMERS MARKETS . . . Locally grown produce and baked goods are now available at Lincoln Farmers Markets five of the seven week days.
Saturdays through October 9th, the Haymarket Farmers Market will be open from 8:00am to noon. The Old Cheney Road Garden Market at 55th Street and Old Cheney Road (behind the Lincoln Racquet Club) is open from 10:00am to 2:00pm every Sunday through November 7th. Other Lincoln Markets include:
— Havelock Farmers Market, behind the businesses at 62nd and 63rd Streets and Havelock Avenue, Wednesdays 3:00 to 6:30pm, May 5 to October 27th.
— Piedmont Farmers Market, 1265 South Cotner Blvd. Saturdays 8:00am to noon, May 15 to September 18. Vendor spots available. Call Randy Nelsen at 467-2777.
— The Mid-Week Haymarket Farmers Market, 12th and R streets. Tuesdays in June from 5:00 to 7:00pm, in conjunction with Jazz in June.
— Centennial Mall Garden Market, 14th and M streets, east side of the Nebraska State Office building. Wednesdays noon to 4:00pm, July 7 to August 25th.
— Community Crops Farmers Market, Pentzer Park, 27th and Potter (2 blocks north of 27th and Holdrege), Thursdays, 4:30-7:30pm, June 3 through September 30, 2010.
— Backyard Farmer’s Market and Exchange, Tuesdays, 4:30 to 7:30pm, in the St. Paul United Church of Christ parking lot at 1302 “F” Street, June 1st through September 28, 2010.
Omaha area: Congressional District 2
OMAHA PEACE VIGILS . . . Omaha peacemakers vigil every Wednesday, 4:30-5:30pm, at StratCom/UN-O, 6801 Pine Street, east of the Scott Technology Center on the Un-O campus. Free parking is available at the NE Corner of 67th Street and Pine in a student lot. For more information, phone Jerry Ebner, 402.502.5887. Every Saturday, 1:00-2:00pm, there is an Anti-War and Peace Vigil at 72nd and Dodge Streets. Contact Steve Horn at 402.426.9068.
OMAHA PEOPLE’S FILM FESTIVAL . . . There is a People’s Film Festival every Wednesday evening, 7:00pm, at McFoster’s Natural Kind Cafe, 38th and Harney in Omaha. The event is always free and open to the public. This week’s film is “In the Loop.” Food and drink is available. A lively discussion follows each showing. For more information, click here. The People’s Film Festival – Expanding Political Consciousness Since 2004.
AFRICAN CULTURE CONNECTION . . . The 2nd Annual African Culture Event, Yam Festival, will be Friday, May 14th and Saturday, May 15th, 2010, at the Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass Street. Yams, the first of harvested crops, are important to many African cultures. Yam festivals are held across West Africa at the end of rainy season. Local and international artists will be featured in a folk-tale about a very special yam festival within a kingdom in the tiny country of Benin. For more information, phone artistic director Charles Ahovissi, 402.238.8259, or click here.
POUNDING THE PAVEMENT . . . Omaha progressives will meet Saturday, May 15, 2010, 2:00pm, at 1214 North 34th street, to discuss the nuts and bolts of door-to-door organizing, working people in community neighborhoods, and building a strong multi-racial political movement. Saul Alinsky’s Rules For Radicals is one of the texts to be considered. For more information, contact jack [at] progressiveomaha [dot] com.
Greater Nebraska: Congressional District 3
TAR SANDS IN NEBRASKA . . . One of the dirtiest, most destructive projects on Earth is set to begin in Nebraska soon. A massive pipeline, Keystone XL, designed to carry tar sands from Canada into the United States, is proposed to cut through Nebraska’s Ogallala Aquifer, Nebraska’s most precious water resource. Tar sands are a thick, black dirt derived from the soil under forests of Canada that produce 20% more global warming pollution than conventional oil. The Department of State has recently scheduled public hearings on the project in York, May 10; and Atkinson, May 11. Click here for more details, and to sign up to attend a public hearing to stop this dirty pipeline.
GRASSLAND BIRD DIVERSITY TOUR . . . Registration is due by May 15, 2010, for the Nebraska Sandhils Grazing Systems and Grassland Bird Diversity Tour, June 2 and 3, 2010, near Burwell. The two-day event will be based at the Switzer Ranch & Nature Reserve. Download the registration form here, or phone Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition Coordinator Marcy Hunter, at 402.465.4304.
BUY FRESH. BUY LOCAL . . . . Until local markets begin again, farmers, gardeners, and craftspeople meet through The Nebraska Food Cooperative, an on-line, year-round farmers’ market and local food distribution service offering the best in local freshness. For ordering and pickup schedules, refer to the calendar here. Click here for products and prices from North Star Neighbors, a Cooperative member that doesn’t therapeutically medicate or unduly confine animals. Click here for Tomato Tomäto, Omaha’s year-round indoor Farmer’s Market at 156th & West Center. Shop for fresh foods grown in or very near your own community at Open Harvest, Lincoln’s member-owned natural foods retail cooperative in expanded space at 1618 South Street. Buying local grows family farming, grows the local economy, and is thousands of miles fresher.
HELP NEBRASKA GREENS WITH GOODSEARCH . . . Each time you search the Internet (or shop online at a participating store), a donation can be made to Nebraska Green Party at no cost to you! To help NGP in this way, enter Nebraska Green Party where it says WHO DO YOU GOODSEARCH FOR? here. Every time you use the GoodSearch toolbar, one penny will be donated to Nebraska Greens. Download the GoodSearch Toolbar here. THANK YOU for supporting Nebraska Greens.
We are no longer the alternative; we are the imperative. –Rosa Clemente