Taxes or Investment.

Another article in the newspaper lambasting Democrats for recommending tax increases for political gain. Apparently, raising taxes in one county to pay for a new stadium is a good investment for the future, but raising income taxes for those most fortunate is not a good idea even if it increases investment in such programs as early childhood education and K-12 education.

We must change the debate in our state to talk about taxes as methods to invest. After all, many people put money away, that they could use to spend, on savings for their children's education. Why can't we as a community, meaning Minnesota, begin to think about tax increases as a means of investing our money for the future of our state. It's time to debate this as policy and not use it for political purposes.

Immigration Reform????

Yesterday, the US Senate finally passed a bill that begins to address some of the requirements for comprehensive reform. The bill includes a path to legalization for many of the undocumented immigrants, a national dream act, an increase in family visas and an increase in employment visas. It is great that members of the Senate recognize that our country must solve the current situation in a manner that respects human rights and enable families to reunite.

Unfortunately, far too many undocumented immigrants are left out of the path to legalization so their future is very much in doubt. There is much to much focus on enforcement and punishment including less access to the courts for immigrants, increases penalties to immigrants for even minor offenses, and would spend billions of dollars to build a wall at the southern border of the US.

Now the hard part is trying to reconcile this with the House of Representatives which only seems interested in punishment and enforcement, and is not interested in recognizing undocumented immigrants at all.

We must insist on a solution that is humane and is comprehensive. So far, even the Senate version comes up short but we must realize that our vigilant action and protests during the past few months has changed the tone of the debate and made it possible for comprehensive reform to have made as much progress as it has. So, watch for more alerts and keep in touch as we work hard to make sure the final bill truly honors human rights and provides a real path for legalization.
-Vic

Reflecting on May 1st

As I drove down Lake street, east from the lakes, the signs were already clear. The usual bustle was replaced by empty sidewalks and closed businesses. Although the weather was rainy, the mood was festive as hundreds of immigrants and their supporters, myself included, rallied at Powderhorn Park in South Minneapolis this past Monday, May 1st. The event was a part of the nation-wide series of marches, protests, and rallies dubbed ‘a day without immigrants.’ Despite the fact that the national immigration issue focuses on Latinos, I spoke with immigrants from Laos and Russia who were there to express their concerns as well as stand in solidarity with all immigrant workers. I walked through the crowd with my good friend Eric, his mother a legal immigrant from Brazil. We were excited by the passion of the speakers, the energy of the Aztec dancers, and the sight of flags from Honduras, Uruguay, Mexico, El Salvador, Ecuador, all interspersed with the prevalent American banner. Members of the local spoken word group, Palabristas, performed emotional and inspiring pieces of poetry. Music, from salsa to tejano to hip-hop, kept people loose and energized.

While hundreds of thousands of immigrants across the country took action by not going to work, I was disappointed that many of the most visible and high profile Latino immigrants, Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz, Pedro Martinez, Albert Pujols, among others, all played for their respective major league teams. Currently 36% of major league ball players were born in Latin America. While industries related to agriculture, landscaping, construction and food service were all effected, imagine the hit major league baseball would have taken.

But what effect would this one-day cessation of work and purchasing have? I think it proved that national comprehensive immigration reform is something that needs to be addressed in a just and equitable manner. Not next session, not next year, but now. I think we can change the hearts and minds of people across this state and the country, who know that hardworking people deserve fair treatment. We can organize for change and we can keep the pressure on our elected officials to take our voices seriously. Si, se puede. Yes, we can.
-Matt Levitt