Yesterday, over 400 people gathered to speak out against a proposed demolition and construction in downtown Lexington that would level a city block to make way for CentrePointe, a 35-story hotel planned by developer Dudley Webb to capitalize on the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Lexington.

The block's current residents include Buster's, The Dame (the site of many KFTC fundraisers and concerts) and
Mia's.  The Dame has recently been given notice that they have to vacate within 90 days and other businesses will tentatively have to closely follow. 

This campaign has brought together students, historic preservation buffs, supporters of local businesses, and others to speak as one voice against the demolition, which can be stopped at a number of points in the coming weeks through procedures of the Lexington Fayette Urban County Government Courthouse such as the Area Design Review Board that the proposal has to pass at their April 2nd Public meeting.

The Central Kentucky chapter of Kentuckians For The Commonwealth does not yet have an official stance on these developments, but many of our members and leaders have been involved in trying to stop the demolition. 

To learn much more about this issue and to get involved, visit Preserve Lexington's  website at www.preservelexington.org

Editorial Note from Yesterday's Herald-Leader in support of Restoration of Voting Rights for Former Felons

FELONS' VOTING RIGHTS LEFT TO GOVERNOR

House Bill 70, which proposed a constitutional amendment to restore ex-felons' voting rights and other civic privileges, is dead for this session.

Weighed down by a lot of amendments denying rights to one group of ex-cons or another, it never received a House vote.

The one good news is that Gov. Steve Beshear, with the support of Secretary of State Trey Grayson, said they will remove all the extra hurdles Gov. Ernie Fletcher imposed: essays, fees, OKs from prosecutors.

This bipartisan stand gives hope that one day Kentucky will join nearly every other state in restoring rights automatically when the debt to society is paid. Only Kentucky and Virginia do not.

Nearly 129,000 adults are still barred from voting in Kentucky. Among African-Americans, nearly one in four is disenfranchised.

That's a lot of people getting the message that they are unworthy of a chance to be citizens. And with Kentucky having the fastest-growing prison population in the nation, such prohibitions only feed despair.

Kentuckians For The Commonwealth is disappointed in the lack of action around Restoration of Voting Rights from the state legislature, which we see as largely due to a constitutional amendment log-jam.  Only a very small number of constitutional amendments can be passed in a given year and the Governor pushed legislators hard to delay passing any to give his Gambling proposal a better chance of passing.

Still, we collectively succeeded in a great lobbying campaign almost every day of the 60-day legislative session including a 400-person focus lobby day at the end of February.

Active members and leaders from Kentuckians For The Commonwealth, as well as the Central KY Council for Peace and Justice (CKCPJ), North East Lexington Initiative (NELI), Kentucky Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (KCIRR), BCTC Peace and Justice Coalition, New Morning, and other groups gathered in Lexington yesterday to start a conversation about the 2008 Election.  The gathering was largely organized by KFTC leader Janet Tucker. 

Group members discussed what is at stake in terms of the 2008 election cycle and the need to be involved in voter empowerment organizing in general.  We talked about why so many people don't vote and what we can accomplish as progressive non-profit groups to change that.  This conversation will continue amongst allies in Lexington and across the state as we develop our Voter Empowerment campaign leading to November 4th and beyond. 

 
Primary Voter Registration Deadline - Monday, April 21^st

Absentee Ballot Deadline – Tuesday, May 13th - Last day to apply for a primary mail-in absentee ballot through your local County Clerk (not later than close of business 7 days before election) Applications must be received on this day.

Primary Election – Tuesday, May 20^th.  Polls open from 6am to 6pm.

Voter Registration Deadline – Monday, October 6th

Absentee Ballot Deadline – Tuesday, October 28th - Last day to apply for mail-in absentee ballot through your local County Clerk (not later than close of business 7 days before election) Applications must be received on this day.

Election Day – Tuesday, November 4^th.  Polls open from 6am to 6pm.

Between 2005 and 2006, the average income (before taxes) of the top 1% of US households (incomes above about $375,000) increased by $73,000, after adjusting for inflation. The average income of the bottom 90% of households increased by just $20. The share of the nation's income held by the top 1% is the highest that it's been since 1928.

Here's another: Since 2002, the average income of the top 1 percent of households has risen 44%. The average income of the bottom 90 percent of households has risen about 3 percent.

A lot of numbers, I know, but the reality behind them is felt by families every day. Leslie Craft, a KFTC member in Perry County, says that middle-class incomes aren't keeping pace with rising costs of health care, gas, child care, and other basic living expenses. "My family is poised to spend more than a fifth of our gross income on medical expenses this year," Leslie says. "This will keep us all insured, make sure John is not sick, and make sure our baby gets to have a hospital birth. If you add in our regular out-of-pocket expenditures of $2,000 annually, healthcare will eat-up over 20% of our projected, combined incomes."

With 20% of their incomes devoted to health care, a chunk for child care, a bit to keep themselves clothed and fed, there isn't a lot left over, despite their middle-income status. After they add in gasoline...wait, let's pause on that, too: "I spend $250 more monthly on gas now than I did this time two years ago, even though our overall fuel consumption has actually been reduced by purchasing very fuel efficient cars. We pay $5,700 yearly, if gas stays at $3.00 per gallon. It's more than our mortgage, but as good as can be expected in a rural area."

After all these basic expenses are factored in, Leslie and her family are left relying on savings and hoping that nothing goes wrong. Leslie explains, "If the car doesn't break down, and we don't indulge at all, and we potty-train immediately, we will still need more money. This is what I call 'feeling the pinch.'

"All I want to do," says Leslie, "is sock away a few bucks for tough times, make sure I save a little money for my kids' college educations, pay for the essential services and durable good that we actually need, and see a damned doctor when we need care. This year, I can do only two out of four. And the goods I will have to make do with will probably be a little less than durable, if you know what I mean."

Leslie's family is, by the numbers, anyway, a middle-income family. But their placement is more complex as they consider how financially secure they feel. And this experience is more and more common as the nation's wealthiest 1% absorb more and more of our collective resources. While families in Kentucky and across the nation are trying to find some solid ground away from the edge of the widening wealth gap, it's difficult to see any evidence that many legislators are aware that so many families are teetering.

University of Kentucky KFTC members have been applying KFTC's Voter Empowerment techniques and principles on campus to impact the Student Government Elections today and tomorrow.

"We wanted people to be able to actually vote based on where candidates stand on the issues," said Katie Goldey, a UK KFTC member and a primary organizer of the voter empowerment work around the election.

Students from across campus had input on the candidate survey questions asked, which touched on a broad range of issues from environmental justice to tuition to racial justice and diversity.

Of 44 candidates competing for 30 different positions, an incredibly high number responded to our detailed questionnaire.

From there, students organized campus tablings, presentations, chalkings, mass-emails, and other methods to drive students to the website.  As of the opening of the polls this morning, the main election site had received over 2,200 page views with that number likely to rise over the two days voting.

You can visit the website at www.UKSGAElection.org

If you're a UK student, please research the candidates and vote today.  You can vote online at any point before 6pm Thursday or at one of the polling locations on campus from  9am-6pm on the following days and  locations:

Wednesday, March 26th
 - Classroom Bldg (1st floor)
 - WT Young Library (facing Chem/Phys)
Thursday, March 27th
 Student Center (near Starbucks)
 WT Young Library (facing Chem/Phys)

Update:  www.UKSGAElection.org ended up with over 4,600 visits by the time polls closed.
That contributed to some of the busiest days for KFTC.org since the site has been up.  

Restoring felons' right to vote sensible, fair

Stake in society an incentive to reform

Op-Ed in the Lexington Herald-Leader by Carl Wicklund, executive director of the American Probation & Parole Association, whose headquarters is in Lexington.

Kentucky recently came one step closer to ensuring that voting is a fair and democratic process. Gov. Steve Beshear announced this month that he was removing some barriers to voting for people with felony convictions.

As someone with 35 years of experience in the criminal justice field, I support Beshear's decision. Full civic participation by citizens living in our community protects public safety.

Beshear, with the support of Secretary of State Trey Grayson, eased some of the most cumbersome requirements of the vote-restoration process imposed by Beshear's predecessor.

Previously, in addition to submitting a written clemency application, people who had completed their felony sentences were required to pay a fee, write an essay and submit three personal recommendations to regain the right to vote.

In removing these barriers, Beshear said the policy change "is about treating people fairly and about welcoming back people trying to put their lives together again and become good citizens."

Despite this progress, Kentucky maintains a highly restrictive policy of lifetime disenfranchisement. Laws that disenfranchise people with felony convictions exist in 48 states (all but Maine and Vermont), but Kentucky maintains the distinction of being one of only two states (along with Virginia) that permanently disenfranchises all citizens with felony convictions for life unless they gain a reprieve directly from the governor.

Nearly 129,000 adults have completed the obligations of their criminal sentences but are still barred from voting in Kentucky. The overall disenfranchisement rate among African-Americans is the nation's highest, with nearly one in four (23.7 percent) adults barred from voting.

As the executive director of the national association that represents the probation and parole agents who supervise more than 4 million people across the country, I understand the importance of connecting people released from prison with positive institutions in the community, including employment, education, housing, and also voting. There is absolutely no credible evidence showing that continuing to disenfranchise people after they have returned to the community serves any legitimate law enforcement purpose...

Read the complete Op-Ed in the Lexington Herald-Leader Here.

They have backed us into a corner.  They’re trying to get the coal one way or another.  This company is not a good neighbor

-Mary Jane Adams, after a long day at court.

This past Tuesday a judge heard testimony on Mary Jane and Raleigh Adams’ case concerning Whymore Coal coming on their land without their permission.  Although the case has not concluded and there still has not been a determination whether or not the original contract is void, the judge ruled that the coal company is allowed to continue mining and is required to pay wheelage (amount per ton hauled over their property) and back pay.  There is additionally a property line dispute between the Adams and an adjacent property owner that must still be resolved.  Up until a week ago, there had been no question as to where the boundaries were.

During the hearing, the company claimed that the lease had not been broken, and that they had not been on the Adams’ property. First the company claimed that they were not responsible for hauling the coal past the Adams’ home because it was a public road, and the four payments that the family had received were advanced royalties payments because they wanted “to be good neighbors.”  However, both the Adams and other residents testified that the company had obligations to make payments when they widened the road onto private property.  Several residents stated they were currently receiving payments on an annual basis from the company for wheelage due to a widening of the road.  Since the wheelage payments stopped which broke the contract with the Adams,’ the company claimed that widening the road on the Adams’ property did not count. 

Furthermore, although another set of landowners who supposedly have a valid lease with the company did not have a surveyed map of their property boundaries, the company claimed that when they were operating on the top of the mountain last week, they were actually on a different landowner’s property.
Another claim made by the company in an effort to justify issuing a restraining order for Raleigh on his own property was that he had supposedly threatened the workers and the equipment.  When the president of Whymore was further questioned about this false accusation, he referenced that Raleigh said there would be problems if they came down any further on his land.  Raleigh and his neighbors that were present on the mountain refuted that claim and reminded them of the threat to knock a tree on Raleigh.  Don Williams also told the court about how Curtis Hopkins, the former coal operator, said he would bulldoze his way through the Adams to get the coal. 

Throughout the court proceedings, the company president talked about how the Adams’ family had contacted the state on numerous occasions regarding mining operation and that they were inciting their neighbors to make calls to “tarnish my name in Frankfort.”  The company implied it was harassment, however citizens have a right under the law to express concerns about a mining operation especially when a company is operating in a reckless manner.  During the last month, the company has received 4 non-compliance citations ranging from inappropriate use of explosives, improper disposal of spoil material, and the disruption of the watershed above a sediment pond.

Other residents have expressed concerns about the reckless and illegal mining practices of this coal operation.  During the hearing, Ron Williams spoke about how the coal trucks had destroyed three of his mailboxes.  Others have expressed concerns about the mud and dust on the road.  In addition, there is another court proceeding regarding another tract of property, which the company received by purchasing an interest in an undivided property.  The way the law works now even if every other interest in an undivided tract opposing mining, as is the case in this tract of property in Long Branch, it is only required that one person signs.  The money for all the other interests is supposed to be put into an escrow account, which is not currently being done in the Long Branch case.   

“I am so disgusted about how this coal company is trying to intimidate residents and how they lied during the hearing about Raleigh and the situation.  I thought we lived in a free country where when you owned your land, you owned your land.  This company is totally taking advantage of an elderly couple, and this is not right,” Teri Blanton reflected, a KFTC member who attended the hearing in support of the Adams.

The legal proceedings are moving forward.  In the meantime, residents want to educate people how Whymore is treating people and doing poor mining practices.  The Adams family will continue to pursue options to stop the company from mining on their property without their permission and support their neighbors’ efforts to get better enforcement of the mining laws in their community.

Wednesday's edition of the Courier-Journal contained several letters expressing support for the Stream Saver bill and outrage at the destruction occurring in the mountains.  Also included was a letter from a fifth grader from Crestwood Elementary School who lamented the recent defeat of the bill:

Disappointed class

My fifth grade class in Crestwood is very disappointed that House Bill 164 (Stream Saver Bill) has not been passed. The Stream Saver Bill got voted on, but one vote changed it all. It lost.

My class said, "At least we made a difference." I think HB 164 should have passed because it would have saved our future and protected Appalachia's history and the wonderful people in Eastern Kentucky. The polluted water from coal slurry, and the mountains and homes that are being destroyed by mountaintop removal, must be stopped.

Next year, hopefully, we go at it again and try to save Kentucky's streams.

BRIANNE GOLDBERG

Fifth grade student
Crestwood Elementary School
Oldham County public schools
Crestwood, Ky. 40014

Two bills that are important to KFTC members and all Kentuckians continue to linger on the House floor despite receiving committee approval weeks ago. House leaders are not calling these bills for a vote even though both enjoy broad support.

We ask that you call House leaders and ask that they allow these bills to be voted on. Time is running out with less than two weeks left in the legislative session before their veto break.

1.  House Bill 566: The General Assembly has a chance to pass a measure that would help more than 350,000 lower-income working families. HB 566 establishes a state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) that will help correct the imbalance in our current tax system that now asks people who earn less ($14,000-$26,000 a year) to spend more (10%) of their income on state and local taxes than do our highest income families (less than 6% for incomes more than $289,000). It would buy school clothes, repair a refrigerator, or help fix the clutch on Kim Stinson-Hawn's car so she can depend on it to drive to work.

HB 566 also restores a Kentucky estate tax on estates worth than $3.5 million to fund the EITC, so it will not cut any further into the state's revenue shortfall.

For years, we've seen broad support for the EITC from both political parties, but HB 566 is being ignored by House leaders. They need to hear from Kentuckians who don't accept being complacent about poverty.

2.  House Bill 70: There are 24 cosponsors and broad public support for legislation that would ask voters to decide if former felons who have completed their sentences should automatically have their voting rights restored. HB 70 passed out of committee on February 5 but House leaders have held it on the floor as they considered what constitutional amendments to propose. Now that it is all but certain casino gambling will not pass, it is time to act on HB 70.

This could be a historic moment in the transition toward renewable energy that will inevitably come because coal will not be forever.  -Carl Shoupe, Benham, KY

Five residents of Appalachia, from Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia went to a public hearing to express support for a proposed wind project in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.  The Cape Wind Project would be the first near-shore wind project in the United States and would consist of 130 wind turbines 6 to 9 football fields apart in Horseshoe Shoals region of Nantucket Sound.  The turbines will appear to be a half-inch on the horizon and would provide 75% of the total annual average electricity usage for Cape Cod and the Islands. 

Carl Shoupe, a KFTC member from Harlan county who attended the hearing, drew connections between the debate around wind power in Cape Cod with the debate around mountaintop removal coal mining in Appalachia, “The opponents in Cape Cod were worried about their view of the ocean.  Here in the mountains, we worried about our continued existence, and the industry would like to appear like that mountaintop removal and other practices that are already against the law are not having a negative impact.  The coal supply to Massachusetts comes from Debord, Kentucky and Raul, West Virginia, so I think it was just as important that we were there as it was for those who are on the coast.”

The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) assessed over 100 different areas of environmental, social, and economic impact and found minor to negligible impacts of the project on the natural environment.  Many supporters of the project are concerned about the long-term impacts of climate change.  Residents of Appalachia thought it was an opportunity to educate people about the current impact of their energy use.

Carl reflecting on the trip:

One of my other purposes in going up there is that we are working MIT to initiate wind power in our region.  If the Cape Wind Project goes forward, this is very encouraging to us and our little community.  This could be a step in the right direction to generate wind power and related-jobs in our community.

Why couldn’t we have an alternative energy industry here in the mountains that could provide jobs for people to stay and thrive in our communities?  Since getting involved and becoming more knowledgeable about renewables, I found that a lot of communities across the nation are creating good new jobs.  I want that for Eastern Kentucky too.

This project has been under review for seven years.  These most recent hearings were in regards to the second Draft Environmental Impact Statement performed by the Minerals Management Service under the Department of Interior.  The public comment period for the DEIS is through April 21st, 2008.