News and community for San Pedro, California
Justice For All?
At the recent community dinner held by the Occupy San Pedro group a number of people got up to speak. There were two main themes that came out of the speakers. We are fighting for JUSTICE and we are concerned about our community, San Pedro. There were three who stood out in my mind.
One speaker was Sherry whose home is threatened, she said she usually sits back but is tired of seeing the banks win and knows that SHE has to DO something to help get justice. Her story is similar to many others, but with its own unique twists and turns. She has been fighting the banks for four years in what she says is a frustrating trial of incompetence, indifference and confusion on the part of the banks. Her situation has nothing to do with lack of income, it is simply a system gone wrong.
Then there was the young lady who ran the raffle. She had solicited raffle prizes from a number of local businesses. Shyly she announced what the prizes were and collected money. A recent graduate of San Pedro High, raised in the tradition of union and community activism, she is the face of young people who are standing up for what they believe in and getting involved.
Finally, I was impressed by Rachel, whose inspiration came from her grandfather, John Gualt, a former long term teacher at San Pedro High School. She talked about him helping start community gardens and that we each have the power to make change in our community.
So far, most Occupy San Pedro actions have targeted the banks. Why target the banks? They are the face of the monster in our community. They are too big to care about San Pedro and all the other communities like San Pedro who are suffering, but we can’t let them walk all over us without speaking up. There are real people, perhaps your neighbors, who are being hurt right now.
Bank of America has been one of the largest banks to profit off the real estate crisis, pay no taxes and receive a government bailout. I have to admit I have a personal gripe with them. Occupy San Pedro wants justice for those who are unfairly losing their homes and jobs due to the crisis created by the financial sector. Small businesses have been depleted, workers cut back, equity lost, homes callously auctioned off and all the while the banks are raising interest rates and fees.
The Occupy San Pedro group held a demonstration last Saturday, December 18 in front of the Bank of America on Western Avenue, the next meeting will be a general assembly this Tuesday, December 20 of those interested in helping plan actions. Anyone who shares these concerns is invited to participate. You can contact the group at occupysanpedro@gmail.com . If you wish to donate, you can make a tax deductable contribution to the Harry Bridges Institute and indicate Occupy San Pedro on the check.
Comment
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Comment by Lee Dworshak on December 20, 2011 at 12:21pm
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Dear Ms Arian:
We should talk some time. I think you’ll find we aren’t very far apart in our thinking. I have always hated banks, long before the current meltdown. While I have never been a BofA customer, they are at the top of my list of despised corporations.
Even though I respect your right to protest in the streets I just wish you would take it to the people that matter; not our local BofA branch in San Pedro. I fought in a war and was wounded a long time ago just so that you could have your rights and I could live my life here in peace without anarchy and civil unrest.
Do me a favor though, leave Beverly Bicker down on Pacific or up on Western (or wherever she thinks she is at the time). Her personal attacks don’t fly with me.
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Thanks for some facts on BofA Eddie. Their funny-money balance sheet is really a stretch. They are still in big trouble as our 2nd biggest bank but I'm not sure the "Too Big to Fail" mantra from Washington is going to work this time. Their troubles are certainly NOT the result of any Occupy Troops even as much as they would like to think they are hurting them with their "movement."
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Thank you San Pedro News Pilot for pointing out to Beverly exactly where Western Ave is. She obviously doesn't have a clue. And Beverly, you don't want to know what I really think.. TaTa
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Comment by San Pedro News Pilot on December 20, 2011 at 11:42am
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Let's keep it civil as this is a discussion between neighbors. But I do think that Western Avenue is a beautiful place, though I often prefer the character of Pacific.
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=western+ave.,+san+pedro,+ca&hl=en...
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Comment by Beverly Bickel on December 20, 2011 at 11:24am
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I am not lost, Mr. Dworshak. I'm glad to see you did not get lost on your way back from the bar last night. However I am tired of your lame attempts to pick fights on irrelevant topics. If you prefer to think that Western Avenue is a beautiful place and that the Occupy protestors are uninformed and unintelligent as compared to your highly perceptive self, well bless your little heart. Bye now.
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I think Beverly is "Lost in San Pedro" and doesn't know the difference between Western and Pacific Avenues.
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Comment by Eddie North-Hager on December 20, 2011 at 10:34am
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Bank of America notched a $6.2 billion in profit according to this OctoberNew York Times story - http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/10/18/bank-of-america-notches-6-2-...
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Beverly, now I am really curious. What stretch of Western Ave are we talking about? I'm referring to the portion that runs through San Pedro from PV Drive North to Paseo Del Mar at the ocean and I would hardly call it ugly. I can think of only one resturant/bar on the whole stretch; Think Prime.
As far as irrelevant goes, you brought it up.
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Again Ms Arian, the ATM fee was another bad BofA management decision that produced a lot of bad publicity for the bank. The public outroar did change its mind but the fee would have never "saved" the bank or helped it much as it would have produced peanuts compared to the larger bleeding going on there. I just think you're missing the point with all these petty issues. The banks were following the law/regulations when this debacle occured. If you want to produce change, go to the regulators in Washington and leave us poor San Pedran's alone to live our lives in peace and quiet.
Complete naiveté is the only word that comes to my mind in this discussion. But alas I'm off to some booze dive in Long Beach for dinner so I'll have to close for now.
BTW, your last name gives you and your position away. I know you'll never change your mind but's it been fun trying.
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Mr. Dworshak, if you are dying to know the addresses of Western Avenue dives, I begin to get concerned about you. Perhaps the address of the nearest AA would do you more good. Since you disagree with me about the presence of such dives, I can only conclude that your standard for when a bar becomes a dive is lower than mine. Our relative tastes in such matters is irrelevant to Ms. Arian's article. My point is that Western Avenue is famous for being an ugly stretch of road, and your purported concern about preserving it from the taint of protestors gave me a good laugh.
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