Author Archives: Robert F.

This Thursday, March 15th, show the Public Service Commission they work for the people, not Georgia Power! We don’t pay for Georgia power’s mistakes! We want better decisions for a better Georgia!

Read our article here: Georgia Power — Passing On The Costs to You!

Utility companies are strange beasts. On the one hand, they’re supposed to work for their shareholders. On the other, they have an obligation to provide us with low-cost utilities. The Public Service Commission is an entity that attempts to mediate this relationship with the public interest — ensuring low costs, as well as concerning themselves with the potential environmental and economic impacts of the decisions of utility companies. A problem is looming overhead though…

With the approval of SB31, Georgia Power customers were forced to pay for the new nuclear power units being built at Plant Vogtle years before they come online in 2017. Angela Speir Phelps of the consumer advocacy group Georgia Watch notes, “this results in the prepayment of $1.6 billion to Georgia Power, with 75 percent of that money profit for the company and taxes on the profit six years before the nuclear units produce a single kilowatt of power or we ever benefit from the service.”

With new EPA regulations, power plants must take better care of the air to protect the people living around their plants. But because Georgia Power has not been keeping itself clean (and in fact spending quite a tidy sum lobbying to remain dirty coal-powered), Georgia Power has decided to close 2 coal power units at Plant Branch rather than retrofitting them to make them cleaner. This decision is costing around 300 jobs, and in addition they are trying to get Georgians to pay for the lost value remaining of these coal plants because they decided to shut them down early! A total of around $45 million just for the plants. On top of this, they are asking we pay for almost another $20 million dollars for scrap & materials sitting around at the plants, and speculative planning costs — planning where nothing was actually built.

What’s worse? If something goes wrong in these new plants built, if there are cost overruns, who pays? Regular residential customers like you and I (large industrial users have lobbied hard to exempt themselves from having to pay)! And with this decision for Plant Branch, if the plants go offline early, we will be having to pay for that, too!

On March 15th, the Georgia Public Service Commission will hear a recommendation about how much of our money should be handed over to Georgia Power. Why should we be paying for Georgia Power’s bad decisions? Why, on top of that, should they be asking for a profit on these plants they’re closing? We should be there to let them know, we are paying attention. We want Georgia Power to invest in better decisions, to invest in the people of Georgia. We want the Georgia Public Service Commission to think about these things, and think about who they are elected to serve.

Join us, together with WAND and members of Sierra Club on March 15th, 5 PM, at the Georgia Public Service Commission building to start the return of power to Georgians…

Today, Occupy Atlanta surprised many by turning up en masse at AT&T shortly after the deadline for AT&T to rescind their recent layoffs of 740 workers, nearly 100 of which are right here in downtown Atlanta. Twelve envoys, from several organizations like Grandmothers for Peace, Jobs with Justice, and even AT&T retirees, went in to hear out AT&T’s decision and staged a sit-in afterward. While dozens of police showed up, occupiers outside threw up tents with assistance from the Teamsters and began the occupation.

“AT&T, where’s the love?” they chanted. AT&T attempted to spirit away the dozen arrested inside through a side entrance, but were caught by Occupiers chanting and marching.

We are out here for love of our fellow persons, the 99%. We are here to keep good jobs for the people. For a company that just posted record profits and whose CEO made $27 million last year alone, in a city that already has one of the highest unemployment rates nationally, one of the largest homeless populations, and number of foreclosed homes, why do we need one more job lost?

“27 million? Oh no! Too much money for a C.E.O.!”

We cannot win these fights if we don’t work together. We cannot win them unless we all help take some responsibility, assist in some way, and support one another. Please consider how you can help spread the word, donate to our efforts, help us build a community, and come out and participate!

General Assembly tonight at 7 PM at the AT&T building, movie showing at 9 PM!

Come out for our mass rally tomorrow starting at 11 AM!

Donate to Occupy Atlanta here!

It’s often a question as to why companies outsource jobs, or layoff living-wage workers only to rehire them to the same positions for minimum wage. It’s been argued that it’s done because the companies simply are not profitable and competitive. Yet just this past quarter AT&T made record profits and sent out emails praising their employees for their assistance in raking in this cash. As a slap in the face, within a few days of receiving thanks, 740 of those workers received notice they would be losing their decent wage jobs, most likely only to be replaced with minimum wage counterparts.

These are old tactics for AT&T: outsource and pay lower wages, supposedly to remain competitive. AT&T refuses to give accurate numbers of how many American jobs they have outsourced. Not surprisingly, this is being done at a time while they are lobbying for a Tax Holiday supposedly to allow for job creation in the U.S. [1]

AT&T has been clandestinely outsourcing jobs for years, fearing public outrage. When confronted with the fact, spokepeople for the corporation have either hung up or offered no comment to inquirers, and referred them to other departments. [2]

AT&T and IBM, both Fortune 500 companies, work together on several business ventures, with IBM being one of the largest job outsourcers of which the public is aware.
[3] Other business partners, like Hewlett-Packard, are partners in the omerta about their outsourcing. [1],[2] Despite this, there’s plenty of evidence about how much AT&T invests overseas instead of our communities at home. AT&T named one Indian IT and outsourcing corporation they work with, Tech Mahindra, as one of the best companies that supply them — one out of nearly 5,000, consistenly for the past several years. [4],[5]

Even though it pledged in 2006 to stop outsourcing jobs, AT&T was still sending many more jobs overseas than it ever planned to bring back. [6]

And since 2006, it’s been business as usual for AT&T. Act as if you’re invested in the community, keep shut about what you’re really doing, and pay off those who can help you keep doing the same.

As a corporation that has consistently ranked worst in customer service across the board from value to voice quality, and the same reports coming in from multiple independent testing groups, you’d think they’d change their tactics, perhaps even to service their customers instead of their own business interests? [7],[8],[9],[10]

With such low rankings, perhaps AT&T shouldn’t be concerned with cutting more jobs after making record profits, but instead adding jobs to service people better? To get customers service faster, attend to and complete repairs more efficiently, and answer our calls more quickly?

Or maybe it’s just about making a buck?

Perhaps it’s time for AT&T to rethink if its possible to keep hurting their employees and customers just to put a few pennies in their pockets? Or maybe they should turn it around and put jobs and community first?

JOIN US FEBRUARY 14TH TO SAVE JOBS AND SHOW AT&T WE WANT OUR COMMUNITY PUT FIRST!

(NOTE: I am posting this because we have yet to post all that we accomplished today. And since that was a lot, I feel the people that participated should be proud and those that want to know should be informed.  So here is a piece I wrote tonight in the meantime detailing today’s actions. Feel free to move this once we have added more media and/or a press release.)

Today, November 17th, was recognized across this country as a national day of action. Accordingly, Occupy movements throughout the nation, from Los Angeles to New York, Seattle to Tampa, organized, rallied, and took back their streets.

Here in Atlanta, we’re no different. Though we do not yet command the numbers of a place like Occupy Wall Street, our spirit is fierce and our core people are dedicated — literally working 24/7 for the movement.

So we had to step up, too. With clandestine actions targeting Wells Fargo, we began. Flooding into the banks, Occupiers quickly “mic check”ed and told the truth about the bank. A bank which has not only taken billions in tax payer dollars without paying it back, but intentionally defrauded customers of their hard-earned cash with software fee trickery. In less than 5 minutes, the Occupiers disappeared, leaving those still in the bank asking questions — exactly as we wanted.

In solidarity with other Occupations across the U.S., Occupy Atlanta decided to take back a bridge — by holding a Block Party! The Courtland St Bridge, in the heart of the Georgia State University campus, was awash with streamers, flyers, dancers, drummers. Within 15 minutes, however, the police arrived to stop the people’s fun. Despite moving to the sidewalk per police orders, several Occupiers were targeted, physically yanked off the sidewalk, cuffed, and taken to jail.

However, that did not deter our spirit, nor the spirit of students, who began amassing for an impromptu soap-box. Reassembling in the courtyard, student after student spoke out wiith passion about their hopes and wishes, and the devastation they have felt knowing their future — with a mound of student debt, record unemployment, and a lack of jobs — is no longer looking bright. Despite the grim reality we face, these students raised their voices, began real discussions, laughed and joked. Many joined us as we marched on the capitol, much to the delight of us more seasoned Occupiers.

Please see videos of some of the students at our Media Committee’s YouTube page:  http://www.youtube.com/user/occupyatlmedia

 

 

 

 

You’d think after all that commotion we’d be done. Nope. Our day and work continued as the sun set. We mobilized and reconvened a contingent of Occupiers across town, and in solidarity with workers across the world, we marched in to the home-grown, union-busting Home Depot. Simultaneously, we covertly assembled a task force at a nearby Verizon store, whose corporate office is attempting to slash benefits of tens of thousands of their workers. Drawing attention to their plight, local union members and Occupiers joined together and told it like it is.

And all this before 7 PM!

Today was a day of accomplishment and celebration. With only a small but dedicated Occupation, we carried the fight on several fronts, in several sectors of the city and to several sectors of the population.

Today was a day of forging new friendships and alliances — with students as well as workers. Personally, I am extremely proud! Especially of the GSU students, who, despite never having had spoke at Occupy Atlanta before, let their voices fly with such intensity and thoughtfulness that it inspired many of us Occupiers!

Today was a day of opening a dialogue with each other, and addressing a serious concern:
Our future is now. And where do we go from here?

(P.S. All those arrested today have made bond and have been released!)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

 

For years, homeless folks have been sleeping at Central Ave between MLK Drive and Mitchell Street across from City Hall on a ledge that backs up into Georgia Plaza Park. Over the past month the number of homeless occupying the space has dramatically increased. The reasons are numerous. They include the looming closing of Peachtree and Pine; stricter admission criteria at Gateway; and of course the rise in the homeless population due to double-digit unemployment and the absurdly high home foreclosure rate. Why this spot? The ledge adjacent to the park is constantly warmed by exhaust rising from city ducts. A woman who has lived there for months stated, “The reason we are on this wall is because it’s much safer then under a bridge”. We are also aware that several local churches provide direct services at this location.

Occupy Atlanta found the homeless community to be extremely articulate and hungry to improve their lives. We became extremely concerned when we learned that the Capitol Police have informed the homeless that they will be forcibly removed Sunday or Monday evening. What’s even more disconcerting is that these victims will not be provided an alternative space to sleep. We know that the judges whose offices overlook the wall have been complaining about the image of homeless people sleeping outside the government building. Some have even gone so far as to claim the presence of homeless people on this wall represents an unsafe condition for government employees as well as for jurors.  This forcible removal of people because they are homeless is a continuation of Atlanta’s inhuman strategy to deal with human beings that have fallen on hard times. Instead of forcing the homeless into the darkest corners of Atlanta, we should be addressing the human needs of these people. We should be addressing the growing cancer of poverty in our city.

Tomorrow at 2pm Occupy Atlanta will be holding a press conference on Center Street between Mitchell and MLK, near the Shrine of Immaculate Conception. We will be joined by civil rights leaders, politicians, members of several church congregations, and the homeless that stay there. We challenge the city to explore ways to address all homeless people as human beings first instead of public relations issues.  We challenge them to treat all persons with respect and dignity. Atlanta can do better.

Occupy Atlanta is a social movement of protest standing in support of the 99% of Americans that are under the overwhelming political and economic influence of the wealthiest 1% of the population. Occupy Atlanta vows to tolerate no longer the greed and corruption of the 1%. The movement comprises people of many socioeconomic strata, ethnic backgrounds and political persuasions unified in their determination to invigorate participatory democracy and give voice and political power to the majority of the people.

Today’s Bank march was a resounding success.  After rallying around 4 PM, Occupy Atlanta protesters and fed-up citizens marched on Bank of America.  To the complete surprise and chagrin of the police who attempted to protect Bank of America’s downtown headquarters, the protesters instead marched to the nearest Bank of America branch downtown and declared it foreclosed for their actions against the hardworking people of this country.  Signs were hung and the doors were locked shut.  Police were seen hours later at the scene in frustration trying to remove the locks put on the doors.
We support the people against fraudulent banking practices, outrageous fees, fee-sorting, and will continue fighting this struggle for the people who have been unjustly, and often irreparably, hurt by these practices.

Thank you everyone for a great day! More media coming soon!