This article by John Collins appeared in In These Times, February 8th, 2018. When you combine an economic system that requires constant growth in order to function, with a legal system that mistakes corporations for “people”—you inevitably wind up with a few extremely powerful corporations and a lot of powerless citizens. Furthermore, when that same [...]
Dennis Kucinich, in his campaign for the Ohio Governorship, stopped by Columbus, Ohio on February 5, 2018, and shared his support for the Ohio Community Rights Network's state constitutional amendment campaign. This 5" video discussion can be viewed HERE.
This letter to the editor by Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillium was published in The Tallahassee Democrat, February 5th, 2018. It’s no secret that Florida’s cities and counties are under attack. The Florida Constitution gives local governments broad “home rule” powers to deal with local issues and priorities. For decades, Florida’s communities have taken pride in [...]
This press release by Annie Ropeik was published on New Hampshire Public Radio's website, February 5th, 2018. New Hampshire has put the brakes on the Northern Pass energy project for now, but some towns are still prepared to block it with local laws asserting their view on big utility development. Plymouth is the latest municipality to approve [...]
Lawyers face major penalties for defending communities and ecosystems. This article by Mark Hand was published in Think Progress, February 5, 2018. Oil and gas companies are moving beyond simply filing lawsuits against municipalities that pass ordinances banning drilling and other types of industrial activity. In recent months, the energy industry, along with a state attorney [...]
A Blog Posting by Thomas Linzey of the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund, from February 5, 2018. Times are a’changin. When liberals begin talking about local control and states’ rights, you know that something is afoot. Local control and states’ rights have long been a bastion for conservative republicans, the right-wing and racists. Today, states and [...]
Paul Cienfuegos presented the Keynote Speech at Progresstival in La Crosse, Wisconsin on February 3rd, 2018. The full text of his speech is below. To listen to it on audio, click HERE and scroll to the six-minute mark. Thank you all for inviting me to such a wonderful event today. It’s a pleasure to be here [...]
This article by Tish O'Dell and Thomas Linzey appeared in the Colombus Free Press, February 2nd, 2018. President Trump says – and the Supreme Court affirms – that we are “a nation of laws,” but no one questions “who” is making those laws. It takes a people’s movement to overturn unjust law and advance rights. [...]
This infographic illustrating the negative effects of state preemption on Florida citizens was published on the Defend Local Solutions website. This infographic details how previously passed, and recently proposed preemption laws negatively impact workers, families, and communities in Florida. It was on-hand at a press conference which gathered state and local elected officials and representatives from the League [...]
This Radio Lab radio presentation aired, January 31st, 2018. This 57 minute audio production can be listened to HERE. An unassuming string of 16 words tucked into the Constitution grants Congress extensive power to make laws that impact the entire nation. The Commerce Clause has allowed Congress to intervene in all kinds of situations — [...]
