Lessons from a minimum wage fight
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — By just 1,481 votes, this city’s “Living Wage Initiative” was defeated on Oct. 4. The initiative would have lifted 40,000 families out of poverty by raising the minimum wage from $5.15 an hour to $7.50 an hour.
World Notes
Venezuela: Missionaries must leave for spying; Canada: CBC lockout ends with union victory; Paraguay: Indigenous people demand a voice; Guinea: Gov’t urged to follow ILO conventions; China: CP calls for ‘common prosperity’
Liberian elections may signal turn toward peace
The people of Liberia, a West African country of over 3.4 million citizens, have suffered dearly from the ravages of internal wars over the past 14 years.
UN meet: Youths future in peril
UNITED NATIONS — In both developed and underdeveloped nations, youth are in a precarious situation, facing poverty, HIV/AIDS and lack of access to education, among other critical problems. It was in this context that the UN devoted a week in October to the problems of young people.
U.S. threatens, meddles in Nicaraguan politics
A last-minute agreement between Nicaraguan President Enrique Bolaños and the leader of the left-wing opposition Sandinista party, former President Daniel Ortega, has evidently staved off a U.S. threat of sanctions against the impoverished Central American country.
Defeat Schwarzeneggers ballot propositions!
The Nov. 8 California special election was conceived by the Schwarzenegger administration as an attack on public employee rights and political involvement, social services funding and the legislative redistricting process. The election itself is highly unpopular with voters, who view it as unnecessary, but it is going forward nonetheless.
Calif. govs vetoes show his corporate allegiance
As if anyone still had doubts, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has again made his allegiance to the state’s giant corporations crystal clear. On Oct. 7 the governor finished acting on the 961 measures the Legislature sent him this year.
National Clips
PHILADELPHIA: C. DeLores Tucker dies; BIRMINGHAM, Ala.: Racist rally mars Hispanic celebration; ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill.: Minutemen protested; TOLEDO, Ohio: Nazi march ignites violence
NYC: Billionaire mayor wants to buy election
NEW YORK — Incumbent Republican Mayor Michael Bloomberg has been portraying himself as a shoo-in during this election season, but his record-breaking campaign spending suggests his team may not be so certain of victory. In addition, critics charge that his use of millions of dollars of his own money gives this billionaire an unfair advantage over his opponent, Democrat Fernando Ferrer.
