More than 200 people attended the successful Town Hall meeting “Subsidizing Poverty” last Thursday, February 26, from 5:00 to 7:00 Pm at the CSULB Karl Anatol Center. The community event was sponsored by the long Beach Coalition for Good jobs and a Health Community, the CSULB College of Liberal Arts, The Progressive Student Alliance and other community organizations.
EPCC NEWS
February 28, 2009
FEB. 26 TOWN HALL MEETING IN LONG BEACH –A SUCCESS
Long Beach—More than 200 people attended the successful Town Hall meeting “Subsidizing Poverty” last Thursday, February 26, from 5:00 to 7:00 Pm at the CSULB Karl Anatol Center.
The community event was sponsored by the long Beach Coalition for Good jobs and a Health Community, the CSULB College of Liberal Arts, The Progressive Student Alliance and other community organizations like the JFAV and EPCC.
The community was welcomed by Dean Gerry Riposa of the College of liberal Arts. And the Dr. Gary Hytrek reported the findings of the report “Tale of Two Cities”. After the engaging report, Assembly member Boonie Lowenthal greeted the community.
Workers Testimonies
And then three hotel workers, Maria Padlan, Romeo Trinidad and Herman Carino, gave their personal testimonies about the poor working conditions and their low wages at the Hilton Hotel. They also detailed the hotel management harassment tactics to stop union organizing.
Maria Padlan was recently fired by Hilton Hotel/ She joins the army of the unemployed of the nation. She is now supporting her grandchildren and daughters.
Romeo Trinidad told the crowd that he is supporting his disabled and cancer stricken wife and two daughters in schools. He does not know to send them to college with just a 25 cents increase a year and no medical insurance for them.
Another Filipino worker Herman Carino said; " I don't want you to see me knocking on you car windows in the parking lot. But with a kind of increase of 25 cents a month and unstable job hours, how can we make a decent living?"
he asked the sympathetic crowd.
Lively Panel Discussion
They were followed by a testimony of Dennis Rockway, Advocacy Director of the Leal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles. A lively panel discussion followed the presentation.
The panelist were composed of Dr, Juan Benitez, from the Center for Community Engagement; Pat Kennedy, executive Director of the Greater Long Beach Interfaith Community Organization; Rev. Anna Olson. Associate rector of the St. Luke Episcopal Church; Audrey Stephanie Loftin, president of LMDA Democratic Club and Jesse Johnson, president of 100 Black Men of Long Beach.
They all answered the questions and called the participants into action. The two-hour town hall meeting definitely was a resounding success!
Original: FEB. 26 TOWNHALL MEETING IN LONG BEACH