LOS ANGELES - In the early morning hours on August 5th Arturo Velasquez' car was set on fire outside his home. Arturo is a leading member of the Campaign for Renters Rights. He has been organizing tenants in his building for two years. Arturo is popular with tenants for helping force the landlord, Alfredo Alverado, to make major repairs. Through his efforts Arturo has considerably improved the quality of the life for his family and all the tenants at his apartment building. The building is located in a low income neighborhood in East Hollywood, Los Angeles.
After Arturo helped lead the tenants campaign, the landlord took Arturo to court in an attempt to evict his family. The landlord lost this eviction attempt. But yet again, this year the landlord attempted to take Arturo's family to court on another charge. Once again, the courts sided with Arturo and his family. Last week the landlord turned down Arturo's attempts to get them to enter into mediation. Two days later his car was set on fire. Fellow activists and tenants are suspicious of the timing of the attack and are demanding a full investigation. From the Newswire: Arson Attack On Tenant Activist by DntMrn...Organize
Update: Tenants picket councilman’s office, demanding investigation: Small victory against arson attack by DntMrn
In a recent article Fight2win writes: Obama and the health insurance companies are pillow fighting. Ready to concede, the Democrats are already saying the ya-hoo attended town halls have stopped them from passing through legislation, what about the town halls against the war(s)? This fight is stopping because it never really was meant to win. Just another pillow fight with big business. The [corporate] media wants us to believe that there is some sort of mass movement out there that is opposed to any sort of health care that is not run by the private sector.
Full article: Obama vs Insurance: Pillow fights by Fight2Win
Reports from recent town halls: Alhambra Health Care Town Hall | | Congressmember Davis Speaks at Orderly Town-Hall Meeting by Mark Gabrish Conlan