EPCC NEWS

February 27, 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.

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 To Cities”. After the engaging report Assembly member Boonie Lowenthal greeted the community.

Than three hotel workers, Maria Padlan, Romeo Trinidad and Herman Carino, two Filipino workers gave their personal testimonies about the poor working conditions and their own wages at the Hilton Hotel. They also detailed the hotel management harassment tactics to stop union organizing.

He was followed by a testimony of Dennis Rockway, Advocacy Director of the Leal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles. A lively panel discussion followed.

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.