Mastodawn

Rita Moore Feb 23, 2023

This article on the City Council's discussion of a proposal for a ballot measure to create a Transparency Advocate position is an excellent example of why Portland needs a Transparency Advocate. And Charter reform.

But @CityAuditorPDX sounds pretty great.

https://www.portlandmercury.com/news/2023/02/22/46368800/portland-city-council-stops-transparency-advocate-proposal-from-going-to-voters-in-may

Portland City Council Stops Transparency Advocate Proposal from Going to Voters In May

Portland City Council sidelined a proposal Wednesday that would’ve empowered Portland voters to determine if the city should create a new transparency watchdog. Citing concerns with rushed public engagement on the proposal, council tabled it and approved a last-minute resolution directing the City Auditor to review transparency practices in the city. “The Transparency Advocate would have reviewed and improved transparency practices as the City goes through a major transition,” City Auditor Simone Rede, who brought...

Portland Mercury

Rita Moore Jan 9, 2023

Should Oregon school districts be required to adopt evidence-based literacy curricula?
Yes.

Should Oregon teacher training programs be required to train future teachers in evidence-based literacy practices? Also yes.

It's long past time.
#orleg

https://www.oregonlive.com/education/2023/01/too-many-oregon-children-cant-read-should-districts-be-forced-to-drop-discredited-curriculum.html

Too many Oregon children can’t read. Should districts be forced to drop discredited curriculum?

Brain research that was brought to light more than 20 years ago – but is now getting increased attention in the wake of pandemic disruptions -- suggests schools’ failure to teach children to read using scientifically-based methods is a key factor in dismal literacy scores. Still, districts in Oregon have continued to rely on now-discredited core curriculum materials to teach reading in the primary grades -- and The Oregon Department of Education is fine with that.

oregonlive

Rita Moore Dec 27, 2022

Qasim Rashid, Esq.Dec 27, 2022

Short rant.

Southwest Air has cancelled ~70% of its flights in an epic meltdown this holiday season.

Remember, Southwest took $3.7B in federal aid from 2020-21.

It’s CEO got a pay raise to a $9.1M package in 2022.

Yet Southwest employees are working 16 hour shifts & threatened w/termination if they refuse overtime or call in sick.

Socialism for the wealthy. Capitalism for workers.

Stop trusting billionaires. Start holding them accountable. And start protecting workers.

End Rant.

Rita Moore Dec 26, 2022

Rick Hasen Dec 25, 2022

#ELB: “The Electoral College is hazardous to democracy, Raskin says” https://ift.tt/UVgc17I

"The Electoral College is hazardous to democracy, Raskin says" #ELB

Politico: Rep. Jamie Raskin said Sunday the Electoral College “has become a danger” to American democracy. Speaking on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” the Maryland Democrat said: “I think that the Electoral College now, which has given us five popular vote … Continue reading “The Electoral College is hazardous to democracy, Raskin says” →

Election Law Blog

Rita Moore Dec 25, 2022

Qasim Rashid, Esq.Dec 25, 2022

As a human rights lawyer who has done extensive immigration work, let me make something absolutely clear.

Asylum is legal immigration.
There's no "port of entry" requirement.
There's no "visa" requirement.
There's no "first country" requirement.
You enter the United States, and you apply for asylum.

Because asylum is legal immigration. Period.

Period.

Rita Moore Dec 24, 2022

Qasim Rashid, Esq.Dec 23, 2022

U.S. Police kill more than 1100 civilians annually—unprecedented in the developed world.

A new app called TurnSignl, built by Black civil rights lawyers, deescalates police interactions with civilians & get everyone home safe.

Here's how it works.
1. Download the app
2. When pulled over by police, face time a lawyer on demand via voice activation. The call is also auto recorded
3. The lawyer guides the convo.

Download TurnSignl here or gift it to a loved one for free: https://www.turnsignl.com/gift

Gift a TurnSignl Subscription — TurnSignl | On-Demand Lawyer App

TurnSignl | On-Demand Lawyer App

Rita Moore Dec 21, 2022

NaomiOhMy 🐝 🇺🇦Dec 21, 2022

From Kaitlyn Greenidge aka @surlybassey on the bird site: a reminder that while TFG was NOT under audit , plenty of poor Black citizens disproportionately were.

https://www.propublica.org/article/irs-now-audits-poor-americans-at-about-the-same-rate-as-the-top-1-percent/amp

#BlackMastodon

It’s Getting Worse: The IRS Now Audits Poor Americans at About the Same Rate as the Top 1%

As the agency’s ability to audit the rich crumbles, its scrutiny of the poor has held steady in recent years. Meanwhile, a new study shows that audits of poor taxpayers make them far less likely to claim credits they might be entitled to.

ProPublica

Rita Moore Dec 21, 2022

Dave Rand Dec 21, 2022

Want to spark some interesting convos at family events over the holidays? Look up everyone's exposure to dishonest political elites using our new app!

http://www.misinfoexpose.com

Here's mine - QT with screenshots of yours!
---
RT @DG_Rand
🚨Out in @NatureComms🚨
New measure of Twitter users' exposure to misinfo from *ELITES* using @PolitiFact ratings of the elites a user follows
➤Predicts users' misinfo sharing
➤More extreme Reps = more …
https://twitter.com/DG_Rand/status/1604876728236507136

Misinformation exposure

Find out how much misinformation you are exposed to.

Rita Moore Dec 21, 2022

"Rinse and repeat."
Penalties levied against the bank for mistreating customers and investors = $6.2B since 2016 and almost $20B since the financial crisis.

Genuine Qs: Why does Wells Fargo still exist? Why has no one been prosecuted? #TooCorruptToFail
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/20/business/wells-fargo-consumer-loans-fine.html?smid=tw-share

Wells Fargo to Pay $3.7 Billion Over Consumer Banking Violations

The settlement, which includes the largest fine ever imposed by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, allows the bank to resolve claims that it had harmed millions of consumers since 2011.

Rita Moore Dec 19, 2022

Judd Legum Dec 19, 2022

RT @[email protected]

If you let any story cut through all the Twitter noise today, please let it be this:

At least six local news websites across Alabama and Florida have been secretly taking payments from power companies to run stories attacking clean energy + other policies
https://www.npr.org/2022/12/19/1143753129/power-companies-florida-alabama-media-investigation-consulting-firm

🐦🔗: https://twitter.com/emorwee/status/1604866859018473474

In the Southeast, power company money flows to news sites that attack their critics

Alabama Power and Florida Power & Light hired the consulting firm Matrix to help shape their fortunes. Matrix funded six sites that covered politics, filling a void left by the decline of local news.

NPR