PLACE Forum

MEETING CANCELLED
WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, AUBURN BOARD OF ZONING ADJUSTMENT
The July 1 meeting of the Auburn BZA has been cancelled.

ADDITIONAL EVENTS:
THURSDAY, JULY 2 —  HICKORY DICKORY PARK CLOSED FOR MAINTENANCE
Hickory Dickory Park will be closed on the morning of Thursday, July 2 in order to allow Water Resource Management to perform some surveying at the park. The park will reopen the afternoon of July 2 unless otherwise announced.  For more information regarding the park closing, please contact the Dean Road Recreation Center at 501-2930.

THURSDAY, JULY 2, 8:00 am  – DOWNTOWN AUBURN MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION (DAMA) MEETING
Held in the City of Auburn meeting room, 122 Tichenor Ave (entrance is at side of building, across from rear entrance of Cheeburger Cheeburger).  An additional DMA meeting will be held in two weeks, on Thursday, July 16. www.downtownauburnal.org

THURSDAY, JULY 2, 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM  — BLOOD DRIVE IN DOWNTOWN AUBURN Held at Baptist Campus Ministries, 135 N. College St. All are encouraged to participate. Sponsored by the Downtown Auburn Merchants Association (DAMA), Tiger Communications and the American Red Cross. Gifts and door prizes for blood drive participants have been donated by DAMA member businesses. Appointments to donate blood at Thursday’s event may be made at http://www.givelife.org; enter the sponsor code “DAMA.”

SUNDAY, JULY 5, 10:00 AM — SGT. MATTHIS CHIROUX / AUBURN NATIVE AND IRAQ WAR RESISTER
Held at the Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Hall (AUUF), 450 E. Thach.  Open to all.
Sgt. Matthis Chiroux, an Auburn native and Iraq War resister, is returning home for the first time since refusing deployment last summer. He will be speaking about his experiences at the AUUF on Sunday, July 5th at 10 a.m.
Chiroux, a leader in the organization Iraq Veterans Against the War, won a victory last April when the Army granted him an honorable discharge during a hearing he attended to defend his actions as a Soldier.  Chiroux also has successfully lobbied the U.S. Congress on behalf of war resisters, has led non-violent civil disobedience in numerous countries to end the Global War on Terror, travels regularly to speak out and demonstrate against U.S. Imperialism and appears regularly in print and on television. “I’m looking forward to being home,” said Chiroux. “It’s been so long and so much has happened, but Auburn still holds a dear place in my heart.”
For more information about Matthis Chiroux and Iraq Veterans Against the War, go to:
*Matthis Chiroux’s blog – - http://matthisresists.us/
*Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) – http://ivaw.org
*IVAW member Matthis Chiroux announces his refusal to show up for activation — http://ivaw.org/node/3484
*ONE SOLDIER’S WAR: Soldier from Auburn to refuse Iraq deployment —
http://www.oanow.com/oan/news/local/article/soldier_from_auburn_to_refuse_iraq_deployment/13754/
*Matthis Chiroux — http://www.huffingtonpost.com/matthis-chiroux
*Refusing to Redeploy: My Story – http://www.huffingtonpost.com/matthis-chiroux/refusing-to-redeploy-my-s_b_191156.html

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EPA DISCLOSES 44 TOXIC COAL ASH SITES
From an Associated Press report:  The EPA on Monday made public a list of 26 communities in 10 states where residents are potentially threatened by coal ash storage ponds similar to one that flooded a neighborhood in Tennessee last year. North Carolina has the most sites on the list, a dozen. The largest concentration is near Cochise, Arizona, where there are seven storage ponds. The agency said it will inspect each of the 44 coal ash sites located near communities to make certain they are structurally sound.
Additional information available online at:
The EPA site list - EPA fact sheet & list of 44 sites http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/nonhaz/industrial/special/fossil/ccrs-fs/index.htm
EPA list shows dangerous coal ash sites found in 10 states – http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/71012.html
Future murky for ash disposal — June 29, 2009 – http://timesfreepress.com/news/2009/jun/29/future-murky-for-ash-disposal/ (Chattanooga Times Free Press); includes audio & video.

JULY 4TH MARKS THE 43RD ANNIVERSARY OF THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA)
As we celebrate our nation’s birthday this weekend, the League of Women Voters wants to remind you of another important anniversary — July 4th marks 43 years since the landmark Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) established the public’s right to access government records. The League has a long-held tradition ( http://lists.lwv.org/t/928334/3621893/321/0/ ) of ensuring Americans have access to their elected officials and the policy actions that affect citizens, and it has acted as government watchdogs – observing government meetings and conducting document audits.  From our current work with the White House’s Open Government Directive (http://lists.lwv.org/t/928334/3621893/790/0/ ) to local and state League efforts, the League is a strong advocate for transparency at all levels of government. This spring, Leagues in 11 states, conducted Freedom of Information (FOI) audits as part of the League’s Citizen Initiative for Transparency project and later this summer we will be sharing a publication containing lessons learned from their efforts.  This anniversary reminds us that our right to know – like the numerous other rights that we enjoy — is only as strong as we demand that it be.  So, have a wonderful Independence Day and celebrate all our freedoms!

OHIO ELECTION LAWSUIT SETTLED
A landmark agreement was reached in the settlement of League of Women Voters of Ohio v. Brunner, originally filed against Secretary of State Ken Blackwell and Governor Bob Taft in 2005. The settlement requires the State of Ohio to put in place a system to ensure uniformity and consistency in Ohio elections procedures so that all voters have equal access to the ballot box.
Click here (http://lists.lwv.org/t/928334/3621893/778/0/ ) to learn more about the case.
Click here (http://lists.lwv.org/t/928334/3621893/779/0/ ) for a one-page fact sheet on the case.

SUPREME COURT DECISION TO UPHOLD VOTING RIGHTS ACT IS “VITAL VINDICATION”
http://lists.lwv.org/t/928334/3621893/780/0/
“The 8-1 opinion in the case Northwest Austin Municipal Utility District Number one (NAMUDN) v. Mukasey represents a vital vindication for the voting rights of all citizens in this country,” declared League of Women Voters’ President Mary G. Wilson. The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision is one of the biggest election law cases coming before the nation’s highest court since Bush v. Gore.

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Thanks for your interest and support.

PLACE Forum
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July 1, 2009

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