Hey fam! We’re getting going here at tonight’s GA! Follow here, @LibertySqGA2, @LibertySqGA3, and @LibertySqGA4! #nycga #ows
Trade Justice’s reportback! Occupy Harlem wants to go protest Obama at the Apollo Theater, Thurs, maybe at 6:30. Updates: nycga.net #nycga
Also, Rep Bob Turner, who supports mad FT agreements, is holding a fundraiser in Queens!. Protest 12/1, 10:45am, Portofino’s Restaurant.
Strong Women Rules is next. “How are you guys doing tonight? BTW, it was funny watching you do exercise. I want to applaud you for that.”
Next, Jake! The Tweetboat! “We tweet on @OccupyWallStNYC!” They’re doing some “direct action tweeting” coming up, re: the Occupied Office.
“We think that just as some ppl can call to complain abt us on 311, we can call to complain abt Wall Street! Come to mtg Mon, 11am 60 Wall.
Someone requests a reportback on the office: Jake: “I’m back! I’m not part of the office affinity group, but I did go to the open mtg..”
Cont’d: “…today at 60 Wall. A few days ago, there was an anonymous complaint filed with 311 saying the office space was housing…” #nycga
Cont’d: “…a “cult group” that was sleeping there w/ sleeping bags and tents. This is not true.” #nycga #ows
Cont’d: “However, building management, our strong allies the UFT, has still had to take the complaint seriously, and it’s led to a lot of..”
Cont’d: “…conversation between OWS, the office affinity group, and the UFT.” Right now access is strictly limited “basically to no one.”
Cont’d: “They’re looking at ways to address this in as fair&open a way as possible, hence the open meeting.” More: theoccupiedofficenyc.org.
Bobby from Accounting reports back: “Right now, although there’s a lot of money coming into the movement, it’s not going into the ..”
Cont’d: “…GA account. So we’re not taking in money right now. We spend about 50k a week; have about 170k as yet unallocated.” #nycga
Someone wants to know where the money coming in is going. “It’s coming in from other places, not to accounting.” Affinity groups. #nycga
Accounting WG meeting are Friday, 5:30, and also they’ll make themselves available for questions on the side now. #nycga #ows
Structure WG’s report back is next. “I’m Patrick from Structure! We meet on Fridays, same as Accounting, 5pm at 60 Wall. Something..” #nycga
Cont’d: “…that was really popular at our last meeting, which may interest some of you, is having fewer meetings or changing our schedule..”
Cont’d: “..of meetings throughout the week.” Feel it might give us a chance to “have some of the conversations we’re not having now.” #nycga
Cont’d: “If you’re interested in discussing this further, come to our next meeting, Friday at 5:30.” Atrium, 60 Wall Street. #nycga #ows
Nathan asks for a temperature check on his being one co-facilitator. Stephan asks if he can do the same, positive temp check! #nycga #ows
Joe asks for a temperature check on his being stacktaker; many up twinkles. @Zoetreuer asks to be timekeeper and greeter– same same! #nycga
Stefan will review the hand signals. “I’ll start with up twinkles, for agreement, “yes, I feel good, I like it.” #nycga #ows
“Downtwinkles — no, I don’t feel good, I feel pukey, I don’t like it. Midtwinkles, I can’t decide. One finger pointing up is speak up…”
Cont’d: “…and one finger raised means you have a factual Point of Information.” If someone said something incorrect, you could offer fact.
Next, a point of process. “We’ll get into the process we use; steps that let us be knowledgable and take ownership of a proposal as a…”
Cont’d: “…community agreement. If you feel we’ve stepped away from that process, you can put up a point of process.” Triangle w/ 2 hands.
Nathan reminds us that the point of process, as with all signals, should be directed at facilitation, not another person in the GA. #nycga
A clarifying question, signaled with 1 finger crooked into a C, indicates you have a question that would clarify the proposal for you.#nycga
Stairs: “First, the presenter will explain their proposal. Then we’ll have clarifying questions to make sure you, the body, understands..”
Cont’d: “..what’s being consensed on.” Next, concerns; express a concern you have. You can also express a friendly amendment that would…
Cont’d: “..resolve your concern” and make you supportive of or comfortable with the proposal. #nycga #ows
Nathan also describes step up, step back, which is a philosophy that reminds us to check our privilege and make space for those who…
Cont’d: …may have been traditionally disenfranchised or not encouraged to be heard. Using progressive stack is aimed at the same ends.#nycga
Now, a block. “You can temperature check down and let us know you don’t like the proposal, but a block indicates you have an ethical…”#nycga
Cont’d: “…moral or safety concern with the proposal.” Something that you couldn’t live w/. A stand aside lets you express a deep personal…
Cont’d: …concern, but not one that would cause you to need to stop the community from moving forward. #nycga #ows
Cont’d: When there’s a block, the proposer can offer an amendment to resolve the block. If any blocks stand after this, we’ll… #nycga #ows
Cont’d: …move to a 90% vote, called “modified consensus.” 90% must consent to the proposal for it to pass. #nycga #ows
OK, first proposal is from Direct Action and “a bunch of other things!” Stairs: “We’ve discussed giving 20 minutes to each proposal…” #nycga
Cont’d: “…and if you want to extend that, you can.” OK, sounds good. “How many proposals are there?” #nycga #ows
Nathan says there are 7. “Every day at 6pm, the facilitation team meets at 60 Wall and proposers can check in w/ the team.” #nycga #ows
That’s when the proposals are put in order. Otherwise, they go into a list based on their order on the website. #nycga #ows
OK, it’s Sully and Sparrow! “We’re bringing a proposal for an inter-occupy road trip to build solidarity with other northeast occupys!”
Sully: “We’ve spent the last several weeks networking with other occupations; have bottom liners for each city and…” #nycga #ows
Cont’d: “…most cities have gotten consensus on this trip through their GAs.” Shadow: “This project came out of DA, but people from…” #nycga
Cont’d: …a laundry list of other working groups “are actively involved and participating.” “We want to strengthen the OWS network by…”
Cont’d: “…deepening our relationship with these other occupations.” Here’s the full text: http://t.co/WMLNhUs9 #nycga #ows
“We’re in very explicit communication with these occupys about what’s going to happen when we get there,” determined by those cities. #nycga
Sully: “We’re structuring this 5 week trip in such a way as to include as many people from OWS that want to participate- instead of…” #nycga
Cont’d: “…sending people on a 5-week trip, it’s split up into 1-week leg.” No one will be on for more than 2 weeks. #nycga #ows
Cont’d: “We’re looking to be leaving towards the end of January.” Providence, Boston, Northampton, Hudson Valley, Albany, Ithaca, Syracuse..
Cont’d: …Rochester, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Scranton, Lehigh Valley, Occupy Philly, and then “Occupy Newark before heading back into town.”#ows
Cont’d: “For each city a team of 2 from #OWS and 2 from the host city” are planning events, logistics, etc. Using #interocc to support.
Cont’d: “The occupations we’re visiting have offered a lot for food and housing; this budget is the barebones we need for this trip.” #nycga
Cont’d: “Bus has a capacity for 30 people.” “The budget is being determined by consensus by sponsoring WGs, and is obvi…” #nycga
Cont’d: “…subject to approval by the GA. We’re requesting $9450, and asking that we have access to $6000 in case there’s a crazy emergency.”
Cont’d: “The budget breaks down as follows: we’re renting a converted school bus running biodiesel; there’s a van that will shuttle some..”
Cont’d: “…ppl between different legs.” Fuel, maintenance is about $2400;
“most food will be provided by other occupations but…” #nycga
Cont’d: “…want to be able to fill in gaps for ppl on tour, so we’re asking for $1500 food budget.” Total is $9,450. #nycga #ows
OK, stacking up clarifying questions. Nan: “You said the bus only holds 30. Will you pick and choose those 30 people?” #nycga #ows
Sully: “We’ll be rotating people in and out; probably about 100 ppl from #OWS will be able to participate. The slots will be allocated by..”
Cont’d: “…each working group getting a chunk of seats, and they’ll decide how to split up the seats.” Nan: “How big is the bus?” #nycga #ows
A: “It’s a full-sized school bus.” Kyla’s CQ: “Re: rental, could we ask if anyone could offer their vehicle for the time?” #nycga #ows
Sully: “We did do a lot of networking w/ as many as we could who could give us a bus; what we’re renting is from ppl we got connected…”
Cont’d: “…with through networks, and the price we’re getting is ridiculously low.” 10 to 20 times this, normally. #nycga #ows
POI from Bobby: “Part of our agreement w/ our fiscal sponsor is that no money coming to us frm thm can go to things that require insurance.”
A: “We’re paying a non-profit cooperative who owns this bus. They’re paying the insurance. We are not paying the insurance.” #nycga #ows
Bobby says it makes him nervous, though I’m not sure. #nycga #ows
Library’s issue is they’re not invited; they’re an “important group.” Sully: “We’d love to talk to you, sure. The groups are based on..”
Cont’d: “…feedback we’ve been getting from the other occupations. We’ll work all this out. That’s entirely possible.” #nycga #ows
Stairs: “Is it accepted?” Sully: “Yes. And also taking amendment that it all has to pass muster with accounting. “#nycga #ows
Stairs notes that proposals have passed with contingencies that certain issues must be resolved first. #nycga #ows
Nan’s concerned that her wrkng grp isn’t invited. “My first part of my FA that I want to add is I want the bus to be a bigger bus than 30.”
Sully: “We can look into that; I want to stay within the confines of this budget b/c I recognize where we are as a community w/ $ now.”
Sully will look to see if we can get a bigger bus for the same price. “What was the other thing?” Finance, Sully already covered it. #nycga
Sully: “The reason that some of the details still need to be worked out, but it’s important to pass, is that other occupations need…”
Cont’d: “…things to be set up — venues, etc — so we need to tell them very soon whether this is happening or not.” #nycga #ows
Sparrow notes that OccupyPittsburgh has rearranged stuff to accommodate us, so we need to give them a firm answer. #nycga #ows
Next concern: “I don’t think it’s a very good use of the limited funds we have, even though it sounds fun and useful.” #nycga #ows
Cont’d: “We can do a lot of this inter occupational organizing w/ conference calls, etc.” #nycga #ows
Sully: “I hear that concern. I believe that direct personal relationships are the basis of the kind of networking we need to do in the..”
Cont’d: “…region. Recognizing that there are limited funds in this community, we’ve started process of trying to raise funds on our own…”
Cont’d: “..we’ve done a Kickstarter and all of that.” Notes they want to use as little of the GA’s funds as they possibly can. #nycga #ows
PoI: “If working groups get outside funding, they have to be affinity groups and not working groups.” [I don't think this is true. -Ed.]
Nan’s PoI: “People can actually fundraise the money; but I think they should give some to the GA acct.” Stairs: “Not a PoI, but thank you.”
PoI: “As being a part of an affinity livestream team, we are in the process of obtaining a mobile home and converting it into a mobile..”
Cont’d: “..media center that will travel to different occupations.” Nick will be happy to touch bases with proposers on that. #nycga #ows
Sully reiterates, “This is what we’re asking for to tell these occupations yes, we will visit you.” “We need to be able to give an answer..”
Cont’d: “..so we can’t leave everything contingent on things that may or may not work out.” Reached time; Nathan temp checks 5 more mins.
Continuing Concerns. “My concern is about the # of ppl. We have seen this proposal before at GA, it seems to me. It didn’t pass…” #nycga
Cont’d: “…doesn’t mean it shouldn’t pass now.” Wondering if all 30 people need to come to make it a success. “Could it be 10?” #nycga #ows
A: “The budget has nothing to do with the # of people; it would be mostly the same because it’s mostly costs of operating the bus.” #nycga
C: “I guess my question is, maybe we don’t need a bus, we can use a van and cram 10 instead of 60.” #nycga #ows
Sully: “We’re basing our programming decisions based on requests we’re getting from occupations.” Need array of things to meet requests.
Cont’d: “It also seemed necessary that we have a large selection of WGs, and can’t do that with 10 people.” So doesn’t accept the FA. #nycga
Next: “My concern and FA would be that you reduce the amount providing you get the Media person to provide transportation.” #nycga #ows
Cont’d: “At this point, considering the amount of $ we have, $10k seems like a lot.” #nycga #ows
Sully: “So if the FA is that we axe the money for renting the vehicle, if we can use this other vehicle- I accept that.” #nycga #ows
Nan notes that there was another group that we gave money to to travel to different occupations around the country. #nycga #ows
Cont’d: “Why don’t you work with those guys, since they passed already? Why do we need 2 different groups doing the same thing w…” #nycga
Cont’d: “…two different monies?” Sully notes that the previous Mobile Occupation group proposed something similar that didn’t pass. #nycga
Cont’d: “We’re proposing something similar because we think it’s important and it hasn’t happened yet.” #nycga #ows
Cont’d: Notes walking occupation that came from MobileOcc is doing great. “I think these 2 projects can really complement each other well.”
Nathan suggests we extend time 5 minutes to move forward to consensus! Agreed. “Do we have any standasides?” #nycga #ows
OK, restating proposal. “The proposal is this funding request for this Direct Action-sponsored movement building road trip and…” #nycga
Cont’d: “…the 2 friendly amendments are that we get accounting’s approval and that we slash rental budget if we can use this vehicle that..”
cont’d: “…we won’t have to pay for.” 2 standasides. “Do we have any blocks?” There’s one. He says it sound like way too much. #nycga #ows
Sully: “It’s not bussing ppl to a single location; it’s bussing people to like 17 different occupations over the course of a month.” #nycga
Cont’d: “So, the reason for the amount of money is because it’s a long trip visiting lots of places.” #nycga #ows
Someone gives some PoI, saying that the price is in line with what he would expect it to be. The block is removed. #nycga #ows
Someone wants to ask what the specific goal is. Stairs: “With all due respect, we’ve allowed time for friendly amendments, questions, Cs.”
One last call for blocks. None! “So, we have consensus!” Yeah #Occutrip!
Next, Hermes! “I come here tonight to propose a wrkng grp called GRISP, meaning Group for Realism, Intelligence, Spirituality and Politics.”
Here’s the text of Hermes’ Grisp Working Group proposal: http://t.co/xnsqyol0 #nycga #ows
“Through our deepening understanding of these living concepts, and empowered by this knowledge, and its flow, can we save our countries..”
Cont’d: “..from many influences, attacks and suggested attitudes.” “OWS ought to be a credible alternative to failing officials and…” #nycga
Cont’d: “…institutions with problems they don’t comprehend in depth and cannot solve. As new as it might sound, #occupy in many…” #nycga
Cont’d: “..ways is the only hope for this country and countries around the world against the concealed war of hidden kings who control…”
Cont’d: “…in many ways, many things, including corporate power and the innocent masses and much more organized entities.” #nycga
OK, opening CQ stack. Jake: “My clarifying question is, on a daily basis, what would this group be doing other than having conversations?”
A: “This group will have many things to do. It’s not conversations, but analysis of fact and documents and organizing trainings for the…”
Cont’d: “..things that most of us are not prepared at the level of critical thinking. We are not able to understand many subtleties…” #nycga
Cont’d: “…happening that are concerning us.” Now, concerns stack. C: “I feel we have so many working groups right now that…” #nycga #ows
Cont’d: “…it’s diluting our effectiveness. Not this group in particular, but in general.” A: “This group is for the big picture.” #nycga
Cont’d: “This group knows most ppl are tangled in the daily operations and don’t see the big picture. I said we need to be a credible..”
Cont’d: “…alternative. Why? Because politicians don’t understand what’s happening. But thank God, in #OWS there are some ppl who…” #nycga
Cont’d: “…know what’s going on even though some of us don’t seede the big picture. This group is addressing the big picture.” #nycga #OWS
.@jdegroot “My concern follows my CQ. I like trainings and convo you want to promote. But we already have forums where these conversations..
Cont’d: “…can take place such as Think Tank and Vision and Goals.” A: “I’m already in relation with those groups. What I’m talking about..”
Cont’d: “…here is special.” For example, spirituality is being unaddressed by those groups. “Most of us are not aware, and this poisons us.”
Cont’d: “Most of us are asleep and don’t understand that many of the problems here come from this level.” #nycga #ows
Cont’d: “How most of us become aware of it is one aspect of what this group will clarify.” That’ll be the concrete work of the grp. #nycga
Next C: “I think this workgroup has a potential to philosophically and spiritually attempt to steer the movement. That is dangerous and..”
Cont’d: “…breaks the horizontal leadership of the movement.” A: “The group is very far from doing that. It will address facts happening..”
Cont’d: “…at many levels that are affecting the movement in many ways.” Nathan notes we have 7 more minutes. Closing Concerns stack. #nycga
C/CQ: “Is this group asking for any $? It sounds like the kind of group that would be very useful, but doesn’t need funds.” #nycga #ows
A: “Money will never be our concern; maybe if you have documents that you’d like to be distributed to ppl, we’d like to help w/ that.”
Someone asks if WGs need to be approved. Stairs explains that as of recently all new groups now need to be approved by the GA. #nycga #ows
Next: “What is the purpose for this group?” A: “It’s to give #OWS the tools it needs to be able to move forward.” #nycga #ows
OK, that’s it for concerns. Opening Friendly Amendment stack. Dallas’ FA is first. #nycga #ows
Dalls: “Your acronym kind of stinks!” Suggests change from GRISP to GRASP, Intelligence to Awareness. #nycga #ows
Nan’s C: “You say you want to give back to #OWS; how will you do that? Are you going to basically raise funds?” #nycga #ows
Stairs notes 2 PoPs. Hermes: “It’s not about money.” Stairs asks Nan if there was an amendment in her statement. #nycga #ows
Nan says she wants to know how the group will “give back to #OWS.” Temp checking extending for 5 more… “that’s overwhelmingly negative…”
Cont’d: “…so we’re going to have to table the proposal.” Many objects, wanting to move to Consensus. #nycga #ows
OK, we’re moving forward to consensus. “Do we have any standasides?” 1, based on uncomfortability with access to petty cash. #nycga #ows
Nan’s standaside is because she doesn’t understand the mission of the working group. Sage suggests an amendment to not give daily budget.
“Do we have any blocks?” Yes, one block. They want the proposal written down to be more clear. So, we’ll move to modified consensus. #nycga
Someone PoPs to suggest that the block really isn’t a moral, ethical, or safety concern. Stairs notes we currently have no process to…
Cont;d: …challenge blocks, other than to move to modified consensus. Many are trying to explain to her what a block is. #nycga #ows
OK, so we’re moving to modified (90%) consensus, asking first for the total # of people: 26 participating. Now, ppl against? More than 3…
So, the proposal didn’t meet modified consensus. People suggest that he “do it anyway!” “Do your thing, man!” #nycga #ows
Here’s the next proposal: http://t.co/z5mr7HWD #nycga #ows
This proposal is for a working group to advocate against dependency: “Occupy Dependency working group.” The request is not for $. #nycga
“45 million of Americans are dependent,” the Proposer says. “We need to establish prevention program to stop new users, from age 9.” #nycga
Someone calls him out, out of process- “That’s a crock; you sound like them.” Sage joins in: this shoulda been higher on agenda. #nycga #ows
…frankly, his thick Russian accent is a communications problem for a lot of us, I think. #nycga #ows
CQ: “I want to say I think what you’re doing is very admirable, but what is the actual proposal you’re bringing to the GA?” #nycga
A is that he wants to start a working group. To change the system of services provided to those w/ chemical dependency. #nycga #ows
CQ: “Are you trying to form a working group around drug prevention?” Very confused. Proposer again asserts drug abusers are everywhere.
“Our kids are going through this problem. We need to create a new system. We have this project.” Stairs tries to interpret… #nycga #ows
Nan’s CQ: “You say you’ve been doing this for 10 years — why do you want to join #OWS? Is it a 10-step or 12-step program?” #nycga #ows
A: “We came here because our own voice was not loud. We’ve lost time; millions are effected. We’re large, but still not big enough.” #nycga
A: “Only us, free of drug addition, can help those people in their struggles. It’s not a life, it’s a real hell.” #nycga #ows
Moving to Concerns. Stairs suggests ppl make FAs for their concerns. C: “B/c you’re already established, how will your integration into…”
Cont’d: “…occupy go w/o isolating people? How will you be a part of the #occupy movement?” #nycga #ows
A: “To move these things forward at the national level, we need your voice. Our government will pay attention, need to change.” #nycga #ows
Nan’s C: “Will you be a working group that gets $100/day or an affinity group that’s already established?” #nycga #ows
PoP: “If they want to be an affinity group, we dion’t have to continue this conversation.” Nathan reminds them WGs can’t get outside funds.
Stairs suggests that we support the work they’re doing, but if they’re not going to be a working group, they can withdraw the proposal.
They agree! Stefan asks for a temp check to say whether we support what they’re doing. Uptwinkles, for the most part. #nycga #ows
OK, their proposal has a 2nd pt, which is about Occupy Condos (see the text I linked earlier). They’re describing that now. #nycga #ows
n, [ ;
This will also be an affinity group, so we’ll move on. Some folks want to skip to the spending freeze, but Stairs suggests we stay w/ order
Next, the Anarchist Education WG. “I have a lot of ppl who want to be involved, but don’t have time or money.” #nycga #ows
Cont’d: “If we had a budget, I could bring in ppl from MOVE org, Black Panthers, etc.” #nycga #ows
Here’s the proposal: http://t.co/WnjVHznS #nycga #ows
Some folks balk at his suggestion we give speakers a “salary.” Proposer: “Well, you’ll give $100 to the cigarette WG.” OOOH. #nycga #ows
“We want to do some political education of these movements before they all die off.” Wants Legal to help document these issues. #nycga #ows
“There are political prisoners all over this country tt nd to be supported, IMO, by eductinl encmpmnts.” Asks if we know what COINTELPRO is.
So, he wants money to pay stipends, make fliers, etc. POI: “This sounds almost exactly like the training DA is developing.” #nycga #ows
A: “This is an educational group.” Now opening stack on CQs. CQ: “What does this have to do with us, and how does it move us forward?”#nycga
A: “If you don’t understand what the government is doing…I want them to work with Legal. If you want to oppose the gov’t and create…”
Cont’d: “..the society we want, we need to study the government.” Notes #OWS didn’t invent democracy by itself. #nycga #ows
PoI: “The NLG/Legal are also wrkng on smthing similar.” CQ: “Why should anyone in any working group be getting paid, especially anarchists?”
A: “They have to take a day off. No one will take a day off for free.” Some giggles from group. #nycga #ows
Someone asks the Legal point of info-er if they’re working to document our unlawful arrests. Yes, they are. Someone asks if person he…
Cont’d: ..wants to pay for teaching services is a teacher. “No, he’s someone who I think needs to be heard by a large amount of people.”
CQer replies, “I think there are many here with experience who are sharing knowledge and skills w/ people without receiving payment.”#nycga
Next: “I just want to say, there is some kind of inherent arrogance in yr proposal. It’s about important info, but if you could…” #nycga #
Cont’d: “…reconfigure it so that it is less biased, it could be great, but for now I don’t think it’s ready or good for the movement.”
The concern was aimed at the calling it “anarchist’ and asking for payment for things people have been doing for free. #nycga #ows
Jeff’s C: “This is a great proposal, but I’m concerned it won’t pass because of the language you’re using.” #nycga #ows
Cont’d: “RE: his boss not liking him taking a day off work; we use money for actions and different things. It’s a volunteer movement…”
Cont’d: “…but at the same time, I think Fred Hampton’s son should come here. So, I think it’s the way you’re wording it.” #nycga #ows
P: “There are ppl who I think have asked for ridiculous working groups. I.e., someone asked for money for a tobacco WG. That’s ridiculous.”
Proposer wants to show history of movements. “I want to show historical documents, pamphlets, background. It’s not about give him a free..”
Cont’d: “..ride, it’s that economically he can’t come to do anything for free. Is that better?” #nycga #ows
Next: “If this guy feels he has something to say that we’d benefit from, he’ll come here on his own.” #nycga #ows
Stairs suggests he’s hearing an amendment in these concerns that we’d be behind him if we weren’t going to pay for ppl to be involved.
The proposer accepts that amendment. “How much would that reduce it to?” A: “$1000.” Next concern: “We haven’t seen an itemized budget..”
Cont’d: “…listing where every dollar will be spent.” A: “I can address that, but in order to do this, I won’t have every penny itemized..”
Cont’d: “..right away. In order to do this, I need to know how much money I can get. How many fliers,, what I can do for these people.”
We’re out of time, but we’re done w/ Qs, Concerns, and FAs (no one has anymore), so we’re tempchecking moving to consensus. #nycga #ows
No consensus on continuing, so the proposal is tabled. Next up: The spending freeze proposal! #nycga #ows
Jason: “I brought this proposal last week, about freezing #OWS spending. I brought this for many reasons; one is that so many ppl talk…”
Cont’d: “…about problems w/ the way we spend money at #OWS.” Many solutions to this. Wants to freeze all funds except bail funds… #nycga
Cont’d: …until we re-occupy. Notes there are lots of conflicting friendly amndments he’s gotten, ranging frm freeze some to end petty cash
“So, I brought it back to this (the core proposal). I told ppl I’d bring it back in a week. Here’s what I came up with…” #nycga #ows
Here’s the text, although there are some major differences as presented tonight: http://t.co/cJWMJ1Ay
The proposal is to freeze funds until we have a “financial assembly” on Feb 4th, and then once a week thereafter, and that assembly…
Cont’d: …feels we’ve agreed as a movement what to do with our funds. (Some disruption now, but we’re resuming.) #nycga #ows
Jason also suggested he could hear a friendly amendment to exempt funds allocated for food, housing, and metrocards. #nycga #ows
Jason: “This is so we can talk about the reasons we’re here, and not money.” Notes it’s going very quickly. #nycga #ows
“We need to check ourselves and say, ‘why do we do this? what is this mvement for?’” Also wants to make precedent of bringing dissent to GA.
“It’s important to do so we can solve problems, by bringing proposals, and using consensus to change it until it works.” #nycga #ows
“I’m ready to come back again and again until we reach consensus on this. Thank you.” #nycga #ows
Jason suggests that maybe we can have a short discussion stack, before moving to consensus. Robert suggests this goes against CT Butler’s…
…suggestions, but Nathan temp checks it with the GA and the GA agrees. #nycga #ows
Here’s the proposal, sorry about the pic quality: http://t.co/j0fsOY1L #nycga #ows
Chris is first on stack. He feels that though we have issues w/ how we deal w/ money, cutting out services we depend on is not the answer.
Chris refers to the FA to exempt food, housing, metrocards, but still feels that a blanket freeze for everything else is reckless. #nycga
Chris says he suggested to Jason that a process of determining which expenses are pertinent or not first would be better. #nycga #ows
Next: “I know you don’t like that the GA has become about spending $ instead of activism, but why not just let us spend it all?” #nycga #ows
Next, Bobby, Accounting: “We have about $170k unallocated, and spending $50k a week. So conservatively we’re broke in a couple of weeks!”
Cont’d: “So, let’s talk about what we want to do with what we have left, before we completely run out.” #nycga #ows
Dallas notes that other organizations are totally broke and it’s not a big deal; mentions Rainbow Family that operates on trading economy.
Sage: “Very soon, we’ll go broke. We should practice something before you do it. If we freeze, we can consider it as practice.” #nycga
Sage notes that disruptive person before, Maximus, asked why housing and food is going to “derelicts.” “If that’s true, it might be b/c…”
Cont’d: “…are not focused on our housing. If there’s no light, there’ll be mold.” “There are so many ways ppl can participate in #OWS..”
Cont’d: “…right now, it somewhat devalues what we’re doing.” Suggests this will cause a focusing to occur. #nycga #ows
OK, moving to clarifying questions, since we hit our second time extension on that. #nycga #ows
CQ: “Are you looking to keep Metrocards & Housing and Food out of the freeze, and how much is that?” A: “Would accept as a FA.” #nycga #ows
Haywood’s POI: “Aside from sending money to other occupations, almost all of our money goes to those things.” #nycga #ows
Patrick: “I think there’s a lot of support for what you’re proposing, though maybe not as stated. I think we should freeze after 2 weeks…”
Cont’d: “..until such time that GA and Spokescouncil come up with a budget, which is the conversation we haven’t been having.” #nycga #ows
Stairs: “Is there an amendment there?” A: “Yes, do housing, metrocards, food for 2 weeks, freeze afterwards until we consense on a budget.”
Next CQ: “There’s some spending we’ve already agreed to on a monthly basis; i.e. hosting website. Would we renege on commitment to pay?”
A: “Yes.” CQ: “So our website would go offline?” A: “That would be part of it, yes.” POI: “Currently, WGs cannot accept outside funding.”
Haywood: “They are allowed to raise money outside of the GA; they just can’t get money from GA also.” #nycga #ows
Jake asks where that came from. Many people not sure. Next, Evan: “Is there vision for how we’re going to fundraise moving forward..” #nycga
Cont’d: “…sitting on this money we have, is there a strategy for that moving forward?” A: “That’s not part of this proposal.” #nycga #ows
No more CQs, now opening stack on Concerns. “If we waited to do the freeze, wouldn’t we be broke anyway?” A: “Yes, it seems that’s true.”
Jeff’s C: “I’m concerned this mvmnt is spending money on things that perhaps don’t further our cause. Also, accountability. But…” #nycga
Cont’d: “…I came here to protest corruption. But not that our economy exists. I have a feeling we’re having a problem spending money..”
Cont’d: “…but if we just freeze money, that makes us no better than those bankers. How you use $ is a difficult challenge and that’s…”
Cont’d: “..exactly what we’re here to protest. And if we just get rid of money, we duck that challenge.” #nycga #ows
Jason says that’s exactly the basis, that we stop spending until we decide on how exactly we want to do it. #nycga #ows
C: “If we stop funding, services in place won’t be available. If we freeze funds, you’re telling ppl in churches, “gee, you’re SOL.” #nycga
Cont’d: “These people have come in good faith. Maybe a better way is to say, ‘let’s raise some funds.’” #nycga #ows
OK, we’re out of time- tempchecking continuing. Nathan: “That’s very mixed. What happened previously is we had…” #nycga #ows
Cont’d: “…gone through the process on the last proposal, so we were able to just wrap up over time.” “How abt 5 minutes?” OK. #nycga #ows
C: ” I see a lot of value in this; obviously the money is going quickly. Very concerned about cutting off money that has been allocated…”
Cont’d: “At that point, I’d probably block, b/c you have to keep momentum of movement going.”Acknowledges need for org. dev. tho. #nycga
Suggests we amend to cut off the $100/day budget, and keep spending current commitments, don’t enter into new commitments. #nycga #ows
A: “Concern is that I don’t actually know what all the commitments are– many here don’t.” Accounting will weigh in. #nycga #ows
POI: “We have a # of outstanding bills, some services, but need to wire money to Oakland. You’d have us renege on those promises?” #nycga
Jason asks us if we like the amendment to exempt current obligations — we do, so he accepts. #nycga #ows
Someone from Occupy Chicago definitely agrees w/ need for budget, is somewhat appalled at WGs’ $100/day budget. #nycga #ows
Nan’s concern is that medical isn’t accounted for, noting they do a lot of important work. “You’re cutting ppl who will get sick…” #nycga
Cont’d: “…especially in Winter.” Suggests we keep half of the medical budget. Finance notes they get $2k a week. #nycga #ows
Next, Bobby. He suggests we let Housing put one more proposal forward on Monday. Jake, next, likes financial assembly idea. #nycga #ows
Jake: “Let’s have the financial assembly like, really soon! Like 2 days! Repeatedly coming to GA, there’s too many variables.” #nycga #ows
Cont’d: “Let’s just start budgeting right now.” FA is to start financial assembly very very soon, within few days, not freeze money. #nycga
Jason likes idea of moving financial meeting earlier, but is concerned b/c he’ll be in DC for a week, protesting Congress. #nycga #ows
After some parsing, we decide the FA is to table the proposal and call for a financial GA within the week. Jason doesn’t take the FA. #nycga
Patrick suggests that we freeze the spending for 2 weeks, but allow essential items (housing, transport, food) and things already approved.
POI: “I think it was just confirmed that if we do accept that amendment then we’re broke in 2 weeks and it’s moot.” #nycga #ows
Bobby notes that the other FA would prevent food from being cut off; another FA would let housing make another proposal. #nycga #ows
Bobby also notes we have a fundraising group that hasn’t brought much back to the GA yet, but we should help out! #nycga #ows
Jason feels like the amendments he’s already accepted have resolved that. Notes that concerns should come out of FA. #nycga #ows
Jason feels like, yeah, “let’s find a way to have a comprehensive budget, we’ve already said, keeping food, housing, medical in half..”
Cont’d: “…and pre-existing things.” Patrick restates his amendment and this time Jason excepts. Jake is confused; FAs have contradicted.
Jason reviews: “We’ll freeze all spending except food, half of medical, housing (1 more proposal), transportation, things already..” #nycga
Cont’d: “…approved — and working towards a financial assembly starting early next week to make a budget, discuss fundraising, and..”
Cont’d: “…our vision for how we want to spend $.” Jason is getting humorously frustrated as ppl try to help. “Dammit! Stop saying things!”
We’re out of time again, Stairs asks how we feel about extending time again. “That feels very positive.” Continuing on… #nycga #ows
There’s some confusion as to whether we have already done FAs; feels like it morphed from concerns. Cold GA brain in effect. #nycga #ows
Robert asks when this takes effect. “Right now.” He’s concerned about his reimbursement, but Jason reminds that is excepted. #nycga #ows
Someone asks to clarify which medical group — both of them, is the answer. #nycga #ows
Haywood’s FA: “I’d like to withdraw cut from medics; feel it’s wrong to cut their pre-approved budget in half w/ no medics here.” Accepted.
So, both medical groups keep their budgets. Darryl suggests he thinks we’re making this hard by not having line items in front of us. #nycga
Daryl’s FA: “Let’s just cut off proposals til end of week for >$1000, put full freeze on end of week for $100/day, etc etc…” #nycga #ows
Cont’d: “…and in the coming week, accounting will provide a line item record of what we’re spending on.” #nycga #ows
So, FA is to table all proposals over $1000, at the end of the week, get info frm Accounting, then get budget w/in one more week or, freeze.
Bobby from Accounting suggests that data is already set up; we just need “something like a financial assembly” to review that data. #nycga
.@occupymusician notes we’ve been outside in cold for 4 hours. “I don’t think we can have a process to resolve this now.” Ice cream brain!
Nathan also notes that given the # of amendments, it sometimes means that a proposal needs to be more hashed out. #nycga #ows
Last on FA stack: Nan! “You mentioned you’re going to put the freeze now; my concern is we’ve got ppl who have outstanding receipts…”
Cont’d: “…if this is freezing now, people won’t get to be reimbursed.” Also notes Occupy Copy and Screenprinting Guild rely on $s.
FA is to work w/ Outreach. Jason suggests that receipts w/ dates before this be considered expenditures before the freeze. #nycga #ows
Restating proposal: “Freeze $ now, except funds already approved, including continual spending, medical, per diems of past receipts…”
Cont’d: “..food budget, metrocards, and housing gets to bring their next proposal.” And we’ll have a financial assembly early next week…
“…which will talk about setting a comprehensive budget, and the freeze continues until FA meeting, which needs to have ppl from each WG.”
Stairs asks how we feel about moving forward to consensus! We want to! We’re cold! #nycga
Any standasides? 4. Robert stands aside, noting that he feels we’re echoing the world situation. “Belttightening in a crisis,” down sparkle.
Someone else stands aside, noting that an assembly won’t necessarily solve questions of vision. Any blocks? “No blocks?” CONSENSUS! #nycga
Haywood: “Wait – this fucking passed? Holy shit!” Hahahah people are dancing. OH WAIT THERE WAS A BLOCK! #NYCGA #OWS
Elizabeth is blocking b/c she feels we’re stressed out, it’s cold — “we’re not processing this. It’s not fair to the process.” #nycga #ows
Elizabeth drops block, tho, once given the chance to ask if ppl think the process was fair, and they seem to say it was. CONSENSUS! #nycga
OK! That’s it for tonight! Closing the GA! After announcements! John, Occupy Oakland: “It’s great to be here, even tho it’s hella cold!”
Cont’d: “We never get this cold in Oakland. Also, thank you for your support in the past, and we want to invite you if you’re able to…”
Cont’d: “…join us and other west coast occupies in shutting down the unloading of the EGT ship in WA when that happens.” #nycga #ows
No more announcements! OK, that’s it fam! Questions, comments, concerns, hit me up at @diceytroop! Word! #nycga #ows