Friday, April 3, 6:30–9:30pm
Hannaford Hall, USM, Portland

Our state and nation are at a crossroads. The deepening recession has eroded the financial standing and optimism of a majority of Americans, nearly two-thirds of whom say that they have been hurt by the downturn. Hundreds of thousands of jobs have been lost in recent weeks. Meanwhile, globally and locally, we are beginning to experience the looming catastrophic impacts to our health and ecosystems from an environment in climate crisis.
• The state of Maine has to cut $160 million from its budget by June 30 and anticipates slashing another $800 million more in the next two years.
• Education, health, and human services programs share the bulk of the state budget and the coming cuts.
• As programs are put on the chopping block, constituent groups will have to compete for the diminishing piece of the economic pie.
• It’s time to come together to demand that the federal government reconfigure its budget priorities and help states like Maine during this recession and beyond.
• A majority of states in the nation are now in similar fiscal crisis at the very time that we are engaged in two wars costing taxpayers $14 billion per month.
• Unless real and dramatic changes occur quickly, the divide between rich and poor will continue to grow. Maintaining tax breaks for the wealthy in addition to the Wall Street corporate bailouts indicate fiscal policy is moving in the wrong direction. Those in power must be held accountable. This is the moment to begin mobilizing the public so that we the people can give vision and support to our elected officials so they can make transformative change possible.

We, the undersigned, are calling for a public town hall meeting on April 3 at USM that will allow the people to speak out about the issues that concern them. Our recent election was a turning point and is full of possibilities. We must keep the momentum going so we can manifest our hopes and values. We must always remember that change comes from the people. By connecting the dots and sharing our concerns from the heart we educate, motivate, and inspire others and build community.

We will open the doors at Hannaford Hall at USM for group literature tabling at 5:30 pm on Friday, April 3. Tables will go on a first-come, first-served basis.

The event begins at 6:30 pm and will be moderated by the following people:

• Michael Brennan (former State Senator)
• Rachel Talbot Ross (NAACP)
• Rev. Bill Gregory (Retired UCC minister)
• Sue Anderson (Portland public school teacher)
• Rosalie Tyler Paul (PeaceWorks)

At this time Rep. Chellie Pingree and a representative from the Maine Municipal Association have confirmed they are coming. Rep. Mike Michaud in either coming or sending his chief of staff. Other elected officials are likely to send surrogates.

We will have two audience microphones in place and people will be given 3-minutes each to speak.

There has been a flurry of letters to the editor around the state promoting the event and more media coverage is expected in the coming days. Radio ads on WBLM and WBACH will begin airing on Thursday to promote the event.

At this point all we need is for the public to turn out. That is where you come in. Again, we urge you as a sponsoring organization to help us in the last few days to keep spreading the word.

This Town Hall is a good chance for all of us to share our vision for what our elected officials and our nation should be doing to deal with our multiple crisis at this important time . We need your voices. Democracy only works if the people build it.

See you on April 3 at USM.

Bruce Gagnon
(207) 443-9502
globalnet [at] mindspring [dot] com

PS We have scheduled an evaluation meeting/dinner at the North Star Cafe on April 8 at 6:30 pm. All are invited to attend.

Organizational Sponsors
• Addams-Melman House • American Friends Service Committee Maine • Americans Who Tell the Truth • Brunswick Area Obama Supporters •Change that Works • Community Housing of Maine • Cumberland County Green Independent Party • Deer Isle, Island Peace & Justice • Food for Maine’s Future • Forest Ecology Network • Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space • Green Horizon Foundation • International Socialist Organization – Maine Branch • Joe Hill Trust • Kennebunks Peace Department • League of Young Voters • Maine Branch of Women’s International League for Peace & Freedom • Maine Campaign for a U.S. Dept. of Peace & Nonviolence • Maine Campaign to Impeach • Maine Chapter National Lawyers Guild • Maine Fair Trade Campaign • Maine Green Independent Party • Maine Haiti Solidarity • Maine People’s Alliance • Maine Toxics Action Coalition • Maine Veterans for Peace • Merrymeeting Greens • Midcoast Peace & Justice, Rockland • Military Families Speak Out • NAACP Portland Branch • Pax Christi Maine • Peace & Justice Center of Eastern Maine • Peace & Justice Group of Waldo County • Peace Action Maine • PeaceWorks • Peninsula Peace & Justice, Blue Hill • Physicians for a National Healthcare Plan • Portland Food Co-Op • Portland Green Independent Party • Portland Green Streets • Portland MoveOn Council • PSR Maine • Save Our Water • Sunny Corner Fuel Assistance, Inc. • USM Department of Sociology • Winthrop People for Peace • WMPG’s “This Better Be Good” • Women in Need Industries • York County Greens • and a growing list of concerned organizations & residents

For more information, call 207-443-9502 or email globalnet [at] mindspring [dot] com