We are excited to welcome 5 new Academy Fellows to the Greenlining family! These dynamic leaders are currently engaging in policy and advocacy work on many of the issues that are impacting communities of color.

Click here to learn more about these extraordinary young advocates! Learn more about the Fellows Program and how you can be part of next years fellows cohort! Click here to learn how to apply!

Pepperdine University School of Public Policy-Greenlining Institute Scholarship Program

The Greenlining Academy is excited to announce an exciting new scholarship partnership! Pepperdine University School of Public Policy  will grant a $10,000 per semester scholarship to Academy alumni of our summer associate and fellowship programs who are accepted and enrolled in a full-time master’s program. Scholarship opportunities for the upcoming academic year are still available through our Heinz College-Greenlining Tuition Reduction Scholarship partnership with Carnegie Mellon University as well. Please contact Claudia Paredes, Academy Program Manager, at claudiap@greenlining.org for more information.

Please Review Our List of Academy Programs,
Spread the Word and Apply!

The Legal Fellows Program: August 30^th, 2012- August 23rd, 2013
Application Deadline: Jan 13th, 2012 – Learn more & apply

The Legal Associate Program: June 11th, 2012 – August 17th, 2012
Application Deadline: Jan 13th, 2012 - Learn more & apply

The Summer Associate Program: June 11th, 2012 – August 17th, 2012
Application Postmark Deadline: Jan 13th, 2012 – Learn more – Application

The Fellowship Program: August 30th, 2012 – August 23rd, 2013
Application Postmark Deadline: Feb 10th, 2012 - Learn more – Application

No Answer from AT&T

Shortly after AT&T announced the proposed merger, Greenlining hosted AT&T’s California President Ken McNeely to talk to community leaders on how this deal would impact California’s communities. Mr. McNeely shared reasons why California should be optimistic. Unfortunately, AT&T’s filing with the FCC reflected a far different outcome – one that would severely harm California’s consumers, especially underserved communities.

Greenlining tried working with AT&T to resolve these differences, but AT&T was unable to explain the disparity between what it was telling the community and what it was proposing. We waited for AT&T to provide clear answers. None came. As a result, Greenlining opposed the merger.

Greenlining, US DOJ, and CPUC’s Leadership

We shared our concerns with key leaders at the US Department of Justice, including robust discussions about competition, affordability, innovation and consumer choice – all issues that the DOJ highlighted in their recent announcement.

In addition, Greenlining has been thoroughly involved in the FCC’s investigation. Throughout the FCC proceeding, Greenlining repeatedly urged AT&T to address how these concerns would be addressed. AT&T did not provide any helpful answers.

In June, the CPUC responded by formally launching an investigation. Since then, the CPUC has led the most significant regulatory investigation of this merger in the country. Its public hearings throughout the state allowed Californians and the nation to learn more about the impact of this merger. The CPUC’s transparent process allowed Greenlining to obtain much more information on how this deal would impact California’s consumers. Unfortunately, this new information only reinforced what we already knew – the proposed merger would severely harm underserved communities. To read LA Times Article on CPUC investigation CLICK HERE

Throughout this process Greenlining tried working with AT&T to find mutual resolution on the most severe potential harms in California. But AT&T kept insisting that this was a federal issue, not a California one.

This morning, AT&T got its wish. The DOJ made it a federal issue. As a result, the ultimate result of the merger is completely uncertain. AT&T may now be tangling with this case in federal courts for years.

Moving Forward

AT&T was given numerous opportunities to address these harms. Greenlining provided many of these opportunities. Unfortunately, AT&T was not ready to work with California’s consumers and communities to resolve these issues.

Greenlining will continue to advocate on this issue in order to protect and advance the interests of California’s communities. We will keep you apprised as developments happen.  In the mean time, please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any questions.

Greenlining would like to introduce you to Betty Bastidas, an Ecuadorian American filmmaker based in Brooklyn NY. Last week Greenlining hosted a screening of her film, DreamTown, a project that Betty has been working on for over 4 years. We were instantly compelled to help spread the word. Betty has already raised $8,412 but won’t see a penny of that if she doesn’t reach her goal of $40,000 in 13 days! Please read Betty’s message below andPREVIEW THE FILM at http://kck.s/dreamtowndoc

Please take a moment to spread the dream of HOPE and UNITY by helping this story be told. A few simple ways to support this film and its message are:

• Visit our Kickstarter.com page and make a financial pledge of support and receive one of our many reward packages.
• Post our Kickstarter.com page to your Facebook or Twitter with a message to your friends to help spread the dream
• Forward this message to a friend that may be interested in an amazing story of hope and unity.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to tell you about DreamTown, an inspiring story of how soccer has transformed a small Afro-Ecuadorian community, whose talented soccer players are rebuilding the impoverished communities they call home. Because of the efforts of a few; hope and unity have returned to a fragmented country and a dialogue has been born to include a community that has long been forgotten.”

“Our film recently received the HBO/NALIP Documentary Prize Award given to Latino Filmmakers who present issues of social change with uncompromising honesty and quality. Help support not just this film but the communities where Afro-Ecuadorians reside. Your support and donations will help us bring this story to the world!”

In Solidarity,
Betty Bastidas

AT&T must answer many questions first, especially about jobs and low-cost service plans, if it wants the CPUC to sign off on the merger. AT&T’s merger application with the Federal Communications Commission failed to address these issues. Two especially significant questions you may bring up:

• How many retail jobs will be lost? How many T-Mobile retail centers will close in diverse communities?
• AT&T has made statements that indicate it may not retain low cost plans. What happens to the low cost plans offered by T-Mobile?
• How will wireless broadband service be more accessible and affordable without low cost plans?

For more information, contact Enrique Gallardo at the Greenlining Institute at (510) 926-4017 or enriqueg@greenlining.org

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) needs to hear from you at a public hearing on Thursday, July 7, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. at the CPUC Auditorium located at 505 Van Ness Ave in San Francisco. At the public hearing, you can tell the CPUC that you cannot support the merger unless important questions are answered. To learn more about this and other public hearings and workshops at the CPUC please click here

As you have undoubtedly heard, AT&T has announced a deal to acquire T-Mobile for $39 billion. If approved, the new company would have 130 million wireless subscribers, making it the largest wireless carrier in the country. The CPUC is investigating the potential impact of the proposed merger on California’s consumers and communities. For more information about the merger click here

AT&T must answer many questions first, especially about jobs and low-cost service plans, if it wants the CPUC to sign off on the merger. AT&T’s merger application with the Federal Communications Commission failed to address these issues. Significant questions you may bring up:

• How many retail jobs will be lost? How many T-Mobile retail centers will close in diverse communities?

• AT&T has made statements that indicate it may not retain low cost plans. What happens to the low cost plans offered by T-Mobile?

• How will wireless broadband service be more accessible and affordable without low cost plans?

For more information please contact Enrique Gallardo
(510)926-4017
enriqueg@greenlining.org

Dear Greenlining Health & Business Leaders,

AB 52 (Feuer) passed the Assembly Thursday in a 45 to 28 vote! While this is a huge victory we still have a tough battle ahead as the bill now moves to the Senate!
AB 52 will give the Insurance Commissioner and the Department of Managed Health Care the power to deny unreasonable health insurance increases and prevent rates from going up more than once a year.  This will help more individuals and small businesses to purchase health insurance at an affordable rate.

Your support and advocacy efforts have been critical to date and will hold even more importance as we move through the Senate. The bill now moves to the Senate Health Committee. The following Senators need to hear from you about your support for AB 52:

Senator Ed Hernandez, Chair (916) 651-4024
Senator Elaine Alquist (916) 651-4013
Senator Kevin de Leon (916) 651-4022
Senator Mark DeSaulnier (916) 651-4007
Senator Michael Rubio (916) 651-4016
Senator Lois Wolk (916) 651-4005

Please let us know if you contact these members and how your conversations went by contacting us at 510-926-4008 or sending an email to carlas@greenlining.org

Thank you for your continued support,

Carla Saporta and Rosa Martinez

To learn more about AB 52 please read:
Our Weekly: Time to Control Crippling Health Insurance Rate Hikes by Earl “Skip” Cooper, Dennis Huang & Carla Saporta
La Prensa San Diego: Hora de Controlar los Incrementos Drásticos a Nuestros Seguros Médicos Por Jorge Corralejo, Zara Marselian y Rosa María Martínez

Dear Greenlining Community,

As you have undoubtedly heard, AT&T announced a deal last month to acquire T-Mobile for $39 billion. The new entity would have 130 million wireless subscribers, making it the largest wireless carrier in the country.  If approved, the deal will have major implications for California’s consumers and communities. Links to some of the media coverage below.
To listen to the KQED Radio coverage CLICK HERE
To read the recent article in CA Progress Report CLICK HERE

On Monday, Greenlining and TURN co-hosted a community forum in Oakland so that AT&T could answer your questions and concerns directly. Kicked off by CPUC Commissioner Cathy Sandoval, AT&T California President Ken McNeely generously made himself available to answer questions from the community.  Mr. McNeely helped to clarify questions about competition, service, diversity, procurement opportunities, philanthropy and a host of other issues. However, because of the range of issues involved with this merger, there were many questions and concerns that still remain.
To read the forum press release CLICK HERE

Support is Premature

AT&T has been reaching out to community and business leaders across the country to garner support before the public has had a chance to learn what is contained in the proposed merger. AT&T’s application with the FCC is being filed today! Without viewing the application and knowing what commitments AT&T will make as a result of this merger, it is impossible to make a fair and full determination of the benefits and opportunities stemming from this transaction.

Although there is insufficient information for Greenlining to take a formal position, we can confidently state that AT&T’s contributions to California over the last six years are undeniable. In California, AT&T has been among the most responsible corporate citizens in the state. They have been California’s leader, especially in the areas of diversity and philanthropy.

But we cannot rely on AT&T’s past performance alone to support the merger. This deal is a game-changer, not just for AT&T, but for the entire wireless industry. If the deal is approved, it will change the paradigm of the telecommunications and broadband market. The magnitude of this deal requires that we know as much as possible before we can confidently and responsibly offer a position.

If an AT&T representative calls to ask you for your support, you should be offered substantive answers that sufficiently address your questions. In other words, we urge you to ask questions that will help AT&T earn your support.

Questions That You Can Ask:

• How will cellular phone service be improved and made more affordable if this acquisition were to be approved?
• What happens to the low cost plans offered by T-Mobile?
• How will internet broadband service be more accessible and affordable if this acquisition were to be approved?
• How will jobs be impacted? How many T-Mobile retail centers will close in diverse communities?
• How would diverse owned businesses be impacted by the proposed acquisition?
• How will opportunities for diverse owned businesses to procure business contracts with AT&T and its prime suppliers increase as a result of this merger?
• Will non-profits helping underserved communities receive greater philanthropic support in these tough economic times if AT&T becomes the nation’s #1 wireless carrier?

Your Questions Deserve Answers

Fortunately, AT&T is among the most transparent Fortune 500 companies in America. If/when AT&T reaches out to you for your support, we urge you to fully experience AT&T’s reputation for transparency. We hope that you will ask the questions that will help you to confidently and responsibly assess what is best for your constituencies and your communities.

Best Regards,
Orson

Redistricting – the process of re-drawing state election districts – is one of the most important political processes happening in 2011. It will determine whether your community has a voice in government for the next 10 years! This is your chance to get involved!

As part of our state-wide civic engagement campaign to ensure that California’s low-income communities and communities of color are heard as decisions are being made, we invite you to join us at one of our upcoming community meetings (see below) and Join us on Facebook.

Community members like you know your communities best and the Citizens Redistricting Commission needs to hear from you. Please RSVP for Community Events to micheller@greenlining.org or call 510-926-4016. Your voice matters!

Los Angeles: Friday, March 4^th @ 12-1:30 pm
KHEIR Center, 3727 W. 6th St., Suite 210, Los Angeles, CA
Light lunch provided
Inland Empire: Tuesday, March 8^th @ 5 pm
Norman F. Feldheym Central Library, Kellogg Room B555 West 6th Street, San Bernardino, CA
Refreshments provided
Fresno: Thursday, March 10^th @ 5 pm
Sunnyside Regional Library, 5566 East Kings Canyon Road,  Fresno, CA
Refreshments provided
San Diego: Monday, March 21^st @ 5:30 pm
Please call for exact location.
Refreshments provided
Bay Area: Wednesday, March 23^rd @ 6 pm
The Greenlining Institute, 1918 University Avenue, Berkeley, CA
Refreshments provided
South Los Angeles: Wednesday, March 30^th @ 12pm
Please call for exact location.
Light lunch provided

To RSVP or to request a workshop in your area,
contact micheller@greenlining.org or call (510) 926-4016
www.greenlining.org/initiatives/redistricting

Please join Greenlining to learn about the new $2 billion “Keep Your Home California” program funded by the U.S. Treasury Department on March 2, 2011 from 12-2pm at 2301 Mission Street, Plaza Adelante, San Francisco, CA. To view map Click Here

In attendance will be our keynote speaker Assemblymember Mike Eng (D-Monterey Park), Chair of the Assembly Committee for Banking and Finance, and representatives from CalHFA and the major servicers. This will give community leaders and homeowners the opportunity to talk about CalHFA, and how it can be accessed and utilized by lenders and consumers.

For more information on CalHFA and its programs Click Here
Please disseminate this invite to your constituents who can benefit from the program. Let’s make sure our communities know what programs are out there. Forward this message to a friend

All RSVPs should be sent to Sasha Werblin at sashaw@greenlining.org or (510) 926-4014.

What: CalHFA “Keep Your Home California” Informational Session

When: March 2, 2011 from 12-2pm

Where: 2301 Mission Street, Plaza Adelante, San Francisco, CA

Why: The Keep Your Home California program, is intended to reduce foreclosures for low and moderate income (LMI) homeowners in California.  The Director of this fund at CalHFA will be present to provide detailed information about the program and how homeowners can access support through the program.  We have also invited all of the major banks to attend and discuss their commitment to the program in helping struggling homeowners of California.