Town Hall Meeting: “The Urban Policy Crisis in America”

More than 500 delegates participated in a town hall discussion about the impact of the Bush administration’s economic policies on urban communities. Many state and local governments are literally begging to be rescued from a fiscal stranglehold – declining federal aid and sharply increasing costs for schools, health care, public safety and programs for children, retirees and disabled citizens. But, as Terry Melvin, moderator of the panel and CBTU Region 1 Director told the audience, “The only domestic policy this [Bush] administration knows – or accepts – tax cuts for rich folks and fat profits for greedy corporations. We can’t save our cities and feed our families on the scraps left by the Bush crowd.”

Panelist Nat LaCour, vice president of the American Federation of Teachers, told the audience that school districts are being forced to cut staff and programs because of a lack of federal funding. When he attacked Bush’s tax cut, calling it “No Millionaire Left Behind,” the audience erupted in applause. LaCour also urged CBTU chapters to hold town hall meetings in their own communities to discuss key issues that impact workers.