Just in how many ways does the Bush Administration hate women? How many ways can they find to destroy some of the best projects this country has developed over the years?
Today’s Troy Record newspaper has a picture on it of a lawyer I know. She was appointed to represent a very young, very sweet child I know in a custody dispute between her parents many years ago.
So I read the article (similar article on-line in the Albany Times Union)and what do I find? Bushies at it again. Apparently this lawyer, Jo Katz, does pro bono work for something called The Legal Project.
According to their web site:
The Legal Project is a private, not-for-profit organization that was founded by the Capital District Women’s Bar Association in 1995. It provides a variety of free and low cost legal services to the working poor, victims of domestic violence and other underserved individuals in the Capital District of New York State.
More below the fold…
The list of awards from all sorts of sources on the web site is too long to provide here. Click The Legal Project to read about the recognition for the good work that they do.
From the Times Union article:
And that when only two years ago the U.S. Office of Justice Programs identified the initiative as a national model for communities striving to better serve and protect poor victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
So what does the Bush Administration think should be done with programs identified as “a national model for communities striving to better serve and protect poor victims of domestic violence and sexual assault?”
Well… how would you expect them to react:
(from Times Union)
What is in jeopardy now is the Legal Project itself, now that the Bush White House has dropped the agency’s primary grant, resulting in a $300,000 budget deficit — or half of the organization’s annual budget.
(from Troy Record)
We just found out we will not receive (a grant from) the federal Violence Against Women Office,” said Lisa Frisch, Executive Director. The Legal Project had received the grant regularly since 1999.
The Legal Project provides legal services to more than 1,300 people a year. The annual budget is about $500,000. The organization received $300,000 from the federal office. Two of the Project’s most prominent programs provide services to individuals impacted by domestic violence or sexual assault.
And from the Times Union:
It provides a variety of free and low-cost legal services to victims of domestic violence and other underserved individuals in the Capital Region. It serves more than 4,000 “working poor” women whose income is too low to hire a private attorney, but too high to receive public legal services.
Plus, it is the only comprehensive program of its kind in upstate New York.
Back to the Troy Record article a little further down:
The Legal Project was founded in 1995 by the Capital District Women’s Bar Association. Today it has more than 200 pro-bono volunteers and four regular employees.
And later still:
The Project will hold a 10-year anniversary celebration at the New York State Museum on Thursday [Oct. 20] at 5:30 p.m. “It is extremely important that this organization continue to exist,” said attorney Jo Katz of Troy, who will be honored for her volunteer pro-bono work.
“I do believe, contrary to popular belief, that law is a public service profession,” Katz said. “The majority of lawyers went to law school to make a difference….”
“I do it because of the need (for volunteers) and because I need to. It’s something I need to do as a lawyer and a person.”
Sadly, the Times Union article points out the truth of Ms. Katz’s words:
Ironically, word of the lost grant came on Sept. 15. That was two days before Cohoes newlywed Melissa Paradise was allegedly murdered by her husband, and two weeks before Kinderhook resident David Lee killed his wife on Oct. 1, and then himself.
The Lee shootings occurred on the first day of Domestic Violence month.
And finally from Ms. Frisch:
“I’m sorry, I’m not going to go quietly into the good night,” she said. “It takes a lot for a battered woman to reach out for help. We don’t want to turn anyone away. We don’t want to see a woman say there is no option but to stay and be abused.”
I don’t know how to properly express my outrage at stuff like this without breaking things and swearing enough to make a sailor (or even MaryScott O’Connor) blush.
Sen. Clinton is quoted in both articles as being outraged and hopefully she is on the case. $300,000 is a pittance in the Federal budget. Are these the sorts of things George Bush and Dick Cheney are cutting in order to pay for their ultra rich friends tax cuts? Are these the domestic programs that have to be cut in order to give tax giveaways and subsidies to the oil companies that are already making record breaking profits? Are these the programs that get cut in order to give Iraqi women a constitution that deprives them of rights they had under Saddam Hussein?
Are we going to go quietly into the good night? Are we going to going to turn away these women and children that need this wonderful help?
I’m not sure who the proper contact is in the Bush Administration but here is a link the donation section of The Legal Project and here is a link to the Office on Violence Against Women in the U.S. Department of Justice.
Sen. Clinton can be reached here.
Sen. Schumer can be reached here.
Congressman Michael McNulty here.
Congressman John Sweeney here.
I’m guessing you folks know how to take it from here.
Andrew,
thanks so much for putting this up. If not for you, this would have blown by me, as i’m not anywhere near the area.
This is how they’re ruining our country though. By defunding programs such as this. It’s a perfect example of the death and destruction of American Democracy.
America, once the great hope of the world, now comes to its sad sad ending.
this is just one grant for one local project… how many others are there that have lost there funding?
And I’ll ask the question…
Is this how the Bush Regime is funding the subsidies and tax giveaways for the filthy rich and the oil companies that are already making record profits?
She and Angelina Jolie, Cameron Diaz would, in my opinion, be more likely to give $200K each.
Politicians can make speeches and express outrage, but they have to be pragmatic.
That $300 thousand must be spent to maim and murder women and children in other countries.
All they are likely to get from Washington are suggestions that they pray for the grace to be more pleasing to their husbands.
I am not sure that I could get more discouraged- and I am glad I don’t have any daughters who will have to bear the brunt of this — sorry to say- evil nonsense.
I tell my daughter regularly that when she becomes sexually active, she must, absolutely must be careful. I have explained to her about abortion and aids and the emotional aspects of sex. She is only 11, and absolutely not sexually active, but her classmates talk about sex and tease her that she does not have a boyfriend. I know it is around the corner and because I know, I have told her over and over again that she must be protected with both birth control and condoms. I let her and her friends play with a bunch of flavored condoms last summer so that they would all feel ok when it came to the real thing. I fully expect abortion to become illegal and anything I can do to make sure my daughter knows and understands the risks and how to prevent them, the better I feel. I honestly believe that if my daughter wants to become sexually active, she will have the knowledge to pursue it safely and should she become pregnant will know she can come to me.
But, this does nothing to alleve my fears of other young women. All I can think of is helping to establish an underground network of women willing to help others in need. Mabe stockpile Plan B and RU486. Maybe relearning the herbal remedies of older days. Abortion has been a fact of life for millenia, it will not go away because some people say it is immoral.
Sorry, I got off on a tangent there…I also teach my daughter that she does not have to take anything from a man. The other girls at school tease her because she does not have a boyfriend, but she just says, “I don’t need a man”. LOL. My point was, that in these days and times, it is essential to teach our girls self-respect and honesty to themselves and give them the tools to make confident and reasonable decisions.
One psychopathic religious group is trying to boycott American Girl dolls because American Girl teamed up with Girls Inc. Girls Inc. teaches girls to be strong and confident. Girls Inc. did not discriminate against lesbians. Thus, the religious group claimed they were evil and horrible.
Anything that empowers women, be it a girls social group or abortion or walking away from an abusive mate is seen as wrong and bad in their eyes. This is what I am fighting against.
The underground RR thing occurred to me a few months (weeks?) ago– might be hard for me to con my doc into prescribing–however, I do have a friend who has a doc who will prescribe anything. (don’t ask) If it comes to that-which it very well might- then I am gonna be there.
Stockpiling -yep–it’s gonna happen-sure as I live.
At what age did you start having these conversations with her? And how did you handle that scene with the other parents? I admire your forthrightness.
I started talking to her about sex as soon as she started asking about where babies come from, which was around 4. Obviously, I have tailored her talks to her age group and have only recently discussed the ins and outs (so to speak) about sex. Our last discussion revolved around how gay men get aids and that oral sex is not safe sex, unless with a condom or dental dam. She is now 11. I do understand that this might be perceived as being too young, but in Oakland, CA, where I live, there are hookers as young as 11. It is something that gets discussed, even if I think they are all way too young to be even discussing this stuff.
I’m not sure what you meant by the other parents’ reactions. When I let her play with the condoms, the other two mothers of the other kids involved were there and fully supported the effort. By letting them play with the condoms, they were able to talk about them without fear. We had a great discussion about STDs and pregnancy and all the kids came away with more information and confidence.
Thanks. That’s what I meant. If the other parents were there and involved then that answers my question. When I was 16 the mother of my girlfriend set up and appointment for her at a local clinic for her to get birth control pills. She invited me to come along. Feeling all grown up and responsible and stuff I agreed. My parents were not involved at all. They would not have approved… they would have been relieved… but, even so, they would not have approved. My granddaughter is 9. I think about these things.
where all her life she has been taught strong moral values and encouraged to abstain from sexual activity is especially important, for these are the very girls that evil sperm and disease organisms will seek out if the girl should slip up and make that one “mistake.”
The parents who will be the most devastated to learn of that single mis-step are the ones who should be at the front of the line at the birth control clinic as soon as their daughters experience their first “special days.”
It is important to think about these things. I’m not going to pretend that all these talks have been easy. I don’t want my little girl to be sexually active for a long time to come. Yet, I would be foolish to believe that she won’t if I tell her not to.
As for parental notification, well, I do understand what you mean, I’m not sure I agree. Having you accompany your girlfriend was smart and reasonable, with or without your parents’ approval. If one of my daughter’s friends asks me a question about sex, I will answer it honestly. For many people, talking about sex with one’s kids or one’s parents can be totally embarassing and nearly impossible. Yet, the kids still need the info in order to make intelligent decisions. If I can be of service, I will be happy to answer any questions they might have.
One of my teachers took me and several other girls to planned parenthood when I was a teen. It never even occurred to us to ask our parents. At least at that time, any person, regardless of age, could walk into planned parenthood and obtain birth control. I assume it is still true today. So, in that light, permission is not necessary and in many cases, it could be very detrimental to the child to ask for such.
It would be fun to see me swear– little ole me raging– blistering is the way hub describes it,somewhat like napalm.
hey dont hold back on my account. you should bless yourself once in a while with a righteous rant.
I really don’t think anyone sane wants to see that.
I have been known to face down and take apart very large men.
We not only want to see it, we want pictures to use as wallpaper on our computers 😉
I wish I had one of the night I was outside in my PJ’s between two very large men who were about go mano a mano-
“You!–go that way.
And You go THAT way.
And STFU I’m tryin to sleep here.
Thanks for this, Andrew. I am not surprised.
Is the issue taking money away from the poor and powerless? Yes, I”m sure that’s part of it – it is unlikely that these poor folks who need the services of The Legal Project have clout in the halls of power. But of course, there is more: Women and children are to “be in subjection to their husbands and fathers” (as if lack of “subjection” is the cause for the tremendous and growing problem of domestic violence).
Frankly, in the wave of removing social services from the federal government, I expect the federal Violence Against Women office to be reduced to nothing more than a photo opportunity.
They go after poor women because they can’t “get” at middle class women as easily. It’s the same reason they go after Planned Parenthood and other providers of health care to poor women.
Now ,look here, what is it with you people?Is it your pathetic little egos that makes it feel OK to pick on somebody smaller that you? Is your big ole truck not big enough to compensate for your useless life?
My Daddy taught me that it is only cowards who pick on the weak,so what does that make you?
And you hypocrites and liars,who take all you can,and deny to the rest,there is always a bigger bully out there,to take care of you.
Andrew,
I hope you’ll do a follow-up on this at some point, let us know what happens. I know you saw my comment re Chartock, and I do think loud publicity is one of the most effective ways of combatting this kind of thing.
I agree. That is part of why I went straight to the blogs to bring attention to the issue on a wider scale. We’ll see what we can do about this. It would be nice to score a victory.