The People, United: Resisting Arizona's prison industrial complex.

For those of you who only have a cursory awareness of Black Panther Party history and the story of George Jackson (if any at all), Angela Davis is more than a legendary-black-militant-turned-professor from that era. She's the contemporary visionary whose scholarly work - dating all the way back to her incarceration and study of women's resistance to slavery - has been the foundation of much of my own decision to embrace the politics of prison abolition.



I'd encourage anyone interested in the issue of criminal justice to read Davis' work and catch a lecture or two on Youtube. Her message this evening was consistent with her written words and strong on principles of abolitionism; Google it if you want more, though. Something more awesome happened in Tempe, AZ tonight than Angela Davis' talk that I need to write about. It's been unfolding all along, really....


I showed up at NEEB Hall early today - somewhere around noon, I think, to scope it out and chalk the walk. There's a great canvas out in front of the place - it was a great spread, though my camcorder photos are all grainy and I didn't pull out my 35mm...in that respect my work was lost. There was hardly any traffic until the event, too, so I didn't have much chance to interact with curious on-lookers, as I usually do. I killed a lot of time in the heat, and started to get bummed.


But as the hour approached and more people began to arrive, I found myself surrounded by friends, old and new. Anarchists, former prisoners, loved ones of those passed, ASU students, members of the immigrant rights' community, and even a few Wobblies (yep - the IWW folks) have all been showing support for prisoner rights' actions of late, organizing and standing in solidarity where our paths overlap - I seem to be in the middle of many of those intersections right now.



Anyway, as a result of all my comrades' assistance, I had a ton of t-shirts with prisoner mug shots floating among the standing-room-only crowd this evening: at least 15 victims of prison suicide, neglect or violence were represented. Again, I was slow on the draw with my camera, but at one point after the lecture everyone was milling around the AZ Prison Watch banner out front: God, I hope someone out there had the presence of mind to take pictures of them. I was just kind of stunned, really - seeing these folks gather from a distance in all those shirts, I realized how much power we actually have among us, within us, and behind us...


So, I have no doubt that what we have together far exceeds the power against which we fight. I'm not just talking about pushing through some feel-good legislation or coercing the ADC to make a few reforms. Prison abolition is not a losing battle, not even in this forsaken place. That's going to help me sleep a little better tonight. Thanks all.



And thanks, Professor Davis, for coming to town today.

The Rope that Lynches: More on the AZ Ethnic Studies ban.

This update on the fight in Tuscon's school district over the Ethnic Studies ban comes from the Democrats' Blog for Arizona. It serves as a reminder that the mainstream media doesn't always have their "facts" right.

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More on the Star's up-is-down reporting on Ethnic Studies

by David Safier

I posted yesterday about a truly terrible, misleading article in the Star written by Alexis Huicochea about the achievement of students in the Mexican American Studies program. Read the first half, and you would think the MAS people are liars claiming their students achieve and graduate at a higher rates than other students. Read the second half -- the part few people get to -- and you'll find that the TUSD statistician and the Supe, John Pedicone, agree the program raises students achievement scores and graduation rates.

I'm going to go into a longer analysis after the jump, but I want to keep it short here. Here is a summary of the findings put together by the TUSD statistician David Scott.

In February, Scott analyzed the graduation rate of all Hispanic students in TUSD in the 2010 cohort and those in Mexican American Studies. The Mexican American Studies students graduated at an 11% higher rate: 89% compared to 78% for all Hispanics. The AIMS passing rate of Hispanics in Mexican American Studies was 3 to 5% higher than among Hispanics in general.

In March, Scott created a different comparison: every TUSD student who did not participate in Mexican American Studies (took no classes or less than one credit) compared to students who took one credit or more of Mexican American Studies. In 2010, Mexican American Studies students had a 93.6% graduation rate compared to an 82.7% rate for everyone else. Remember, the "everyone else" includes Hispanic and non-Hispanic students, including those at University High and other high performing schools.

Also in March, Scott looked at the percentage of students in and out of the Mexican American Studies program who did not pass AIMS their sophomore year, then passed it their junior year. The junior year passing rate for Mexican American Studies students tended to average more than 10% higher than those not in the program. To understand how significant this is, you have to realize that Mexican American Studies begins at the junior year, so more students passing as juniors can most likely be attributed to their participation in Mexican American Studies.

By any standard I can think of, those are incredibly impressive results.

Read more about the problems with Alexis Huicochea's article after the jump.

Here is the misleading opening paragraph of Alexis Huicochea's article:

TUSD officials have long claimed that Mexican American Studies students graduate at higher rates and achieve better AIMS scores than students not in the program. But an analysis by the district's statistician shows outcomes are roughly the same whether students enroll in those classes or not.

That's an incredibly deceptive opening. First, it contradicts the information I presented above. Second, any program for underperforming students would be delighted to say it has raised those students to the level of other students. If that's all the Mexican Studies program accomplished, it would be more successful that most programs nationwide. But according to the data, in terms of graduation, the program actually raises students higher than the TUSD average.

This is from the third paragraph:

The district's graduation rate of nearly 83 percent holds true for students who took a Mexican American Studies course and for those who did not, Scott found.

Scott's data from February has the Mexican American Studies students graduating at an 89% level, contradicting Huicochea's statement. But once again, even if the Mexican American Studies students simply matched the general graduation rates, that would be a cause for celebration, since it is substantially higher than the rates for the rest of the Hispanic population at TUSD.

Here is a statement so ridiculous on its face, it's hard to believe it made it through the article's first rewrite:

[Scott] also analyzed the program's impact on the AIMS passing rate and found that students who take Mexican American Studies classes are unlikely to pass the high-stakes class the first time.

That sounds like the program is a failure at getting its students to pass the test the first time they take it, doesn't it? The problem is, students originally take the AIMS test their sophomore year, and Mexican American Studies begins their junior year. Short of time travel, there is no way a program can affect the achievement of students a year earlier.

I'm adding the sentence following the one above for the sake of completeness, so it doesn't look like I'm cherry-picking, but for the life of me, I have no idea what it means.

They are likely to pass it after taking it five times, about the same rate as students who didn't take those courses.

The Star has a terrible track record when it comes to reporting on TUSD and the City Council. When it can slant the data to make either look bad . . . well, I guess that sells newspapers. Huicochea's article sounds like she was coached by Rob O'Dell, the king of the slanted City Council article.

It's important to get this stuff right. If Mexican American Studies is successful academically -- and now it looks like there is hard data saying it is successful -- that should override any frivolous, borderline-racist assertions by conservatives about how horribly un-American it is. When the Star clearly distorts the record, that is bad reporting which can have real world consequences.

Sometimes a Star editorial will gently take a "news" article to task for its assertions. I think this is an instance when that would be called for. Get the data, talk to the statistician and the Supe and write a more accurate representation of the study.

First Things First: Russ Pearce's deception and lies.

The AZ Republic's BS-detector found quite a mound of it in Russ Pearce's propaganda on the First Things First program. Don't them let them rob our schools through Prop 302. They'll just be using it to build new prisons for our kids, instead.

-------------------------Hooray for the AZ Republic Fact Checker-----------------

The issue: Use of funds by First Things First

Who said it: Russell Pearce (R)

by Mary Jo Pitzl - October 7, 2010, 7:27 pm

What we're looking at:

In an e-mail supporting Proposition 302, Sen. Russell Pearce claimed the First Things First program, which provides health and human services to preschool-age children, spends money on illegal immigrants, funds abortions, and pays its staff $70,000-plus salaries.

The comment:

"PLEASE VOTE YES ON PROP. 302: THE ATTACHMENT SHOWS YOU THE WAST (sic) OF MONEY, BUREAUCRACY, IN ADDITION I UNDERSTAND THE FUNDING OF ABORTION, STAFF PAID $70K AND UP FOR JUST HANDING OUT MONEY, MONEY BEING SPENT ON ILLEGAL ALIENS."

The forum:

E-mail sent to Pearce supporters in September.

Analysis:

First Things First is the target of Proposition 302, which seeks voter approval to repeal the 4-year-old program. Lawmakers such as Pearce say they need the money in the program's fund balance -- about $345 million -- to help balance this year's state budget. First Things First makes grants to various programs that provide services to improve the health and education of children from birth to age 5.

Pearce made three specific allegations against the program.

1) Pearce claims that the program spends money on illegal immigrants. In explaining that accusation, Pearce claims that a man, whom he identified as a pastor, walked into one of the offices of a First Things First service provider and made it clear that he had a family that needed help, but the family did not have legal status in the U.S.

Pearce refuses to identify the man, the office's location, the date of the interaction or any other details beyond a list of four agencies that have received First Things First dollars. They are: Teen Outreach Pregnancy Services, Mariposa Community Health Center, Association for Supportive Child Care, and Pinal Gila Child Care Services.

Liz Barker Alvarez, a spokeswoman for First Things First, said the program meets all state and federal laws governing people who are not legally present in the U.S., "and to the best of our knowledge, our grantees are also."

She added that Pearce has not contacted the agency with his complaints, leaving her to rely on his remarks to news media. "We are dealing with allegations and innuendos," she said.

At the Association for Supportive Child Care, Executive Director Susan Wilkins was unaware of anyone getting services they're not entitled to receive.

Besides, she said, the group does not provide tangible services such as housing, transportation or financial aid. Rather, it offers professional development for preschool teachers and uses First Things First dollars for scholarships for those teachers. Scholarship recipients have to work at licensed day-care facilities, which are regulated by the state and therefore checked to ensure they are not providing service to people in the country illegally, Wilkins said.

In addition, the scholarships are typically used at local community colleges, and the colleges' entry requirements would screen out anyone not legally present in the U.S., she said.

Pearce said he will seek an investigation into the First Things First program, either by the state Attorney General's Office or a county attorney. Pearce said it is against state law to use taxpayer money to provide services to people who are not authorized to be in the United States. There is no indication that he has yet sought such an investigation.

2) Pearce also indicated First Things First may have provided funding for abortions.

Pearce says that information also came from an inquiry made to a First Things First grantee about a crisis pregnancy, and the service provider indicated that the situation could be dealt with.

Again, Pearce gave no specifics other than the agency names.

Once again, Barker Alvarez said Pearce's claims that First Things First pays for abortions are allegations and innuendo.

Representatives of the groups Pearce highlighted said they're unaware of the inquiries the senator referenced.

Marie Fordney, outreach director for Teen Outreach Pregnancy Services, said that her group provides free pregnancy tests for anyone younger than 21. But First Things First dollars are not used for these services.

"It is ridiculous to imagine that First Things First would fund abortions, since its goal is to support children age zero to 5 and make sure they enter kindergarten ready to succeed," she said. "(It's) not to have fewer children in Arizona."

3) As for the salaries, Barker Alvarez acknowledged that some staffers make more than $70,000, but a breakdown of all 126 staff salaries is still being produced.

Bottom line:

Pearce could not provide documents or details to back up his allegations, and they could not be substantiated.

Sources:

E-mail from Sen. Russell Pearce
Interviews with Sen. Russell Pearce, First Things First, Teen Outreach Pregnancy Services, Mariposa Community Health Center, Association for Supportive Child Care, and Pinal Gila Child Care Services.
Arizona Revised Statute 8-1171

Budget Education not Incarceration!

UPCOMING EVENTS


December 10: International Human Rights Day
December 15: Fifth Special Legislative Session Begins
December 17: International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers (Tucson Memorial Service).
December 18: SWOP-Tucson Demonstration at the Arizona Department of Corrections, Phoenix.

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I must say that the Arizona State legislature we've put up with the past few years has to be the most mean-spirited body of lawmakers in the country - and boy, have they been vicious going after the teachers and the unions...This is about the School Board association taking up more of an advocacy role, which is great because it embraces a broad spectrum of people with interests in the schools. 

I'm still impressed at how the AEA came out fighting this year - good organizing, way to keep us all posted, smart strategy of finding common ground with other groups and building alliances. We're going to need all the organizing you've done to get those selfish, racist right-wing extremists out of power, now. They'd sooner build more prisons than pay for all-day K...that's troubling.

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Budget cuts inspiring advocacy for schools 

by Emily Gersema - Dec. 6, 2009 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic

School-boards group offers class on legislative process

Frustration has simmered among school supporters this year since state lawmakers began slashing the K-12 budget, most recently cutting $144 million from a fund that pays for desks and other classroom needs to offset a state revenue shortfall that tops $2 billion.

The pre-Thanksgiving budget cut was one of several rounds this year that have inspired parents to attend the Arizona School Boards Association's new statewide workshops on grass-roots advocacy.

ASBA spokeswoman Tracey Benson said the organization, a non-profit representing school boards across the state, has held nine workshops on advocacy so far this year in all but a few Arizona counties.

It's the first time the organization has led such an effort, and it taps into the emotional fight over school funding

.

ASBA workshops have attracted huge turnouts "even in areas you wouldn't expect," Benson said.

About 45 people came to the workshop this fall in Safford, said Beth Sauer, the ASBA government-relations analyst who leads the workshops.

At other workshops, "we average about 20 to 25 people," she said.

Sauer said the idea for the workshops came up last year when association President Bob Rice suggested at a retreat that the organization start forums to inspire a grass-roots effort.

The goal is to teach community members to start putting pressure on state legislators or members of Congress to protect or promote certain issues, such as K-12 school funding.

As the workshop presenter, Sauer offers attendees basic tools for either advocating alone or forming coalitions. She also explains to community members the process of bill drafting and legislation, describes several efforts that can be made to fill in legislators on the potential impact of new bills as they move through the process, and gives tips for approaching and contacting legislators who could help their cause.

Sauer noted 2010 is an election year - an opportune time to meet with legislators.

The ASBA is a non-partisan organization that does not take positions on how supporters should vote. Its workshops have attracted parents who have cited budget cuts as the main reason they are interested in taking a stand for their districts... (continued back at the Republic)

AZ Second in Corrections $$; 38th in Education

This what it means in Arizona to be "tough on crime" - stealing futures from kids. Look at where we invest our money: that's what flourishes. That's why this state is in such a serious decline. People like Kavanaugh are deciding our priorities for us.

I'm trying to follow his logic here: The amount of money we invest in education is not a reflection of how much we value education or the quality of it; however, the exorbitant amount we spend on police and prisons is justified? 

That's what it sounds like he's saying - and he's the AZ State House Appropriations Chairman. He'd sooner put your kid in prison for $26,000/year at 21, than subsidize his college tuition for $5,000/year at 18.  

By the way, Mr. Chairman, a "very median educational performance record" is not something to be bragging about. You might as well be telling Arizonans that they should be delighted that you're feeding our children mediocrity.


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Census data: Arizona second in police, corrections spending, 38th in education

By Evan Wyloge, Cronkite News Service

Published: September 30, 2009 at 7:58 am

Arizona outspent all but one state on police protection and corrections as a percentage of overall state and local expenditures while its education spending ranked 38th in U.S. Census Bureau data released Wednesday (Sept. 30).

“You get what you pay for,” said Jeffrey Chapman, Arizona State University Foundation Professor of Applied Public Finance. “We’re a low-tax, low-expenditure state. We like police, we like corrections and we don’t want to spend money on public services.”

The census data, based on 2007 expenditures, shows that Arizona’s spending patterns remained fairly constant from previous years. Chapman said that demonstrates shortsightedness on the part of leaders, promoting construction and industries tied to growth and preparing people to work in those jobs.

“They’d rather see retail clerks, construction workers and corrections officers in Arizona,” Chapman said. “They’re giving no regard to our children or our grandchildren.”

The data also showed that Arizona ranked fourth among states in expenditures on fire protection, 21th on public welfare and 28th on highways.

House Appropriations Chairman Rep. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, defended the state’s spending on police protection, which was second only to Nevada, and on corrections, which was second only to California.

“Of course we spend more proportionally on law enforcement than other states,” Kavanagh said. “We have to be tough with criminals, as a matter of justice and deterrence. And being a border state, we deal with cross-border crime and we have one of the largest populations of illegal aliens.”

Kavanagh also said it’s wrong to suggest that Arizona isn’t committed to education.

“We actually have a very median educational performance record,” he said. “I prefer to judge our educational system by performance, not spending.”

Sen. Paula Aboud, D-Tucson, said Arizona would be better served by shifting its priorities.

“For four years I’ve been trying to change this,” she said. “And I think the public is unfamiliar with these numbers, so I’m glad to hear that they’re being talked about.”

Roger Hartley, associate professor of public administration and policy at the University of Arizona, said the money states spend on education correlates with earning potential, while poverty correlates with crime.

“We can see that we’re putting more money into putting people in prison rather than educating and thereby keeping people out of prison,” he said. Kavanagh called that conclusion overreaching, and pointed to Washington, D.C., as evidence.”

They have one of the worst crime rates, and they spend more than just about anybody per student,” he said.

Travis Pratt, an associate professor of criminology and criminal justice at ASU, said crime rates aren’t simple enough to link one-on-one with education, but he said it would be wrong to dismiss any connection with education.

He said spending on law enforcement pays political dividends much sooner than education.

“Budgets aren’t limitless, and Arizona devotes a greater portion of theirs to controlling rather than preventing crime,” he said. “And because spending on institutions like education and social services might not pay off for 10 or 15 years - not before the next election - politicians don’t see a reason for it.”