Economic Justice Committee Blog
On September 9, 85 people gathered virtually for a “Votinar” to hear why Kehilla’s Economic Justice Committee, Bend the Arc Jewish Action, Faith in Action East Bay, Netivot Shalom, Plymouth Congregational (Jazz & Justice) Church, the Alameda County Public Health Commission, and other congregations are urging Californians to vote No on Proposition 20, the Prison Spending Scam. If it passes, […]
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In April, more than 50 Kehilla members and friends participated in a postcard campaign directed at the Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley, urging her, in light of the pandemic, to act with urgency to release many groups of people incarcerated at Santa Rita Jail. At least another 45 people associated with the Interfaith Coalition […]
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Dear Kehilla member, Kehilla, through the Economic Justice Committee, is active in the The Interfaith Coalition for Justice in Our Jails. The Coalition is very concerned about the rapid spread of COVID-19 in the Alameda County Jail and has organized a postcard campaign to pressure District Attorney Nancy O’Malley <nancy.omalley@acgov.org> to de-populate the jails in […]
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Dear Friends, In the midst of the COVID 19 pandemic and a crisis of homelessness, unemployment, school closures, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors will hold a vote on a combined Sheriff’s – Health Services Agency budget request for funds totaling $255 million on Tuesday, 4/21. The vast majority of these new funds will be dedicated to hiring additional sheriff’s […]
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by Myrna Schwartz and Richard Speiglman February 2020 Schools and Communities First initiative – EJCers are actively engaged in the gathering of signatures to get this important initiative on the November ballot. March 14 is the deadline for the organizations we’re working with (Faith in Action – East Bay; East Bay Citizens for Action). If […]
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The last two years have seen a 47% increase in homelessness in Oakland. Over 70% of the people living on the streets are African American. This is not just a crucial racial and economic justice issue, but a public health issue as well. Although Kehilla member Talya Husbands- Hankin has been addressing this issue, there […]
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Kehilla’s Economic Justice Committee has focused on criminal justice and affordable housing issues throughout the past year, while closely watching the progress of a ballot measure to reform California property taxes on large businesses. After important revisions to this measure, now known as “Schools & Communities First,” Kehilla has joined a broad coalition to endorse […]
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by Laura Finkler The Economic Justice Committee (EJC) showed “What Happened to Dujuan Armstrong?” a film by Lucas Guilkey, at one of the Yom Kippur afternoon workshops. The film covers the tragic death of a Santa Rita inmate, the father of two young children, in June of 2018, at the hands of Sheriff Ahern’s deputies, […]
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by Richard Speiglman Members of Kehilla’s Economic Justice Committee (EJC) collected 200 signatures from congregants and friends entering Rosh Hashanah services this year. Why? The EJC has worked with colleagues on the Live Free Committee of Faith In Action – East Bay (formerly OCO) on criminal justice issues for the last few years. EJC members […]
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by Merle Lustig California has been among the worst states in the country for regulating police use of deadly force and the number of fatal police shootings. In 2017, California police shot and killed 172 people, including 5 children. In 2018, they shot and killed 115 people. This month, with the help of many progressive […]
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