Candidate’s Statement

Posted on October 2, 2006 | Leave a comment

Today I submitted my candidate’s bio and statement to the Valley Journals. Here is what I submitted. I was limited to 150 words:

Deanna “Dee” L. Taylor (47)is a first time candidate, running for Salt Lake
County Council in District 5.

Deanna is a member and Co-Coordinator of the Desert Greens Green Party of
Utah. She is an Alternate Delegate to the Green Party of the United States.
Deanna has been a public school educator for 23 years, holding degrees in
Music Education and Curriculum and Instruction and teaching licenses in
Secondary Music and Special Education. She currently teaches grades 7-12 in a
Salt Lake City public charter school.

Deanna also participates with People for Peace and Justice of Utah as an
advocate for peace and justice issues.

Deanna sees transportation as one of the biggest issues facing our community.
She feels that revenues need to be used to build more bus routes and TRAX
lines so that constituents feel more compelled to use mass transit more and
cars less.

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Our education system and my experience as a parent

Posted on October 2, 2006 | Leave a comment

Today I was a guest speaker for an undergraduate education class at the University of Utah. I was on a panel with two other women. The topic: Being a parent of a disabled child.

It was not easy for me or my two colleagues to talk about our children’s disabilities. We all became emotional as we recounted our children’s bouts with their disabilities. But we did it. We did it because we care. We did it because we want these prospective teachers to look at children as humans first and disabled second. I spoke as a person of a child (now grown) who suffers from the symptoms of Tourette’s Syndrome, ADHD, Obsessive-Compulsive and Panic (Anxiety) Disorders. The other two panelists spoke as parents of children who have Dysgraphia/Dyslexia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. We all spoke of the impact on our children, our families and ourselves as women and mothers.

A recurring theme I heard was that by the time kids hit jr. high and high school, the system stops caring. What is wrong with this picture? Our schools are too big. Our class sizes are too big. There is not enough money in this state to adequately educate our children. Our teachers are taxed. That is what is wrong.

This needs to be repaired.

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A Soldiers Peace Walk Begins Today

Posted on October 2, 2006 | Leave a comment

Today is the day that Marshall Thompson of A Soldiers Peace begins his 500 mile walk across Utah. Thompson is the former Army Journalist who spent a year in Iraq. His message:

Bring the Troops Home

The goal is to walk from the Utah/Idaho border to the Utah/Arizona border in 26 days, that’s one day for every 100 soldiers who have died in Iraq. The trip will cover almost 500 miles and I’ll have to average about 20 miles a day.

Walking, in and of itself, is worthless. In the end, it’s just a stunt to raise awareness of a problem and encourage rational people to make a change. I might also shed a few unwanted pounds, but you won’t hear me complaining about that.

I chose to walk Utah in particular for two main reasons. One, it’s my home state and it’s one of the most beautiful places in the world. If, for some crazy reason, you’ve got to walk 500 miles, it would be nice to do it in the natural wonder of Utah. And two, Utah is often called “the reddest state in the nation.” It seems to be a stronghold for those who advocate simply staying the course. I hope the walk will soften hearts and open minds to the idea of a responsible and timely withdrawal of troops. Plus I’d like the politicians to realize that even in good old Utah, people are demanding change.

I don’t know if the walk will get the troops home. If nothing else, however, I’ll know that I did everything I could to save the lives of my brothers and sisters in Iraq.

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TRAX lines taking a back seat? A-GAIN

Posted on October 2, 2006 | Leave a comment

In today’s Salt Lake Tribune, the article Transit plan sends TRAX to the back:
Salt Lake County voters’ OK of a sales tax hike would aid Utah County commuter rail readers are being told that TRAX lines in the works (for years now) may again be delayed.

….only Salt Lake County is asking voters to approve a measure the Legislature passed in a special session Sept. 19.
If the county’s voters approve, the vote will raise sales taxes by a quarter-cent, bringing the portion dedicated to transit to three-quarters of a cent. But a good portion of the increase will be dedicated to linking Utah County commuter rail with the rest of the Wasatch Front. As a result, some of the new planned TRAX lines might have to wait.
That’s because Utah County has for six years declined to tax itself for commuter rail. Now, for the system to be complete, Salt Lake County needs to build its section, too. Those in Salt Lake County who question the fairness of the situation ought to just look at the county as a progressive leader working toward a needed regional mass-transit system, said County Councilman Joe Hatch.

Read the rest of the article to find out how SL County Council members fared in this discussion.

As a voter and user of mass transportation, and as one who voted to implement new rail lines in SL County, I am becoming tired of this game.

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Carnival of the Green #47

Posted on October 2, 2006 | Leave a comment

Greener Miami is hosting this week’s Carnival of the Green.

Topics this week include:

  • sustainable sushi
  • for profit social ventures
  • the reinstating of a road construction, logging, mining and development in roadless national forest areas
  • an offer of free advertising in Austin, TX, to anyone making a donation to the Lance Armstrong Challenge
  • sustainable residences
  • genetically engineered rice
  • suggestions for ways to help wildlife
  • update on the Everglades Skyway
  • ethical supply procurement amongst sports teams
  • tips for recycling yard waste
  • European Space Agency’s plans to conduct a weightless surgical procedure
  • biodiesel information and energy policies

    Happy reading!

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    Georgia Green speaks at Congresswoman McKinney’s Press Conference

    Posted on October 2, 2006 | Leave a comment

    My Green Colleague from Georgia, Nan Garrett (also co-chair of the GPUS Women’s Caucus) recently spoke at a Press Conference hosted by Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney. Nan has also declared her intentions to seek the Green Party nomination for President of the United States.

    Read the text of her speech.

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    GPUS Proposal 244 (California-Texas) on Utah Fails

    Posted on October 2, 2006 | Leave a comment

    Earlier this month I wrote a post on the Proposal to the GPUS by California and Texas to “objectively” investigate the 2004 debacle in Utah’s Green Party. The proposal was far from objective or impartial, with an erroneous background (setting the tone for the proposal) and with the portion that would form a “settlement” committee, in part made up of representatives from the two Utah groups.

    The proposal failed. Voting ended last night.

    It was tough because the other Utah group lobbied heavily to all the delegates. I received copies of emails from delegates from other states to that effect. The emails contained false information. Luckily, some of those recipients of the emails were smart enough to call me and others to find out for themselves the facts.

    While Texas will likely generate another proposal (again) to conduct an independent investigation (without the formation of an internal settelement committee), I hope the GPUS can now continue to work on real issues and not continue to generate proposals that interfere in the affairs of state parties and stall the important work at the national level.

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    Candidates Financial Disclosures

    Posted on October 1, 2006 | Leave a comment

    Today’s Deseret News has a piece on Candidates Spending.

    Sometimes candidates do unusual things with the hard-earned donations that they often say are needed desperately to get out their message.
    That includes paying for the candidate’s cable TV at home.
    Or for hiring the candidate’s relatives.
    Or paying to fix the candidate’s car.
    Or buying gifts. Or a lot of food.
    Or even for giving large chunks of money away to others.
    Utah candidates for Congress have done all of that and more this election cycle, according to disclosure forms. Such spending comes as some candidates try to economize even by declaring that paid workers are contractors to avoid payroll taxes.

    You can see financial disclosures at these sites:

  • Federal Election Commission
  • Utah Elections Site
  • Salt Lake County Clerk
  • View other Utah Counties

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    Torture

    Posted on September 30, 2006 | Leave a comment

    I found these articles on Torture in today’s news:

    Accessories to Torture – Editorial, The Nation
    Uncomfortably Numb to Torture – JoAnn Wypijewski, Los Angeles Times
    On Torture– Ed Kinane, Common Dreams
    Terror Suspects Tortured, Claims Amnesty Report – Declan Walsh, The Guardian UK

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    Poll Workers needed in Salt Lake County for Elections

    Posted on September 30, 2006 | Leave a comment

    Electronic voting increases demand for poll volunteers

    Due to the demands of new electronic voting equipment and a heavy expected turnout for November’s general election, Salt Lake County is recruiting volunteer poll workers for Election Day. County Clerk Sherrie Swensen, dubbing the effort the Partners in Democracy program, is calling on businesses and corporations to allow their employees to spend Nov. 7 helping shepherd voters through the new process.

    Swensen wants 1,000 additional volunteers to staff voting locations on Election Day.

    Anyone wishing to serve as a poll worker must be a registered voter in Salt Lake County. Training sessions will be required during a three-week stint at various spots across the county.

    Volunteers may have totake vacation time to work Election Day, but workers will be eligible for stipends ranging between $120 and $220, depending on the position.

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