October 19th, 2001
Copyright 2001 Stern Publishing, Inc.
LA Weekly
BYLINE: Harold Meyerson
BODY:
By some standards, it's been a rocky year for urban progressivism.
In Los Angeles, not only did Antonio Villaraigosa's bid for mayor come
up short, but something of a rift between the local black and Latino communities
emerged during the campaign. In New York, last week's Democratic primary
for mayor uncovered a more serious rift between Gotham's white liberals
(who overwhelmingly supported Public Advocate Mark Green) and its black
and Latino voters (who just as overwhelmingly supported Bronx Borough President
Freddy Ferrer). But to see only the fissures in urban liberalism is to
miss the renascent strength and coherence of the movement. In L.A., Republican
Dick Riordan was succeeded by Democrat Jim Hahn; in N.Y., Republican Rudy
Giuliani is likely to be succeeded by Democrat Green. And in L.A., the
vibrant movement for urban progressivism includes the nation's most successful
living-wage campaigns, an affordable-housing constituency that has won
concrete pledges of support from the new mayor, an immigrant-advocacy community
that has battled with some success for more equal access to the state's
colleges and universities, advocates for parks and green space from every
corner of the city, and supporters of both Hahn and Villaraigosa who have
united in opposition to the destructive mischief of Valley secession.
Each of these five movements will review their successes and the challenges
before them -- and all Angelenos -- at this Saturday's Next Agenda Conference
sponsored by Progressive L.A. Network (PLAN), of which the L.A. Weekly
is a part. Co-sponsoring the conference, which will take place at the California
Science Center in Exposition Park, is the Institute for America's Future,
the Washington-based think tank that has been the leading opponent of Social
Security privatization and that currently is coordinating the drive for
a progressive economic-recovery package. Panelists will include Chicago
Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, one of the brightest and most dynamic liberals
on the national scene; state Assembly Members Judy Chu and Jackie Goldberg;
L.A. City Council freshmen Eric Garcetti, Jan Perry and Ed Reyes; Robert
Borosage and Roger Hickey from the Institute for America's Future (who
will discuss the current battle for a decent recovery plan -- as will I),
and a range of local labor, community and movement leaders and activists.
Your best guide to what's coming down in D.C., in Sacramento and at City
Hall, and what you can do about it, all yours for one day in the park.
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