Just say no to megabanks: Asheville jumps on Move Your Money bandwagon
Below is my commentary about the Move Your Money project in this week’s Mountain Xpress.
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Outraged by the federal government’s multibillion-dollar bailout of Wall Street, Asheville residents are registering their displeasure by withdrawing their assets from arrogant “too-big-to-fail” megabanks in favor of local institutions that serve their own community. Joining forces with fellow citizens nationwide, Ashevilleans across the political spectrum are voting with their bank accounts, sending a strong message to both Washington and Wall Street.
Despite the latter’s direct responsibility for precipitating the financial crisis, these huge institutions remain unrepentant — even after receiving tens of billions of taxpayer dollars via the Troubled Asset Relief Program. Refusing to lend to small businesses in a meaningful way, they continue their high-risk activities, award huge bonuses to their chief executives, and spend millions lobbying Congress to defeat financial reform, ensuring that taxpayers will also have to pick up the tab for future financial fiascos.
Meanwhile, our political leaders in Washington appear to lack the will to resolve the problem. And some citizens, awash in cynicism and hopelessness, say this is just the way things work in our nation: socialism for the rich and capitalism for the rest of us. But a small band of visionaries has devised a simple, effective way for ordinary folks to take direct action on their own behalf: the Move Your Money project.
The concept is simple: shift your checking and savings accounts from such Wall Street behemoths as Bank of America, Wachovia and Citibank to a community bank or credit union.
Area residents speak out
To get a sense of how this movement is shaping up locally, I put out a query on Facebook. Here are some of the responses:
Lael Gray, Asheville: “My husband and I decided that our real power as citizens lies in where we put our dollars. We’re always on the lookout for ways to buy local, so the Move Your Money project caught our attention immediately. So far the main advantage of working with the local bank we selected is that we’ve gotten a much better deal on our checking account that now earns interest! And there are no monthly fees for online banking.”
Eric Miller, Asheville: “I think it really hit me when all the TARP stuff was going on. I was going out of my way to get local meat from Hickory Nut Gap, trout from Sunburst Trout Farm, etc., yet I was going to the Wal-Mart of banks. My new bank made everything very easy, with much shorter waits (if any) and much more personal attention. … We also get interest on our checking and can use any ATM.”
Laura Collins, Asheville: “I recently moved my main checking account from Wachovia to Asheville Savings Bank. The interest checking there really appealed to me, and their customer service is among the best I’ve ever come across.”
A community banker weighs in
“Bank of Asheville’s deposits were up 20 percent during 2009,” reports President and Chief Executive G. Gordon Greenwood, “moving us from 12th place to eighth place out of a total of 19 banks in Buncombe County. Other community banks are experiencing something similar.”
People are realizing that we offer all the services of the bigger banks — online banking, bill pay, credit cards, debit cards and so on,” says Greenwood. “And of course, there’s a definite advantage to being able to talk face to face with an officer who can actually make a decision for the bank. Plus, 95 percent of our loans are made to consumers, mortgage holders and small businesses right here in Buncombe County.”
How about it, Asheville?
Now it’s time for the city of Asheville to transfer its money from Wachovia/Wells Fargo, Bank of America and BB&T to community banks. During the Feb. 9 City Council meeting, Council member Cecil Bothwell proposed considering just such a switch.
“In light of the poor management decisions evident among banks considered ‘too big to fail,’ I suggest that the city of Asheville might do well to bank with local banks which have proven to be resilient and responsive to the needs of our local community,” Bothwell explains. “It seems to me that local tax dollars collected and distributed by the city government would better serve the community if we banked locally. Council has embraced the idea that we should bolster the local economy and local small businesses whenever we can, and moving our money can be part of that effort.”
Move your money!
Some might claim that switching from their current bank is too much trouble. But the Move Your Money Web site (moveyourmoney.info) lays out a very straightforward process. Read the FAQs and checklist and then proceed to “Find a Bank/Credit Union,” where you can choose a local institution that meets your specific needs. (To view a list of highly rated WNC banks and credit unions, click here.) Before moving your money, however, you’ll also want to check the institution’s safety rating and whether your deposits would be FDIC-insured.
With a little foresight and perseverance, you can make this change with grace and ease. And the rewards are huge — more personalized service, lower fees and higher interest, a focus on the needs of local families and businesses, and loans made where customers actually live and work. What’s not to like?
Thursday, February 25th, 2010Support equal rights for all Ashevillians
Let the Asheville City Council know that you support same-sex domestic partner benefits–equal compensation for equal work–for all Asheville city employees by emailing the mayor and all city council members at AshevilleNCCouncil@ashevillenc.gov. This issue comes before the council next Tuesday, February 9, and I encourage you to attend that meeting to show your support for equal rights for all Ashevillians.
From Councilperson Gordon Smith at Scrutiny Hooligans
Let the Asheville City Council know that you support same-sex domestic partner benefits–equal compensation for equal work–by emailing the mayor and all city council members at AshevilleNCCouncil@ashevillenc.gov. This issue comes before the council next Tuesday, February 9, and I encourage you to attend that meeting to show your support for equal rights for all Ashevillians.
I’m writing to let you know that I support same-sex domestic partner benefits–equal compensation for equal work. Adopting such a policy will be a very positive step toward equal rights for all Ashevillians.
On Feb. 9th your Asheville City Council will consider the question of whether to provide equal compensation for equal work. Domestic Partnership Benefits (DPB) for city employees with same-sex partners address a number of very important social and economic factors:
- Improve recruitment and retention of quality employees
- Provide equal compensation for equal work to our employees who are denied the option to marry
Providing Domestic Partner Benefits to same-sex employees will also:
- Improve Asheville’s reputation as one friendly to our LGBT citizens
- Improve Asheville’s reputation as friendly to gay tourists
- Strengthen families through health, stability, and respect
- Compete with private sector employers
- Bolster Asheville’s reputation as a creative, accepting, diverse economic climate for entrepreneurs
I’ve moved forward with this initiative now because City staff will be presenting an analysis of our health and benefits packages in a worksession on March 9th. Including our LGBT employees is crucial. Seven other government entities in North Carolina have already passed DPB. Three of them, including Mecklenburg County, passed same-sex only DPB. It’s perfectly legal, responsible, and just.
Read more by clicking here.
Hope to see you at the city council meeting next Tuesday!
Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010How Cecil Won: The Shifting Political Landscape in Asheville
Last Tuesday I watched as Cecil Bothwell took his place on the Asheville (NC) City Council along with the other newly-elected members, Gordon Smith and Esther Manheimer. Nowhere present was H.K. Edgerton, the man who’d outspokenly
opposed the seating of Bothwell, because as Edgerton sees it, the new councilperson didn’t profess the proper religious beliefs.
Frankly, one of the reasons I strongly supported Cecil for City Council is the fact that he refuses to engage in disingenuous piety and sanctimonious nostrums for political advantage as so many seem willing to do. Besides, isn’t Edgerton, the former president of the local branch of the NAACP, something of a comic (some might say tragic) figure—a black man all dressed up in Confederate regalia with no place to go?
Anyway, Cecil’s affirmation of office took place without a hitch, and a raucous cheer went up from the assembly of supporters in council chambers. An historic moment in Asheville history was taking place before our eyes: The political power of the old Courthouse Gang (and the privileged, middle-aged white men they typically handpicked as candidates) was waning. In fact, none of the two council candidates they’d supported even came close to being elected. Out of the ashes, a new political reality was being born. Capitalizing on grassroots organizing, innovative use of the Internet and other lessons from the 2008 Obama campaign, empowered citizens chose the three most progressive candidates in the race.
Why Cecil won
The major reason Cecil won was because of his own tireless efforts. For all practical purposes, he’d been campaigning for the better part of two years, first for Buncombe County Board of Commissioners in 2008 (losing out by a miniscule margin), then for Asheville City Council this year. For more than six months during the campaign for city council, he went to meetings, gave speeches, participated in forums, knocked on doors, made phone calls, spoke with citizens one-on-one
and in small groups, rallied the volunteers, hosted strategy sessions, wrote newsletters and blog posts and much, much more. I’ve never seen a more intense and resolute effort by a local candidate.
There were those who spread rumors about Cecil and his supposed motives for running for council. The camp of one candidate told everyone who’d listen that Cecil was not a team player. In the comments section of some local blogs and websites, some accused Cecil of being egotistical and self-absorbed. However, anyone who really knows Cecil understood that these charges were merely attempts to sabotage his candidacy.
Let’s face it: how could someone who wasn’t a genuine team player attract several hundred passionate and committed volunteers to canvass, call, cook, write, distribute yard signs, work at the polling places, etc. week after week? How could a candidate who knocked on countless doors himself, made phone calls too numerous to count, constructed his own yard signs, created campaign buttons in his living room and made campaign decisions by consensus be regarded as anything but unpretentious and egalitarian? Highly intelligent? Absolutely. Self confident? Most assuredly. Visionary? No question about it. Self-important or arrogant? Not a chance.
John Huie speaks
John Huie, legendary leader of the North Carolina Outward Bound School (mid-1970s to mid-1990s) and former executive director of the Environmental Leadership Center at Warren Wilson College, powerfully expressed his reasons for supporting Cecil in an October 26 letter to the Asheville Citizen-Times:
During the 25 years Cecil Bothwell has lived in our community, he has been fearless in taking stands, some of which were unpopular at the time.
Cecil organized opposition to the Iraq War even before it began. He challenged the city’s law against panhandling as unconstitutional infringement on free speech. He helped block construction of the Grove Park Inn high-rise on City/County Plaza. And he put his life at risk investigating and reporting on the criminal activity of Sheriff Bobby Lee Medford, helping bring the former sheriff to justice.
I know Cecil Bothwell to be a person of integrity, one who cares profoundly about our society and about the democracy we all claim to cherish. I know of Cecil’s tireless efforts among those who are poor, imprisoned, homeless, and without hope. This is a man of clear vision, compassionate outlook, and a passion for social justice. He is a man who not only talks and writes about democracy and the loving community but also works and sweats in a myriad of creative ways to make the words flesh.
We have a name for the Cecil Bothwells of the world: we call them citizens.
Putting the new politics to work
Following the Asheville primary on October 6, in which Cecil, Gordon and Esther finished 1, 2 and 3, I wrote a letter to the editor of the Citizen-Times (10/19/09) about the outcome and how it was achieved. I think it still expresses the shift that has occurred in our local politics.
In times past, many seeking elected office seemed to be trying to sell us something, as if we, the citizens, were merely compliant consumers. Conventional political wisdom called for candidates to appear affable and knowledgeable while uttering vague generalities, to craft a clever and alluring message and to broadcast that message to the masses, all in the hope that we would buy what they were selling. Well, thankfully those days are behind us.
The arrival of a new era in Asheville politics was clearly demonstrated by the victories attained by Cecil Bothwell and Gordon Smith in the city council primary on October 6. These wins were built on hard and smart work by both candidates, sizeable teams of deeply committed volunteers and the grassroots organizing skills many of them gained working in Obama’s 2008 campaign.
It is apparent that ordinary citizens now realize the power they possess and are using it to excellent advantage to elect authentic leaders—leaders who understand the needs of working people, leaders who will be honest and transparent, leaders who will involve us in the decision-making process on matters that directly affect us, leaders who will remember how they got into office once elected.
The swiftboaters misfire . . . and sink out of sight
Then, of course, there was the pathetic and futile effort by Chris Peterson, Cecil Cantrell and their Common Sense in Government PAC to smear Cecil and brand him as Satan’s helper. This inept swiftboating scheme with its primitive and ill-conceived mailers resembled something that might have been created by high school kids in the 1970s.
In his October 30 letter to the Citizen-Times, Tebbe Davis did an excellent job of deconstructing Peterson and Cantrell’s smear campaign:
It appears elements of the conservative right are up to their usual tricks in this year’s city election. Fliers attacking City Council candidate Cecil Bothwell recently were sent through the mail to local voters by a group working under the name “Common Sense in Government.” I did a little research and found that the organization is headed by Chris Peterson, a video poker machine operator when Bobby Medford was Buncombe County sheriff, and Cecil Cantrell, a supporter of Medford’s.
It’s useful to remember that it was Bothwell’s investigative reporting that helped bring Medford to justice and put him behind bars for 15 years for extortion, money laundering and conspiracy related to illegal video poker machine businesses. Coincidence? Perhaps, but in a small city like this I doubt it.
Furthermore, Cantrell has been deeply involved in the “swiftboating” of progressive candidates in previous city elections. Let’s show these dirty tricksters that such outdated and irresponsible techniques are best dumped in the dustbin of history. Let’s go to the polls and elect Cecil Bothwell and other progressive candidates, leaders who will help move our community forward during these challenging times.
Old and stale political scare tactics are not going to work here.
Records at the Buncombe County Board of Elections show that Peterson, Cantrell and others actually spent several thousand dollars during the campaign, but this time Asheville voters weren’t falling for their duplicity. Despite the time, money and energy expended, the ill-fated PAC failed to affect the outcome of the election in any way.
Going forward
I’ve said this before, but I think it bears repeating. As the people’s representative on Asheville City Council, I believe Cecil will consistently and courageously take a stand for:
- the rights of every citizen regardless of sexual orientation, ethnic origin, socio-economic status, political belief, religious/spiritual faith or lifestyle,
- the health of our planet and all its inhabitants and
- the creation of a community that works for all of us.
Furthermore, I believe Cecil will provide leadership that is principled, effective, accountable, transparent, inclusive and predicated on citizen participation. He will work with us and his fellow council members to create a truly sustainable community, including smart growth, protection of our city’s natural beauty, green jobs and action to help curb climate change.
Perhaps most importantly, Cecil is one of us—someone who lives among us, someone who understands our wants and needs, someone who will readily hear us when we speak.
But it’s not just up to our elected leaders to take the actions required in these challenging times; it’s up to us too. Let’s get behind Cecil, Gordon, Esther, Brownie, Jan, Bill and Terry and help create the Asheville we want to see.
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Speak out about Horizon Urban Village project!
Tonight the Asheville City Council takes up a request from Horizon Urban Village project for a 12-month extension on the Urban Village rezoning that is currently in process. Below is the message regarding this matter that I sent to Council this morning. If you are so inclined, I urge you to send a similar message today to all Council members at AshevilleNCCouncil@ashevillenc.gov.
Thanks for your consideration of my request. You are invited to send this along to your friends who might have concerns about this project.
I wish you well.
Bruce
Dear Mayor Bellamy and City Council members:
I am writing about the Horizon Urban Village project request for a 12-month extension on the Urban Village rezoning that is currently in process.
First of all, I oppose this project since, if completed, it would be excessively out of scale to other buildings in that part of our city. In addition, it would block sunlight from a number of residences in that area. Moreover, it would create an even more challenging traffic situation than currently exists in that vicinity.
Secondly, I see no reason why this project should be given an extension by what is essentially a “lame duck” Council. If this matter is to be taken up, I strongly suggest deferring action until the newly-elected Council members take office.
Finally, though this may have no bearing on your decision, I think it should be noted that Chris Peterson, one of the principals of the Horizon Urban Village project, was deeply involved in a smear campaign against two incoming Council members. Ineffective and amateurish though it may have been, I don’t believe such disrespectful behavior should be rewarded.
Thank you for taking the time to read and, hopefully, consider my concerns.
Respectfully,
Bruce Mulkey
16 Spears Avenue, #19
Asheville, NC 28801
Voting in the Asheville City Election has begun!
Be sure to cast your vote for the candidates of your choice in the Asheville City Election. You may vote for mayor and three city council candidates in early voting or on election day, November 3.
EARLY VOTING
From now through Saturday, 10/31, you may register and vote at the any of the five locations below:
- Buncombe County Board of Elections, 189 College Street, downtown Asheville
- North Asheville Branch Library, 1030 Merrimon Avenue
- South Buncombe Branch Library, 260 Overlook Road
- Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Department Building, 70 Gashes Creek Road
- West Asheville Branch Library, 942 Haywood Road
All five of these early voting locations are open during the following hours:
- Weekdays: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Saturday, 10/31: 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
ELECTION DAY
On Election Day, Tuesday, 11/3, you must vote at your regular precinct polling place from 6:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. To find your precinct polling place, visit the URL below:
http://www.buncombecounty.org/common/election/precinct_Address.pdf
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009A few random thoughts on a rainy Saturday morning . . .
The victories of Cecil Bothwell and Gordon Smith in last Tuesday’s primary election in Asheville were built on hard and smart work by both candidates, sizeable teams of deeply-committed volunteers and the grassroots organizing skills many of them gained working in Obama’s 2008 campaign. Local citizens now realize the power they possess and are using it to excellent advantage.
Shonnie and I have been in Asheville exactly 12 years, having moved here from Austin, Texas on October 9, 1997. We’re having dinner tonight with Ken and Loyd Kinnett, our only two friends when we first arrived.
Jubilee! Community, our faith community is 20 years old, and the birthday celebration last night was an excellent reflection of the inclusiveness, irreverence, joy and compassion that brings us all together.
It was good to see Jeremy Bird, the number two guy at Organizing for America, on MSNBC last night speaking in support of health care reform. Jeremy was in charge of Obama’s highly-successful field organization during the presidential campaign in Ohio, and I was one of his field organizers.
Shonnie and I have finished our fourth week with Crossfit Asheville. Tough workouts (I almost threw up on Wednesday), but we can both already tell the difference in our bodies and our conditioning.
I was surprised but pleased by the announcement that President Obama had won the Nobel Peace Prize. There is no question that he has shifted the U.S. from a stance of confrontation to one of cooperation with the other nations of the world. But more importantly, he personally models and calls on us to act out of our highest values–compassion, connection, generosity, authenticity and integrity among others. I can only hope that this award will provide a greater urgency to get our troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan at an early date.
Two of our cats are sharing Chocolate’s former duties now that she’s no longer with us physically. Desmond takes the day shift with me in my office, and Bandit sleeps with me most of the night. A great comfort, but I still miss my old companion of 21 years.
I’m going to join Cecil at the Asheville Humane Society fund raiser and the Blue Ridge Pride gathering later today to talk with voters. Hope the rain holds off!
Saturday, October 10th, 2009City Council candidates answer questions “yes” or “no”
Folks running for political office frequently prefer to offer at least two answers to every question. At their candidate forum on September 15, People Advocating Real Conservancy (PARC) decided to ask candidates “yes” or “no” questions about local land use issues that have already been debated at length in our community.
Below is the Candidate Scorecard from the forum. You will notice that Cecil Bothwell was the only candidate participating who offered a “yes” or “no” answer on every question. In addition, Cecil was also the only candidate who said “yes” to #7–taking back our park land from Stewart Coleman by Eminent Domain and #10–creating a green space on city land in front of the Basilica.
You may watch the video version of the questions by clicking the links below:
Click HERE for questions 1, 2 and 3.
Click HERE for questions 4 and 5.
Click HERE for questions 6 and 7.
Click HERE for questions 8 and 9.
You may also wish to check out City Council candidates’ responses to the WNC for Change questionnaire by clicking here.
Remember to vote in the city primary election this Tuesday, October 6 from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. at your precinct polling place.
Saturday, October 3rd, 2009Rest in peace, Ted Kennedy
The only one of Joe Kennedy’s sons who did not suffer a violent death, Ted Kennedy is dead at 77 from brain cancer. His presence will be sorely missed.
Below is an excerpt from an excellent article on the life of the youngest of the Kennedy brothers from today’s New York Times.
Edward Kennedy, Senate Stalwart, Dies
New York Times, August 27, 2009
By John M. Broder
Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts, a son of one of the most storied families in American politics, a man who knew triumph and tragedy in near-equal measure and who will be remembered as one of the most effective lawmakers in the history of the Senate, died late Tuesday night. He was 77.
The death of Mr. Kennedy, who had been battling brain cancer, was announced Wednesday morning in a statement by the Kennedy family, which was already mourning the death of the senator’s sister Eunice Kennedy Shriver two weeks earlier.
“Edward M. Kennedy — the husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle we loved so deeply – died late Tuesday night at home in Hyannis Port,” the statement said. “We’ve lost the irreplaceable center of our family and joyous light in our lives, but the inspiration of his faith, optimism, and perseverance will live on in our hearts forever.”
President Obama issued a statement acknowledging Mr. Kennedy’s accomplishments. “An important chapter in our history has come to an end,” the statement said. “Our country has lost a great leader, who picked up the torch of his fallen brothers and became the greatest United States senator of our time.”
Mr. Kennedy had been in precarious health since he suffered a seizure in May 2008. His doctors determined the cause was a malignant glioma, a brain tumor that often carries a grim prognosis.
As he underwent cancer treatment, Mr. Kennedy was little seen in Washington, appearing most recently at the White House in April as Mr. Obama signed a national service bill that bears the Kennedy name. Last week Mr. Kennedy urged Massachusetts lawmakers to change state law and let Gov. Deval Patrick appoint a temporary replacement upon his death, to assure that the state’s representation in Congress would not be interrupted by a special election.
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