In my June 14, 2019 blog on Presidential Politics + Food & Farm Justice, I quoted journalist John Nichols extensively about how the appointment of a U.S. Secretary of Agriculture was, for Trump, “an afterthought” (see Nichols’s book on all Trump’s cabinet appointments, Horsemen of the Trumpocalypse). In fact Sonny Perdue was the last cabinet appointment that Trump […]
Election Platforms
For decades of presidential cabinet appointments, the Secretary of Agriculture has often been one of the last, almost as an afterthought. I would say that August 2020 is not too soon to start thinking about who our next USDA Secretary will or should be—and not too soon to get some names out to the public, […]
This is my latest update on the 2020 U.S. elections for three food & farm listservs — COMFOOD (Tufts U.), Food Policy Networks (Johns Hopkins U.), Regeneration Midwest (a 12-state coalition). These networks are committed to food justice, farm justice, democracy through food policy councils, urban-rural coalitions, thriving local economies, good health for all, as […]
The second part of this email contains a “Citizen Comment” that I submitted to the Evanston City Council in November 2019. The first part of this email provides some context for why I am sharing this now, in June 2020. I submit this to all of you — fellow Evanstonians — as my contribution to […]
On Sunday, March 15, 2020, the Governor of the State of Illinois imposed a moratorium on ON-SITE CONSUMPTION of food & drink for all Illinois food businesses—grocery stores, restaurants, cafes, bakeries, bars, etc. The moratorium is currently scheduled to continue through March 30. Of course, the situation around COVID 19 is completely fluid no matter what time […]
VOTE March 3, 2020Super Tuesday states: AL AR CA CO ME MA MN NC OK TN TX UT VT VA This update contains 5 topics relevant to FOOD + FARMS + DEMOCRACY in the U.S., as our work is reflected in the 2020 campaign for U.S. president. It was originally sent to two of the […]
I’m endorsing Elizabeth Warren because she is an organizer, knows how the U.S. government works (and doesn’t work), and knows how to listen and how to communicate. I believe she will be a great partner to activists of all kinds on all our basic needs and to local and state governments. She is a model […]
This update contains 5 topics relevant to Food + Farms + Democracy as our work is reflected in the 2020 campaign for U.S. president: 1. IMPEACH & REMOVE RALLIES (tonight Dec. 17)2. DEMOCRATIC DEBATE: Threat of Sodexo strike3. FOOD & FARM PLATFORMS4. SECRETARIES OF AGRICULTURE (federal & state)5. ORDER OF PRIMARIES & CAUCUSES Sent to three […]