I. ACTION
************** EMERGENCY ****************
Calling All East Coast Georgists - New Jersey Campaign Ambush IN PROGRESS!
!!READ IMMEDIATELY!!
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Georgist Motif Gaining Popularity
Camp Hank
The Henry George Cafe
II. WORD
NEWSWATCH: Catch of the Day from Mainstream News
"Business Week" On Clean Air and Land Value
Is Sprawl Threatening US News Corporations?
WATCHWATCH: Who's Watching the Watchdog's Watchdog?
Not Eye
GEOWATCH: Update on Georgist Media Advances
The Spring '99 "Geonomist"
III. NETWORK
Call for Abstracts on Constituting Financial Knowledge
Urban Land Institute Conference
Taiwan Conference on Re-imagining Political Community
IV. REQUESTS
From Hanno Beck of the Banneker Center for Economic Justice
From Mark Sullivan of the Council of Georgist Organizations
V. FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK
Brevity of This Edition
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I. ACTION
Trenton, NJ (Joshua Vincent/GNS) - This morning (Monday, 17 May) beginning at 11 AM, there will be a hearing on the New Jersey Site Value Tax Constitutional Amendment (ACR-145) in Committee Hearing Room 8 at the State House Annex in Trenton.
Unfortunately, the Georgist mission in New Jersey seems to have been ambushed.
Assemblyman Arnone's office (Arnone is sponsoring the bill) has received a letter of opposition to the bill, signed by an ad hoc 'Coalition for Fair an d Uniform Taxation in New Jersey.' Some very heavy hitters are on the list, including the New Jersey AFL-CIO, the Contractor's Association and a bunch o f realtors and assorted business groups. Of course, some of these groups obviously have no idea what they're opposing but that's not relevant right now.
Please come and testify if you're in New Jersey. If you're an academic and have some time to travel, please do so. If you have short and pithy pro-LVT endorsements from known pro-business famous people, please send them to me. I will use them.
Assemblyman Arnone has worked hard for the Georgist cause. Please do what yo u can to help us.
Ideas for those who cannot attend the hearing:
Contact Christine Todd Whitman, the Governor. She claims to want sprawl
reduction. Inform her of Sierra Club's position on the split-rate tax as a
form of sprawl reduction (reprinted in full below):
http://www.state.nj.us/governor/contact.htm
Contact Sierra Club's New Jersey Chapter and ask them to attend the hearing
(IT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW) and to make phone calls and to send faxes and
emails RIGHT AWAY to their members concerned with poverty and sprawl:
http://www.enviroweb.org/njsierra
Contact activists and groups in New Jersey and the surrounding area, concerned for the poor and the environment who might be able to attend the hearing or mobilize others to do so.
Contact The Georgist News using
The following was posted by Larry Bohlen of Sierra Club, on their sprawl
discussion e-list.
The Sierra Club supports the split-rate tax (also knows as the land value
tax) as a way to curb sprawl. The split-rate was mentioned by another
listserve member as a strategy to protect greenspace.
The formal Sierra Club position adopted June 1996:
"The Sierra Club supports the split-rate tax as a measure to promote urban
redevelopment and discourage sprawl development at the municipal level."
* * *
We encourage groups and chapters to pursue a split-rate tax to curb sprawl
and encourage redevelopment at the municipal level. The split-rate (also
known as the land value tax) simply raises taxes on land while lowering or
zeroing out taxes on buildings. It is typically applied on a revenue neutral
basis so that there is a tax shift rather than a tax increase, making the
measure politically palatable.
We advocate the split-rate tax in existing developed areas with particular
emphasis on inner suburbs and the urban core. The Club has been concerned
about possible effects on farmland, so intends to do more research on rural
areas and transitional areas where problems might occur. However, empirical
evidence from over 20 towns in Pennsylvania shows that the tax has directed
growth into existing developed areas, often those in decline.
The Maryland Municipal League has endorsed the system as a desired policy fo
r promoting revitalization. Additionally, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation has
lobbied the Maryland Governor's office to enable counties to adopt the tax
system. Additional support has been shown by Herman Daly in "For the Common
Good" and by the Brookings Institute in an editorial in the Washington Post
by senior fellow, Anthony Downs.
The split-rate is supported by the Henry George Foundation, which has been
single-mindedly dedicated to a shift of all taxes onto land. The idea
emerged as part of a progressive agenda in the late 1800's to alleviate
poverty by taxing the landed-gentry. These days, wealth is not as tied to
land so this rationale is not as relevant as preventing sprawl which was not
prevalent in the 1800's.
Pressure to raze historic buildings was another possible problem cited, but
they can be exempted, along with green space in parks or under easements.
As noted below, the measure is compatible with existing Sierra Club policy.
Some groups and chapters already promote the measure along with Transferable
Development Rights (TDR's), Adequate Public Facilities ordinances (APF's),
and mixed-use zoning.
* * *
Urban Environment Policy elements that pertain to a split-rate tax:
..the Sierra Club urges planning and policies which stimulate:
Conservation of Open Space
2. Preservation and revitalization of urban neighborhoods...
3. "Infill" residential and commercial development on unused and under-used
land within city boundaries...
4. Protection and enhancement of the quality of urban life
The split-rate tax promotes all of the above.
The above is also at this URL:
Camp Hank will emphasize fun and the development of observational skills,
but it will also explicitly speak to the scientific and moral basis for
sharing human habitat. In addition to everything else, campers will get a
dose of Texas social studies every day - that's right in the brochure - with
the promise that if campers apply what they learn they'll be able to write
clear meaningful essays in history class.
Camp Hank's Director, David Giesen, is a committed Georgist living in San
Francisco with family (with land) in Austin. Next summer Giesen intends to
offer a full summer of Camp Hank sessions in Northern California and Texas.
David Giesen henrygeorge@sfo.com
The cafe would be within sight of the entrance to a new station for the
Jubilee Line, due to open at the end of this year, taking tourists between
the Millennium Dome at Greenwich and Parliament at the Palace of Westminster.
"WHOM HAS HE ROBBED?" (or "The British Obsession") by Donald Riley
"In 1992 he bought a derelict building at London Bridge for £3100,000
and returned to N.Z. Meanwhile the neighbours toiled in their businesses,
repaired their buildings and paid taxes which built the new Jubilee
underground station 300 yards away. "In 1999 he sells the land to a
neighbour for £3450,000."
The Henry George Foundation would welcome offers of capital and/or expertise
in catering or project management from Georgists worldwide. We want to be
part of this rising South Bank area, a stone's throw from the site of the
new London Mayor's office on the river next to Tower Bridge. It's a very
popular area for American tourists in particular.
We envisage a basement meeting room, which might host jazz and ethnic music
concerts, a 100-seater themed cafe with pictures of HG and his
contemporaries, Georgist publications from all over the world for sale and
perhaps an Internet window on the world too!
The project is still at a very early stage and table bookings will not be
taken for at least 18 months.
Tony Vickers tonyvickers@cix.compulink.co.uk
Here is an indication that although the imposition of regulation on land use
adds to the cost of doing business, the benefit is spread to all landowners
in the form of increased imputed rent, which is shown to be capitalized into
higher land prices.
The Georgist perspective, however, in light of all the other such articles of
late, might include wonder whether media companies are intentionally
distancing themselves from landed interests in the public eye, whether landed
interests themselves have decided destroying Earth's ecosystem isn't worth
any amount of power or whether wide-eyed journalists and environmentalists
are stumbling across the land question all by themselves like Henry George
did so long ago...
In last week's issue, Larry Bohlen of Sierra Club made clear to readers of
SC's email discussion list on sprawl, that Sierra Club, for very good
reasons, supports the land tax shift as an anti-sprawl measure. He also turns
up in this article with a 'gift quote' for Georgists. Here's that portion of
the article:
"If government is considered ill-suited to provide the communities that
people want, then why have land speculators traditionally been the largest
contributors in political campaigns?" asks Larry Bohlen, co-chair of the
Sierra Club Challenge to Sprawl Campaign.
"They must think that they are getting something for their money," he
answered.
The full story: http://www.cnn.com/NATURE/9903/31/sprawl.enn
WATCHWATCH: Watching the Watchdog's Watchdog
GEOWATCH: Georgist Media Update
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From a recent press release on the International Political Economy Email
Discussion List -
We are looking for people working in the field of International Finance in
international political economy, who are interested in scrutinising the
historical, cultural and social constitution of financial knowledge. The
system that we call international finance relies on (often implicit)
understandings of money, time, risk, responsibility etc. that are constituted
and reproduced through social learning practices. By providing an
interpretation of the construction, presentation and implementation of
knowledge in finance, we aim to challenge the way current financial practices
are represented as incontestable orthodoxies.
Abstracts must be received prior to June the 1st by the following contacts.
You're welcome to use email.
Paul F. Ramshaw, Dept. of International Politics
Marieke de Goede, Dept. of Politics
-- Re-mapping history,
The $150 registration fee ($130 for students) includes a reception, 3 nights
of lodging, 9 meals and a copy of all conference papers. Please take
advantage of pre-registration by visiting the conference home page:
http://www.natsc.org
For conference information, contact the president, Wei-Der Shu
In the most recent "Economic Justice Update" from the Banneker Center for
Economic Justice, site director Hanno Beck urges, "If you are a praying
person, would you consider saying an extra prayer for peace in the Balkan
region? Economic justice cannot grow in an area with so much violence."
Hanno also asks, "if you have not recently visited our daily news web site,
The Progress Report, would you please stop by and take a look, and let us
know how it can be improved? What do you like, that should be expanded? What
do you not like, that should be decreased? Your feedback creates the next
version of the web site! The Progress Report: http://www.progress.org
He suggests "CGO member organizations and individuals can check to see if
their investment portfolios do or do not support war, genocide, and the
devastation of the earth ..." He also reminds "George, Tolstoy, and many
leading Single-Taxers had strong criticisms of militarism and its relation
to an economic system of involuntary poverty and privilege.
"Michael Hudson recently remarked how the IMF, a few years ago, helped create
an economic crisis in Yugoslavia. I think we can see how this led to
unemployment, the breakdown of civil society, genocide and war. Maybe this i
s an angle where we can contribute insights to the efforts for peace and
justice. Our efforts in Russia may ultimately be at stake, where a similar
forces seem to be at work (the IMF, economic problems, a multi-ethnic
society, a former "communist" system, etc)."
"Very grateful for your excellent service..." - Harry Ball-Wilson
Readers, Mr. Wilson is currently at the Hague Appeal for Peace in the
Netherlands as are other prominent Georgists such as Alanna Hartzok. I had
intended to report more fully on the event in this issue of the Georgist
News. The urgency of the New Jersey report led me to release this issue
before I could complete that report, but I'll endeavor to cover it in the
next issue of the Georgist News, which I plan to bring you by this weekend.
Thanks for your understanding.
George Truly,
* * *
We rely heavily on volunteer correspondents and writers. Potential news
items, press releases and story references for The Georgist News should be
sent to: gnewsdesk@aol.com
The Georgist News is very grateful to the following web sites for providing
their visitors with a link to our home page.
The EarthSharing Home Page: http://www.earthsharing.org.au/
There are many ways you might be able to help this project grow and improve.
If you'd like to become further involved or if there is any way The Georgist
News might be of greater use to you or your related projects,
please, contact Adam Monroe at: georgist@aol.com
Web site suggestions can be sent to Scott Kroyer at: kroyer@scc.net.
The Georgist News is deeply grateful for support received from
BACKGROUND (not part of the position, but may be helpful):
1. Preservation of ... outlying natural areas and agricultural lands by
zoning, curbing suburban highway development, control of municipal services
and other devices to eliminate "leap-frog" sprawl.
http://www.progress.org/progs/wwwboard/messages/5042.html
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San Francisco, CA (David Geisen/GNS) - Now there's a Georgist summer daycamp
for kids 10-14! Camp Hank debuts this June 21-July 2 in Austin, Texas and
sports all the best things summer camp can offer youths --nature studies,
theater activities, sports, socializing, and swimming-- and imbedded in all
the curriculum is the Georgist perspective of growth by equality in
association. Indeed, campers will perform a melodrama set in Texas in the
1890s and the plot involves a landlord and his tenant farmers!
PO Box 420664, San Francisco, CA 94142
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London, GB (Tony Vickers/GNS) - An exciting 'shop window' for Georgist ideas
is in prospect as a result of a supporter of HGF in London moving into
property speculation! New Zealander Donald Riley has offered us the lease "on
favourable terms" of a ground floor corner site of a Victorian former hotel
building as a "Henry George Cafe."
Riley has written a 'mini-saga' (maximum 50 words) for a competition in the
Sunday Telegraph magazine, in which he describes how he operates:
CEO, The Henry George Foundation of Great Britain
HGF of GB site material is currently at the web site of The Land Value
Taxation Campaign: http://www.landvaluetax.org
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II. WORD
NEWSWATCH: Watching the Public Watchdog
Business Week (4/12/99) reports that a new study released by the US National
Bureau of Economic Research (written by Kenneth Y. Chay and Michael
Greenstone of the Univ. of California at Berkeley) makes the case that
housing prices are higher in counties where government has imposed stiffer
air quality controls. The report talks about "house" prices but what they
really mean are "land values," and they conclude that improved air quality
added some $50 billion in market value (across the US, although the geography
is not stated specifically) during the 1980s.
--------------------
As reported in previous issues of the Georgist News, the sprawl issue seems
bound to further publicize the land question. The following controversial
title from CNN refers to one of the many "studies" by one of the many
"right-wing environmental" groups 'proving that there actually are no
environmental problems.' It seems to be, at first, just another leftist
expose` of a 'fake right-wing environmental study.'
I'm neglecting this section due to time constrainsts resulting from the
urgency of the New Jersey item in Section I of this issue.
An important reminder from The Georgist News - Rather than fill an entire
edition of The Georgist News with a reprint of th e Spring '99 "Geonomist,"
here's a reminder - you aren't up to date on Georgist news until you've
read it: http://www.progress.org/geonom49.htm
III. NETWORK
A panel on "Constituting Financial Knowledge" is being planned for the
International Studies Associations' meeting in Los Angeles next year.
University College of Wales, Aberystwyth
SY23 3DA, United Kingdom
0-197-062-2702 0-197-061-5379(H) pfr94@aber.ac.uk
University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 7RU, United Kingdom
0-191-222-5290 Marieke.Degoede@newcastle.ac.uk
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John Holtzclaw to the Sierra Club Sprawl List:
The Urban Land Institute is holding a conference "Place Making; Developing
Town Centers, Transit Villages, and Main Streets," on June 2-3 in Chicago.
ULI's sponsorship shows that the concept of urban placemaking is not simply
a dream of planners and transit advocates, but a marketable development concept
that is being embraced by the private sector as well. You may view the
program and speakers list on ULI's home page at www.uli.org or call
800-321-5011 for copies of the brochure.
--------------------
Chau-Yi Lin to the International Political Economy Email Discussion List:
The Fifth Annual North America Taiwan Studies Conference will be held on June
4 -7, 1999, at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, on the theme
"Re-imagining Political Community: Taiwan Facing the New Millennium." The
conference will feature 47 comprehensive papers on a wide variety of
Taiwan-related topics. Panel topics include:
-- Between ethnicity and nationhood,
-- Collective memory and emerging identity,
-- Media and public life,
-- Social structure and economic organization,
-- Religion and state,
-- Taiwan in comparative perspective,
-- Family and gender re-structuring, and
-- Politics of space and urbanization
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IV. REQUEST
--------------------
Mark Sullivan, Vice-President of the CGO (Council of Georgist Organizations)
has written to The Georgist News pondering "if we can speak as Georgists, ..
to the issues of the war in Kosovo ..."
___________________________________________
V. FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK
--------------------
As am I for yours.
Adam Jon Monroe, Jr.
Editor, The Georgist News
georgist@aol.com
This edition of The Georgist News and archives are available on our home
page, hosted by Scott Kroyer at: http://www.kroyer.com/gns
The Georgist Educational Association: http://www.multiline.com.au/~georgist
The Robert Schalkenbach Foundation
149 Madison Ave., Suite 601, New York, NY 10016 - 6713
212/683-6424; Fax 212/683-6454; schalkenba@aol.com
URL: http://www.progress.org/books/