The chain link fencing has gone up around a dozen or so houses at the corner of North Lake and Hoosick. In the next few weeks our route seven-bound eyes will be witnessing a mass demolition reminiscent of the bad old days of Troy’s “urban renewal.” An attractive row of early twentieth-century bungalows, which would sit comfortably in Frank Lloyd Wright’s Oak Park in Chicago, await their execution. These happy homes will no longer greet visitors at the gateway of our fair city. In their place will be 30,000 square feet of parking and one of the 7,000 new Walgreen’s the company expects to open by 2010. Just what Troy needs, another pharmacy.

On Friday, April 20, supporters ralied outside of Albany County Courthouse to urge the Parole release of John Valverde. Here is an account by someone who was there.

Jeremy Scahill reports on the Bush Administration's growing dependence on private security forces such as Blackwater USA and efforts in Congress to rein them in. This article is adapted from his new book, Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army (Nation Books). He appears at 7 PM on Monday, April 16, 2007 at The Sanctuary For Independent Media in Troy. Co-sponsored by Women Against War and the Social Justice Center.

Hundreds of people around the Capital Region gathered in Albany to commemorate the 4th anniversary of the war in Iraq.

The vigils honored American soldiers who were wounded or killed in Iraq through a reading of personal accounts written by family members of those who have died.

At the minimum, we need a left in this country — a viable political left that has some chance of affecting national policy, such as exists in virtually all other advanced, industrialized capitalist societies.

Advocates of the poor called today for Governor Spitzer to make ending hunger and poverty a priority for his administration. Speakers at the 18th annual People’s State of the State in front of the state Capitol said that poverty was a rampant problem throughout the state, particularly in upstate cities. “We started this event 18 years ago because the reality of poverty and hunger are often overlooked in the Governor’s formal state of the state address. For sixteen years, under both Mario Cuomo and George Pataki, people on welfare have fallen deeper and deeper into poverty. The tax burden has been shifted onto poor and moderate-income families while their real wages have either fallen or stagnated. Meanwhile the state’s efforts on job creation have increasingly focused on handing out corporate welfare checks for politically connected CEOs, with little accountability to ensure that jobs are actually created,” said Mark Dunlea of the Hunger Action Network, the principal organizer of the event.

Not One More Death, Not One More Dollar candlelight Vigil for Peace in Iraq - the day after the 3,000th U.S. military death in Iraq is announced on www.icasualties.org/oif/ - in Saratoga Springs, Delmar, Hillsdale, Catskill & across America - see www.afsc.org/3000/

A critique of the report by the New York Civil Liberties Union on video surveillance by the NYPD dated 13 Dec 2006

Actions in more than 100 cities across the US and Canada in solidarity with striking Goodyear workers, including Albany.

At a press conference in front of City Hall on Monday, December 4, the Coalition to Save Albany, City Councilman Ellis, media advocacy groups, and city residents demanded support for public access television in Albany.

This year marks the 25th Anniversary of HIV/AIDS. On Friday, December 1, 2006, National World AIDS Day, The Living Positive HIV/AIDS Ministry will host its first annual candlelight march in remembrance of those we have lost, those that are living with, and those affected by this disease.

We will gather in front of Troy City Hall 1 Monument Square at 6pm with our candles and make our procession down River Street over to Fifth Avenue, where we will conclude with a Gospel celebration of life at the First United Presbyterian Church at 1915 Fifth Avenue

Our featured choir for the evening will be Antonia Brown & the Women of Worship and Praise. In addition, we will hear from other Capital District choirs, testimonies from those living with HIV/AIDS, their caregivers, and Elected Officials in NYS.

All are encouraged to come out and worship with us and with statistics of new infections being the highest in youth age 25 and under we strongly encourage you to bring your children to this event

The speaker for the evening will be
Rev. Timothy A. Sherman for more information you can contact Tim at (518) 270-1049 or e-mail freshanointinguniver.ministries (at) yahoo.com

Spread the word invite everyone you know to come out!


Rev. Timothy A. Sherman
(518) 270-1049
www.myspace.com/130937452

Calling all kids, teens, parents and teachers....


You are invited to
DECONSTRUCT YOUR TELEVISION

Join Media Educators from the MNN Youth Channel for an interactive presentation and video message-making workshop on November 26 from 1-5 PM at the Sanctuary For Independent Media at 3361 6th Avenue in Troy.

to sign up, email: hmimc at indymedia.org
for workshop info: anyone at breathingplanet.net