Notes

Slide Show

Outline

1	On the 3^rd Anniversary of the Iraq War: THE COST OF WAR The Impact on Oakland… Our Economy, Our Services, and Our Security Presented by Vice Mayor Jean Quan
2	The human cost of the war is barely mentioned these days…over 35,000 Iraqi dead…over 2250 American dead. As chair of the City’s Finance Committee, I am reminded daily of the cost of this war. How many more young Oaklanders will die on our streets years from now because of the cuts in police, Headstart and schools? How many seniors will die early because of cuts in health care? How many thousands are endangered because the National Guard resources are stretched? Jean Quan, Vice Mayor
3	The nation is spending $100,000 per minute on the War in Iraq.
4	President Bush’s Budget Priorities, 2006
5	"Yesterday a 52-to-48 Senate vote..." Yesterday a 52-to-48 Senate vote increased the federal debt limit by $781 billion, bringing the debt ceiling to nearly $9 trillion. This includes another $65 Billion for the War in Iraq, bringing the total to $306 Billion.
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23	The War in Iraq has cost Oakland $312 million, San Francisco $835 million, San Jose $1.22 billion.
24	If we weren’t paying for the war, Oakland could Build 2,799 units of housing Insure 46,551 children for four years Hire 1,350 teachers for four years Provide 15,074 4-year scholarships Provide 41,187 children a year of Head Start
25	Port of Oakland Seaports remain largely under-funded for security and terrorism prevention at the federal level. As a result, they must divert limited port resources to pay for enhanced security, often at the cost of improving their facilities to handle fast-growing trade volumes. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have not been adequately funded to keep the nation’s deep-draft channel maintenance projects on schedule. Source: American Association of Port Authorities
26	Federal budget cuts what Oakland needs COPS – Police for Cities, 79% cut Community Development Block Grants – (Wide variety of programs for the poor, eg. Meals on Wheels, homeless assistance, youth programs) 30% cut Housing – 49.8% cut in housing assistance for persons with disability and HIV Food stamp & Medicaid cuts Education – Programs eliminated include Upward Bound, Vocational Education, Education Technology, Safe and Drug Free Schools, Arts in Education. Heating Bill Assistance for Seniors – Cut 40% Port Security C Oakland received $11 million out of $168 million requested Headstart – may have to close a center
27
28	For More Information: For Cost of the War - http://nationalpriorities.org/ Source of the Federal Budget Charts - http://budget.senate.gov/democratic/ War profiteering & waste: www.corpwatch.org Military casualties: http://icasualties.org/oif/ Iraqi casualties: http://www.iraqbodycount.org/ Commonsense Budget supported by Congresswoman Lee - http://www.sensiblepriorities.org/csba/text.php
29	Thanks Our speakers: Miguel Bustos, representing Congresswoman Lee, Pratap Chatterjee, CorpWatch; and Susan Shelton, Community Housing, City of Oakland Ratna Amin & Lupe Schoenberger, City Council Legislative Analysts Richard Cowan & Sue Piper, District 4 Council Staff KTOP staff National Priorities Project True Majority Senator Kent Conrad’s Budget Website (North Dakota)