Anthony Zeli

Maine workers suffer from free trade agreements

2012-01-12T15:17:00.000-08:00

Published in Portland Press Herald, 12/31/2012

This year several new free trade agreements were passed with the nations of Columbia, Korea and Panama. These free trade agreements are just the beginning. President Obama is in negotiations with as many as a dozen countries to hammer out a deal on a Pacific Area Free Trade Agreement.

Maine people are all too familiar with the effects of free trade. Since NAFTA passed in the 1990s, Maine has lost thousands of jobs. This latest attempt at expanding free trade to countries such as Vietnam, Malaysia, Chile and Peru, is an even greater threat to Maine.

New free trade agreements contain language that allows corporations to challenge laws that have an adverse effect on their profit. For instance, Maine is a leader among states that have passed chemical regulations aimed at preventing exposure to toxic chemicals in consumer products. Due to free trade agreements, these laws can be challenged by foreign corporations that want to sell toxic toys containing BPA.

PAFTA goes a step further by explicitly limiting governments' abilities to regulate banks, hedge funds and insurance companies. It also has provisions to strengthen monopolies on prescription drugs and make it harder to regulate drug prices. This will mean higher prices and less access to medicine.

I want to live in a community that is free of toxic chemicals and that provides quality health care for all its people. Maine has made great strides on both of these issues. I fear that the gains Maine has made and the potential for further progress could be undone by free trade and the greed of multinational corporations.

I encourage my fellow readers to join me in contacting Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins. Ask them to oppose PAFTA and to support our state's right to pass ground-breaking chemical policy and other reforms.

Will Labor Lead? - A Report from the Labor Campaign for Single-Payer

2011-07-07T10:40:00.001-07:00

“Great leaders aren’t born, they’re cornered,” paraphrased Joe Jurczak from National Nurses United during the opening of the Labor Campaign for Single-Payer National Meeting. He was imploring labor, the left, and anyone who gives a damn about the future of this country to pressure President Obama to put workers before Wall Street and big insurance. He, like many of us, had great hopes for Obama. But after the bailouts, and after the passage of the ACA--which continues to put for-profit insurance corporations in the driver seat of our national health care system--it is clear that this is one leader who will have to be cornered.

The meet-up was held in Washington, DC over a hot and humid June weekend. Beginning symbolically at the National AFL-CIO office, just blocks from the White House, the purpose of the meeting was to reevaluate goals and messaging for the Labor Campaign for Single-Payer. The Labor Campaign’s purpose: To corner the labor movement and convince them that labor must lead on this issue. Without labor’s lead single-payer will never happen, because outside of labor is there any single movement that can bring to bear the political pressure necessary to corner a President?

To this end we have had much success. The National AFL-CIO has adopted a resolution supporting single-payer health care reform. They are also supporting the Sanders/McDermontt Health Security Act of 2011 (S703/HR1200), a single-payer bill in the Senate. The AFL has even made a financial contribution to the Labor Campaign for Single-Payer. Every year more international unions are adding their voices to the growing movement. But there is a long way to go.

There is no more important domestic issue. Just in terms of dollars spent it is the biggest issue of our times. Here in Maine we spend 19% of our Gross State Product, over $6500 per person, on health care every year. To put that in perspective consider that most nations spend between $3000 and $4000 per person. And our per person annual income in Maine is only around $29k.

Despite the tremendous resources we pour into the health care system, 10% of our population in Maine is uninsured. Nationally the numbers are even more grim. This leads inevitably to inadequate care or worse, no care at all. Daily Americans are dying that could have been saved--if they could have afforded the care they needed. In fact, the US ranks last among industrialized countries in deaths that could have been prevented with access to timely and effective health care.

Yet, our current national dialog centers on tearing apart the few social insurance programs we have. We are no longer discussing ways to insure everybody, we are talking about dismantling Medicare and gutting Medicaid. It is justified by fiscal crisis. We are told that these programs are too big to afford... whereas Wall Street is too big fail! Billion dollar bailouts for corporate banks and investment houses made possible on the backs of working people.

Here is an idea: make the rich pay their fair share! The Labor Campaign for Single Payer advocates the "high road solution" to these unprecedented attacks on the well-being and security of workers everywhere: solve the health care crisis by transferring resources from military expenditures and corporate welfare to programs benefiting working people. In particular, we can strengthen Medicare by expanding it to everyone in America. The entire budget deficit would disappear if per capita health care costs in the United States were the same as in any other industrialized country with a national health care system.

These are difficult times. The most difficult. With at least two wars abroad, a continuing recession, and a President who has thrown his arms around Wall Street and the insurance industry, single-payer health care seems a long shot at best. But, can we afford to ignore single-payer because it is “politically unfeasible”?

It is our job to corner the labor movement, and pin down the progressives, to build the momentum we need to get our policy leaders to stop ignoring us in favor of big insurance or in the name of political expediency. We need to reach out to the small business owner, whether progressive, conservative, or a-political. We need to find the common ground that all of us stand on. We have to each agree that health care is a human right, and we have to enact sweeping health care reform to achieve an universal, equitable, affordable and accountable system that serves all of us well. It is up to us. We cannot fail.

Potatoes & Green Chemistry: More Jobs, Safer Jobs

2011-07-01T19:02:00.000-07:00

A recent report published by the BlueGreen Alliance, a national partnership between labor unions and environmental organizations, shows that Maine could either gain or lose hundreds of jobs over the next two decades depending on the path that our nation’s chemical policy takes. Today there are potentially thousands of toxic chemicals that have slipped through the vast lapses in our current chemical policies and arrived in our homes and workplaces. Yet we could have more jobs making greener chemicals. Right here in Maine, researchers are focusing on our potato crop in the search for the green chemicals of tomorrow. But more on that later.

As occupational safety and health professionals, we see chemical policy reform as critical to ensuring that workers are safe and healthy in their jobs. But we are failing. In fact, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) estimates that 20,000 cancer deaths and 40,000 new cases of cancer per year can be attributed to chemical exposures at work. By focusing on the narrow question of exactly how risky a specific exposure level might be, our current risk-based standard setting process distracts attention from the more important questions: Do we need this chemical at all? Are there safer alternatives?

Policymakers in Maine have seen the big picture and have acted. By supporting strong public health laws such as the Kid-Safe Products Act and the phase-out of bisphenol-a (BPA), they have protected children and consumers from toxic chemicals. And, by restricting the use of a harmful chemical like BPA downstream in consumer products, that action often results in an upstream protective benefit to the workers manufacturing, shipping and selling those products. But, toxic chemicals don’t stop at the border. Maine’s laws are limited.

That is why Congress needs to follow Maine’s lead and act to reform the outdated Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The reform mantra should be: First do no harm. Require chemical manufacturers to test chemicals before they are placed on the market. Prove to workers and consumers that chemicals are safe and provide us with minimum standards of information. Recognize and prioritize the nastiest chemicals and substitute safer alternatives. Require chemical processes that use toxic chemicals to be re-engineered. Develop new green chemicals that are less hazardous to workers. The resulting shift in research and development will create jobs and opportunities. "Instead of accepting the myth that policy reform will somehow cost more jobs,” said Leo W. Gerard, International President of the United Steelworkers (USW), which represents some 30,000 chemical workers in North America, “TSCA reform will create sustainable, good-paying jobs while protecting the health of workers and the environment by encouraging investment in education, technology and research."

And now back to Maine’s potatoes. Green chemicals Research & Development is already making a difference in the form of bioplastics, organic plastics based on plants rather than petroleum. In the last three years, the Sustainable Bioplastics Council of Maine, a trade organization promoting the bioplastics sector, has raised over $2 million for research and development of sustainable plastics made from Maine potatoes. The plastics industry is the third largest manufacturing industry in the US, so the societal benefit from a shift toward biobased plastics could be enormous – reducing consumption of fossil fuels and avoiding health concerns associated with traditional plastic production, use, and disposal. Demand for bioplastics has soared in recent years. In Maine, 13 million pounds of bioplastics could be made each year solely from waste potatoes left over from the growing of the food crop. Production of bioplastics could create over 850 permanent jobs in Maine.

If there is no change and the chemical industry is allowed to continue on their present path, preferring cost-cutting practices that eliminate jobs and minimize innovation, the present number of jobs in non-pharmaceutical chemicals will be cut in half over the next 20 years. It is time for stronger regulation and safer chemicals. These reforms will create jobs, spur innovation, and build a safer future. And, if we are lucky enough to have reforms enacted, perhaps we could even find a new way to use our potato crop by turning the root veggie into something completely unexpected.

John Newton has been an industrial hygienist for 30 years. A former paperworkers union leader, he represents the American Federation of Government Employees on the Executive Board of the Maine AFL-CIO.

Anthony Zeli is an occupational safety and health advocate with the Maine Labor Group on Health.

LIVE BLOG on LD 1397

2011-05-04T07:10:00.000-07:00

by: Tony Zeli
Tue May 03, 2011 at 12:06:25 PM EDT

LD 1397 will make health care a human right for all Maine residents by establishing a single-payer health care system for the state. This bill would provide universal coverage through a unified, publicly-funded system. The recent passage of Vermont's pathway to single-payer demonstrates that states can and will act to ensure that their residents have the right to quality, affordable health care.
If you're in the Augusta area it is not too late to come testify before the Insurance and Financial Services Committee in Room 220 of the Cross Office Building across from the State House.

We're just about to get started and testifiers are rolling in at a steady pace. I've spoken with activists from MPA, doctors with PNHP, nurses, organizers from Maine AllCare and the Labor movement, activists from the Maine Green Party, Democratic legislators, and the bill's sponsor Rep. Charlie Priest looks ready to go. I look forward to hearing all the personal stories. I imagine some testimony will be difficult to hear, because of the state of our current, fragmented, for-profit health care system.

Now we just have to wait for the committee to arrive...

While waiting for the hearing to begin, I just got word of some good news out of Vermont! After days of mobilization, protests and vigils by the Healthcare Is a Human Right Campaign (www.workerscenter.org), Vermont legislators agreed to remove from the universal health care bill a harmful amendment that would have excluded undocumented people from "universal" health care. This means that every all people of Vermont will receive the health care they deserve.

Standing room only now...

Senator Rod Whittemore (Farifield) is bringing the hearing to a start.

Representative Charlie Priest (Brunswick), LD 1397's lead sponsor is presenting his bill. Beginning with the bold statement that health care is a human right, Rep. Priest went on to discuss how the free market has failed to provide health care to all Maine people. According to Priest, health care costs are growing at twice the rate of inflation. The Affordable Care Act will provide some relief for the states, but it does not control health care costs. It is time for single-payer and it has to be on a state by state basis. Rep. Priest went on to describe his bill which would create a Maine Health Care Agency to provide "essential" benefits to all Maine people. He believes that by 2017 this bill will be passed by the people, because they will have seen that nothing else has worked. He went on to discuss the reforms happening in Vermont. Apparently the good Representative has dumbfounded the committee which had no questions for him.

The Chair asked who would be testifying on this bill and a room full of hands went up. We may be here for a little while...

Rep Ben Chipman (Portland) has surprised us by coming to support the bill. Not a cosponsor of the bill, Rep. Chipman wanted to show his support. He discussed his own experience of fighting for Dirigo Health when he himself was uninsured. "We will never be able to afford to insure the uninsured until we are willing to legislate cost control at the state level." He spoke about how he is still uninsured and that it is time to cover everybody and get the costs of health care under control! He inspired applause that were politely stopped by Chair Whittemore.

Co-sponsor Rep, Seth Berry's (Bowdoinham) testimony was full of facts and figures on the current problems and the feasibility of single-payer. In fact, the Congressional Budget Office has stated as early as 1993 that all Americans could be covered with universal coverage without spending a single dollar more than we currently do. "Universal coverage is a moral must. And single payer is the economic must to achieve universal coverage," declared Rep. Berry.

Other facts from Rep. Berry's testimony included the tragedy of uninsured children who have needlessly died. In fact, 17000 hospital deaths of children could have been prevented in America treated health care as a human right (John Hopkins University). He concluded by comparing the fight for single-payer to the fight for universal education that started public education in this country.

"Tickering around the edges may help marginally, but Maine needs to stop tickering. We need single-payer. It costs less." -Rep. Berry

Dr. Julie Pease was next to testify. She discussed her experience as a practicing physician in New Zealand. She compared to her experience here in Maine, where she s more and more time dealing with paper work and less and less time on patient care. Dr. Pease had 1/10 the amount of paper work in New Zealand. She talked about how services were more integrated because of universal coverage, she could see less patients in a day and spend more time with them.

The next testifier asked the Committee who they thought the most popular Canadian was. Rep. Goode (Bangor) called out Wayne Gretzky. Close, but he was number 10 in the poll. No, the most popular Canadian was Tommy Douglas who introduced single-payer in Canada.

In tear filled testimony from the an owner of a bagel business discussed her and her husband's difficulty with health insurance as small business owners. When her husband had heart trouble they were hit with over $75,000 in bills, most of which their health insurance would not pay for. She told the committee that she was unable to provide health care to her employees, though she would if she could afford it. She concluded by stating that the profit motive does not work in the health care system.

We're going on to about a hour of testimony and still lots to go. We've heard from nurse practitioners, doctors, and small business owners... We will now hear some testimony against before returning to testimony in support.

No opposed testimony! We're back to those testifying in favor with testimony from a MPA activist.

One testifier discussed what it is like to try to afford health insurance as an individual. With a $15000 deductible she is understandably afraid. Rep. Brannigan (Portland) thanked her for her testimony declaring that she nailed the problems of the current system.

Alice Knapp, a solo practicing lawyer, testified about how the boon that single-payer would be for the economy. She also discussed how uninsured people do die for lack of access to care. Sure, if you need emergency or urgent care, the hospital will stabilized you. But if you have a cancerous tumor that might kill you some day, they aren't going to send you home with thousands of dollars of medication and ask you back for chemo. People do die for lack of access to care, and says Alice, that is "Not okay."

Claire Mortimer, a nurse practitioner from Blue Hill, talked about how 2/3's of bankruptcies are due to medical bills. echoed the human right message that has become a theme of the hearings.

Consumers for Affordable Health Care spoke in favor of the bill. Stating that it will help continue the work of the ACA, and get us to the goal of universal coverage. Rep. Goode asked a question. Referring to the Chamber of Commerce's written testimony against the bill, which declared that single-payer was in conflict with the ACA. He was curious if that was the case and if there wasn't a way to implement single-payer through the ACA. Perhaps we should look to the example in Vermont, where they have passed a pathway to single-payer using the health care exchange model created by the ACA.

We are now into the second hour of testimony. We've just heard from a person who was unemployed and as such uninsured. He argued that it was time to decouple health care from employment. We heard from a town employee from Sanford, who spoke about experiencing health care in Canada, when her husband was stationed there in the 1970's. She said that the propaganda we hear about long waits were completely unfounded. Then we heard from John Newton from the AFL-CIO. Labor supports single-payer because all people deserve equal access to health care.

And now it is time for the opponents...

Dan Bernier of the Maine Insurance Association argued that we had the most humane system in the world. There were scattered titters through the room. He went on to claim that sick people would come to Maine from around the nation for free health care and bankrupt our system. Finally he declared that health care is not a right. Then he rushed from the room. Well, thank you insurance industry for caring.

No one else testified against this legislation.

So that was the hearing on LD 1397. It is true that it is not likely that this bill will pass. Not this year. But I for one am excited by the turnout at this hearing. There are a lot of passionate people who are not going to give up on this. There are legislators who are brave enough to support what we all believe is right. I think of this as just the beginning. People fight for their rights. The right to health care will be no difference. So Maine, are you ready?

The Words We Use

2011-01-17T07:40:00.000-08:00

It is disappointing to see what our political dialog has been reduced to on this Martin Luther King Day Weekend. Governor Paul LePage's most recent outburst, telling the Maine branch of the NAACP to "Kiss my butt," is an example of the divisive language that sets us back as a State and a Nation.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a brilliant orator who demonstrated the apex of what our political dialog can be. Governor LePage has chosen to pander to the basest in us. His dialog has been simple and rude, and he seeks to justify it by claiming to be plain and direct. Let us spend time in the days ahead remembering all of our past leaders who had the courage to choose a path of reconciliation, respect and honor.

As LePage claimed in his inaugural address, he is the Governor for all of Maine, 100% of us, not just the 40% of the electorate who voted for him. Yet, he has failed to recognize the difference between a special interest and the public interest. His role as governor is to serve the public interest. The NAACP in its fight for equality and justice for all advances the public interest, and for such deserves respect.

I am among the over 60% of Maine’s electorate who did not vote for Governor LePage. But whatever my political bent, I am a proud resident of the State of Maine. I want my Governor to be a leader who exemplifies respect for diversity. It is easy, Governor LePege. Start by thinking before you speak, and when you decide to speak, do so with conviction and honor. The words we use matter.

New Trevorrow Postcard

2010-08-11T12:41:00.000-07:00

Just finished the design for Anna Trevorrow's District 120 State Representative campaign.

Anna Trevorrow Wins Green Independent Nomination

2010-06-23T09:54:00.000-07:00

Trevorrow Says She Will Be an Energetic, Independent Voice for District 120

Anna Trevorrow won the Green Independent nomination to the State Legislature's 120th district. In a record turnout for a Green Independent primary, Trevorrow took 90% of the vote.

In a speech delivered to a gathering of supporters at Mama’s Crow Bar on Munjoy Hill on Tuesday night, Trevorrow stated that she will be an energetic independent voice for district 120, which represents the East End and Downtown neighborhoods. Trevorrow, a former State Chair of the Green Independent Party and a present elected member of the Portland Charter Commission, has been involved in progressive politics at the municipal level and at the state level for several years.

Trevorrow, who works as a Customer Service Representative at Norway Savings Bank on Exchange Street, has developed a reputation for working tirelessly for all of Maine's residents. A life-long Mainer having lived in both rural and urban Maine, Trevorrow says she understands the needs of various communities and would be honored to serve Portland's East End and Downtown district. On the Charter Commission she spearheaded various progressive issues like ranked choice voting, an elected mayor for Portland and voting rights for legal immigrants in Portland.

Trevorrow believes if she were elected to serve her district in Augusta, she will be in a unique position as a voice independent of the two major parties. Trevorrow says her district deserves the most dynamic representation in Augusta, “We are facing many challenges right now as a state. I will work for energy independence, equitable taxation, and support for struggling small businesses. We have discussed these issues for years with little action. We need a bold leader. I strive to be that new voice for my district.”

Encouraged by the high turnout of Green Independent voters, Trevorrow Campaign Chair and former Green Party State Representative John Eder said, "Anna's campaign helped to increase voter turnout with a record showing of Green Independent primary voters. Anna has shown that she is a thoughtful, hardworking independent minded person, a natural leader who will tirelessly represent the voter rather than taking marching orders from any of the party bosses. We need a clear, reasonable, independent voice to bring some progress to Augusta and get things moving in the right direction and Anna is that voice."

MGIP Qualifies Impressive Field of Legislative Candidates

2010-03-17T08:51:00.000-07:00

AUGUSTA- On Monday, March 15th, the Green Independent Party of Maine turned in signatures to qualify 18 legislative candidates throughout the state, the second highest total in 12 years of holding official ballot status.

“We made legislative recruitment a top priority this year. With sweeping changes in electoral reform that came out of Augusta last year, we no longer need the governor’s race to keep party status. We turned our resources toward legislative seats, where we have better opportunity for success,” said Anna Trevorrow, chair of the state Green Independent Party.

The party has nearly doubled its number of qualified candidates from 2008, and has expanded its geographic outreach. The Greens have qualified 15 candidates for State House and 3 for State Senate.

“This year we are running a great slate of candidates from York to Hancock County and some of them have excellent chances to win, running in open seats where the incumbent is term-limited,” said Ben Chipman, Candidate Coordinator for the state party and former Legislative Aide for John Eder, a green who served in the State House from 2002-2006.

For the first time in the party’s history, there will be two contested primaries.

“This year we will be focusing on seats we can win with a goal of getting a few Greens elected to the Legislature as well as the local level where there are several Greens currently holding office,” said Chipman.

The Green Independent Party touts not only quantity, but the quality of candidates this year, with several party leaders securing ballot lines. Three out of the seven-member state Steering Committee are running for the Maine legislature, as well as long-time figureheads of activist communities.

“We took a look around at all of our members who are outspoken on issues and outspoken within party infrastructure, and we asked, ‘why haven’t you put your name on the ballot yet?’ Out of it came perhaps the strongest field of Legislative candidates the party has ever run,” Trevorrow said.

Green Independent Party membership has also grown this year to 34,500 registered members, the highest total ever.

An Interview from The Collaborator, the Official Newsletter of the Maine Film Collaborative

2010-02-14T07:03:00.001-08:00

What did you do before your involvement with the MFC?

After college, where I studied screenwriting and Jungian film analysis, I moved to Maine and got a job at WGME, Channel 13, as a Broadcast Technician. Over the past six years I've been an audio tech, studio camera operator, master control operator, and anything else that was needed. In my spare time, I kept writing and became active in the local community.

A few years ago I became involved with the Maine Green Independent Party, one of the largest state Green parties in the nation, with over 33,000 registered voters. I currently serve as the state party Treasurer, and I recently ran for School Committee in Portland. Local politics has been my way to stay involved with the community and promote progressive values such as community-based economics, sustainability and social justice.

What does the Executive Director do for the MFC?

As Executive Director, I manage the day-to-day the details of running a nonprofit corporation, develop member benefits, and reach out to other organizations in the community to foster relationships that strengthen our own organization. I am currently developing a relationship with Hour Exchange Portland to expand our Talent Exchange/Time Bank. Soon the hours collected by our members while working on film and other projects within the Collaborative can be traded for just about any service you can think of--health care, auto maintenance, singing lessons... you name it, you can probably find an Hour Exchange member that offers it. I am also working on setting up a group health insurance plan for members. It is an exciting job that brings opportunities to meet new people, learn about my community, and develop benefits for all the great members of the Collaborative.

What do you see in the future of the MFC?

I've been involved with the Collaborative from day one and still believe the initial dream holds true. We are creating a collaboration between filmmakers and artists from all mediums that will develop a film industry that is of Maine, by Maine, and for the world. Because of the talent that we will help foster, filmmakers from around the world will be excited to shoot here, because they will know that Maine not only has the beautiful landscape that already attracts large film projects, but also has the talent, locally, to pull off the project--no matter how daring. This in return will bring economic benefits to the whole state. I believe that the creative economy is the key to creating diverse employment opportunities in eco-friendly, sustainable, and culturally stimulating industries.

Any other message you'd like to share with members?

Stop by the Studios. Let us know how we can help you. What benefits do you need? We can only be as great as our members. You make everything possible. So stay active and involved, and don't be afraid to hold my feet to the fire. I want to serve you, and make your experience as a Collaborative member as rewarding as possible.

Greening our Schools: Solar Thermal for Reiche Pool

2009-10-17T09:41:00.000-07:00

In 2007 Portland spent $1.4 million on heating oil for our schools. That is more than 6 times the amount spent on textbooks. With numbers like that, we cannot afford not to invest in energy efficiency. One investment that I will push for is the use of solar thermal energy to heat the water for the pool and showers at Reiche Community Center.

The Reiche Community Center Pool is a terrific facility. It is a place for the community to gather, take swim lessons, or simply enjoy their daily exercise. But to keep the water warm we're burning big bucks. It is a worthy expense considering the fantastic resource the community receives in return, but with solar energy we can save money and reduce carbon emissions.

Not many know that Maine is actually the sunniest state in New England. In fact, Maine receives more sunshine per year than Germany, the world leader in solar installations. And today is the best time ever to invest in solar, with solar systems being more affordable than ever -- they have dropped by roughly 30% just over the past year.

I visited Revision Energy, a local contractor, to learn more about solar energy. They told me of a solar hot water project they recently completed for the pool at the Boys & Girls Club in South Portland. It is expected to reduce annual oil consumption by roughly 4,500 gallons, which equates to yearly CO2 reductions of roughly 99,000 lbs. The project will pay for itself in less than five years.

After installment of a solar hot water system at Reiche, we could expect savings of 6-8% immediately. After 4-8 years there could be 100% savings, and this could be achieved even sooner if stimulus funds were made available. But the most important savings are for the environment. For every gallon of oil saved, there is a corresponding reduction of CO2 emissions of 22.3 lbs! That adds up to a brighter future for our community.

Energy efficiency is the most important thing we can invest in. We can save money while building a more sustainable community.

Greening our Schools: School Composting

2009-10-03T08:08:00.000-07:00

Greening our schools doesn't necessarily involve huge capital improvements. Sure solar panels for hot water would be fantastic. Switching from oil to natural gas for heating would be a step in the right direction. How about the smaller purchases like energy efficient lights? A good idea, but greening our schools doesn't have to include purchasing anything. We can save money, reduce carbon emissions, and teach ourselves and our students to be smart stewards of the environment by implementing simple cost-free programs.

A lot can be accomplished by changing habits. Turning off lights when you leave a room is a basic but important lesson we've all learned, and when we all do it, we help the environment in a big way. Changes in our daily routines produce the most profound effects.

I have recycled since a was a child, before it was in all our schools and everywhere we go. And now I can't imagine not recycling. It is simply a part of my routine, as it is for most of us. I'm glad that today our students and schools recycle as a part of their routine. But recycling paper and cans is just a beginning. What about taking recycling to the next step, and starting a school composting program?

School composting will recycle natural resources, reduce the amount of waste that needs to be hauled off to the landfill, and create a useful product, the finished compost, that could be used in landscaping or community gardening. Most importantly, school composting will educate the community about the importance of responsible waste management and being good stewards of the environment. And it is inexpensive and easy. In fact, it could save money!

If we want greener schools, we need to think beyond facilities. We should address our habits and start changing them for the better.

Laptops for High Schoolers and School Equity

2009-09-27T07:49:00.000-07:00

I applaud the decision to give our high school students laptops. This decision by the School Committee has finally brought to the high schools what Portland's middle school students have had for years. Also, the decision was made in a fiscally responsible way by buying more affordable Dell computers (I like Macs, but they aren't cheap). While this is all good news, we need to look beyond the issue of laptops to a larger developing situation throughout the school system: School Inequity.

The Portland School System has experienced years of declining enrollment and demographic shifts that have led to overcrowded schools in some neighborhoods and underutilized schools in others. Meanwhile there are technological and program changes that have not reached every school. This creates a school system that is in need of realignment and forward thinking policies to create an equitable system. The good news is that the trend of falling enrollment rates seems to be leveling. However, we have to deal with the inequity that our recent history has created.

A process of strategic planning is the solution, with the ultimate goal of bringing all schools to near-capacity operations with facilities that are capable of handling 21st Century Education. A school that operates near-capacity is cost-effective and educationally efficient. This will maximize educational returns while improving working conditions for students, teachers and staff.

What does it mean to have schools that are prepared for a 21st Century Education? It means small group space, teacher work space, and well-equipped science rooms. If we bring the schools that are lacking these things in-line with those that were designed or upgraded to meet the demands of 21st Century Education, then we will have a more equitable school system.

The School Committee should consider this a process and proceed thoughtfully with an eye towards fiscal responsibility. The Committee must ensure also that Portland families are involved. Every decision should be made with the thought of maximizing the funds used in the most efficient and effective way. Ultimately, school equity is an essential measure to assure that all students are learning for their futures.

What is Expeditionary Learning?

2009-09-19T06:16:00.000-07:00

During my campaign I have been talking a lot about innovative education models. This means using cutting-edge technology and integrating it into the curriculum. It means having schools that are designed for 21st Century education--with small group discussion space, teacher work space, and well-equipped science rooms. It also means forward thinking curricula. And the example I use to explain what an innovative curriculum can look like is expeditionary learning.

Expeditionary learning is a project-based curriculum where students complete fieldwork and research to produce a professional-style project. For instance, a recent expedition at King Middle School was called Portland by the Numbers. The students collected data to answer the question: How do kids rate the livability of Portland? They presented there findings, gathered through interviews and analysis, to city officials.

Expeditionary learning is now at place not only at King Middle School, but also Casco Bay High School, and the East End Community School. And all these schools have successes to share. At King, for instance, English Language Learners and special education students have been mainstreamed into regular classes. Also, student involvement in extracurricular activities and sports has increased. At Casco Bay students are testing well above state averages, and are now being offered opportunities to take college courses. In other words, expeditionary learning works.

If you would like to find out more about expeditionary learning and the possibilities it presents for our schools, please visit portlandschools.org and follow the links to the individual schools. Hopefully, you will find yourself as excited by the achievements of Portland's learners as I am.

Expanded Early Childhood Education at Reiche

2009-09-13T05:55:00.000-07:00

Is it time to develop a Preschool program at Reiche? How about full-day Kindergarten?

The benefits to the community of Early Childhood education cannot be doubted. A community with Portland's demographics, with many students from transient family situations and large numbers of English Language Learners, would especially benefit. Early Childhood programs increase student achievement, reducing the likelihood of grade retention or placement in Special Education and increasing the probability of graduation from high school. Investing in Early Childhood programs pays dividends well into the future and throughout the community.

What about the costs? Studies show that the long-term financial benefits are many. Spending on strong early childhood education leads to lower costs related to remedial services, criminal justice spending and welfare costs. Not to mention the savings associated with developmental issues that are decreased with strong Preschool and full-day Kindergarten.

Reiche might be positioned to be the right school to begin expanding Early Childhood programs in Portland. It is currently operating under capacity and has a flexible open design. This creates a situation where a small program could be integrated with relatively little cost. As such, if School Committee decides to begin the measured process of expanding Early Childhood education, it should consider Reiche as the place to begin. It would benefit not only the Reiche community, but all the families of Portland.

Anthony's Platform

2009-08-30T11:00:00.000-07:00

The signatures have been verified and we are officially on the ballot!

A kickoff party will be held Saturday, September 5th beginning at 7:00 p.m. at my and Anna Trevorrow's place: 612 Congress St. # 3. All are welcome! Share an evening of good company, beverages and refreshments with a dynamic candidate in Portland's most exciting municipal race this year!

Here are some of my early ideas for what I would do on School Committee:

Promote equal access to education in order to increase student retention and ensure a positive future for Portland's youth.

Develop green school facilities, which would reduce long-term costs and ensure an environmentally healthy atmosphere.

Support innovative curriculum design such as project-based and experiential learning to engage students in their own learning, and meet the demands of a 21st Century education.

Accelerate our schools as neighborhood resource centers to promote a sense of community and create safe havens for students and neighbors alike.

Come join us to kick off the People for Anthony Zeli Campaign!

FMI contact Team Z @ zelidistrict2@gmail.com

An Introduction

2009-08-22T06:39:00.000-07:00

Hello, fellow Portlanders. My name is Anthony Zeli, and I'm running for School Committee in District 2, which includes the West End, Parkside, St. John Valley and Oakdale neighborhoods. I want to use this first blog entry to briefly introduce myself.

I first came to Maine after graduating from Marlboro College in 2003, in order to be with my partener of 8 years, Anna Trevorrow. I have been proud to live and work in Portland ever since and cannot imagine a better place to live.

I work at WGME, Channel 13, as a Broadcast Technician. I am also currently invovled in creating a nonprofit organization to promote the film industry in Maine. So it is not surprising that growing the creative economy is an interest of mine, and I hope that being a member of the School Committee will afford me oppurtunities to create relationships between the schools and our arts and culture enterprises.

Outside of work I have been invovled with local and statewide politics and community activism. I cannot imagine a life without serving the community in my spare time. Politics is so often stigmatized as a nasty and unfortunately even dishonest business. But, the truth is, the majority of the people who choose to run for office truly care about their neighbors, and they work tirelessly to make positive differences in our lives. I have been proud to help many fine candidates run for office, advance the debate, and get elected.

And now it is my turn. I was hesitant to jump into the public spotlight. It definitely isn't an easy decision. I have a great amount of support, though, and I have the time and energy to devote to the position if I am lucky enough to be chosen by the voters of Portland.

Here are some of the initial issues I want to work on and talk about in the campaign:

1. We should continue to invest in Reiche as a community center. Our schools are for all of us, and I want to work to bring our community together around our schools and the education of our youth.

2. Let's "green" our facilities with more efficient heating and insulation. Oil is one of our largest budget lines. Why are we burning our money away? We can heat water with solar power, use natural gas, and upgrade windows and insulation with money that is being provided by the State and Federal governments for just those purposes. This will save local taxpayers an amazing amount of money in the long term.

3. We need to improve our student retention rate by advertising our excellent schools and working with the city to provide more housing downtown.

4. We should explore creative ways to reduce expenditures without cutting existing social services.

5. After working with my partner, Anna Trevorrow, I have learned a great deal about progressive education models, and want to support and expand the expeditionary learning programs.

During the months ahead I hope to have a dialog with my neighbors and learn about your concerns. So don't hesitate to contact me: zelidistrict2@gmail.com.