Ep. 9: KPL Workers Demand Higher Wages- An Interview, Ukraine, Racist Housing Covenants in Michigan, CPAC, and the State of the Union

We start our episode interviewing the head of the recently established Union of Kalamazoo Public Library Aides and Custodial Hourlies Mazalyn Raaymakers and union member Joseph Veld about their struggle for better wages and full-time employment at the Kalamazoo Public Library. We talk about how they came about establishing their union, their relationship with an outwardly "progressive" library system that is being more on the regressive side when it comes to a living wage, and the importance of the KPL walking the walk when it comes to "equity and inclusion" for their employees.

 

We are then joined by co-host Lawrence to give our thoughts on several important topics.

 

We begin by looking at the situation in Ukraine and what much of the mainstream media isn't talking about- including NATO (and America's) role in antagonizing Putin and the Russian government, the very real Nazi problem in Ukraine, and the financial motivations behind much of it that are putting innocent Ukranians in the cross hairs. We also critique a Western media that has established a very dubious double standard when it comes to Ukraine and how differently it frames  refugees when they are white, Christian, and European.

 

We look at a story from Ann Arbor and their repeal of a racist housing covenant still on their books. From there we start a deeper discussion of the role of these covenants historically in Michigan and Kalamazoo and the impact they still have on our neighborhoods today.

 

We close out the show talking about the shenanigans at CPAC- from a former progressive icon going all in on reactionary politics, to a conservatives like Marjorie Taylor Greene palling around with overt fascists.

 

We close out the show by giving our thoughts on the recent State of the Union address.

 

0:00- 29:30 Interview w/ Union of KPL Aides & Custodial Hourlies On Their Struggle For Higher Wages30:00- 1:06:35 Thoughts on Ukraine
1:08:00- 1:23:10 Racist Housing Covenant Repealed in Ann Arbor (and Discussion of the History of Racist Housing Covenants in Michigan AND Kalamazoo)
1:23:40- 1:41:10 CPAC
1:41:10- 2:02:40 State of the Union

 

"Newly unionized Kalamazoo Public Library aides and custodians protest contract impasse"

https://nowkalamazoo.com/2022/03/newly-unionized-kalamazoo-public-library-aides-and-custodians-protest-contract-impasse/?fbclid=IwAR1m-oErxEA8JNpmsc_YoXSkc93susEQynD259SMFINYuFDcNoobX5THIQA

 

"Media Cyphers: Ukraine 101"

https://www.facebook.com/hoodratstrategist/posts/253424310312090

 

"Ann Arbor subdivision becomes 1st in Michigan to repeal racist property covenant"

https://michiganadvance.com/2022/02/25/ann-arbor-subdivision-becomes-1st-in-michigan-to-repeal-racist-property-covenant/?fbclid=IwAR14dUlmZ-B6JMJK6ChLYDuFpft1yu9qm2n6joqobfLkfx10pw0VfpRNf4o