September 2015 - balancing the scales

Change Service Requested

scales

Kentuckians For The Commonwealth P.O. Box 1450 London, Ky. 40743

BALANCING THE

VOLUME 34 NUMBER 6 SEPTEMBER 9, 2015

NON-PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID LEXINGTON, KY. PERMIT NO. 513

Annual Membership Meeting has everyone “all in” pg. 11

Members elect new Executive Committee officers..............................................3

Boyd County residents winning on landfill issue...................................16

KFTC members help a just transition proposal gain momentum.........14

Solar power is a proven and reasonable energy source................................ 4

Members ask for strong protections for streams affected by mining...... 12

Education data shows need for tax reform, NKY members say....................... 15

2 | Balancing the Scales

www.kftc.org | September 9, 2015

Table of Contents Executive Committee Corner

is a statewide grassroots social justice orga­­ ni­zation working for a new balance of power and a just society. KFTC uses direct-action organizing to accomplish the following goals: • foster democratic values • change unjust institutions • empower individuals • overcome racism and other discrimination • communicate a message of what’s possible • build the organization • help people participate • win issues that affect the common welfare • have fun KFTC membership dues are $15 to $50 per year, based on ability to pay. No one is denied membership because of inability to pay. Membership is open to anyone who is committed to equality, democracy and nonviolent change.

Members elect new Executive Committee officers..........................................................................................3

Member Commentary Solar power is a proven and reasonable energy source................................................................................ 4 What do you want to hear from the candidates leading up to this fall’s election?............................. 4 IG2BYITM Conference reaffirms one Appalachian’s hope for the future.................................................5

Local Updates Harlan members welcome Judge Executive Dan Mosley’s office to September meeting................5 Film “Who is Dayani Cristal?” asks a broader question: Who are immigrants?...................................10 Residents show #WhitesburgForAll.....................................................................................................................10 Jefferson County chapter will host second annual Smoketown GetDown for Democracy in historic Louisville neighborhood....................................................................................................................... 11 Boyd residents winning on landfill issue.............................................................................................................16

In Memory Of Raleigh Adams, Elizabeth Wooten, early KFTC leaders, passed away this summer.......................... 6

KFTC News Annual membership meeting has everyone “all in”......................................................................................... 8 KFTC 2015 Annual Membership Award winners............................................................................................... 9

Canary Project Update

KFTC STEERING COMMITTEE

Members ask for strong protections for streams affected by mining..................................................... 12

Dana Beasley Brown, chair Tanya Torp, vice chair Elizabeth Sanders, secretary-treasurer Homer White, at-large member Sue Tallichet, immediate past chair

New Energy and Transition Update

Chapter Representatives

Leslie Bebensee, Scott County Sarah Martin, Central Kentucky John Hennen, Rowan County Serena Owen, Northern Kentucky Ryan Fenwick, Jefferson County Alan Smith, Southern Kentucky Andrea Massey, Harlan County Randall Wilson, Perry County Megan McKinney, Madison County Lillian Prosperino, Letcher County Charly Sholty, Big Sandy Leah Bayens, Wilderness Trace Leslie McBride, Shelby County Alternates: Rosanne Klarer, Scott County; Sharon Murphy, Central Kentucky; Lisa Montgomery, Rowan County; JoAnn Schwartz, Northern Kentucky; Daniel Morgan, Jefferson County; Dora James and Jeanie Smith, Southern Kentucky; Carl Shoupe, Harlan County; Russell Oliver, Perry County; Meta Mendel-Reyes, Madison County; Eric Dixon, Letcher County; Kim Walters, Big Sandy; Lee Ann Paynter, Wilderness Trace; Nancy Reinhart and JoAnna Rouse, Shelby County Balancing the Scales is published by Kentuckians For The Commonwealth and mailed third class from Lexington, Kentucky. Reader contri­butions and letters to the editor should be sent to 250 Plaza Drive Suite #4, Lexington, Ky, 40503 or tim@kftc.org. Subscriptions are $20/yr.

Empower Kentucky: Shaping solutions for jobs, health and future generations ............................... 13 KFTC members help a just transition proposal gain momentum..............................................................14

Economic Justice Update Education data shows need for tax reform, NKY members say................................................................ 15 KFTC merchandise......................................................................................................................................................16

Your membership in KFTC helps to build a community of Kentuckians working for New Power!

NAME: _______________________________________ ADDRESS: _______________________________________ CITY: _______________________________________ STATE & ZIP: _____________________________________ PHONE: _______________________________________ EMAIL: _______________________________________

Suggested membership dues are $15-$50 annually, based on ability to pay. We welcome you to give whatever amount you are able.

Step Two: Payment Method: □ Check or money order enclosed □ Electronic Funds Transfer (Please return this form with a voided check from the account you wish to have the withdrawals made) □ Credit card: Complete information below. □ Visa □ Mastercard □ Am. Express □ Discover

Select which organization you would like to donate to:

□ KFTC: Membership dues and donations are not tax-deductible. □ Kentucky Coalition: Membership dues and donations are tax-

Card Number: __ __ __ __ -__ __ __ __ -__ __ __ __ -__ __ __ __

deductible.

Become A Sustaining Giver: Sustaining Givers provide steady

income to support KFTC’s work throughout the year. And being a Sustaining Giver allows you to give more than you might be able to give in a single gift. With as little as $5 per month, you can make a greater investment in KFTC. Make me a Sustaining Giver!

I will contribute $ _____ every: □ Month □ Quarter □ Year

I would rather make a one-time gift of: □$100 □$50 □$25 □$15 □$5 Other: $__________

Expiration Date ___ ___ / ___ ___ Bank Withdrawal/Credit Card Payment Authorization

I authorize KFTC/KY Coalition and their authorized third-party processing vendor(s) to debit my account or charge my credit card in accordance with the information provided. I understand that this authority will remain in effect until cancelled or changed by reasonable notification to KFTC/KY Coalition.

Authorized Signature: _____________________________ Date: _________________

www.kftc.org | September 9, 2015

Balancing the Scales | 3

executive committee corner

Members elect new Executive Committee officers

The full membership voted at KFTC’s annual business meeting on August 23 to elect a diverse set of community leaders to serve as statewide officers for the next year.

Members may serve no more than two consecutive one-year terms in any Executive Committee position. This is the second term for Dana Beasley Brown, Elizabeth Sanders and Sue Tallichet in their respective positions.

Tanya Torp served as at-large representative for the past year, and this is Homer White’s first term on the Executive Committee.

Vice-Chairperson: Tanya Torp is an active member of the Central Kentucky KFTC chapter as well as the broader community in Lexington. She also serves on KFTC’s Leadership Development Committee. Torp started her own organization, Be Bold, which empowers young women and girls. She and her husband have opened their home, called Justice House, as a space for members of the community to come together for fellowship, support, social justice activism, and learning.

Committee. Sanders works at Appalshop’s community-run radio station, WMMT-FM. She has been an important part of the Stay Together Appalachian Youth (STAY) project and the Central Appalachian Prisoner Support Network.

At-Large Member: Homer White lives in Georgetown and serves on the Steering Committee as the Scott County representative. He also serves on KFTC’s Economic Justice and Voting Rights committees. He was a strong voice in KFTC’s work to defeat the Arizona immigration bill a few years ago, and more recently, Homer helped lead a campaign from the faith community to prevent mining for limestone on a mountain where a spiritual retreat is located.

Homer was involved in KFTC in the 1990s as part of the Pike County chapter and is a leader in the Scott County chapter. He and his wife recently hosted a KFTC cookout, and Homer frequently introduces Georgetown College students to KFTC’s work. He also plays a significant role in developing the Scott County chapter and its alliance with the local NAACP chapter.

Immediate Past Chairperson: Sue Tallichet is an active member of the Rowan County chapter and KFTC Land Reform Committee and Litigation Team. She has served for a number of years on KFTC’s Steering Committee, including two years as chair. She is a frequent spokesperson about mountaintop removal mining and its impacts on land, water and people. She authored the book Daughters of the Mountain: Women Coal Miners in Central Appalachia.

Secretary-Treasurer: Elizabeth Sanders lives in Whitesburg and is active in the Letcher County chapter. She has served on KFTC’s Steering Committee for the past three years.

She also serves on KFTC’s New Energy and Transition

A big “Thank You” to Carl Shoupe of Harlan County, who served the past year as vice-chairperson and is rotating off to devote more time to local work and family.

Chairperson: Dana Beasley Brown was one of the driving forces behind the formation of the Southern Kentucky KFTC chapter. She served as KFTC’s statewide vice chair for two years and serves on the Economic Justice Committee. She is deeply involved in local efforts to improve the quality and affordability of housing in her community. Beasley Brown has spoken before several legislative committees and has been a guest on the KET program Kentucky Tonight about the need for fair tax reforms.

BECOME A SUSTAINING GIVER You can join a growing group of dedicated members who are choosing to become Sustaining Givers. Through an automatic recurring gift, you can help ensure that KFTC’s important work keeps happening every day, all year long.

• You get to choose how much and how often you give.

• You can have a bigger impact on KFTC’s work. Small monthly gifts can add up to a deeper investment throughout the year.

• It’s easy. Once your Sustaining Gift is established, you always know your membership is current.

Who are KFTC Sustaining Givers? People of all ages and income levels.

• Parents

• College students • Working people • Retired people Sign up this fall and receive a perk! If you sign up this fall to be a Sustaining Giver, we’ll send you a gift. $15/month

“Saving Kentucky: Greening the Bluegrass” by Sally Van Winkle Campbell and Thomas Hart Shelby. Or choose any other perk.

$10/month

KFTC Healthy Democracy Tote, perfect for vegetables from the farmers’ market or lobbying materials in Frankfort. Or choose the coffee perk.

$5/month

Mountain Dream Coffee, a whole-bean, medium roast created by our friends at Heine Brothers’ Coffee to support our work to build a healthier Kentucky.

Here’s the KFTC Executive Committee for the coming year (left to right): Elizabeth Sanders, Sue Tallichet, Homer White, Tanya Torp and Dana Beasley Brown.

KFTC OFFICES AND STAFF MAIN OFFICE Morgan Brown, Robin Daugherty, and Burt Lauderdale P.O. Box 1450 | London, Kentucky 40743 606-878-2161 | Fax: 606-878-5714 info@kftc.org

FIELD OFFICES Louisville Elizabeth Adami, Jerry Hardt, Alicia Hurle, and Carissa Lenfert 735 Lampton Street #202 Louisville, Ky 40203 502-589-3188 Whitesburg Sara Pennington P.O. Box 463 Whitesburg, Ky 41858 606-632-0051 Central Kentucky Tim Buckingham, Jessica Hays Lucas, Beth Howard, Enchanta Jackson, Erik Hungerbuhler, and Heather Roe Mahoney 250 Plaza Drive, Suite 4 Lexington, Ky 40503 859-276-0563

Northern Kentucky Joe Gallenstein 640 Main Street Covington, Ky 41005 859-380-6103 Floyd County Jessie Skaggs 154 North Lake Drive Prestonsburg, Ky 41653 606-263-4982 Berea Lisa Abbott, Beth Bissmeyer, Amy Hogg, Kevin Pentz and Sasha Zaring 140 Mini Mall Drive Berea, Ky 40403 859-756-4027 Bowling Green Molly Kaviar 502-599-3989

e-mail any staff member at firstname@kftc.org except for Jessica Hays Lucas, use jessicabreen@kftc.org; Beth Howard, use BethHoward@kftc.org; and Beth Bissmeyer, use BethBissmeyer@kftc.org

Cover: KFTC members posed for a “family photo” and the 2015 Annual Membership Meeting.

4 | Balancing the Scales

www.kftc.org | September 9, 2015

member commentary

Solar power is a proven and reasonable energy source

By Amy Waters I live in the working-class neighborhood of Schnitzelburg in Louisville. In 2008, there was only one home in my neighborhood powered by solar panels, owned by a dentist with a huge heart and a grave concern for the externalized costs of our collective fossil fuel addiction. Solar was expensive then.

For five long years his solar powered-house was the envy of the neighborhood, until 2013 when the price of solar dropped so rapidly and so low that neighbors began to see solar as affordable. In 2013 even my family, a one-income family on a municipal librarian’s salary, was able to invest in our own clean energy for the price most people would pay for a room renovation.

Our 14 solar panels generate 105% of our electricity, and take up less than a quarter of our roof space on our 1,500-square-foot house. They took three hours to install and three hours to hook up to LG&E’s grid. After the federal tax credit they cost us $9,220. That means no monthly electric bill for as long as they last, and they came with a warranty of 25 years – with an expected lifespan of over 40 years.

You don’t have to blow up mountains, poison drinking water, drill below the aquifer, cause earthquakes – and cancer and stillbirths – and step on the backs of low-income or indigenous people to turn on the lights or drive around town anymore. My solar panels were manufactured in the United States; they are silent and they have no moving parts to fail; they stand up to hail; and they are covered by our homeowner’s insurance, just in case. And to me, they are beautiful.

A few weeks ago we bought a used electric car for $11,400, a Nissan Leaf, a comfortable commuter’s car powered exclusively by the solar panels on our house, powered by a star 93 million miles away.

Remember that in those five years from 2008 to 2013 we had one solar-powered house in my neighborhood. Since 2013, we now have eight within a mile. My parents and their neighbors went solar; our friends and neighbors are doing the same.

But even though the prices have dropped, even with the help of the 30% tax credit (due to expire at the end of next year unless Congress acts), even though solar is cheaper than fossil fuels in the long run, not every Kentucky family is able to get a loan for the upfront cost of solar panels.

Kentucky needs feed-in tariffs for easier loan access, and virtual net-metering so communities have a way to go solar together. We need to do away with limits on the size of solar installations. Our utility companies, the Public Service Commission, and our local and state officials need to work together to provide clean, renewable energy to ALL Kentuckians.

Why is Kentucky falling so behind in this solar revolution that is happening all over the U.S. and the world? Why are other states fostering the growth of renewable energy jobs, while Kentucky maintains its death grip on fossil fuels — filthy, finite, and wasteful?

Other states have Renewable Portfolio Standards requiring utilities to provide a minimum amount of renewable energy to customers. Programs in Kentucky that encourage

the adoption of renewables are dwarfed by what is available in other states, because Kentucky has put virtually all of our eggs in the fossil fuel basket.

All Kentuckians should be able to turn on their lights and know the ability to do so didn’t cost someone else their life, or their lungs; or the waste of which didn’t give someone else flammable drinking water, didn’t cost a farmer their property rights; or come from companies with industry histories of spills and explosions. We need the energy that doesn’t significantly contribute through greenhouse gases like carbon or methane to the greatest challenge humans will ever face: climate change.

Solar is the most abundant energy available to us on our planet, and it works in Kentucky. We need programs to train our hard workers to be prepared for the solar revolution and let families benefit from the tens of thousands of new jobs that would be created if Kentucky would embrace the future of clean energy. Our politicians and candidates who are stuck in the dirty old power groove need to adapt and reform to allow Kentucky to invest in what makes the most sense for the long-term health of our people, economy and state: solar.

Amy Waters’ op-ed was originally printed in The Courier-Journal on August 26, 2015.

What do you want to hear from the candidates leading up to this fall’s election?

Members have been tracking the candidate forums and debates, calling for the candidates to speak in support of policies that would build Kentucky’s new economy by reforming Kentucky’s tax code to generate revenue to invest in people and our communities.

Recently, Daniel Morgan of the Jefferson County chapter went to a forum hosted by nonprofits in Jefferson County. As a public school teacher, he wanted to know how the candidates were planning to invest in education.

“I appreciate that through our government we have many benefits that no one individual or company could provide, like education systems and public schools, roads so people can travel places and businesses can access their markets, and first responders to provide assistance in times of emergency. Most people consider these programs worthwhile if not outright essential. They take our public dollars to sustain.”

Morgan was interested in learning how the candidates planned to sustain them. He was disappointed. “[Guberntorial candidate Matt] Bevin managed to talk a lot about why state budgets should reflect a state’s values, but didn’t explain what he thought those values were nor how he would implement them.”

Morgan continued, “People who have higher incomes have benefitted more from society’s hard work together. We know that our state government can reform our taxes in a fair way that requires them to pay in a higher percentage of their income towards making those benefits possible. Unfortunately, Kentucky’s tax system works just the opposite.

“People making $15,000 to $47,000 per year in Kentucky pay nearly 11 percent of their income in state and local taxes; meanwhile, those making over $346,000 pay only 6 percent of their income on the same taxes.

“If Mr. Bevin wants to talk about how budgets reflect our society’s values and priorities, addressing this mismatch would be a great place to start.”

K. A. Owens, also of Jefferson County, noted Bevin’s marked disinterest in revenue reform. “He was marketing austerity. But the people who are offering austerity are the people who can’t be hurt by austerity. They won’t miss a meal. They won’t miss a country club membership.

“Austerity doesn’t work to rebuild the economy. Austerity is a tool used to lower the standard of living for people who lack the political power to defend themselves, whether it’s the declining middle class, unionized employees or the working poor.”

There were similar gaps in what members heard as Bevin’s commitment to anti-worker and anti-labor laws, and to dismantle Kynect.

Members couldn’t gauge other candidates’ responses; Bevin was the only candidate present. But there are six scheduled debates that both Bevin and Conway have committed to. (It’s not clear if Drew Curtis, who is also running, will be present.)

• • • •

Oct. 6: Centre College. Televised debate.

Oct. 19: Kentucky Educational Television’s Kentucky Tonight forum for lieutenant governor candidates.

Televised debate.

Oct. 25: Eastern Kentucky University. Televised debate.

Oct. 26: KET’s Kentucky Tonight forum for gubernatorial candidates. Televised debate.

Morgan would like to hear more defined plans, and better plans, as the debates and forums continue. “As a Kentuckian, I do not want us to move backwards in this way. If we want to become the commonwealth we can envision for ourselves and future generations of Kentuckians, we have to have leaders who find ways for people to work together to improve life here for everyone. Only when we look out for each other can we truly prosper.”

Election Day is Tuesday November 3 • Polls are open 6 a.m. - 6 p.m.

www.kftc.org | September 9, 2015

Balancing the Scales | 5

member commentary

IG2BYITM Conference reaffirms one Appalachian’s hope for the future

By Ivy Brashear

It’s been nearly two weeks since the It’s Good 2 Be Young in the Mountains conference in Harlan and still its ripples are growing outward.

The “festival that breaks out into a conference,” as it was billed, was quite unlike any other conference about or for young people that I’ve been to in the region to date, for a few key reasons: It was wholly organized and carried out by young people; its social media presence was pervasive and effective in the weeks prior to the conference; and of the couple hundred or so people that attended, there may have been 10 people over 40.

What’s also significant about IG2BYITM is the level of commitment and dedication flowing throughout all aspects of the conference. Commitment and dedication to place, that is – Central Appalachia, to be exact. This commitment and dedication is not to be confused as a love-fest for our mountain home. While much adoration and appreciation

for our place was shared and talked about and embraced, much talk was had about the challenges we face as a region – challenges that are not small or insignificant by any measure.

But while those challenges were in everyone’s minds as the conference chugged along, they were not necessarily the focus. The spotlight was reserved for what’s next – the collective future we are all building together and how we don’t want to be mired in or by the past – past mistakes, past failures, past romanticized – but how we instead want to move forward, and how we want that movement to be just and equitable and respectful. And how we are going to address our challenges in new and creative ways together because what our leaders have been doing up to this point has left us all feeling disappointed.

Many people and entities over the generations have said our region and her people are hopeless. The media has so many times tried to put us in a box, close the lid and not open it unless they needed a ratings bump. Many mountain people have left for greener pastures – some have found

Harlan members welcome Judge Executive Dan Mosley’s office to September meeting ‘Fireside Chat,’ Mountain Storytelling, And Tour of Putney Ranger Station Planned Harlan County Judge Executive Dan Mosley’s office will be represented at the Harlan County KFTC Chapter’s next meeting, to be held on Monday, September 28. While important issues facing Harlan County will be discussed, the meeting, however, will be “informal” in nature.

The meeting will take place at a rental cabin owned

by Harlan County Camp Ground and Putney Trail Head, which is a fast growing, family-owned small business in Harlan County that has exemplified rural ingenuity in the face of economic decline.

“We’re looking forward to an evening of good fellowship, yet healthy discussion concerning economic diversification here in Harlan County,” said chapter member and media coordinator Jennifer McDaniels. “We’re especially looking forward to the presence of Harlan County Judge Executive Dan Mosley’s office at our meeting. Judge Executive Mosley’s office has been making great strides since he took office in working hard to turn the economic tide here in Harlan, with much interest being concentrated on small business development and tourism efforts.”

Mosley said his office is looking forward to the opportunity to “sit down in an intimate environment” with KFTC members to brainstorm development efforts for Harlan County. Mosley said building partnerships with organizations like KFTC that assist rebuilding Harlan County is a priority of his.

“I admire the work of Kentuckians For The Commonwealth,” Mosley said. “I admire their persistence in bringing about hope for an area of the state that has been hit hard with economic challenges. I look forward to working with KFTC

and teaming up with their members to bring about increased opportunities here in Harlan concerning the creation of more jobs and a rejuvenated economy.”

Mosley’s office, as well as Harlan County Camp Ground and Putney Trail Head owner Stephen Foster, will discuss economic diversity, small business development and tourism efforts.

In addition, those in attendance will be treated to an evening of mountain storytelling, a tour of a historic eastern Kentucky structure, a cozy dinner, s’more making, as well as a “fireside chat” with Mosley’s office and Foster.

The evening will begin at 6 p.m. at the old Putney Ranger Station, just across the river from the Harlan County Camp Ground and Putney Trail Head. Renovation efforts are currently underway on this historic structure, which was built in the 1930s by the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corp.) as part of the commonwealth’s forestry maintenance.

Professional mountain storyteller Pam Holcomb, whose father was a forest ranger and who grew up in the Putney Ranger Station, will be leading the tour of the structure.

Holcomb also will join KFTC members and meeting guests back at the cabin for more storytelling later in the evening.

Mosley’s representatives will be joining the Putney Ranger Station tour as well, and will be giving updates concerning the plans for the building once renovation efforts are complete. Mosley’s office hopes the building will soon operate as a tourism and cultural destination where local arts and craftsmanship will be on display. Plans for the building also include an information center and forestry museum.

All are welcome and warmly invited to attend the September 28 Harlan County KFTC chapter meeting. For more information, contact McDaniels at 606-573-4223.

them, some have not, all have missed the hills from the time they packed the car until perpetuity.

Appalachia is not an easy place to be. Anyone who’s from there, who lives there, who attended IG2BYITM, who is invested in her future, will tell you that. It’s hard. It’s difficult.

The living here – for many reasons – is rugged, a mirror of the beautifully diverse landscape which calls us home all day, every day, for the rest of our lives. But like a dog that won’t bark, we love this place in spite of itself and the many ways in which it tries to run us off.

It is ours. We are it. It is our double-wide on a shaky foundation with a leaky roof, and our mansion on the hill with five bedrooms and four baths. It is our playground and our education. It is in our blood – cut open our veins, and see the blood run cool and clear like a mountain stream – or hot and raw, like an exposed coal seam laid bare by the dynamite’s roar.

It is our salvation and our sin. It is our roots and our wings. It is everything but simple, and nothing but beautiful.

What I learned from IG2BYITM is all of that, and more. What I learned is that we stay in this place and commit our lives to this place because where else could we go that would hold us so sweet and love us so deep, while simultaneously scaring us for life with its addictive power? Appalachia is complex, and so are we – her many-varied children. In no other place can our full complexity be realized than right back where we stared, in the loving arms of our mother Appalachia.

And if we’re going to stay, we are definitely going to push our place to be better than she currently is, because we know – deep down in our mountain souls – that we deserve it, that our communities deserve it, and that there is nothing else for us than to patch that leaky roof, teach that old dog to bark, invite all our friends over when the work’s done and sit a while swapping stories on the porch. And then, we’ll start it all again tomorrow, never giving up on our home improvements until the work is done.

This commentary was originally published on www.appalachiantransition.org on August 26, 2015.

IG2BYITM – 2015 IG2BYITM was organized by young people through Higher Ground of Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College, Appalachian Media Institute of Appalshop, The STAY Project and KFTC. It was made possible by funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission, Frazier Foundation, Chorus Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts. Enjoy pictures and posts about the event by searching #IG2BYITM on social media.

6 | Balancing the Scales

www.kftc.org | September 9, 2015

in memory of ...

Adams, Wooten, early KFTC leaders, passed away this summer

Raleigh Adams, a life-long resident of Leslie County, was an early and important leader in KFTC’s local and statewide work. He passed away in July at the age of 83.

Raleigh, along with his wife, Mary Jane Adams, and brother, Logan Adams, were among KFTC’s first members. They helped form the Leslie County Concerned Citizens, which later became the KFTC Leslie County chapter.

For decades they fought to protect their land and that of their neighbors from strip mining and oil and gas drilling. They were key players in the successful 1988 constitutional amendment campaign that did away with the abuses of the broad form deed.

An early history of the Leslie County chapter reports: One day in 1976, underground coal miner Raleigh Adams noticed some Kentucky-West Virginia Gas Company employees out surveying near his home in Leslie County. He asked them what they were doing.

He was told the company planned to drill for gas and oil on his brother’s land adjacent to where Raleigh and his wife Mary Jane had built their home and now lived with their two children.

Raleigh told the gas company workers that they were not going to drill on Adams’ land. They said they had the right to do it under a broad form deed. The Adamses went to the county seat of Hyden to check on the broad form deed and found out from their lawyer that, in fact, mineral owners had dominant rights under broad form deeds, according to interpretations by Kentucky courts.

The Adamses blocked Kentucky-West Virginia Gas, bodily, with cars, and in court, from drilling on the land. But they remained deeply concerned about the broad form deed issue. In mid-1981, they called together other Leslie County landowners with similar concerns to form the Leslie County Concerned Citizens.

During the 1982 General Assembly, some Concerned Citizens members went to Frankfort to lobby.

Raleigh and Mary Jane Adams found out about KFTC during that legislative session. They attended an early April KFTC Steering Committee meeting held to wrap up what had been KFTC’s first session as an organization. From that point, the Leslie County Concerned Citizens were closely affiliated with KFTC. In the summer of 1982, Concerned Citizens members did a study of land and mineral ownership and property tax statistics in Leslie County, which had not been part of the Appalachian Alliance’s landmark study of the same data for 80 Appalachian counties, including 12 in Kentucky. When the Leslie Countians realized the inequality of property tax payment compared to who owned and controlled land in their

county, they made working for an unmined minerals tax a priority along with broad form deed reform. At the 1982 KFTC Annual Membership Meeting, Leslie County became one of the first four KFTC chapters.

The Leslie County Concerned Citizens were instrumental in making the broad form deed a KFTC platform issue at the 1982 Annual Membership Meeting, and in keeping it a priority.

Despite the success of the broad form deed campaign,

the Adamses had to continue to fight throughout their lives to protect their land from strip mining and drilling. The most recent dispute started in March 2008 with Whymore Coal Company, and included threats of physical violence.

Photos documenting this illegal mining of their land can be found at: http://bit.ly/1Ep2rDL Raleigh was a coal miner for the Blue Diamond Coal Company and for years served as international president of the Southern Labor Union. Mary Jane preceded him in death in December 2012.

ELIZABETH WOOTEN — INSTRUMENTAL IN PASSING BROAD FORM DEED Elizabeth Wooten, a KFTC member who helped lead the campaign in the 1980s to do away with the broad form deed, died in June. She was 91.

Wooten and her family fought for many years to protect their land from the strip mining that was rampant in Perry County. The book Making History: The First Ten Years of KFTC, included the following description: On December 3, 1983, dozens of KFTC members rallied near Bulan at the farm of Perry County widow Elizabeth Wooten … to express their opposition to broad form deeds and their resolve to fight as long as necessary to end their abuses. The Wooten farm lay like a near island, almost surrounded by oceans of strip-mined land. The family had been fighting in court for months to keep Marandco Coal, holder of a broad form deed, off the property, where Elizabeth’s husband was buried. “Before my husband died, he asked [the family] not to let them come on here and strip mine,” Wooten said. “And we’re going to honor that promise. What kind of people would we be if we didn’t?”

With Wooten among the movement’s leaders, KFTC members helped passed a law in the 1984 General Assembly that outlawed the abuses of the broad form deed. These were deeds signed in the late 1800s / early 1900s that severed the ownership of the minerals under the land from the ownership of the land itself; in the 1950s the Kentucky courts interpreted these deeds to allow the mineral owner to strip mine the land without the permission of the surface land owner, and with no obligation to compensate for the damages done.

However, state officials decided not to enforce the new law and continued issuing strip mine permits even when the mining company had not proved ownership or the legal right to mine.

Wooten’s case in the Perry County Circuit Court became a test case for the new broad form deed law. Marandco Coal had already sued the Wootens to keep the family from interfering with the mining of their land. With the new law in hand, the family quickly got a favorable ruling in the local court, with the judge also upholding the constitutionality of the new law.

That case was appealed and eventually consolidated with a federal case involving other KFTC members using the court system to protect their land. Despite several lower court rulings all in favor of surface owners, on July 2, 1987 the Kentucky Supreme Court ruled that the 1984 broad form deed law was unconstitutional.

The Supreme Court, in a splintered and confusing decision, struck down the 1984 broad form deed law. Three judges ruled in its favor, three against. The seventh judge, in a separate opinion, was silent on the constitutionality question but affirmed the ruling. (Making History) The ruling devastated Wooten and KFTC members – but also energized them. When the General Assembly met again in January 1988, placing a constitutional amendment on the ballot to do away with the abuses of the broad form deed was KFTC’s top priority. Amazingly, the vote to do just that was unanimous in both the House and the Senate.

And the statewide vote in November 1988 to approve the broad form deed constitutional amendment was nearly as strong, with KFTC winning 82.5 percent of the vote statewide and carrying every county.

At a rally to support KFTC’s efforts, Wooten declared: “As long as me and my 11 children live, they will never strip our land. They’re not going to win. We’re not going to lose.

We’re winners. I’m proud to be a member of KFTC. It’s a strong organization and getting stronger, and we are going to stand in there. We’ll fight to the end.”

www.kftc.org | September 9, 2015

Balancing the Scales | 7

We are Kentuckians Serena Owen, Northern Kentucky Rosanne Fitts Klarer is a longtime KFTC member and a leader in the Scott County chapter. She serves on the KFTC Steering Committee.

How did you get involved with KFTC? In 2003, my husband, Tim, and I were invited to go to a house party in Owen County. We had not heard of KFTC, so we were amazed because Wendell Berry was there reading and talking to people about KFTC and Kentucky and his love of the land. It was like a friendly face. It was down home.

It was at someone’s house. It was a very cozy kind of intimate gathering with about, maybe 25 people.

KFTC is made up of more than 9,000 individuals who together amplify our voices and fight for a better Kentucky. As individuals we bring our own talents and treasures with us to the organization. We Are Kentuckians is a new series that will profile KFTC members in various aspects of the organization.

Why have you stayed involved?

I saw that KFTC seemed to scaffold the members into stepping up as leaders. I thought that was a very powerful model.

And it appealed to me because I had previously thought it might take years and years to get enough knowledge and support to become that kind of leader that I might want to be.

And KFTC really helps you in that regard. They are going to step back so that you can step up.

Why should others become KFTC members?

If you are interested in moving Kentucky forward in a progressive way, a group like this can give you a more powerful voice. Because in unison we do have a powerful voice. I know Margaret Mead said that one person can change the world, but that’s hard. It could take one person decades. But if you’re working in a group there is a good chance that you can get things done more efficiently and hopefully have a broader impact. There is beauty in people getting together and bringing in new ideas and helping each other see how we can move

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A KFTC MEMBER? • You’re part of a community of people who share a vision for Kentucky.

• You get to impact issues that are important to you. You’ll receive information, training and opportunities to speak directly with decision makers.

• You get to amplify your voice and build New Power. Working together, we can do so much more than any of us can do alone.

• You get fellowship and fun with others who share your values.

Contact a KFTC office near you to learn more ways you can make a difference Find your local chapter: www.kftc.org/chapters Like us on Facebook: www.kftc.org/facebook Follow us on Twitter: @kftc Email us: info@kftc.org

forward. KFTC creates room for innovation and input from everyone.

So if you want to be at the table where things are happening, please come and join KFTC. Get involved in your chapter. Or figure out some other way that you can be involved. Maybe go to Frankfort once or twice a year and get a sense of what’s going on there. So that the power structure in Frankfort is not something that you can’t approach. You’ll see that you can go to Frankfort and lobby and get the ear of your legislator. KFTC helps you by supporting you in becoming a more active leader.

And it’s fun. At KFTC, the people have open minds and open hearts and you’ll have some fun. For me, our meetings are meaningful because we talk about things we can do. Actions we can take. So don’t think that it’s going to be just another meeting. Come and bring something to eat and maybe a joke or something.

You said that you got involved with KFTC through a house party, but you also host one of our favorite house parties! What can you tell us about that?

Since Tim turned 30, we’ve been having big birthday parties in our home. It became a tradition to have a contest for best pie. About five or six years ago, we decided to put that energy into doing a fundraiser. We wanted to see if we could incorporate the enthusiasm our friends brought to the pie party into the work we were doing with KFTC. So our pie party became an annual KFTC house party.

About three years ago, I was talking about it with Mary Lou White at a Scott County chapter meeting. And we thought, “I wonder if we could make it bigger? Try some other things?”

We started to brainstorm about the many artists in our area, and she said, “Well, why don’t we just do an Arty Pie Party?”

We loved the catchy name, and we thought others would remember it.

Everybody took up different roles. One of mine, which I liked, was talking to artists and explaining KFTC’s work.

A lot of them were already members so I just reiterated and reinforced why they were part of KFTC. Many of them are so busy, and can’t come to a lot of meetings. But they can help by donating a piece of art.

Last year we had the Arty Pie Party at the Scott County Arts and Cultural Center, right in downtown Georgetown.

The enthusiasm was there, and we brought in new people, which was really good. And we need to keep doing that. New people. New members.

Any advice for others interested in hosting a house party?

Planning is important. We talked about it a lot in advance. We wanted input from everybody. Every idea is worth listening to. It might be your idea in the beginning, but it grows into something much bigger. It becomes a community project.

What is your vision for Kentucky and for KFTC? I think that Kentucky could be the progressive leader in the southeast because we have a lot of good creative thinkers in Kentucky. We need new energy in Frankfort. We need more people voting and more people that are informed on the issues and getting involved in their local community.

Even if it’s hard. And believe you me, being progressive in parts of Kentucky, it is very hard. You’re often one of only a few people in the room at city council meetings or wherever.

You are going to have to be strong and committed and courageous. But, we have to keep on going. And it’s easier together.

I don’t want to throw in the towel, that’s for damn sure.

If you’re not involved in doing something with KFTC, be it phone calls, letters to the editors, or trying to collaborate with another member on ideas, then please do. In order for Kentucky to move ahead and get progressive and healthier – politically, socially, environmentally – we need all these ideas, and we need people working for them. And we have to do it because, if we don’t, people on the other side of these issues may take over and they will not let us come to the table. But there is room at the table now. So get up and come to the table.

KFTC.ORG/JOIN

8 | Balancing the Scales

www.kftc.org | September 9, 2015

KFTC News

Annual membership meeting has everyone “all in” KFTC members affirmed once again that we are “all in” for a better Kentucky.

At the 2015 Annual Membership Meeting August 2123, members from across Kentucky gathered at General Butler State Park to strategize, envision, share ideas and have fun together.

Beginning with the theme “All In: Uniting Around a Progressive Vision for Kentucky,” members tackled such topics as organizing white people for racial justice, oil and gas fracking and pipelines, tax justice, climate justice and just transition, and housing as a human right.

“All In also describes KFTC’s particular approach to organizing and how we believe change can and should happen,” explained KFTC Chairperson Dana Beasley Brown during introductory remarks on Saturday morning. “When we are All In, we are together, we are one another’s strength and support. When we feel the weight of injustice pressing in, together we can push back against that weight.

“When we are All In, we are a force, a force to be reckoned with … And, when we’re All In, we are a community, where we find shared purpose, inspiration, solace, hope, courage, strength and joy.”

Members also dug in to the foundations of grassroots organizing: building power locally, using nonviolent direct action, and building intergenerational movements during workshops on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning.

When they weren’t working, they were getting to know each other better through team-building games led by Lexington United, dancing to the tunes of DJ Yared, sharing their talents at the cultural sharing showcase, and outbidding each other at the silent auction.

At the annual awards banquet on Saturday night, members who have made special contributions to KFTC’s work over the past year were recognized. Long-time member Carl Shoupe, who was unable to attend due to illness

Three generations of the Brosi family attended the Annual Membership Meeting this year. Blossom Brosi (left) with her husband, Michael Spears, and daughter Daisy pose with long-time KFTC member George Brosi (right).

in his family, was honored with the Hazel King Lifetime Achievement Award.

Members wrapped up the weekend with the annual business meeting on Sunday morning, where they chose officers and adopted the KFTC platform for the coming

Keynote: Ai-Jen Poo KFTC members were challenged to “articulate a vision that actually represents and uplifts all of us” by Ai-Jen Poo, the featured speaker at the 2015 annual meeting.

Poo talked of the journey that she and the National Domestic Workers Alliance have been on for the past decade to reach that point. Like KFTC members, domestic workers have been involved in “against-all-odds organizing.”

Domestic labor is “some of the most undervalued and overlooked work in the economy,” Poo told her audience via Skype. “Ninety percent are women and the majority women of color.” It is the work that “makes everything else possible,” yet the workers are excluded from some basic labor laws and “have been told for generations that it would be impossible to build power.”

That exclusion is rooted in racism, she explained. In order to win support from southern lawmakers when the National Labor Relations law was being negotiated in the 1930s, domestic workers and agricultural workers, who were mostly black, were excluded.

But after a seven-year campaign, “in 2010, New York became the first state to pass

THANKS: Kertis Creative KFTC members and staff are thankful for the talents and skills of the members of the Kertis Creative team. They did

year.

As she led part of the business meeting, Scott County member Rosanne Fitts Klarer talked about what KFTC provides for members: “It scaffolds you. It gives you the power to have a voice, and together we have a big voice.”

a domestic worker bill of rights. Now six states have passed similar legislation. It is an incredible show of strength and power, yet it is not enough.”

The Domestic Workers Alliance has moved from an oppositional approach (pitting the workers against the families they serve) to look at the world through the eyes of all families and their needs. “We are about to have the oldest population we have ever had in the history of this country. Twenty-seven million people will need care just to meet basic human needs. The number of people giving care will need to double to meet demand.”

That represents “a real opportunity to bring workers and their family together with all families [in ways] that help everyone live better, to live with a real sense of possibility, to expand and transform access to good care … and so that every single job in the care sector is a good job.”

“We started with values and principles and vision – bold vision – the way the world should be, and will be, when we build power through this campaign. It creates a different context for our fight.”

Moving back to KFTC’s work, Poo concluded: “Every person in Kentucky sees their future in our vision for Kentucky – rooted in opportunity, dignity and democracy. We are the only ones who can offer that vision. It is the kind of transformation that we need.” a great job documenting and recording the feelings and ideas of members at the annual meeting. They have been a partner with KFTC for more than five years and have helped us elevate our work. Thanks to Katie Fogleman, Danny Guy and Brett Marshall.

www.kftc.org | September 9, 2015

Balancing the Scales | 9

KFTC Annual Membership Meeting Awards 2015 Winners Sister Marie Gangwish Award, presented to the member who has worked steadily and creatively to raise the grassroots funds that support KFTC’s success.

Ann Ellerkamp, Shelby County Chapter Ann has been the chapter fundraising coordinator for the Shelby County chapter since the chapter first formed in 2012.

She has organized chili suppers, trivia nights, pie auctions and the chapter’s first-ever karaoke night. Her leadership and creativity have kept the momentum high for chapter fundraising success.

Alice O. Martin Award, presented to the member who has done the most work behind the scenes to strengthen KFTC as an organization.

Gladys Maynard “The Start of Something Big” Award, presented to the member whose commitment and action leads to the development of a major movement or event in the cause of justice.

Benham $aves Partners: Harlan County KFTC Chapter, City of Benham, Benham Power Board, Harlan Community Foundation, Christian Outreach with Appalachian People, MACED, Appalshop, and Josh Outsey (Appalachian Transition Fellowship) The incredible vision and teamwork of this group of KFTC members and allies has truly started something big. The Benham Saves project will bring clean energy solutions to eastern Kentucky, create new jobs, build community, and help us transition beyond coal.

Daniel Thompson Bridge Builder Award, presented to the member who diligently and faithfully worked to bring together diverse groups of people within KFTC. The Jefferson County, Letcher County and Harlan County KFTC Chapters These three KFTC chapters have worked together over the past two years to build bridges between our urban and Appalachian members and lift up the ways in which were are all connected and share a common heritage. Members from Louisville visited eastern Kentucky to cultivate relationships and exchange knowledge around local organizing work in May as part of the We Are Kentuckians member exchange.

Erik Lewis, Rowan County Chapter Erik has been working behind the scenes for KFTC for many years. He is active in his local chapter and has served on several statewide committees, including Economic Justice, New Energy and Transition, and the Personnel Committee. Over the years he has set up countless KFTC tables at Morehead State University.

Evelyn Williams Award, presented to the member(s) who persevered against great obstacles and over time to win an important victory.

Central Kentucky Chapter The CKY chapter won an 18-month campaign to secure an affordable housing trust fund in Lexington. Their efforts included a breakfast, panel discussion, and walking tour that

Joe Begley and Everett Akers Award, presented to the member who is jailed, loses a job, or faces some other major adversity because of their work for social justice.

Joyce Wise Award, presented to the KFTC member who has overcome personal adversity to help others.

Lisa and Cody Montgomery, Rowan County Chapter

Andrea has been instrumental in the Harlan County Chapter’s work on the Benham $aves project, knocking on many doors and recruiting folks to participate, while working full time and caring for family members.

Lisa and Cody have been active members of KFTC for several years, and they recently welcomed a new baby into their lives.

They were both actively involved in efforts to gain union recognition for food service workers at Morehead State University.

They risked their jobs, and continue to do so, to advocate for others.

Hazel King Lifetime Achievement Award, presented to the KFTC member who has committed his or her life in the service of others by working for social justice.

Carl Shoupe, Harlan County Chapter was attended by directly impacted residents, Mayor Jim Gray and Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council members.

Ally of the Year Award, presented to the ally organization that has done the most over the past year to support KFTC’s work and goals of organizing.

ACLU of Kentucky and Fairness Campaign These two organizations have supported KFTC chapters and other local efforts to pass fairness ordinances across Kentucky.

Funder of the Year Award presented to the individual or organization that has provided exceptional guidance and resources to KFTC in its struggle for social justice.

Carl has been an active member of the Harlan County chapter, served on the KFTC Executive Committee as vice chairperson, been a chapter representative on the Steering Committee, and is a leader in the Benham $aves project, a community-wide energy efficiency program in his hometown of Benham. Over the years, he has introduced countless activists and allies to his home community and advocated for a just transition beyond coal.

Stoneman Family Foundation This foundation has given generously to both KFTC and our ally the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy to strengthen our tax reform work.

Andrea Massey, Harlan County Chapter

Special Friend Award: Footprints for Peace Our friends at Footprints for Peace have walked from Prestonsburg to Frankfort for seven consecutive years to protest mountaintop removal and call for a more sustainable future. Through their many steps, they have withstood challenging weather and challenging conversations.

Grassroots Fundraising Award: Presented to the chapter that raises the highest amount of grassroots funds during the year.

Central Kentucky Chapter Membership Recruitment Award: For recruiting the largest number of new members in the past year.

Central Kentucky Chapter Membership Recruitment Award: For the largest growth by percentage in the past year.

Shelby County Chapter

10 | Balancing the Scales

www.kftc.org | September 9, 2015

Local Updates

Film “Who is Dayani Cristal?” asks a broader question: Who are immigrants?

On August 6, at the Village Branch Library in Lexington, KFTC teamed up with the Maxwell Street Legal Clinic (the immigration legal office of the Kentucky Equal Justice Center) to show the film “Who Is Dayani Cristal?” and to facilitate a panel discussion afterward.

The panelists included five youth who had immigrated to the United States before they turned 16 and who each shared some of their experience with migration.

The film investigates the life of a man whose body was found in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona, tracing his footsteps from his home in Central America, motivated by poverty and family, to risk death in crossing the border. The film pointed to the fact that many U.S. citizens “see a law and they see a law-breaker” when it comes to undocumented immigration, but that behind every immigrant is a set of very human, and often very honorable, goals.

The panelists drove that home with their stories of risk, fear, guilt, responsibility and gratitude regarding their and their family members’ migration.

All of the panelists either entered the United States as undocumented immigrants, or they became undocumented by overstaying their entry visas. All five of them also qualified for President Obama’s 2012 documentation program known as DACA, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.

To be clear, DACA is not an immigration status or a pathway to citizenship. It is simply a temporary documentation, government recognition that a person is present in the country, but with a clean record and no cause for deportation.

Young people who were brought to the United States before they turned 16, do not have a criminal record and are in school or have completed school (these are the basics; there are other stipulations) can pay $465 to apply for DACA, which grants them access to a work permit and social security number, so that they may work legally in the U.S. for two years before having to re-apply.

While each of the panelists is benefiting from the DACA program, they know that, even though they have spent most of their lives in the U.S. and many of their family are here, DACA is not permission to stay here indefinitely. It grants nothing for the thousands of parents of the DACA recipients.

One of the panelists, University of Kentucky graduate Pedro, used the common phrase “golden cage” to describe the undocumented immigrants’ life in the U.S. – a life surrounded by opportunity but restricted in access to that opportunity.

Undocumented people cannot get drivers’ licenses, and they live in fear that any interaction with the police could lead to deportation.

Despite all this, people from other countries continue to come, whether it be for their family’s safety from institutionalized violence, access to quality education, work opportunities, or simply good health care. Fredy, another panelist, shared that his family brought him to the U.S. to seek medical care for his cleft palate, for which they paid thousands of dollars.

For more information on KFTC’s partner in this event, or to request a presentation on immigrant rights, please visit www. kyequaljustice.org.

Residents show #WhitesburgForAll

By Tom Sexton Recently, inspired by a YouTube video made by a gun store owner in Florida, a Whitesburg, Kentucky, gun store owner named Jill Stidham programmed an electronic sign hanging in her store window, flanked by a confederate flag, to announce to the community that her store would be “Muslim-Free” from here on out.

Here on out being a matter of days, apparently.

Jace Firearms will likely be closed by the time you read this, as they’re slated to close their doors soon. Per the sign in question, they’re currently having a going out of business sale.

According to a recent study published in the Washington Post, Appalachia was deemed the most racist area of the country based on their irrefutable scientific criteria that boiled down to which places Google the “n” word most frequently. I’m being facetious of course in questioning the veracity of that study, but I can’t help but wonder if there were some preconceived notions about mountain folks that led them to scrutinize the Googling habits of hillbillies a bit more than, say, the tony suburbs of New York.

But even people who have been derided forever as a racist and backward bunch can surprise you at times.

The response to the gun store situation in Whitesburg was spearheaded by an ad hoc group of young community

organizers working with organizations like KFTC, Sierra Club, Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center, Appalshop and others. The initial reaction was to take a group to the store and demand they close their doors. After some reflection, the group determined that the best and most effective response was to shift the attention away from Jace Firearms’s exclusionary policy, and instead to highlight the businesses in town who didn’t want to exclude anybody, and recognized this by posting a sign with a simple message “This business welcomes everybody.”

After asking nearly every business in Whitesburg, more than 35 window fronts participated in the campaign, which came together in just hours.

The 24-hour turnaround response to a complex and vulnerable community moment certainly wasn’t perfect, but the consensus was that it adequately represented the belief among community members, displayed by the local TV news station, that Whitesburg is for all (#WhitesburgForAll, ya’ll!).

In order to combat harmful stereotypes about their region, it was important for other businesses in the community to stand up and be counted, and to let everybody know that one hateful person doesn’t speak for all.

In this national moment of heightened visibility of systemic racism and white supremacy, it matters how people show up locally and hold their own accountable.

“WHO IS DAYANI CRISTAL?” REFLECTION BY MIRANDA BROWN I was especially struck by each of their expressions that they feel so blessed and privileged to be working, educated and safe. Panelist and Kentucky State University Mass Communications and Journalism graduate Alexis Meza said that she “checks” her privilege every day, remembering that she is blessed and has so much.

These young people are pictures of success in the face of tough odds – hard-working students or graduates of four-year universities. But they feel such a weighty responsibility to be that for their families who risked everything to bring them here. Being care-free college students has never been an option for them.

After the panel, I spoke with another person of color who has been active in KFTC who said that she has heard similar comments about guilt and responsibility from black community members who find themselves climbing the socioeconomic ladder when so many of their friends and family lack opportunities.

I think of my own privilege. I was able to study abroad in college to get better at Spanish because I had a good scholarship and my parents could cover the remaining costs. Many immigrants are economically forced to migrate or flee from danger, seeking asylum in the U.S. And once here, if they are undocumented, find that they cannot travel outside of the country at all – even to go to their mother’s funeral, like the mother of another of our panelists.

The fact that thousands of people face this today while I will never have to worry about being separated from my family in order to pursue my dreams – or even make a living – that is a striking injustice that is only one of many which show that it is the law which disrespects these people and their needs, rather than the other way around.

Sandra, panelist and current college student, told about her hard-working father being in deportation proceedings because of a minor traffic violation, worrying that he could be deported and separated from her and their family. Sandra’s story and those of the other panelists all reaffirmed my belief that a law that delegitimizes family and dehumanizes individuals is a law that can only serve justice by being dismantled.

I think many other attendees would agree and I hope that we do not keep quiet during the building presidential election or any future immigration talks in Congress.

www.kftc.org | September 9, 2015

Balancing the Scales | 11

Local UPDATEs

Jefferson County chapter will host second annual Smoketown GetDown for Democracy in historic Louisville neighborhood The history of the Louisville neighborhood Smoketown – and the innovative ideas from local residents for its future – will be celebrated at the 2nd Annual “Smoketown GetDown for Democracy,” a community block party open to the public on Friday, September 18.

This year’s party will also celebrate the neighborhood’s Sesquicentennial (150th anniversary). The GetDown will take place outside of the Jefferson County chapter’s office at 735 Lampton Street in Louisville from 4 to 10 p.m. “(The first) Smoketown GetDown was a neighborhood celebration and a huge success,” said chapter member Shavaun Evans, a key volunteer at last year’s event. “Attended

by Louisvillians from various walks of life, the crowd left feeling energized and excited about the future of Smoketown.”

Chapter member and Smoketown resident Ellen Sloan said, “Thanks for making our neighborhood come to life again. Let’s do this more often. I saw nothing but smiles at the GetDown! Smiles on the faces of children at the live art wall, from participants – old and young – moving along with dance, and on the faces of community members, volunteers, and vendors, excited to take part in an event that was powered by the Smoketown community.”

Smoketown has a lot to celebrate this year. The Smoketown Neighborhood Association is quickly approaching the one-year mark after its reorganization following the inaugural Smoketown GetDown. The group meets monthly and is working with residents and neighborhood organizations to bring about community improvements identified in the Jefferson County chapter’s “Vision Smoketown” report released last year (kftc.org/visionsmoketown).

This included inviting Louisville Metro Council member David Tandy to join residents on a walking tour of the neighborhood to point out areas in need of attention.

The Jefferson County chapter, working with the neighborhood association and the Center for Neighborhoods, will soon release information gathered this spring and summer during the “Walk Your Block” walkability study of the neighborhood as a way to bring attention to the infrastructure improvement needs identified in the Vision Smoketown Report.

Coinciding with the GetDown will be the opening of the Smoketown Rising Exhibit: Time & Seasons – a communityled effort to preserve and recognize the rich history of Kentucky’s oldest historically Black neighborhood, Smoketown.

This exhibit will include past and present photos of families, homes, well-known residents and landmarks from the neighborhood. An opening event will be held Friday, September 18 from 4 to 6 p.m. during the GetDown at St. Peter Claver, 526 Lampton Street.

The exhibit will remain open through October 2, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The block party will also spotlight Smoketown community leaders, neighborhood history, and community organizations and businesses. This family-friendly event will include voter registration, a live art wall, local food trucks, and free photos courtesy of Magnolia Photo Booth Company from 7 to 10 p.m. Pollo-a gourmet chicken joint, Lexie Lu’s, and

Louisville Cream will be selling food.

Featured performers include DJ Yared Sound, 10th Street Blues Band, River City Drum Corp, Roots and Wings, Fierce Ent., Safiyyah Dance Company, and The Afrophysicists. As an official event of the Louisville Craft Beer Week, the block party will include a beer garden featuring West Sixth brews, including the new Dankechain Oktoberfest.

KFTC, Kertis Creative, and West Sixth Brewing are cohosting the event. More than 20 local businesses, non-profit organizations, church and community members are also sponsoring contributors.

If you’re interested in volunteering at the GetDown, sign up online at http://bit.ly/1L2C2hd or contact Alicia Hurle at 502-589-3188 or alicia@kftc.org. You can make an online donation to support the GetDown at: http://bit.ly/1LzApnP

KFTC members celebrated in the street last year at the Smoketown GetDown.

LTH

MONWEA

E COM S FOR THENTS TUCKIAN ES

KEN

735 LAMPTON ST

@ THE CORNER OF SHELBY AND LAMPTON STREETS A BLOCK PARTY POWERED

BY THE PEOPLE!

PR

FRIDAY SEPT 18TH 4PM TO 10PM

12 | Balancing the Scales

www.kftc.org | September 9, 2015

canary project update

Members ask for strong protections for streams affected by mining Members of KFTC, the Sierra Club, Kentucky Waterways Alliance, Appalachian Citizens Law Center, Kentucky Conservation Committee, Appalachian Voices, Kentucky Resources Council and others had a strong presence at a public hearing September 3 to advocate for the strongest possible protections for water in communities where coal is mined and downstream.

More than 25 folks asked the U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement to keep many of the provisions in the draft Stream Protection Rule. The new rule is an effort “to modernize 30-year-old regulations to reflect current science and technology,” according to the agency.

They also asked OSMRE to restore the Stream Buffer Zone that is done away with in the draft rule. That rule prohibited the impacts of coal mining within 100 feet of a stream or waterway.

Michael Nixon of the Citizens Coal Council called on OSMRE to stand firm on the draft rule “that truly protects our nation’s streams and waters.” He said the agency’s approach should be “preventing damage instead of correcting damage.”

Several speakers made the connection between clean water and good health, noting that the health of many people living near coal operations has been negatively affected.

“Our lives in Appalachia are being shortened,” pointed out Elaine Tanner of Letcher County, noting the “unimaginable damage to our environment” coal companies are leaving behind and the “legacy pollution we face in our future.”

She said that coal companies should be held accountable for this damage.

Jimmie Hall, also of Letcher County, said the water supply in his community of Mill Creek had “been destroyed. I don’t know what to say, I just know I’ve been hurt… it’s one of the things that destroyed my way of life.”

Russell Oliver of Hazard asked for “stronger laws and enforcement of those laws. We needs laws to protect the water … when the mining is gone, water will be left.

“Stricter laws should be passed to protect the remaining water so that future generations will not suffer from cancer and other diseases,” Oliver added, noting that cancer rates in eastern Kentucky are already high and have been associated with pollution from mining operations.

“I have witnessed the streams in Harlan County running orange from toxic waste,” added Joanne Golden Hill.

She asked OSMRE to strengthen the rule by requiring pollution discharges to be tested at their source rather than downstream, and that “the 100-foot Stream Buffer Zone is essential. Strong stream protections will go a long way to begin repairing the damage done.”

The new draft rule replaces the Stream Buffer Zone rule that required the impacts of coal mining to be kept out of waterways, with a 100-foot buffer zone to help make that possible. Though in place since the early 1980s, that law was not enforced by Republican or Democratic administrations.

The Bush administration did away with the buffer zone in 2008 when Appalachian groups pushed to have it enforced and mountaintop removal was out of control. That action was challenged in court, and the Obama administration pledged to restore the rule after it came into office.

But when the current administration dragged its feet, Appalachian groups along with national environmental organizations pursued the legal action against the weakening of the law done

by President Bush. The courts agreed and in February 2014 restored the original 1983 version of the law.

The new draft rule is a major rewrite of the 1977 federal Surface Mine Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA). It requires much more in the way of pre- and post- Mary Cromer of the Appalachian Citizens Law Center (left) and KFTC members Michael Hannan mining water quality and Teri Blanton talk after the Stream Protection Rule hearing. monitoring, including the change in administrations in the White House. selenium and conductivity. It addresses the de-watering of The rhetoric was most shrill from politicians, led by Atstreams that results from subsidence caused by underground torney General Jack Conway and U.S. Rep. Andy Barr. mining. It requires mine operators to restore both the hydro- Conway said the draft rule would “end mining as we logic form and ecological functions of streams disturbed by know it,” and called it “an insult to Kentuckians.” mining.

Barr said the draft represented “the efforts of the Obama But it does away with the buffer zone, meaning that val- administration and MSHA [Mine Safety and Health Adley fills, responsible for the burying of more than a thousand ministration] to ban coal mining in Appalachia … We don’t miles of Kentucky streams, could continue. solve problems through central planning that looks like the “I have worked my entire career with SMCRA [in the Soviet Union.” industry and as a regulator],” said Davie Ransdell, speaking A representative of U.S. Sen. Rand Paul went into a for KFTC and the Alliance for Appalachia. “In reading the tirade that bordered on a verbal assault on the OSMRE 524 pages of the actual rule, I got excited for the first time representatives listening attentively to each commenter. in a long time because it reads very much like SMCRA was Sen. Mitch McConnell also sent a representative, and Andy first intended to be.

Beshear (candidate for attorney general), Jenean Hampton “It’s not perfect … the science behind a lot of these (candidate for lieutenant governor) and several state legislachanges is a long time coming.” tors all reiterated the coal industry’s talking points.

She and many others again emphasized that a buffer None of them, however, mentioned water or the goal of zone needed to be reinstated and strictly enforced. protecting streams and the people who live along them or “I was present at the Rose Garden in 1977 when Jimmy downstream.

Carter signed the strip mining law. I’m here to plead that More reasoned opposition came from several coal minthe promise of this occasion be finally implemented,” said ers who talked about the hardships they and their families George Brosi of Berea. “Clean water provides many times have faced from the disruptions in the industry and the loss more jobs than polluting industries. The stream buffer must of employment. Some moved hundreds of miles to find new be forced with exactly no exceptions.” mining jobs. All were worried about their future and the im The reaction to the draft rule from those involved in pact new rules requirements would have on their industry. or representing the coal industry was not so favorable or Similar worries were shared by those who don’t make generous. Most of the several dozen industry speakers railed their living from coal. against “regulatory overreach” and the lack of industry input “I’m 19 years old and I’m here because I’m concerned into the writing of the rule. about my future. I’m worried because there are not jobs for Because of the length of the rule and the thousands of me. The coal industry has never looked out for me or my pages of accompanying science and documentation, many friends,” said Emma Anderson. “The coal jobs are moving asked for an extension of the public comment period that out, and no one is doing anything to help the devastated currently is scheduled to end September 25. This also is communities left behind. They destroy everything that I a tactic to drag out the rule-making process in hopes that love. I think this is a really good step for doing something there will not be sufficient time to issue a final rule before and gives me hope for my future.”

www.kftc.org | September 9, 2015

Balancing the Scales | 13

new energy and transition UPDATE

Empower Kentucky: Shaping solutions for jobs, health and future generations In August KFTC launched a major new initiative, Em- in Kentucky while reducing health and climate risks. Those power Kentucky, to engage Kentuckians from all walks of life conversations will inform the Empower Kentucky Plan, in shaping solutions that can strengthen our economy and im- KFTC’s proposal for how Kentucky can seize this opportunity prove the quality of life for all Kentuckians, while also protect- and begin to transform our economic, energy and political sysing our health and climate. tems for the better.

Empower Kentucky is KFTC’s home-grown response to “It won’t be easy to transform the ways we generate and use the opportunity created by the U.S. Environmental Protection energy in Kentucky,” Sanders acknowledged as she described Agency’s Clean Power Plan (CPP). The CPP aims to reduce how many Kentucky politicians are pursuing a strategy of harmful climate emissions by denial and delay. “But we are cutting carbon dioxide (CO2) “It won’t be easy to transform the ways we ready and willing to roll up pollution from electric power generate and use energy in Kentucky. But we are our shirt sleeves and build plants by 32 percent over ready and willing to roll up our shirt sleeves and something great and importhe next 15 years. Each state build something great and important together. tant together. We will not was given a unique pollution We will not wait. We know we are our best hope wait. We know we are our reduction goal based on its for change.” best hope for change.” specific mix of electric genElizabeth Sanders, Letcher County. “And so, we will write a eration. The CPP gives states state plan – the Empower flexibility to decide how best Kentucky Plan,” Sanders to reach those goals, and they have seven years before plans concluded. “We’re going to design a blueprint for Kentucky must be put into action. that will make our communities more livable, improve our “This moment poses an important opportunity,” said health – for everyone, from those living near strip mines to Elizabeth Sanders during KFTC’s Annual Membership Meet- those living in the shadows of smokestacks – a blueprint that ing. “The Clean Power Plan has been released because we must will strengthen our economy and will support a just transition act on climate change. We know global temperatures are rising, for workers and communities.” and we must take urgent action to reduce the risks and harm to “We will not do this alone. We want to work with as many future generations. And we also know we can do it while build- allies and partners as possible, from labor unions to churches, ing a strong economy that is good for all people.” from health care providers to solar entrepreneurs, and from Sanders explained that, beginning this fall, KFTC will environmental groups to school teachers and students. We want hold interviews, public hearings and listening sessions across our process and our plan to be beautiful and diverse and full of the state to gather ideas for building a strong and just economy life, and full of power.”

ACTION: SPEAK OUT Join the conversation KFTC invites input from students, workers, business owners, faith leaders, people living in economically distressed communities and communities of color, utilities, union members, artists, educators, farmers, researchers, entrepreneurs, contractors, local and state officials, elected leaders, people of faith, health professionals, parents and grandparents, renters and homeowners, and all Kentuckians.

Most important, we want to hear from you: • What is your vision for Kentucky’s bright energy future? (How would you describe what a good, just energy system in Kentucky should look like in 15 years? In 50 years?)

• Why? What motivates you to work for that future?

• What’s needed to transform Kentucky’s energy system in ways that are good for workers, communities, our economy, health and climate?

What will it take?

• What questions or concerns do you have about Kentucky’s energy transition?

• Who else should we listen to and engage in this conversation?

Later this fall, KFTC will announce a schedule of public hearings and listening sessions across the state. Information about ways to get involved and join the conversation will be posted at www. empowerkentucky.org.

KFTC members Chris Woolery (left), Miranda Brown, Eric Dixon and Serena Owen helped launch the Empower Kentucky campaign to shape solutions to strengthen Kentucky’s economy while protecting our health and climate.

Get connected! www.empowerkentucky.org Like Empower Kentucky on Facebook.

14 | Balancing the Scales

www.kftc.org | September 9, 2015

new energy and transition update

KFTC members help a just transition proposal gain momentum The POWER+ Plan, a proposal by the White House to stimulate economies in economically distressed regions that once relied on coal mining, is an important opportunity to build a bright future and a just economy in eastern Kentucky.

That’s what residents throughout counties in eastern Kentucky are saying. Elected officials, members of Kentuckians For The Commonwealth, and other community members are working through their local governments to demonstrate support for the POWER+ Plan by passing resolutions asking Rep. Harold “Hal” Rogers to move it through the legislative process in Congress.

A rapidly growing number of cities and counties in Kentucky have endorsed the POWER+ Plan. In less than a week in August, five resolutions in support of the POWER+ Plan were passed by local governments across eastern Kentucky, including the Whitesburg and Benham city councils, the Benham Power Board, and the Harlan and Letcher County fiscal courts.

The POWER+ Plan is a federal proposal that would target more than a billion dollars toward economic diversification and development projects in communities struggling with the decline of the coal industry, especially in Appalachia.

“The POWER+ Plan is an opportunity for us to put Kentuckians back to work reclaiming abandoned mine sites.

We could be creating jobs in farming, energy, tourism, and more on these reclaimed mines. Who wouldn’t want to seize this opportunity to kickstart a transition to a stronger, more just economy here in Appalachia?” said Carl Shoupe, a retired UMWA coal miner who serves on the Benham Power Board and KFTC’s Executive Committee. “We hope Senator

McConnell and Congressman Rogers see how much we here have to gain by passing it as soon as possible.”

“I’m excited to see everyone in our community connecting with each other and other communities across eastern Kentucky, and I’m proud of my fiscal court for passing the resolution unanimously. My neighbors and others living here in eastern Kentucky are speaking loud and clear: the POWER+ Plan can be a huge opportunity for our communities as we’re working together to build a bright future,” said Kimberly Shepherd, a resident of Harlan County and a KFTC member. “I hope the movement to pass this legislation keeps

growing out from here as more people demonstrate to our Congressmen that we’re ready and waiting for their action.”

Eric Dixon, Coordinator of Policy and Community Engagement with Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center, which, in conjunction with partners, recently released a report on the Abandoned Mine Lands program and the POWER+ Plan, says that even more cities and counties throughout eastern Kentucky are expected to demonstrate support for the POWER+ Plan in the coming weeks.

KFTC members are working on resolutions in Hindman, Knott County, Perry County and elsewhere.

KFTC members (back) with the Whitesburg City Council after the passage of the resolution in support of POWER+ in August. Whitesburg City Council was the first local government body in Kentucky to pass a resolution in support of Power+.

Empower Kentucky continued from page 13 What is the Clean Power Plan (CPP) and what does it mean for Kentucky?

The Clean Power Plan (CPP) aims to lower carbon dioxide (CO2) pollution from electric power plants by 32 percent over the next 15 years. The CPP sets a goal for each state, and gives states great flexibility about how to meet that standard.

Each state must submit a State Implementation Plan (SIP) to the EPA for approval in September of 2016 or ask for a two-year extension. States may choose to meet their goal by operating power plants more efficiently, switching to less polluting fuels, expanding renewable energy generation, deploying energy efficiency programs, taxing carbon dioxide pollution, or participating in a cap-and-trade program. They must begin taking action to reduce power plant emissions by 2022.

If a state fails to submit an approvable plan, the EPA will set pollution limits for the utilities in that state, and require them to comply or purchase pollution credits. (The details about how this Federal Implementation Plan will work are still being figured out, and the EPA is seeking public comments.)

States even have flexibility to choose how their pollution goal should be calculated. Kentucky could choose to reduce the average rate of pollution (described as pounds of CO2 per megawatt-hour of electricity produced) by 40 percent from

2012 to 2030. Or we could choose to shrink the total mass of our power plant pollution (described in million pounds of CO2) by 31 percent over the same time period. Under either scenario, the actual requirement is much smaller after taking into account recent and planned coal plant retirements in Kentucky.

KFTC and many of our allies asked the EPA to greatly strengthen the CPP from its original draft form, and a number of good ideas were incorporated in the final version. For example: States must demonstrate that they have listened to a broad range of people and groups in their state planning process, including affected workers and low-income residents.

States are encouraged to invest in job training and job creation efforts in affected communities.

The CPP provides incentives for states to take early action to expand renewable energy and to offer energy efficiency programs benefiting low-income residents.

States with the most challenging goals will have access to a larger share of those incentives.

The final version of the CPP has stronger and more consistently applied state goals for pollution reduction.

Renewable energy generation plays a bigger role in the final version of the rule.

The EPA announced its intention and plan to impose

pollution reduction limits directly on utilities, in the event that states refuse to comply with the rule.

Despite those improvements, KFTC members and allies also have many concerns about how the CPP will be implemented. It is possible, for example, that states could comply with the limits by investing heavily in other harmful energy sources, including natural gas and burning garbage or trees.

The EPA’s rule considers those sources to be cleaner than burning coal, despite substantial evidence that they produce high levels of CO2 emissions and other harmful pollutants.

The CPP also encourages states to set up pollution trading systems, which could allow utilities in a state like Kentucky to do very little to reduce pollution while asking ratepayers to pay more.

Many of Kentucky’s political leaders responded to the EPA’s announcement with pledges to challenge the rule and delay action. Bill Bissett, president of the Kentucky Coal Association, immediately praised both candidates running for governor for their opposition to the regulations. Governor Beshear, who had expressed willingness to work with the EPA’s draft rule, blasted the final version as “ill-conceived.” Kentucky quickly joined a group of 15 states, led by West Virginia, in filing a preliminary legal motion and preparing for a broader lawsuit challenging the rule.

www.kftc.org | September 9, 2015

Balancing the Scales | 15

Economic Justice update

Education data shows need for tax reform, NKY members say

By JoAnn Schwartz, NKY member Education … It’s always in the news. Questions abound in the media. Is the American educational system still the best in the world? Is there a genuine crisis in our schools?

How is Kentucky performing? What are the facts?

The Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE), the organization that coordinates change and improvement in Kentucky’s postsecondary education system, held meetings around the state on the strategic plan for 2016-2020.

Eight members of the Northern Kentucky KFTC Chapter attended the town hall-style meeting at Northern Kentucky University on July 29. All were enlightened on the sad and alarming state of affairs of education in Kentucky and in the nation.

Prior to the evening’s discussion, Robert L. King, CPE president, presented these 2013-2014 statistics: •

•

• • • •

Only 50 percent of U.S. 16- to 34-year-olds read “at or above the literacy standard,” ranking the U.S. behind all of Western Europe, Canada, Australia, Japan and South Korea.

Only 33 percent of U.S. 16- to 34-year-olds have math skills “at or above the numeracy standard,” rating the U. S. near the bottom when compared to European countries, Australia, Canada, Japan and South Korea.

Only 44 percent of 16- to 24-year-olds have adequate problem-solving skills, positioning the U.S. last in a list of countries around the world.

Kentucky ranks 44th in education among the states.

Forty percent of working-age people in the U.S. hold an associate degree or higher.

Only 30 percent of Kentuckians have an associate degree or higher.

grees (from second to 24th place,) and those graduating from technical schools.

What happened? Postsecondary education budgets were drastically cut by the legislature starting in 2008. Those funds have not been replaced, and now Kentucky is tied with West Virginia for the least funded universities, colleges and technical schools. Continued cuts will make it harder for the state to grow and attract businesses that rely on a welleducated workforce.

The Kentucky Center for Economic Policy (KCEP) further notes the commonwealth joins Oklahoma and West Virginia as the only three states still cutting funding to higher education over the last two years. The state has the highest funding cut per-student in the nation in 2015 of $179 per student. The state is among the five states with the highest increase in the average cost of tuition, a 3.9 percent increase or an average of $344 more per student than in 2014.

In order to stop this disturbing trend, the General Assembly must commit to making higher education a greater

priority. Improvement in K-12 education is also required for college and technical school readiness. The business community demands talented, job-ready graduates. Kentuckians must be ready to compete not only nationally but also internationally. There must be an end to uncertainty about tuition and mounting levels of student debt.

Each member of KFTC can do their part by sharing these facts with the students in their lives, and helping our loved ones see possible solutions, including statewide tax reform. It’s possible to have a tax structure that asks the wealthy and corporations to pay a fair share so that we can make the investments in ourselves that we need and deserve. We can do better.

In strengthening the entire education system, the state will improve each citizen individually and better the community at large. By restoring and then increasing funds to K-12 and postsecondary education, Kentucky will produce a knowledgeable and skilled citizenry ready to meet the needs of a 21st century world.

Learn more at the Council on Postsecondary Education’s website, and from the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy’s website at kypolicy.org.

With today’s technology, even low-wage jobs need literacy, communication, math and critical thinking skills.

King stated that by 2020, 65 percent of all U.S. jobs and 63 percent of all Kentucky jobs would require some level of postsecondary education or training.

Business owners of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce were asked about areas of educational improvement needed in potential employees. More than 90 percent stated that STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) programs, literacy skills, problem-solving skills and professional responsibility were indispensable.

Kentucky made great strides in education from 20002009. At that time the commonwealth ranked first in sixyear graduation rates at state universities. The state ranked second in improvement rates of 25- to 44-year-olds obtaining associate degrees or higher, and in improvement in threeyear graduation rates at technical colleges.

In 2010, the rate of improvement dropped from first in the country to 41st for six-year university graduation rates.

There was also a precipitous drop in those with associate de-

JoAnn Schwartz spoke at a town hall-styled meeting hosted by the Council on Postsecondary Education in late July.

The End of the Line The true story of how a grassroots movement of Kentuckians stopped the Bluegrass Hazardous Liquids Pipeline

A film by Sellus Wilder starring some of your friends and neighbors To learn where the film will be showing or to schedule a screeing in your community, find “The End of the Line” on Facebook or contact wilder-productions@usa.net

16 | Balancing the Scales

CHAPTER MEETINGS Sept 14: Big Sandy Chapter Meeting 7-8:30 p.m. at Floyd County Public Library 161 N. Arnold Avenue, Prestonsburg Info: Jessie@kftc.org or call 606-263-4982 September 14: Jefferson County Chapter Meeting, 6:30 p.m. at the Jefferson County office. 735 Lampton St. Suite 202.

Info: Alicia@kftc.org or call 502-589-3188 September 15: Northern Kentucky Chapter Meeting 7 p.m. at Center for Great Neighborhoods 1650 Russell St., Covington.

Info: Joe@kftc.org or call 859-380-6103 September 17: Shelby County Chapter Meeting 6 p.m. at Stratton Community Center 215 W Washington St., Shelbyville.

Info: Carissa@kftc.org or call 502-208-1696 September 17: Rowan County Chapter Meeting 6 p.m. at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church 145 East 5th St., Morehead.

Info: Sara@kftc.org or call 606-632-0051 September 17: Central Kentucky Chapter Meeting 7 p.m. at theNorthside Branch of Lexington Public Library. 1733 Russell Cave Road, Lexington.

Info: BethHoward@kftc.org or call 859-276-0563 September 22: Southern Kentucky Chapter Meeting 6 p.m. at The Foundry 531 W. 11th Street, Bowling Green Info: Molly@kftc.org or call 502-599-3989 September 28: Madison County Chapter Meeting 6:30 p.m. at Berea College Appalachian Center, 205 N. Main St., Berea.

Info: Sasha@kftc.org or call 859-358-9713 September 28: Harlan County Chapter Meeting 6 p.m. at the old Putney Ranger Station.

Info: Jessicabreen@kftc.org

www.kftc.org | September 9, 2015

Boyd residents winning on landfill issue Boyd County residents have been making significant tionist who had begun addressing concerns and writing progress in their attempt to rid their community of a letters to organizations with the expertise to assist our problematic landfill accepting trash from all over the community with this mammoth invasion into our recountry. gion.”

“Residents throughout our county had been meet- “As we continued our meetings, we all began to ing routinely to vent their complaints about an unwant- work and speak freely with one another, and the ideas ed invasion of Big Run flowed. We stayed curLandfill in Ashland,” said rent with all local govCandy Messer. ernment meetings, the “We thank all of the supporters of Ken The landfill was records were flowing in, tuckians For The Commonwealth, Apdescribed as “a stenchevidence was collected, palachian Mountaintop Advocates, Ohio ridden horror for Boyd people were engaged Valley Environmental Coalition and County residents, a headpersonally about their Kentucky Resources Council for reachache for local politicians experiences, and a plan and a challenge for state was put in action to free ing out and leading us down the road regulators, who consider our community from ten to success as well as our friends and it the most troubled landyears of a mismanaged neighbors within our community. We infill in Kentucky,” by The business.” vite all of you to proceed with us as we Courier-Journal writer Petitions and health continue our journey.”

James Bruggers. surveys were made avail “We don’t have anyable and informationthing (else) of this magnial flyers distributed in tude,” Tony Hatton, director of the Kentucky Division of homeowners’ paper boxes. Members began to reach out Waste Management, said in Bruggers’ recent story. “They beyond their community to others that might help. can’t continue the way it is. The odor issues coming off the “Community meetings were scheduled to gain molandfill are really significant, and I mean significant.” mentum as responses to our requests from organizations Big Run is Kentucky’s largest landfill and one of the began to appear,” Messer explained. “Suddenly there were busiest in the eastern United States, accepting more than those who wanted to visit our community and experience 3,500 tons of waste a day (the equivalent of more than our problems. With others viewing the extent of the viola300 garbage trucks). It has accumulated nearly 1,000 odor tions, we began our journey to success, one milestone at a complaints and about 30 violations in the last two years. time.”

When the landfill was first permitted in the 1990s, A big step came in July when the Boyd County Fiscal it was expected to receive 7,000 tons of garbage over its Court voted unanimously to ask state officials to shut the entire lifetime. Now it accepts that much in two days. landfill. The landfill’s permit is up for renewal this year.

Athletes at a nearby practice field have become sick “Our journey is not over, and if we had to choose one from the odors, which have garnered complaints from step to be the most valuable, it would be to engage the residents as much as seven miles away. services of larger organizations, listen to others, discuss According to Messer, after months of frustrating the many avenues, respect one another, pick each other up public meetings and complaints that brought no relief, in when knocked down, and stay focused on the final goal,” March residents began to organize. It started with a hand- Messer reflected. “With assistance comes momentum and ful of residents and has since grown into the Citizens of community support, and these are vital as the journey Boyd County Environmental Coalition. continues.

“These individuals had already been working behind “We thank all of the supporters of Kentuckians the scenes before the group was created, so they were far For The Commonwealth, Appalachian Mountaintop ahead in many aspects of the journey,” Messer explained. Advocates, Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition and “There was an engineer collecting technical data, a medi- Kentucky Resources Council for reaching out and leadcal laboratory business manager acquiring public records ing us down the road to success as well as our friends and and sorting files, a fire inspector organizing hazards, and a neighbors within our community. We invite all of you to former manufacturing manager and a medical transcrip- proceed with us as we continue our journey.”

October 1: Scott County Chapter Meeting 7 pm. at Sociology House 514 Hollyhock Drive in Georgetown.

Info: Joe@kftc.org or call 859-380-6103

KFTC merchandise

October 6: Letcher County Chapter Meeting 6 p.m. at Wiley’s Last Resort on Pine Mountain Info: Jessicabreen@kftc.org

Totes, Shirts, Hats, Hoodies, and More!

kftc.org/store