“Will was a warrior for working people for more than seven decades. His leadership, compassion and deep commitment to economic and social justice was an inspiration to several generations of labor union and progressive activists in the Puget Sound region. He was a highly skilled journalist whose passionate and entertaining writing reached across the country. In recent years he was not only a fierce voice for justice for working people but also became deeply concerned with the threat to our planet posed by the fossil fuel industry. He was an emotional and intellectual leader of PSARA and will be deeply missed.”
- Robby Stern
We will announce the date, location and time for a celebration of Will’s life soon.
PSARA participated in the Caring Across Generations Lobby Day
March 28th – PSARA participated in the Caring Across Generations Lobby Day. While participating in the activities planned for the Lobby Day, PSARA members sponsored a bake sale with yummy items baked by PSARA members. The proceeds of the bake sale were donated to the WA State Treasury to help encourage the legislature to raise revenue to restore the home care hours cut in previous budgets and to provide decent wages for home care workers. Our message was we raised the dough and the legislature should raise the dough by closing tax loop holes and creating a fairer tax system. Here are pictures from the day.
Photos by PSARA member Garet Munger
Speaker Frank Chopp happens by the bake sale. Maureen Bo & Kate Hunter explain what the bake sale is promoting as Jim Grayson observes. Speaker Chopp purchased one of the yummy items and expressed his support for our efforts.
Photos by PSARA member Garet Munger
PSARA Administrative Vice President, Maureen Bo, speaks forcefully for full Medicaid expansion of Washingtonians up to 138% of federal poverty without co-pays at rally sponsored by SEIU Health Care 1199NW!
PSARA members and community allies meet with Sen Ed Murray to discuss the Caring Across Generations campaign, our goals for the 2013 legislative sessionand the necessity for the legislature to raise revenue rather than cut desperately needed programs.
The PSARA membership has determined PSARA’s legislative priorities for the 2013 Washington legislative session
To read and download the priorities along with talking points on the priorities click on these links:
- PSARA 2013 Legislative Agenda
- Healthy Washington Coalition 2013 Legislative Priorities
- Caring Across Generations 2013 state agenda
- Support Increased Revenues 2013 session
- Support the Washington State Investment Trust
PSARA members celebrate Dr. M.L. King day
Photo by Bob Barnes
Jan. 21, 2013 – PSARA members celebrate Dr. M.L. King day at Garfield High School prior to joining with thousands in a march to the Seattle Federal Building where Larry Gosset, Chair of the M.L. King Celebration Committee, King County Council President and PSARA member spoke of the necessity to fight cuts to Social Security, Medicare & Medicaid and called for Scrapping the Cap!
PSARA opposes the construction of a deep water coal terminal at the Bellingham Cherry Point location
The following is the statement Robby Stern (PSARA President) filed on behalf of PSARA with the Army Corp of Engineers regarding the deep water coal terminal.
The Puget Sound Advocates for Retirement Action voted to indicate our opposition to the construction of a deep water coal terminal at the Bellingham Cherry Point location. As a multi generational organization with a large proportion of seniors, we believe that the issue of climate change is the transcendent issue of this time in history. As one of our members said, “we are cooking the planet with the use of fossil fuels.” We have a legacy and obligation to do all that we can to diminish the use of fossil fuels which is destroying air quality and negatively impacting the health and well being of all living things. In addition, the increase in train traffic will have a deleterious impact on the movement of people in the Puget Sound region.
We call on the Army Corp of Enginners to consider and include in your EIS the overall crisis our planet is facing and the negative impact the use of fossil fuels like coal are having on present and future life on the planet. If the Army Corp of Engineers is charged with making a recommendation through the EIS process, we urge you to recommend that the plans to build the deep water coal terminal not be approved.
PSARA Legislative Conference
Photo by PSARA member Garet Munger
Nov. 10, 2012 – Over 80 PSARA members met and discussed PSARA’s priorities for the upcoming 2013 Washington legislative session. At the end of the discussion, the members voted to approve our priorities and then broke up into legislative districts to plan meetings with their legislators.
PSARA members supporting a national day of action and solidarity aimed at Walmart
Photo via Alliance for Retired Americans' Flickr page
PSARA members joined with other community groups and labor activists on Oct. 10th as part of a national day of action and solidarity aimed at Walmart. We were showing our support for Walmart workers who are demanding respectful treatment from the largest employer in the world.
Civic Engagement: It’s Our Middle Name
We’ve been through wars and depressions, presidents decent and lousy, political defeats and victories. We love our country, and we believe the best way to show it is to raise hell about its shortcomings.
Our operating principle was expressed by a wise rabbi nearly two millennia ago: “You are not required to finish the work, but neither are you at liberty to abstain from it.”
We are Puget Sound Advocates for Retirement Action. Civic engagement is our birthright and our middle name. If it’s yours as well, come join us. We need you.
