I hope you will forward this around to all the folks who are organizing up in the camp. Thanks in advance.
Hi! I came to the encampment yesterday and tried to talk to people about donating $20,000. It was a difficult thing to do. That’s ok, it means I spent a lot more time thinking about the money and that is probably important. If you care about any of that reasoning: http://soggyinmilk.blogspot.com but it’s totally ok if you don’t want to read that.
I would still like to donate money but I’m picky about how I want it spent. What I would like is for different groups to put together proposals for between $1,000 and $5,000. I am going to be frank and say I don’t want to pay just to keep people here for the protest, not doing anything in particular. I have already donated a couple thousand dollars in food, blankets, tents, air mattresses, and other items. I feel like I’ve funded that part of the movement as much as I want to. I think that support needs to come from the community because that decision belongs to the community, not to some rich person in Fremont. The city is rallying around you and it’s awesome. Those needs will be met. I’m confident.
I want to know about long-range plans. I want to know about things that are actually going to improve living in the city for the people who call it home. I want to know what Occupy Oakland wants to actually get done. I want to help it get concrete things done in the city. I don’t know what that means to you all. But I want to find out. I want to help you succeed in your dreams for the city that you love.
I would like proposals that answer the following questions:
What need in the community do you see that you would like to fill:
How many people will you need to see this through:
How much money will you need? How, specifically, will you spend it?
How long will this project take you? Will it stop or keep going?
Could you find funding elsewhere when I run out of money? How do you plan to pursue that issue?
I felt so amazed by what I saw at the Strike. You all accomplished so much with so little. What other things do you want to accomplish? How can I help? I would love it if people would email me the proposals. It’s going to be interesting figuring this out with finance. But that’s just a detail. That will be handled.
Thanks.
Krissy Gibbs
somethingdifferent@gmail.com
408-202-4083
4056
and now i finally see the green button at the top right of the page
https://www.wepay.com/donate/20969
http://thelonghaul.org/
it took me days to be reminded long haul, and another day to find this link. now i know more about your intention, but wanted to at least put this info here for folks who want to go this route.
my question is when and where is our finance committee meeting?
I don’t have a proposal, just want to say thank you for making funds available to serve the community. I like how you’re asking people to be specific.
Krissy,
Your willingness to spend your money to support the cause is admirable.
Your direct action by making purchases for donation already, and by coming down to the GA to talk, are commendable.
However, your call for proposals to answer the question “How would you spend my money” is problematic.
Occupy exists to inform people about how concentrated money creates concentrated power, and to break the connection between money and power as the first step towards justice, liberty, and prosperity for all.
When you call for proposals (which is a thoughtful and noble thing), you sidetrack (or even hijack) the collective decision making process. You ask great questions about how the money will be spent! But you still end up with your money giving you more power.
If you want to just write a check to the GA, you can, but you’ve already pointed out the flaws in that.
I encourage you to ask for answers to the question:
“What should I do with my money?”
And seek answers that involve you in more than just check writing.
If you’re not ready to give over complete control of the money to the collective, that’s your right.
So keep yourself fully in control:
Make choices from the donation list; join work groups that appeal to you and make purchases and donations when they make sense to you; spend time at Occupy and find projects you want to participate in with both cash and your two hands.
With love & solidarity from one person who’s got money to share to another,
Mister Double You