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WEDNESDAYS • Jan. 9, 2019

Richmond & Hampton Roads

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Rejecting plea deal means longer sentence if convicted, analysis shows

CNS – Defendants who reject plea bargains and are convicted when they choose to go to trial for many types of crimes face longer sentences – sometimes substantially longer – than defendants who make a deal, a Capital News Service analysis shows.

For example, the average sentence for defendants who pleaded not guilty but were later convicted of unlawful possession of drugs was seven times longer than those who pleaded guilty, the analysis of Baltimore City court records found.

People who pleaded not guilty and went to trial received, on average, sentences of two years and 10 months. People who accepted plea bargains were sentenced to about four months.

Those pleas save the state the time and cost of a trial. But courts are essentially “punishing people who are exercising a constitutional right, which is the right to trial,” said Steven P. Grossman, professor at the University of Baltimore School of Law. The gap in sentences was greater for less serious crimes, the CNS analysis showed, but the difference nearly disappeared in cases involving more serious charges.

For example, defendants who were convicted at trial of possessing a gun in connection with a felony received sentences only about 5 percent longer – 5 years as opposed to 4

years, 10 months – than people who accepted a plea bargain on the same charges, the analysis showed.

Grossman, who was a New York City district attorney before he became a professor, says plea bargaining has been common for more than a century. “We are not a system of trials,” he said. “We are a system of of plea deals.”

He said judges and courts don’t see plea bargaining as a bad alternative but as “giving people a break for pleading guilty.”

Courts are essentially “punishing people who are exercising a constitutional right, which is the right to trial,” said Grossman. “But,

because courts wouldn’t admit to this, they come up with all these absurd reasons for why they give people less time.” In Maryland and around the country, courts are overwhelmed with cases and more than 90 percent of cases end in plea bargains instead of trials.

So, why do people plead guilty?

Grossman said anyone with the fundamental understanding of human nature would know why.

“They plead guilty because they want less time, which is what you would do or what I would do. The lawyers tell them they will get less time,” he said. “The only way plea bargaining works is if we give

defendants less time if they plead guilty and more time if they go to trial.”

In a 2018 Nevada Law Journal article called “Making the Evil Less Necessary and the Necessary Less Evil: Towards a More Honest and Robust System of Plea Bargaining,” Grossman wrote that the trial penalty presents challenges in at least two kinds of cases.

The first, Grossman said, comes in cases where defendants were given “significantly harsher penalties after trial than they were offered in a plea bargain.” And the second arises

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The LEGACY

2 • Jan. 9, 2019

News

Proposed custody bill adds definitions, protections against domestic abuse

“We didn’t have a good clear definition of what domestic abuse was,” said Collins, who is a Republican. “There’s this great Supreme Court line that says, ‘I can’t define pornography, but I know it when I see it,’ and it was kind of the same thing with domestic abuse.

No one could really define what domestic abuse was, but we knew it when we saw it.”

Jessica Moore, program coordinator for Richmond court-appointed special advocates (CASA) for abused and neglected children, said that the

definition of domestic abuse within this bill is something the law has been lacking for a long time. In the cases she has dealt with, Moore has seen that domestic abuse is not always considered as a problem in custody cases when looking at the best interest of the child.

“I don’t necessarily think it’s that the judges don’t know how to navigate this within the law, I think there isn’t a lot of navigation that’s laid out for them,” Moore said.

Jonathan Yglesias, policy director for the Virginia Sexual and

Domestic Violence Action Alliance said Levine’s past bills weren’t necessarily tackling family or domestic abuse, but this bill hones in on a specific type of abuse.

“What really makes this [bill] different is that I think it’s really trying to redefine domestic abuse to be expansive enough to include intimate partners beyond just family and household relationships,” Yglesias said.

However, Yglesias said there are concerns with Collins’ bill because parts of the definition could create unintended consequences for victims and survivors who are seeking custody of their children. Certain behaviors listed are behaviors that survivors could use to avoid harm and protect their children.

Collins said he is aware that putting a new definition in the code of Virginia can cause a lot of angst.

However, once his bill is introduced, it can be tweaked if people approach him with concerns about the wording.

“There are multiple steps where we can amend this bill before it becomes law on July 1st,” Collins said.

The bill will be formally introduced once the General Assembly begins on Jan. 9.

information, Grossman said, for fear of appearing to be coercing a defendant into take a plea deal. Such cases likely would be reversed on appeal.

But Grossman said judges could still help the defendant understand what his options are without being coercive.

If the defense attorney and defendant ask a judge what the range of sentences would be if found guilty, Grossman said the judge shouldn’t withhold that information.

“These defendants are making the

most important decision of their lives, about whether they should plead guilty or not,” Grossman said.

“They’re being told what they’re going to get if they plead guilty. But they’re not being told what they get if they go to trial. So they make the decision with half a basketful of information that they need to make an educated decision.”

Grossman said he would have judges offer information only if the defendant asks. And then, “I would

give the judges the authority to tell defendants at least the range of sentences they’re thinking about, the factors they’re going to consider if they go to trial.”

“I see nothing wrong with that,” Grossman said. “If I was a defendant, I would want to know that. But defendants are not being told that in their own interest, because we don’t want to coerce the.

That’s paternalism, I think, at its worst.”

STEPHANIE HAGAN CNS - A bill proposed by Warren County Del. Christopher E. Collins for this year’s General Assembly session would offer a clearer definition of domestic abuse for judges to use in child custody and visitation cases.

Two related bills have been filed over the past two sessions, though both failed.

According to Virginia’s Legislative System website, Del. Mark H. Levine, D-Arlington, filed HB 2128 in the 2017 session, and HB 807 in the 2018 session, both addressing custody and visitation arrangements in the best interest of children.

Collins said he was asked to carry the bill this year because of his connection with the stakeholders involved, but his bill builds off of Levine’s past efforts.

The 2019 bill, HB 1653, would require judges to consider domestic abuse and child abuse in custody and visitation cases in addition to the current legislation that only requires judges to look at a history of family abuse or sexual abuse. The main difference is the specific definition of domestic abuse.

(from page 1) in cases in which the “defendant who was convicted after a trial receives greater sentence than his co-defendants with similar or worse criminal records who were equal or more primary participants.”

Grossman suggested judges should be more involved in the process by letting defendants know the range of sentences likely if convicted at trial.

Judges are wary of offering such

Andrew Skinner Jr., a father of 3, is an advicate for families.

www.LEGACYnewspaper.com

Jan. 9, 2019• 3

Students to receive $8 million in loan forgiveness Virginia Attorney General Mark R. Herring and 48 other attorneys general have reached a settlement with for-profit education company Career Education Corporation (CEC). According to the terms of the settlement, CEC has agreed to reform its recruiting and enrollment practices and forgo collecting about $493.7 million in debts owed by 179,529 students nationally. In Virginia, 3,094 students will get relief totaling $8,022,178. The Assurance of Voluntary Compliance filed Thursday caps a five-year investigation into the company.

“Virginia student borrowers deserve to have complete and accurate information when deciding whether a school is right for them or making financial decisions,” said Herring. “CEC’s practices misled and deceived students and left them unable to find employment in their chosen field and saddled with immense debts. This settlement will give thousands of Virginians the relief that they need and help ensure that the company will make substantial changes to their practices for future students.”

CEC has agreed to forgo any and all efforts to collect amounts owed by former students living in the states participating in the agreement.

Nationally, the average individual debt relief will be about $2,750. CEC has also agreed to pay $5 million to the states. Virginia’s share will be $50,000.

CEC is based in Schaumburg, Ill., and currently offers primarily online courses through American InterContinental University and Colorado Technical University.

CEC has closed or phased out many of its schools over the past 10 years. Its brands have included Briarcliffe College, Brooks Institute, Brown College, Harrington College of Design, International Academy of Design & Technology, Le Cordon Bleu, Missouri College, and SanfordBrown.

A group of attorneys general

launched an investigation into CEC in January 2014 after receiving several complaints from students and a critical report on for-profit education by the U.S. Senate’s Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. That investigation revealed evidence demonstrating that: CEC used emotionally charged language to pressure them into enrolling in CEC’s schools; CEC deceived students about the total costs of enrollment by instructing its admissions representatives to inform prospective students only about the cost per credit hour without disclosing the total number of required credit hours; CEC misled students about the transferability of credits into CEC from other institutions and out of CEC to other institutions by promising on some occasions that credits would transfer; CEC misrepresented the potential for students to obtain employment in the field by failing to adequately disclose the fact that certain programs lacked the necessary programmatic accreditation; and CEC deceived prospective students about the rate that graduates of CEC programs got a job in their field of study, thereby giving prospective students a distorted and inaccurate impression of CEC graduates’ employment outcomes. For instance, CEC inaccurately claimed that its

graduates were “placed” who worked only temporarily or who were working in unrelated jobs.

As a result of the unfair and deceptive practices described above, students enrolled in CEC who would not have otherwise enrolled, could not obtain professional licensure, and were saddled with substantial debts that they could not repay nor discharge. CEC denied the allegations of the attorneys general but agreed to resolve the claims through this multistate settlement.

Robert McKenna, former Washington state attorney general and current partner at the San Francisco-based law firm of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, will independently monitor the company’s settlement compliance for three years and issue annual reports.

Under the agreement, CEC must: * Make no misrepresentations concerning accreditation, selectivity, graduation rates, placement rates, transferability of credit, financial aid, veterans’ benefits, or licensure requirements. * Not enroll students in programs that do not lead to state licensure when required for employment, or that due to their lack of accreditation, will not prepare graduates for jobs in their field. For certain programs that will prepare graduates for some but not all jobs, CEC will be required to disclose such to incoming students.

* Provide a single-page disclosure to each student that includes: a) anticipated total direct cost; b) median debt for completers; c) programmatic cohort default rate; d) program completion rate; c) notice concerning transferability of credits; d) median earnings for completers; and e) the job placement rate. * Require students before enrolling to complete an Electronic Financial Impact Platform Disclosure, which provides specific information about debt burden and expected postgraduation income. CEC is working with the states to develop this platform. * Not engage in deceptive or abusive recruiting practices and record online chats and telephone calls with prospective students. CEC shall analyze these recordings to ensure compliance. CEC shall not contact students who indicate that they no longer wish to be contacted. * Require incoming undergraduate students with fewer than 24 credits to complete an orientation program before their first class that covers study skills, organization, literacy, financial skills, and computer competency. During the orientation period, students may withdraw at no cost. * Establish a risk-free trial period. All undergraduates who enter an online CEC program with fewer than 24 online credits shall be permitted to withdraw within 21 days of the beginning of the term without incurring any cost.

All undergraduates who enter an on-ground CEC program shall be permitted to withdraw within seven days of the first day of class without incurring any cost.

CEC has agreed to forgo collection of debts owed by students who either attended a CEC institution that closed before Jan. 1, 2019, or whose final day of attendance at AIU or CTU occurred on or before Dec. 31, 2013.

Former students with debt relief eligibility questions can contact CEC by email or phone: 844-783-8629 or 847-783-8629.

The LEGACY

4 • Jan. 9, 2019

Del. proposes allowing tax on disposable paper, plastic bags JOSHUA KIM CNS - Local governments would be allowed to place a 5-cent tax on disposable paper and plastic bags under a bill proposed by a Richmond legislator for the 2019 Virginia General Assembly.

The bill sponsored by Democratic Del. Betsy Carr, HB 1669, also would let retailers keep one cent of that tax revenue.

“She received several different requests from constituents and she has a lot of environmental advocates in her district,” Olivia Garrett, Carr’s chief of staff, said.

“She [also] wants to help protect the

environment herself.”

Although Carr’s bill aims to lower single-use plastic and paper bag use, exemptions include durable plastic bags designed for multiple reuse, plastic bags used for food items, paper and plastic bags used for alcoholic beverages or prescription drugs. Plastic bags intended for use as garbage, pet waste or leaf removal bags also are exempt.

“If you externalize the cost and say ‘Hey this actually costs five cents,’ people are much less likely to request disposable bags,” said Samuel Raasch, deputy director of Clean Fairfax Council., an environmental group. “From a

standpoint in behavior change it makes a lot of sense because you’re providing a disincentive toward not using them.”

States such as California and Hawaii have outright plastic bag bans, while cities such as Brownsville, Texas, Portland, Maine and the District of Columbia have bag fees.

Virginia has no statewide legislation banning or taxing disposable bags, but certain retailers - such as Aldi’s - charge customers for disposable bags.

Carr’s bill, which has no copatrons, is related to other legislation that has not fared well in the assembly.

In 2011, former Del. Joe Morrissey, D-Highland Springs, proposed a similar bill that would have imposed a five-cent tax on plastic bags. The bill died after strong opposition from retail and chemical manufacturers lobbies. Morrissey tried again in 2012, but to no avail after facing heavy backlash from Republicans.

In 2017, ​Sen. Chap Petersen, D-Fairfax, proposed bill SB-925 which was nearly identical to Del. Carr’s HB-1669. The Senate Finance Committee killed the bill in a 10-4 vote with every Republican voting to kill the measure.

Carr’s bill has been assigned to the House Finance Committee.

turtle detailed on its side with the tagline “Protect Sea Life” across the bottom. The plate was introduced by the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center on Oct. 29 of last year.

The bill to approve this special license plate was introduced by Del. Barry D. Knight, R-Virginia Beach, and prefilled in the House on Nov. 25.

An affiliate of the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center approached Knight and asked if he would help get this special license plate approved, Knight said.

“I said ‘yes, of course,’” he said.

“I’ve always been a great supporter of [the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center], and I know it’s a tremendous tourist attraction for

Virginia Beach.”

The Virginia General Assembly and governor-approved legislation which requires that a minimum of 450 pre-order applications be collected before a special interest or military license plate is approved and the DMV can develop and issue it.

Originally, the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center needed 450 pre-orders for the “Protect Sea Life” license plate by Dec. 31 before the design would be authorized by the Virginia General Assembly.

This deadline has been extended, however, and the aquarium had until Jan. 7 to acquire these preorders, according to the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center.

Proposed special license plates bill promotes marine conservation in Virginia MELANIE LIPPERT CNS - A Virginia Beach delegate proposed a bill to promote marine

conservation by authorizing a “Protect Sea Life” license plate.

The sea-blue-colored plate has an endangered loggerhead sea

www.LEGACYnewspaper.com

Jan. 9, 2019• 5

Senator proposes bill to legalize sports betting in Va. framework for an open, transparent and responsible market for legal sports betting,” Sickles said in a statement. “It will protect consumers while generating revenue to allow Virginia to compete for major

KATE BREED CNS - State Sen. J. Chapman “Chap” Petersen says his bill to legalize sports betting in Virginia will “recognize the obvious.”

“It is increasingly impossible to prevent people from betting on sports,” said Peterson, a Democrat who represent Fairfax, Falls Church, part of Alexandria, and part of Fairfax County.

Petersen announced in late November that he was filing legislation in the 2019 session to legalize betting on professional sports, excluding college sports.

This decision came after the U.S. Supreme Court opinion Murphy v.

NCAA on May 14, 2018. It found that the 10th Amendment of the Constitution prohibited Congress from restricting state-licensed sports betting.

Since the U.S. Supreme Court decision, six states have passed legislation that legalized sports gambling. These states include New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Other states are considering passing legislation.

“The passage of my legislation, or anything similar, will not save Western Civilization,” Petersen said.

Sports betting could become part of a bigger entertainment experience.

If done right, Petersen said it could get people out in Virginia downtowns, increasing food and drink sales.

Also, the revenues from a tax on

Va. Sen. Chap Petersen vendor profit will be shared with the community college system, Petersen said. He said he chose community colleges because they are part of a state-run education system available to everyone.

“Revenue from sports betting should stay in Virginia, and I’d like to place an investment in our community colleges to win,” said Petersen, who also said he hopes to see community colleges become free for students, In the House of Delegates, Del. Mark D. Sickles, a Democrat who represents part of Fairfax County, filed bill H-1638 to legalize betting on professional sports. Sickles has proposed to give the state lottery regulatory oversight of the gambling expansion, according to The Virginia Mercury.

“This legislation provides a

Sex Offender Helpline

The helpline provides support to communities on issues related to accessing sex offender registration information; responsible use of information; sexual abuse prevention resources; and accessing crime victim support services.

The tips program provides the public an opportunity to report registrants who are failing to comply with registration requirements.

Tips can also be provided at

www.parentsformeganslaw.org.

This program is not intended to be used to report police emergencies.

research projects that create jobs and help to diversify our economy away from over-reliance on federal spending.”

The General Assembly will convene Jan. 9.

6 • Jan. 9, 2019

Op/Ed & Letters

The LEGACY

Who owns the women’s march?

BRENNA DEMANDS Author’s note: I am not part of the Women’s March staff nor am I writing as an official representative of their views.

Recently, I put together a timeline of events related to the vilification of the Women’s March leaders, specifically looking at the accusations of anti-Semitism and what their responses have been at different points in time these past two years.

I felt that the latest Women’s March statement and apology was a turning point for them as an organization. It addressed a commitment to fighting antiSemitism and homophobia/ transphobia and previewed the positive work they are doing on the updated Unity Principles as part of the Women’s Agenda for 2019.

And yet the attacks have continued. We must hold leaders accountable, but what does that really mean as it relates to the Women’s March? And what does it mean for the future of the intersectional feminism movement?

In a damaging Facebook post, Teresa Shook, one of the original white female co-founders of the Women’s March, called for “the current co-chairs to step down and to let others lead who can restore faith in the movement and its original The LEGACY NEWSPAPER Vol. 5 No. 2 Mailing Address 409 E. Main Street 4 Office Address 105 1/2 E. Clay St. Richmond, VA 23219 Call 804-644-1550 Online www.legacynewspaper.com

intent. I stand in Solidarity with all the Sister March Organizations, to bring the Movement back to its authentic purpose.”

Then Tablet published an interview with Evvie Harmon, another white female co-founder of the Women’s March, where she shared her recollection of a confrontation that happened at the end of January 2017, when the leadership team met to debrief after the March on Washington: [Tamika Mallory said] she didn’t trust white women. Especially white women from the South. At that point, I kind of tuned out because I was so used to hearing this type of talk from Tamika. But then I noticed the energy in the room changed.

I suddenly realized that Tamika and Carmen [Perez] were facing Vanessa [Wruble], who was sitting on a couch, and berating her—but it wasn’t about her being white. It was about her being Jewish. “Your people this, your people that.” …

They even said to her “your people hold all the wealth.”

Taken for its face value, this sounds pretty shocking. The other women in the room described it by saying a heated debate about power dynamics in America occurred and that part of it related to Tamika Mallory’s strongly held viewpoints about the historical differences in access to power between Jewish and black communities.

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What is not being acknowledged in the dirty laundry being aired from two years ago is that the Women’s March is not just a corporate company where a co-worker might say something racist or anti-Semitic, and then you report it to HR and they get fired. The purpose of intersectional feminist spaces is to confront these complicated issues of gender, race, class, religion, sexuality, ability, and immigrant status and how they relate to the oppression of marginalized groups.

Radical confrontation is not a byproduct; it is built in by design.

And for Evvie, a white woman, to admit that she sat there and “tuned out” when Tamika, a black woman, was angrily talking about her distrust of white feminists and their complacency with white supremacy, that shows me that she wasn’t ready to be in that space and actively listen and learn. If she made little effort to understand Tamika’s struggle and the struggle of all black women like her, what is the motivation for Tamika to show her grace and patience when those words fell on unlistening ears?

The four current Women’s March co-chairs posted a Facebook video on Dec. 12, 2018 to talk about how much they have grown and

learned over the past two years. In it, Tamika said this: “I want to be judged based upon my actual work.

And I always ask people to show me, just show me where in my life—and that doesn’t mean that I haven’t made mistakes and that I haven’t said things that are wrong … but overall, I think that I have shown that I am always open to coalition building, always looking to protect people, marginalized voices, and to learning what I don’t know. And I have learned so much in two years.

“My eyes have been open … my understanding of the world is much broader.”

It is clear from these early interactions that Mallory and the other Women’s March co-chairs, Carmen Perez, Linda Sarsour, and Bob Bland, also came into the space bringing their own biases and experiences from their communities, which they had to work through and unlearn in order to move forward.

Admittedly, in the beginning, some women did not feel comfortable in the space with the level of anger expressed. For a few of the women who identified as white and/or Jewish, that is when they chose to splinter off and form their own

(continued on page 7)

www.LEGACYnewspaper.com

Jan. 9, 2019• 7

P.T. Hoffsteader, Esq.

(from page 6) group where they could center their actions on civility and whiteness.

Now in the midst of planning the 2019 Women’s March, there are specific organizations targeting these four co-chairs to demand they step down, with multiple online petitions started for people to sign.

Comments range from calling for a boycott of the Women’s March and their sponsors to straightforward hateful attacks and abuse. So why are they still here?

In social activism spaces, there is a lot of focus on call-outs and callins as a way to bring a person’s attention to how their words and actions have a negative impact on someone else. In Maisha Johnson’s article, “6 Signs Your Call-Out Isn’t Actually About Accountability,” she writes that a call-out has the opposite effect if it is not focused on a real outcome and “if it includes shaming, isolating, and punishing the people responsible for causing harm, it just repeats the same tactics of the systems of oppression we’re trying to move away from.”

What I see over and over again is the rabid desire to punish and destroy these four women. Shut up, step down, and go away, says the cacophony of voices. These ladies are too loud and aggressive; they are too confrontational and imperfect.

They have made mistakes, big ones.

These women are nothing special; why do you care about them? Critics declare that it is time for them to

be sacrificed for the cause. Add the kindling, stoke the fires—in short, burn the witches.

What has rankled me the most is seeing one particular narrative repeated over and over in criticisms of the Women’s March leaders: that they have “taken over,” “co-opted,” or “stolen” the organization and are “riding on the coattails of the women’s movement.” Tamika, Linda, and Carmen were asked to lead the Women’s March precisely because of their decades of experience with social activism and organizing resistance actions in marginalized communities. They are the Women’s March. They represent all of its lofty aspirations for a deeper intersectional feminist movement instead of recycling white-centered feminism of past eras.

Within that line of attack is the sometimes hidden, sometimes blatant, deep sense of entitlement of many white women marchers.

We experienced something profound and deeply personal on the day of the march, Jan. 21, 2017. Therefore many of us felt ownership of that moment, that somehow the Women’s March belonged to us.

When confronted with uncomfortable questions about power, privilege, and accusations that “White Women Have Work to Do,” many white women naturally become defensive.

Within that process, there is denial and anger and resentment, which is an easy bubble to retreat into. I saw rumblings of how dare these women of color “infect” the Women’s

March and that they have sullied the purity of the “original intent.”

White women are rallying online to storm the gates and take back their movement—prepare for the Women’s March to be colonized.

We need strong female leaders who model the struggle that comes with admitting their biases, who sincerely engage with all oppressed communities, and who commit to getting their house in order to address their shortcomings and mistakes.

As the Women’s March grows and matures, the pressure has increased to become more sanitized, more marketable, and more palatable, but the leaders stubbornly refuse to cave and remain messy, unpredictable, and radical.

Other women’s organizations have branched off, and some Women’s March sister marches have their own local leadership and grassroots structure that drives them. The goal is to have more women involved in social activism and resistance at all levels to fight the forces of oppression. Women everywhere can choose what organizations to support and what activism spaces they want to work in. These other organizations should collaborate instead of trying to compete with the Women’s March, but it seems that we are at a point that, for some people, nothing less than total destruction will do.

Mary-Pat Hector wrote in AfroPunk, “As a black woman, it hurts me to see the recent headlines regarding this movement. While you may think you’re helping, you are

tearing a movement that was built on unity apart.” She continued: You cannot single-handedly decide when a movement of free-thinking diverse women throws its leadership away. … Who gave you the right to decide who can or cannot represent women? I think over this holiday season, you should reflect on the privilege that you hold and the movement that you are weakening.

I think it is very important that the current co-chairs of the Women’s March do not step down at this pivotal time in history. We need examples of strong female leaders who model the struggle that comes with admitting their biases, who sincerely engage with all oppressed communities, and who commit to getting their house in order to address their shortcomings and mistakes. It is so critical at this time for us all to see recovery and growth from them and to support the next women’s wave rising in 2019.

In the video on Facebook, Linda noted this: “We stay here in an environment that is actually quite often times very abusive, but we choose to come here because we are cycle breakers. And we are willing to take what comes to us because we are willing to stand up and say we will not allow history to repeat itself.

There is absolutely potential for women of color and white women to organize together.”

We can, in fact, be part of a movement where unity is not uniformity. We do not have to agree on every issue because in fact that is unrealistic.

8 • Jan. 9, 2019

Faith & Religion

The LEGACY

Many Christians quitting church in search of relevant ministry BGN - Most every pastor and church has heard of the nones — that rapidly growing group of Americans claiming no religious affiliation.

But it’s the dones that have gotten the attention of Presbyterian minister and author J. Patrick Vaughn.

In the U.S. there are an estimated 65 million dones – Christians who have quit church due to infighting, politics and committee structures.

The researcher who uncovered the trend even created a website called dechurched.net.

Yet few clergy and congregations seem to be aware of the dones, who they are and why they leave, Vaughn said.

“This is an issue that hasn’t gotten much traction in congregations and the press – or anywhere,” he said.

“It’s kind of baffling to me that there has been so little interest in it.”

So Vaughn, the interim minister at Bedford Presbyterian Church in Bedford, New York, authored Meeting Jesus at Starbucks: Good News From Those Done with Church.

The text is named for the setting where many of Vaughn’s encounters of dones have occurred, and covers how the focus on institutional maintenance is a turnoff and source of burnout for many of them. It also explains how judgmental attitudes emanating from pulpits and pews can send many out the door rarely, if ever, to return.

“My heart is really with the dones, the people who feel excluded, the

people who have been hurt, who have been disappointed,” he said.

Vaughn also shows that many dones remain Christians dedicated to serving others.

“I wrote the book trying to help the church understand who the dones, and to let any dones who read it know they are not alone.”

Vaughn spoke with Baptist News Global about the dones and the key factors that lead them to abandon institutional Christianity. His comments are presented here, edited for clarity.

What factors lead some folks to abandon the church?

There are several. They go to church looking for community and they want to experience God through a community. Instead, they have found judgment. Some of it is very overt and direct. Sometimes it is a raised eyebrow. And they left. They

were looking for ways to give back to the community. Instead, they are asked to give their time and talent to institutional maintenance.

Aren’t there some who enjoy performing that maintenance?

Yes and thank God for people who do that. We have a furnace here and there is a guy in the church who pays attention to that. But not everybody wants to do that.

Are there ways to get those needs met without driving some people away?

There is a trend in some churches who are moving away from committees to ministry teams.

Ministry teams give people the opportunity to get involved without having to attend meetings.

How do ministry teams work?

A ministry team is a group in a

congregation that is formed for a specific ministry. In my former church in Charleston there was an outreach to a homeless shelter. But they didn’t have meetings. They just prepared a meal and went. It was very action oriented. Every member was focused on ministry.

Not everybody wants to do the same thing. Not everybody wants to do everything. These teams give people the freedom to do what they feel called to do. At the center of the ministry team model is taking seriously people’s gifts and letting them run with it. It’s up to church to provide the structure and core values.

Are there positives in this trend of church departures?

I think so. One of the big things is a wakeup call for the church, for us to consider again what we are really

(continued on page 9)

www.LEGACYnewspaper.com

Jan. 9, 2019• 9

Bills meant to protect voting rights, campaign finance laws Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam this week announced legislative proposals to remove barriers to voting and reform campaign finance laws. The package includes proposals to implement no-excuse absentee voting; repeal the requirement to show a photo ID to vote; limit large campaign contributions; ban direct contributions from corporations

or businesses; and prohibit the personal use of campaign funds.

“Participation makes our democracy strong—we should encourage every eligible voter to exercise this fundamental right, rather than creating unnecessary barriers that make getting to the ballot box difficult,” said Northam. “I am also hopeful we will be successful working together this session to

(from page 8) about as church and what does church really mean. Interview them.

Talk with them. Listen to them.

This is a really good time to listen.

Sometimes people are going to be angry just to be angry. I’m talking about the people who want to be in community, who want to make a difference, who want to serve Jesus and out of deep grief they pulled out of the church because they thought that was the best thing for their own spiritual growth.

Is there anything churches can do to get some of these people back?

Thirty years ago, in my first church, I led an effort to train elders to visit everyone on the rolls who was not coming to church. They went out and visited everybody. Most of them appreciated it, but not a single one came back. I read later that trying to bring people back to church is one of the most time consuming and least impactful ministry efforts. If people have left, they have left. That’s another reason we don’t follow up with the dones: it’s exhausting.

Have you seen any come back?

Often a significant life event will get some people to return to church.

But we have to remember that when people first come to church, they are not always eager to jump in and get involved. Some do, and I have seen that. But often they are not ready to do anything. They just need some

J. Patrick Vaughn healing and some loving.

Do dones stay involved in ministry or service of some kind?

They’re finding ways. They are finding ways to get together in community to make a difference.

Community service is very, very important to them. Some of the my friends who have left the church are still very much concerned about the hungry and the homeless and they find ways to reach out.

How did you come to be so passionate about the dones?

I have been an almost-done for 10 years. I have been around long enough to see some nasty conflict and have gone through some painful experiences. A lot have left because they were hurt. Many of my seminary colleagues are no longer in ministry. They have left and they don’t want to go back. So, it comes out of my own experience and my own stubborn refusal to give up on the church and give up on faith.

increase the transparency of our elections for Virginians by imposing reasonable limitations on campaign contributions.”

Legislation to implement no-excuse absentee voting, patroned by Sen. Mamie Locke and Del Charniele Herring, will help reduce lines on Election Day and expand access for more Virginians to exercise their right to vote.

Legislation repealing the law requiring individuals to present a photo ID in order to vote will be patroned by Sen. Mamie Locke and Del. Kaye Kory.

“Voting is the constitutional right of every American citizen.

Lawmakers should be working to increase access to the voting booth, not inventing ways to keep voters away from the polls,” said Del. Kaye Kory. “The photo ID requirement prevents the most vulnerable Virginians from voting and silences the voices of those who most need to be heard.”

Legislation to limit large

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individual campaign contributions will be patroned by Sen. Chap Petersen. This bill caps campaign contributions at $10,000 per candidate over the course of a given primary and general election cycle. Thirty-nine other states and the federal government have set limits on how much a single person can contribute to a campaign. In Virginia, no limit currently exists.

“There’s too much big money in politics,” said Petersen. “We need some reasonable limits on what people can contribute in order to keep the process honest.”

The proposal to ban direct corporate and business contributions to campaigns will be patroned by Del. Elizabeth Guzman. To ensure enforcement, the bill also bans corporations and businesses from making direct contributions to their own political action committees.

Contributions from individuals would be unaffected by this legislation.

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10 • Jan. 9, 2019

The LEGACY

Judge: Women’s prison must improve med. care DANIEL BERTI CNS - A federal judge has ruled that the Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women is in violation of a federal court order mandating basic medical care — nearly a year and a half after the high-profile death of an inmate.

Deanna Niece died of cardiac arrest in her cell at the Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women on July 25, 2017, after several unmet requests for medical assistance that same day, according to the prison.

Niece is one of four prisoners who died of preventable deaths at the prison since 2016, U.S. District Judge Norman K. Moon found.

Legal advocates for the women say their deaths reflect a pattern of inadequate medical care at the Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women.

“In sum, the medical treatment these women received was neither timely nor appropriate, and their deaths illustrate the danger of not having appropriate medical equipment on hand,” Moon wrote.

Last week, Judge Moon concluded that the Virginia Department of Corrections and FCCW had violated the terms of a 2016 settlement agreement that required the agency to implement medical care reforms at the prison.

“The record shows that VDOC’s and FCCW’s own officials had — by their own admission — actual knowledge that FCCW was not complying with parts of the Settlement Agreement,” Moon said.

The court determined that the facility’s medical team had remained understaffed and that, as of January 2018, the shortage of nurses at the prison had actually gotten worse since the settlement agreement took effect in 2016.

The report also alleges that FCCW failed to improve access to medical equipment for medical personnel,

which was relevant in Niece’s death.

“In the last minutes of Niece’s life, as she choked and bled from her mouth, neither a stretcher, nor oxygen, nor suction equipment was readily available,” Moon wrote.

Additionally, the court’s findings showed that the facility’s medical staff failed to appropriately supply and administer medications to prisoners. The plaintiffs documented several occasions in which medical staff failed to reorder medications before they ran out because of incorrect charting or record-keeping, and in some cases, “by nurses not even knowing how to reorder medications.”

Prison officials argued that they were unable to carry out the obligations set forth in the settlement agreement because the language was too “subjective” and unclear. That argument earned a rebuke from Moon, who wrote, “The Settlement Agreement does not condone lollygagging.”

“Women at FCCW have died in the months and years after approval of the Settlement Agreement,” Moon added.

Lisa Kinney, a spokesman for the Department of Corrections, said that the court had declined to find the department in contempt and would not impose civil penalties.

“VDOC has continued to work to provide appropriate medical care to inmates during the pendency of the lawsuit,” Kinney said.

The court has ordered the prison to fulfill a number of requirements to remedy its breach of the settlement agreement, however.

FCCW will be required to have 78 nursing-equivalents on staff and ready access to medical equipment such as backboards for carrying patients and suction machines in all FCCW buildings. The order will also require nurses “to be trained on how to reorder medications, as well as identify and respond to signs of cardiovascular or pulmonary

problems.”

The settlement agreement was the outcome of a yearslong legal battle that began in 2012 when prisoners at FCCW filed suit against the VDOC for failing to provide adequate healthcare to prisoners.

Inmates then filed a motion of contempt in September 2017, claiming that medical care at FCCW had not improved since the settlement was reached.

The plaintiffs’ attorney, Shannon Ellis, said that serious medical misdiagnosis and preventable deaths were ongoing in the years after the settlement agreement was reached.

“Wednesday’s ruling is an important victory for the women who have suffered for years at FCCW,” Ellis said. “This decision is important not only for the women at FCCW, but because it lays bare the terrible human, financial, and legal costs of Virginia’s current practice of over-incarceration across the state.”

www.LEGACYnewspaper.com

Jan. 9, 2019• 11

Advocates seek funding to help Virginians with disabilities GEORGIA GEEN CNS - Dozens of disabilityrights activists urged members of the Virginia General Assembly Thursday to approve funding to reduce the nearly 13,000-strong waitlist for developmental disability waivers.

Developmental disability waivers, which are granted by Medicaid, include support services for mental and behavioral health, learning and employment.

According to speakers from The Arc of Virginia — which advocates for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities — about 3,000 of those on the waitlist are classified as “priority one,” meaning they will need waiver services within a year. However, The Arc members recalled experiencing years-long waits to receive resources such as one-on-one job coaching, monitoring of self-administered medications and in-home care tailored to the patient’s needs and independence level.

Cheryl Emory said she had to leave her job years ago to care for her nowyoung-adult daughter, Virginia, who has a disability.

“At this rate, I’ll be 70 or 80 or have died when Virginia gets a waiver,” Emory told a legislative panel at a hearing on proposed amendments to the state’s 20182020 budget. “Today, we’re asking you to fund all of the priority one waiting list.”

The Arc’s executive director, Tonya Milling, said the organization wants the General Assembly to completely fund waivers for those in the “priority one” category, finishing an effort that began last year when waivers were funded for 1,695 of the 3,000 on the waitlist. She estimates $38 million would be necessary to fully fund the remainder of the list.

“You don’t want to waste that big investment, because it’s the biggest one that they’ve made. We don’t

want to lose that momentum that they made,” Milling said. “This is the time, this is the opportunity to bring balance to the system before people are in crisis.”

“In-crisis” patients are those with a higher need for services offered by the developmental disability waiver.

Many have aging parents with their own health concerns serving as caregivers, putting them at a higher risk of institutionalization, Milling said.

Low pay for at-home health care workers also impacts care for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, many speakers said.

The shortage of care providers means even those who qualify cannot always get sufficient at-home nursing.

Joyce Barnes is an at-home care worker in Henrico County, and said she has to work 12-15 hours per

day. She asked General Assembly members to consider increasing wages for at-home care providers, in addition to a 40-hour work week cap that would allow them to receive overtime pay. Barnes also suggested an additional orientation program for at-home health care workers.

Constance Wilson, an at-home care provider, said she helps her clients with bathing, eating and other dayto-day tasks — but also serves as a companion by spending time with them.

“We save the state money to keep people out of the emergency room and out of nursing rooms,” Wilson said.

According to a report by The Commonwealth Fund — a health policy organization — at-home care reduces health care costs by 30 percent and can be more effective than hospital care.

Members of RISE for Youth, an

advocacy group addressing youth incarceration, spoke in favor of Gov. Ralph Northam’s budget amendment to fund additional school counselors throughout Virginia. Over two years, Northam’s proposed $36 million for additional school counselors would bring Virginia’s caseload-tocounselor ratio from 425-to-1 to 250to-1, the nationally recommended level.

Rebecca Keel, a member of RISE for Youth, said some students come to school in “flight-or-fight mode.”

“Their behaviors are criminalized instead of recognized as a cry for help,” Keel said. “Please keep investing in support staff rather than law enforcement.”

The public hearing at the Science Museum of Virginia was one of four held across Virginia on Thursday.

The other hearings were in Fairfax, Roanoke and Newport News.

12 • Jan. 9, 2019

The LEGACY

Quarter of Virginians don’t know which party they want to win control of General Assembly With every House of Delegates and state Senate seat up for election this November, and both chambers narrowly held by Republicans, a quarter of Virginians don’t know yet which party they want to control the General Assembly in 2020, according to a new poll by the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University.

A plurality of 42 percent would like to see Democrats take control, compared to 33 percent who prefer that Republican control continue.

Republicans currently hold a 51-to49 seat edge over Democrats in the 100-member House, while the GOP controls the state Senate 21 to 19.

The poll also showed that a large portion of the public is uncertain how to grade Gov. Ralph Northam (43 percent) and the General Assembly (40 percent) on their job performance.

The poll, a random sample of 805 adults in Virginia conducted by landline and cell telephone from Dec. 3-13, has a margin of error of 3.45 percent.

“Legislators appear to have an opportunity in the 2019 legislative session to make the case that their party should be in control this time Robyn McDougle, Ph.D. next year to a significant group of undecided Virginians,” said Robyn

McDougle, Ph.D., director of the Wilder School’s Center for Public Policy, which conducted the 2018-19 Winter Public Policy Poll.

The narrow but statistically significant margin in favor of Democrats depends on several key demographics. Women, the poll finds, prefer Democrats in control by a 20-percentage point margin (49 percent to 29 percent) while men prefer Republican control by only a 3-percentage point margin (38 percent to 35 percent).

Minority respondents prefer Democrats in control by a 40-point margin (61 percent to 21 percent) while white respondents prefer Republicans in control by a narrower

7-point margin (41 percent to 34 percent).

Three of five regions show a statistically significant preference for Democratic control: Northern Virginia, with a 20-percentage point favor; South Central, 15 points; and Tidewater, 11 points. The West region prefers Republican control by a significant 15 percentage point margin (46 percent to 31 percent) while the Northwest is a virtual tie.

Additional findings of the poll show that 43 percent of respondents didn’t know, or refused to say, whether they approve of the performance of Northam, a Democrat, while 41 percent approved strongly (21

(continued on page 13)

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Jan. 9, 2019• 13

How minimum wage rules could change in Va. MAX SMITH WASHINGTON — A series of proposals to raise the minimum wage and change other work rules are among bills proposed in the Virginia’s General Assembly session that begins this week.

In addition to proposals to raise the minimum wage from $7.25 to as high as $15 by 2023, there are proposals in bills that have already been filed to change exemptions to minimum wage rules.

Under one Senate proposal, babysitters would be covered by minimum wage laws if they work

(from page 12) percent) or somewhat (20 percent) and 16 percent disapproved strongly (9 percent) or somewhat (7 percent).

Of those who offered an opinion, 72 percent approved of his performance so far.

For the General Assembly, 40 percent were not willing to say whether they approve or disapprove, compared to 38 percent who strongly (12 percent) or somewhat (26 percent) approved and 22 percent who strongly (12 percent) or somewhat (10 percent) disapproved.

Of those who had formed an opinion, 63 percent approved of the General Assembly’s performance strongly or somewhat.

Sen. Barbara Favola more than 10 hours per week.

Another work-related bill would Respondents also were asked whether they would favor or oppose three types of policies often recommended as ways to improve government efficiency. Provided with a description of increased audits, public-private partnerships or outsourcing, half or more of respondents favored each policy.

Increased audits was favored by 75 percent of respondents, compared to 57 percent who favored publicprivate partnerships and 50 percent who favored outsourcing.

“For policymakers interested in aligning efficiency efforts with public support, these findings show that increasing internal audits are the policy with the highest amount of support,” McDougle said.

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ban a company from firing a worker due to breastfeeding, pregnancy or childbirth.

Sen. Barbara Favola proposes banning prospective employers from attempting to find out how much money potential employees were making in their previous job, and Sen. Adam Ebbin has proposed banning discrimination in public employment due to sexual orientation or gender identity.

Del. Lee Carter proposed eliminating Virginia’s “right to work” rules that restrict union activity, and would repeal a law that effectively bans strikes of public

workers in Virginia.

Other proposals include banning non-compete clauses for workers who make less than the average statewide wage, and providing additional sick leave to disabled veterans for service-related disability treatment.

A number of the changes proposed

by Democrats — including the minimum wage hikes — could face challenges in the Republicancontrolled body.

Lawmakers convene Jan. 9, with Republicans holding a 21-18 control in the Senate, and a 51-49 control in the House of Delegates.

UR celebrates ‘Infinite Hope’ on MLK Day The University of Richmond will celebrate the 2019 Martin Luther King Jr. holiday through a series of learning and service events Jan. 21. The theme of this year’s celebration is “Infinite Hope.”

The university is closed on MLK Day to allow the campus community to engage in activities reflecting on Dr. King’s legacy, participate in service projects, and learn about civil rights in Richmond. The annual commemoration event featuring student performances and an inspirational keynote speaker is open to the public.

“The work of Dr. King remains unfinished, and the University of Richmond has committed to thoughtfully considering what his vision means today,” said Lisa Miles, associate director of Common Ground and event organizer.

Events open to the public include: MLK Family Day- 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Modlin Center for the Arts MLK Family Day provides creative learning opportunities around MLK Day and civil rights history for children ages 2-12. This event is free, but registration is required.

Commemoration Ceremony with keynote address by Christy Coleman, CEO of the American Civil War Museum - 3-4:30 p.m., Modlin Center for the Arts, Camp Concert Hall. A reception will follow in Booth Lobby.

Coleman has been instrumental in furthering discussion around the Civil War, its legacies, and its relevance to our lives today not only in the Richmond region, but also around the nation. She strives to make museum experiences meaningful to diverse communities.

Additional opportunities for the campus community include: Kick-off Breakfast, 10:30-11:30 a.m., Heilman Dining Center Service Opportunities in the community, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

Service projects range from trash cleanup through the James River Association, clearing brush from the historic East End Cemetery, and making no-sew fleece blankets and cards for people in need.

MLK Reflection Space, 2-3 p.m., Modlin Center for the Arts, Booker Hall Lobby

14 • Jan. 9, 2019

The LEGACY

A central contradiction behind the pay-go-battle In the first vote of the 116th Congress on Jan. 3, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., was one of just three Democrats who split with their party and voted against a rules package introduced by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and backed by the leadership of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Ocasio-Cortez’s political career so far has been largely defined by her willingness to break from the pack, but her dissenting vote alongside just two others highlights the paradox of her position in the House: Her high-profile platform allows her to shape the national conversation, but the same energy that fueled her rise can be met with a very different reaction inside the walls of the Capitol.

The debate over the vote became clear that the House rules package for the 116th Congress would include a fiscally conservative measure known as “pay-go.” A spokesperson for Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., called for progressives in the House to oppose it. Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., was the first out of the gate, calling it “terrible economics” and promising to vote down the rules package.

Ocasio-Cortez soon followed suit.

For a moment, it looked like a rebellion could brewing among the newly energized and organized left. Except it wasn’t. There was no stampede of opposition, and later that day, the co-chairs of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Reps. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., and Mark Pocan, D-Wisc., put out a statement in support of the rules package, ending any real chance at a last-minute insurrection.

Shortly after, when the package hit the House floor, just three Democrats voted it down: Khanna and Ocasio-Cortez were joined by Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, who has hinted at 2020 presidential aspirations.

Jayapal, who came to Congress as an organizer and has played a key role in shaping the progressive

Democratic agenda on issues like immigration, said she was frustrated about how the debate was framed on social media, in newsletters, and in part by some outlets — this one included. The conversation, she said, lacked the full context of the ways in which the CPC had defanged pay-go.

The narrative that emerged “is so hurtful to the progressive movement because we got so much out of this,” Jayapal said. One result, she said, has been to take the focus off the CPC’s major organizing effort to pack powerful committees full of as many progressives as possible.

Khanna and Ocasio-Cortez are both angling to land some of those coveted spots, and their opposition to the rules package could make it harder for them to do so.

“There were lots of things in the rules package that we negotiated in that were really good, and it’s not that we caved on this, it’s not that we just decided we didn’t have the power to change it — it was really a strategic question about what is most necessary to move progressive legislation,” Jayapal said.

Jayapal stressed that her criticism was not directed personally at her colleagues, with whom she is in agreement on the issues, but rather at the framing on social media and press coverage of the pay-go conflict.

In the hectic final days of recess and the swearing-in, it can be difficult for a coalition to align on strategy, particularly with fast-moving debates.

Indeed, Pocan and Jayapal’s support for the package came after they negotiated with Pelosi and won significant concessions, including seats on powerful committees, the repeal of a rule that required a supermajority for tax increases, hardened rules around sexual harassment, and strengthened language around the War Powers Resolution, which will make it easier for the House to vote to put an end to U.S support for the war in Yemen.

Pelosi has guaranteed that the

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California, administers the House oath of office to Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., during a ceremonial swearing-in on Capitol Hill on Jan. 3, 2019, during the opening session of the 116th Congress. PHOTO: Jose Luis Magana House will hold a hearing on “Medicare for All,” Jayapal said, noting that critics who argued that pay-go will get in the way of that are wrong. Pelosi and Rep. Jim McGovern, chair of the House Rules Committee, have both said that pay-go can be waived in such circumstances. “The waiving we’ve been working on for a while with McGovern, but honestly we were trying to keep it kind of quiet, because not all of the conservative members know this, and now they’re saying, ‘Oh, you’re going to waive the rules? What do you mean?’”

Jayapal said. “So sometimes I’m just like, come on people, let’s be strategic about some of this in terms of what we take on.”

The rules, waivers, and statutes involved in the legislative process can get confusing, so let’s pause for a primer. In 2007, when Pelosi first became speaker, she instituted the pay-go rule. In 2010, under pressure from Blue Dog Democrats, Pelosi made pay-go not just a rule, but a law, one that was also passed by the Democratic Senate and signed by President Barack Obama. The law allows the president to unilaterally sequester money if Congress passes a bill that isn’t paid for, but if a bill specifically bars the presidents from

doing so, then the pay-go statute is rendered moot. When Republicans took over in 2011, they converted pay-go to “cut-go,” meaning that any new spending had to be matched with cuts elsewhere.

Because a statutory waiver would have been needed, regardless of the rules package, the smarter play in 2019 was to nail down a promise of rules waivers and fight on other fronts, Jayapal contended, allowing leadership to keep pay-go officially in the rules. Under a scenario after 2020, when Democrats will potentially hold the White House, changing the rule would take on more significance, she said.

(On Friday, Jayapal introduced legislation — co-sponsored by Ocasio-Cortez, Khanna, and Pocan — to repeal the statutory pay-go rule.)

Despite her “no” vote, OcasioCortez said she recognized the value of the CPC’s negotiations with Pelosi. “I think there are a lot of wins that we’ve had so far policywise,” she told The Intercept on Thursday, referring to the CPC wins in the package. “When you look at what’s considered a loss, whether it’s the select committee or whether

(continued on page 15)

www.LEGACYnewspaper.com

(from page 14 it’s pay-go, I see them as short-term losses, because in the long run, what we’ve accomplished is we’ve put these issues on the map.”

The sudden burst of energy over pay-go, and the just as sudden collapse, brought into relief in the starkest way yet the paradox that is Ocasio-Cortez’s position in the House — she has as much influence outside Congress as anybody else she serves with. Her every tweet is a potential news cycle, and the routine happenings of her high school and college life get turned into fodder for conservative face-plants on disturbingly regular occasions. She has used that platform to shift the broader political conversation in ways previously unthinkable. For nearly two decades, Democrats have quietly grumbled that it’s just not possible to get people interested in doing something about climate change. Ocasio-Cortez sparked a national conversation about ambitious climate change legislation, which is now backed by 45 members of Congress and has become a litmus test of sorts for 2020 Democratic presidential contenders.

But inside the building, she is heavily outgunned. Aside from her close ally Khanna, the only member of Congress to endorse her primary bid (after also endorsing the incumbent), Ocasio-Cortez is strengthened by her “squad,” which includes insurgent Ayanna Pressley, who unseated a longtime Democratic incumbent in Massachusetts, and Minnesota’s Ilhan Omar and Michigan’s Rashida Tlaib, who won competitive primaries to replace Keith Ellison and John Conyers, respectively.

But even the squad broke with Ocasio-Cortez on the House rules package and supported Pelosi.

The gap between the New York Democrat’s power outside the Capitol and the display of it on day one inside of it could hardly have been greater, and it’s an imbalance that simply can’t hold long-term.

Something has to give; one side or the other will need to break or bend.

It remains to be seen which one it will be.

As she was walking to the House chamber to be sworn in on, a

reporter asked Ocasio-Cortez how her view on politics and Congress had changed since she’d won her primary. “I think coming through this process from the background of organizing, and as an organizer, it really makes you think of the political process as – it really opens what that field looks like, of what change is possible. So it’s not just about whipping votes or getting someone to a yes or no — although all of those are critical elements of the job — but the other part of it is really shaping the landscape of what we think is possible,” Ocasio-Cortez said.

Her first organizing effort in the halls of Congress began with the Sunrise Movement and Justice Democrats-led occupation of Pelosi’s office during orientation. OcasioCortez and the activists demanded a select committee to craft legislation toward a Green New Deal. It sparked a national conversation that is still alive today, but the committee Pelosi ultimately created — unveiled in Thursday’s rules package — is weaker than one she created on the same issue in 2007.

But putting the climate on the map came at a cost — and here’s where the contradiction comes in — in that her proposal angered her colleagues, who furiously defended the turf of their respective committees, seeing themselves in competition with the proposed select committee. That hostility built upon already strong wariness on the part of her fellow lawmakers, who see in OcasioCortez’s brand of people-powered, corporate-free politics a challenge to their own integrity or progressivism.

She is a walking reminder to some Democrats of the space between their ideals and how they have come to practice politics — and they don’t appreciate the reminder. Indeed, incoming Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone flat-out refused to move an unrelated bill by Khanna, citing his public support for what he saw as a rival committee.

Part of what Ocasio-Cortez has been so good at since arriving in Washington is educating the public – introducing people outside of Congress to arcane but crucial levers of power at work, such as the way

Jan. 9, 2019• 15

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., is seen in the Capitol's House chamber before members were sworn in on the first day of the 116th Congress on Jan. 3. PHOTO: Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call she exposed elements of freshman orientation as little more than corporate propaganda.

But, said Jayapal, the organizing effort needs to be fully thought about at every step, and it has to be done in a way that doesn’t breed cynicism and limit progress. It requires recognizing that different people respond to different approaches differently, and that while social media pressure sometimes works, in other cases, a direct, educational approach might work better. “Before I came to Congress, I didn’t know what pay-go was. If somebody just said, this is a bad idea and anybody who votes for something that has it is a sellout, I might’ve believed it, but I think it’s our job as members to try to educate people about the different ways to think about this.

And the fact that all but three people voted for this rules package — including some really progressive members — should tell people that there’s a lot more to this story than just pay-go is bad, therefore vote against the rules package.”

Outside pressure is still important, she argued. “I’ve been arrested three times for civil disobedience because I think that there are times when that’s appropriate, but you’ve got to pick the right strategy for the right time, and you’ve got to pick the right fight — and we can disagree about what those right fights are — but to somehow believe that the entire Progressive Caucus is wrong on this and two people are right, I think is a disservice to the issue and to the

strategy and frankly, to the overall movement,” she said.

Those types of communication kinks can be worked out over time, but if every win OcasioCortez notches on the outside, elevating an issue and reshaping the conversation, simply creates more distance between her and her colleagues on the inside, organizing an effective progressive majority is impossible, and even getting the dozen to two dozen members needed for a solid progressive sub-caucus would be difficult.

But it’s not that simple, as the groundswell of support OcasioCortez has experienced on the outside has yet to be fully felt on the inside. Why, after all, did Jayapal and Pocan even have to contend with Democrats such as Pelosi who wanted pay-go in the rules package, not because it’s already in statute but because they think it’s the right thing to do?

It’s a relic of the 1980s, when Democrats lived in fear of being branded tax-and-spenders, and a reminder that time has long lagged far behind the institution of Congress. It’s the lack of the sense of urgency in the halls of power that Ocasio-Cortez is so eager to take down. The United Nations has given humanity roughly 12 years to turn its fossil fuel-based economy around, which climate scientists say can only be accomplished on a wartime footing. Politics have moved awfully fast the last few years, but perhaps not fast enough yet.

16 • Jan. 9, 2019

The LEGACY

Calendar

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

1.12, 2 p.m.

Hundreds of former prisoners, their family members and supporters are expected to attend the 2nd Annual Virginia Prison Reform Rally at the Bell Tower on Richmond’s Capitol Square.

As of Jan. 7, more than 1,200 people indicated interest on the Facebook event page.This is a statewide collaboration of the many organizations that have joined together through the Virginia Prison Justice Network to create a greater voice for incarcerated individuals and their family members who still remain victimized by unjust laws and policies.

The rally will feature statements from Virginia prisoners and remarks by former prisoners and family members. Also speaking will be representatives of the ACLU of Virginia and the prisoner advocacy organization R.I.H.D. The rally will be interpreted for the deaf.

The first goal of the rally is to call attention to the many injustices that exist within prisons and the criminal justice system in Virginia. The second goal is to garner support for bills to be presented to the 2019 session of the Virginia General Assembly which would correct these long-overdue inequities.

The major areas of concern include: - Restoring Parole - Abolishing solitary confinement - Addressing the “Fishback” cases The rally was initiated by the Virginia Prison Justice Network and has been endorsed by several organizations.

For more information, contact the Virginia Prison Justice Network at: vapjn1@gmail.com

1.16, 7:30 p.m.

Members and friends of the Ostomy Association of Greater Richmond are in for a treat at their regular monthly meeting at Henrico Doctors’ Hospital. Richard O’Hamill, founder of Stealth Belt will be featured by video conference from Tennessee on the two large screens in the Williamsburg-A conference room.

For the meeting, enter at the Skipwith entrance, 1602 Forest Ave. Questions? Call or email Mike Rollston at 804-232-1916 or agriva@comcast.net for details.

1.17, 6 p.m.

Participants can learn about the process of purchasing a home and obtaining a mortgage at a free seminar offered by Virginia Credit Union.

The Home Buyers Seminar will be held at Virginia Credit Union in the Boulders Office Park, 7500 Boulder View Drive, Richmond.

Mortgage experts will be on hand to answer specific questions.

To register to attend, call 804 323-6800 or visit www.vacu.org/ seminars.

Ongoing

Submit your calendar events by email to: editor @legacynewspaper.com.

Include the who, what, where, when & contact information that can be printed. Deadline is Friday.

GRASP (GReat Aspirations Scholarship Program, Inc. provides free, college financial aid assistance on Wednesdays from 6-8 pm at the Belmont Library, 3100 Ellwood Ave., Richmond.

Assistance includes help with FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) completion and information about the overall financial aid process. Call 804 5277772 to make an appointment. For more information, visit the website www.grasp4va.org.

Jan. 9, 2019• 17

www.LEGACYnewspaper.com

DENTAL Insurance Physicians Mutual Insurance Company

A less expensive way to help get the dental care you deserve If you’re over 50, you can get coverage for about $1 a day* Keep your own dentist! You can go to any dentist you want No wait for preventive care and no deductibles – you could get a checkup tomorrow

Coverage for over 350 procedures – including cleanings, exams,

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NO annual or lifetime cap on the cash benefits you can receive

FREE Information Kit

1-855-401-3274 www.dental50plus.com/legacy

*Individual plan.

Product not available in MN, MT, NH, NM, RI, VT, WA. Acceptance guaranteed for one insurance policy/ certificate of this type. Contact us for complete details about this insurance solicitation. This specific offer is not available in CO, NY; call 1-800-969-4781 or respond for similar offer. Certificate C250A (ID: C250E; PA: C250Q); Insurance Policy P150 (GA: P150GA; NY: P150NY; OK: P150OK; TN: P150TN) 6096E-0917

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18 • Jan. 9, 2019

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Thank you for your interest in applying for opportunities with The City of Richmond.

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HEALTH/PERSONALS/MISCELLANEOUS If you or a loved one were diagnosed with ovarian cancer after use of TALC products such as Baby Powder or Shower to Shower, you may be entitled to compensation.

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The LEGACY

FOR SALE, SERVICES

www.LEGACYnewspaper.com

AUCTIONS ATTN. AUCTIONEERS: Advertise your upcoming auctions statewide or in other states. Affordable Print and Digital Solutions reaching your target audiences. Call this paper or Landon Clark at Virginia Press Services 804-521-7576, landonc@ vpa.net EDUCATION/CAREER TRAINING AIRLINES ARE HIRING – Get FAA approved hands on Aviation training. Financial aid for qualified students - Career placement assistance. CALL Aviation Institute of Maintenance SCHEV certified 877-204- 4130 HELP WANTED / DRIVERS NEED CDL Drivers? Advertise your JOB OPENINGS statewide or in other states. Affordable Print and Digital Solutions to reach truck drivers.

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WANTED TO BUY OR TRADE FREON R12 WANTED: CERTIFED BUYER will PAY CA$H for R12 cylinders or cases of cans. (312) 291-9169; www.refrigerantfinders.com

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Jan. 9, 2019• 19

156- Procurement 0104 HAMPTON SOLICITATION CITY OF HAMPTON Tuesday, February 05, 2019 2:30 p.m. ET – ITB 19-33/AP Restoration of Historic Aircrafts Mandatory Pre-bid Meeting, January 15, 2019 at 1:00 PM ET, Air Power Park Conference Room, 413 West Mercury Blvd., Hampton, VA 23669. Mandatory site visit to immediately follow Pre-bid For additional information, see our web page at http://www.hampton.gov/bids-contracts A withdrawal of bid due to error shall be in accordance with Section 2.24330 of the Code of Virginia. All forms relating to these solicitations may be obtained from the above listed address or for further information call; (757) 727-2200. The right is reserved to reject any and all responses, to make awards in whole or in part, and to waive any informality in submittals.

Minority-Owned, Woman-Owned and Veteran Businesses are encouraged to participate.

Karl Daughtrey, Director of Finance

Place your “For sale”, “Wanted”, and “Service”... ads here.

Call 804-644-1550

Dominion Energy has been named America’s best managed electric and gas company.

It helps when 1 in 5 new hires is a veteran.

This year’s “Management Top 250,” published by The Wall Street Journal, ranks the best run U.S. companies based on customer satisfaction, employee engagement and development, innovation, social responsibility and financial strength. Dominion Energy was ranked as the top electric and gas utility. And military publication G.I. Jobs ranks Dominion Energy top in our industry and 5th among all U.S. companies. It marks the 10th consecutive year Dominion Energy has been recognized as a military-friendly company. So to each and every one of our 16,000+ dedicated employees, THANK YOU for your commitment to excellence, your dedication to community and most of all for the energy you bring to this company each and every day.

S A D D I Q K . H O L L I DAY T E C H N I C A L S E R G E A N T— A I R N AT I O N A L G UA R D H U M A N R E S O U R C E S— D O M I N I O N E N E R GY

Careers.DominionEnergy.com