www.kftc.org | September 9, 2020
12 | Balancing the Scales
New Energy and Transition
KFTC members and postal workers team up to support USPS KFTC members in eastern Kentucky teamed up with members of the Kentucky Postal Workers Union to demonstrate support for the U.S. Postal Service with a car caravan rally in Inez. They brought three immediate demands of elected officials and of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy: •
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Provide at least $25 billion in immediate support for the Postal Service, as is included in the U.S. House version of the INVEST in America Act; Stop the mail slowdown policies introduced by Postmaster General DeJoy and supported by Mike Duncan, chair of the postal service’s Board of Governors; Ensure public confidence in voting-by-mail by providing the resources for the most timely delivery of election mail possible
“In the mountains, the post office is a gathering place,” said Floyd County member Kathy Curtis. “It’s a place where you get your chickens. It’s a place where you get your money orders to pay your bills. It’s a place where the people know your face and know who you are, know when your ma dies, know your favorite chicken dumpling recipe. It’s real people at the postal service.” Clyde Trent, secretary of the Kentucky Postal Workers Union from Berea said the post office can handle mail-in ballots for November’s election, even though President Trump has been trying to cast doubt on the reliability of the service. “A lot of people right now are thinking this
has something to do with the election coming up,” KFTC and the KPWU spoke, participants drove Trent said. “People are thinking the post office can’t their cars decorated with signs reading “Don’t mess handle the ballots, but we can because every year we with the USPS” and “Mike D knows better” through handle Christmas cards. I promise you there are more downtown Inez past the post office, Duncan’s home Christmas cards going out in the mail than ballots and the Inez Deposit Bank, which is owned by Duncan. being returned in the mail.” Inez was chosen for the action The Courier Journal describes Duncan as a conbecause it is the home of Robert fidant of McConnell’s and a “longtime fundraiser for “Mike” Duncan, a close political and ally” to the senate. A 2009 Courier Journal artially of Sen. Mitch McConnell and cle showed McConnell calling him a “good friend” the chair of the postal service's and “valued partner.” Duncan has been closely involved in GOP poliBoard of Governors. “We just hope that Mike Dun- tics at the state and national level for many years. He’s can realizes that this type of rural Kentucky’s Republican national committeeman and area is exactly who will be hurt most previously served as the chairman of the Republican by any cuts in services,” said Inez National Committee. resident and KFTC member Nina He also is involved in two high-profile super McCoy. “We don't have a UPS PACs that support Republican candidates: the Mcstore or a Fed-Ex; we depend daily on the post office. Connell-aligned Senate Leadership Fund and AmeriIt is part of the fabric and heart of our community. can Crossroads, the newspaper reported. So much of Kentucky is rural. Mitch McConnell needs to realize this is the life-blood of the state he was elected to represent.” Like most everything else, the pandemic has put a financial burden on the USPS. Help could come in the form of the $25 billion in aid being held up by Mc- Members of KFTC and the Kentucky Postal Workers Union gathered in Inez to support Connell. the U.S. Postal Service. They rallied and drove a car caravan through downtown Inez, past After members of the house and bank belonging to Mike Duncan, chair of the USPS Board of Governors.
Inequality between rich and poor school districts grows continued from previous page “vital elective programs and even certain instructional programs that will affect students, especially those with learning disabilities,” Superintendent Danny Adkins said. Superintendents also note the challenges students and families are facing at home because of the pandemic. To Bobrowski, “the affordability of high-speed internet access is a key … a necessity for all families.” Adkins is concerned that “students in eastern Kentucky
are facing both device and connectivity issues.” “Uncertainty of food, housing, and other essentials is a real concern for a growing population during this time. With time, the disparity between children will continue to grow. Our children are just as valuable and have as much potential as any child across the state,” Hodges said. In May, the U.S. House passed the HEROES Act which included general fiscal relief to state and local governments that would have helped stabilize states’
education, health care and other budgets, as well as aid to families in the form of increased SNAP food assistance, extended supplemental unemployment insurance and rent relief. Last month the U.S. Senate went into recess without passing a relief bill. https://kypolicy.org/new-analysis-inequality-between-richand-poor-kentucky-school-districts-grows-again-even-asdistricts-face-new-covid-costs-and-looming-revenue-losses
