Here is a recent email from Marta Jorgensen asking for help for Pine Ridge Native Americans:
Dear Friends, Political Leaders and Activists, This is the second notice I have received on the plight of the Lakota in Pine Ridge. The first was an Op-ed in the Op Ed News. We just had an election and I ran for Congress in the 24th CD to help address the forgotten and disenfranchised. Here we have the Lakota being disenfranchised again. Where do the Native Americans fit in our great new Obama universe? There is no fancy casinos in Pine Ridge. I have been there. Leave it to Bob Banner to send out an alarm. He is my hero every time I open the email. Sure the Lakota are a sovereign nation and not part of the system but for God's sake when are we going to help this reservation out of its poverty? I wish I had won this seat. Our current congressman will just roll over and go back to sleep. There is contact info in the email. Let's show we have a heart and help them out. Thanks and keep up the good work! Pass this along to your netroots. Marta Jorgensen marta@jorgensenforcongress.com
URGENT CALL TO ACTION: American Indians Stranded by Blizzard Need Food, Water & Supplies
Please post and distribute to your networks to help pass the word.
Tribe sounds alarm for state of emergency
www.republicoflakotah.com
Calling on Good Neighbors to lend a helping hand
If you have not signed up as a Good Neighbor, you can register for free to be a part of the Family Support Network at:
www.familynetwork.org
The Family Support Network, International is responding to a cry for help from the Republic of Lakotah following a severe blizzard two weeks ago that hit the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Some people are still stranded without power and running low on food in this impoverished area. Mary White Mouse, a Good Neighbor on the reservation, reports relief organizations did not provide ample food, water and supplies to meet the need. Many have been without power for two weeks and some days the temperature drops below freezing. Local residents are discouraged and losing hope. Local stores increasing prices for cases of bottled water from $3.99 to over $16.00 per case. A pint of lamp oil from $3.29 to over $9.00 per pint. This is an outrage! Below is an exerpt from the Republic of Lakotah website www.republicoflakotah.com from Nov. 17th:
Twelfth Day of Snow Emergency
Many hundreds of American Indians still snowbound and without electrical power or water on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
Sofia Romero, age 98, snowed in, no power, no water, food situation unknown.
Emme Zimiga, age 96, snowed in, no power, no water, food situation unknown.
Amanda Milk, age 80's, no legs, dialysis patient, snowed in, presumed dead.
Hisle SD - 38 households (average of 17 persons per household on Reservation) still snowed in with out power or water.
Lost Dog Community - 5 families snowed in, no power, no water, food situation unknown.
Lacreek Electric Association reports that over 1,000 power distribution poles broken by the storm have been replaced, but dozens more are still down, while repair efforts have been diverted to the some of the main distribution lines still partially inoperative.
Red Cross Effort Vehemently Incompetent - As documented by Marion White Mouse (605-462-6242), the American Red Cross sent a contingency of one volunteer, Monica Turkleson who departed the Reservation prematurely on Saturday, November 15th. Ms. Turkleson's "aide" consisted of nothing and her behavior was reported as impatient, rude and racist. Russell Means suggests that this organization change its name to the "White Cross."
Article in Rapid City Journal reveals lack of coordinated support for stranded residents: http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2008/11/10/news/top/doc4917b2c6639e8189175523.txt
Wanblee Shelter Serves Residents stranded by blizzard http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/pages/slideshows/110/index.html (Note how bare the shelves are of resources).
Front Page Story Nov. 10th http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2008/11/10/news/top/doc4918d400ce79f582722748.txt
The Family Support Network, International has made arrangements with Waggoner's Grocery in Martin, SD, for Good Neighbors and Americans across the country to order groceries and supplies over the phone. Marion White Mouse, a Good Neighbor from the Pine Ridge Reservation will arrange for a large truck to pick up the groceries and volunteers to distribute the food, water and supplies to local residence. Please order groceries and supplies or make a financial contribution before the next storm hits! Trucks will pick up groceries and supplies on Saturday, Nov. 22nd so please don't wait...call today! President-elect Obama has asked people to help one another. Let's demonstrate how Good Neighbors can respond to people in need.
ORDER FOOD, WATER & SUPPLIES BY PHONE
TRUCKS WILL PICK UP FOOD ON SATURDAY, NOV. 22nd
(Must order by phone - no email - server down)
Waggoner's Grocery Store, Martin, SD
605.685.6505
You will receive a 10% discount on cases of items you purchase that are not on sale.
The items listed below were provided by Marian White Mouse, the Good Neighbor who is coordinating the relief effort. You are welcome to order other items (i.e. gum, toothpaste, toilet paper, sanitary napkins, etc.) if you wish.
Instructions: When ordering give clerk the price so they can ring it up on the cash register and provide you with the total of your purchase. Pay by Visa/Mastercard. Grocery clerks use the receipt to collect the groceries and supplies. Marian White Mouse will be handed the receipts when she picks up the groceries in the truck. Ask clerk to write your name, email address and phone number on the back of the receipt so Marian can send you an email confirming receipt of your donation. Lastly, send email to lakotahrelief@familynetwork.org with your 1) name, 2) total amount of your purchase and 3) phone number so we can track donations. Indicate in the subject line: Lakotah Relief ($Amount of donation)
Water: 24 (pack) drinking water $4.99
Water: Gallons Case (6 gallons/case) $7.38
Candles: $1.00 Candle
Flashlights: $1.00 Flashlights
Diapers: Value Choice Sz 3, 4 & 5 $8.03 Case of Diapers $48.18
Formula: Prosobee Soy-based Formula $18.79/can Enfamil Lipel w/Iron $16.69/can
Wipes: 160 wipes/pack $5.03
Top Roman Noodles: $8.40 (Case 24)
Tuna Fish: $.95/unit $45.60 (48/Case)
Mashed Potatoes: $1.89/unit (12/Case) $22.68
Bread: 1/lb $1.56
Peanut Butter: 18 oz $2.43 (12/case) $29.16 or 40 oz $6.09/unit (6/case) $36.54
Margarine: 3lbs tubs $2.33/unit (6/case) $13.98 or 1lb tubs $1.45/unit (24/case) $34.80
Russett Potatoes: 10/lb bag $3.98
Rice: 5 lb Case $4.69/bag $28.14 (6-case)
Chili: 40oz $4.53/ea $54.36 (Case 12/units)
Green Giant Vegetables: (24/case) $12.00/case
Lay's Potato Chips: $2.50/bag
(Nancy, who works at Waggoners, price checked all the items. We appreciate her extra effort!)
Other items needed immediately!
(Ship items directly to Emmanuel Mission)
Blankets
Work Gloves
Knitted Gloves
Hats & Scarves
Baby socks & hats
Chain Saws (to cut wood for fires)
Ship to:
Emmanuel Mission
c/o Marian White Mouse
Old Custer Housing Drive #247
Wanblee, SD 57577
(605) 462-6242
Tax Deductible Financial contributions can be made at:
www.familynetwork.org/donations.html
Reference: Lakotah Relief 08
Every winter people freeze to death on the Reservation due to lack of propane and electricity. Please make donation to:
Republic of Lakotah
Emergency Propane for the Elderly
P.O. Box 1994
Pine Ridge, SD 57770
(Reference: "Good Neighbor Gift" on check)
If you want to join a delegation to visit the Pine Ridge Reservation to work on more sustainable projects
with the Republic of Lakotah email lakotahproject@familynetwork.org or call 206.240.2241
Contact Marian White Mouse for more information at (605) 454-7939 or (605) 462-6242
Appreciate your assistance,
Cheryl
Cheryl Honey, C.P.P.
Family Support Network, Int'l
(206) 240-2241
www.familynetwork.org
www.communityweaving.org
"The more resourceful we are among ourselves, the more valuable a resource we become to our families, our communities and our world."
She wishes she won this seat? I wish she had raised more than fifty cents and run a real campaign. No one but the tooth fairy cares about what she wishes for at this point. Maybe she can go work on moonbeam death ray technology and affordable igloos with Brett Wagner and Jill Martinez. Can we please get a credible Democrat to run for this seat next time?
Well as usual, the commenters tend to be absurd in their statements, nasty and irrelevant. This is why this blog is not read by most serious people. As for the statement, it is untrue, as we raised much more than the writer is aware of and have gotten a higher vote percentage than has been gotten in any of the past elections. Why can't you comment on the information in the posting. There is something seriously wrong with your mind. I am sure you the poster are not a credible Democrat.
Ignore the trolls, Marta.
The grand experiment in cyberspace that is the blogosphere has gone from a masked ball to a hooded mob. Tucked safely away in their anonymity they say things they would never say to your face.
Nothing good comes of this.
Hope your press release finds some help for these folks.
Marta,
Go to the section called "Ask a candidate" in the archives and see hos respectful people are there towards candidates. For the most part they are very serious minded and ask important questions.
But thanks for trashing my blog anyways. I would ask what blog dedicated to all of Ventura County politics gets read by more "serious" people. I have more candidates, staff members, and activists posting here then any other local blog.
While you are at it, let me know what other blog posted this message for you.
I agree that you should ignore the trolls. But if you ignore blogs that would be a huge failure. The most successful candidates have a strategy for sharing information with blogs and using them to excite people about their campaigns.
On a serious note, are you planning to run for office in 2010? Are you considering running for another office to build up your name ID and get more experience or have you set your sights on congress?
Marta,
I would also encourage you to use blogs to get more people to attend events. I have been at many events where I met people that I didn't know that said they heard about the event because of this blog.
Now that the campaign is over are you going back to education? What type of teaching are you doing?
I don't see a serious reason for Jorgensen to run again. She didn't activate grassroots activists, she didn't make use of technology much, she didn't raise a decent amount of money, she doesn't have name ID or a compelling life story, she didn't get Elton Gallegly to spend much money against her, she didn't make much of the momentum created by Barack Obama's campaign, she didn't campaign much in Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, or Moorpark and I don't see many of these factors changing for next time.
Did anyone see her at Simi Valley Days, Moorpark Country Days, or other major events in this area?
...But it is nice that she is using her mailing list to bring attention to those less fortunate than us. She might be a good intentioned person but a congressional seat isn't the place for a beginner. I would be more likely to support her if she got elected to be mayor or something like that before. Same goes for most candidates.
She's still trying to raise gas money to get to Simi Valley.
I know a lot of people are still pissed off that Marta upset the Dem apple cart but if the other two candidates were such great choices, why'd they choose to list themselves on the primary ballot as (I think) Housing Developer and Real Estate Agent?
In times such as ours, those choices alone should have disqualified them from making decisions at the House level.
No one would have beaten Elton. Don't blame Marta and don't allow that blame to taint your response to a legitimate call for help.
What does Marta Jorgensen do for work? Where does she teach? How come I haven't seen a clear answer to that question?
Brian,
Do not take Jorgensen's insults to your blog and its participants to heart:
This was in an election that saw Republicans discredited for a national crisis and so Democrats grabbing control of the House and Senate by a large margin.
Yet this lady seems happy that she managed to achieve a decease of just under a statistically insignificant 3% in her opponents vote percentage since he ran 2 years ago. Her pride is that although he won the seat (yet again), this time he received just under 6 of every 10 votes cast instead of just over 6 of every 10 votes as he did two years earlier.
She just does not get it . . . not about how to win a congressional election nor about what a good blog you provide for this community.
Brian, as my mother used to tell me: "Consider the source!"
I think I saw Marta hitch-hiking at an on-ramp next to the 101 Fwy. recently. She appeared to be headed towards the County Government Center to get the final results of the Nov. 4th election.
With that size of a campaign budget, she ought to consider running against Obama in 2012.
Candidate Jorgensen said:
"...As for the statement, it is untrue, as we raised much more than the writer is aware of..."
But yet she said she wasn't going to attend an event in Simi Valley because she couldn't afford to pay for gas.
No wonder she is lashing out at blogs, even those that support Democratic candidates. She needs someone to blame.