Tenant Action Group (Belleville) Update

One Jailed...four free!

Raise The Rates!

Today (Jan 19/06) marks the end of strict non-association charges against various TAG members.

Last March a whole bunch of TAGers physically attacked our local MPP's office in broad daylight in retaliation to cuts to the special diet benefit. These monies brought desperately needed relief to over 920 individuals on Ontario Works and Ontario Disability suffering in silence in our community. Not only was $2.7 million dollars brought directly into poor people's pockets, but recipients taught each other community organizing skills and participated in militant actions directly impacting on their community.

Thanks OCAP!

With OCAP leading the charge, TAG brought doctors right into the housing projects of Belleville and Trenton to assess people for the special diet benefit. These "Hunger Clinics" were organized by the tenants themselves and involved entire families from across the city.

Low income communities were all abuzz at the expected relief. And TAG (with the help of OCAP and the doctors) delivered.

Direct Action Got the Goods!

When Hastings County threatened to "shut down" our Hunger Clinics we gathered in numbers and the County backed down. As the threatened cuts closed in we gathered 80 strong on Front Street and forced our way into the local MPPs office demanding a halt to the cuts. When then Minister of Social Services Sandra Pupatello visited our town we forced her to flee out the back door.

The local MPP's constituency office got into the habit of keeping their doors locked during business hours. That's how it oughta be.

When the cuts became a reality we followed up with a peaceful delegation of TAG and OCAP women and children at the same MPPs office demanded a meeting with McGuinty in Toronto. The delegation imposed a deadline of Valentine's Day for the MPP to respond.

The local MPP missed the deadline.

As a consequence TAG returned as promised with a more militant delegation to that MPP's office, tuffled with the door, gained entry and were ticketed after spending an hour in jail.

Witihin a week TAG was back with the resultant charges of illegal assembly, breach, mischief under $5,000, and some such charge relating to wearing masks.

Unfortunately the Belleville police decided to harass members not involved in the assault. This culminated in one single mom who was not involved in the assault facing heavy jail time.

Consensus was obtained and a deal was struck with the Crown whereby one member will begin 40 days jail time at Quinte Detention Centre - as of today - with all charges being dropped against the other militants.

It has been tough organizing under this police intimidation because members were unable to organize and mount our own defence due to harsh non-association clauses. We take heart in the efforts of our Comrades in Guelph in their self-defence to charges currently underway. As well, we stand in solidarity with our Tyendinaga Mohawk brothers and sisters facing criminal charges nearby.

Despite this we continue to organize around having more Hunger Clinics in Belleville in the near future.

TAG would like to thank all those groups across the province who have assisted us in our campaign - OCAP, GUTS, S-CAP, the Under Pressure Collective, K/W Youth Collective, Kingston-CAP our union brothers and sisters (CAW, CUPE, OPSEU) and Queens University and Trent grad student associations, doctors Weissenberg and Divinsky and so many anonymous others.

The member starting the 40 day sentance today is Sam Kuhn. Some have asked for mailing info and he can be reached at:

Quinte Detention Centre
89 Richmond Blvd.
Napanee, Ont.
K7R 3S1

613-354-9701
Fax: 613-354-1209

Any assistance in helping sam pay his rent while away would be appreciated. Inquiries can be made to:
tenantactiongroup@hotmail.com