3/7/2022

My dear Friend & POTUS, JRB,

            Was Mary Kay Henry, President of Service Employees International Union, at your meeting on Sat? If so, did she tell you about the mess we have here in Sacto with her Local 1000? It seems that the board wants to unseat the elected President. They are accusing him of corruption & ineptitude. He claims his Black voice is being silenced. Some of the tension is coming from CA’s proposal to close down a prison in Lassen County. A Black leader opposes the closing of a prison so that White prison guards can keep their jobs. Isn’t it fascinating how these things get so twisted?

            Amidst the heart-breaking news from Ukraine, of civilians being killed as they try to flee, was a bright spot for me today. KOMO news reported on an Oregon couple who are fleeing Zhytomyr with their family of disabled Ukraine-born children. They felt led by God to leave the US in 2012 to help orphans. The kids & mom got out on a train while dad is stuck in a line of traffic at the border. I am inspired by folks who say YES when called.

            Would that parents in Myanmar could say YES to education for their kids. DW reports that moms & dads are fighting on whether to send their offspring to the government schools. Doing so puts them at risk of being labeled “pro-junta.” Not doing so puts their kids at risk of having menial jobs for the rest of their lives. Kids in school complain that the teachers are terrible because they have no training. It’s a terrible situation. Please do what you can to restore democracy there.

            HYITL,