Citations Needed Newsletter 4.12.22

Hi all,  here's this fortnight's newsletter. Thanks as always for your support––t helps keep the show ad free and totally independent and we are very grateful for this. 

-  Florence, Adam, Marco, Julianne, and Nima

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The Amazon Union Campaign Won By Following the Lead of Workers Shaun Richman, In These Times (April 4, 2022)

After the victory of the Amazon Labor Union in Staten Island, debates are being held about what lessons can be extracted from the victory. Rather than saying national unions should take no place in union drives, these unions could learn how to adapt some fundamental theories for winning union elections.

Legalized Pot Was Supposed to Help Build Black Wealth in Los Angeles. It Failed. Amanda Chicago Lewis, The New Republic (April 4, 2022)

Los Angeles politicians promised Black entrepreneurs that equity programs in the cannabis industry would help to build wealth for Black people, but that promise has not been met. Few equity dispensaries have opened in L.A. as these businesses compete with well-financed corporate ownership for spots.

Under Biden, Private Detention Isn’t Ending—It’s Changing Form Joshua Leach, Hannah Hafter, In These Times (March 31, 2022)

The Biden Administration has promised an phasing out of private prisons, however these facilities remain in use by private contractors. These contractors are now using the prisons to detain immigrants in civil custody.

With Sweeps of Homeless Encampments, Liberal Cities Wage War on Poorest Residents Natasha Lennard, The Intercept (April 4, 2022)

Mayor Eric Adams has joined the list of Democratic mayors who have launched cruel sweeps of homeless encampments as part of a larger war on the homeless. Following these sweeps, the homeless population often have uncertain resources to turn to after the police have taken their possessions.

Give Communities Control of Carbon Removal Andrew Bergman, Holly Buck, Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò, Toly Rinberg, The New Republic (April 11, 2022)

Carbon removal efforts have been dogged by corporate greenwashing, but many of the most optimistic projections for a climate change strategy say that some carbon renewal will be involved. Public ownership of carbon renewal would address the inequalities that the technology could create.

Does Bail Reform Lead to More Crime Ethan Corey, The Appeal (April 6, 2022)

Bail reform has become a scapegoat for rising crime in the country as politicians from both parties have begun to turn against it. However, data has suggested that bail reform does not make significant changes to arrest numbers and carceral politicians ignore the other benefits of bail reform.

Illinois Advocates Call for Action After Prison Officials Mislead On Contaminated Water Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg, The Appeal (Apr 07, 2022)

Five Illinois prisons tested positive for Legionella in March after only announcing that two had contaminated water. This has led to advocates demanding answers for why the Department of Corrections is not being transparent and ignoring key context in their statements to the public on the dangerous contamination.

The Weapons Industry Sees the War in Ukraine as a Goldmine Sarah Lazare, In These Times (April 7, 2022)

The weapons industry is using the invasion of Ukraine as a reason for the U.S. to heavily invest in them. The National Defense Industrial Association released a report saying it is in the U.S.’ best interest in the midst of the conflict to modernize its defenses and give rapid cash to the industry.

Marine Le Pen’s Populist Image Is an Iron Fist in a Velvet Glove Theo Aiolfi, Jacobin (April 8, 2022)

French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen has sought to separate herself from her father’s far-right legacy and rebrand as a populist who is less associated with traditional left-right politics. However, her program has remained the same and she is looking to capitalize with dissatisfaction with liberalism.

Documenting the Struggle Against a Hedge Fund Stripping Journalism for Parts Rick Goldsmith, FAIR (April 11, 2022)

Alden Global Capital has been stripping down newsrooms for profiteering purposes for years leaving news deserts in its wake. Any success that has been had countering Alden’s profiteering has come from the efforts of reporters and unions bringing attention to Alden and bringing pressure on shareholders not to be bought by them.