Graton Day Labor Center needs the community's help

July 7, 2011

Dear Friend,

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

We have ONE WEEK to raise funds to purchase the
Graton Day Labor Center property–or we may lose it!

Our landlord must sell, and would like to sell to us, but
due to economic circumstances, we have only one
week to raise the funds to purchase the property
where Centro Laboral de Graton (Graton Day Labor Center
or CLG) is currently located. If we are not successful in
raising these funds, the property is scheduled for
auction and we will lose our home.

The site was developed in 2007 with your generous support
and the labor and assistance of hundreds of
day laborers, domestic workers, West County residents
and supporters. We are reaching out to our friends,
families and long-time supporters to help us raise
$350,000 for the acquisition of this property.

Please make an investment
in the wellbeing of our community.

You have stood with us in the past and we are asking
you to help us today with a generous donation.
The purchase of our site would allow us to remain
located in the heart of the Graton community and give
us the space we need to further grow and develop the
quality programs and services that make Centro Laboral
the impactful organization it is today.

Please contact Christina Zapata, CLG Director
Email: [email protected]
Call: 707- 829-1864

Or mail your donation to:
Graton Day Labor Center
PO Box 42, Graton CA 95444

Thank you for your generous support!
The CLG Board of Directos

Our Mission
To advance and protect the human,
labor, and civil rights of day laborers
and their families by promoting
participatory democratic leadership
and worker solidarity, and to develop
greater opportunities for employment,
health, and education.

__

https://www.pressdemocrat.com/images/logo2.gif
Graton labor center scrambles to save its site
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/articl...p=all&tc=pgall

https://www.pressdemocrat.com/apps/p...W=445&border=0
Advocates of the Graton Day Labor Center in west Sonoma County are trying to raise money to prevent the property from being sold at auction.
CHRISTOPHER CHUNG / THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

By MARTIN ESPINOZA
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Published: Friday, July 8, 2011 at 5:44 p.m.


The Graton Day Labor Center is trying furiously to raise as much $350,000 by Wednesday to buy the Bowen Street property that has been its home since the center opened in 2007.

The property is in foreclosure and its owner, developer Orrin Thiessen, said he's forced to sell it or have it go to auction.

Christina Zapata, project coordinator at the center, said that the hiring hall must raise the money before the second mortgage on the property is sold at auction on Wednesday.

An auction date has not been set on the first mortgage, which also is in foreclosure. Together, the loans total about $300,000, Thiessen said.

The labor center's options could include a cash purchase or making a downpaynment and securing a loan.

The center began distributing a flier on Thursday alerting its supporters of the urgent need for action.

Thiessen, however, said the most likely buyer would be an investor who would want to keep the existing tenants. The other tenant is the Stone Creek Zen Center.

Thiessen is most widely known as the creator of the Windsor town center. He has several other properties in foreclosure, including in Windsor.

He said Friday he wants to give the labor center enough time to buy the property. “I'm doing whatever I can for the labor center,” he said.

Susan Shaw, the labor center's board treasurer and a past co-chairwoman, said the hiring hall prefers an outright purchase rather than taking on a mortgage.

“We're tyring to raise the whole amount because that would be better for us as a non-profit,” Shaw said. “We're reaching out to our donors and to all of our supporters.”

Board members have sought help from local leaders and professionals, including Sonoma County Supervisor Efren Carrillo and Eric Koenigshofer, a lawyer and former county supervisor. Koenigshofer said he is representing the center pro-bono in its efforts to buy the property.

“I think the group may have the ability to pull off a purchase, and that would be a great thing to make happen,” he said.

When it opened less than four years ago the hiring hall replaced the controversial road-side hiring of day laborers in the community of 1,707 residents.

It originally was envisioned as little more than a gravel driveway, a trailer and a portable bathroom. But it grew in scope with each worker, community member and contractor that contributed to the project.

Thiessen provided the main structure for the center, formerly a portable classroom at Harmony School in Occidental. In all, he said he spent $100,000 on the project before it opened with new sidewalks, an asphalt parking lot and landscaping.

Shaw said 250 people, including day laborers and members of the Graton community, contributed to the construction of the center.

“It's definitely worth saving,” Shaw said. “It's an important organization that represents the people doing important, back-breaking work in this county.”

Thiessen said a downpayment of about $70,000 would bring the mortgage to a reasonable level. He said that with the rent paid by the Zen Center, the day labor center probably would not have to pay much more than they currently do in rent.

A Modest Proposal

Hallo, This is Mark, checking in, offering to put up money if three hundred and forty-nine others would be willing to match my pledge. I'd like to offer a thousand dollars myself - although I live twenty miles away, in the Mayacama High Country. If three hundred-forty- nine other folks can assemble themselves and Organize to pay this mortgage, I will put my own money down on the following condition : that the Graton Day Labor Center also become the Town Hall of Graton - so that the Shire can experience a bit of Town Hall Democracy.

It is important both that Graton gets a Town Hall, and also that the Day Labor Center stays open... This one does not live in Graton; he lives about twenty miles or so away - as the crow flies. Graton and I go back though = although I have never lived there = I remember it as the little burg you turned left at, when you were on your way to Morning-Star; in the old days, when the apple towns reminded this Oakland -bairn Welsh laddy of our old Caedmon recording of the Bard reading Fern Hill...

This one = {me-uns }= knows that it is Crucial that the Local Citizenry lairn to be Vigilant. Freedom is a constant Struggle, as the old Southern Black Gospel song says. As one who still gets chills, sometimes when I hear Leonard Cohen's really awesome song, I'd like to remind you, that for "Democracy" to work, it must begin - and Rest on the foundation of what used to be called the local "Parrish." i.e., at the local level. That is the only way that people can have control over their own mutual, social destiny.

In the cause of striving to bring "Democracy to the U.S.A." I think it is sufficiently important that folks in California learn a little about the civilizing influence of the Town Hall tradition of Rural Democracy, as it still exists, in pockets, in rural New England. To that ends, if 350 people will also step up and pitch in a thousand apiece, I for one, am willing to put my money Where my mouth has been on this Subject, ranting, in these parts, for some time, to the end that John Jenkel may be given a Venue where his case may be examined in the Court of the Commons - 0n the Basis of Roberts Rules of Order...

Check out the links in this Search, on the Subject of Town Hall Meetings & Town Hall Democracy...

=Mark Walter Evans=

OK, I'll keep the ball rolling. With the same conditions. 350 of us each put up $1,000 .... or, perhaps, some put in less and some put in more .... but the total is pledged, so that the Labor Center can own their own building with a contractual agreement to use it for Town Hall meetings (and such local governance events), perhaps in the evenings. Details need to be worked out ... but I think the concept makes sense.

So, another $1,000 offered as a pledge, if these conditions are met.

I would hate to see the Labor Center lost, after all the love and labor that went into it.

Blessings,

Lani

Quote:

---

Posted in reply to the post by Iolchan:

A Modest Proposal

Hallo, This is Mark, checking in, offering to put up money if three hundred - preferably three hundred and fifty would be willing to match my pledge. I'd like to offer a thousand dollars myself - although I live twenty miles away, in the Mayacama High Country. If three hundred- fifty other folks can assemble themselves and Organize to pay this mortgage, I will put my own money down on the following condition : that the Graton Day Labor Center also provide the facility and Space for a Town Hall Meeting Venue - so that the Shire can experience a bit of Town Hall Democracy.

It is important that Graton gets a Town Hall, and also that the Day Labor Center stays open... This one does not live in Graton; he lives about twenty miles or so away - as the crow flies. Graton and I go back though = although I have never lived there = I remember it as the little burg you turned left at, when you were on your way to Morning-Star; in the old days, when the apple towns reminded this Oakland -bairn Welsh laddy of our old Caedmon recording of the Bard reading Fern Hill...

This one = {me-uns }= knows that it is Crucial that the Local Citizenry lairn to be Vigilant. Freedom is a constant Struggle, as the old Southern Black Gospel song says. As one who still gets chills, sometimes when I hear Leonard Cohen's really awesome song, I'd like to remind you, that for "Democracy" to work, it must begin - and Rest on the foundation of what used to be called the local "Parrish." i.e., at the local level. That is the only way that people can have control over their own mutual, social destiny.

In the cause of striving to bring "Democracy to the U.S.A." I think it is sufficiently important that folks in California learn a little about the civilizing influence of the Town Hall tradition of Rural Democracy, as it still exists, in pockets, in rural New England. To that ends, if 350 people will also step up and pitch in a thousand apiece, I for one, am willing to put my money Where my mouth has been on this Subject, ranting, in these parts, for some time, to the end that John Jenkel may be given a Venue where his case may be examined in the Court of the Commons - 0n the Basis of Roberts Rules of Order...

Check out the links in this Search, on the Subject of Town Hall Meetings & Town Hall Democracy...

=Mark Walter Evans=

---

OK, I'll third that emotion.

Quote:

---

Posted in reply to the post by foxrosie:

OK, I'll keep the ball rolling. With the same conditions. 350 of us each put up $1,000 .... or, perhaps, some put in less and some put in more .... but the total is pledged, so that the Labor Center can own their own building with a contractual agreement to use it for Town Hall meetings (and such local governance events), perhaps in the evenings. Details need to be worked out ... but I think the concept makes sense.

So, another $1,000 offered as a pledge, if these conditions are met.

I would hate to see the Labor Center lost, after all the love and labor that went into it.

Blessings,

Lani

---

Quote:

---

Posted in reply to the post by Mrs. Wacco:

OK, I'll third that emotion.

---

Wow, that looks like $3,000 has already been pledged! Seems to me there are a lot of stakeholders in this issue including the town of Graton, Sonoma County, Day Laborers, the Stone Creek Zen Center, and community groups that might want to use the facility for meetings and events, including WaccoBB!

It may be challenge for just one entity to raise funds to purchase the building, but it sound more doable several organizations pitched in! I imagine WaccoBB could raise $5-10,000 or so, which would make a sizable dent towards the $70,000 down payment!

There's not much time though.

Anybody want to try to coordinate a wider community effort? :waccosun:

Barry

I received this note and subsequent update (and permission to post) from Christina Zapata, CLG Director

Dear Supporters,
thank you so much for your responses to CLG's urgent appeal for support to purchase our site.
I have read the emails and proposals posted on Wacco.

At this point, can we please separate out the
town hall space
and
fundraising efforts.

Our attorney has advised that what is being proposed is not that straightforward, in terms of implementation.
My understanding is that it would take the board of directors to vote on your proposal, that is, to accept your
donations with such contingencies/conditions and then to have this information recorded
in the deed as this is a legal contract for who has stake in the property. The town hall
group would have x percentage of stake in the property, depending on what percentage of the purchase price you donate.

The Graton Day Labor Center is all about local democracy- we practice this everyday. Domestic workers and day laborers in fact, push the limits of democracy.
We are definitely open to exploring the town hall question.
But for now, we need strictly donations. Thank you. In Solidarity, Christina Zapata, Director, Centro Laboral de Graton.


Christina Zapata
Centro Laboral de Graton
2981 Bowen St. /PO Box 42
Graton, CA 95444
707.829.1864 Center; 707.206.2184 Cell

As for the update, I will know first thing tomorrow morning
if we've stopped the auction. As of today, we pulled the money together to do it-
however, I have not confirmed with the company in Petaluma who is coordinating the auction.
I will post a statement, email update.
more soon. Christina