From: SteveWard6@aol.com Date: Sun, 30 Mar 1997 23:07:55 -0500 (EST) Subject: DC Council race...Wayne is assaulted...and more... Steve Michael DC Council * Ward Six AIDS Cure Party * Vote April 29th 409 H Street NE Washington, DC 20002 phone us at 202.547.0854 fax us as 202.547.0841 e-mail us at SteveWard6@aol.com ...on the campaign trail in Ward Six... ...with Steve Michael of the AIDS Cure Party Candidate's Spouse assaulted Turner beats back assailant with yard sign stick The campaign manager and lover/partner of Steve Michael, AIDS Cure Party candidate for Ward Six, was assaulted while distributing campaign literature early Saturday morning (March 29). Wayne Turner fought off the attacker with a yard sign stick after being shoved to the ground, fracturing his knee cap. Turner spent twelve hours at the emergency room at DC General Hospital, which turned into a gathering of Ward Six campaigns. Cheryl Graham, sister of attorney/candidate Tony Graham, was hit by a falling tree while putting up campaign signs during a storm, and a supporter of Sandy McCall was stabbed in broad daylight. Turner praised the staff at DC General for their dedication, "Their resources are stretched beyond capacity. The ER was overflowing: crime victims, AIDS patients, drug overdoses, those of us without health insurance. If there's any doubt we need a council member with the collapse in health care as a top priority, pay a visit to DC General. The assault on Turner occurred just half a block away from Steve Michael's Campaign headquarters at 409 H Street NE, located in a high crime zone targeted by the Metropolitan Police Department under its 'zero-tolerance' crack down. "Zero tolerance is a recipe for disaster" adds Turner. "As availability decreases, drug prices increase, making addicted persons more and more desperate to get a fix. Assaults and robberies are definitely going to increase until we can plug substance abusers into treatment." Local cuts in funding for drug and alcohol treatment had lead to millions more lost in federal matching funds, wiping out many of the drug treatment programs serving District residents. Turner emphasizes that he will continue to campaign vigorously for his partner Steve, despite having to use crutches for the remainder of the campaign. "I refuse to let a broken knee cap get in the way of elected DC's first openly Gay HIV positive council member." he states. Cuts in social services fuel the fires of crime, violence, and despair... Turner predicts that crime rates will increase in the coming months as 'welfare reform' is implemented. "People at the lowest end of the economic scale are losing public assistance with no jobs. Thousands of single men get cut off their food stamps this month. All DC residents are going to feel the devastating impact of 'welfare reform' as the street are filled with hoards of hungry, desperate people." As along time AIDS activist and now as a candidate for DC Council, Michael has vigorously advocated for a federal waiver from the to save DC's food stamp program and other forms of public assistance. Three high level officials with the Clinton Administration secured a waiver for the District before resigning in protest over 'welfare reform', including Peter Edelman, (husband of Children's Defense Fund head Marion Wright Edelman). Efforts led by at-large council member Harold Brazil resulted in the revocation of the District's welfare reform waiver, leaving District officials and non-profit social services organizations totally unprepared to cope with the legions of residents cut off from the social safety net. At a recent candidate's forum, Michael blasted opponent Rob Robinson, who, as Harold Brazil's chief of staff, coordinated efforts with Republicans in Congress to revoke DC's waiver. As a principal organizer in the AIDS advocacy group ACT UP here in Washington, Steve Michael has led opposition to the welfare reform measure signed by President Clinton last year. During the 1996 Democratic Convention in Chicago, Michael smuggled 'Welfare Reform Equals Death" signs onto the convention floor, which were the only dissenting signs displayed by delegates, appearing on C-SPAN and CNN. Michael inpresses crowd at yet another candidates forum... DC AIDS and Gay activist, Steve Michael, who is running for the vacant DC Council seat in Ward Six as the AIDS Cure Party candidate, impressed voters attending a candidates forum held at Maury Elementary School, hosted by the North Lincoln Park Neighborhood Association. Michael's bold discussion of issues ranging from drug and alcohol treatment to food stamps and AIDS won over many undecided voters, and praise from Michael's opponents. The event was held on March 27. ...A plan to provide drug and alcohol treatment, clean up neighborhoods and shake up the Alcohol and Beverage Control Board... Michael began his opening statement by displaying discarded bottles of fortified wine and malt liquor, highlighting the fact that Sharon Ambrose, who holds the fundraising lead in the crowded field of twelve contenders, received large contributions from beverage distributors. "These products are not available in bars or restaurants," Michael told the crowd, "They're designed for one thing only, to destroy people's lives." The availability of drug and alcohol treatment has been a cornerstone of the Steve Michael Campaign. The candidate of the AIDS Cure Party emphasized that Ambrose, who worked for former DC Councilmember John Ray has refused to support the Michael position that would restore the recently gutted drug treatment programs as well as expand them further to eliminate an eight-month waiting list. Mayor Marion Barry and the Council recently zeroed out District funding for substance abuse treatment, resulting in the loss of millions of federal matching dollars. Michael told that crowd that he supports a reprioritization of the activities of the Alcohol and Beverage Control Board (ABC) "I want them (ABC) closing down those corner liquor stores that sell forty ouncers to fourteen year olds. I want the laws barring the purchase of liquor with food stamps enforced. And, above all I want a bottle bill in the District of Columbia that puts special emphasis on fortified wine and beer containers---couple with a tax sufficient to expand drug and alcohol treatment." Michael also questioned the integrity of a campaign (Ambrose) that raising funds from both liquor distributors and individuals who oppose all liquor license applications. Croft's red ribbon vanishes, then reappears... At a community forum held at the Anacostia High School on March 25 candidate Howard Croft was asked why he wasn't wearing the red ribbon he displayed at an earlier forum sponsored by DC Gay and Lesbian activist organizations... Croft responded by saying... "it's on my other suit." Croft's ribbon reappeared two days later. One wonders if Croft was following so many other politicians who wear red ribbons only at functions sponsored by Gay and Lesbian or AIDS groups. States Steve Michael's lover and campaign manager Wayne Turner, "Candidates have to earn their red ribbon. The last thing we need is another red ribbon wearing politician that feels our pain---then does nothing. If Howard Croft really cared about AIDS issues he would be campaigning with us---to elect DC's first openly HIV positive Councilmember---Steve Michael." and finally... we have opened our campaign office... on the H Street Corridor at 409 H Street NE call us at 547.0854