Monday, March 27th
City to Hold Final Meeting on Federal Funding
The Portland City Council will hold a special meeting tonight to vote on the allocation of federal money to local social service agencies.
A number of Portland social services agencies appeared before a special meeting of the Council on March 13th to plead their cases in the wake of federal funding cuts. Portland City Manager Joseph Gray and his Policy Advisory Committee are recommending funding cuts to a number of local groups, including the Y.M.C.A., the PROP Child Development Centers, the Somali Peer Support Group, Ingraham, Ripple Effect, Portland West Community Outreach and Youth Building Alternatives, and WMPG Blunt Youth Radio, among others. Some of the funding requests are new and the City is not funding them at all.
Some members of the Advisory Committee are not happy that the City Manager is not following all their recommendations in providing funding to some agencies and not to others.
Several of the City Councilors who were not at the March 13th meeting because they were attending a National League of Cities meeting in Washington, D.C. are expected to be at tonight’s meeting. Part of their mission there was to lobby for restoration of the Federal Community Block Grant funds that have been cut. Tonight’s meeting is at 7PM.

Tuesday, March 28
In Celebration of Women's History MonthERA March Across Maine: An Oral History Stephanie Philbrick will talk about the effort to pass the Equal Rights Amendment in Maine during the 1970's and '80's. She will share oral history recordings of participants in the historic 1981 March Across Maine, a 270-mile march from Cherryfield to Portland which was designed to raise awareness and support for the passage of the ERA. Other voices of the Equal Rights movement in Maine include the Biddeford nun who spoke out in favor of the ERA during state congressional hearings. While the ERA ultimately failed to get enough votes for passage, the campaign had far-reaching and important results bothnationally and locally.This lecture is free and open to the public. Tuesday, March 28, 12:00 noonMaine Historical Society 489 Congress Street, Portland207-774-1822www.mainehistory.org

Tuesday, March 28
Death Penalty to be Discussed
Let's Talk America discusses the death penalty - Portland Public Library Tuesday, March 28, 7:00 PMThe local chapter of Let's Talk America will facilitate an open discussion in the Rines Auditorium at the Portland Public Library on Tuesday, March 28, beginning at 7:00 PM. The question to be explored during the February conversation will be; "Should the Death Penalty be continued to be used in the USA? Why or why not? This event is one in a continuing series of conversations enabling interested individuals from the Portland area to share their thoughts regarding questions of national concern. LTA is a national, nonpartisan, group dedicated to fostering open-minded conversations among concerned citizens of all political persuasions. These conversations are designed to encourage discovery and sincere sharing of ideas rather than partisanship or argumentation. Participants join others in small groups with a trained facilitator to discuss their views. This event is sponsored in part by the Portland Public Library. It is free and open to the public.

Thursday, March 30
Homeland Security Consultant
To Address Republicans

Homeland Security Consultant Joshua D. Filler will be addressing the Portland Republican City Committee on "Federal, state and local relations: can we get them right, and make our homeland secure?" on Thursday, March 30, 2006 at The Portland Club, 156 State Street in Portland. The evening of cocktails and conversation will start at 5:30 pm. Tickets are available for a $25 contribution to the Portland Republican City Committee.

Joshua Filler is Chairman and CEO of Filler Security Strategies, Inc., a homeland security consulting firm located in Washington, D.C. Before starting his own firm, Filler was Director of the Office of State & Local Government Coordination for the United States Department of Homeland Security where he was the primary point of contact between the Department and state and local government leaders.

Filler was one of the founding members of the Department of Homeland Security and a senior advisor to the Secretary of Homeland Security. Prior to joining the DHS, Filler was Director of Local Affairs for the White House Office of Homeland Security.

Before working at the White House, Mr. Filer served in the cabinet of New York City Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani as the Director of Legislative Affairs and Chief of Staff to the Deputy Mayor for Operations. He oversaw the Police Department, Fire Department and Office of Emergency Management. After September 11th, 2001, Mr. Filler handled emergency operations issues and managed contacts between the city and local, state and federal officials.

Filler grew up in Portland, Maine where he attended Deering High School. He is a graduate of Boston University and St. John’s University School of Law.YO LEAGUERS ! A reminder that tomorrow, March 28th at 6:30 PM at Reiche, will be our next general forum. Why are U going to be there?