Political Notes

On March 12, President-select George W. Bush returned to the state of Florida for the first time since November, where he called for increased spending for military housing. "I do think we need for a troop to be able to house his family," Bush stated. "That’s an important part of building morale in the military." What about the rest of us, George? Bush’s proposed budget, as submitted to Congress, contains sharp reductions in spending for housing.

Blue-Green Alliances

The Nation (March 26) reports that in California, Santa Monicans for Renters Rights (described as "one of the nation’s savviest local political groups") helped elect Mike Feinstein, a key player in the California Green Party, as mayor. Feinstein also had support from major unions. Across the ocean, in a sharp setback for rightist French President Jacques Chirac, Paris has just elected its first socialist mayor in more than 100 years, also with support from the Greens (les Verts). New York City elected a socialist mayor in 1989: David Dinkins is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America.