Workers, small business owners, elected officials and community activists today launched a national campaign to save as many as 7,000 jobs at NASA and thousands more in central Florida.
The Obama administration, in an effort to balance the federal budget, has proposed outsourcing most of the program that includes lunar landers, moon bases, and the replacement for space shuttle to other governments and private companies.
Such a move would devastate central Florida, which already has been hit hard by the foreclosure crisis. Without a new commitment to extend the space program, central Florida stands to lose 7,000 jobs at NASA and another 16,000 public- and private-sector jobs could be jeopardized. Members of several unions work in the program, including Machinists (IAM), Transport Workers (TWU), Electrical Workers (IBEW) and others.
Speaking at a rally in Titusville, Fla., not far from Kennedy Space Center, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka told a crowd of nearly 2,000:
This is no time to tear out the foundation of this community. At a time when so many Florida breadwinners are out of work or working part time, when over half a million in Florida have lost their homes, does it really make sense to pile on more misery?
The Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) and Writers Guild of America, West earlier this month honored the year’s best writers for film, television, radio, news, promotional material and video games during simultaneous ceremonies in New York and Los Angeles.
Alan Zweibel received the WGAE Ian McLellan Hunter Award for lifetime achievement in writing. The award, named after a longtime WGAE member, is given in honor of a body of work as a writer in motion pictures or television.
One of the original writers on “Saturday Night Live,” Zweibel has won multiple Emmys and other awards for his work in television, including, “It’s Garry Shandling’s Show,” “Monk,” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” He co-wrote the screenplays for “Dragnet” and “The Story of Us.”
WGAE President Michael Winship said:
[Alan Zweibel's] eclectic career and comic grasp of life have delighted audiences for more than three decades. We’re all delighted that his talent is being honored by his fellow Guild members.
Some other top award winners included:
- Original Screenplay: “The Hurt Locker,” written by Mark Boal, Summit Entertainment;
- Adapted Screenplay: “Up in the Air,” a screenplay by Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner; Based upon the novel by Walter Kirn; Paramount Pictures.
- Drama Series: “Mad Men,” written by Lisa Albert, Andrew Colville, Kater Gordon, Cathryn Humphris, Andre Jacquemetton, Maria Jacquemetton, Brett Johnson, Erin Levy, Marti Noxon, Frank Pierson, Robin Veith, Dahvi Waller, Matthew Weiner; AMC.
- Comedy Series: “30 Rock,” written by Jack Burditt, Kay Cannon, Robert Carlock, Tom Ceraulo, Vali Chandrasekaran, Tina Fey, Donald Glover, Steve Hely, Matt Hubbard, Dylan Morgan, Paula Pell, Jon Pollack, John Riggi, Tami Sagher, Josh Siegal, Ron Weiner, Tracey Wigfield; NBC.
Check out all the winners here.
Recent Comments