Democracy for NYC is proud to promote this great event sponsored by The Sierra Club, New York Ethical Culture Society, and Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch.

When:  This Tuesday evening, May 13th, 7 PM 

Where:  New York Society For Ethical Culture, 2 West 64th Street. 

Subway: Any train to 59th Street, or 72nd Street on the West Side

RSVP:  You can RSVP on FaceBook at this link.  Not strictly necessary, but helps organizers to plan. 

More information on TPP and Fast Track: www.exposethetpp.org

From the event organizers:

A BRIEF HISTORY OF FAST TRACK AND THE TPP

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), is a NAFTA-like trade deal among 12 nations negotiated in secret for over 5 years. Global corporations and Wall Street banks know what's in the TPP but the press, public and even Congress have been kept in the dark. What we know from leaks, however, is highly disturbing.

Negotiations are almost done. Now President Obama wants to pass TPP using the Fast Track bill, which would eliminate the Congressional discussion and amendment option our Constitution mandated and force a speedy up-or-down vote. Unless we STOP FAST TRACK, the public won't know TPP's details until it’s too late to change a word. 

Though a Fast Track bill arrived DOA when it was introduced in Congress early this year, word is out that a new bill --"Smart Track"-- is on the horizon and could be voted on after the November elections, or sooner. Any bill that eliminates Congressional oversight of the TPP must be defeated, whatever its name.

NYC Councilmember Helen Rosenthal has stepped into the breach and will discuss a Resolution in the City Council to oppose a Fast Track bill. The special concern for local government is that the TPP allows multi-national corporations to challenge our local ordinances (as well as federal and state laws) before a foreign tribunal. Any NYC “Buy Local” or living wage ordinances might be viewed as barriers to corporate profits and successfully challenged in a foreign tribunal, incurring multimillion dollar fines that would have to be paid by NYC taxpayers.