From Wikipedia:
May Day is a name for various holidays celebrated on May 1 (or in the beginning of May). The most famous of these is International Workers' Day, which is the commemoration of the Haymarket Riot of 1886 in Chicago, Illinois and a celebration of the social and economic achievements of the international labor movement.From Wikipedia:
The 1 May date is used because in 1884 the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions, inspired by labor's 1872 success in Canada, demanded an eight-hour workday in the United States to come in effect as of May 1, 1886. This resulted in a general strike and the riot in Chicago of 1886, but eventually also in the official sanction of the eight-hour workday.
May Day has long been a focal point for demonstrations by various socialist, communist, and anarchist groups. In some circles, bonfires are lit in commemoration of the Haymarket Riot usually right as the first day of May begins. In the 20th century, May Day received the official endorsement of the Soviet Union; celebrations in communist countries during the Cold War era often consisted of large military parades and shows of common people in support of the government (ed. particularly at Red Square in Moscow).
Mayday is an emergency code word used internationally as a distress signal in voice procedure communications, derived from the French m'aider. It is used to signal a life-threatening emergency by many groups, such as police forces, pilots, the fire brigade, and transportation organizations. The call given three times (mayday, mayday, mayday...) in a row indicates significant danger (for example, a threat to life).Monday night, May 1, the Moscow City Council will vote on the request by CLC Associates to rezone the 77 acre Thompson annexation from agricultural/forestry to motor business. This rezone, while theoretically having nothing to do with Wal-Mart, is a necessary step in CLC's plans to develop a Moscow Supercenter. The Moscow Planning & Zoning Commission has already voted against it. The rezone request is also being actively opposed by the No SuperWalMart group (and various Pullman sympathizers)
This vote being held in Moscow on May 1, given the ideological makeup of the current city council, seems too ironic to be true. The citizens of Moscow will have to judge whether May 1, 2006 was May Day or a Mayday.
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2 comments:
May 1, 2006 is a date that has been looming over the Palouse for awhile.
Moscow decides on their rezone, pending Whitman County's appeal. lol
The Whitman County commisioners are supposed to decide on the new ordinance about the SEPA process. This will help decide the Lowes development and our sovereignty in Washington State and Whitman County.
The Pullman Board of Adjustment is set to decide if our senior citizens deserve to live in a nice neighborhood. The people who want to keep them out are worried that a new assisted living center will bring in too much noise, light, traffic and the owners might make too much money. Their snobby, elitist attitude is disgusting.
May 2nd update:
The Pullman BOA is likely to approve the variance for the assisted living center. They delayed the vote until May 15th so that the developer and the city could update their plans. Phew! I am relieved that our valuable but vulnerable senior citizens can continue to live in Pullman.
The Whitman County commissioners have also extended their decision making to May 8th. Is this a symbolic date? You decide.
Moscow has also extended their decision to date to May 15th.
Does anyone else get the feeling that Pullman, Whitman County and Moscow are in a slow race?
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