Everyone’s favorite Tractivist Joe Costa was quoted in Thursday’s News & Observer, in a story about resistance to raising North Carolina’s (ridiculously low) minimum wage.

“We definitely need the increase,” said Joseph Costa, a sheriff’s deputy assigned to Jordan High School in Durham and a member of Traction, a left-leaning social network of 20- and 30-somethings.

Nice work, officer! Click to read the whole article, including more quotes from Joe.

Joe met the reporter at our Strapped event on Tuesday night, which was pretty hot, if we say so ourselves. Super-sized thanks to the fabulous Tamara Draut of Demos, author of Strapped: Why America’s 20- and 30-Somethings Can’t Get Ahead — and to local cool cats Patrick Lyons of Lyons Den Capital, Roxana Hadden of CRA-NC Media and Jason Jenkins of North Carolinians for Fair Wages.
According to Jason, Traction was the very first organization to endorse NCFW’s campaign, back in April when they launched! And 23 Tractivists signed on individually on Tuesday. Have you endorsed yet? Click here to sign on, or here for a PDF on what else you can do to help, and get yourself a high-five from Joe.

I remember the day three years ago this past Monday, when George W. Bush landed on the aircraft carrier, USS Lincoln, and declared the end to major combat operations in Iraq. When I saw the president standing in front of a sign that declared “Mission Accomplished,” I feared the worst had yet to come and we were in for a multi-year struggle that would cost many, many lives. Now we must continue to listen to the voices of those that were there, understand our quagmire and think about what to do next.

On Thursday, May 11^th, Paul Rieckhoff, Executive Director and Founder of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America will be speaking at the Regulator Bookshop in Durham.
The Regulator’s website has the details:

Paul Rieckhoff, who fought in Iraq and founded Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, will discuss and sign copies of his new book, Chasing Ghosts: A Soldier’s Fight for America from Baghdad to Washington. Rieckhoff signed up to participate in Operation Iraqi Freedom, despite feeling that the invasion was a mistake. Patrolling the streets of Baghdad in the initial days of the occupation, he became convinced that the Operation represented one of America’s greatest foreign policy errors ever. Rieckhoff criticizes the Bush administration, but also the Kerry campaign, which disregarded his advice.

Join me in hearing this brave American as he discusses his new book. We’ll meet at the Regulator at 6:45 for the 7:00pm event. Afterwards, feel free to stay for coffee and gelato at Francesca’s.

– Dan Lieb