Action Alerts – Week of October 2nd – CNY Solidarity Coalition

CNY Solidarity Coalition members and supporters:

Please find below the weekly action alerts from our legislative action team.

First, a big CONGRATULATIONS for a huge, historic win against TrumpCare!!! We made our voices heard and stood with the American people. This latest attempt by Republicans to repeal ACA was soundly defeated , and we should celebrate. We should be proud of the work weve done through direct action, rallying, etc. on this issue and many others. But we cannot become complacent. Vigilance is needed to stay watchful for future predatory actions by the GOP.

Next, a reminder of a few informational items from recent CNY Solidarity actions FYI:

CNY Solidarity voted overwhelmingly to oppose the Constitutional Convention on Sept. 19; in fact we reached consensus. To spread the word, we recommend getting a yard sign, available for $2 apiece here: https://mac.nysut.org/resources-and-links
CNY Solidarity voted overwhelmingly to support the community grid option for I-81 replacement on Sept. 10; in fact we reached consensus. To learn more about it you can go here: http://rethink81.org/. The coalition will be signing on to this website to show our support & you can, too. Please sign on to show your support for the community gridthe only option that addresses racial equity, economic equity & environmental equity.

Monday (Oct 2)

Two calls today

The Tax fight (Trump Tax Scam) begins! But first, the Budget!!

Last week, the White House unveiled a brief six-page draft of a framework for Tax Reform, which is more tax-cutting to the wealthy than actual tax reform. They claim that this reform is to benefit the middle class, but economic analysts state that the middle class will gain very little, if any, benefit, and may actually become losers on this reform. Read about the Trump Tax Scam here.

The FIRST, most important step to challenging Trumps Tax Scam is to challenge the budget resolutions which will be voted on this week (House on Wednesday, Senate on Thursday). Budget resolutions set appropriation/funding levels for 2018 federal fiscal year (started 10/1/17) and were developed based on the tax plan.

Oppose budget cuts to important social service programs in favor of tax cuts to the wealthiest!

Please call Rep. Katko to ask him to oppose FY 18 budget resolution:

You can reach Katko’s office at 202-225-3701 (DC) or 315-423-5657 (Syracuse)

Find a script for your phone call here

Oppose further erosion of Womens Health

The House of Representatives is scheduled to vote tomorrow (10/3) on HR 36, which will reduce window for abortions to 20 weeks. Read article about this action here at The Hill. Learn why Planned Parenthood says this is wrong .

Please call Rep. Katko to ask him to oppose HR 36. You can reach Katkos office at 202-225-3701 (DC) or 315-423-5657 (Syracuse)

Tuesday (Oct 3)

One phone call today

Demand immediate action on emergency relief package for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Call Katkos office at 315-423-5657 (Syracuse) or 202-225-3701 (DC) to demand immediate action. It is unconscionable that our government has failed to give the people of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands (U.S. Citizens!) the same attention as it did the victims of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. See Indivisible explainer and ask your Member of Congress to provide an emergency relief package for the victims of Hurricane Maria and to permanently rescind the Jones Act, an antiquated law that has made it difficult for supplies to reach the Island of Puerto Rico.

Wednesday (Oct 4)

One phone call and one action today

Rally Against the GOP Budget Proposal

Meet outside Congressman Katkos office at 440 Warren St., Syracuse, noon-1:00 pm, to rally against the GOP Budget proposal to slash funding to Medicare in order to fund tax breaks for the wealthy and corporations.

Advocate for Refugee Resettlement

Right now, the administration is considering how many refugees we welcome to the United States in the next fiscal year. As we face the worst refugee crisis in global history with more than 22 million refugees worldwide, we cannot and should not shirk our responsibility to protect the most vulnerable mothers, fathers, and children. President Trump will announce the number of refugees to be accepted into the United States by the end of this month, so it is a critical time to lift up our collective voice and stand with refugees in the United States and abroad. Congress needs to hear that their constituents welcome refugees and that we should resettle at least 75,000 (the target for 2016) refugees next year (FY 2018 starts October 1, 2017). According to reports, the administration is considering less than 50,000 for this year.

Make one or more of these calls (just 4 calls in total) to:

John Katko, Representative (R- NY) (202) 225-3701 (315) 423-5657
Charles Schumer Senator (D – NY) (202) 224-6542 (315) 423-5471
Kirsten Gillibrand Senator (D – NY) (202) 224-4451 (315) 448-0470
President Trump/White House (866) 961-4293

Sample Script:

“Hello, my name is [NAME] and I’m your constituent from [CITY/TOWN], and I strongly support refugee resettlement. I urge you to do everything in your power to see that the administration resettle at least 75,000 refugees in 2018. As we face a global refugee crisis with more than 22 million refugees, U.S. resettlement strengthens our national security, encourages other countries to keep their doors open to refugees, and advances our foreign policy interests. I call on you to protect the U.S. refugee resettlement program. My community welcomes refugees, and I urge you to reflect the best of our American values of compassion and hospitality.”

And feel free to share a personal story about standing in solidarity with refugees. Let them know the specific ways that refugees contribute and are welcomed into your community. Refugees are helping to grow economies and communities in Upstate New York, including Syracuse, where they have helped offset a declining population, opened businesses, purchased homes, bought goods and services, and added diversity to our community.

Thursday (Oct 5)

One phone call today

Say no to rolling back gun regulations

An obscure provision in the SHARE Act (HR 3668), which recently passed the House Committee on Natural Resources, would roll back federal regulations on the sale of firearm silencers. Click here for more information. Today, please call Rep. Katko and urge him to oppose this bill. Courtesy of Moms Demand Action, you can text SILENCERS to 64433 and youll be connected to your representative. Or you can just call Rep. Katko directly. As always, his numbers are 315-423-5657 (Syracuse), 315-253-4068 (Auburn), or 202-225-3701 (DC). If you want to weigh in one more time, Everytown for Gun Safety has a form you can fill out to send a letter to Congress.

Friday (Oct 6)

One phone call today

Support the New York Data Security Act

One of New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s most recent legal steps concerned the Equifax data breach, an extreme example of corporate malfeasance (which is consistent with Trump’s efforts to decrease oversight of unaccountable corporations like the credit reporting agencies). A.G. Schneiderman has proposed the New York Data Security Act; the press release link is below. Please call your State Senator and Assembly Member to advocate for this legislation and to ask their position on the issue. Click here to find your state legislators.

Check here to read the Attorney Generals statement

Saturday – Sunday (Oct 7-8)

No actions these days (until further notice!). Enjoy the weekend with friends and family.

Save the date for these upcoming events:

Mon., Oct 9, 4:30 pm: Celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day, Columbus Circle, downtown Syracuse.

Tues., Oct 10, 12-130pm: Rally for the Community Grid, Hanover Square in Syracuse.

Wed., Oct 11, 7-9pm: Rev. Liz Theoharis Speaks on Ending Poverty, Hendricks Chapel at SU. If anyone would be willing to distribute some CNY Solidarity flyers at this event, please let us know.

Thurs., Oct 12, 4-5 pm: Columbus Circle, downtown Syracuse (E. Onondaga at E. Jefferson St.) Rally the Vote to educate commmunity about rules on CHANGING PARTY AFFILIATION. Archaic New York State law requires that changes in affiliation occur by October 13 of the full year prior to the election!! If you want to VOTE in the important primary elections of 2018, and you are not registered in a major party, then you must CHANGE YOUR REGISTRATION by Friday the 13th of October of 2017.

Mon., Oct 16, 6-8pm: Screening and discussion of From the Ground Up: Economic Growth Powered by Community Strengths, Southwest Community Center, 401 South Ave in Syracuse. If anyone would be willing to distribute some CNY Solidarity flyers at this event, please let us know.

Wed., Oct 18, 12-1pm: Rallies are planned at Katkos Syracuse , Oswego, and Auburn (and possibly Lyons) offices Against GOP Tax Giveaways.

Wed., Oct 18, 7-8:30 CNY Solidarity Coalition, location TBD

Sun., Oct. 22, 2-3:30pm: The Strathmore Speaker Series hosts the League of Women Voters and Professor Thomas Keck for a discussion of the ballot measure that could mandate a state constitutional convention next year and current threats to the US Constitution. Onondaga Park Firebarn, 500 Summit Ave, Syracuse 13207. More details here.

Tue, Oct 24, 6pm: Syracuse Mayoral Candidate Debate

Upcoming CNY Solidarity Coalition meeting dates:

Sun, Nov 5, 3-5 pm. Location TBD

Wed, Nov 15, 7-8:30

Wed, Dec 6, 7-8:30

Sun, Dec 17, 3-5 pm

Today and every day, be sure to follow us online and on social media!

Check us out on Flickr and Instagram, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Youre receiving this email because youre subscribed to the CNY Solidarity Coalition announcements list. This is a low-volume list (typically no more than 4-6 messages per week), which now has almost 2,000 subscribers. We also maintain higher-volume listservs (cnysolidarity-discussion@lists.riseup.net and cnysolidarity-legislativeaction@lists.riseup.net) as venues for discussion of key Coalition-wide organizing priorities and key legislative-action team organizing priorities, respectively. If youd like to be added to either or both of these, please reply to me and let me know which ones.

In solidarity,

Chris