Action Alerts – Week of May 21st – CNY Solidarity Coalition

CNY Solidarity members and supporters:
Please find below the weekly ACTION ALERTS from Indivisible NY24 and our legislative action teams.

First some good news. After many phone calls and letters to the editor from us and others throughout the district, Rep. Katko voted against the Republican farm bill last week, which included egregious cuts to SNAP benefits (food stamps). He also agreed to sign the “discharge petition” by which some Republican members are attempting to force their party leaders to allow a vote on a legislative solution for DREAMers. The lesson? KEEP. UP. THE. PRESSURE. IT’S WORKING!

Second, a request from our state legislative action team (SLAT): SLAT and the Workers Center of Central New York will schedule a meeting very soon with Assembly Member Al Stirpe to ask his support for the Green Light bill. Please contact Paul at canela8800@gmail.com if you are in his district.

And now, on to the action alerts:

Today (May 21)

Support the national Poor Peoples Campaign

Last Monday, a number of our members participated in a powerful action in Albany as part of the kickoff of the national Poor Peoples Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival. They report that it was an inspiring day, giving many participants renewed hope that we can indeed transform our community, nation and world. Nationally, there were actions in nearly 40 state capitols, marking the beginning of 40 days of action which are jumpstarting a multi-year, intersectional effort to address four major issues: systemic racism, poverty, the war economy, and ecological devastation. The campaign is reviving the effort that Dr. Martin Luther King was working on when he was murdered.

The focus at this point is on state capitols and there will be major actions in Albany each of the next 5 Mondays (except Memorial Day, when it will be on Tuesday). Each week there will be a march, rally or other permitted action, followed by nonviolent direct action for those who are ready to engage in it. Carpooling from Syracuse will leave each week (about 7:30 am) from University United Methodist Church Parking lot (University Ave. and E. Genesee St. This week, the theme is Linking Systemic Racism and Poverty: Voting Rights, Immigration and the Mistreatment of Indigenous Communities. By the time you’re reading this, it’s probably too late to carpool for today’s events, but the organizing contact is Bonnie Shoultz <bshoultz@syr.edu>. The themes and contacts for upcoming weeks are in the save-the-date section below. If you’re interested in participating, please contact the appropriate person for that week.

Tuesday (May 22)

Two important organizing opportunities tonight

Organizing for education justice

Along with other urban school districts, state government severely underfunds Syracuse City School District, despite decades of court orders requiring the state to use an equitable funding formula. On Tues. 5/22 Uplift Syracuse will sponsor a meeting of a broad-based coalition to plan actions during “Governors Day” (first day of the New York State Fair) to bring attention to this fact & pressure the governor and state legislature to right this wrong. The meeting will be at 500 W. Genesee St. from 5:30 to 7:30 PM. Your participation will be welcome. More details here. Please RSVP to Misse at <8764598@gmail.com>.

Organizing for NY Health

Did you know that New York is close to passing legislation to guarantee healthcare as a human right? Join the Syracuse Campaign for NY Health organizing committee to discuss the New York Health Act and how to build more support among individuals and business owners here in the Syracuse area. We will provide an overview of the NY Health Act for newcomers at the beginning of each meeting so new volunteers are always welcome. We will then work on detailed steps we can each take to let more people know about this important legislation and to invite them into our movement. 5:30-7pm at Soule Branch Library, 101 Springfield Rd in Syracuse. More details here. Also, check out the save-the-date section below for details on two New York Health actions scheduled for next Tuesday, June 5.

Wednesday (May 23)

Republicans are unraveling Wall Street reform

Today, please call Rep. Katko and urge him to vote NO on S. 2155, the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (better known as the Bank Lobbyist Act). It’s already passed the Senate, and the House is voting on it this week. It would deregulate some of the country’s largest banks, putting us at risk of another financial crisis. It would also allow racial discrimination in mortgage lending to go unchecked. More details here. Katko’s numbers are 315-423-5657 (Syracuse), 315-253-4068 (Auburn), or 202-225-3701 (DC).

Congressional Town Hall

Since December 2016, we’ve been urging Rep. Katko to hold public town hall meetings with constituents. Still not much success on that front, but one of his opponents, congressional candidate Dana Balter, is holding a public town hall tonight at 6pm at the Southwest Community Center, 401 South Ave in Syracuse. (Note: If/when Juanita Perez Williams schedules town halls, we’ll post those here as well.) More details on tonight’s event here.

Thursday (May 24)

More counselors, not cops

Following up on an item shared by Yusuf Abdul-Qadir at Sunday’s CNY Solidarity meeting, we urge Syracuse residents to attend the SCSD Board of Education’s Community Engagement Forum to join the Syracuse Police Accountability and Reform Coalition (SPAARC) in advocating more money for counselors rather than police officers in schools. 5:30-7:30pm, HW Smith K-8, 1130 Salt Springs Rd.

Friday (May 25)

No actions today. (Until further notice!).

Saturday (May 26)

Weekly “Say No to Katko” protest

11:00-12:00, on the sidewalk outside Wegmans Dewitt, near the traffic light, across from Talbots. We’ve had 10-30 people out every week for the past several months. As the weather improves, we’d like to make these even bigger, so please join us. More details here.

Sunday (May 27)

No actions today. (Until further notice!) Enjoy the day with friends and family.

Save the date for these upcoming events:

Tue., May 29: Join the Poor People’s Campaign in Albany. Theme this week is The War Economy: Militarism and the Proliferation of Gun Violence. Carpooling from Syracuse will leave about 7:30 am from University United Methodist Church Parking lot (University Ave. and E. Genesee St.). There’s also a bus from Buffalo which will stop in Syracuse for that day. For more info: Bonnie Shoultz <bshoultz@syr.edu>

Jun. 1: NYS voter registration deadline for congressional primary.

Sat., Jun. 2, 11:00-12:00: Weekly “Say No to Katko” protest, on the sidewalk outside Wegmans Dewitt, near the traffic light, across from Talbots. More details here.

Jun. 3, 3-5pm: CNY Solidarity meeting, Bishop Harrison Center.

Jun. 3, 6pm: Marthe Reed Memorial Vigil for Democracy, Jerry Rescue monument, Clinton Square. More details here.

Jun. 3, 6-8pm: Poor People’s Campaign “Watch Party” at University United Methodist Church (1085 E. Genesee St., Syracuse) – refreshments, a live stream of a Poor People’s Campaign Rally in Washington DC, and local speakers.

Mon., Jun. 4: Join the Poor People’s Campaign in Albany. Theme this week is Ecological Devastation and the Right to Health. Carpooling from Syracuse will leave about 7:30 am from University United Methodist Church Parking lot (University Ave. and E. Genesee St. Register at bit.ly/nyppcweek4

Mon., Jun. 4: Local candidate forum, featuring Syracuse-area candidates for state Senate, county sheriff, and city court judge. Sponsored by Uplift Syracuse and CNY Solidarity. 6-7:30pm at Bishop Harrison Center.

Jun. 5: Today is a statewide day of action for the New York Health Act. Two great opportunities to participate: 1) If you can make it to Albany to help rally and lobby, click on this link to RSVP: New York Health lobby day and rally in Albany. 2) If you can’t make it to Albany, the Onondaga County Legislature is meeting today, and it will again consider a resolution in support of the New York Health Act. A successful vote in Onondaga County endorsing truly universal health care in New York State will inspire more actions across the state. This is your opportunity to speak about why universal health care is so important to YOU. Testimony will be limited to two minutes per speaker. We expect that the legislators are going to line up their anti-healthcare contacts so please invite your networks to attend by circulating this RSVP. All are welcome to attend and show support, even if you don’t testify. Please arrive at 401 Montgomery St. by 12:45. Meeting should finish around 2pm. Please give yourself ample time to find parking downtown and pass through building security.

Jun. 6: Mark your calendars for an important training on how to “birddog” your elected representatives. Time and location TBD.

Sat., Jun. 9, 11:00-12:00: Weekly “Say No to Katko” protest, on the sidewalk outside Wegmans Dewitt, near the traffic light, across from Talbots. More details here.

Jun. 10, 6-8pm: Poor People’s Campaign “Watch Party” at University United Methodist Church (1085 E. Genesee St., Syracuse) – refreshments, a live stream of a Poor People’s Campaign Rally in Washington DC, and local speakers.

Mon., Jun. 11: Join the Poor People’s Campaign in Albany. Theme this week is Systemic Poverty, Jobs, Income & Housing—Everybody’s Got the Right to Live. Carpooling from Syracuse will leave about 7:30 am from University United Methodist Church Parking lot (University Ave. and E. Genesee St. For more info: <pastoraliciawood@gmail.com>. Register at bit.ly/nyppcweek5
Sat., Jun. 16, 11:00-12:00: Weekly “Say No to Katko” protest, on the sidewalk outside Wegmans Dewitt, near the traffic light, across from Talbots. More details here.

Jun. 17, 6-8pm: Poor People’s Campaign “Watch Party” at University United Methodist Church (1085 E. Genesee St., Syracuse) – refreshments, a live stream of a Poor People’s Campaign Rally in Washington DC, and local speakers.

Mon., Jun. 18: Join the Poor People’s Campaign in Albany. Theme this week is Challenging the Nation’s Distorted Moral Narrative—A New and Unsettling Force. Carpooling from Syracuse will leave about 7:30 am from University United Methodist Church Parking lot (University Ave. and E. Genesee St. For more info: <craigfrench@twcny.rr.com>. Register at bit.ly/nyppcweek6

Jun. 19: Deadline to request absentee ballot by mail for NY24 congressional primary. Application form available here.

Jun. 20, 7-8:30pm: CNY Solidarity meeting, Park Central Presbyterian Church, 504 East Fayette St. in Syracuse (corner of E. Fayette and Townsend). Enter on the E. Fayette St. side. Note that for June, July, and August, we will meet on one Sunday afternoon and one weeknight per month.

Sat., Jun. 23, 11:00-12:00: Weekly “Say No to Katko” protest, on the sidewalk outside Wegmans Dewitt, near the traffic light, across from Talbots. Last one before primary day! More details here.

Tue., Jun. 26: Election day (NY24 congressional primary).

July 11, 7-8:30pm: CNY Solidarity meeting, location TBD.

July 29, 3-5pm: CNY Solidarity meeting, Northside Learning Center.

Aug. 19: NYS voter registration deadline for state primary.

Sept. 6: Deadline to request absentee ballot by mail for state primary.

Thur., Sept. 13: Election day (primaries for state offices). Note the date change; and yes, it’s a Thursday.

Oct. 12: NYS voter registration deadline for general election.

Oct. 30: Deadline to request absentee ballot by mail for general election.

Tue., Nov. 6: Election day (general election for all offices). Click here to add it to your FB calendar.

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