Please find below the weekly ACTION ALERTS from Indivisible NY24 and our legislative action teams.
First, an opportunity to have a real impact on a critical local issue:
Join us to end childhood lead poisoning in Syracuse!
The Syracuse Common Council and the Mayor’s office have announced a public comment period for a proposed lead ordinance for the city of Syracuse. Send your public comments by March 5. Read the Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement (DGEIS) for the proposed lead ordinance, and find additional information for talking points and submitting comments here. The city of Rochester passed a similar ordinance in 2006 – the city saw an incredible 90% reduction in childhood lead poisoning following its passage over the next decade.
Now on to the weekly alerts.
Today (Feb 24)
No actions as of now.
Tuesday (Feb 25)
Multiple actions/events today.
Weekly Vigil to Close the Camps
12:00-12:15 in front of John Katko’s office at 440 S. Warren Street.
Katko Sold Us Out, Now It’s Time to Vote Him Out
Immediately following the weekly silent vigil, we’ll rally in opposition to Rep. Katko’s recent endorsement of Pres. Trump’s reelection. 12:15-1pm outside Katko’s office, 440 S. Warren St. in Syracuse. More details here.
Rise Up for Social Action – Activist skill building for Justice Series
7-8:30 pm at the Syracuse Center for Peace and Social Justice. Second Workshop in Understanding Privilege/ Confronting Oppression Workshop. Learn about privilege and oppression and how to use them to work more effectively. Register here.
Democratic Presidential Primary Debate watch party
7-10 pm: Democratic presidential primary debate will air on CBS and Twitter. Indivisible NY24 is hosting a watch party at the PressRoom Pub, 220 Herald Place, Syracuse 13202. More details here.
Wednesday (Feb 26)
Multiple actions today
Syracuse Barnstorm—Warren for President
6-8pm at Bishop Harrison Center. Part training, part rally, part organizing meeting—barnstorms are our way to welcome you to the campaign!. More details here.
Signmaking party in preparation for final public meeting for the Onondaga Lake Beach feasibility study (Sat. Feb 29), get active:
- 5-7 pm at Syracuse Center for Peace and Social Justice, 20134 E. Genesee St., Syracuse NY 13210.
- For other early activities such as posting flyers about the meeting, passing petitions: see Saturday public hearing notice for MORE ACTIONS.
Thursday (Feb 27)
Climate Change Advocacy Training
6:00-9:00 pm, Bishop Harrison Center, 1342 Lancaster Ave. 13210. Provided by our Climate Justice Committee and NYRenews. Free! Food will be provided.
Audience: those that are new to climate change advocacy AND those who have already started doing this work.
Purpose of training: to bring everyone up to speed on climate change, and to develop a regional grassroots team to advocate for ways to deal with energy and climate change issues locally.
You will learn about the CLCPA (Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act) that passed last year: the original version, what was taken out, and what was added in negotiations; and hear an overview of the CCIA (Climate and Community Investment Act), the sister bill to the CLCPA that would provide funding for the CLCPA.
Please invite friends! If you plan to attend, please RSVP to Climate Justice Committee chairperson Kitty Burns (otiscohills@yahoo.com). Let us know how many from your group will attend so that we can have enough food and chairs!
Friday (Feb 28)
Saturday (Feb 29)
Multiple events today
Weekly Vigil to End Family Separation
11:30-12:00 in front of the Farmers Market (on sidewalk adjacent to Regional Transportation Center).
Oppose the Possible Onondaga Lake Swimming Beach
11am-1pm:Town of Salina Office, 201 School Rd., Liverpool. Last of three public meetings.
10:30am: Press conference right before the meeting. Come early, hold signs! Every voice counts – we need you!
This is the third of three public meetings sharing information on the feasibility study on building a swimming beach on Onondaga Lake. The Office of the Environment received many comments from our network of concerned community members and allotted a whole month’s notice before this final meeting, as well as agreeing to hold it on Saturday to give full opportunity for people’s schedules. Come to the meeting to say No. More details here.
There are many resources listed below for you to learn why this project, designed to be built on a Superfund Site, containing 26 toxins in its sediment, is not a decision that should be taken up at this time. Read, watch, get active, get involved!
Learn more:
· Download the Onondaga Lake Fact Sheet.
· Read the Peace Newsletter article “Would You Swim in Onondaga Lake?” by Richelle Brown
· See the information below explaining why Onondaga Lake is not ready for a beach.
View videos from the A Better Future for Onondaga Lake’s Forum (held October 2, 2019) – 9 minute version, 28 minute version
· Come to our signmaking party Wednesday, Feb. 26 from 5-7pm at the Syracuse Center for Peace and Social Justice (20134 E. Genesee St., Syracuse NY 13210).
· Send a letter to Environmental Protection Committee, Onondaga County Legislature, 401 Montgomery St., Suite 407, Syracuse NY 13202
· Email your concerns to cejordan@cnymail.com, tassone@twcny.rr.com, julieabbottkenan@gmail.com, peggychase2013@twcny.rr.com, kevinholmquist@reagan.com
· Circulate the petition and return it to the Syracuse Peace Council (2013 E. Genesee St., Syracuse NY 13210)
· Post the flyer about the feasibility study meeting.
· Share the Facebook event
For more information or to get involved: Contact A Better Future for Onondaga Lake:
· 512 Jamesville Ave., Syracuse NY 13210
· Facebook: A Better Future for Onondaga Lake
Why is Onondaga Lake (OL) not ready for a beach?
Incomplete remediation:The remediation plan did not dredge 9-10 million cubic yards of sediment contaminated with dangerous, persistent chemicals from Honeywell’s (HW) industrial dumping at levels above, in violation of the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) own safety standards. The plan may not effectively contain toxic chemicals or heavy metals. The sediment cap failed three times from 2012 to 2014. The plan does NOT set goals for safe swimming, and fish consumption safety goals are not met. The goal is containment, and 80-90% of contaminated sediment remains.
Remaining toxic contaminants: 26 contaminants of concern are mercury, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, nickel, zinc, benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene, xylene, chlorinated benzenes, PCBs, dioxins/furans, and polyaromatic hydrocarbons. These include recognized/suspected carcinogens; developmental, reproductive, kidney, cardio-vascular/blood, endocrine, gastrointestinal/liver, respiratory, and skin/sense organ toxicants; immunotoxins; and neurotoxins. Methyl mercury (aquatic mercury) is in OL fish at levels that surpass federal/state standards.
Endangerment of human health: Building a beach which may expose people to toxins is a threat to public health. Two of four samples from the northern shore had levels of chromium, cadmium, and mercury that exceeded DEC criteria for lake/wetland contamination. Sampling in the northeastern part of OL has not adequately assessed contamination and, because the plan does not include more sediment sampling in that area (where a beach is proposed); it is unknown what chemicals in the sediment could affect people’s health.
Questionable County decisions: Officials want to suggest that remedial actions under the Superfund are enough and ignore a century of HW’s toxic dumping. They have built trails, fishing sites, and an amphitheater without fully informing the public about the increased risks of exposure. OC refuses to use fish consumption warning signs created for OL by a coalition of environmental organizations and approved by the NYS Department of Health (DoH). OC used an unscientific, leading survey to assess only public opinion of a beach; there is no proof that the lake is swim-safe.
Insufficient swimming standards: DEC does not differentiate between allowable toxin levels for fishing with some water-to-body contact and full-body swimming. DoH swimming standards rely only on bacteria/water clarity/potentially toxic algae and chemical exposure causing acute/immediate health issues. OL water improvement related to swimming standards is entirely from updates at the Metro sewage facility and related bacterial/phosphorous controls, NOT HW’s “remediation” plan. Contaminants dumped by HW may increase cancer risk or cause chronic toxicity with long-term exposure, but OC and state agencies don’t consider those health impacts
Sunday (March 1)
No actions as of now.
Save the date for these upcoming events
Sat., Mar 7: White Privilege workshop hosted by CNY Solidarity. 9:00-3:30 at Bishop Harrison.
Sun., Mar 8: CNY Solidarity will not meet today, but Indivisible NY24 will meet at 2pm at Park Central.
Sun., Mar 22: CNY Solidarity Coalition meeting. 3-5pm at Bishop Harrison. Note the return to our old 3pm start time.
Sun., Apr 5: CNY Solidarity Coalition meeting. 3-5pm at Bishop Harrison.
Sun., Apr 19: CNY Solidarity Coalition meeting. Special event with BWAM: Pat Hyne: Can We Save the Planet without Taking on the Pentagon? 2-4pm at All Saints (adjacent to Bishop Harrison). Committees meet 4-5pm.
Apr 18-26: Early voting period for presidential primary. Details TBA.
Apr 28: Presidential primary election in NYS.
Jun 13-21: Early voting period for congressional primary. Details TBA.
Tue, Jun 23: Congressional primary election in NY-24.
Oct 24-Nov 1: Early voting for general election. Details TBA.
Tue, Nov 3: Election day. Polls open 6:00am-9:00pm.
Today and every day, be sure to follow us online and on social media. Check out our Website and our Instagram. Follow us on Twitter: @CNYSolidarity and @IndivisibleNY24 and Facebook: www.facebook.com/cnysolidarity/ and www.facebook.com/groups/IndivisibleNY24
Volunteers needed:
Interested in helping with the website, data entry? Contact elaine@iammeinteractive.com
Interested in helping to distribute CNYSC brochures? Contact barry@barrygordon.com
Interested in helping to welcome new members? Contact Marianna.kaufman@gmail.com
Support the CNY Solidarity Coalition by making a donation online to help us cover technology, printing and other expenses. Thank you. *Donations are not tax deductible.
In Solidarity,
Chris