Community Events/Announcements April 28 – May 4

Announcements from CNY Solidarity Coalition:

This newsletter:

· How to Help: Volunteer or Donate is expanded this week to share some thoughts on what to do if you can spare some of your stimulus check.

Stay Involved, stay active! Remember that many of the most effective actions we can take, like calls to officials, and letters to the editor, are still possible while we’re home!

Articles of the week:(the first two are from our own members!)

After coronavirus crisis subsides, we need a new normal: Andy Mager on Syracuse.com

The profit-driven, hyper-competitive, individualistic ethic which has come to dominate our culture has made us extremely vulnerable to COVID-19. The crisis, and the fast, major adjustments we have been forced to make, clarify the possibilities for a major transformation that we choose, in order to create a healthier, more resilient, more sustainable and more just future.

NY already has ‘vaccine’ for climate change: renewable energy:Peter Wirth on Syracuse.com: “We need to think about defeating climate change in the same manner that we must defeat the virus. The key is working together as a community to “flatten the curve” of greenhouse gases by transitioning off of fossil fuels.”

For our third article, a little introduction: A new film, Planet of the Humans, is available on YouTube, with Michael Moore as Executive Producer. This documentary on “green” energy sources presents us with some harsh truths, but is also full of distortions and misinformation. This is not what we have come to expect of Michael Moore. There are complex issues here. You can find the film, as well as reviews and commentary on its flaws at Film s for Action. And: check out their other films. And: send them money.

Thanks to Aly Wane for his research on this.

EVENTS

Tuesday, Apr. 28. 6PM

Virtual House Party for State Senate Candidate John Mannion.

Join Hosts Cheryl and Mark Matt for a virtual house party with John Mannion.

Tuesday, Apr. 28 7 PM

Webinar – ABCs of Home Performance . HeatSmart Tompkins and 3 others

Join the HeatSmart Team for this look at home performance with an in depth look at insulation and air sealing. Save money on your energy bills! Learn how to make your home warmer, drier and healthier! Find out about incentives and financing that make this work affordable to all.

Online Letter Writing Party to Prevent a Beach on Onondaga Lake
Tuesday, April 28 from 8:30-9:30pm

A Better Future for Onondaga Lake (BFOL) has been resisting the idea of building a beach on the shore of Onondaga Lake, a body of water that is both a sacred site to the Onondaga as well as a site of massive industrial pollution. This project is also not financially sound, considering the status of Onondaga County’s budget. The County’s Onondaga Lake Beach Feasibility Study is in its final phase, and the public comment period is open until May 15. This is our opportunity to speak out strongly against a beach on Onondaga Lake.

Want some support in writing a letter to Onondaga County legislators? Want to see the faces of friends and make new connections with other passionate people? BFOL is hosting two virtual letter writing parties this month! There will be people there to help if you have questions.

Register for the meeting here. You will receive an email about joining the meeting. Hilary-Anne Coppola from the Heath Law Office (general counsel of the Onondaga Nation) will be available to offer information on the issue.

Virtual concert with Team Dana, in support of Dana Balter for Congress

Wednesday, April 29th at 7:00pm ET

Practicing social distancing doesn’t mean we can’t have fun together as a community. We’re excited to say that all of the artists are local musicians from across central and western New York.

RSVP by purchasing a ticket and a member of Team Balter will email you the Zoom link. We look forward to seeing you “there.”

Artists to perform

Tom Rasely – Guitarist / instrumental; Lindsay Groves – Cellist; Max Schialdone – Musician/Band; Mark Nanni – Guitar/Piano; LIVENOAH – Guitarist/Musician

Presidential Virtual Candidates Forum! For GPNY Members

Thu., Apr. 29 8 PM

Green Party NY has invited the three presidential candidates who have attained official recognition from the Green Party of the United States: Howie Hawkins, Dario Hunter and David Rolde. Howie and Dario have confirmed.
These three candidates also appear on GPNY’s ballot for presidential preference as part of our virtual state nominating convention. We are conducting our convention virtually with a 100% mail-in presidential ballot due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Learn more about the virtual convention at: http://www.gpny.org/2020convention

Essential Workers to Essential Needs: Conversations from the Frontlines

Description

Apr 30, 2020 05:00 PM ET

Join our extraordinary partner organizations as they share their stories of fighting for lives, dignity, and rights.We will hear reports from farmworkers from the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, poultry workers from Venceremos, temp workers from the Chicago Workers’ Collaborative, and other partners at the frontlines of the crisis.
All of us are standing together six feet apart. Join the conversation to learn how to stand with our frontline partners and how their efforts are proving that social solidarity is what will protect us all.

Dana Balter Campaign Workshop Online Rescheduled — Training: Winning Votes for Dana During Quarantine

Thu, Apr. 30 AT 6 PM

Join Team Dana Organizing Director Josh Rosenbaum for a training session on how to win votes for Dana during quarantine. In this training session, we will be walking through the new vote by mail rules Gov. Cuomo just announced, our virtual volunteering technology, and how to best help Dana from home.

Virtual Meeting: Stimulus Legislation & the Green New Deal

Thursday, April 30, 6 PM.Food & Water Action

Join us online or over the phone for this virtual meeting.

Billions of dollars are at stake in federal stimulus legislation, including massive investments in infrastructure. We’ll be discussing plans to stop bailouts of the oil & gas industry and invest these funds in meeting human needs, moving off fossil fuels, and building a green economy.

Once you RSVP, you’ll receive instructions for joining:

For more information, contact Eric Weltman at Food & Water Action: eweltman@fwwatch.org

DSA Organizing School: Class 1

Thursday, April 30, 8 PM

Join us for a three-part training series (it’s okay to miss one if you need to!) starting Thursday April 30th and continuing every other Thursday through May. The training series will cover political analysis and organizing skills to build on the working-class movement that fueled Bernie Sanders historic run for the presidency and will be especially useful for Bernie supporters who want to get more integrated into DSA. Democratic Socialists of America

Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival

Thursday, April 30, at 8.30pm ET

Please join us for the Poverty Amidst Pandemic: Everybody’s Got A Right to Live Digital Mass Meeting, featuring testifiers from Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Wisconsin.

During the mass meeting, we ask all attendees wherever they are, to commit to shine a light on poverty by lighting a candle in remembrance of those who have died from COVID-19 and poverty

GreeningUSA’s 16^th Annual Meeting
Friday, May 1, 2020, 8:00-10:00 am

The Virtual Big Tent:“Advocacy in Challenging Times”through the “GoToMeeting” platform.

All are welcome!This event is FREE but you must register. https://tinyurl.com/t45amcc
Sponsorship Opportunities Available!
Contact: info@greeningusa.org
Central New York has so many motivated and passionate citizens who are working with scores of local like-minded organizations on a host of issues that will move us toward a more socially responsible, economically viable and environmentally sustainable future.
GreeningUSA has had the privilege of collaborating with many of those organizations and will continue to do so because we believe that we are STRONGER TOGETHER!

Saturday, May 2, 11:30 AM – 2 PM

Plant Sale & Swap (with Physical-Distancing)

by Alchemical Nursery and Bread and Roses Collective

Natives and edible perennials: berry bushes, shrubs, rain garden plants, ferns, herbs, and perennial vegetables! Some house plants and gardening supplies will also be available this year.

Proceeds benefit the urban planting work of The Alchemical Nursery Project and the Bread and Roses Collective. Please support local grass-root groups committed in promoting urban sustainability!

HOW TO HELP: Volunteer or Donate

Using your stimulus check for good: Some of us are in the privileged position of being able to put our stimulus checks to work in other ways. Here’s a website with many suggestions: #ShareMyCheck website: https://www.sharemycheck.org/

And here are our suggestions:

LOCAL:

These first three are critically important local organizations that need and deserve our strong support:

Syracuse Peace Council: A friendly reminder about our matching donation opportunity: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, SPC had to cancel our annual Birthday Dinner celebration & fundraiser. An anonymous donor has generously volunteered to MATCH Birthday Dinner-related donations dollar for dollar up to $2000 up through May 1. We have raised about $1200 so far to show the donor. To make sure your donation gets matched, please note it is for the Birthday Dinner. You may donate onlineor by check (2013 E. Genesee St, Syracuse NY 13210). Many thanks to all who have donated so far!

Syracuse Immigrant and Refugee Defense Network(SIRDN): fund to

support undocumented workers and familieswho can’t receive government aid (Food Stamps, Unemployment, Medicaid, pending cash payments, etc.) during the COVID-19 health crisis and lockdowns. On an ongoing basis, all funds will be distributed directly to community members in need. This money is a show of solidarity, not charity, with our neighbors. It will assist people paying rent, buying food, accessing transportation, and meet other basic needs. It is heartbreaking that our government leaves out these hard working people who put the food on our tables, clean our houses, care for our children and elders and many other low wage, labor intensive jobs. This is an unprecedented time for all of us, and we can only get through it together. Thank you for your support. DONATE HERE

Syracuse Immigrant and Refugee Defense Network https://www.facebook.com/SyracuseIRDN/

From Syracuse National Action Network: Many Syracuse City students are in need of computers to complete their work. NAN has at least 25 requests for assistance in obtaining devices for high school and middle school students. Some have immediate needs and some are students with disabilities.

If you have a laptop to donate, or if you would like to contribute towards one for a student, please respond to Twiggy Billue at twiggybillue@gmail.com

Please make all donations via Cashapp $syracusenan or via mail to: National Action Network, 159 South Ave. 13204

Other Local Needs:

· Help CNY Hospitals & Hospitality Hereis a way to donate to local restaurants to provide free meals for workers at hospitals, grocery stores and other essential businesses.Includes The Brine Well Eatery, Anything But Beer, Scratch Farmhouse Catering, Circa Ce Soir, Pure Catering and Events, Colonial Lodge, and Mello Velo.

· Westcott Mutual Aid network. article here.

· Syracuse WestSide Mutual Aid Network: Information here

· Democratic Socialists of America: Mutual Aid Fill out this form

· United Way Volunteer Signup: http://www.volunteercny.org/for dozens of agencies

· Food Bank of CNY Donateor Volunteer

· CNY Community Foundation Community Support Fundto support nonprofits working with communities impacted by economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic.

· The Red Crossis in urgent need of blood donors and people to help with emergencyresponse.

· Rise Above the Streets: support for people without housing. Monetary donations: Use PayPal weriseabovethestreets@gmail.com Cashapp: $Alamin44 #IfWeEatTheyEat See this article.

Here are some national efforts to support workers, from Indivisible:

· The Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation created a COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund to provide emergency assistance to restaurant industry workers who’re in dire need of support. They’ve also created an invaluable trove of resources for workers who’ve been directly impacted by the mass restaurant closings. Donate here.

· One Fair Wage emergency assistance fund for tipped and service workers – restaurant workers, car service drivers, delivery workers, personal service workers, etc. Donate here.

· The National Domestic Workers Alliance fund provides assistance to domestic workers so that they can stay home and healthy during the coronavirus outbreak. Donate

· If you’re looking for something local, The Town Hall Project developed a searchable map of dozens of mutual aid funds that support workers and communities in need during the outbreak. Click hereto find a local mutual aid fund to support. Or submit yours to the list!

· As Asian American communities are targeted by racism and xenophobia related to the coronavirus (due in large part to Trump’s racist rhetoric), we’re asking that Indivisibles donate to Asian Americans Advancing Justice. Click here to donate.

INTERNATIONAL DONATIONS

OxFam: https://www.oxfamamerica.org In this unprecedented time, communities around the world are struggling to cope. Now, more than ever, your monthly gift can help us respond to the needs of those who are most vulnerable during this global pandemic while keeping our ongoing lifesaving projects on track.

Medecins Sans Frontieres/Doctors without Borders: https://www.msf.orgDoctors Without Borders is expanding our global response to the coronavirus pandemic, providing on-the-ground medical care to the people who need it most— from Italy to Iraq, Spain to Syria. We provide medical assistance to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, or exclusion from healthcare. Our teams are made up of tens of thousands of health professionals, logistic and administrative staff – most of them hired locally. Our actions are guided by medical ethics and the principles of impartiality, independence and neutrality.

POLITICAL DONATIONS:

A couple of suggestions for maximum impact in this critical year:

Ready to Flip the Senate this Year? Indivisible’s Payback Projectisout to do just that! check out Indivisible’s coordinated nationwide effort focused on eleven of the worst, and most vulnerable, Trump enablers in the Senate. This would be a great place to put your stimulus check to work!

Dana Balter for Congress: We need a progressive voice representing us in Congress, instead of someone who endorses Donald Trump for President!

Home

I’m standing up to fight for the things our communities need so that everyone can share in prosperity and security. I will work to guarantee quality, affordable healthcare for every person; build a fair economy that works for everyone; and get big money out of politics so the power rests with average people not special interests. If you give me the honor of serving you in Congress, I will carry the voices of our community to Washington DC and ensure that no one is left behind.

FINDING HELP/RESOURCES Also see COVID19 InfoBelow

SIRDN Covid19 Warm Line: (315) 552-1670

Syracuse Immigrant and Refugee Defense Network(SIRDN) has set up a “warm line” to provide Coronavirus-related information and resources to farmworker, immigrant, undocumented, day laborer, and domestic worker communities. We can help you find medical and public health information, community resources (food banks, clinics, childcare, and more), and information on policy updates related to Coronavirus that impact New York State, such as Emergency Medicaid and unemployment insurance. We will respond to messages within 24-48 hours. We cannot provide emergency support, nor medical diagnoses or direct services. We will do our best to help you find the information you need. English and Spanish-speaking operators.

Text and phone call communication welcome.

The Syracuse Immigrant and Refugee Defense Networkhas also created a resource document for COVID-19 information, highlighting resources of use to immigrants and undocumented folks in NY and their allies. **Whenever possible, we included both English and Spanish versions of resources. When the resource is only available in one language, you can use these instructions to have Google translate the page to other languages.**

Future Events: Save the date

GreeningUSA’s 16^th Annual Meeting
Friday, May 1, 2020, 8:00-10:00 am

The Virtual Big Tent:“Advocacy in Challenging Times”
Brought to you in the comfort of your own space through the “GoToMeeting” platform.
Jammies Optional.Contact: info@greeningusa.org

All are welcome!This event is FREE but you must register. https://tinyurl.com/t45amcc
Sponsorship Opportunities Available!
Central New York has so many motivated and passionate citizens who are working with scores of local like-minded organizations on a host of issues that will move us toward a more socially responsible, economically viable and environmentally sustainable future.
GreeningUSA has had the privilege of collaborating with many of those organizations and will continue to do so because we believe that we are STRONGER TOGETHER!

50th Anniversary Earth Day Film Festival
Friday, April 24 – Friday, May 8

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, April 22 Climate Change Awareness & Action, CCAA is offering three documentary films on climate change for free streaming to the community while we are all “sheltering in place” to fight the coronavirus.
“Climate change is a slow moving crisis but still a crisis” said Yvonne Chu, director of media for CCAA. “Like the coronavirus it affects the whole world. However, unlike the coronavirus we have a vaccine for climate change – renewable energy.”
“We have the solution, it is a question of vision and political will,” said Peter Wirth, a CCAA volunteer.
Around the world there are many examples of how countries are moving forward. The films are educational and inspirational showing how other countries are transitioning away from fossil fuels and how cities like Miami and New York are adapting to sea level rise and powerful storms such as Hurricane Sandy.
The films are:
* A Sea Change: Using a delightful series of exchanges between a grandfather and his grandson interspersed with beautifully filmed sequences from around the globe, A Sea Change presents in an understandable way the process of ocean acidification, its implications for future generations, and examples of concrete steps to reduce problems associated with increasing carbon dioxide emissions.
* The Suzuki Diaries: Sustainability in Action: David Suzuki, host of CBC’s “The Nature of Things,” travels to Europe to explore what a sustainable future might look like. A heartwarming story of a father and daughter in search of a sustainable world.
* Weather Gone Wild: The documentary travels to New York, Miami, Toronto, Calgary and Rotterdam to detail the dangers of the destructive new weather patterns, and shows the innovative plans each city is trying to engineer their way to a safer future. Everything from farming to the insurance industry to building codes will have to change.
CCAA is a local organization concerned about climate change representing 2,000 people in CNY.
For more information on the films; trailers and details how to stream go to https://www.climatechange-action.com

Virtual Reception with Dana Balter

Thursday, May 7th at 6:00pm

Dana is fighting for healthcare for all, a fair economy, and getting big money out of politics. Her seat is a top Red-to-Blue flip opportunity in the House in 2020.

Why Nuclear Power Is Not the Answer to the Climate Crisis
May 13, 2020, 07:00 PM Eastern Time. Sierra Club New York City Group Zoom presentation
Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/756300935
Meeting ID: 756 300 935 One tap mobile +16468769923, 756300935# US (New York)

Onondaga Lake BeachPublic comment period on the proposed Onondaga Lake beach has been extended to May 15th. Spread the word and speak out against a beach on Onondaga Lake!

For more informationon why a beach on Onondaga Lake is a bad idea

Final Beach Feasibility Study Meeting Presentation

Share an e-mail commentwith Onondaga County Legislators:

Share an online commentwith the Onondaga County Office of the Environment:

World Beyond War. War Abolition 201: Building the Alternative Global Security System

April 13 to May 24, 2020 In response to the heightening economic impact of the pandemic, we are offering our upcoming War Abolition 201 online course on a sliding scale, starting at $25 USD. War Abolition 201 brings together activists, advocates, and changemakers to engage in learning specific to establishing a just and sustainable peace. The course is not live – so you can study at your own pace for maximum flexibility. War Abolition 201 explores questions such as: With what do we replace the war system? What truly makes us secure? What actions and strategies might we pursue in building a peace system? Register now. To register by check, 1. Contact World BEYOND War to let us know! and 2. Make the check out to World BEYOND War/AFGJ and send it to World BEYOND War 513 E Main St #1484 Charlottesville VA 22902 USA. To registerclick here.

Multiple Dates: Jacobin Magazine: New political education series, Stay at Home

https://www.youtube.com/c/JacobinMagazineYT

Our new political education series, Stay at Home, 6 PM EST on our YouTube channel.

Socialist politics is built on mass rallies, strikes, and door knocking. But since we’re all practicing physical distancing, we decided to launch a video-based political education series this month.

A few times a week Jacobin will host a left-wing thinker on our YouTube channel to explain an idea for around 20 minutes. Then we’ll take questions from our virtual audience for a brief Q&A.

COVID-19 INFORMATION:

If you do not have a doctor and have questions, symptoms, or may have been exposed to COVID-19, call Upstate University Hospital’s Triage Line at 315.464.397

Assistance connecting with health and human services: call 211 or visit211cny.com

Onondaga County Coronaviris Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Information Page

COVID-19 Testing Hotline:

Upstate University Hospital Regional Triage (COVID-19) Information Page

NYS Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information Page

Johns Hopkins – Coronavirus Disease 2019 vs. the Flu

Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) webpage.

New York Attorney General Coronavirus Resources and Warnings

FCC Consumer Warnings and Safety Tips

FTC Coronavirus Scam Information

NYS Free Mental Health Hotline: 1-844-863-9314

Onondaga County Meals Help Line for Onondaga County: 315-218-1987