From CNY Solidarity Coalition:
Next Meeting: Sunday, Jan. 24,2021, 3-4 PM. Zoom Link to come.
Agenda: Brief general session, followed by Committee Meetings. If you have not affiliated with one of our committees, here is an opportunity.
· Indivisible NY24
· State/Local Action Team: Focus on the Invest in Our New York Campaign (see below). Joint meeting with DSA reps.
· Climate Justice
Upcoming Meetings: 2/7, 2/21, 3/7, 3/21, 4/11, 4/25, 5/9, 5/23
This could be our most consequential effort over the next two months:
Invest in Our New York is a campaign seeking to tax New York’s wealthiest residents. The six bills proposed by the state-wide coalition will raise between 50 and 75 billion dollars in annual revenue, and our goal is to include all six in the state budget as it is negotiated over the next few months.
More than 90% of New Yorkers – across political parties – agree: We should tax the rich before cutting services.
Our leaders must act this year to:
Stop giving the wealthiest tax breaks and start requiring their stronger participation in the common good through fairer assessments on their income and wealth (4 bills)
Make big business and Wall Street contribute a fraction of what they gain from operating here, through small fees on financial transactions and offsets to their windfall from Trump’s 2017 tax cuts (2 bills)
It is our job to reach out particularly to Senators May and Mannion, and Assemblypersons Hunter, Magnarelli, and Stirpe, as well as the Governor’s office.
Two upcoming opportunities to learn more and get involved:
State/Local Action Team Meeting on 1/24 (see above) will be focused on next steps to put this campaign into action locally. All are invited.
Invest in Our New York Campaign Launch, 1/26 (see below) CNY Solidarity Coalition and Democratic Socialists of America. Sen. Rachel May will speak.
Learn more: http://investinourny.org
Articles of the Week:
From Derecka Purnell on Facebook
“People will remind us that King practiced non-violence. That is a half truth. MLK practice non-violent DIRECT ACTION. He and others physically put their bodies on the line against the U.S. government, against state and local governments, against police. The “direct action” is often left out because the people we protest against wants you to think that non-violence means inaction and it does not. Non-violence also does not mean peaceful. They don’t want non-violent direct action. They don’t want any action at all.
…So yes, clean your neighborhoods, plant your flowers, donate or whatever other service you want to do, but if you want to be in King’s tradition of building a beloved community, join an organization, do political education, engage in nonviolent direct action, call out racism, capitalism, and militarism.”
Among the Insurrectionists Read it in The New Yorker
The Capitol was breached by Trump supporters who had been declaring, at rally after rally, that they would go to violent lengths to keep the President in power. A chronicle of an attack foretold.
Biden cannot govern from the center – ending Trumpism means radical action – Robert Reich
This Republican party traffics in conspiracy and thuggery – the new president must be bold on healthcare, equality and more
Read it on The Guardian
Time for some good news:
From Paul Ryan to Nikki Haley: GOP Nightmare of Senate Budget Chair Bernie Sanders About to Come True
“When Republicans controlled the Senate they used the reconciliation process to provide huge tax breaks for the rich and large corporations,” said Sanders on Saturday. “We’re going to use reconciliation to protect working families, the sick and the poor.”
Read it on CommonDreams
A thoughtful consideration of the third-party problem for progressives:
A Blueprint for a New Party in Jacobin
With the rise of Donald Trump, we need to think seriously about what it would take to form a democratic organization rooted in the working class.
Did you read this last month when we first cited it? Did you notice that it says HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS???
New Congressional Budget Office Study: Medicare for All Would Save Hundreds of Billions of Dollars Annually Read it on Jacobin
“The most exhaustive study on Medicare for All just came out. Its conclusion: a single-payer system would guarantee health insurance to all people while reducing overall health spending by hundreds of billions of dollars every year.”
We Underestimate the Far Right at Our Own Peril Read it in Jacobin
Yesterday’s riot of Trump supporters at the US Capitol will likely be a radicalizing event for the far right. We shouldn’t underestimate their ability to cause more death and destruction in the aftermath.
Remember to download and read Indivisible’s latest guide: “Indivisible: A Practical Guide to Fixing Our Democracy.”
EVENTS/ACTIONS CALENDAR
Onondaga County Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative:
Public Forums beginning: January 7 for Onondaga County Jan. 12 for Syracuse City
Go Here for schedule and Zoom links
Executive Order No. 203 titled New York State Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative established June 12, 2020 by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo was enacted and requires any agency in New York State seeking state funding to have a plan in place addressing police reform which is approved by its governing body. The plan must be submitted to the Governor by April of 2021.
City of Syracuse: Engagement Opportunities will be hosted by Reverend H. Bernard Alex of Victory Temple Fellowship Church on January 12, 13 and 19th. Please visit the Public Comment Link to submit any questions and to pre-register in order to make statements on the day of the Forum.
Onondaga County: Engagement Opportunities will be hosted by Nodesia Hernandez with New York State Senator Rachel May’s Office on January 7 and 14th. Reverend H. Bernard Alex will host the last session on Wednesday, January 20th. Please visit the Public Comment Link to submit any questions and to pre-register in order to make statements on the day of the Forum.
Please click this link for an updated survey regarding Police Reform. https://forms.gle/NsAoFozfExXMnysE6
NYCLU is continuing its series of Tuesday Talks on the Rt 81 project.
Read the NYCLU’s report, Building a Better Future: The Structural Racism Built into I-81,and How to Tear It Down, here.
For the links to the Tuesday Talks, email: Kevin Atwater, Central New York Chapter, NYCLU. katwater@nyclu.org
Syracuse Immigrant Refugee Defense Network (SIRDN)
January 19 – 5:30-7:30pm
Join us for our next bi-weekly general meeting! We will be providing updates on our campaigns and the activities of our working groups, including solidarity fundraising, ongoing legislative advocacy campaigns, and other efforts to support the work of the Workers Center of Central New York. New members are always welcome. Spanish translation is provided. For Zoom information, please send us a Facebook message or email us at sirdn315@gmail.com.
State of the District Address: Join Senator May and newly-elected Senator Mannion for a joint State of the District event.
Friday, January 22nd from 6-8PM
Online, Registration Required Register Here
The World Says No to War on Yemen Global Day of Action
Monday, January 25
SPC’s Beyond War and Militarism Committee is participating. Please join us! First, click here to participate in the 2-4 pm webinar organized by Yemeni Alliance Committee, CODEPINK, Stop the War Coalition and Action Corps. Then from 4:15-4:45pm stand with us at the intersection of E. Genesee St. and Erie Blvd. E. in Dewitt – you can bring your own sign or use one of ours. The war on Yemen is only possible because Western countries – the U.S. and Britain in particular – continue to arm Saudi Arabia and provide military, political and logistical support for the war. Join the list of over 200 organizations from around the world who are coming together to demand that right now our governments:
- Stop foreign aggression on Yemen
- Stop weapons and war support for Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates
- Lift the blockade on Yemen and open all land and seaports
- Restore and expand humanitarian aid for the people of Yemen.
Invest in Our New York Campaign Launch
Tuesday, Jan. 26
6 PM – 7 PM
CNY Solidarity Coalition and Syracuse Democratic Socialists of America (DSA)
Learn about the Invest In Our New York plan to fund our future: six bills to implement an equitable tax system in NYS; and the campaign to implement it during this budget season.
Campaign link: http://investinourny.org
Read this for some background: The Socialists vs. Andrew Cuomo Read it in The Nation Newly elected DSA members in the New York legislature will work with grassroots organizers to force the governor to tax the rich. Will their inside/outside strategy work?
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration
Jan. 31, 2021, at 7 p.m. ET
Join us to honor the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at Syracuse University’s 36th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration. The event, which is the largest of its kind on a college campus, will take place online.
Ruby Bridges, one of the first African American student to attend an all-white elementary school in the South, will serve as the keynote speaker. Bridges will reflect on Dr. King’s work, as well as the impact of education in sparking and sustaining social change. Learn more about Ruby Bridges’ life and work.
All are invited to join us for a special virtual event series leading up to the 2021 MLK Celebration! Pledge to serve your community, cook the traditional MLK Celebration dinner at home, get inspired by basketball legend Maya Moore, and celebrate women poets in commemoration of the cultural, social and artistic impact of the civil rights movement. Learn more about the 2021 MLK Virtual Event Series.
New York Immigration Coalition Member Congress
Feb. 4, 2021. 9AM-5 PM Online
The New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) Member Congress, Thursday, February 4th, 2020, will bring NYIC Member and partner organizations together from across New York State to build a statewide collaborative advocacy strategy, lobby representatives, and engage in professional development/networking in support of immigrant and refugee communities. Join us for a day of engaging opportunities.
Register Here. Or contact kkelechian@nyic.org for more information.
ArtRage Fair Trade Sale – Virtual Edition
November 1, 2020 to January 31, 2021
Your purchases support artisans around the world and small local businesses. This year it’s a virtual Fair Trade Sale. Details Here
Syracuse Peace Council Plowshares Craftsfair Online
Nov. 20 – Jan. 31
We are going virtual with Plowshares this year. November 20-January 31. Now “open” at www.plowsharescraftsfair.org.
ONGOING EVENTS:
Street Heat – Weekly Protests are back with Physical Distancing!
HANCOCK: our decade-long protests against Hancock’s piloting killer reaper drones over the Islamic oil lands continue. 6000 East Molloy Rd from 4:15 to 5 p.m. For the winter months, we will reduce our schedule: the first Tuesday of every month: same time 4:15 to 5 p.m. Dec 1; Jan 5; Feb 2; March 2; April 6.
DEWITT: Weekly protest against IDF terrorism, maiming and killing of Palestinians. Fridays NEW TIME: 4:00 to 4:45 p.m. at Erie Blvd E and E Genesee, Dewitt. Park in the nearby mini-mall parking lot.
REGIONAL FARMERS MARKET: Protests are off until April.
DONATIONS NEEDED:
The Westcott Community Center services over 600 poor, elderly clients regularly throughout the year with many, many services., including daily meals. It is crucial that WCC have a van to transport many of these folks and to deliver meals and obtain needed supplies. The current van has been used for 17 years and was funded by Nancy Larraine Hoffman three State Senators ago. It has a body so rusted that the running boards have fallen off and it is in the final state of disrepair. State Funds are not currently available, nor are most grants, for the purchase of a vehicle. Donate Here
COVID-19 INFORMATION:
Onondaga County Vaccine Information: https://covid19.ongov.net/vaccine/
SIRDN Covid19 Warm Line: (315) 552-1670
Syracuse Immigrant and Refugee Defense Network (SIRDN) Coronavirus-related information for farmworker, immigrant, undocumented, day laborer, and domestic worker communities. English and Spanish-speaking operators. Text and phone.
SIRDN has also created a resource document for COVID-19 information, for immigrants and undocumented folks. English and Spanish Or use these instructions to have Google translate .
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
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
–Peter McCarthy
pmccar1100@gmail.com