From CNY Solidarity Coalition:
Next Meeting: Sunday, July 18, 2021, 3-4 PM. Agenda/ Announcement to come
Upcoming Meetings: 7/18/21, 8/15/21, 9/12/21, 9/26/21. We are considering possibilities for in-person meetings. Committees will meet on their own for July and August.
Announcements from our Committees:
To sign up for the mailing lists of each of the committees, email your request to the contact person listed.
Indivisible NY24: Contact: Deborah Rose: dcurryrose@gmail.com
Climate Justice: Contact: Kitty Burns – otiscohills@yahoo.com
SLAT (State/Local Action Team) Contact: Peter McCarthy – pmccar1100@gmail.com
Beyond War and Militarism. A joint committee of CNY Solidarity Coalition and the Syracuse Peace Council.Contact: Ron Van Norstrand; ron@vannorstrandlaw.com
Articles of the Week:
The Specter of Dictatorship: Judicial Enabling of Presidential Power
By Dr. David Driesen. Stanford University Press (SUP) will release it on July 20 and it is available for preorder now at Amazon.com and at SUP. The book is focused on the “hybrid” model (described more often as Democratic erosion, as distinguished from a coup). It focuses on the role of executive power in democratic decline in Turkey, Hungary, and Poland and drawing lessons from that about America’s democratic decline.
In The Specter of Dictatorship, David Driesen analyzes the chief executive’s role in the democratic decline of Hungary, Poland, and Turkey and argues that an insufficiently constrained presidency is one of the most important systemic threats to democracy. Driesen urges the U.S. to learn from the mistakes of these failing democracies. Their experiences suggest, Driesen shows, that the Court must eschew its reliance on and expansion of the “unitary executive theory” recently endorsed by the Court and apply a less deferential approach to presidential authority, invoked to protect national security and combat emergencies, than it has in recent years. Ultimately, Driesen argues that concern about loss of democracy should play a major role in the Court’s jurisprudence, because loss of democracy can prove irreversible. As autocracy spreads throughout the world, maintaining our democracy has become an urgent matter.
Don’t despair over the Senate: a new voting rights law has never been closer
Read the Article in The Guardian
The For the People Act was never going to pass on the first try. Here’s why the vote marked a step forward
‘The important question has never been whether the For the People Act will win over 10 Republicans. The question is whether 50 Democrats can be convinced to end or alter the filibuster.’
What the hysteria over critical race theory is really all about
Read the Article on Vox
Conservatives have launched a growing disinformation campaign around the academic concept. It’s an attempt to push back against progress.
Gilded Rust: The Making of Buffalo’s Socialist Upset
Read the Article in Protean Mag
On Tuesday, June 22nd, India Walton pulled off a stunning victory in the Buffalo mayoral primary, becoming the presumptive first socialist mayor of a major American city in over fifty years.
Toyota stands out with contributions to anti-election Republicans
Read it on MSNBC
Dozens of corporate PACs have donated to anti-election Republicans, but “Toyota leads by a substantial margin.”
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
SPECIAL UPDATE from the CNY Solidarity Coalition State/Local Action Team (SLAT): Two critical local issues where we can make a difference.
Rt. 81/Community Grid: Final Draft Environmental Impact Study (DEIS) is coming soon. Hearings will be scheduled when DEIS comes out. Public input will be essential at that point. (Sign up for alerts here: DEIS action alert sign-up form)
NYCLU action group, led by David Rufus and Lanessa Chaplin meets every Tuesday. (email Kevin Atwater at NYCLU for an invitation. katwater@nyclu.org). Both NYCLU and the Urban Jobs Task Force are providing essential leadership in this effort.
AND; here is a new site from Newhouse at SU, with a lot of information: Visualizing 81 uses immersive media tools to connect viewers with the past, present, and future of Syracuse’s 15th Ward.
Lead Poisoning in Syr./ Onondaga County. We recently co-sponsored the very successful People’s Public Hearing on Lead Poisoning. (See demands below.) A petition is still circulating and seeking signatures (500+ names so far):https://www.change.org/p/mayor-ben-walsh-end-childhood-lead-poisoning-in-syracuse-ny
Also,The Stand published this about the Hearing:
Demands of the People’s Public Hearing on Lead Poisoning
Deadline for Action: October 1, 2021
1. TESTING CHILDREN NOW. A return to mass-based population testing of Syracuse residents under 6 years old for Elevated Blood Lead Levels (EBLL).
This testing used to happen alongside the WIC clinics. The Onondaga County Department of Health ceased this testing in 2019.
2. OPERATE THE ORDINANCE (STOP THE HARM). Begin full operation and implementation of the Syracuse Lead Ordinance, which was supposed to go into effect on October 1, 2020, but has yet to be effectively implemented or enforced.
3. RENTAL REGISTRY IN PLAIN VIEW. Anyone who wants to rent a house should be able to look up and see if the house has a current rental certificate.
4. SHARE THE DATA ON RACE AND PLACE. County Health Department should release de-identified (anonymous) data of race and ethnicity and place (census tract and/or zip code) of children suffering lead poisoning.
EVENTS/ACTIONS CALENDAR:
Syracuse City in-person government job fair
Tuesday, June 29 at Cecile Community Center from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
It’s part of continued efforts to support job seekers and prioritize the recovery of government operations in the wake of COVID-19. The job fair will feature representatives from several departments across City of Syracuse government meeting residents and individuals interested in careers with the City. Details on the City Job Fair here.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 2021 AT 7 PM EDT
Keep on Moving Forward” Virtual Summer Celebration Concert
“Keep on Moving Forward” Virtual Summer Celebration Concert
Event by Syracuse Community Choir
You are invited to Syracuse Community Choir’s Annual Summer Solstice Concert! This virtual event will be live-streamed on SCC’s Facebook & Youtube. Stay tuned for highlights about the concert.
Our theme this season is “Keep on Moving Forward,” named for the song by Emma’s Revolution we are singing. We will be showcasing the challenges and joys of keeping our community connected amidst isolation, and asking how we can keep on moving forward towards a new normal.
We will also conclude our all virtual auction after the concert. Thank you so much to our community members who have generously donated to the auction!
Everyone is welcome & you don’t need a ticket to watch.
We are asking for Sliding Scale Donations of $5- 25
Followed by a virtual reception on Zoom (link will be posted just after the concert). BYO cookies, punch, etc. and connect with others in the choir community.
Wednesday, June 30, 2021 at 12:05 pm
Priorities for Making Our Community A Better Place To Live For All
A Forum With
Mayor Ben Walsh and County Executive J. Ryan McMahon, II
Learn about their plans to make Syracuse and Onondaga County a better place to live for all.
REGISTER HERE
For more about the Forums and FOCUS go to www.focussyracuse.org/focus-forums
SAVE THE DATES:
Coming Soon: Dates TBD: I-81 DEIS Hearings
UJTF/NYCLU Press Conference July 17 at Noon; Location TBA
(Sign up for alerts here: DEIS action alert sign-up form)
The Urban Jobs Task Force (UJTF) began a campaign for Racial and Economic Justice through local jobs on I-81 in 2017. For years, UJTF and the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) have been getting prepared to turn out the community for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) public comment period. The time for announcement of this comment period is upon us and could happen any day now.
Democracy Deadline action on the public sidewalk in front of the Dewitt Wegman’s.
7/10, 11:00 am.
Indivisible NY24
Justice Works: A Conference for Progressive New York
July 17 and 18
Updated information and registration here.
Hundreds of organizers, activists, leaders. Fighting for Justice. Teaching & learning. Building a movement.
SKILLS TRAININGS: Learn about time-tested and cutting edge organizing tools and strategies to build a grassroots base of power for justice.
COMMUNITY OF SUPPORT: More than 500 activists, organizers and leaders from across New York State will be at Justice Works.
GET INSPIRED: World-renowned speakers will give you new perspective and ideas to take back to your community and change the world.
BUILDING OUR MOVEMENT: Over 100 organizations are represented, connecting to build common purpose and strategy.
SESSION 1: WINNING WITH THE BIGGER WE
Interactive workshops on topics like housing & climate justice, civil rights & democracy.
SESSION 2: BUILDING THE BIGGER WE
More interactive workshops on everything from basebuilding to leader development; voter registration to coalition work; & building grassroots power through local election.
SESSION 3: THE STORY OF THE BIGGER WE
How we come together, how we’re all connected, & how we all talk to each other.
JUSTICEWORKSNY.ORG | @JUSTICEWORKSNY
SUNDAY, JULY 18, 2021 AT 7 PM EDT
How can we make DSA Anti-racist and Multiracial?
How can we make DSA Anti-racist and Multiracial?
Event by Democratic Socialists of America
Online: act.dsausa.org
A conversation connecting issues faced by people of color during DSA’s origins and today, between the authors of “A people of color’s history of DSA” (2019), Alyssa de la Rosa and David Roddy of Sacramento DSA, and authors of two convention resolutions, #27 (Beyond 100K) and #31 (Making DSA a Multiracial and Anti-racist Organization). De La Rosa and Roddy conducted archival research and talked with founders of the people of color caucuses in the original DSA/NAM, including Manning Marable. They will present a short summary of their findings, followed by a moderated conversation with authors of resolutions #27 and #31. All DSA members welcome–for DSA to become a self-consciously multiracial and anti-racist organization, we need everyone’s efforts.
RSVP Here: https://act.dsausa.org/…/How_can_we_make_DSA_anti..
VERY BUSY? BUT WANT TO DO YOUR PART? JOIN STREET HEAT!
EXPOSE KILLER DRONE TERROR: join our decade-long protests against the piloting of reaper drones over the Islamic oil lands…across from the main gate of Hancock AFB, 6000 East Molloy Rd (east of Mattydale)…4:15 to 5 p.m. every Tuesdayfrom April 6 thru the end of October.
STAND WITH PALESTINE expose IDF terrorism, Occupation and apartheid in Gaza and West Bank…intersection of Erie Blvd E and E Genesee in De Witt…4:15 to 5 p.m every Friday
BRING YOUR OWN PEACE AND JUSTICE SIGN*…opposite the Regional Market main entrance On Park ST.. every Saturday 9 to 9:45 a.m. beginning April 3 *or use one of ours. (Ann or Ed 315 478-4571 home)
*Social distancing***Legal***No meetings, no obligation, no cost***Easy parking***Rain or shine*
CNY Solidarity Coalition: 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—
Peter McCarthy
pmccar1100@gmail.com