From CNY Solidarity Coalition:
Upcoming Meetings on Zoom: 2/20, 3/6/22, 3/20/22, 4/10/22, 4/24/22. Committees meet on their own. See last page to sign up for committee lists.
CNY Solidarity Coalition Meeting Feb.20, 3 PM on Zoom:
Housing and Tenants’ Rights in Syracuse; presentation and discussion with our DSA allies
To include: Good Cause Legislation; Tenant Organizing at McCarthy Manor; Lead in Housing
How can the CNY Solidarity Coalition support this work? This is a real opportunity to make a difference in our community. DSA is doing some great work and they could use our support!
Also, see the DSA General Meeting on Tenants’ Rights, Feb.17, below
NEWS FROM OUR COMMITTEES:
State/Local Action Team News: IONY
Last year we collaborated with the statewide Invest in Our NY campaign, and we were successful in raising taxes on the wealthiest New Yorkers, resulting in increased funding for schools, excluded workers, rental assistance, and others. This was great news, reversing a years-long trend of shifting the tax burden to the middle class.
On Feb. 6, we had an exciting and timely presentation from two of the statewide organizers about this year’s campaign. The focus this year is on prioritizing the budget allocations to our real needs: Climate, healthcare, childcare, and housing are at the top of the list. We will need people to send emails, make calls, write letters, and show up for legislator visits. Watch here for more!
ARTICLES OF THE WEEK:
What If The U.S. Hadn’t Gone To War After 9/11?
New research offers an alternative to the war on terror as the Biden administration rethinks its counterterrorism playbook. “Counterterrorism strategies which address the root causes of terrorism, rather than the organizations and people that commit it, might end the waves of terrorist violence.”
Read it in the Intercept
The Offensive, Bizarre, and Offensively Bizarre Questions Republicans Have Asked Ketanji Brown Jackson
Here’s what to expect from a confirmation hearing for the Supreme Court’s first Black woman.
There’s Finally Momentum To Stop Stock Trading In Congress
Details vary, but Democrats and Republicans are both ready to ban stock trading by lawmakers.
A top researcher says it’s time to rethink our entire approach to preschool
…the biggest lesson Farran has drawn from her research is that we’ve simply asked too much of pre-K, based on early results from what were essentially showcase pilot programs. “We tend to want a magic bullet,” she says.
ACTION ALERTS:
From AGREE: Renewable Heat Now – push NYS for a transition away from fossil fuels
Send an email to help the Renewable Heat Now campaign* push NYS for a transition away from fossil fuels in buildings. This session the RHN campaign has a package of legislation to do just that.
Help pressure Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie to include the entire Renewable Heat Now package in their One House Budgets. Please use this quick and easy email tool to send them an email today.
From Syracuse Peace Council: After the Taliban takeover of Kabul, some young people were able to leave Afghanistan, while others stayed, several of whom are in hiding. An opportunity has arisen for eight of them to come to Portugal. Funds are needed for flights, visas, etc. – the estimate is $10,000 US dollars for each person.
- To send a check: Make it out to Fellowship of Reconciliation, with “Afghan Generations” in the memo line and mail to: The Fellowship of Reconciliation, Chicago chapter, 705 11th St., #205, Wilmette, IL 60091
- To donate online, please click here.
Also, Call on the Biden administration to unfreeze the frozen funds, relax sanctions, and increase humanitarian aid to the needed level.
- Call your Senators and House Member through the Senate Switchboard: 202-224-3121
- Call the White House Comment Line: Open Tuesday-Thursday from 11am – 2 pm. 202-456-1111.
Insist that the Biden Administration:
- Unfreeze Afghanistan Central Bank assets to inject liquidity into the collapsing Afghan economy.
- Loosen US sanctions to mitigate the chilling effect of restrictions on foreign banks and businesses, while offering Afghan banks access to their overseas holdings and to the global financial system.
- Increase humanitarian aid and encourage Western partners to also contribute their fair share.
- Increase refugee assistance to Afghan refugees including increased resettlement here in the US.
Read the December 2021 Letter from 48 Congressmembers to President Bidenasking him to “avoid harsh economic measures that will directly harm Afghan families and children [by] … modifying current US policy regarding the freeze of Afghanistans’ foreign reserves and ongoing sanctions.”
From the Onondaga County Democratic Committee:
On December 31, 2021, Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon signed into law new County Legislature maps that are inconsistent with both federal and state laws specifically enacted to prevent gerrymandering and create non-partisan maps for legislative districts. More info Here.
OCDC has an established Democracy Defense Fund that is utilized when we need legal assistance in protecting our democracy. The fight for fair maps is crucial, and OCDC is here to lend our hands to the Democratic caucus of the Onondaga County Legislature.
Donations can be made through secure.actblue.com/donate/ocdcddf
Community Foundation’s Life Needs Assessment Survey
FOCUS Greater Syracuse has partnered with the CNY Community Foundation to conduct an enhanced version of the Community Foundation’s Life Needs Assessment survey among our network of individuals.
The Life Needs Assessment survey has questions directed towards people’s personal needs. The survey will take about 5 minutes of your time. Your information will remain anonymous and completely secure thanks to the CNY Community Foundation. We ask that you take the survey and share it with your network so we can achieve a broad response. Questions? Contact Jessica Lisi at jessicalisi@syrgov.net and at (315) 448-8732. Thank you!
Please complete the following surveys if you are a constituent:
Al Stirpe: Survey Link Here
Rep. John Katko: Link to Survey Feel free to use the “Other” and give your comments.
William Magnarelli: Link to Magnarelli Survey
EVENTS/ACTIONS CALENDAR:
Community Conversation: Leaning into Hope
WEDNESDAY AT 4 PM – 5 PM
Event by InterFaith Works
Join the conversation: Each month the El-Hindi Center for Dialogue and Action with host a community conversation about important topics of issues.
This month’s conversation will be facilitated by Bishop Colette Matthews-Carter and will pick up on themes revealed in our January conversation. The theme for our conversation is “Leaning into Hope: What does the Beloved Community Look like in the Era of COVID-19?”
Please join us for intentional dialogue to build understanding and connection.
Pre-Registration required at: https://tinyurl.com/FebCommConReg
Virtual State Lege Conference
Indivisibles across New York
Thursday, February 17th at 7-8:30pm! Register here.
In March, Governor Kathy Hochul, Speaker Carl Heastie, and Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins will bring their respective budgets–moral documents that reflect values and priority investments–together and create the final budget for the upcoming year. March is a strategic month for advocating hard for funding that helps every day New Yorkers. How will they know what we want to be included if we don’t tell them?
Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of a statewide conversation with Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins at this event. We will also hear from Nina Luo from the Working Families Party, who will focus on the medium-term vision for winning legislative priorities like healthcare for all and more now through 2025. Invest in Our New York has a presentation to show us about how now, with the financial surplus thanks to last year’s progressive tax wins, is the right time to invest in our communities. Then we will talk next steps in our plan to get priorities included in the budget.
Syracuse DSA General Meeting on Tenants Rights and More; Open to All
February 17, 2022 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
RSVP: https://actionnetwork.org/events/syrdsa-0217-gm-tenants-rights?clear_id=true
Syracuse chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America will meet about the fight to pass the Good Cause Eviction bill in the city of Syracuse and to conduct other business at this meeting of the chapter.
The Good Cause Eviction bill protects tenants’ right to renew their lease and remain in their homes. It requires landlords to provide “good cause” in order to initiate eviction proceedings rather than being able to evict people for no reason at all.
The threat of willy-nilly eviction allows landlords to punish tenants for asserting their basic rights as tenants, such as their right to adequate heating, hot water, safety, and living free of lead, which we see Syracuse landlords failing to guarantee.
“No U.S. War with Russia over Ukraine” protest
Friday, Feb. 18 – corner of E. Genesee and Erie Blvd. East in DeWitt
Beyond War and Militarism (BWAM), a joint committee of CNY Solidarity Coalition and ]Syracuse Peace Council
Check out this article on Syracuse.com and photo of our anti-war demo last Friday and please join us this week.
Social distancing — please spread out along East Genesee St. It’ll probably still be chilly, so be sure to dress warmly!
Syracuse BLM Police & Prison Abolition Study Group (Meeting #3)
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2022 AT 12 PM – 1:30 PM
Syracuse BLM Police & Prison Abolition Study Group (Meeting #3)
Event by BLM Syracuse
BLM is hosting biweekly police & prison abolition study group sessions! If you want to learn more about prisons, police, police abolition, or how to fight police violence, come thru. It’s a good way to meet other activists in Central New York and talk about how we can make Syracuse a safe city for everyone. Our next study group meeting is Saturday, Feb 19th at noon.
See the Syracuse BLM Facebook page for posts on what articles & videos we’ll be talking about in each meeting.
If you want to join any of the study sessions and need accommodations (internet access, ASL services, etc.), please email Syracuse BLM at blacklivesmattersyracuse315@gmail.com AS SOON AS POSSIBLE so we can try to get your accommodations.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84920453656
Meeting ID: 849 2045 3656
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbgO2yzRN
**SAVE THE DATES**
Heat Pump Homeowner Happy Hour!
Feb 25, 2022 05:00 PM; Mar 25, 2022 05:00 PM; Apr 29, 2022 05:00 PM
By HeatSmart
Come brag about your system, ask questions about best operating practices, and generally enjoy the company of other heat pump homeowners. You are part of the climate solution! Homeowners considering heat pumps are also welcome to attend.
You can choose to attend one or more of the sessions.
VERY BUSY? BUT WANT TO DO YOUR PART? JOIN STREET HEAT!
BAN KILLER DRONES MONTHLY STREET HEAT
4 to 4:45 pm every first Tuesday of the month thru the winter – local upstate drone action coalition members protest the nys national guard’s 174th attack wing.
For over a decade we have been gathering right across from the main gate of the 174th’s host, Hancock Airbase, on East Molloy Road in the town of Dewitt.
Please join us. To learn more: 315 478 4571 and upstatedroneaction.org.
PALESTINE SOLIDARITY WEEKLY STREET HEAT. Gaza and Palestine Solidarity Street Heat to 4 -4:45 PM Every Friday. Join us at the intersection of East Genesee St & Erie Blvd east [across from the DeWitt fire station]
CNY Solidarity Coalition
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
Mailing Address:
CNY Solidarity Coalition
2013 E. Genesee St., Syracuse, NY 13210
To contribute: Donate Here through PayPal. Or send checks to mailing address above
From our Committees: To sign up for each of the committee mailing lists, contact the person listed.
Indivisible NY24: Contact: Deborah Rose: dcurryrose@gmail.com
Climate Justice: Contact: Dick Kornbluth dick@dickkornbluth.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
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Peter McCarthy
pmccar1100@gmail.com