From CNY Solidarity Coalition:
Upcoming Meetings: 4/10/22, 4/24/22.
We are planning for in-person meetings soon.
Committees meet on their own. See last page to sign up for committee lists.
News from our Committees
Climate Justice Committee: How to Build a Carbon-Neutral City
At the March 20 meeting of CNY Solidarity Coalition, the Climate Justice Committee arranged a presentation by Luis Aquirre-Torres, Ithaca’s Director of Sustainability
In November 2021, the city of Ithaca, NY voted to become America’s first carbon-neutral community. The plan projects full carbon neutrality by 2030. Implementing the plan will include:
· meeting the electricity needs of City government operations with 100% renewable electricity by 2025,
· reducing emissions from City vehicle fleet by 50% by 2025
· adopting a Green Building Code for new buildings in 2019, which will ban the use of fossil fuels
· adopting a Green Building Code for existing buildings by 2021, which will eliminate of fossil fuels for heating and other domestic uses when major renovations take place.
The presentation was astoundingly comprehensive, including planning, financing, building public support, codes changes, utility interfacing, transportation , etc. The meeting was well-attended, and also included discussion of how to extend and replicate this effort in other places. Watch for more news on this.
ARTICLES OF THE WEEK:
Syracuse Peace Council’s e-Newsletter: Extensive Ukraine News and Opinion:
Very Thorough and Useful! Reflections on the Peace Council’s position; Resources for more information; Places to donate. https://www.peacecouncil.net/programs/e-newsletter
NY should drive a hard bargain on Buffalo Bills stadium deal (Editorial Board Opinion) Read iton Syracuse.com
Gov. Kathy Hochul and the owners of the Buffalo Bills are negotiating a deal for a new $1.35 billion open-air stadium to replace Highmark Stadium in suburban Orchard Park. How much money New York state will kick in is an object of intense speculation…. Last week, the New York Post reported taxpayers could be on the hook for as much as $1 billion. If true, that would be the richest public stadium subsidy in history.
America’s Military-Industrial Oligarchy vs. Our Small Towns Read it Here
Here’s an article from an unusual source for us: The Craftsmanship Initiative is dedicated to reclaiming craftsmanship’s principles of excellence, beauty, and durability as a pathway to a more sustainable world.
“Two small-town Cold War facilities—one in Maine, another in South Carolina—each attempted to chart a peacetime future. One became a hub for green and high-tech industry; the other turned into a corrupt, nuclear boondoggle trapped in the past. What made them take such different paths?”
Fact Sheet: Fossil Fuel Subsidies: A Closer Look at Tax Breaks and Societal Costs
“Conservative estimates put U.S. direct subsidies to the fossil fuel industry at roughly $20 billion per year; with 20 percent currently allocated to coal and 80 percent to natural gas and crude oil” From the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) Read the Report
ACTION ALERTS: Much to do this week. Choose your battle. Please make a few calls or send emails. One call is considered to represent 200 constituents!
From the Statewide Invest in Our NY Campaign:
SUMMARY OF IONY ASKS vs GOVERNOR’S PROPOSED BUDGET vs ONE-HOUSES
This is where we stand this week to the best of our knowledge, from the Invest on Our New York campaign. The Senate and Assembly have both completed their “one-house budget proposals”, they are both about $5bil higher than the Governor’s. Pick whichever issues you feel are most critical, and call the Governor. 1-518-474-8390 or use the contact form at https://www.governor.ny.gov/content/governor-contact-form.
CLIMATE: Ask was $15B as a “down payment” to finally start funding the “dry” CLCPA Governor claims “billions” but the bulk of it is a $4B bond proposal that would have to be voted on in Nov, and normal agency funding. THIS IS NOT ACTUAL BUDGET ALLOCATION
Actual new funding in Gov’s proposal adds up to only $1.8B ($750mm for electrification, $500mm for wind, $500mm for clean water, $44.5M for Environmental Protection Fund)
Senate’s only improvement was raising the bond proposal to $6B; Assembly raised to $5B
CHILD CARE: $5B for expansion of childcare subsidies. (Both one-house budgets have at least $3B, Gov has $1.1B)
HOUSING
$250M for the Housing Access Voucher Program (HAVP) – would provide housing vouchers for individuals and families experiencing homelessness or at risk of imminent homelessness, allowing them to pay 30% of their income toward rent, with the rest covered by the voucher. (In both one-houses, up to $1B over five years)
$150M more for Housing Our Neighbors With Dignity Act (HONDA) that passed in August to fund the state purchase of financially-distressed hotels and commercial properties to create permanent affordable housing for homeless and housing-vulnerable New Yorkers – the additional funds would expand it to Upstate (In both one-houses)
$1.5B for COVID Emergency Rental Assistance Program (in both one-houses)
End luxury developer boondoggle “affordable housing” subsidy 421-a and keep it ended (as both one-houses propose, don’t replace it with the Gov’s proposed almost-the-same 485-W)
COVERAGE FOR ALL: $345M for health insurance for otherwise ineligible (undocumented, etc) folks (in both one-houses, not in Gov’s)
EXCLUDED WORKERS Ask was $3.2B for new funding for the Excluded Workers fund that provided aid for COVID-related losses to 130K excluded workers (because undocumented, paid in cash as day laborers and domestic workers, etc) until the funds ran out. The additional $$ would aid the 75K who qualified but were turned away and the estimated 100K who did not get a chance to appy at all. (Not in Gov’s budget or either one-house – need at least $1.2B)
FAIR PAY FOR HOME CARE: Ask is $630M this year, $2.5B next year Would raise home care wages to 150% of minimum wage, end home care shortage, create 250K jobs
In both one-houses, not in Governor’s budget at all
Fund the Onondaga Nation School | Syracuse Peace Council Use this Link
Contact NYS Legislative Leaders to Support Indigenous Schools. New York State has consistently underfunded the three schools . serving Indigenous students on their own nations for decades
People’s Campaign for Parole Justice: Please urge your NY State Senator, Rachel May to support the Elder Parole bill. Senator May is one of few Democrats not yet supporting Elder Parole, which provides parole consideration on a case by case basis to incarcerated older people who have already served 15 years. Call Senator May’s Office Today: District Office: 315-478-8745 Albany Office: 518-455-2838
Hi, my name is ____________________, I’m a constituent and I’m calling to urge Senator May to co-sponsor the Elder Parole bill (S.15). The bill will provide meaningful release opportunities to incarcerated people who are old, sick, and have already spent decades in prison transforming their lives. A lack of meaningful opportunities for parole release is a major contributing factor to mass incarceration. There are so many men and women who deserve to be reunited with their families and given the chance to invest back into their communities. I urge the Senator to please co-sponsor Elder Parole.
Sign a Letter of support for the Gas Transition and Affordable Energy Act!
Many New Yorkers are unaware that we are being forced to pay to install fracked gas pipelines to buildings across New York State. The state’s “100-foot rule” requires gas utility customers to collectively pay for the first 100 feet of new gas pipelines for building owners that request it.
The Gas Transition and Affordable Energy Act would end this rule, saving New Yorkers almost one billion in utility charges over the next five years while making our homes healthier and continuing New York’s climate leadership. Go Here to sign
Onondaga County Aquarium Project
Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon is determined to get his pet project off the ground. The next meeting of the County Legislature on Tuesday, April 5 might vote on the Aquarium project. To fight this useless project, please send letters to the editor: letters@ syracuse.com Send a copy to Ryan McMahon at ryanmcmahon@ongov.net and to James Rowley, Chairman of the Legislature at jamesrowley@ongov.net Also to Jamie McNamara, Secretary of the Legislature and ask her to circulate your letter to all of the county legislators. jamiemcnamara@ongov.net
Previous letters have consisted of the economic unreality of the project and places where money could be better spent- (fully restoring the social services staff that were laid off, opioid addiction, health care, economic relief, pandemic relief, health care, job training, roads, etc. )
Letters in support of Onondaga County Legislator Mary Kuhn’s proposal in Sunday’s Letters to the Editor, to have hearings on the Aquarium in four quadrants of the county will be very helpful.
These projects are very beneficial to the real estate company (Cor Development) that previously was involved with Destiny and the same company where two executives were convicted of illegal action, and the developers and the builders, but not the people who will continue to pay for this boondoggle for many years.
EVENTS/ACTIONS CALENDAR:
Communities Not Cages: Syracuse Town Hall
Tuesday, March 22; 6-7:30 PM (In person event.)
Freedom Commons, 450 Burt St., Syr 13202
By: Center for Community Alternatives Contact: nbullock@CommunityAlternatives.org
Communities Not Cages is a statewide campaign building the power of people and families impacted by mass incarceration to overhaul New York’s racist and draconian sentencing laws.
Join us to learn about our campaign and how you can fight for:
· The Eliminate Mandatory Minimums Act
· The Second Look Act
· The Earned Time Act
Addressing COVID-19 Disparities: Syracuse Vaccination Event
by New York Immigrant Coalition
Wednesday, March 23, 2022
White Branch Library
Join us to access COVID-19 vaccines and boosters from 3pm-7pm. In partnership with Wegmans, attendees 5+ can receive their 1st and 2nd doses of the COVID19 vaccine, and attendees 12+ can receive a booster shot. Attendees 17 and younger must have a parent or guardian present. More information, including registration links, are available here: https://tockify.com/thenyic/detail/241/1648062000000
Our events are free of charge and open to the public.
Town of Manlius Residents: Public Hearing on New Solar Law for Town of Manlius
Wed. March 23 at 6:30 pm
Location update: East Syracuse Minoa High School auditorium, 6400 Fremont Rd, East Syracuse, NY 13057
Public hearing on a proposed solar law for the Town of Manlius. All residents of the Town are welcome to give input.
If you cannot make the meeting in person go to: Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81755486757…You will be able to make a comment in support via zoom.
The proposed Solar Law will give authority to the Town Board to build a solar farm on the Town of Manlius landfill, similar to what the Town of Dewitt did. This solar farm will provide all of the energy used by the T. of M. municipal operations. For more information contact: pwirth2@verizon.net
Virtual Tour of Fayetteville Home with Heat Pump & Solar Panels
Saturday, March 26 from 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Join Pete Wirth of Fayetteville, NY as he gives a virtual tour of the energy efficient upgrades he has made to his home at 113 Cammot Lane. He will feature his hybrid system, an Air Source Heat Pump connected in conjunction with his natural gas furnace and solar PV array! Pete will also briefly touch upon the many ways he is moving away from fossil fuels and his long term goal of net zero. The installer will be present to discuss technical aspects of the system. This is an interactive event, please ask questions!
Co-sponsored by HeatSmart CNY and Sustainable Manlius.
Register: https://heatsmartcny.org/event/virtual-tour-of-fayetteville-home/
Syracuse City Redistricting Commission Public Meeting
March 26 at PSLA at Fowler High School. 7 PM and see additional sessions below
For the first time, an independent non-partisan citizen commission is responsible for redrawing the boundary lines for Syracuse’s five Common Council districts. The Democrats on the Common Council deserve great credit for passing this legislation rather than gerrymandering their districts! These meetings are opportunities for residents to provide input and information on their desires regarding these boundaries for the commission to consider.
These common council districts have not been changed since 2002 and need some work. This is a first in New York where private citizens will reshape their boundaries allowing voters to choose their representatives and not the other way around.
Please consider attending one of these hearings. Dustin Czarny’s website has the first of a 6 part series diving into the city of Syracuse population and registration data. These #wonkywednesday articles you may find helpful in understanding the current state of the City of Syracuse and its five districts.
Also FairmapsCNY will be going to these hearings and livestreaming them on their facebook page and later rebroadcasting them on their twitter. Here are the links:
FairmapsCNY: https://www.facebook.com/FairMapsCNY
Syracuse Redistricting Commission: https://www.facebook.com/City-of-Syracuse-Redistricting-Commission-108624081618422
Future public sessions
· April 7 at Henninger High School. 7 PM
· April 24 at Corcoran High School. 4 PM
· April 28 at Nottingham High School. 4 PM
And for an in-depth over view, see Dustin Czarny’s video:
Democratic Socialists of America, Syracuse Chapter General Meeting
March 30th at 7:30pm.
Some of the campaigns we are working on:
winning Good Cause Eviction tenant protections in Syracuse
winning renewable public power in NYS
winning healthcare for all New Yorkers with the New York Health Act
Many of these demands will be decided on in the next few months. We will divide into breakout rooms for most of the meeting and you can choose which campaign’s room you want to participate in for the day. Each campaign will be able to decide how they use the time. This is a great entry point for learning about and working on one of the exciting campaigns. Then at the end we will come back together. Sign-up Here
**SAVE THE DATES**
Presentation of the Great Americans Medal for Ruth Bader Ginsburg
National Museum of American History
Wednesday, March 30, 2022
6:30PM ET
A virtual program to posthumously recognize Ruth Bader Ginsburg for her groundbreaking judicial work and
commitment to gender equality and human rights
Followed by a donation of significant artifacts representing Justice Ginsburg’s Supreme Court career
Back from the Brink Open House
Mar 31, 2022 08:00 PM EDT Register
This one hour Zoom discussion will provide an opportunity for supporters, BftB activists and the general public to get the latest on the Ukraine war and how it’s impacting our work. We’ll share updates about Back From the Brink’s strategies and priorities, and provide folks with specific actions they can take at this moment, in their communities. Nuclear weapons expert and disarmament advocate, Zia Mian, Co-Director of Princeton University’s Program on Science and Global Security will be joining us. We’ll be sending additional details to all registrants prior to the event. Back from the Brink: https://preventnuclearwar.org
Electronics Recycling Events – Free – Starting April 23: https://www.sunnking.com/events
Busy, But Want To Do Your Part To Help End War And Oppression? Join A Bunch Of Us For 45 Minutes On Any Tuesday, Friday Or Saturday
| TUESDAYS TWICE A MONTH : as of April 5 we’ll be stepping up our HANCOCK demos from the first Tuesday to both the first & third Tuesday — same time (4 to 4:45 p.m) and as it has been for over a decade, is on ending killer drones.EVERY SATURDAY: as of April 2 we are resuming our “fair weather” street heat across from the Regional Market, from 9 to 9:45 a.m. Every Saturday morning. same time and place as in previous years. While most of our signs focus on killer drones, we also will bringwider selection (anti-war, anti-nuclear, etc,).EVERY FRIDAY: we are continuing our every Friday street heat in De Witt at the broad intersection of Erie Blvd east and East Genesee from 4 to 4:45 pm. For years out focus has been solidarity withPalestine; While Russia’s invasion of Ukraine persists our signs will also address that crisis.To learn more contact Ann or Ed, 315 478 4571.### |
CNY Solidarity Coalition
Check out our Website and our Instagram.
Twitter: @CNYSolidarity and @IndivisibleNY24
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
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
CNY Solidarity Coalition makes regular contributions to local progressive organizationsSyracuse Peace Council, National Action Network, and Urban Jobs Coalition, as well as to our mailing list provider, RiseUp. We also make occasional donations as needed to other local groups. We depend on our supporters’ contributions for this.
To contribute: Donate Here through PayPal. Or send checks to the mailing address at the end of the newsletter.
—
Peter McCarthy
pmccar1100@gmail.com