From CNY Solidarity Coalition:
Coordinating Committee needs members! Normally 2 phone meetings per month, with a few tasks in between. If you’ve been wanting to get more involved, here’s your chance! Respond to this newsletter email with your interest.
CNY Solidarity Coalition Special Meeting
The I-81 Project: Current Status and What Happens Next?
Speaker: Lanessa Chaplin, NYCLU
Sunday, Dec. 11. 3 PM on Zoom.
(Link to come.)
Lanessa Chaplin will join us on Zoom. Lanessa has been an advocate for the Syracuse community for years as the I-81 project has developed. She will explain the current status of the I-81 project, the lawsuit that has temporarily halted progress, and how we can support NYCLU. Also see the first article below.
Annual Membership Meeting: Jan.8, 2023! Details TBA
ARTICLES OF THE WEEK:
Don’t let frivolous lawsuits stop the Interstate 81 project (Editorial Board Opinion)
“Renew 81′s petition recycles familiar (and factually challenged) arguments about “community gridlock,” longer commutes, more pollution and noise for South Side residents and lost tax revenue. For all that downside, it also predicts the South Side would become a target for gentrification. The 49-page brief is a grab bag of half-truths, cherry-picked facts and conjecture.” Read it on Syracuse.com
No Place For Nuclear In NY’s Clean Energy Future
Guest Opinion by Joseph J. Heath & Betty Lyons
“Over its lifecycle (uranium mining, milling, transport, construction, operation, decommissioning), nuclear energy emits more than twice as much carbon as solar and six to seven times that of wind…
The growing dangers of continuing spent fuel rod accumulation, with no safe storage mechanism and no plan, is enough of a reason for reasonable CAC members to refuse money for new nuclear plants.”
Read it on Syracuse.com
Defense Department Fails Another Audit, But Makes Progress
After 1,600 auditors combed through DOD’s $3.5 trillion in assets and $3.7 trillion in liabilities, officials found that the department couldn’t account for about 61 percent of its assets…
Angela Davis on UC Strike, Abolition, Palestine & Lessons on a Life Fighting Racial Capitalism
Amy Goodman: “We’re joined by Angela Davis, the world-renowned abolitionist author, activist, distinguished professor emerita at the University of California, Santa Cruz, author of many books, including co-editor of Abolition. Feminism. Now., jointly authored with Gina Dent, Erica Meiners and Beth Richie. Also a new updated edition of her autobiography is out, Angela Davis. She’s also the author of Freedom Is a Constant Struggle, another book, Are Prisons Obsolete? and Women, Race and Class.” Read it on www.democracynow.org
How To Think Like An Aerosol Scientist This Holiday Season To Stay Healthy
Not much new info, but some very helpful tips on how to think about risk when traveling, in groups and in public places. Read it Here on www.cpr.org
Syracuse Peace Council’s New Website is Live! www.peacecouncil.net
ACTION ALERTS:
Help the CNY Solidarity Coalition add events to our Google Calendar! We are looking for a volunteer to enter the events listed in our weekly newsletter to our google calendar once a week. To volunteer, send an email to cnysolidarity@gmail.com with the subject Calendar Volunteer.
Help keep CNY Solidarity’s website up to date! We are looking for a volunteer to post our weekly newsletter to our website once a week. No experience needed, we will train you. To volunteer, send an email to cnysolidarity@gmail.com with the subject Website Volunteer.
Modernize New York’s Returnable Container Act (“Bottle Bill”)
Advocates across the state are pushing for a modernization of New York State’s 40-year-old Bottle Deposit Law. The advocates’ proposal would increase the deposit from a nickel to a dime and would expand the types of containers to sports drinks, iced teas, juices, wine, and liquor. Support the bill Here
EVENTS/ACTIONS CALENDAR
Expanding Essential Unemployment Coverage in New York State
Tuesday, December 6, 2022; 10:30 AM – 12 PM
Streaming live on YouTube: https://youtu.be/SNymy5pSWnk
In this live broadcast, we will explore how best to expand unemployment protections for those ineligible for traditional unemployment insurance in New York state, we will discuss creating a permanent unemployment compensation fund that builds on the landmark Excluded Worker Fund.
Syracuse DSA (Democratic Socialists of America) General Meeting
Tuesday, December 6, 2022 At 6 PM
ArtRage Gallery
We’ll look back at recent campaigns, projects, and coalitions, discuss their pros and cons, and discuss what directions to pursue moving forward in 2023.
Main agenda items:
· Lessons from workplace organizing
· Discussing our 2023 direction
· Guests: Workers’ Center of CNY on expanding unemployment insurance
· Guests: Syracuse Community Choir members
This meeting is fully hybrid (in person and online). Register here to get the Zoom info:
Please wear a mask. Food available. Email if you have any accessibility concerns.
Why You Should Run For Office
Dec 7, 2022 06:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Central New York needs more people with progressive values running for office to make local government work for all of us. UP PAC founder state Senator Rachel May and Assembly Member Anna Kelles will share with you what made them decide to run for office and motivate you to do the same.
Upstate Progressive PAC is a local organization that fundraises to support progressive Democrats running to make local government more inclusive, just, and responsive to all of us. What makes UP PAC different is it also provides mentoring opportunities for candidates to help them win.
Register Here for Zoom Link
End Medical Debt – Syracuse Community Forum
Thursday, December 8, 5-7PM; Beauchamp Branch Library, 2111 S. Salina St., Syracuse
RSVP here: https://mobilize.us/s/iO81gA
New York’s non-profit hospitals sued over 53,000 patients between 2015 and 2020. Hospitals are required to offer financial assistance but instead, they take patients to court even though these non-profit hospitals get over $1 billion in tax support each year.
There is a growing campaign in New York to #EndMedicalDebt by growing the power of patients and passing laws to protect us from predatory hospital billing.
Join this community forum to learn more about the crisis of medical debt and how we can win changes that protect patients and improve health care access for all New Yorkers.
This is an indoor event. Masks will be required for attendees with exceptions for eating and drinking
Have you been impacted by aggressive medical billing? Contact Ursula (315) 414-7720 or share your story here: story: cit.ac/debt-story
ReLeaf Syracuse & the Urban Forest Master Plan
GreeningUSA’s Virtual Green Bag Lunch
Friday, December 9, 12:00-1:30pm
Speaker: Steve Harris, City of Syracuse Arborist
FREE! But you must register: https://tinyurl.com/3ywy64ev by 5pm on Thursday, Dec. 8.
Fair Trade Holiday Sale at ArtRage
December 9, 2022 to December 10, 2022
Our Fair Trade Sale is back! Friday 2-6pm Saturday 11am-4pm. Free admission. Come to ArtRage Gallery for your Holiday Shopping and support craftspeople from around the world. Guatemalan goods from Mayan Hands, holiday gifts from India, Palestine, Bangladesh, Nepal and more from SERRV International, handmade sandals and embroidered shoes from Mexico and Fair Trade Organic Chocolate from Equal Exchange.
Our gift shop will also be open and we’ll offer Fair Trade Cocoa and cookies to our guests.
It’s a fun and warm holiday tradition and we hope to see you there.
2022 Citizens Academy
December 11, 2022 – Deadline To Apply
FOCUS Greater Syracuse is proud to announce a second Citizens Academy session; winter/spring of 2023!
Find out how your local government works and engage with those who work in and for your community.
Learn more and apply online at: https://www.focussyracuse.org/citizens-academy/
Topics that will be covered include:
Community Vitality; Economic Vitality;
Environmental Stewardship; Schools, Scholars and Resources;
Public Safety; Planning, Land Use and Transportation;
Local Government Budget and Finance; and the
Organization of Local Government.
Nine weeks on Wednesday evenings: Feb. 1 to April. 4, 2023. 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. Boxed meal provided at sites throughout the community.
SAVE THE DATES
Syracuse Community Choir Winter Solstice Concert: Resilience
Saturday, December 17, 2022 At 7 PM
St. Paul’s Syracuse, The Downtown Episcopal Church, 220 E. Fayette 13202
Syracuse Community Choir Winter Solstice Concert: Resilience
Event by Syracuse Community Choir
Masks and rapid-testing are encouraged. Learn more about COVID-19 guidelines
Sliding Scale Tickets: $0-$25 (No one turned away), children free
This concert will honor ACTS (Alliance of Communities Transforming Syracuse) by giving them the People’s Peace Prize, which we award each year to a person or organization working for peace in Syracuse. ACTS is a “local grassroots interfaith network that seeks to address systems of oppression and exclusion and make real local change”. They have worked to end solitary confinement for youth, eliminate food deserts, interrupt community violence and more.
Interpreted for the Deaf. Live-streamed to Facebook and recorded, for those who can’t attend.
Info: 315.428.8151 | info@syracusecommunitychoir.org
ONGOING EVENTS:
Looking For Flexible — No Meeting, No Committee — Opportunity To Oppose War And Oppression And Work For Peace And Social Justice?
We call it STREET HEAT: an easy, uncomplicated way –in solidarity with a handful of others — to stand up and out for what we stand for. Greeting passing traffic at rush hour with hand-held signs, we want to get them thinking about the day’s crucial issues.
First Tuesday Of The Month…4 to 4:45 p.m.: Killer drones
Hancock AFB (home of the 174th Attack Wing of the NYS National Guard), 6000 East Molloy Rd.
across from the main gate. Park on the south shoulder.
Every Friday…4 to 4:45 p.m.
West sidewalk of the broad intersection of Erie Blvd East & East Genesee St. in De Witt (across from the Fire Dept.)
For years our focus has been on solidarity with the people of Palestine; while the invasion of Ukraine persists, we also address that tragedy.
Our current stalwart team: Julienne, Les, Leslie, Geoff, Ed, Ann, Peter…. To learn more: Ed or Ann 315 478 4571
CNY Solidarity Coalition
Check out our Website and our Instagram.
Sign up for this newsletter Here
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 Onondaga County (Formerly 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 contributes regularly to local progressive organizations: Syracuse 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 above.