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June CNY Solidarity Coalition/Indivisible Onondaga County Meeting

Sunday June 8th, 3-5 PM at Bishop Harrison Center

Extend the Public Comment Period for MICRON’s DEIS

(Draft Environmental Impact Statement)

There Are many positive ways that the Micron project will benefit the community. There are also many unanswered questions. We were granted YEARS to decide on the fate of Rt.81’s viaduct through the city.

BUT now we have ONLY 45 days to double-check the details on Micron’s plan. It is our only opportunity to do the kind of review that might have avoided the chemical sewer that ruined ONONDAGA LAKE! Ask for more time to have public hearings that explain or offset existing questions:

• How are the ‘Forever’ chemicals (PFAS) used in the manufacturing process going to be handled?

• How is the water demand going to be supplied?

• How is the energy required going to impact all of us?

• We already have a housing crisis…. Is there a reasonable plan that doesn’t put this even more out of reach for our citizens?

Click Here to Sign 

Vote Like a Tenant Campaign Canvassing: Syracuse Volunteers Needed!

MAY 14, 5:30PM: Canvassing – The Vote Like a Tenant campaign is canvassing in Syracuse twice weekly to get tenants to the polls in the June election. They need volunteers to help reach and mobilize thousands of tenants to break corporate influence on local elections. Good Cause lease renewal and rent hike protections are on the ballot this June. They are also circulating a petition with the goal of getting 1,000 voters pledged to turn out.

• Sign the Petition

• View upcoming canvasses and sign up at tenantbloc.org/syr

• Watch May 8th Press Conference on YouTube

Email Members of Congress: Bring Kilmar Abrego Garcia home.

Abrego Garcia was kidnapped and deported by Trump and ICE to a notorious prison camp. The administration has admitted it was an “administrative error” but they are refusing to facilitate his return, in open defiance of an order from the US Supreme Court.

If Trump is allowed to openly defy a court order, no rights are safe. We’re demanding that leaders in both parties use every tool at their disposal to ensure Abrego Garcia is freed and returned to America.

Email Congress members

From Cooperative Federal Credit Union:

We’re partnering with America’s Credit Unions to protect the federal tax status that allows credit unions to provide critical financial benefits to the communities they serve nationwide.

Tell Congress: A tax on my credit union is a tax on me. https://www.donttaxmycreditunion.org/

Letters to the Editor

CNY Solidarity Coalition encourages letters to the editor regarding issues affecting us locally and nationwide. We also recommend that letters are written in response to recent articles; these are more likely to get published. Links to these articles will be included each week.

If you’re looking for a subject to write about, here are this week’s suggestions:

• NJ mayor arrested, denies trespassing at immigration detention center
• How Syracuse officials anticipate budget cuts could affect city operations

Guidelines for writing Letters to the Editor, with a link to previously submitted letters, can be found here.

If you’ve written a letter, whether it’s been published or not, consider  forwarding  a copy to cnysolnews@gmail.com, so that it can be added to our website’s “Opinion” section.

Exclusive: Micron report details lasting impacts to Central NY: jobs, traffic, population, pollution

Syracuse.com has obtained the bulk of Micron’s report, which the county and other public agencies have refused to release since December.

“…the report says: The influx of thousands of construction workers and new residents would squeeze an already tight housing market, making it even harder to find an affordable place to live. Traffic would overwhelm local roads unless expensive improvements are made, including widening major roads and building two new highway interchanges. Local governments would collect $500 million more per year, but property taxes could still rise as the demand for services does, Micron’s analysis says.”

Read More Syracuse.com   |   Sign Petition to extend comment period

Appellate Court says NY’s Even Year Election Law is constitutional, reversing lower court

The appellate court rejected Neri’s analysis, saying that nothing in the state constitution prohibits the legislature from passing laws that apply generally to all counties.

“This decision is a celebration of democracy,’’ said Dustin Czarny, Onondaga County’s Democratic elections commissioner.

“This legislation will ensure more voters will vote on more offices and we will have a government that is representative of all the people of Onondaga County and New York State,’’ Czarny said.

Read More Syracuse.com

Unfortunately Republicans, Led by Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon, continue to fight to keep turnout low in local elections using taxpayer funds. Republicans petition New York’s highest court to take up state’s new even-year election law case 

Tenant advocates in Syracuse rally for ‘good cause’ eviction legislation as primary elections near

Syracuse lawmakers in February took ‘good cause’ eviction legislation off the Common Council’s agenda. Tenant advocates urged voters to vote for candidates who support ‘good cause.’

“It’s clear that these elected officials simply aren’t listening and would rather ignore the city’s housing crisis, so we are no longer asking nicely,” said AK Myers, a member of the Syracuse Tenants Union. “It’s time to vote like a tenant.”

Read More on Central Current

‘We will arrest you’: DHS warns members of Congress after mayor Ras Baraka arrested at ICE detention center

The Department of Homeland Security is considering arresting members of Congress who were involved in a scuffle between New Jersey officials and guards outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center on Friday.

The threatened arrests would mark a dramatic escalation of an already controversial incident that saw the arrest of Newark mayor Ras Baraka.

Read More on The Independent

Israel all but admits it is pursuing ethnic cleansing in Gaza in its new plan

Israel has unveiled a startling new plan for escalating its domination of the Gaza Strip that all but openly declares an ethnic cleansing agenda meant to permanently alter life and demography in the enclave. The signs that things were headed in this dark direction have been clear for a while. But Israel can be so plain-spoken in part because President Donald Trump is not just supporting Israel, but also celebrating neocolonialism as a legitimate foreign policy goal.

Read More on MSNBC

The Trump Atrocity Happening in Plain Sight on the Media’s Watch

The president’s demolition of the lifesaving Bush-era HIV/AIDS program will kill tens of thousands of people in sub-Saharan Africa. Why does nobody care?

Read More on The New Republic

CCAA Presentation: New York State 2025 School Budget Vote

Tuesday, May 13 at 6:00pm

Manlius Library, 1 Arkie Albanese Ave, Manlius

Climate Change Awareness and Action (CCAA) is hosting a panel discussion and open  forum focused on understanding this year’s school board propositions and budget votes, and how these decisions directly impact the future of electric school buses in our communities.  Following the discussion, we’ll dive into the next steps for local action and how you can get involved in shaping cleaner healthier transportation for our students.

Switching to electric school buses isn’t just a smart financial decision – it’s a critical step for sustainability, helping to drastically cut greenhouse gas emissions and build a healthier future for our children and our planet.

We welcome everyone to attend and ask questions, and be part of the growing movement toward a cleaner future. Attend in person or on Zoom: Register for Zoom link here

Many districts held their board meetings last week; however, Lyncourt, North Syracuse, Westhill, DeRuyter, Hamilton, Morrisville-Eaton and Stockbridge Valley are scheduled for May 13.  

Budget hearing schedules and locations for all Onondaga and Madison County school districts

Protecting Our Families: Environmental Health And The I-81 Construction

Thursday, May 15, 2025 @ 5:30-7:30 p.m.

The Dunbar Center, 1453 S. State St., Syracuse, NY 13205

Community Panel

For the past 7 years, the NYCLU and others have canvassed the I81 footprint. Residents submitted thousands of comments sharing concerns about construction.
We are now less than a month away from the first phase of construction to take the viaduct down! 
Come to the Community Panel and Town Hall discussion to learn more about the start of construction on I-81, what protections are in place and grab some free take homes. 
Learn more about the environmental impact and how to protect your families!!

Invite & Share Here

ArtRage:  “Patchwork People” Storytelling with Vanessa Johnson

Thursday May 15, 7-9 pm

505 Hawley Ave., Syracuse NY 13203

Hear Tales Told in Cloth by Griot Vanessa Johnson! Ms. Johnson will pass around her touchable Fiber Art Creations! You are invited to bring a quilt from home to share its story with the audience. Free. 

More Information

GreeningUSA’s Annual Meeting

May 16, 2025 9am-12pm

CNY Community Foundation Philanthropy Center Ballroom, 431 East Fayette Street, Syracuse, NY 13202

The featured program at the 21^st Annual Meeting will be a conversation with Melanie Littlejohn, Executive Director of the CNY Community Foundation. Ms. Littlejohn’s organization has been named as “lead intermediary” by Micron and the Department of Commerce CHIPS For America program and will “mobilize the regional workforce ecosystems necessary for supporting both the construction and facility workforces.”

Register Here

League of Women Voters Annual NYS Legislative Breakfast

Friday May 16, 2025, 7:30 – 9:30 am

The Collegian Hotel, 1060 E. Genesee St, Syracuse, NY 13210

$30 breakfast buffet with moderated discussion.

Scheduled to be in attendance: Senators Rachel May and Chris Ryan, and Assemblymembers Will Barclay, Pamela Hunter, John Lemondes, Bill Magnarelli, and Al Stirpe.

More Here

Pop-Up Rally

Friday, May 16 at 5:00pm – 6:00pm

Outside Wegmans on Genesee St, 6789 E Genesse, Fayetteville

Bring your signs and join Indivisible Onondaga County for a weekly protest! This week we will be on the public sidewalk outside Wegmans on Genesee St. A new location will be announced every Monday. Raise your voice with a community of protectors of the Constitution and human rights by peacefully assembling together to exercise our First Amendment rights! 

Sign Up for Updates Here

Free Paint Recycling sponsored by Assemblyman Stirpe

Saturday, May 17, 7:30am-12:30pm

DMV Parking Lot, 5800 East Taft Rd, N. Syracuse NY 13212

Paint must be in original container with original label and not leaking!

Accepted: Oil-Based Paint, Acrylic & Latex Paint, Sealers, Stains, Shellacs, Lacquers, Varnishes & Urethanes.

Not Accepted: Spray Paint, Paint Thinner, Solvents, Drywall Mud, Driveway or Roof Sealer, Cleansing Agents, Roof Patch, Adhesives.

Sign Up Here

Canvassing for Sharon Owens

Saturday, May 17, 10am & 3pm

Barry Park, Meadowbrook Dr, Syracuse, NY 13210

Syracuse Mayoral candidate Sharon Owens will be holding two canvassing events at Barry Park.

Email to Volunteer

Training for Nonviolent Direct Action

Saturday, May 17, 10 am – 4 pm

University United Methodist Church, 1085 E Genesee St, Syracuse (entrance and parking on University Ave.)

Planning and carrying out effective nonviolent direct actions requires thoughtful planning and preparation. To support people considering such actions, the CNY Solidarity Coalition is offering training for nonviolent direct action led by two young adult trainers with significant training and action experience in the United States and internationally.

The training will include exercises, roleplays and information sharing to help prepare people to participate in nonviolent direct action and civil disobedience. Participants are asked to commit to the full six hours of the training, which will include lunch. The space will be open starting at 9 am for warm ups, meditation, movement and singing. The training will start promptly at 10 am.

$20 registration fee covers lunch

Childcare will be available onsite

Register Here

The State of the Media in America

Tuesday, May 20, 2025 7:30 PM –  8:30 PM ET

From Red Wine and Blue 

Are you worried about the current state of American media? It’s easy to be concerned with the spread of online disinformation, the decline of local newspapers, and the newsrooms owned by billionaires. Let’s delve into the factors that have brought us here, the challenges we face today to share accurate information, and potential solutions to these hurdles. Join us for a discussion with media policy expert and author Victor Pickard to explore what’s working, what’s failing, and what we can all do to support factual news and journalism.

 Register

RWB Civics Salon: What Does Congress Even Do?

Wednesday, May 21, 2025 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM ET

From Red Wine and Blue 

Let’s be real—between the political drama, endless hearings, and suspiciously long recesses, it’s fair to ask: What does Congress actually DO? Join RWB’s Civics Salon for an informative but fun civics session where we decode the Legislative Branch. We’ll pull back the curtain on both the House and the Senate—who’s in charge of what, how decisions get made (or don’t), and how all this affects your life. From filibusters to funding fights, we’ve got you covered. Come for the civics, stay for the sisterhood and let’s try to make government make sense. See you there!

Register

Grow the Democratic Caucus Spring Kickoff Party

Thursday, May 22, 5 pm

Harvey’s Garden, 1200 E Water St, Syracuse, NY 13210

Leader Nodesia Hernandez and the members of the Democratic Caucus of the Onondaga County Legislature are asking for your assistance to help grow the caucus. There are majority Democrat districts in Manlius and Salina and this year with your help we can flip them!

Tickets

Determined Not to Enter the Ditch Again: Labor Struggles of the Erie Canal

Thursday, May 22 @ 6:00 PM 

Erie Canal Museum – 318 Erie Boulevard East – Syracuse, New York 13202

In Person or Virtual; 2025 Sloan Lecture Series

Most Erie Canal histories focus on the great and glorious; DeWitt Clinton, Benjamin Wright, and Theodore Roosevelt. However, the Canal’s construction, operations, and the transformative changes it unleashed, hinged upon the blood, sweat, and toil of millions of working class individuals. Exploring the effort to expand the waterway and the labor organizing happening alongside the Erie Canal, this talk looks at those workers and their struggles to carve out a more equitable existence throughout the Canal Corridor. Come learn about our reinterpretation project and celebrate Labor History Month with us at a brief reception before the talk, starting at 5:30 PM.

Register

Finding Trusted New Sources in the Disinformation Era

Thursday, May 22, 2025 7:30 PM –  8:30 PM ET

From Red Wine and Blue 

It’s hard to tell what’s real and what’s noise in this era of disinformation. With AI, deepfakes, and flat out lies spreading widely online, how do we determine what is reliable and what to avoid? Join our conversation with veteran journalist and Stanford professor Janine Zacharia to learn how to spot trustworthy news, why facts matter more than ever, and how this all plays a role in protecting our democracy.

Register

Focus Forum: Pathways to Job and Career Success for Students and Adults

Friday May 23, 12:05-1:00 pm

CNY Philanthropy Center,  431 E Fayette St, Syracuse, NY 13202

Zoom option is available

This HYBRID forum will present information on the continuum of technical skills training, job placement, and educational/career advancement programs in place locally that promote equity in the achievement of job and career goals by students and adults in our expanding job market. The forum will highlight programs and pathways for high school students in the Syracuse City School District designed to support their success in pursuing workforce and college opportunities upon graduation. It will also feature skills development, job training, and career growth programs for adults offered through a multi- sector collaboration which also supports participants’ with related needs such as childcare, housing, and financing.

Register here

ArtRage:  Shirley Chisholm: Unbought, Unbossed, Unforgotten!

Friday May 23, 7:30-9:30 pm

505 Hawley Ave., Syracuse NY 13203

Shirley Anita St. Hill Chisholm was the first African American woman in Congress (1968) and the first woman and African American to seek the nomination for president of the United States from one of the two major political parties (1972). 

Griot Vanessa Johnson performs in costume as Congresswoman Shirley Chisolm along with her band “The Matie Masie Ensemble”.  Hear excerpts from Chisholm’s Speeches, Interviews, and Voice Recordings, and Newspaper Articles. Join the band in singing songs created from her memorable quotes and life experiences in this Lively and Interactive Life Tell!

More Information

Cookout For The Homeless. #IfWeEatTheyEat

Saturday, May 24, 11am – 3pm

252-54 W. Onondaga St., Syracuse, NY 13202

We Rise Above The Streets Recovery Outreach Inc. is holding their 9th cookout for the homeless event. They are seeking volunteers for various roles such as barbers, hair stylists, nail technicians, and community vendors. They are also in need of donations including hamburger, turkey, beef, chicken, hotdogs, buns, sodas, water, and side dishes.

More Information

ArtRage: In the Center of the Crossroads

Now through Saturday, May 24

Wednesday through Friday 2-6 pm; Saturday 12-4 pm

Artist Talk with Vanessa Johnson Wednesday April 23 at 7 pm

505 Hawley Ave., Syracuse NY 13203

Standing in the Intersection Between Racism, Climate Change, and Memory. A Fiber Art exhibition by Vanessa Johnson.

More Information

Voices and Votes: Democracy in America

Now through Friday, May 30 10 am – 5 pm

Skä•noñh Great Law of Peace Center, 6680 Onondaga Lake Parkway, Liverpool, NY  

A dynamic traveling multimedia exhibition from the Smithsonian Institution, in partnership with the Onondaga Historical Association (OHA), exploring the history, principles, and ongoing evolution of American democracy, from the revolution to today’s challenges and conversations.

More Information

Mayoral Primary Forum

Thursday May 29, 2025, 6-8  pm

Everson Museum Hosmer Auditorium, 401 Harrison St., Syracuse NY 13202

Central Current’s newsroom staff will interview candidates running in this year’s Democratic primary for the Syracuse mayoral nomination. This event is free and open to the public.

Register Here

CNY Pride Flag Raising at Syracuse City Hall

Saturday, May 31, 11 am

Syracuse City Hall, 233 E Washington St, Syracuse, NY 13202

Please join us as we raise the Progress Flag over Syracuse City Hall and officially kick of Pride Month in our beautiful city. We will have guests, speakers and lovely music. All are welcome!

More Information

Refugee and Immigrant Community Networking Night

Friday, June 6, 5-8 pm

CNY Community Foundation, 431 E. Fayette St. Ste 100, Syracuse, NY 13202

Join us for our first Refugee and Immigrant Community Networking Night! This is a space for the refugee and immigrant community to share their career journeys, make connections with those who share their experiences in the workforce and help each other succeed!

Register Here

Syracuse Street Heat is just one, very unencumbered way to work for peace and social justice. We’re part of a decades-long grassroots tradition here, in Ithaca and elsewhere. We stand out and stand up for what we stand for. 

A handful of us stand at busy intersections, for 45 minutes at rush hour, pivoting to the traffic with hand-held signs. We want to get the public thinking about issues often underrepresented in the media. We’re there weekly in almost all of Syracuse’s weather (we seldom cancel). Bring your own sign – or use one of ours. No meetings or committees, so participation time is minimal (yay!) Our Team:  Ann, Dick, Ed, Geoff, Jim, Julienne, Les, Leslie, Peter…. 

To learn more, call Ann or Ed: (315) 478 4571.      

2025 Spring, Summer, And Fall Schedule

Year round: Every  Friday afternoon. 4   to 4:45 pm   justice for Palestine; no more U.S.  funding Israeli genocide;  U.S.: stop terrorizing  families in Gaza; and so on.

West sidewalk of the intersection of Erie Blvd. East Genesee St, Dewitt (across from the Fire Dept.)

Beginning first Saturday in April: 4/5/25

Every Saturday 9 to 9:45 am with a variety of issues : anti-militarism, racism, Palestine genocide, Anti-nuke, climate disaster, etc.

Across from the main entrance to the Syracuse regional market, 2100 park st    

Stay in touch for anti-killer drone actions at Hancock National Guard Base

upstatedroneaction.com                           spc@peacecouncil.Net 

Watch past meetings about Micron, Good Jobs Town Hall, Rallies and more on our YouTube Channel.

Donate to the CNY Solidarity Coalition

CNY Solidarity Coalition contributes regularly to local progressive organizations: Syracuse Peace Council, National Action Network, & Urban Jobs Coalition. We also make occasional donations as needed to other local groups. We depend on your donations for this. 

Donate Online through PayPal

Mail donations to: 

CNY Solidarity Coalition

P.O. Box 6137, Teall Post Office, 226 Teall Ave., Syracuse NY 13217

Our Committees

To sign up for each of the committee mailing lists, contact the person listed. 

Indivisible Onondaga County: Contact: Tom Keck

Climate Justice: Contact: Dick Kornbluth

SLAT (State/Local Action Team) Contact: Peter McCarthy  

Beyond War and Militarism: A joint committee of CNY Solidarity Coalition and the Syracuse Peace Council. Contact: Ron Van Norstrand

Elaine Denton

Peter McCarthy

Coordinating Committee

CNY Solidarity Coalition