Celebrate Pride Tomorrow
It's Pride!
Trump is convicted!
Three Ways You Can Help Sarah Klee Hood Win!
Pride month starts tomorrow. Please stop by Utica Pride tomorrow (10-4pm) and celebrate the freedom to be who you are and love who you love. LGBTQ people and allies, Democrats, and progressives have fought long and hard to make social change and win legal rights. The fight is not over, and there is immense MAGA Republican backlash that threatens the lives and wellbeing of many especially trans people. As we celebrate this month, we know that in November, the freedom to be ourselves is on the line: to access the care we need, to love who we love, and to thrive. Please be sure that every person in your life understands what is at stake.
Trump is a convicted felon. We were able to breathe a huge sigh of relief yesterday when a jury of his peers in Manhattan found Trump guilty on all 34 counts in the case brought by New York against him. This doesn't mean he won't be a very tough challenger for President Biden in November, but, had he been acquitted, his election may have been a foregone conclusion. So, the legal judgment rendered yesterday (regardless of the sentencing (to be decided) and the appeal (to be expected) means that the 2024 election from top to bottom of the ticket is up to us--the voters--and especially, to whichever side has the most motivated and hard-working volunteers.
Let's push Sarah Klee Hood Over the Finish Line in June
We are in a state that won't impact the Presidential or Senate elections. But NY22 is the most winnable contested district in America. And that's on us. To unseat Brandon Williams and flip Congress, we need to have a strong and inspiring candidate, and that is Sarah Klee Hood.
There are three ways to help Sarah win the June 25th primary that you can take action on in the next week and the weeks following. Please commit now to as many ways as you can and then keep showing up!
#1 Action: Canvass for Sarah Klee Hood
The very best way to reach Democratic voters is to talk with them face to face. IMV will be hosting canvass launches every Sunday and Monday starting this weekend. We plan to begin in Clinton and New Hartford and then move on to Waterville, Utica, and wherever else we can efficiently reach Democratic NY22 voters to encourage them to vote for Sarah Klee Hoof on June 25. Please join us!
Sunday, June 2, 1-4 pm IMV Canvass for Sarah Klee Hood for Congress, Meet in the Kirkland Town Library parking lot (55 1/2 College Street, Clinton).
Monday, June 3, 5:30-8:00 pm, IMV Canvass for Sarah Klee Hood for Congress, Meet in the Kirkland Town Library parking lot.
We will provide bite size turfs that can be completed within the timeframe, and you can use Minivan or paper as you prefer. New canvassers are welcome! Anyone who wants to pair up can, and/or bring your own friend to walk with.
Block your calendar now on Sundays/Mondays to canvass. If those days are not good for you and you want a turf and palm cards to go out on Saturdays or another night of the week, please email jendeweerth@gmail.com.
#2 Action Join IMV's Letter Writing Party on Monday
Join IMV members in writing letters to your Democratic friends who live in NY22 about voting for Sarah Klee Hood in the June 25th primary. We'll provide the letters and envelopes--you provide the stamps. We're asking everyone to do 10, but you can do as many as you'd like!
Dear Friend Letter Writing Party,
Monday, June 3rd, 2:15-4:15 pm
(corrected date)
Dunham Public Library, 76 Main St, Whitesboro
These are Vote Forward style letters where there is mostly text and some room for a personal reason why you are voting for Sarah Klee Hood for Congress. If you live outside of NY22, we have a letter specifically for you to send to your friends in any of the 5 NY22 counties--Oneida, Madison, Cortland, Cayuga, and Onondaga. You can bring your snail mail address book or we'll help you look up their addresses if you're unsure.
Can't make it? Email us at indivisiblemohawkvalley@gmail.com and we'll send you the letter to print and complete at home.
#3 Action: Phonebank for Sarah Klee Hood with Climate Hawks Vote
Climate Hawks Vote is backing Sarah Klee Hood, an environmental policy expert and town councilor in upstate New York’s 22d Congressional District, also known as the most flippable district in the country. And they're going to be phone banking for her next Tuesday! Democrats can’t flip the House without winning New York’s 22d, and Sarah is the candidate to win the primary for our climate future– with the help of activists who prioritize this critical issue.
Join Climate Hawks Vote in a New York phone bank next Tuesday, June 4, 11, and 18 at 6 PM.
Sarah Klee Hood is an Air Force veteran and environmental policy expert who currently serves as a town councilor in DeWitt. She ran in this district in 2022, placing second in the primary. She lists as climate/ environment priorities, among other things, bringing clean energy jobs to this district and advocating for a farm bill that addresses weather-related vulnerabilities. She’s on the executive board of a local Sierra Club chapter, and recently worked at a climate tech small business incubator. She has recently signed the No Fossil Fuel Money pledge.
NY22 tops every pundit’s list of Democratic targets in November. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report lists NY-22 as the only “likely Democratic” seat held by a Republican in the country. Once Sarah wins her primary, professional Democratic campaign operatives will unite behind her to oust Williams. Here’s where you swing into action: before those campaign veterans show up. They don’t care who wins the primary – whether it’s Sarah, who’s worked to create climate-friendly jobs, or the other candidate who’s not terribly interested in or aware of climate work. You care because you know that climate matters.
Support climate action with an hour phonebanking for Sarah Klee Hood.
Climate Crisis Working Group Actions
NY HEAT ACT
CALL RELAY: If you can’t do the call relay please still call whenever is convenient for you!!! The Renewable Heat Now campaign is planning a second NY HEAT call relay on Monday, June 3 in order to kick off the final week of the legislative session. Let's fill this call relay as easily as we filled the previous one, and we invite you to share the sign-up link with your friends and family so we get some new names making calls. Please DO NOT share the link via social media; we want to protect our advocates’ contact info. You’ll note that we don’t have scripts entered yet; we will add those before Monday morning!
Our pressure is working, and we are still in the game! NY HEAT continues to be a major topic of conversation and the media continues to pay attention. Yesterday The Buffalo News ran an editorial in support of the NY HEAT Act (excerpt attached below as the editorial is behind a paywall). The Albany Times Union reported that negotiations for NY HEAT are ongoing. While the NY HEAT Act is still very much in play, whether we ultimately get the bill passed and how strong of a version passes will be determined in the next few days. Let’s keep up the pressure!
PACKAGING REDUCTION BILL
We only have until June 6th to pass a STRONG packaging reduction bill in Albany. Unfortunately, the State Senate has proposed amendments that would significantly weaken the bill. Instead of 50% reduction of plastic packaging over 12 years, the Senate amendments will only require 30% reduction. Even worse, there are two big loopholes. One would allow companies to ask the Dept of Environmental Conservation to allow for only a 10% reduction.
The Assembly has not signed off on these amendments and this is part of the Albany dance. This week we need you to contact your state senator and state Assembly member to advocate for a strong bill which reduces plastic packaging by 50% and does not have loopholes.
Also, call the office of Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart Cousins and urge her not to gut the packaging bill. Make your calls until June 6:
(Save the Date for our final Power Hour with Climate Action Now next Tuesday, June 4 at 12noon)
1. Call Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins' Albany office at 518-455-2715 (if you can't get through, try 518-455-2585). When someone picks up you can use the short script below
2. Call your own Senator. Dial the Senate Switchboard at (518) 455-2800 and asking to be connected to your Senator’s office.
3. Call your Assembly member. Dial the Assembly Switchboard at (518) 455-4100
Use this script:
"Hi, my name is ____ and I'm calling from ____ to urge [the Majority Leader/Senator/Assembly member] to pass the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act S4246b/A5322b. It is imperative that this bill not be watered down. It must reduce plastic packaging by 50%." Feel free to use your own words about why these bills are important: This bill needs to be strong to address the problem. These bills are the key to reducing packaging waste, cutting climate change emissions, removing toxic chemicals from packaging, increasing refillables, reducing air pollution, and protecting environmental justice communities."
Thank the person for taking your call. They may ask you to verify your address, etc.
Last Chance for Planned Parenthood Fundraiser Tickets
PPGNY Votes PAC wins competitive elections by appealing to voters who believe in the importance of our mission. State and local races can be determined by only a few hundred votes, and these wins help New York become the national leader this moment requires. Nearly two dozen states across the country have banned or severely restricted abortion access since Roe v. Wade was overturned. Your support will allow us to continue to cement New York's position as a leading abortion and reproductive health access state.
IMV member Katheryn Doran is hosting a fundraiser for Planned Parenthood of Greater NY Votes PAC in Clinton on Tuesday June 4th, 5:30 -7:00 pm, and IMV is a co-sponsor of the event. Please sign up if you can attend, and donate if you can't! Register now. In addition to PPGNY's CEO Wendy Stark and the PAC's Executive Director Dipal Shah, both James Meyers (state senate candidate) and Adrienne Martini (Assembly candidate) have agreed to attend and to speak briefly about their candidacies. (And...yay for our Planned Parenthood endorsed state candidates!)
Again, the link to get your ticket is: https://www.weareplannedparenthoodaction.org/a/ppgny-votes-pac-katheryn-2024
Celebrate Pride with Adrienne Martini
Adrienne Martini is running for State Assembly in the 122nd district currently represented by Republican Brian Miller. She is doing a "Coffee and Pride" loop through Sherill and New Hartford to celebrate Pride month and meet with supporters on June 1st. Please register now to join her at one of the events--including a stop at Peter's Cornucopia. Register and/or donate here.
Save the Date for our Reproductive Freedom March (2nd anniversary of Dobbs Decision)
Remember two years ago when we had a series of emergency rallies and a huge march in Utica from the YWCA Mohawk Valley to Planned Parenthood/Nurses Candlelight Park? So many people joined the march and rallies--young people, LGBTQ people, women and men, families with children and without children, older people who couldn't believe our courts were going backwards on women's rights.
We are coming together again on the second anniversary of the catastrophic and inhumane Dobbs decision, and saying that we will not surrender our freedoms. But the only way to keep them is to elect representatives who will pass laws that enshrine reproductive freedoms and confirm judges who will protect our rights. We have to start with flipping NY22 blue in November and passing the NY Equal Rights Amendment.
Mark Your Calendar & Tell Your Friends
Majority over MAGA for Reproductive Freedom March in Utica
Sunday, June 23rd, 2:00 -3:00 pm
Meet at Oneida Square
Before You Click Out of this Email...
1. Did you clear your calendar for canvassing, letter writing, and/or phone banking for Sarah Klee Hood?
2. Have you signed up for the NY Heat Act call relay and made your packaging bill calls?
3. Do you have a clear plan from June 1 through Nov. 5th so that you are sure you are doing everything you can to save democracy in 2024?
Now, check your plan again to make sure that it can withstand the grandchild / great niece & nephew test:
"Grandma/Grandpa/Nana, Way back in 2024, when everything was at stake, what did you do to try to save our freedoms and our future?"
Democracy won't save itself.
But when we stand together, indivisible, and do the work day in and day out, all across the country, we can save it. And we will.
Follow us on Instagram's Threads.net/@indivisiblemohawkvalley, on X (Twitter) using @indivisiblemv, and, of course, on our Facebook page and IMV Activism Group.
