IMV Climate Crisis Rally in Utica Today, 4-5 pm
Join the CAFE & the Climate Crisis Rally Today
IMV CAFE Fridays (Zoom) is still going strong. Join this morning at 9:30-10:30 am. Then, please make every effort to show up for IMV's first Fourth Friday Climate Crisis Rally in Utica at the intersection of Genesee Street and Memorial Parkway today 4-5 pm. Bring a climate crisis sign, be careful crossing the street, and join folks at the statue in the median.
The Climate Crisis Workgroup is taking the summer off from regular business meetings, but we can't stand still when floods kill, temperatures soar, wildfires rage, and drought causes conflict around the world. Connect with friends and fellow activists today in Utica, and get ready to launch a new year of climate crisis activism. There's no time to waste.
IMV Co-Sponsors Good Cause Eviction Press Conference
At noon yesterday, Citizen Action’s Central New York chapter joined Utica Common Council Members Celeste Friend (District 3) and Delvin Moody (District 5) to call on the city to pass Good Cause Eviction legislation following the displacement of dozens of residents at the Olbiston apartment complex last week. As the city of Utica continues its litigation against the property owner, tenants and community members are calling for tenant protections to prevent incidents like this from happening in the future.
The city of Albany made history this week with the passage of its Good Cause legislation, which gives tenants the ability to hold negligent property owners accountable for deplorable conditions before their properties fall into disrepair. The city of Utica must pass similar legislation to protect the health and safety of its residents. Good Cause would increase Utica’s stock of quality, affordable housing. Last week’s displacement of 60 families and their pets was avoidable, and exposed the need for legislation which would allow tenants to force repairs and prevent landlords from profiting off of disinvestment. Good Cause would also address chronic homelessness by preventing rent hikes that push people out of their homes. IMV was a co-sponsor of the press conference and supports the demand for Good Cause legislation with our ally Citizen Action and progressive Democratic councilmembers, Celeste Friend and Delvin Moody.
Letters to the Editor
Keep going with the Letters to the Editor! Need some inspiration? Check our Nesecan Balkan's letter on health care in the print edition (and online) of the Utica OD on Sunday. The same day Jeff and Joan Ganeles wrote a terrific letter (they always do) about the For the People Act.
What topic matters to you this week? Do you want to let your neighbors know how important it is to call our Senators about the democracy bills and the filibuster? Are you concerned about the climate crisis? Do your neighbors not realize the importance of President Biden's recovery and infrastructure bills, or his child tax credits/ checks? If you need any help writing your letter or knowing where or how to submit, just contact IndivisibleMV@gmail.com. We are here to support you and amplify your voice!
Redistricting Heats Up
New York State Independent Redistricting Commission is holding virtual public hearings starting next week through mid August. The hearing for the Mohawk Valley is Aug. 5 and the hearing for Madison county (central NY) is Aug. 9. On the calendar below you can see both the hearing dates and times and several trainings about how to prepare and deliver testimony at these hearings. You can sign up to attend or to offer testimony on this page. We know that our area will probably be part of significantly redrawn lines and NY22 is likely to change or disappear based on NY's population decline. If you want to know more, these hearings are critical.
Register for Indivisible's Redistricting Hearing Training so that you can be informed about what resources are at your disposal on how redistricting works state by state. They will cover the most effective ways to participate in the redistricting process, including best practices for attending public hearings, participating in official online comment periods, and developing a community of interest." We will also have a brief overview of the issue at our August 17th IMV meeting at Cherrywood.
Stand with Our Labor Allies on July 28th
1199 SEIU is escalating action and welcomes allies to show up and support its upcoming informational picket on Wednesday July 28th, 2-4:30 pm at Masonic Care. Help show support for these frontline workers and educate the public about their demands. Currently they face losing their pension in favor of a 401K to which most could not even contribute because of their low pay. They are fighting for wages and affordable health insurance rates as well. Let's stand with our labor allies--and fight!
IMV Meeting Aug. 17th: Mark Your Calendar
IMV has become a force for local progressive activism in the past four and half years, but no more so than in our impact on elections. When we write and distribute postcards, make calls, knock doors, and support candidates for election, especially local candidates, we make an impact beyond our numbers, using our time and energy together. We will do it again this fall for the 2021 election. Please mark your calendar for August 17, 6:30-8:00 pm; we will meet at Cherrywood for a powerful candidate support organizing meeting.
Indivisible's Biggest & Most Successful Recess Ever
Indivisible National, on a leader call last night, reported its most widespread and successful recess activism ever. That means several hundred public events, countless office visits to senators, and ultimately, a speech by President Biden echoing our message that democracy is under threat from Republican voting restrictions. Leah Greenberg, co-founder, was one of a hundred women leaders arrested with the Poor People's Campaign on behalf of voting rights and the moral call to demand a truly representative and inclusive democracy.
Indivisible also has a strong stand on recovery priorities. With the Filibuster still standing, the path to these recovery priorities is filled with procedural hoops related to budget reconciliation. Priorities include climate, health care, care economy, and fighting gerrymandering.
We're just getting started. We must keep the pressure on reconciliation and budget bills and #ForThePeopleAct. We can't give up until we force the issue of the filibuster. #EndTheFilibuster. Currently our message is that the Senate must get S1 done before the end of the summer session. Please keep calling Sen Schumer and Sen Gillibrand. Sen. Schumer announced yesterday that he WILL bring S1 up for a second vote, so we need to support him and keep the pressure on so he does that before the summer recess. Later in August, the John Lewis Voting Act will be on the docket. Keep the pressure on!
Democracy is not a spectator sport.
Follow us on Twitter using @indivisiblemv and of course our Facebook page and IMV Activism Group.
