Let's Push the CCIA Over the Finish Line!

There are only three weeks left in order to push the Climate and Community Investment Act over the finish line. IMV and the Kirkland Town Democrats are hosting an in-person rally in Clinton today, May 21, 4-5 pm during our usual Honk-n-Wave for Black Lives to show our people power and the support for the CCIA following dozens of rallies held across the state on Tuesday.   

We are in the final stretch to pass this landmark climate justice bill which provides funding to make sure that the transition in New York away from fossil fuels is done in a way that is just and equitable for low income communities and communities of color.  What are you willing to do to make sure your state assembly member and senator support the CCIA?  Call them both today.  Then, join the IMV Climate Crisis Workgroup for its meeting on Monday, May 24th to get more involved in this critical issue. 
 

IMV Meeting Sunday

We have a great meeting planned for Sunday afternoon, 3-4:30 pm. The weather doesn't look great, so come back inside after a week of glorious sun, and join friends for political conversation and catching up. Rev. Sharon Baugh, President of the NAACP in Utica, will update us on police reform and racial justice work. We have lots of other conversations planned around DEI, state legislative session (CCIA, NY Health Act), Schumer and democracy, and how we are planning to elect Democrats locally in the fall election. Plus time for catching up with each other in breakout sessions. Please attend so you can weigh in on plans for in person /evening meetings this summer! Please email for the Zoom link.

We Need Your Signature This Weekend:
Karen Stanislaus Petition for OC Family Court Judge

Currently, we are short of signatures to get Karen Stanislaus an independent ballot line in her race for Family Court Judge. Without this line, her chances of becoming the first African-American elected county-wide will be much smaller.

Karen is an experienced court attorney, a Democrat, and a resident of New Hartford who has been working in the courts in Onondaga County for some time. Imagine what it would mean for Oneida County to have a Black woman as Family Court judge!

Fortunately, we have a few more days to make up the current signature deficit. Any Oneida County registered voter of any party can sign or carry these petitions. We have only until Sunday evening, May 23rd so we need you to take action right away.

To sign a petition for Karen Stanislaus (or to get a blank petition to carry yourself), you can call, text or email one of the following people:

Whitesboro-Carole Gehrig
315-725-0315
cgehrig_1@yahoo.com

Rome-Jennifer Geiger
315-525-5295

Clinton-Jen DeWeerth
315-982-1591
jendeweerth@gmail.com

Utica-Diane Berry
1669 Grandview Ave
stop in or call to confirm
315-235-5260

New Hartford-Judy Jerome
call or text to confirm time
315-527-1277

Friends, this is no time to sit on the sidelines. Make sure you sign, and if you have even a few hours to do so, collect signatures this weekend.

NY Health Act: Closer Than It's Ever Been

For the first time, a majority of state legislators in the Assembly and Senate are supporting the NY Health Act (A6058/S5474), which makes healthcare a guaranteed right to all NYers by setting up a comprehensive universal, single-payer healthcare program (learn more about the Health Act here). However, bill introduction is not assured - see New York State Could Finally Get Single-Payer Health Care by Liza Featherstone in Jacobin.  This past week, Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins did not let the bill out of the Health Committee, but it is still in Rules, so there is still a chance that it can move forward if we really push hard. The New York Health Act will provide comprehensive, universal health coverage — including long-term care — for every resident of New York. Here’s how you can help: 
 

• Insist that Your State Legislators pass the NY Health Act. Use this tool from the Campaign for NY Health to contact them. Sen. Mannion is not yet a cosponsor. Senator May is a longtime co-sponsor - please thank her and urge the rest of them to push for a vote this session.

• Share your healthcare story with the Campaign for NY Health.

• Write a letter to the editor - many resources (and media contact info) here.

• Sign the petition to #PassNYHealth

• Volunteers are needed for phone banking every Monday and Thursday in May at 6 pm. RSVP here (scroll down to the date you want).

Letters to the Editor

Congratulations to Judy Jerome, whose letter to the editor advocating support for the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act has now been published in three (3!) local newspapers. The most recent was the Utica Phoenix.

The IMV Letter writing /messaging group continues to meet on Sundays, with the next meeting scheduled for Sunday, June 6 at 6 pm on Zoom. Please consider joining. Letters are critical for shaping public opinion, influencing elected representatives, and moving voters on candidates and issues.

We Can't Lose our Democratic Republic!

Sen. Schumer is saying he wants to pass S1 For the People Act by June 30. That means President Biden could sign it by the 4th of July. Is IMV committed to doing everything necessary to make sure Sen Schumer sticks to that timeline?

According to Ezra and Leah at Indivisible, "It is nearly impossible to express what could be lost if this bill is not pushed forward, even if it means eliminating, or significantly altering the filibuster. Forget the discouraging things you’ve heard about Joe Manchin, Kyrsten Sinema, or even Mitch McConnell. The real enemy of the For the People Act is time. We’re running out of time for basic policy and political reasons."

We must continue to pressure Sen. Schumer, and we are going to need to get louder and public as the summer advances. He is saying the right things and we know he understands the cost to our country's future of allowing the hundreds of Republican anti-voting, anti-democracy bills being enacted this year in state legislatures across the country. However, we need to send a message that we expect nothing less than all Democrats sticking together on S1 and the full protection of democracy before the end of July. We'll keep you updated. Remember, the NYS Indivisible Coalition is leading this effort. Millions of Americans and the world's oldest democratic republic are depending upon us (and a bunch of Indivisibles in West Virginia (Manchin) and Arizona (Sinema).

According to Sarah Reeske, who is in conversation with Sen. Schumer's staff regularly about this top priority, says we many need to clear our calendars as we head into June and July in order to win this fight. We're talking rallies, letters to the editor, calls, and all our activist tools to keep the pressure on. If S1 does not pass, Democrats risk losing the Senate, House, and the Presidency for well over a decade because of the way Republican legislatures will undermine elections. The big push (June 28 - July 10) will be called "Deadline for Democracy." Is IMV committed to doing everything necessary to make sure Sen Schumer gets the job done?

Can You Volunteer in the Park Sunday? 

The CNY Nature Conservancy is looking for volunteers at F.T. Proctor Park at 9:30 this Sunday morning to continue working on (and probably finish) the excavation of the trough or cistern that is being prepped for full restoration. It is expected that one more session will do the job and thus get the stonemason to work on it! This is the first step of the Peace Garden! For those not up to digging out the cistern, there will also be a crew that will continue to rake the stone staircases in the park. Tools will be available but bring work gloves if you have them.

If you can make it, please email Phil Bean a quick "yes" by 3pm Saturday at utica.parks.volunteer@gmail.com

COVID-19 Memorial & Remembrance Service

Many of us in IMV know people who lost their lives to Covid 19 or just during this difficult period when it was not possible to mourn with the usual traditions and rituals. Please join friends and neighbors for a COVID-19 Memorial & Remembrance service facilitated by the Interfaith Coalition of Greater Utica in partnership with the Mohawk Valley Health System
Thursday, May 27, 2021, at 7 p.m. at Proctor Park Lily Pond Plateau, Utica. (Corner of Culver Avenue & Rutger Street – Parking Lot on Rutger).
"Remembering those who lost their lives to COVID & honoring essential workers who cared for all of us, as well as those who cared for COVID patients." We will be outside, and please wear a mask if you are not yet vaccinated.

We hope that you have been enjoying the wonderful weather and that we see you today at CAFE Friday and/or the CIA racial justice rally in Clinton. Remember to sign Karen Stanislaus' petition tomorrow and attend the climate Crisis Workgroup meeting Monday. Please remember those lost to Covid, and those who are still grieving these losses most personally, by joining friends and neighbors for the Memorial and Remembrance on Thursday evening.

We will see you Sunday, at our May 2021 IMV meeting on Zoom. Democracy has its eyes on us.