Indivisible OneNYS Virtual Convening: Electoral Edition 

You're invited to our Indivisible OneNYS virtual convening on Thursday, April 21st, 7 pm-8:30 pm, to help us get oriented towards winning in the midterms! This event is open to all Indivisible activists from all across the state, and it's how we build power beyond our local community to get the representation, the laws and  budget, and the change we want. In addition to a keynote speaker (who do you think our fearless leader, Sarah Reeske, has secured to speak at this event?), the agenda includes:

Who's running for Congress? - A look at who the Democratic candidates are in each congressional race right now.
Putting in the Work - An overview of Indivisible's 2022 direct voter contact offerings and related topics
OneNYS Opportunities - IndivisiGather+ meet-ups this summer and restructuring the regional rep roles
Tour NY Phone Bank - Learn about our summer phone bank series to expand the NY Dem delegation and keep the House

Register here.  We can't wait to see you on the Zoom!  
 

Antonio Delgado NY19 Event Tonight: All are Welcome!

Rep. Antonio Delgado will join Oneida Democratic Committee Members and Volunteers at Roselawn Banquet Facility 446 Main St, New York Mills TONIGHT, Friday April 15th from 5:00-6:00.  The Congressman wants to continue to get to know the people who have already been supporting his campaign by carrying petitions and/or will be volunteering with his campaign in the coming months. It's time to get excited for the work we'll be doing together this year!

Help Matt Castelli Beat Stefanik in NY21

While many IMV members are in the new NY19, many others are in the new NY21, and face a much tougher battle to help elect Democrat Matt Castelli.  There is a significant need for a major volunteer effort right now to get Castelli on a second line.  Here's Matt's campaign staffer, Scott Miller, explaining the task which IMV members could help with in the near term:

"The voter registration numbers in NY21 do not guarantee a Democratic candidate the election. To win, Matt needs votes from non-affiliated voters, and some Republican voters as well. As you know, many voters simply will not vote for a candidate with a 'D' by the name. Put that same name on an independent line and they will. The Republican vote?  We know there are Republicans who are unhappy with their candidate. They also may pull the lever for an independent candidate. What can you do to help?

Gather more signatures.  The period for gathering starts April 19. The last day for filing is May 31. We would like petitions in hand by May 24.  Matt needs 3,500 valid signatures to earn an independent line. We need more than that as a buffer from the inevitable challenge from the Republican candidate.

This work doesn't have to be done by registered Democrats only.  Non-affiliated voters can carry, as can Republicans disenchanted with their current representative.  The 2021 revisions to New York elections laws do allow 3rd party petition witnesses who have signed a primary petition...as long as they had signed for the same candidate. This opens the field up for those who have already expressed a degree of support for Matt Castelli.

So....Team Castelli is hosting a petition training Monday, April 18th at 6pm over zoom for our next petition period in our pursuit of a second ballot line.   Please RSVP through this form, as only those who RSVP will get the zoom link in advance.  
 

Go To Albany for NY Health Act Rally April 26th

We are closer than ever to passing theNew York Health Act with majorities supporting the bill in the state legislature and many committed care champions fighting in the halls of state power. This beautiful movement has been building power across the state through strategic base-building. It is time to mobilize everyone in Albany together! Please join Campaign for New York Health and our statewide coalition in Albany Tuesday April 26. There will be buses statewide. We will be keeping an eye on the pandemic and will adjust safety protocols as necessary. Please RSVP today: www.bit.ly/April26Albany

Every New Yorker deserves affordable, accessible, culturally competent, and comprehensive healthcare and to be free from the burden of medical costs. Our lives are on the line. Community groups, Labor, and legislators will march, rally, and speak in one voice to demand elected leaders prioritize achieving meaningful reforms to advance health justice before they go on recess on June 2 to campaign for re-election. Please fill out the RSVP form no later than Monday April 18 ifyou are interested in joining us. Your response is necessary to help us determine the logistics of transportation and COVID-19 safety.

Climate Crisis: Take These Actions Today

1. Submit Comments on the Draft Scoping Plan-each week there is a different section to submit a public comment about. 

The Climate Crisis Working Group (CCWG) is making a plea to the entire IMV membership to comment on the CLCPA Draft Scoping Plan. Thousands of comments will be needed advocating for the CLCPA implementation and against false solutions. This week, we’re asking you to take just one minute and submit a public comment on the Agriculture and Forestry section of NY’s Draft Scoping Plan. If you missed commenting on one of the earlier sections, you can do so here.

2. Sign up for a Public Hearing on the Draft Scoping Plan & 

Save the Date: April 26th 4pm: Syracuse, NY. SUNY ESF

WE NEED EVERYONE TO JOIN OUTSIDE TO MAKE OUR VOICES HEARD and then if you want to speak, please register:  https://climate.ny.gov/CAC-Meetings-and-Materials

Note: This replaces our Climate Crisis Working Group meeting for April. If you are planning to attend and would like to carpool, email indivisiblemv@gmail.com

3. On Earth Day, Friday April 22nd, IMV members will join people from all over NY in Albany at 12 noon to show support for climate action and the Climate Can’t Wait 2022 policy package. If you’d like to carpool, email indivisiblemv@gmail.com.

Next IMV Meeting 3-5 pm May 1st

Please mark your calendar for this combined April-May meeting on May Day (International Workers' Day). We will finally be coming together again IN PERSON! Meet up at the Jewish Community Center, 2310 Oneida Street, Utica on May 1st, 3-5 pm. We will have a huge cake to celebrate the confirmation of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson to the SCOTUS, cover some ground on issues and electoral work, and then spend some time volunteering with door knocking (or for those who prefer, postcard prep) for James Paul who is on the ballot for Utica School Board May 17th. Celebrate and Take Action, Together!

More Ways to Support James Paul for Utica School Board

Thank you to everyone who showed up for James Paul's fundraiser last Friday night! It was a tremendous success filled with energy and came on the heels of James' endorsement by Utica teachers!

Now it's all hands on deck to help with direct voter contact! Sarah Reeske, campaign manager for James Paul for Utica School Board, has set up a bunch ofTuesday night phone banks. As we know, it's critical totalk with voters early and oftenin order to make sure not a single vote is left on the table.Please sign up to phone bank on Tuesday nights 6-7:30 pm.

In addition we have a lot of canvassing to do before the election on May 17th. If you are willing to canvass for James Paul email jamespaulforutica@gmail.com.

Finally, please make sure that you follow theJames Paul for Utica School Board Facebook page and check out his webpage where you can see a lot more information on James, his positions, what's going on with the district, and even make a much needed campaign donation. Just over four weeks to go. It's time to elect James Paul to the Utica School Board!

Indivisible Will Match Your Contribution to IMV 

During the months of April and May, Indivisible national is once again offering a $500 match for all contributions made to IMV. Your donation will be doubled! As an all volunteer group committed to making progressive political action local, bite-size and fun, we don't need huge contributions, but we do have some expenses including room rental fees for our meetings, our Zoom account, and stamps and mailings that help us connect with voters on our values. Please make your contribution to our Act Blue account HERE to get a match in the coming month.

As always, we accept donations by cash or check that can be used for a wider set of purposes including our efforts to write letters and postcards to encourage support of our candidates at every level. Just send a check to Indivisible Mohawk Valley, 19 Proctor Ave, Clinton, NY 13323.

Rally for Ukraine and Democracy

Rallies on the Clinton Village Green sponsored by the Kirkland Town Democrats and IMV have been a meaningful way for the community to come together especially since the summer of 2020 to call attention to Black Lives Matter and the Climate Crisis. Last Friday the Kirkland Town Democrats, joined by Utica area Ukrainians, led a protest on the Clinton Village Green against the attack on Ukraine by Russia. The protest will be held again on Friday, May 6th from 4-5 pm, and all are welcome to bring signs and join in solidarity.

State Budget Update

When the NYS budget was finalized last weekend, it became clear that while some priorities that could help struggling New Yorkers received partial funding, Gov. Hochul still managed to push forward big allocations for super wealthy corporations and developers. The result was a mixed bag, and as in past years, too much was decided behind closed doors and at the last minute so our Senate and Assembly representatives barely had time to read the budget before adoption.

Here's a summary of the budget from our Invest in Our NY coalition. The advocacy groups that are part of the coalition also issued their joint statement about the budget that you can read here. Yes, the budget left out undocumented people from health and child care programs, threatened to roll back bail reform, and cut funding for housing programs, but it could have been even worse if not for all the calls that IMVers and our allies across the state day in and day out throughout this fight. Our members met with legislative representatives in Zoom lobby visits, made trips to Albany, and sent countless emails. What we know is that there is still an unprecedented revenue surplus as a result of our efforts to raise taxes on the billionaires last year, and next year, we'll be coming for even more of those funds--for health care, child care, housing, education, and climate justice.

The NYS budget justice fight is, like all of our efforts, one that takes time, and is not linear, but rather makes progress and can also stall a bit. We will work again next year with our IONY allies to persuade both the public and our legislators on our priorities, which put New Yorkers most in need at the center, and prioritize equity and sustainability above get rich schemes for the ultra wealthy.

For now, we turn our attention to the May 17th school board elections, the fall 2022 elections, and lifting up peace, democracy, and racial and social justice. See you soon at a candidate event, a rally, or at our May 1st meeting. And remember to sign up for the Indivisible OneNYS Convening on April 21st. We want to see everyone there!

Democracy is not a spectator sport.

Follow us on Twitter using @indivisiblemv and of course our Facebook page and IMV Activism Group.