We're nearing the deadline of April 1 as the Invest in Our New York coalition pushes our elected representatives toward an economically and environmentally just 2022 NY state budget.  We want climate protections and green jobs ($15 Billion).  We want to prioritize public health and health care, funding for front line workers in home health care, nursing homes, and hospitals.  We want to make sure that regular people across our state can afford housing, education, job training, local transportation and child care.  How can we make sure that our representatives in Albany know our priorities and include them in the state's 2022 budget? 

We're coming together to strategize and organize for the final three weeks of budget negotiations!  Mark your calendar for Monday, March 14th, 6:30-8:00 pm, and register here.  
 

Climate Crisis Working Group News

A message from Maggie Reilly, Climate Crisis Working Group: "As an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Ukrainian delegate said last week “Human induced climate change and the war on Ukraine have the same roots, fossil fuels, and our dependence on them”.  Eradicating the burning of fossil fuels is imperative to lessen the effects of Climate Change, but it is also a necessary step to end war that has been fueled, funded, and fed by the fossil fuel industry. We must insist that fossil fuel expansion be immediately halted, and that the U.S. and all nations commit to a rapid and just transition away from all fossil fuels. To diminish the power of “petro-dictators”, such as Putin, we need to end the world’s fossil fuel addiction quickly.

To dream of a world that is healing from the atrocities of climate change and war is to dream of a time when all nations are no longer fighting each other for power but fighting the real threat…climate change. They are using technology to further the use of clean energy so the planet can begin to heal its ecosystems and return to sustaining all life. This dream begins with us right now…we must not only stand in solidarity with Ukraine but, we must advocate for a rapid transition to clean energy. The brave and courageous Ukrainian people are fighting not only for their own freedom and independence but for a sustainable planet. 

Please view what we have done on a small scale to reduce our carbon footprint: Maggie & John Reilly’s Virtual Tour of transitioning off fossil fuels to Renewables:  "Keeping Warm with Cold Climate Air Source Heat Pumps in Utica (Virtual Tour).” 
 

CLIMATE CALLS MATTER:  Call Today

Governor Kathy Hochul at (518) 474-8390

Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins at (518) 455-2585 

Assembly Speaker Heastie at (518) 455-3791

Sample script: "Hi,  my name is ____ and I live in ____, zip code ____. I’m calling to urge you to pass all 12 bills in the Climate Can’t Wait policy package AND dedicate $15 Billion in funding in the budget to implement the CLCPA.  Please, be the climate champion that history needs and urge NYSDEC to uphold the air permit denial of Danskammer and Greenidge."
 

Save the Date:  March 23rd 7- 8:30pm:
Webinar-The People’s CAC Guide to Shaping NY’s Climate Future

The Climate Crisis Working Group (CCWG) is making a plea to the entire IMV membership to join the CCWG in learning how to comment on the CLCPA Draft Scoping Plan. Thousands of comments will be needed advocating for the CLCPA implementation and against false solutions. The meeting on March 23rd will explain the process, show us how to submit comments with a simple, one-step toolkit.  Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYlduyrpjopGdD1L3dL-nwBdBSuCnOl69lk
 

IMV Shows Up for $15B for Climate

Members of the Climate Crisis Working Group joined over 300 fellow climate activists at the NY Renews Rally “$15B for Climate: Before it’s Too Late!”  on March 8th in Albany. Speakers included our own Senator Rachel May.   Not everyone could go to Albany on Tuesday, but everyone can make three phone calls this week.  Make your calls now to Governor Hochul, Senator Stewart Cousins, and Speaker Heastie using the simple script above.   
 

Health Care

We're hearing that there are some specific measures that have a chance of moving forward in this legislative session in Albany.  They are:
Passing Coverage 4 All (A880A/S1572A) to be included in the NYS Budget - creates a state-funded Essential Plan for New Yorkers up to 200% of the federal poverty level who are currently excluded because of their immigration status. This could be implemented within 6-12 months for immediate relief.
Passing the End Medical Debt package of bills by end of session (this legislation can be passed outside of the budget as standalone bills) - A7363/S6522 stops hospitals from placing liens on patients' homes or garnishing wages; A3470B/S2521B would require notifying patients about facility fees ahead of time and prohibit facility fees for preventive services, and A8441/S7625 would ensure that New Yorkers are aware of financial assistance options. This significantly helps reduce predatory medical billing practices in the current healthcare system.

In addition, IMV's Healthcare Work Group continues to advocate for: 
Passing the NY Health Act (A6058/S5474) by end of session (this legislation can be passed outside of the budget as a standalone bill - the #NYHealthAct is intentionally written to first pass on human rights principles - that care should be equitable and available to all. Then we pass the funding mechanisms in the following session - that is when NYHA becomes part of the budget battle) - begins implementation of systemic long-term change to guarantee universal, comprehensive, single-payer healthcare to everyone who lives or works in New York. Also saves NY State billions of dollars. We know that people WITH insurance, still can't get the care they need. We must #PassNYHealth for systemic and sustainable transformation of healthcare. 

What can you do to help this effort?
1.  Call your NYS Senator and Assembly member and tell them to pass these bills:  https://www.nyhcampaign.org/contact_your_senator

2. Join with New Yorkers across the state in a brand new phone bank that starts March 17th!  https://www.nyhcampaign.org/phonebank20220317
 

IMV Meeting Sunday, March 20th

IMV Steering Committee has planned a full agenda for our March 20, 2022 meeting on Zoom March 20th. 

Agenda: 
Updates from the congressional campaigns of Antonio Delgado and Matt Castelli (if you're in new NY21 be sure you attend Matt's supporter call on Wednesday to build momentum to defeat Stefanik.)
A speaker on NYS Bail Reform: the facts, and how we can message them in conversations to counteract Republican attacks
Indivisible's Truth Brigade: How to get involved
Bitcoin: What is it and why is it contributing to the climate crisis
State Lege & Budget updates....and much more.

Hopefully this is our last Zoom meeting for a while, so we can see each other in person again starting in April. However, for the month of March, we're making it as easy as possible for people to pop on and off and still have time for petitioning. 
 

IMV Activists: Keeping Democracy Strong

Thanks for all the work on Rural Freedom Network postcards, for collecting signatures on petitions, and for all the other progressive democracy and justice actions you take each week. One of the most important ways that we can help people fighting for democracy in other countries is by working locally to keep ours strong.

If you have not seen it yet, please take time to review the college-Community Partnership for Racial Justice's summary report of Oneida County police reform plans submitted to the state following the murder of George Floyd. How did your jurisdiction do? One of the top recommendations from the partnership is that Oneida County establish a Human Rights Commission that could include the function of community (citizen) review board. This seems like a strong recommendation to improve civic engagement and strengthen racial justice in our communities. What do you think? Make your voice heard to your county legislator!

IMV is committed to continuing work on many fronts in the fight for democracy and justice. What's next? Join us Monday, March 14 for the state budget town hall,join Citizen Action in the St. Patrick's Day parade on Saturday (info below), and mark your calendar for our IMV meeting on Sunday, March 20th. And all are welcome for progressive political conversation with other activists on Friday mornings at CAFE Friday.

Democracy is not a spectator sport!

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