Our 1st 2025 IMV Meeting: Sunday 1:30 pm
Join Us For Our Jan. 2025 Meeting, Bring a Friend
Sunday, Jan. 26th, 1:30-3:00 pm
New Hartford Public Library
2 Library Lane, New Hartford
It's been the week from hell and it's going to get worse. We believe the only way to survive these difficult times is to stick together and work together to lift up our values, resist wrongdoing at every level of government, and press our elected officials to slow down the MAGA Trump onslaught. We know you are demoralized but we promise it feels better to come together with like-minded activists and start taking steps to make life better. You'll leave more energized than when you came--and you'll have a bigger network and better tools to start helping those who are going to need us first.
More Than 100 Attend Mohawk Valley People's March Rally
Thanks to all who attended the rally last Saturday. We were lucky to rally on one of the warmest days this month, and finished before the snow started to fall. Our spokespeople were excellent and both The Daily Sentinel and WKTV reported clear "on message" quotes. We had good signs, lots of chanting, and good speakers. Here's the Sentinel's coverage. Our big coalition is ready to organize and support each other for whatever comes next.
Climate Crisis Working Group
The Climate Crisis Working Group will be having a meeting in February, date TBA in the next newsletter. In the meantime, we can make a difference in our state and local community. Below are actions that you can take on critical issues impacting our state’s environment and lead in Utica.
Albany Lobby Dates:
January 28th: Urge your State Legislators to dramatically reduce single-use plastic packaging by passing the excellent Packaging Reduction & Recycling Infrastructure Act and the Bigger Better Bottle Bill into law this spring. These almost passed last year. Let’s help make it happen this year. RSVP To Join Us In Albany on 1/28/25 >>
February 4th: Despite our ongoing advocacy, Governor Hochul did not put the NY HEAT Act, the GAP Fund*, or meaningful building electrification into her budget. We must continue to push Governor Hochul and the state legislatures to pass bills, such as the NY HEAT Act, that will transition NY off fossil fuels. It would be great if you could join us for the Feb 4 Albany Rally & Lobby Day to pass NY HEAT; we need everyone’s help to fill the buses (free!), eat the lunches (free!), and fill the Million Dollar Staircase like we did last year! (And if you’re still on FB, please invite your friends via the Feb 4 FB event and post the link to your page!)
Contact Jennifer Geiger jgeiger777@gmail.com or Maggie Reilly margaret_reilly@mac.com if you are interested in going to Albany on either of these dates.
LEAD POISONING in UTICA and New Regulations
There is and has been a serious Lead Poisoning issue in the City of Utica that impacts mainly the residents of the Cornhill area and West Utica. These are the most disadvantaged communities in our City. IMV has been asked to assist in taking action on this issue. The leaders of the Climate Crisis Working Group have taken on this challenge and invite anyone who is interested in joining a “coalition” to contact Maggie Reilly margaret_reilly@mac.com or Mona Perrotti monap414@yahoo.com
SUPPORT THE ACTIONS that the governor and state legislators have taken to help SOLVE THE LEAD ISSUE.
There are new regulations proposed MANDATING and enforcing landlords to permanently remediate lead in rental housing. Please voice your support for these new regulations by sending email to regsqna@health.ny.gov by February 23. You can also support the lead rental registry by calling 518-473-7488.
Education Advocacy Day in Albany Feb. 4th
Join Citizen Action and the Alliance for Quality Education (AQE) on our bus to Albany to lobby our legislators for education equity and universal child care in 2025!
On February 4th, we will be holding an AQE Advocacy Day to show the Legislature, Governor, and the media that public education, early education and child care are top priority issues in New York, with much more work still to be done. Our State Legislators are elected to represent US in budget negotiations, and they need to know that we’re expecting them to prioritize New York’s children in the budget this year.
That’s why we need to have a big presence at the Capitol. When you come to Albany, you have a chance to speak directly to decisionmakers and tell them about the biggest issues facing you, your family, your schools and your community. Our collective power comes from the parent, student and community voices that make up our organizations. Every voice matters! This is an all day event, with the bus leaving from the North Utica Shopping Mall at 50 Auert Ave. at 9am. Sign up HERE.
NY21 Special Election Organizing
Hundreds of energized activists joined Sarah Reeske's NY21 call on Tuesday evening. If you weren't signed up you might not have received her follow up email with information about what's next. Here's the recording of the zoom and the slide deck. If you haven't already, please fill out our interest form that helps Sarah know what kind of actions you'd like to take to flip NY21.
Upcoming calls
Phone bank on Wed, Feb 5 from 6-7:30pm. Register here. We'll be calling voters who really should be Indivisibles and asking them questions and if we can invite them to upcoming Indivisible actions for the special election.
Conversation for NY21 folks only on Wednesday, Jan 29th from 6:30-7:30. Register here. We're going to go over organizing ideas, listen to each other, and orient ourselves to moving forward in a way that makes things bite size, local, and fun.
Call Sen. Gillibrand and Sen. Schumer Today Re Hegseth
If you don’t want an allegedly abusive MAGA extremist to be our next Secretary of Defense, your senators need to hear from you ASAP. Pete Hegseth’s nomination has already passed the committee, and the only step left is a confirmation vote from the full Senate. That vote is expected today. If we’re going to stop this dangerous nomination, we have to act now. Every call, every email, and every bit of pressure counts., and make your call as soon as possible today before any vote.
Call your senators and tell them to vote NO on Hegseth >>
P.S. -- Confirmation hearings for two of Trump's other dangerous nominees have just been scheduled. Kash Patel (FBI) and RFK Jr. (Department of Health and Human Services) will have their first hearings on January 29. Visit our nominations resource page to learn more and take action.
What Can You Do Today Re: Trump's EO on Birthright Citizenship?
Whether you live in NY21 or NY22: Call Gov. Hochul
Tell Gov. Hochul to stand up against Trump’s executive order by making sure children born in your state receive a birth certificate -- as required by the Constitution. Governor Pritzker of Illinois has set the tone with statements like this. You can use our call tool to contact your governor.
If John Mannion is your Representative (NY22):
We’re not going to succeed in fueling a backlash to Trump’s xenophobic order unless people with big megaphones are talking about it too. Use Indivisible's call tool to urge John Mannion to condemn it loudly and often. Call Rep. John Mannion now >>
It's a LOT. Hold on.
We know this is all a lot. It's the high season for advocacy at the state level in Albany. We have a horrible MAGA Congress. Trump issued 200 disastrous and evil Executive Orders (many illegal and unconstitutional) in his first hours in office and they --and his unqualified, corrupt nominations--just keep coming.
So we look when we can for the good--like Bishop Mariann Budde who bravely and with authority and humility spoke truth to power from her pulpit at the National Cathedral. What she said, was very much what the speakers and spokespeople at our local People's March Rally said to our local community. We need to remember the humanity of everyone around us and our own. And we need to connect with each other in love and kindness, and we will not stop fighting for justice for all.
See you Sunday afternoon 1:30 pm at the New Hartford Library.
No one let go of anyone's hand.
Follow us on Bluesky: @Indivisiblemv.bsky.social, on Instagram's Threads.net/@indivisiblemohawkvalley, on X (Twitter) using @indivisiblemv and of course on our Facebook page and IMV Activism Group.
