Protest Williams' Sham Town Hall on Monday
Rep. Williams' Town Hall in New Hartford is Monday, May 1st
(This update is to clarify that the date of the New Hartford Town Hall remains Monday, May 1st. BW's office rescheduled only his Camillus Town Hall)
Tell the Truth about Brandon Williams in Public
WE ARE WINNING in our effort to weaken Rep. Williams in the media ad the public. He is a terrible representative of NY22, and he's dangerous because he is enabling (and frequently joining) the radical MAGAs in Congress. Let's keep the pressure on:
Join IMV for our #GoodTrouble Rally before Rep. Williams' fourth sham Town Hall. This one is in New Hartford, at Bradley Elementary School, 33 Oxford Road.
Please RSVP that you are coming so we can send you important information you need to know to help us make this event--both outside at 5:45 pm and inside at 6:30 pm, a successful action to weaken Williams politically.
Rally for Social Security, Medicare, SNAP, Veterans Health Benefits, Job Training & all the other things that MAGAs want to hold hostage with their MAGA Default Crisis.
Bradley Elementary School
33 Oxford Roadmailto:
New Hartford
5:45 PM
Followed by Rep. Brandon Williams Sham Town Hall at 6:30 pm
RSVP: IndivisibleMV@gmail.com
Our Brandon Williams: Move In Or Move Out demonstration on Wednesday was a huge success!
It was creative and visually fun. We had a big U-Haul parked outside his office, moving boxes, and more than a dozen people with signs calling out Williams for his broken promise to move into the district and asking why he did not want to live among the people he represents or be registered to vote in NY22 himself.
Several participants delivered a letter signed by about 160 constituents demanding that Williams keep his campaign promise and move into NY22--or move out of Congress
The event was covered in the media with video, photos, and our message showing loud and clear.
WKTV covered the action later in the day with video. The Williams office released a statement (excuse). One constituent responded on Facebook: “The statement from his office is insulting — that 'frankly, no other person in this situation' would move to NY22. He just can’t fathom why anyone would want to live here. He thinks it’s beneath him.” Let's hope that more and more NY22 voters are insulted that Williams puts his future political career ahead of his district, and thinks it's ridiculous that anyone would live here unless they absolutely have to.
The Daily Sentinel published a lengthy piece on our action with multiple quotes and photo.
Thanks to all those who showed up and made this event awesome!
And in other news...You may have heard that Brandon Williams just dumped his chief of staff. Here's some more detail: Brandon Williams has had a lot of turnover in his office over his first four months. His communications director, director of operations, and a Utica casework official have all left. One of those was Tenney's disgraced staffer, Pat O'Brien, AKA phony LTE writer Dave Garland.)
Now he has parted ways with his Chief of Staff. His new Chief of Staff, Joe Guy, is coming from the office of Rep. Madison Cawthorn: “He went to work for former Rep. Madison Cawthorn, R-N.C., as a legislative assistant and then special projects director from January 2021 until March 2022. Cawthorn faced backlash from his fellow Republicans last year after claiming that his colleagues in Congress were using cocaine and invited him to orgies. He later said his comments were exaggerated. Cawthorn is now out of Congress after losing a GOP primary election in May.”
When voters learn the truth about Brandon Williams, we create an opening for a Democratic challenger. Brandon Williams:
Has broken his campaign promise to move into the district.
Refuses to hear constituents' voices at his town halls, even though he claims he is hearing "their ideas and questions."
Votes in lockstep with MAGA extremists in Congress, even when it means stripping veterans' benefits and SNAP (food stamps) for children and putting the credit rating and economy of the US at significant risk.
Can't manage to keep a small staff on board and is hiring the rejects of MAGA extremists like Cawthorn and Tenney.
Let's keep up the good work! See you on Monday at 5:45 pm In New Hartford.
It Was a Busy Week for IMV
On Monday, many IMV members joined Indivisibles from across the state for a Zoom meeting with Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado. Thanks to Sarah Reeske for the many months of getting this on the calendar, and the Lt Gov for making such a great effort to be there even when he was under the weather. Indivisibles asked some really good questions and we began to build a statewide relationship with him.
On Tuesday, we held our monthly IMV meeting on Zoom, and it was packed with candidates including: Julie Gederes (Utica Common Council at Large) who does not face a Democratic primary, Celeste Friend for Utica Mayor and Katie Aiello for Utica Common Council First Ward--they both face Democratic primaries in June. We also heard from Crystal Faria who is running against a longtime Republican incumbent to represent District 10 on the Oneida County Board of Legislators. Finally, Sarah Klee Hood and her campaign manager joined us to talk about her campaign for NY22. She had a strong first week of fundraising and plans to keep it up!
We were reminded that it is critical to contribute time and money to progressive women candidates early in their campaigning. That's what EMILY's List means: Early Money Is Like Yeast.
We also got an update about the Utica School Board election We worked hard to elect James Paul, and since then he has been part of a transformative majority on the board that has successfully demanded accountability and spurred change. Now, to preserve that majority Uticans need to re-elect Joe Hobika and elect Jason Cooper. There are other candidates on the ballot who want to ban books and spread the MAGA message that teachers are groomers. We can't let them win. Talk to everyone you know: Friends don't let friends vote for wackadoodle school board candidates.
On Wednesday, IMV held our successful Williams: Move In or Move Out rally in front of his Utica office. Thanks to all who showed up in the rainy weather for this excellent event.
And thanks to everyone who has been continuing the calls to Albany about budget priorities, and to Congress about preventing the MAGA Default Crisis. Gov. Hochul is presenting the budget framework now, so the process is finally drawing to a close. The MAGA Default Crisis has not yet reached fever pitch...but we'll stay on it. Check the calendar below to get involved in the MAGA Default Crisis week of action planning.
Climate Crisis Working Group Actions
Rally outside the NYSUT Representative Assembly in Albany
Why are we supporting the rally outside the NYSUT meeting on Saturday morning in Albany? Because teachers are strongly in favor of divestment to protect their pension from risky investments in the dying fossil fuel industry AND to protect the climate for the future of their students. Despite the fact that resolutions in favor of divestment have passed at their past three annual meetings, and close to thirty NYSUT locals have passed divestment resolutions, NYSUT has been actively lobbying against divestment. We support teachers demanding that NYSUT work to have the teachers pension system develop a meaningful fossil fuel divestment plan without delay.
If you want to travel to Albany for the rally, register HERE.
If you want to listen to a good radio interview with a Divest NY activist about the issue and the rally: click HERE.
Tuesday, May 2nd, Join the Climate Crisis Working Group at the NY is Not Disposable Rally in Albany to support passing the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (A5322/S4246) and the Bigger Better Bottle Bill. Please RSVP to Maggie at margaret_reilly@mac.com or jgeiger777@gmail.com if you’d like to carpool.
Keep the pressure on Brandon Williams.
Show up on Monday, May 1st at the New Hartford Rally and Town Hall
RSVP for either one or both: IndivisibleMV@gmail.com
We have signs and red cards for you.
Democracy is not a spectator sport.
Follow us on Twitter using @indivisiblemv and of course our Facebook page and IMV Activism Group.
