Spring into action
We are ready for spring and ready for action. Petitioning is over, and the weather is warming up. Today we will review the ways for NY22 to take action; a rally for Trans Rights on March 31; and a recent election in Lake George.
We have been at this for 6 years through several elections and the pandemic, and we are not slowing down or disappearing. Together we will protect our democracy and our values.
Just remember, keep it bite sized, local and FUN!
We will start with this from Sarah Reeske:
This is your opportunity to be part of a NY22 district-wide action. Please read this letter and if you agree, use this google form to sign your name and town to the letter, which will be delivered to Congressman Williams' office on Monday the 27th. It would be awesome to have over 200 people sign this letter by Sunday, March 26th at 5pm.
This letter from constituents kicks off a cascade of actions and builds a narrative in the district and will stretch across the state to help our work in flipping NY22 and the House.
Here's the scoop!
In June, Congress has to vote on the debt ceiling bill. We want to avoid a MAGA default crisis and to have the House pass a "clean" bill that allows America to pay her bills (that the Republicans ran up on the country's credit card, but more on that another time). Because this is one of two must-pass pieces of legislation, the Rs want to make Ds take a painful vote like choosing between avoiding default or cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.
We don't want cuts, and we have to make it the loud, popular opinion in NY22 so that Brandon Williams will have a very important decision to make; vote in line with the district he represents OR support Speaker McCarthy. McCarthy can't spare Williams because he's one of 18 of the most vulnerable Republicans in the House. If we can peel away BW (and others do the same with their members of Congress), then McCarthy would have to put up a bill that would pass like a clean version. That would be the big win!
Here's the plan, so keep it just to our coalition.
Step 1 - everyone sign the letter.
Step 2 - contact Chris Flynn at chris.guthornflynn@gmail.com if you're willing to go in a small group to Williams' Syracuse office on Monday the 27th to deliver the letter.
Step 3 - if/when local newspapers write an article about the letter, share that like wildfire!
Step 4 - Be prepared to join in on an action in Syracuse and/or Utica during April recess--March 31-April 16--that escalates our call for a town hall and to show the Congressman we don't want cuts to SS&M&M.
Step 5 - If BW holds a town hall in April, we'll gather and do a demonstration like folks did in NY19 at a Marc Molinaro town hall that got excellent media coverage.
Step 6 - We write letters to the editor that focus on don't cut Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Here's my LTE (Sarah Reeske) that was published in four newspapers recently thanks to this master list from our friend Dick Meili in Waterville in Oneida County.
Step 7 - If you get a survey call this weekend, answer it. Data for Progress is doing a survey March 24-26th in NY19 and NY22, asking folks about the Republican and Democratic plans for paying for Social Security & Medicare. Data (and a NYT article) should be available Monday the 27th.
You can share the sign-on form with others. Here's a sample social media post that includes the link.
Congressman Brandon Williams has been representing NY22 for nearly 3 months, and he hasn't thought once about holding an in-person town hall to listen to us. I'm signing my name to this letter calling on him to hold one in each county this spring because town halls are democracy at work. If you agree and live in Oneida, Madison, Onondaga or Oswego counties in NY22, please sign onto this letter. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1UtI7GPf-XiPbax_at41fwO28blrst0pOI-JuCfWhEyU/viewform?edit_requested=true
Text me with any questions! Thanks for taking action together everyone!
Thanks,
Sarah Reeske
512-799-6535
PS. Please register for Indivisible's Unrepresentatives 18 national launch call happening on Thursday, March 30th from 8-9pm. The ideal audience is folks from the 18 districts that are currently being unrepresented by a Republican in the House, but the majority of voters chose President Biden. NY22 is one of those 18, so let's show up together so the rest of the country can see that we're ready to flip this seat.
Sarah has so much energy and focus! These actions will get us ready to move forward with the canvassing and GOTV for this years local elections, and will keep us ready to go national in 2024!
Oneida County Pride Alliance is working with HCPA and Diane Berry to plan a safe and empowering Trans Rights Rally on March 31st at 5pm at the Genesee St - Parkway intersection. People can bring their trans and nonbinary pride as well as signs geared towards trans rights. Afterward, we will gather at The Otherside at 6pm to reconvene and connect as a community. Any questions or updates can be directed to our Facebook page or email OCPA.
Our reach is expanding. Steering Committee member Kathy "Wojo" just learned that her niece, Allyson Miller was elected to the Village of Lake George Board of Trustees! This signals big changes in Lake George. There is a new mayor for the first time in 52 years, and two new trustees were elected. Way to go Allyson and Kathy!
Follow us on Twitter using @indivisiblemv and of course our Facebook page and IMV Activism Group.
