Take Action Today to Pass the CCIA
Take Action Now to Push the CCIA
Two years ago, Indivisible Mohawk Valley was part of a coalition and our advocacy helped enact New York’s nation-leading climate bill, the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). This bill set ambitious goals for New York. Over the past year, the Climate Action Council and its advisory committees have been meeting to establish plans. But goals and plans are not enough. We need to implement them! And that is where the Climate and Community Investment Act (CCIA, S4264A/A6967) comes in. This bill would require companies importing or creating greenhouse gas-emitting products to pay a proportionate fee and thereby provide a revenue stream to implement the goals and plans for community investment, good, green jobs, a just transition, and consumer protection.
Currently, this bill is stuck in the Environmental Conservation Committees in both chambers. With less than 2 weeks left in session, the need for action is urgent. Business interests have mounted an intensive lobbying campaign against the bill--for example, the false narrative that this is a 55 cent per gallon tax on gasoline. Even if the corporate polluters pass on some of the polluter penalty to consumers, it is not a tax, and it would be offset by annual rebates of almost $1,200 to New Yorkers who make up to 60% of median income ($77,000 outside of NYC). For those who file taxes, the rebate would be automatic and for others, a simple online enrollment will suffice.
Now is the time to push hard for this bill! Actions we can take now include:
And there will be an in-person, outdoor “Art Day of Action” in Albany on June 3rd. We can sign up here. If you’d like to carpool to this event, please email indivisiblemv@gmail.com. Climate cowardice is not acceptable! Let’s pass the CCIA!
Our May Meeting Was Outstanding: Here's What We Covered
We held our May IMV meeting just about one year after George Floyd was killed by police officers in Minneapolis, including all those officers who stood by for nine minutes and allowed the murder to occur before their eyes. The murder was a wake up call to many white Americans who didn't truly understand the full impact of racism on Black people and the impact of white body supremacy in our systems and structures including in law enforcement and criminal justice. The mass mobilization that occurred across the country in urban, suburban, and rural areas has slowed, but much work remains to be done, and that includes holding our local governments accountable for reforms, pushing for more sweeping justice changes, and working politically to elect Black candidates and other officials who will center racial justice.
Rev. Sharon Baugh, President of the Utica/Oneida County NAACP, provided an overview of advocacy for reforms and organizing efforts in Utica. She shared her vision for a diverse and inclusive community with racial equity at the center. Oneka Roach-Campbell, a local immigration attorney also involved in Utica's police reform committee and the Black Leadership Coalition was also present at the meeting.
Kathy Wojciechowski gave an excellent summary of the recent “Practical Skills/Tools to Deal with Racism” webinar, which was a 4-hour virtual, interactive workshop designed to improve one’s effectiveness and skills in conversations about race. The technique taught was the R. A. C. E. method (Reflect, Act, Connect, Expand) which utilizes personal stories in 1 to 1 conversations with family/friends/acquaintances. RACE was formulated from successful, evidence-based practices by Dr. David Campt. For more detailed information on this valuable tool go to www.whiteallytoolkit.com and https://thedialoguecompany.com
We also conducted a poll about preferences for meetings over the summer. The Steering Committee is now putting together an agenda for Tuesday, June 15, 6:30-8:00 pm at the Cherrywood Pavilion. The meeting marks the four year anniversary of our June 2017 meeting at Jervis Library in Rome where we selected the name Indivisible Mohawk Valley and committed to political activism at every level of government and to both issue and electoral politics. We hope to see everyone there!
Support Celeste Friend for Re-Election
Celeste Friend ran an impressive campaign in 2019 that engaged dozens of her ward 3 residents and many other Uticans and progressive activists across the Mohawk Valley. Since then she has been a champion of transparency and accountability in a city where old school boys clubs still reign, author of innovative legislative proposals on Utica Common Council, and an advocate for her constituents.
Celeste and Andy are opening their home for a big, fun fundraiser on Saturday, June 5th. Come anytime from 2-5, listen to live music from 3-4, and enjoy an ice cream sundae of your choice. We'll be able to spread out in the back yard, front porch, and house. Buy your tickets here: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/icecream2021
In addition, be sure to plug into her campaign as a volunteer by signing up now. There are many ways, big and small to get involved with one of the best (and most fun and social) volunteer campaign teams around. Sign up using this Volunteer Form.
IMV hopes you will support Celeste's campaign and those of other local candidates whose events and volunteer opportunities you will see in this newsletter in the next five months.
Remembering...
We are in a time of memorializing. Last night there was a memorial ceremony in Utica for the victims of Covid-19. This weekend is Memorial Day, and historically a time of parades, especially on Monday, Memorial Day, to honor Americans who have died in war and there have been far too many, including in the nearly 20 year old war in Afghanistan (and nearly as long in Iraq). The news has been filled with the one year remembrances of George Floyd's murder and the marches and protests that followed.
Here's another one: May 31 and June 1st mark the 100 year anniversary of the Tulsa Massacre. White mobs attacked the Black community of Greenwood, OK, also known as Black Wall Street. More than a thousand white people, some wearing their WWI army uniforms, firebombed and assaulted an entire community, leaving most of the area's 10,000 residents homeless, killing close to 300 Black people, and destroying tens, perhaps even hundreds of millions of dollars worth of Black owned property. This history was buried for generations. But we should remember it.
What's Ahead
Before you begin your Memorial Day Weekend, please join IMV members this morning for CAFE Fridays at its new time, 9:30-10 am, and for the Black Lives Matter Honk-n-Wave at 4-5 pm in Clinton.
Then what? We expect that the month of June will not only include an early push for the bills that must be accomplished before the end of the session in Albany, but also a massive national movement focused on Sen. Schumer in support of the For the People Act, which must get done by July in order to save democracy. We are on a deadline for democracy.
So...June for passing critical bills, then this summer we will turn our attention to organizing our ground game for local elections this fall. We know we can do it. Why? Because when push came to shove, many IMVers got busy over the past couple weeks to gather signatures for Karen Stanislaus' independent ballot line for Oneida County Family Court Judge. Last week Karen was short on signatures, but over just one weekend, her numbers went from just a few hundred to over 1400, double the number needed for the line. Thank you to all who did the work!