Tell Rep. Brandon Williams: Move In Or Move Out

April 21, 2023 Alan Cole

Brandon Williams' Broken Campaign Promise

Rep. Brandon Williams has still not moved into the district where ALL of his NY22 constituents live. That's a BIG BROKEN CAMPAIGN PROMISE. What can you do about it?

1) Please SIGN ON to the letter calling on Rep. Williams to MOVE IN OR MOVE OUT. We are collecting sign-ons and the letter will be delivered to his congressional offices on Wednesday, April 26.
2) Join IMV at Rep. Williams's Utica office (421 Broad Street, Utica) on Wednesday, April 26th, 12-1 pm for our Move In or Move Out rally.
3) Show up on Tuesday, April 25th, 7-8 pm for our April IMV Meeting. We have a lot of prep to do before the Move In or Move Out Rally on Wednesday and Rep. Williams's New Hartford Town Hall on May 1. Plus we have some local candidate updates. Don't miss this brief Zoom meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81740434840

And of course, make sure you register for the Monday, April 24 (6-7 pm) Zoom call with Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado, a meeting Sarah Reeske and Indivisible OneNYS have been working to set up for months.

Press & LTEs vs Brandon Williams: We're on a Roll!

Our good coverage following up from our "BW: Hold Town Halls!" letter and our Town Hall Rallies continued this past week. Check out this excellent piece that featured quotes from our NY22 activists, including IMV Steering Committee member Jennifer Geiger. On one day this past week, three long and substantive letters filled a whole page in the print edition of the Syracuse Post Standard, one about each of his three town halls, and two of them penned by IMV members, Kevin Hoehn and Branwen Drew. Some of the letters were also published in the Daily Sentinel Keep those LTEs comping. Let's let our whole community know all the ways that Williams has disappointed his constituents and is failing to do his job!

Climate Crisis: Take Action NOW

The budget still has not passed in Albany, so we are keeping the pressure on regarding climate legislation. So, please take the following actions this week:

Watch the video here which showcases the power of NY’s climate and environmental justice movement! Put it on Facebook, twitter and all your social media!! USE THIS SOCIAL MEDIA TOOLKIT to promote NY Renews new Climate, Jobs, and Justice Package (CJJP) promo video!
CALL SPEAKER CARL HEASTIE at (518) 455-3791

Sample script “Cap and Invest must include the Climate and Community Protection Fund (CCPF), and NY Renews’ environmental justice guardrails. Please come to the table and pass Cap and Invest alongside CCPF and EJ guardrails”

CALL YOUR ASSEMBLYPERSON and ask them to push Speaker Heastie on these points - see what bills they’re on here CJJP Tracker - updated *4/14/23*
EMAIL THE MOTHERSHIP (Governor, Senate & Assembly Leaders) to include the CJJP in the state budget with this email tool
AMPLIFY THIS TWITTER THREAD which makes our position on cap and invest loud and clear!
Write an LTE or op-ed for your local paper! Climate, Jobs, and Justice Package: Saving Money, Saving Lives

Framing: Governor Hochul has stated that she’s concerned about rising energy costs for New Yorkers as we transition our state’s economy from fossil fuels to renewable energy. Unfortunately, her “solution” is to try to change NY’s progressive standards for what counts as renewable energy (e.g. no biofuels), and how we account for the dangers and warming potential of methane, a powerful, climate-heating greenhouse gas. We know there’s a better way to lower energy bills and reduce planet-warming, asthma-causing pollution. It’s hard to overstate the fact that the same oil and gas corporations that are charging you more than you can afford on energy bills (see: National Grid) are the same ones telling the Governor how to bring down energy costs. This guide will dive into the false arguments from the fossil fuel industry and expand on the real ways to reduce energy costs for New Yorkers as we transition to clean, renewable energy. TL;DR: Implementing NY’s Climate Act via the bills in the Climate, Jobs & Justice Package will save money, save lives, and our climate!

And, as it is almost Earth Day and the budget still is not ready, our newest Action Item involves asking for an Earth Day Budget.
April 25th: Earth Day 2023 Advocacy Day in Albany
Save the date: May 25th Syracuse NY Renews Climate Rally

Celeste Friend for Mayor Campaign

Celeste Friend's campaign has successfully gained access to the ballot for the June primary by collecting over 1,100 signatures from Democrats across the City! Now it is time to move onto the next stage of the campaign and begin knocking on doors, talking to voters, and convincing them that Celeste will make a great Mayor who will launch Utica into a bright future. Her campaign is kicking off canvassing with a big, happy, group canvas in South Utica on Sunday, April 23rd, starting at 2pm. Meet at her house at 2 pm at 37 Emerson Ave in Utica for a quick canvassing training. Then we will all head out together into the neighborhoods where support for Celeste is strongest. After, come back to her house for this season's first official Canvassing Dinner. Join us!

Crystal Faria Announces Campaign for County Board of Leg

Crystal Fariaof Clark Mills announced on Monday that she will be running for County Legislature in the 10th District, which includes areas of Westmoreland, Kirkland and New Hartford. Crystal is a native of Clark Mills, a current member of the Clark Mills Historical Society, friend of the Kirkland Town Library and member of IMV. She currently works as a substance use disorder & mental health advocate, helping people get the resources they need to improve their quality of life She is running against the incumbent for the 10th District, Republican George E. Joseph.

“I am proud and excited to announce my candidacy for Oneida County Legislature. Being part of a community of fairness and inclusion is one reason I value living in Oneida County, and I hope to support and improve our community by listening to its members and always acting according to their interests and well-being," Crystal said in a press release announcing her campaign.

Please remember that when it comes to local candidates, especially Democratic women challenging incumbent Republican men, "Early Money Is Like Yeast." That's how Emily's List started, and why even small donations early in a campaign make a huge difference. They give a new woman candidate a foothold, show viability, and help her attract more support as she goes on. Keeping that in mind, can you contribute even $5 or $10 to Crystal's campaign?

As we saw with Caroline Reale, Democratic women add much needed perspective, important life experience, and powerful voice on the Oneida County Board of Legislators. Please share Crystals' webpage: electcrystalfaria.com
and Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/electcrystalfaria

Sarah Klee Hood Announces Huge One Week Fundraising Haul

In just one week after announcing her bid for Congress in NY-22, Sarah Klee Hood announced that she has raised more than $118,000 -- which is more than she raised from individual donors during the entirety of her past campaign. In the past week, more than 1,500 donors across the country have donated to Klee Hood’s campaign with an average online donation of just $39.10.

“Since announcing my campaign, I’ve been honored by the major grassroots support I’ve seen from every corner of NY-22, New York, and the entire country. Central New York is tired of MAGA politics and anti-choice & anti-Social Security politicians,” Klee Hood said.

Last year, Klee Hood lost in the Democratic primary in NY-22 by just over 1,000 votes, despite being outraised by her opponent 12x. This year, Klee Hood has already raised more from individuals than she did during the entirety of that past campaign – just in one week alone.

Sarah Klee Hood is a working Mom, Dewitt Town Councilor, Air Force veteran, and native Central New Yorker running for Congress in NY-22. IMV members knocked many doors for Sarah after we met her last summer, and we helped her win Oneida County in the Democratic primary. Learn more at www.sarahkleehoodny.com. Early Money Is Like Yeast

Help Stomp Out Hunger in Utica

The Nu Psi Omega Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority is sponsoring a Jazz Brunch, featuring saxophonist Monk Rowe, with Delmarsha Curry and DJ Nerina Moultriez.
When: Saturday, May 13, 2023, from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Where: Hart’s Hill Inn
Donation: $60.00 per person
Proceeds will provide 2 annual post-secondary scholarships to local high school students. Funds will also be used to cover the Childhood Initiative Power Pack Programs (CHIPPP) that supply free meals and snacks over weekends and school breaks for more than 150 students enrolled at Watson Williams Elementary School. The sorority is looking to expand programs to other schools through collaborations with agencies and government partnerships throughout Oneida County. Monetary donations as well as in-kind donations are appreciated. To purchase tickets for the Jazz Brunch or for more information, please contact Dawn LaGuerre atlaguerremedia@gmail.com. Donations can be made online at akanupsiomega.org or food donations can be dropped off at105 Barton Ave in Utica.

Still No State Budget: Take Action

If you have even a few minutes today, please keep your calls and emails going on Climate (see above). The state budget is delayed again, and we need to keep pushing for the Governor to put the costs of the services we need and the futures we deserve on the super wealthy who should be paying their fair share, not working and struggling New Yorkers, who already are. Share this new ad from our Invest in Our New York coalition. Then Take Action by making calls and sending emails to the leaders in Albany now: https://p2a.co/dVctzNT

Reminder of Important Events Coming Up

Please remember next week (details in the calendar below):
Monday 6-7 pm Indivisible OneNYS Zoom with Lt. Gov. Delgado
Tuesday 7-8 pm IMV Meeting on Zoom
Wednesday 12-1 pm Brandon Williams: Move in or Move Out Rally
Democracy is not a spectator sport.