We're Meeting this Sunday, March 2nd!
Rescheduled IMV Meeting Sunday, 1:30 pm
We are looking forward to seeing everyone for our rescheduled monthly meeting! Thanks for your patience when we had to cancel last minute last weekend--a first for us. The New Hartford Library is open once again, so:
IMV Monthly Meeting
Sunday, March 2nd 1:30-3:30 pm
New Hartford Public Library (Sammon room, the big room at the lower level)
2 Library Lane, New Hartford
Agenda for this meeting includes
1) What we can do to resist the Trump/Musk administration and the Republican congress
2) Structured & interactive planning session for a local public demonstration related to the the fight against massive Republican Medicaid cuts
3) Announcements/Updates: NY21 election, Climate, Petitioning
We are now starting our 9th year of monthly meetings. And these meetings are where we connect with each other and where our work gets done. We make political activism local, but-size, and fun! Let us know you're coming HERE.
Schumer's Healthcare Fight Organizing Call: Follow Up
There were 3000 (!) activists on the Zoom all on Wednesday night with Sen. Schumer when Sarah Reeske started the call--hitting the max attenance limit. Indivisibles along with members of WFP, Citizen Action, and labor unions from across New York joined in on the call. We heard from several people who woudl be directly impacted if the Republican budget is passed--including people whose lives or family members could be lost because they depend on care for disabilities and medical conditions or who get their health care at hospitals and other facilities that depend on Medicaid.
We will be organizing public demonstrations locally--show up Sunday to help plan those. There will be escalating actions that may include marches, phonebanks into targeted red districts, and even die-ins.
For now, we are asking everyone to make Phone calls to your MoC’s office.
Write a Letter to the Editor: Republican Plan to Rip Away Health Care
If you were on the statewide call with Sen. Schumer on Wednesday, you know that we are the fight for lives when it comes to all the health care that Republicans want to take away from Americans --in every state and congressional distirct in the country. Indivisible has shared out two resources for groups in red--and blue-- congressional districts to see how much the healthcare cuts would impact constituents--that's us and our neighbors. This is the data that may help you write Letters to the Editor and create social media posts to share with family and friends. Whether you live in NY21 or NY22, these tools can help you explain in an LTE or on your Facebook page exactly what we stand to lose if Republicans in Congress have their way.
Data Resource #1: https://democrats-budget.house.gov/leg.../republican-rip-off
Data Resource #2: American Progress Tool for Looking up Impact by Congressional District
Please look up districts where friends and family live and share these impacts with them. Write a letter to the editor aboiut the impact where you live.
Not sure how to write your LTE?
Join Indivisible Organizer for NYS, Sarah Reeske, for a training on how to craft a strong letter-to-the-editor to share your personal stories you are passionate about. All experience levels are welcome. Example topics provided will be supporting the NY21 Democratic candidate Blake Gendebien for the upcoming special election, and the healthcare cuts fight. You're welcome to bring your own topic!
Thursday, March 6th, 6:30-7:30pm, Letter to the Editor Training. Register HERE
Climate Crisis Working Group
The CCWG realizes that there are so many competing issues that need our attention during these most difficult times. But, we continue to focus on climate and energy policy by working on passing the NY HEAT Act and getting it into the New York State budget.
The next lobby day in Albany planned by Renewable Heat Now is March 19th. If you are interested in attending please email Maggie Reilly margaret_reilly@mac.com or Jennifer Geiger jgeiger777@gmail.com There will be a bus and/or car pooling available.
NY21 Candidate Blake Gendebien Events
This Sunday, March 2nd, there is a Meet & Greet event in Rome 11 am-1 pm. Copper City Community Connection, 305 E. Locust St, Rome. RSVP to: Atopi4@verizon.net. Stop by if you want to meet Blake in person--and then head to our IMV meeting which starts at 1:30 pm.
Wednesday Virtual Phone Banks for Blake Gendebien
Where: Zoom Link (to be distributed after registering via "Signup Link" below)
When: Wednesdays through March and April, 6-8 pm
Signup Link: https://www.mobilize.us/blakeforthenorthcountry/event/757881/
More 2025 Election Actions
Thanks to everyone who is carrying judicial delegate and candidate petitions in the month of March. Petitioning season started on Tuesday, Feb. 25. We know it can be hard to get out to the doors with so much snow and ice, espcially in rural areas. Please be safe and walk and drive carefully!
If you need to warm up, Betsey Fortino, candidate for Supreme Court, has a campaign kickoff coming up. All are invited:
St. Patrick's Party and Campaign Kickoff for Elizabeth Snyder Fortino.
Thursday, March 6th, 5:00 pm
Five Points Irish Pub, 623 Columbia Street, Utica.
She's also looking for people to walk with her in the Utica St. Patrick's Day Parade on March 15th. If you are interested, email: campaign@snyderfortinoforsupremecourt.com.
Phone Calls for This Week
If you live in NY22: Tell Rep. John Mannion to use his leverage to stop the Trump/Musk coup: Republicans need to pass a spending bill by March 14, but their internal divisions and minuscule House majority mean it’ll be pretty much impossible for them to do it without Democratic votes. And that gives Dems real power to put an end to the lawless dismantling of our government by Trump and DOGE. Urge Rep. Mannion to use his leverage in the spending fight to impose restraints on Musk, and block any bill that slashes funding for vital programs. And thank him for his strong video messaging against the Trump-Musk coup.
If you live in NY21: Tell Rep. Stefanik to oppose a budget that guts the social safety net to pay for tax breaks for billionaires. You’ve seen the town halls in the news. Republicans are getting spooked by constituent anger over their complicity in the Trump/Musk coup and know the anger will be turned up to 11 if they back a spending bill that slashes Medicaid, public education, and other popular programs. If we keep the pressure on, we can splinter the Republican coalition and block the worst cuts from making their way into the final budget bill. Yes, she is full MAGA , but you can still clog her phone lines with your constituent message.
NY21 and NY22: Help block Republicans from disenfranchising millions of voters with their ‘SAVE ACT.’ As early as next week, the House could vote on H.R. 22 (the SAVE Act) -- one of the biggest threats to voting rights we’ve seen in a generation. The bill requires voters to show proof of citizenship documents that match their current legal name -- something tens of millions of Americans simply don’t have. It’d cause massive challenges for married women and trans and nonbinary people who’ve changed their names, and disproportionately impact people of color. We’ve got a lot more info (including key Members of Congress needed to stop the bill) here. But if you’re ready to take action now, you can use our tools to call or email your representative.
Let's Keep the Pressure On
Trump and Musk are overreaching. They are causing damage that people across the country are starting to feel and that will take a toll on families, towns, institutions people love (post office, Medicaid, the VA, etc.) At some point outrage at the cost of eggs or gas is going to turn into outrage at massive job losses and worse. Our role as an Indivisible group, is to organize that backlash iinto an effective opposition, and make our elected offiicals respond to us nstead of the whims and greed of Donald Trump. There's a playbook, and we're following it: Indivisible: A Guide to Democracy on the Brink.
So, try not to get distracted by the thousand things Trump throws on the wall every day, every week. Stay focused on the big fights that really matter and the actions we are all taking togehet that have a clearly defined strategy.
We look forward to seeing you on Sunday. As bad as it is getting out there, we can guarantee that you will feel better when you gather with others and take collective steps to stop this hurt and harm. We can do this. Yes.We.Can.
Democracy is not a spectator sport.
Breathe, then push.
No one let go of anyone's hand.
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