From CNY Solidarity Coalition:
Upcoming Meetings on Zoom: 3/6/22, 3/20/22, 4/10/22, 4/24/22. Committees meet on their own. See last page to sign up for committee lists.
CNY Solidarity Coalition Meeting: March 6, 3 PM on Zoom:
Attendees will engage in a conversation about our accomplishments and our future. Where can we best direct our energy? Please join us for this important meeting.
News from the CNY Solidarity Coalition Meeting on Feb. 20:
On Sunday, we had three presentations from local organizations who are all doing critically important work to protect oppressed and marginalized groups. Can you sign a petition, send an email, or write a letter to the editor?
Important: We ae looking for a few people to help organize our support for these and other local initiatives. Please email our State/Local Action Team (SLAT) at stateleg-cnysolidarity@lists.riseup.net if you can help.
Excluded Workers Fund Campaign. (CNY Workers’ Center)
NO NEW YORK WORKER SHOULD BE EXCLUDED from the New York safety net, least of all those who during the pandemic work the hardest and remained the most vulnerable: migrant workers. CNY benefits greatly from migrant labor and now the migrant community needs your help. Help us win retroactive unemployment insurance to those who worked but do not qualify for that support regularly. We need to pressure elected officials into passing the EXCLUDED WORKERS FUND this legislative session! No CNY legislators have formally expressed their support yet! Not May, not Hunter, not Magnarelli. There are four ways a little bit of your time could make a big impact this February:
- Help us get memos of support from organizations (CNY Solidarity Coalition will sign on, but if you belong to another institution please share our effort.)
- If you are a faith leader or a member of a congregation please consider signing, or getting your leadership to sign the linked Faith Leader letter.
- Sign this petition as an individual.
- Help us make an avalanche of calls this THURSDAY. Join the statewide call in day (on zoom) 2/24, where training will be provided, or the Upstate call-in days 3/4 & 3/24 (on your own).
Freedom from Lead Poisoning: (Families for Lead Freedom)
Here is a description of the Four Demands for City and County action from Families for Lead Freedom:
Two for the Mayor of Syracuse, Deputy Mayor, and Common Councilors:
OPERATE THE ORDINANCE (STOP THE HARM): Begin full operation and implementation of the Syracuse Lead Ordinance, which was supposed go into effect on October 1, 2020, but has yet to be implemented or enforced. Demand that the Mayor provides the Community with a timeline, and frequent updating, of the process to full implementation.
RENTAL REGISTRY IN PLAIN VIEW: Give the public full and complete public transparency via an easy-to-access online database of which properties are on the Syracuse Rental Registry, and when they’re due for a lead inspection.
Two for Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon, and your County Legislator:
TESTING NOW: a return to mass-based population testing of Syracuse residents under 6 years old for Elevated Blood Lead Levels (EBLL). Reinstate lead testing at WIC appointments.
SHARE THE DATA ON RACE AND PLACE: Twice a year Onondaga County Department of Health should release de-identified (non-personalized) data of race and ethnicity and place (census tract and/or zip code) of children suffering lead poisoning. Environmental Justice is rooted in race and place. Providing such data is central to a commitment to stop environmental injustice.
A link to the petition for the Four Demands can be found at: www.leadfreedomcny.org
WeAct (Link Here) – Statewide group organizing to address primary prevention of the childhood lead poisoning crisis in New York State, which has more children with elevated blood lead levels than any other state in the nation. Seeking $1 billion statewide housing investment, and three key pieces of lead-poisoning prevention legislation. Please reach out to your Assembly and Senate representatives to support the budget request and legislation. See the link for more information.
Housing and Tenants’ Rights: (Syracuse DSA)
DSA has been active in tenant organizing and in developing and promoting legislation to protect tenants from being evicted without reason.
Good Cause Eviction Legislation: goodcausesyr.org
Petition: Read and Sign it Here
See next week’s newsletter for more information on this critical campaign and how we can help.
NEWS FROM OUR COMMITTEES:
Indivisible NY24
Indivisible NY24 hosted a candlelight Vigil for Democracy at the Syracuse Federal Office Building on January 6 to mark the anniversary of the 2021 attack on the US Capital and our democracy.
Since it’s a congressional election year, Indivisible NY24 is focusing on putting a progressive candidate in the seat being vacated by Congressman Katko. The Congressional district lines have been redrawn and we’re now part of a somewhat bluer NY 22 district. There are currently seven candidates vying for the NY 22 Democratic party nomination. We co-hosted a congressional zoom forum with the first three declared candidates, Sarah Klee-Hood, Francis Conole and Steve Holden on February 2, and we’re co-hosting a second forum tomorrow, February 23, with candidates Josh Riley and Sam Roberts. A third forum with the remaining two candidates is in the planning stages. We also had candidates Josh Riley and Chol Majok visit our monthly meeting on February 8 to introduce their campaigns.
Since we’re no longer in the NY 24 district, we need to rename our group and are currently in the process of selecting a new name.
ARTICLES OF THE WEEK:
Did Russia just invade Ukraine?
President Vladimir Putin declared two regions in the Donbas independent, then sent in troops.
Read it on Vox
NY transportation officials reveal alternative to controversial I-81 roundabout near Syracuse school
“Activists, state lawmakers and city leaders, including Mayor Ben Walsh, objected to the roundabout originally proposed as part of the plan to remove the elevated portion of I-81 in Syracuse. The proposed design would have put a street-level roundabout about 120 feet from the school, south of downtown.”
The Electric-Vehicle Revolution
Battery-powered cars and trucks are selling briskly. Will they soon rule the road?
Read it in The Week
Syracuse’s independent redistricting commission is a big deal but few people seem to care
“Syracuse is one of only a handful of governments in the nation to adopt an independent redistricting model and is believed to be the first city east of the Mississippi River to do so.”
And see meetings below starting 3/26
ACTION ALERTS:
Please sign the petition in support of the Excluded Workers’ Fund. (see article above).
Please sign the petition in support of Families for Lead Freedom’s Four Demands at www.leadfreedomcny.org
Also, after reading the Four Demands, call or email your City Councilor (if you live in Syracuse) and Onondaga County Legislator (whether you live in the City or County).
Find yourself on this map to identify your City Councilor – and At-Large councilors Here
Find your County Legislator Here http://www.ongov.net/legislature/members.html and the County Executive Here:http://www.ongov.net/executive/contact.html
Registered Democrats, be prepared to vote in the Primary Election: Tuesday, June 28, 2022; 6:00am- 9:00pm. Here are the websites for the declared candidates in the new NY22 Congressional District.
Francis Conole conoleforcongress.com
Vanessa Fajans-Turner www.Vanessaforcongress.com
Sarah Klee Hood sarahkleehood.com
Chol Majok https://www.cholforcongress.com
Steve Holden www.Believeinsteve.org
Josh Riley www.Joshrileyforcongress.com
Sam Roberts https://www.samrobertsforcongress.com
Please complete the following surveys if you are a constituent:
Al Stirpe: Survey Link Here
Rep. John Katko: Link to Survey Feel free to use the “Other” and give your comments.
William Magnarelli: Link to Magnarelli Survey
EVENTS/ACTIONS CALENDAR:
Democratic Congressional Forum – New NY22
Feb 23, 2022 07:30 PM in Eastern Time (US and Canada)
You’re invited to hear directly from two Democratic Congressional candidates working to be the next NY22 member of Congress.
Sam Roberts
Josh Riley
Come learn about their visions, positions, and plans to represent all of us.
Hosted by Indivisible Salt City, Indivisible NY 24, CNY Indivisible, Indivisible Syracuse, and Indivisible Cayuga. Members of Indivisible groups, Democratic committees, and friends are encouraged to attend.
FOCUS Greater Syracuse Forum
Friday, February 25 at 12:05 p.m.
Join us for a free, virtual forum as we discuss new initiatives and policies impacting the future of downtown and neighborhood housing. We are looking ahead to better understand the needs and goals for future housing initiatives to better address our residential community, its past, and its growth into the future. Panelists will highlight what will be needed to make “great places” to live, work, and play for generations to come. Panelists: Daniel Kwasnowski, Director, Syracuse Onondaga Planning Agency (SOCPA); Owen Kerney, Assistant Director, SOCPA; Stephanie Pasquale, Director, Neighborhood Advancement with the Allyn Family Foundation.
Register Here and for more about the Forums and FOCUS go to www.focussyracuse.org/focus-forums
Heat Pump Homeowner Happy Hour!
Feb 25, 2022 05:00 PM; Mar 25, 2022 05:00 PM; Apr 29, 2022 05:00 PM
By HeatSmart
Come brag about your system, ask questions about best operating practices, and generally enjoy the company of other heat pump homeowners. You are part of the climate solution! Homeowners considering heat pumps are also welcome to attend.
You can choose to attend one or more of the sessions.
Free Stop the Bleed Training
Online class
Class by Cuse Action Medics and Jordan Krick
The number 1 cause of preventable death after injury is bleeding.
What You’ll Learn:
What stops bleeding? In a STOP THE BLEED course, you’ll learn three quick techniques to help save a life before someone bleeds out: (1) How to use your hands to apply pressure to a wound; (2) How to pack a wound to control bleeding; (3) How to correctly apply a tourniquet. These three techniques will empower you to assist in an emergency and potentially save a life.
We will also be covering: Improvised tourniquets.
**SAVE THE DATES**
Chili Bowl Festival – Thornden Park Field House
SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 2022 AT 12 PM – 3 PM
Event by Thornden Park Association
Thornden Park is celebrating its 100th Anniversary! The Chili Bowl Festival is a great way to reconnect with neighbors and friends while enjoying tasty bowls of chili, cornbread, homemade root beer, and
outdoor dining with heaters and seating. Quarts of chili for Take-Away will be available.
Support TPA by becoming a member, making a donation, or participating in our raffle.
Let’s Pass Good Cause Eviction!
Let’s Pass Good Cause Eviction!
Event by Syracuse Tenants Organizing for Power – STOP Coalition, Syracuse Tenants Union and Syracuse DSA
Learn how Good Cause Eviction will expand tenant protections in Syracuse!
RSVP to receive the Zoom link: https://actionnetwork.org/…/syracuse-help-us-pass-good…?
Currently, tenants across Syracuse face bed bugs, lead poisoning, unsafe structures, loss of heat and other substandard and unsafe housing conditions. Tenants who try to get conditions fixed are often evicted instead. Good Cause Eviction would protect tenants from this kind of retaliatory, no-fault eviction, allowing tenants to demand better, safer living conditions. With Good Cause Eviction, tenants win the right to renew their lease and protect themselves from unconscionable rent increases.
You can help us get this law passed in Syracuse! Join us to learn how you can help guarantee safe, dignified housing for yourself and everyone in our community.
Visit https://goodcausesyr.org to learn more.
GreeningUSA’s Next Virtual Green Bag Lunch! Sustainable Material Management
Friday, March 11, 12:00pm – 1:30pm, EST
Join this Virtual Green Bag Lunch conversation about the current state of recycling; NYS Extended Producer Responsibility, requiring manufacturers to “take-back” products at the end of their useful life, as well as reducing packaging waste; the NYS Bottle Bill and the “Circular Economy”.
Moderator:
Renee Vogelsang, Climate & Environmental Activist
Panelists:
Kevin Spillane, Executive Director, OCRRA (Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency), addressing the current state of recycling
Jennifer Congdon, Deputy Director, Beyond Plastics, addressing NYS Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
FREE! But you must be registered to attend. Register Here: https://tinyurl.com/32e3t4zw
A link to the GoToMeeting platform will be sent to those registered by March 10 @ 5pm.
Syracuse City Redistricting Commission public meeting announcement
See Article above in News of the Week
Pursuant to Article III, Section 4(c) of the New York State Constitution, the New York State Independent Redistricting Commission (the “Commission”) will hold a series of fourteen public hearings across the state to receive feedback on its draft redistricting plan for state legislative and congressional election districts.
The commission’s first public meeting will be held on March 18 at The Institute of Technology at Syracuse Central. The others are as follows:
• March 26 at PSLA at Fowler
• April 7 at Henninger High School
• April 24 at Corcoran High School
• April 28 at Nottingham High School
VERY BUSY? BUT WANT TO DO YOUR PART? JOIN STREET HEAT!
BAN KILLER DRONES MONTHLY STREET HEAT
4 to 4:45 pm every first Tuesday of the month thru the winter – local upstate drone action coalition members protest the nys national guard’s 174th attack wing.
For over a decade we have been gathering right across from the main gate of the 174th’s host, Hancock Airbase, on East Molloy Road in the town of Dewitt.
Please join us. To learn more: 315 478 4571 and upstatedroneaction.org.
PALESTINE SOLIDARITY WEEKLY STREET HEAT. Gaza and Palestine Solidarity Street Heat to 4 -4:45 PM Every Friday. Join us at the intersection of East Genesee St & Erie Blvd east [across from the DeWitt fire station]
CNY Solidarity Coalition
Follow us online and on social media. Check out our Website and our Instagram. Follow us on Twitter: @CNYSolidarity and @IndivisibleNY24 and Facebook: www.facebook.com/cnysolidarity/ and
www.facebook.com/groups/IndivisibleNY24
Mailing Address:
CNY Solidarity Coalition
2013 E. Genesee St., Syracuse, NY 13210
To contribute: Donate Here through PayPal. Or send checks to mailing address above
From our Committees: To sign up for each of the committee mailing lists, contact the person listed.
Indivisible NY24: Contact: Deborah Rose: dcurryrose@gmail.com
Climate Justice: Contact: Dick Kornbluth dick@dickkornbluth.com
SLAT (State/Local Action Team) Contact: Peter McCarthy – pmccar1100@gmail.com
Beyond War and Militarism. A joint committee of CNY Solidarity Coalition and the Syracuse Peace Council.Contact: Ron Van Norstrand; ron@vannorstrandlaw.com
—
Peter McCarthy
pmccar1100@gmail.com