At our hybrid meeting on February 11, 2024, Andra Leimanis of Alliance for a Green Economy (AGREE) gave a detailed presentation on the NY Heat Act, supported by the statewide coalition NY Renews. Visit https://renewableheatnow.org for more information.  

Additional Resources:

• NY HEAT Act one-pager
• NY HEAT Act FAQ document
• The NY HEAT Act S.2016B/A.4592B (prepare for super wonky language!)
   
• Health impacts of burning fracked gas in homes and benefits of passing the NY HEAT Act
• Governor includes key pillars of NY HEAT Act in the Executive Budget (RHN press release)
• Info about Utility Thermal Energy Networks

Invest in Our NY campaign will present this year’s IONY campaign priorities. Tax the Rich! 

IONY’s 2024 Campaign Program

CNY Solidarity Coalition Upcoming Meeting Schedule: Dates and agendas are subject to change.

March 10  |  March 24

Conflict in Gaza and Israel. War in Ukraine. Earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria. Devastating drought and hunger across East Africa. Oxfam teams are responding in more than 80 countries to save lives during crises and advocate for long-term solutions to inequality, poverty, and injustice. Support this work with a tax-deductible gift that helps people survive emergencies today and builds resilient communities for tomorrow.

https://give.oxfamamerica.org

Posters, cards, T-shirts, books buttons, stickers, mugs, tote bag and more – all on sale at 20% off. Syracuse Cultural Workers celebrates the Black Liberation struggle throughout the year, but since there’s more public attention on it right now, we’ll join in too. We particularly urge white people to remain engaged in the struggle for racial justice – in the streets, our institutions and in our homes. 

See Products Here

USA TODAY Network-New York, in partnership with Syracuse University and with support from Central Current, investigated for the first time a 10-year span of these crashes in Syracuse and across New York. … from 2013 to 2022, hundreds of collisions involving law enforcement vehicles on Syracuse roads exacted a heavy human and societal toll. 

Read it on Central Current

Forcing D’Angelo to fix up his properties is a step in the right direction, she said. But only $5,000 for a poisoned kid who might suffer a lifetime of diminished abilities is “a drop in the bucket,” Fair added.

Read on Syracuse.com

School districts lost $1.8 billion to corporate tax breaks in 2021, according to a study by the subsidy watchdog group Good Jobs First. That’s because all over the state, industrial development agencies have exempted businesses from paying full property taxes for projects ranging from real estate to power plants.

Read on New York Focus

A proposal to expand tax breaks for new rental housing developments in Onondaga County has run into opposition from the county’s biggest town — and a government watchdog says the plan is not legal.

The county Industrial Development Agency has scheduled a special meeting for Thursday to consider changing its tax exemption policy to allow the granting of property tax exemptions for market rate and low-income multi-unit housing, and senior “lifestyle” communities.

Read on MSN.com (Article by Syracuse.com)

Email Comments to economicdevelopment@ongov.net

We’re glad the Court recognized what we, fellow advocates, and Syracuse residents have known for generations: replacing the I-81 viaduct with a raised highway is not an option under any circumstances… Any attempts to ‘save’ I-81 are intent on preserving a symbol of structural racism that has supercharged segregation, decimated land value, and polluted the environment, and we will fight these attempts in court every step of the way.

Read statement on NYCLU.org   

Protect Public Affordable Housing Town Hall February 16

David Dyssegaard Kallick is director of the Immigration Research Initiative, based in New York City. Jessica Maxwell is executive director of the Workers Center of Central New York, based in Syracuse.

A 2017 study by New American Economy for CenterState CEO and the International Institute of Buffalo showed that foreign-born people in the Syracuse metro area contributed $1.7 billion to the local economy. …But to get to work, it is essential newcomers have access to the support network that puts them on solid footing within the community. That includes access to affordable housing and language support.

Read it on Syracuse.com

ROBIN WALL KIMMERER AND KYLE A. ARTELLE 

Faced with the profound challenges of a rapidly changing environment, society needs other ways of knowing to illuminate a different way forward. Thanks to the leadership of Indigenous scholars and allied collaborators, Indigenous knowledge is receiving long overdue recognition for its potential to provide solutions for the mutual thriving of lands and cultures. An urgent question is how institutions can appropriately support (and not hinder) Indigenous science’s key role in creating a sustainable future.

Read it on Science.org

In recognition of this special month, WCNY is delving into the lives of Black Americans who have left indelible marks on history through their artistry, professional accomplishments, and community activism.

WCNY’s special programming shines a spotlight on the impactful stories and inspiring achievements of Black Americans who have played a crucial role in shaping American history and culture.

Watch LIVE at https://www.pbs.org/livestream/ 

Find all #WCNY #BlackHistoryMonth programing at https://www.wcny.org/blackhistorymonth

February 14, 2024. 11:30AM- 3:30PM. NYS Capitol 

Join Lead-Free Kids NY for an in person advocacy day! Being in person makes a huge impact. Raise your voice for environmental health and justice! Meet with key decision-makers to advocate for key priorities this session in teams led by experienced advocacy pros.

If this is your first advocacy day, don’t worry: we’ll be available to help you before and during the event so you feel comfortable and ready to go!  

This will be an in-person day at the Capitol; so please let me know if you will need us to provide a travel stipend. You need to bring snacks and food for the day. If it is impossible for you to make it to the Capitol but you want to be involved in the day and meetings, please reach out to me. Email: gabby@cleanhealthyny.org. 

Please register here so that we can plan out the day better.

Wed, February 14, 12:15pm – 1:15pm

Mawhinney, Room M345, SUNY Onondaga Community College

Oppression and Privilege affect every aspect of our lives, our society and our work for social justice. Understanding these issues and learning how to work with them increases the integrity and power of our efforts. Aly Wane is a undocumented organizer, born in Senegal, who works with the Syracuse Peace Council, is part of the RiseUp Core Team and on the advisory boards of the Immigrant Justice Network and Freedom University. Andy Mager is longtime community organizer, Coordinator and Social Movements Liaison at Syracuse Cultural Workers and part of the RiseUp Core Team.

Wednesday, February 14th – NYS Capital, Albany

The IONY campaign will be in Albany  for the Revenue and Housing public hearings, and we want you to join us! We’re hosting a press conference with Housing Justice For All at 11:30am with some of our elected allies on the need to make the ultra-rich pay what they owe in taxes so we can invest in safe, climate-resilient, affordable homes for every New Yorker. We’ll provide the transportation, lunch, and activities to do after the press conference (like delivering Valentines to elected officials!). 

RSVP here.

Friday, February 16, 12:05 pm – 1:00 pm on Zoom

Are you interested in learning how to make our community safer and more supportive for those struggling with mental health and substance abuse issues? Join FOCUS Greater Syracuse, Inc. for a free, virtual FOCUS Forum! This unique discussion will feature expert panelists who will share their insights on how law enforcement and community members can navigate the complexities of mental health and substance abuse. You will have the opportunity to learn from their experiences, ask questions, and connect with like-minded individuals passionate about creating positive change. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to gain valuable knowledge and make a difference in our community!

Register Here 

Order by 2/15, Pick up at 1342 Lancaster, 6-8 Pm 2/17

Show your love for the Workers’ Center of CNY and immigrant families this month by placing an order for tamales and empanadas! All funds raised will go towards continuing the fight for economic and social justice while trying to keep our communities united! 

Order Here by Thursday, Feb. 15

Friday, Feb 16, 2024, 4 – 6 pm

Dunbar Center, 1453 S.State St. Syr

Join us to fight against removing housing in our neighborhood! We cannot separate the demolition of I-81 and pubic housing! Transportation and Refreshments will be provided. For a ride contact Jackie LaSonde 315-991-4203

More Info

Community Folk Art Center, Presented by Black Box Theater

805 East Genesee Street Syracuse, NY 13210

February 16th, Doors open at 6:30 PM | General Admission is $25.00

During  Black History Month, CFAC is thrilled for the return of the “A Journey Through Music of the African Diaspora” series (JMAD) with a Tribute to Donny Hathaway, Roberta Flack, and Lalah Hathaway. Originating in 2012, this series celebrates local Black performing artists while teaching audiences about the historical contexts of music. Headlined by Samuel T. Wynn, this musical medley will not only showcase Donny Hathaway as an iconic soul musician but also shed light on his experiences relating to poverty, inequality, and mental health as a Black artist in the 1970s. 

Get Tickets Here

Friday, Feb 16, 2024 – 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM.

Gallery, 505 Hawley Ave. Syracuse, NY 13203

The Beehive Collective is on tour with their massive, intricately detailed murals, offering storytelling, poetics, and prints! Way back in 2009 they exhibited their work at ArtRage. Come see what they’re up to these days!

Come see them present the newly released 10th Anniversary edition of “MesoAmerica Resiste! and their new book, “The True Cost of Coal.”

The Beehive Design Collective is a wildly motivated, all-volunteer, activist arts collective dedicated to “cross-pollinating the grassroots” by creating collaborative, anti-copyright images for use as educational and organizing tools. They work as word-to-image translators of complex global stories, shared with us through conversations with affected communities.

More Info

Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024,  5 pm
May Memorial Unitarian Universalist Society, 3800 E. Genesee Street, Syr.

Panel discussion: SPC invites you to a panel discussion on the impact of violence on the right to health with medical professionals with expertise in health research and practice. The panelists will examine justice, violence, and health while reflecting on their professional and research experiences.Refreshments will be provided. Sliding scale donations at the door. This event is a benefit for the Middle East Children’s Alliance (MECA). 

Tuesday, Feb 20 @ 5:30-7pm

Beauchamp Library, 2111 S. Salina St., Syracuse

Special Guest Senator Rachel May. Food and refreshments served.

Onondaga County is a medical debt hotspot. 14% of all residents have medical debt and in communities of color, 26% of residents have medical debt. Hospitals are required to provide discounted prices to people who earn up to 300% of the federal poverty level. Unfortunately, many hospitals are not distributing these funds to patients. Upstate Medical University Hospital has sued over 4,000 patients since 2020 and continues to do so. Many of those sued are low-income and should have qualified for financial assistance. 

Join this community forum with community organizations, elected officials, and local patients to learn about our rights as patients when it comes to healthcare bills and how we can work together to hold healthcare corporations – insurance companies and hospitals like SUNY Upstate Medical University – accountable to We the Patients! For more information, contact (315) 414-7720.

RSVP: https://www.mobilize.us/citizenactionny/event/599926/

Tuesday February 20th at 5pm. Illick Hall 5, SUNY ESF

Center for Native Peoples & the Environment 

Please join us  for a lecture from Roy Ashenfelter, an Alaska Native Iñupiaq subsistence hunter and fisher with a wealth of traditional knowledge and experience with advocacy on state and federal fish/game management issues.

Thursday, Feb. 22, 7 – 8:30 PM

ArtRage Gallery, 505 Hawley Ave, Syracuse, 13203

A  young filmmaker, Rayan Mohamed unfolds her compelling narrative through film. Experience her impactful creations, delve into the refugee journey on screen, and participate in an engaging creative writing exercise led by Rayan herself. Connect, learn, and be inspired as stories transcend borders.

All are welcome. You do not need to be a writer to participate. Just come with a curiosity for storytelling.

Rayan Mohamed, is sophomore film major in the College of Visual and Performing Arts at Syracuse University. Rayan was born in Somalia and spent several years in an Ethiopian refugee camp before moving to Syracuse as a grade-schooler in 2014. Her portrait is featured in the current exhibition, “Mahtab Hussain – Muslims in America: Syracuse Edition”

Saturday, Feb. 24, 5:30 PM

Community Folk Art Center, 805 E. Genesee St., Syr 13210

Celebrating all the greats of dance. Join classical dance trailblazer, Charles Haislah, The Creative Arts Academy, and CFAC-DanceLab for an evening of captivating performances and dance history. This event is free and open to the community!

Register Here

Climate Change Awareness & Action: www.climatechange-action.com 

Sunday, Feb. 25: 3:00 – 5:30 pm

A Sea Change (www.aseachange.net) is the story of retired teacher Sven Huseby, whose love for his five-year-old grandson … compelled Sven, after reading an article in The New Yorker, “The Darkening Sea” to travel thousands of miles interviewing scientists on ocean acidification – the little known flip side of global warming.

The photography is stunning; the interviews with scientists sobering; Sven’s relationship with his grandson Elias is delightful and moving and the ending hopeful – focusing on solutions being implemented today.

Registration required

Saturday, March 2 · 9 – 11am EST.
Marriott Syracuse Downtown, 100 East Onondaga St. Syracuse, NY 13202

This in-person event is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate and honor the achievements of our dedicated educators and outstanding students. Come and enjoy a delicious breakfast while connecting with fellow community members who are passionate about supporting education in our district. Don’t miss out on this  event that highlights the incredible work happening in our schools. We look forward to seeing you there!

Register Here

Syracuse Street Heat is just one, very unencumbered way to work for peace and social justice. We’re part of a decades-long grassroots tradition here, in Ithaca and elsewhere. We stand out and stand up for what we stand for. 

A handful of us stand at busy intersections, for 45 minutes at rush hour, pivoting to the traffic with hand-held signs. We want to get the public thinking about issues often underrepresented in the media. We’re there weekly in almost all of Syracuse’s weather (we seldom cancel). Bring your own sign – or use one of ours. No meetings or committees, so participation time is minimal (yay!) Our Team:  Ann, Dick, Ed, Geoff, Jim, Julienne, Les, Leslie, Peter…. 

To learn more, call Ann: (315) 478 4571.      

1ST TUESDAYS: 4 PM to 4:45 PM at Hancock’s main gate.

EVERY FRIDAY: 4 to 4:45 p.m. – JUSTICE FOR PALESTINE

West sidewalk of the broad intersection of Erie Blvd East & East Genesee St., DeWitt (across from the Fire Dept.) For years our focus has been on solidarity with the people of Palestine.

If temperature is below 20 degrees, we will cancel.

cnysolidarity.org

https://www.facebook.com/cnysolidarity

https://twitter.com/cnysolidarity      

Donate to the CNY Solidarity Coalition

CNY Solidarity Coalition contributes regularly to local progressive organizations: Syracuse Peace Council, National Action Network, & Urban Jobs Coalition. We also make occasional donations as needed to other local groups. We depend on your donations for this. 

Donate Online through PayPal

Mail donations to: 

CNY Solidarity Coalition

P.O. Box 6137, Teall Post Office, 226 Teall Ave., Syracuse NY 13217

Our Committees

To sign up for each of the committee mailing lists, contact the person listed. 

Indivisible Onondaga County: 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

Elaine Denton

Peter McCarthy

Coordinating Committee

CNY Solidarity Coalition