Read, listen and share our newsletter from our website! 

The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything. – Albert Einstein

Over 100 people attended our meeting on Sunday! We are ready to make change in our community, to hold our elected officials accountable & to rise up against this administration’s dangerous agenda. Here are some items that were mentioned at Sunday’s meeting:

• NYIC has community resources about Knowing Your Rights at www.nyic.org/kyr/ & learn about the New York for All Act here

• We learned about a voter suppression bill called SAVE Act (H.R. 22) that would disenfranchise millions of people with names different from the ones on their birth certificates. Congressman Mannion has said he will vote no on this bill. 

• Write Letter to the Editors – Join this group to discuss ideas for topics of LTEs Read some LTEs from this week here including one from Nancy Brisson, a CNY Solidarity member. Email us at cnysolidarity@gmail.com to join this group’s next meeting.

• Climate Justice: Sign the petition to support the CNY Micron Good Jobs & Equitable Access Platform. The environmental review for Micron will be coming up in the spring. 

• Upcoming training for non-violent direct action: Learning from Past Struggles to Stop MAGA on February at 6pm (Details Below)

Check out & share this article about the CNY Solidarity Coalition and our meeting on Sunday from the Daily Orange. 

Upcoming Meetings of CNY Solidarity Coalition:

Sunday March 2

Also, as we prepare for a variety of ways to confront the ongoing coup, see the special Nonviolent Direct Action event on Feb. 24 below. 

Meeting Policy: In case of a change due to weather, health warnings, etc., we will make a decision by 10 AM the day of the meeting and switch to Zoom. An email notification will be sent.

For the new people (or recently returned). Many of these can be done from home. 

1. Make a regular practice of writing and calling your legislators – use our Contact Your Representatives resource and the newsletter Action Alerts.

2. Come to our meetings. Bring a friend.

3. Read the newsletter and pass it on to others. Read the articles. 

4. Attend events in the newsletter. Bring two friends. 

5. Check out our website and all the resources there. 

6. Tell friends outside CNY to look up Indivisible to find local groups. 

7. Sign up for one of our committees.

8. Get involved in local politics at the town, village, city, or county level. 

9. Run for office.

10. Check out other local organizations in our Directory of Organizations.

Protect New Yorkers’ Health data

Whether it’s accessing abortion, attending routine doctor’s visits, or seeking gender-affirming care, in today’s world no one receives, provides, or helps others access health care without leaving a digital trail. This information is collected through fitness apps, phone records, search engines, period tracking apps, and the many other tools that are part of our modern life. It’s nearly impossible to avoid producing this data. You might think this deeply personal information is protected, but the scary truth is it’s not.

The New York Health Information Privacy Act will change that. This bill ensures that New Yorkers – not big tech companies, bad actors, or government entities – have control over our intimate health information.

Add Your Name

SPD Plan: Drones as First Responders Program

TAKE ACTION: Public Comment – Please take a moment to use your voice. 

The City of Syracuse has opened a public comment phase for the Police Department’s plan for a Drones As First Responders program.

Check out what the NYCLU has to say about the impact of drones in communities

Stop the “NO BAIL OUT FOR SANCTUARY CITIES” Act

See bill here

4 Things NY Lawmakers Can Do to Fight Trumps Attacks

TAKE ACTION: 

Text SANCTUARY to 82623 to receive a phone number and a script or call 1-866-581-7519

The deadline to change your party is February 14th. Complete an application online, at the Onondaga County Board of Election’s office, the post office, or town or city hall. Applications must be received by the Board of Elections by February 14th. You must be registered in a party to vote in primary elections in New York. 

More Information Here

While Governor Hochul dragged her feet on the state’s Cap-Trade-and-Invest (CTI) program in her executive budget proposal, the legislature still has the power to hold her accountable through their one-house budget proposals. Can you amplify NY Renews members’ testimony by emailing members of these key legislative committees to Fund Climate?

On behalf of the CARE4IF Coalition, we are asking for your help with a key opportunity to support immigrants in the state budget this year. Please reach out to your Assembly Member and Assembly Members and State Senators you have relationships with to sign onto the Dear Colleague Budget Letter (attached) being circulated by Assembly Member Catalina Cruz and Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal, sponsors of the Access to Representation Act in the Assembly and Senate. To look up your assembly member, please click here. To look up your state senator, please click here.
Letter templates here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/15fL9a5VDm1o74gpFWEv22_XTSLugO-a4rt1UJeVc-MA/edit?usp=drivesdk

That you can use as a call script and/or email your representatives. 

Deadline For Signatures Is Tuesday, February 11th At 5pm.

Sarah Reeske of NYS Indivisible has put together this  video intro to Bluesky. Check it out.

On Wednesday, 5 February, demonstrators gathered outside the Syracuse James M. Hanley Federal Building to send a message to Senators Schumer and Gillibrand.  Upstate counties represented included Onondaga, Cortland, Cayuga, Seneca, Oneida, Madison, Oswego, Jefferson and St. Lawrence. 
The message to our Senators was: Please use every tool at their disposal to fight back against the current administration’s attempt to complete their coup to replace government of, by and for the People with a government that only serves Billionaires and the federal funding freeze.
Speakers included Deka Dancil of the New York Civil Liberties Union, Onondaga County Legislator Maurice Brown and Tom Keck, political science Professor at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School.  Their message was the same: “Oppose the unconstitutional actions of the Trump Administration.”
The event was organized by Indivisible Onondaga County which is part of the CNY Solidarity Coalition https://www.cnysolidarity.org/.  Other organizing groups included Indivisible Cayuga County, Indivisible Mohawk Valley and Indivisible Cortland County.

Each of us has a responsibility to reach inside and find the courage to do what we can in our individual lives; where we work, study, pray, or recreate; and through coming together collectively.

Read the Article by Andy Mager on Common Dreams

As an OPM employee, I want my fellow federal workers and the American people to know that these emails may be coming from inside the house—but they are not coming from us. We at OPM are just as frustrated, confused, and traumatized as the rest of America. When I started my job at OPM, I swore an oath to the Constitution, and to defend it against all enemies foreign and domestic, making it especially awful that the threat to our government is coming from inside my own office building.

Read More at Slate.com   

If you are a federal employee and have a complaint you can submit it here.

We need to put much more money into our court system to clear those cases in a timely fashion. Just closing the whole refugee program, as Trump is doing, is not the answer. We have people in Syracuse who arrived as refugees and are now doctors, lawyers, police officers and business owners. One is even running for mayor of our city.

Read it on Syracuse Newspapers

Legal experts are warning of a constitutional crisis as the Trump administration hints it may ignore a federal judge’s ruling temporarily blocking Elon Musk and his DOGE associates from accessing the Treasury Department’s payment systems and sensitive data. 

Read it on DemocracyNow

Tuesday, February 11th at 12pm

Jerry Rescue, 2 South Clinton St, Sryracuse

The Syracuse Chapter of the National Action Network, in partnership with our allies, invites the public to join us for a crucial Rally Against Racism. This is our time to take a stand, raise our voices, and show that we refuse to remain silent in the face of attacks on Black and Brown women in our community.

Learn More on Urban CNY

Tuesday, February 11th 6:00 – 7:30pm

Fayetteville Library 300 Orchard St. Fayetteville, NY 

Presentation by: Timothy Volk, PhD 

Climate Change Awareness & Action 

Join us for an exciting presentation on a renewable and sustainable energy source produced right here in Central NY Dr. Volk is Professor & Assoc. Chair of the Sustainable Resources Management department, ESF

Register Here

Tuesday, February 11 at 6pm on Zoom

Join us to learn about Governor Hochul’s scheme to build new nuclear plants – and how to get involved in stopping it. Hochul is failing in her commitment to New York’s climate goals and has embraced the false solution of so-called “advanced” nuclear reactors. The evidence is clear: Nuclear power is not a climate solution. It’s expensive, dangerous, slow to build, and generates radioactive waste. At this briefing, we’ll hear from environmental advocates and experts on why and how we must block Hochul’s reckless nuclear scheme.

Sign Up Here

Wednesday, February 12 at 6pm on Zoom

Join Indivisibles in calling voters in NY21 about the upcoming special election. Training provided. Come make a difference!

Sign up Here

Thursday, February 13 at 3pm on Zoom

Join Indivisible co-founders Leah Greenberg and Ezra Levin each week, as we carve out an hour to discuss what’s happening and – more importantly – what’s the plan. Most of the hour is left open to Q&A, so submit questions below or submit them in the chat during the event.

Sign up Here

Thursday, February 13th from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30p.m. 

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County will be hosting a free Zoom workshop  for agricultural landowners to help identify ways of reducing energy costs for residential homes and farm businesses. Topics to be discussed will include: identifying energy efficiency improvements to help reduce utility bills, learning how to request free energy assessments, and identifying grant & loan opportunities to help offset the cost of energy improvements. 

Guest speakers will be Gabriel Gurley, Ag Energy NY Program Manager for CCE Tomkins County, and Lindsay Speer, Senior Energy Planner for CNY Regional Planning & Development Board. Each presenter will provid the latest updates on energy improvement programs for residential homes and ag businesses. . For more information, please contact Joshua Vrooman, Agriculture Community Educator, at jwv33@cornell.edu or 315-963-7286 ext. 200. 

No cost to attend this virtual session, but registration is required

Thursday, Feb 13 at 6:30pm Clay Town Hall

Tuesday, Feb 18 at 6:30pm at Cicero Library

Thursday, Feb 20 at 6:30pm at Cazenovia Library

Thursday, Mar 6 at 6:30pm at Fayetteville Library

What would you like to see in this year’s state budget? Assemblyman Al Stirpe wants to hear from you! This is your opportunity to provide your input into Governor Hochul’s 2025-26 State Budget.

Feb 13, 2025 6:00 PM 

Join this virtual briefing to learn about legislation to restrict how monopoly utility companies can use ratepayer money.

This webinar will include:

• What is utility accountability movement & why it matters

• An overview of utility accountability legislation sponsored by Assemblymember Solages and Senator Brouk 

• Ways for advocate & organizations to get involved in the campaign

• Live Q&A session 

We deserve a better energy future. It’s time for New Yorkers to shine a light on utility spending and demand fair rules to protect customers.

Register

Thurs., February 13 • 6 p.m. Lincoln Middle School, 1613 James St., Syracuse

• Complete the constituent survey Here

GreeningUSA’s Next Virtual Green Bag Lunch

Friday, February 14, 2025 – 12:00-1:30pm

Don Hughes and Doug Daley will talk about PFAS, the class of perfluorinated compounds  known as “forever chemicals” due to their persistence, high toxicity and bioaccumulative nature. They will describe PFAS history, health effects, current regulations, and mobility in the environment. Doug will present some of the current research, and Don will discuss how PFAS are used in chip making such as at the proposed Micron chip fabs.

Panelists:

Don Hughes is an environmental activist and Adjunct Professor at Le Moyne College. He holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry.

Douglas Daley is conducting research on PFAS in biosolids and compost and is Associate Professor & Director of Analytical & Technical Services, SUNY College Of Environmental Science and Forestry. 

 Registration closes at 11am on Friday, February 14, 2025.

Watch the CNY Solidarity Coalition Facebook page for updates

Monday February 17th, 2025 @ 1:30pm 

Plymouth Congregational Church 232 E. Onondaga St. Syracuse, NY 13202 

Parking Behind On the street or behind the Church or OnCenter  lot three blocks away. 

Free and open to the public

Based on a memoir of Reverend David Evans, the founder of the Upstate New York Clergy Consultation Service (CCS) in the 1960s for those who wanted a safe abortion in pre-Roe America. 

Reverend Richard Gilbert, minister at the First Unitarian Soclety of Ithaca and member of the Clergy Consultation Service at that time, will discuss his role. 

Sponsored by EAS, CNY NOW and Syracuse NAACP

Central Current

Tuesday, Feb. 18th  5 – 7 pm. at ArtRage 505 Hawley Ave., Syracuse

A panel of leaders in the housing space explore policy solutions to Syracuse’s rising rates of housing insecurity and homelessness.

Drinks and appetizers will be served.

Please reserve your seat today.

Photojournalists Michelle Gabel and Michael Greenlar have spent the past year capturing how the housing crisis is impacting the lives of Central New York residents.

See Article on Central Current

Wednesday, Feb. 19

5:30-6:30 PM Maxwell Hall Auditorium

As an extension of Interfaith Exploration Week, Hendricks Chapel is happy to welcome John Inazu for an evening lecture. All are welcome to attend this free event.

John Inazu is the Sally D. Danforth Distinguished Professor of Law and Religion at Washington University in St. Louis. His latest book is Learning to Disagree: The Surprising Path to Navigating Differences with Empathy and Respect (Zondervan, 2024). HInazu is the founder of The Carver Project and the Legal Vocation Fellowship and a Senior Fellow at Interfaith America and the Trinity Forum. He holds a B.S.E. and J.D. from Duke University and a Ph.D. in political science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Thursday, February 20 virtual

Meet the new Assembly sponsor of the NY HEAT Act Jo Anne Simon and find out how to help pass NY HEAT this year! 

Register Here

NY HEAT Act one-page :info sheet

Monday, February 24, 6-7:30 pm

Bishop Harrison Center, 1342 Lancaster Ave, Syracuse

Sponsored by CNY Solidarity Coalition

Don’t miss this panel discussion of experienced activists reflecting on their organizing and participation in nonviolent direct action as part of larger campaigns on a variety of environmental, social justice and peace struggles.  The panelists (the group is still being finalized) will also speak to ways that nonviolent direct action can play important roles in our work to stop the MAGA movement.

This program is the first in a series of events to offer education and training for nonviolent action. The second program will be a training on De-escalation and Peacekeeping skills to create safer and more effective protests, likely in March.  The third program will be a longer Training for Nonviolent Action to help people prepare to plan and participate in nonviolent direct action, to take place in late April or May.

Thursday, March 6 • 6 p.m. Lakeside Fire Department 1002 State Fair Blvd., Syracuse

Complete the constituent survey Here

Friday, February 28, 12:05 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Register Here

This forum will be conducted via Zoom. Registration is free and open to everyone.

In November 2024, FOCUS Greater Syracuse, Inc. and PEACE, Inc. held a ‘Whole Family Summit’ focused on how to enhance our community’s capacity to develop collaborative and family-centric solutions for overcoming basic needs. Funded by the CNY Community Foundation, the Summit also served as a pilot that could potentially be replicated to address other community priorities. As the Summit was designed to engage individuals at the grassroots level, the majority of participants were frontline service workers, community representatives, and families. This forum will describe key concepts underlying the Whole Family approach to planning and providing services, and Summit findings.

Concert with Irish Singer Karan Casey Trio 

Thursday, March 6, 7 PM

Red House Arts Center, 400 S. Salina, Syr. 13202

Legendary Irish musician Karan Casey is joined by Niamh Dunne on fiddle and vocals, and on guitar and accordion, Seán Óg Graham (both of the Irish folk band Beoga). They have toured together for several years and this show premieres new material as well as favorites. Together they bring us songs charged with a sense of social responsibility, from the personal to the historical and political, touching on themes of family, loss, love, the empowerment of women, and Irish revolutionary struggle.

Tickets at https://www.ticketleap.events/…/benefit-concert-w-irish…

Friends of Dorothy is an initiative to be supportive of people with AIDS. Michael Desalvo and Nick Orth, who live in and run the house, have offered home-based care and support to people with AIDS and others in need since October 1992

Friday, March 28, 2025 – 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM at ArtRage Gallery

CALL FOR ART

The ArtRage Gallery Board of Directors invites all community members to submit your 10″ x 10″ artwork to be exhibited, and sold, as a fundraiser for ArtRage Gallery, on March 28, 2025.

Artists of all ages, skill levels and backgrounds are encouraged to submit work. SHARE THIS WITH YOUR FRIENDS! If we can count on you to submit your art please send us a quick email to info@artragegallery.org

to help us with our planning.

Submission Guidelines  and more 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 or Ed: (315) 478 4571.      

EVERY FRIDAY…4 to 4:45 p.m. (“CEASE FIRE NOW”, etc./ Palestine solidarity)

Focused on the war in the middle East…Israel’s military genocide of Gaza and  invasion of Lebanon. We disperse along the sidewalk with our signs at the very busy intersection of Erie Blvd East and East Genesee St. (across from the DeWitt fire station; park in the nearby mini mall lot.) When the temperature is below 20 degrees, we cancel!

Watch past meetings about Micron, Good Jobs Town Hall, Rallies and more on our YouTube Channel.

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: Tom Keck

Climate Justice: Contact: Dick Kornbluth

SLAT (State/Local Action Team) Contact: Peter McCarthy  

Beyond War and Militarism: A joint committee of CNY Solidarity Coalition and the Syracuse Peace Council. Contact: Ron Van Norstrand

Elaine Denton

Peter McCarthy

Coordinating Committee

CNY Solidarity Coalition