Gear Up for Elections!

Actions for Week of March 6, 2022

Prepare for midterms, will NY go green, and get ready for our first 2022 meeting!

Actions for Week of March 6, 2022

Tuesday, March 8
NY RENEWS ACTION IN ALBANY

Go face to face with our legislators to press for $15b in the budget for climate investments. To sign up click here

Wednesday, March 9
LOBBY DAY IN SUPPORT OF THE TEACHER FOSSIL FUEL DIVESTMENT ACT

Tell Albany to take teachers' pensions and investments out of fossil fuel. New York should be green, not steeped in oil.

To sign up, click here

Saturday, March 12
CANVAS IN PA
9 AM - 5:30 PM

Join Swing Left volunteers to hit the pavement in Bucks, PA. Let's register new voters ahead of the PA Dems Primary for these monumentally important midterms! There's a crucial open US Senate seat, as well as the PA Governor's and many other state level races.

Any Time
POSTCARDS TO VOTERS

Write postcards to voters in Nevada, California, Arizona, or Wisconsin.  These key states can make or break the next election. Make sure the voters there know what their reps are doing (or not doing). 
 

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SAVE THE DATES

March 22
Join us on Zoom at 7:30pm for our first general meeting of 2022! We'll be focusing on two hot topics: climate change and voting rights.


April 22, Earth Day
Climate Can't Wait Action in Albany


********************
UKRAINE RELIEF
Below is a list of charities recommended by Charity Navigator and NPR:

Heart to Heart International www.hearttoheart.org

MAP International https://www.map.org/

Operation USA www.opusa.org/

Catholic Relief Services support.crs.org

Samaritan's Purse www.samaritanspurse.org/article/pray-for-the-crisis-in-ukraine

UNICEF USA https://www.unicefusa.org/

Save the Children www.savethechildren.org

Matthew 25: Ministries Center for Disaster Philanthropy m25m.org

Water Mission http://www.watermission.org/

Direct Relief www.directrelief.org

Project HOPE www.projecthope.org

GlobalGiving www.globalgiving.org/

World Help www.worldhelp.net

Americares www.americares.org/news/2022-0302-americares-deploys-response-team-for-ukraine-crisis/

Mercy Corps www.mercycorps.org/donate/crisis-ukraine-give-now

International Medical Corps internationalmedicalcorps.org/

International Red Cross www.icrc.org/en/

UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) www.unhcr.org/en-us/

CARE www.care.org

UNICEF www.unicefusa.org

Medicine Without Borders https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/what-we-do/countries/ukraine

Sunflower of Peace www.sunflowerofpeace.com/

Voting Rights or Bust

Actions for Week of February 27, 2022

How to Help Texas, Invest in a Green Future, and Upgrade New York’s Voting Rules

Monday, February 28 - Tuesday March 1
GET OUT THE VOTE IN TEXAS
(multiple times)

Join us for our final push as we get Texans to the ballot box. Choose a time that works for you and we'll provide the script, texting platform, training, and a community to connect with other NextGen volunteers!


Tuesday, March 1
SOTU WATCH PARTY
8:30 PM

Hang out with other Indivisibles and Democrats to watch President Biden’s state of the union address.


Thursday, March 3
INDIVISIBLE ACTIVIST NATIONAL CALL
8 PM

Discuss strategy, celebrate success, and plan our next moves for the midterms and beyond.


Saturday, March 5
INVEST IN OUR NEW YORK
10 AM

IONY is fighting for climate action, excluded workers, and healthcare (both for everyone and fair wages for home healthcare workers)
Attend the Saturday 10am generalist calls. Contact Ginger Zingelewicz at gzingelewicz@gmail.com.

Any time
UPGRADE NEW YORK'S ELECTIONS

There are a number of bills to improve training for election officials, prohibit BOE members’ conflicts of interest, establish qualifications for election commissioners, and lots more.  Let’s tell our reps to support them! List of bills at the link.

Liz Krueger
(212) 490-9535
lkrueger@nysenate.gov

José M. Serrano
(212)-828-5829
serrano@nysenate.gov

Dan Quart
(212) 605-0937
quartd@nyassembly.gov

Rebecca Seawright
(212) 288-4607
SeawrightR@nyassembly.gov

 P.S. We're working on restarting meetings. Stay tuned.

The Midterms are Coming! The Midterms are Coming!

Actions for Week of February 20, 2022

Will the GOP gain ground? What’s our strategy to stop them?

Tuesday, February 22
VOTE FORWARD LETTERS WITH UWS INDIVISIBLE
4-5:30 PM

Join Upper West Side MoveOn/Indivisible to kick off their 2020 midterm letter writing campaign. You'll be writing letters using this award-winning, proven tactic to reach potential voters in important upcoming elections through Vote Forward. Training included.

Any time
FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE IN NY

Over the next two weeks, the New York State Senate and Assembly will be finalizing their 2022 state budget proposals. New York Renews is requesting that people join virtual lobbying visits to tell their representatives that we need to fund climate justice in this year’s budget.

OR

CALL THE GOVERNOR

NY Renews is asking for people to call Gov Hochul and ask for $15 billion in the final budget to fund the CLCPA to fight climate change and create green jobs.  Find out more here. 

Saturday, February 26
SISTER DISTRICT SUMMIT
9 AM-1:30 PM PST (or 12PM-4:30 PM Eastern) I

In 2020, voters turned out to elect Democrats in record numbers. In 2021, the GOP proposed over 400 anti-voter bills to silence our voices. We must stop this. Find out how from Sister District and DNC chair Jaime Harrison.

NY LEGISLATIVE MEETING WITH ANDREA STEWART-COUSINS

In case you missed it, we chatted with State Senate leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins last week. She wants our help fighting pushback on bail reform -- which ONLY affects nonviolent criminals and allows people to return to their homes, jobs, and families before trial.

The governor has proposed a budget, but negotiations haven't started yet. We want funding for climate action, healthcare workers, and more equitable and fair funding. for communities, especially those affected most by climate change.

Reps from the Working Families Party and IONY (Invest in Our New York) also spoke about fairer tax rates, the rich getting richer and richer, and gaining more progressive seats.
 

Where Will NY’s Money Go?

Actions for Week of February 13, 2022

How will NY spend its budget, protect the climate, and chat with State Senate leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins

Wednesday, February 16
INVEST IN NEW YORK
7 – 8 PM

NY's annual budget is over $200 billion, so we can afford to create a state where all can prosper and where we can direct how that money gets spent. 

Help Invest in Our New York fight for a greener climate, fairer taxes, and more equitable investment in our communities.
 

Thursday, Feb. 17
NY STATE PRIORITIES - WHERE DO OUR TAXES GO?

7 PM

March is budget month. Come chat with State Senate Majority Andrea Stewart-Cousins about budget priorities and how we want our taxes spent.

We’ll also learn from WFP’s Nina Luo about how we can win our legislative priorities like healthcare for all, increased school funding, cutting fossil fuel subsidies, investing in green energy, and more. 

Any time

Call your state legislators and urge them to support climate-friendly bills or thank them if they already support action on these issues.

For example:

Climate and Community Investment Act - Creates an authority, paid for by polluter fees, to fund offshore wind, electric buses, and public housing energy upgrades; grants to community organizations to adapt to climate change; support for fossil fuel dependent workers and communities; and rebates for working New Yorkers and small businesses to defray increased energy costs. (A6967, Cahill; S4264, Parker)
 

Fossil Fuel Subsidy Elimination Act - Repeals over $330 million in tax exemptions to the fossil fuel industry. Specifically, the bill would eliminate many exemptions to the Sales and Use Tax and the Petroleum Business Tax, and would limit fossil fuel companies inclusion in several economic development programs. (A8483, Cahill; S7438, Krueger)

Liz Krueger
(212) 490-9535
lkrueger@nysenate.gov

José M. Serrano
(212)-828-5829
serrano@nysenate.gov

Dan Quart
(212) 605-0937
quartd@nyassembly.gov

Rebecca Seawright
(212) 288-4607
SeawrightR@nyassembly.gov

Defend Democracy and Protect the Planet

Actions for Week of February 6, 2022

Will NY be green? Can we expand the vote? And will NY’s Budget Help or Hurt?

Tuesday, February 8
DEFEND DEMOCRACY
4-6 PM

Phone bank to register Democrats in North Carolina with Civic Sundays and Field Team 6.  Push back against gerrymandering, voter purges, and attempts to deny election results.
 

ANY TIME
NY BUDGET SEASON

It’s not just winter. It’s budget season. No pretty flowers or birds, but it does mean it’s time to hammer out what goes into NY’s budget, how our money gets spent, as well as how and where we vote.

If you want to hear more, or pitch in your two cents, you can listen at the link above.  Or send your comments here.

OR

CLIMATE CAN’T WAIT

Call the Governor, Speaker Heastie, and Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins and tell them to eliminate fossil fuel subsidies, fund climate change mitigation, and invest in green renewable energy. Phone numbers and script at the link.

OR

POSTCARDS TO FLORIDA VOTERS

Help get out the vote for key elections in Florida. And stop DeSantis from only letting people like him vote. 

SAVE THE DATE
Thursday, Feb. 17
7 PM

Meet with State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and plan our strategy for influencing the NY state budget and priorities.

Some potential requests (from Sarah Reeske, our organizer):

• Increase funding for campaign matching fund from $10M to $40M so it is ready for the 2024 election cycle

• Funding for county BOEs to keep up with reforms - minimum $10 million in budget

• Strong support for polling places on college campuses - but would like to see the budget bill include early voting, as well as election day.

• Fair Wages for Home Care asks for home care workers to make 150% of NY state's minimum wage

• $15B for funding the CLCPA (the climate change bill that aims to make NY greener) 

How to Keep Our Majority

Actions for Week of January 31, 2022

What makes someone “electable”, Indivisible national strategy, and support local Dems

Tuesday, February 1
TEXTS FOR TEXAS
6 PM

Join with Vote Riders to ensure that Texas’s awful new restrictions don’t stop people from voting.   Help them get the ID they need.

OR

Tuesday, February 1
UNPACKING ELECTABILITY 
8 PM

Who is electable? Who should we back, and how can we tell? What factors does Indivisible use before endorsing someone? Join the call to find out.


Thursday, February 3
PHONE BANK FOR NJ-7
3-5 PM

Tom Malinowski is in a must-win seat in New Jersey. We need to keep him there to hold the House.

OR
 

FEBRUARY NATIONAL INDIVISIBLE CALL
8 PM

Learn what Indivisible has planned for the midterms and how to make an impact.

Any time
HELP WI OR PA VOTERS VOTE BY MAIL

The GOP wants to stop people from voting. We think that’s wrong. Write postcards to voters in WI or PA to help them get the info they need to vote.

JANUARY NATIONAL INDIVISIBLE CALL RECORDING
Listen to the last national call, with special guests Elizabeth Warren, Ezra Levin, and Leah Greenberg.

Here we Go!

Actions for Week of January 23, 2022

What’s next for democracy, how our taxes get spent, and flippable seats

Monday, January 24
INDIVISIBLE NATIONAL CALL
8 PM

Obviously, the results of the democracy vote, well, suck. Sinema and Manchin betrayed us.  And we can take a moment to primal scream together. Then, we can regroup, and figure out what else we can do to fix this. 
 

Wednesday, January 26
STATEWIDE MEETING WITH COMPTROLLER TOM DINAPOLI
7 PM - 8 PM

The comptroller is essentially the state's CFO.  Find out how he makes sure money is spent wisely and effectively. There will be time for Q&A. Submit questions here.
 

Friday, January 28
VIRTUAL COFFEE WITH CAROLYN MALONEY
8 AM
Check in with our Congresswoman, and see what she plans for House Oversight, pandemic recovery, and abortion rights.
 

Sunday, January 30
SWING LEFT/UWS 2022 KICKOFF
12 PM

The midterms are coming! And so are elections for governors and state legislatures.  Those seats count too, since that's where state election policies, abortion rights, and climate rules are made.

*****

UES INDIVISIBLE UPDATE

I've now got a team of people helping out.Yay! We're working on planning our agenda for the year, distributing the workload, reaching out to other groups and legislators, and resuming meetings (likely on Zoom for the immediate future). Stay tuned.

Democracy or Bust

Actions for Week of January 16, 2022

How to save democracy, protect our only planet, and organize for a big blue victory

Monday, January 17
VOTING RIGHTS NOW!

Tweet or call our Senators and tell them we want action on voting rights.  Without voting, there is no democracy.  And, if you know anyone in AZ, ask them to call Sinema and tell her that if John Lewis really is her hero, she should vote for his namesake bill!

Senator Chuck Schumer
@SenSchumer
DC: (202) 224-6542 
NYC:  (212) 486-4430

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand: 
@SenGillibrand 
DC: (202) 224-4451
NY: (212) 688-6262

OR

DAY OF ACTION
6-7 PM

Join Blue Victory 2022 for our "Democrats Care" MLK Day of Service event!

Learn how to advocate for Voting Rights and our communities as the nation remembers the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr.

Blue Victory Event Host Jim McBride is a member of the DNC's "Organize Everywhere" Program and Swing Left's Virginia Action Team. He previously served as a Community Leader with the Biden-Harris "Communities United" Program focused on mobilizing grassroots networks from DC/MD/VA and beyond.
 

Thursday, January 20
MEDIA IS THE MESSAGE, AND IT STINKS - LETS DO BETTER
7 PM

No Surrender NY's messaging event with Eric Boehlert of Press Run. President Biden and the Democrats have done a lot for the country, but the media messaging is all wrong.  Find out why the press isn't telling you that and what to do about it. 

Sunday, January 23

HEALTH CARE FOR EVERYONE
3 PM

Would you like healthcare for all New Yorkers? And for everything (even teeth)? NY has a very real chance to pass the landmark New York Health Act this year. This law would provide universal free health care for all New Yorkers. Join NW Bronx Indivisible for their virtual town hall to find out how this will work and how to get it passed.
 

Any time
STOP CLIMATE CHANGE

NY Renews is asking for people to call Gov Hochul and ask for $15 billion in the final budget to fund the CLCPA. Use this tool to call. 

No Vote, No Democracy

Actions for Week of January 10, 2021

Key elections, must-pass legislation, and how to build back blue

Monday, Jan. 10
TURN FLORIDA BLUE
6 PM- 8 PM

Join Field Team 6 in contacting eligible voters (likely Democrats) in Florida's 26th district!

You’ll be targeting Carlos Gimenez, a horrid Republican congressman who flipped his seat red, and then voted to overturn the Biden election results. Let’s flip this seat back to blue!

Training provided and bilingual Spanish speakers extra welcome.

Tuesday, Jan. 11
ON WISCONSIN!
5 PM - 8 PM

Call Wisconsinites and tell them why the Build Back Better Agenda is so important. Training included,  so no worries if you've never worked the dialer before!
 

Wednesday, January 12
REGISTER FLORIDA BLUE VOTERS
6:30 - 7:30 PM

Write letters and postcards to FL voters with Swing Left and\ Vote Forward.  Let’s get more blue voters registered, increase the vote, and get rid of Marco Rubio.

Thursday, January 13
PROTECT VOTING RGHTS
3 PM - 6 PM

Join Joan's Democracy Cafe to phone-bank to protect voting rights!

Ask Michigan voters to Decline to Sign a diabolical petition that implements voter suppression without a vote of the people, and invite them to a virtual educational event (run by Voters Not Politicians)

Ask Arizona and West Virginia voters to tell their Senators to reform the filibuster to pass the Freedom to Vote Act (FTVA) and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (JLVRAA)

OR

NY GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE DEBATE
7 PM

NYPAN/Our Revolution will be holding a forum for NY gubernatorial candidates. Meet the candidates, hear their platforms, and decide who you want to lead our state.


Friday, January 14
FREEDOM TO VOTE ACT
4-6 PM (other dates and times available)

Call voters in key states and connect them to their Senators to support the Freedom to Vote Act, and eliminate the filibuster. 

******

Speaking of which, there was another last minute meeting with Senator Schumer last week.

There is forward progress on getting a vote on voting rights legislation, but we need to amplify how important and urgent this is.  He would like our help.

The idea is to tie in the insurrection with voter suppression and subversion efforts in state legislatures.  Emphasize that rules can be changed and voting rights used to be bipartisan.

So, write letters to the editor, post ion Facebook, and on other social media.  If you need ideas, check out the January 6th Messaging Toolkit from a Freedom Rising Movement Briefing with messaging expert Anat Shenker-Osorio.

How to Grow Our Majority

Actions for Week of January 2, 2022

Midterms, voter suppression, and what we're going to do about it

Happy new year!  Back to work, for us, and soon for Congress

Here are some messaging ideas to keep them accountable:

• Middle class kids can't afford middle class lives. Cancel student debt.

• Democracy or tyranny? Pass voting rights NOW

• The Senate got a vacation. The people got nothing.

• Vacations or democracy? Which matters more?

• The Senate went home, we're left empty handed

And here's their contact info:

Senator Chuck Schumer:
NY:  (212) 486-4430

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand:
NY: (212) 688-6262

Representative Carolyn Maloney: 
NY: (212) 860-0606

Tuesday, January 4
PASS THE FREEDOM TO VOTE ACT
3 PM - 5PM

Join Indivisible Chicago and Common Cause to phone bank for voting rights. Talk to voters in West Virginia and Nevada, and ask them to call their senators to support this legislation. Tools and training provided.

Thursday, January 6
VIGIL FOR DEMOCRACY
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Carl Schurz Park. 86th and East End

OR
WEST SIDE VIGIL
4:30 - 5:30 PM
Verdi Square (73rd and Broadway)

A year ago, armed Trump followers attacked our Capitol and tried to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Join New York federal, state and city elected officials, community activists, interfaith leaders, your neighbors and friends to insist all are held accountable -- no matter where it leads.

OR

FIGHT FOR DEMOCRACY
7:30 PM
Join impeachment prosecutor Dan Goldman for a discussion about the one year anniversary of the 1/6 insurrection and the ongoing threat to democracy. Register at the link.

COMING ATTRACTIONS

Our state organizer is setting up events with Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Senator Gillibrand, candidates for governor, and those running for attorney general.

We're also planning to have repeating voter outreach efforts and more coordination between Indivisible NYC groups.

Plus events with local officials (some of us have a new NYC council member), and candidate debates/forums.

Details to come.

It's vital that we protect and grow the vote, and increase our national majority, so we won't have to rely on two iffy Senators in order to pass legislation. And, of course, prevent a GOP takeover!

Finally, a big thank you to the people who offered to help with all of this!