Happy Friday! After a week of rain, it looks like Spring is about to arrive. We can look for sunnier days, overpriced movies with shallow storylines and the final weeks of the legislative session. We will need your help to push for campaign finance reform, but before we get there, let’s recap on what has been an awesome week.

-Stanley


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Keep it in the Ground

Breaking Free from Fossil Fuels. On Wednesday, May 11, Citizen Action joined participants from the Sane Energy Project, Beyond Extreme Energy, and The Yes Men to break up FERC commissioner Norman Bay talk at a conference for power plant owners. Norman didn’t seem to be a fan of being reminded about the very serious risk of man-made climate change and was quickly whisked away before he could be subjected to any more reasonable questions or requests for accountability and transparency. Click here to see highlights from this event, and get involved in the fight against natural gas pipelines and the production of fossil fuels.

Solar Power

New York’s Clean Energy Standard. On May 10, members in the Southern Tier kicked off a series of clean energy standard hearings in an effort to educate the community on the New York Public Service Commission’s (PSC) proposed policy to set goals for the amount of renewable energy that should be purchased in New York. On paper this sounds awesome, but it can turn into a problem really quickly if the PSC is trying to categorize things like nuclear energy and natural gas as “renewable energy.” If nuclear energy is renewable, then I’m President Obama’s life coach and last I checked, he still hasn’t responded to my follow request on twitter. Click here for highlights.

Worker Strike

Four Weeks and Counting. By the time you read this, we will be heading into the second month of the Verizon worker strike. And if my calculations are correct, this will be the 49589382 time I have mentioned it. My language is always the same (or at least I think it is): we need to stand by these workers. The super rich have done everything they can to undermine unions and skip out on paying their fair share. But when you’re making $1.8 billion a month, there is no reason you can’t pay people decent wages. This strike is as much for us as it is these workers. They are putting everything on the line to send a message to their bosses. We can support that cause by having their backs. Click here to find an action near you.

Bernie and Beyond

Still Feeling The Bern. Hudson Valley Chapter members put down their notepads filled with delegate math equations and joined forces with fellow Bernie supporters for a good old fashioned BBQ. In between eating potato salad and crowd funding for trips to the convention, participants also discussed Bernie’s chances moving forward and ways to have an impact on important Congressional races happening in New York. Click here for more from this event.

Blue Photo

We Made New York Next. After tons of work, the Paid Family Leave Campaign in New York finally got the big win. On Thursday, May 12, we had the opportunity to celebrate that victory with allies, partners, and supporters. New York now has the strongest paid family leave program in the whole country! Special thanks to Blue Carreker who built a broad base of support by organizing in every corner of the state! Congratulations! Click here to check out some of the tweets from the event.


Upcoming Events


On Saturday, May 14, thousands will converge in Albany to demand that our world break free from fossil fuels and that we protect the residents of Albany’s south end from bomb trains and a new boiler facility. Click here to learn more.

On Wednesday, May 18, the members in the Southern Tier will march to demand an end to the incarceration and profiteering of our children of color. Click here if you’re in the area and would like to attend.

On May 21st, Metro Justice is taking their message to the doors! From 10:00am to 4:00pm, we’ll be knocking on doors to get the word out to the community about all of our work in Rochester! Click Here to Learn More


Job Alert!


Citizen Action, PPEF and the New York Civic Engagement Table have a number of positions open across the state, including Organizer, Lead Organizer, and Regional Coordinator. Click here for more details.

Metro Justice is looking for a Fundraiser and Membership Director.


From the Blog


Parole Votes

Everyone knows about the 125,000 Brooklyn voters who were disenfranchised during the New York presidential primaries. But they aren’t the only people who are unable to have their voices heard. Right now, 40,000 formerly incarcerated men and women are unable to vote. We don’t think that’s fair, and have spoken up in support of legislation that would change that. Click here to read our letter of support for parole voting.


In the News


Albany Times Union. Protesters in Colonie drive energy chief from podium

NY Daily News. Civil rights groups call on pro-charter school organization to end ad campaign on public school violence

Albany Times Union. LLC loophole bill moves to Senate Codes as backers push for floor vote


Take Action!


Albany is the key battleground in the fight to stop fossil fuel expansion in the Northeast.Tell Governor Cuomo that we can’t afford an expansion of polluting fossil fuels that put our communities at risk at a time when our climate is at the breaking point! Click here to sign!

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