Name: Diana
Email:
Bio: I am an Organizer at the Western New York office of Citizen Action where my main work is on health care reform. I also love to get involved in elections, train volunteers, and try to push for Green Jobs. I have 3 kids who are 10, 8 and 3 and between them and my crazy job I don't have time for any hobbies or other activities. My family is happy to tell you that I am obsessed by politics and not much else - but I would defend myself by saying I'm pretty obsessed by my amazing kids as well! Follow me on twitter at cdcihak. I do a daily Twitter the Truth for health care - you can help it become viral by passing it on with your twitter or facebook profile!
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What We’re Up Against
December 11th, 2009
Flickr: tylerdurden1
Okay, this is it.
It’s time for us progressive, liberal, or just plain sane people to get mad.
I just got back from a meeting with Senator Gillibrand’s staff and they told me a sick, sad story.
One of the staffers was returning to the office the other day when she was very physically confronted by two women at her office door. They immediately started yelling at her with irrational comments about health care reform including how this was not only going to “destory their lives, but the lives of their children.” They said that they “owned her and the office” and no amount of soft words or rational arguements was going to calm them down. Then they roughly shoved her out of the way to storm into the office. That’s drawing the line when you assault a district staffer over health care reform – where is this going next?
This is how crazy they are.
These staffers are putting up with a lot of abuse by people that are calling and yelling at them about death panels and how they are going to have their Medicare taken away. They are irrational, they don’t listen to truth or logic. It’s draining to the staffers and to their morale.
This happens while we, who want to be logical and fair, weigh our thoughts and are careful not to abuse our relationship with the staff. We feel like it is cheating to call every day – that we are bugging them if we call again and again. We don’t want to seem irrational, we don’t want to cheat.
But I say to you this is war, and we are going to lose if we are not willing to fight.
They want, no wait -they NEED us to call each and every day. All you have to say is “I support health care reform”. You can add more if you want, but you don’t need to.
So, please, make the commitment - call each and every day until Congress passes reform and it goes to President Obama for his signature. The numbers for Senators Schumer and Gillibrand are below. Click here to find out who your member of Congress is.
Schumer:
202-224-6542
Gillibrand:
202-224-4451
Call right now. Call again tomorrow. Do it every day and ask everyone you know to do the same.
Think about how you would feel if you were a staffer, wanting to do the right thing, but at the end of the day you had to put up with 200 crazy phone calls and only 3 people who believed in you and what you were doing bothered to even pick up the phone.
All Politics is Local
December 3rd, 2009
We are getting closer to winning real health care reform than we have ever been before. It’s not perfect, true – but we are going to win something. It’s a major battle that we are about to win, with a bit more work!
But, it’s really important that we keep in mind the larger war. The proposed closings of the two clinics on Buffalo’s East Side shows just how divided we are. While the majority of Americans see health care as a human right, and want to see everyone have access to quality affordable health care – there are others who are in the minority that would love to deny it to those who cannot afford it. It’s very clear cut. The actions of Erie County Executive, Chris Collins, are based on denying access to populations that he doesn’t deem important.
I say this to make the point that these 2 issues, which seem on the surface to be very different, are actually two aspects to the same issue – the same war. And we have to fight on both fronts to win what we truly believe in: that every single American has a right to quality, affordable and accessible health care.
It’s an issue of social and racial justice, but not just an issue of justice. It’s also an economic issue. The more Americans who are covered by health care, the more individuals who have access to health care services, the healthier the population will become. The healthier the population, the more productive the work force. The more productive the workforce, the stronger our economy becomes… and of course it ripples out into lowering the cost of health care for everyone.
That is why on Tuesday we are holding a vigil for federal health care reform – but we are also going to rally for the clinics. Because when it comes down to it, we know that “All Politics is Local.”
5pm Tuesday the 8th at Lafayette Square in downtown Buffalo – see you there!
Scene of a Crime in Buffalo
October 10th, 2009
On Friday, activists gathered in downtown Buffalo to call out the private health insurance industry and their practices of denying coverage in order to increase profits. This action was one of three events across New York this week that focused on the “crimes” of big insurance. Other events also happened in Binghamton and Albany.
Using yellow crime scene tape that read “It’s a Crime to Deny our Care” and holding it around chalk outlines of bodies strewn across the sidewalk, the activists sent a clear message to those walking by on their lunch break.
Other volunteers circulated through the crowd gathering signatures on a petition to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi asking her to stay strong on a public option and true affordability for families with the House bill, H.R. 3200. 3,200 for 3200 will be delivered to Pelosi when it is complete and the hope is that this petition and these actions will help strengthen her hand when she goes into the conference that will join the House and Senate versions of a health care reform bill for President Obama to sign after passage by Congress.
In Buffalo, the health care advocates have a specific target of their actions - United Healthcare Group, which has offices in Buffalo. United Healthcare’s CEO makes $57 thousand dollars AN HOUR, yet he heads a corporation that denies claims to average Americans who pay their premiums. Those Americans who often make less in a year what he makes every hour can be plunged into financial ruin with the stroke of an administrative pen at the private health insurance company. The protest today was to point out that this is not the way health care should be delivered in the US.
With another 6 weeks left in this long fight for affordable, quality health care for everyone in America, actions will be ramping up. Contact me at the Buffalo office if you would like to get involved: dcihak@citizenactionny.org.
Economic Bill of Rights
October 5th, 2009A good friend of mine, who constantly reminds me that she is more liberal than I am (which is pretty darn left), just posted this video on Facebook. It is a powerful reminder in just over 2 minutes of how long we have been fighting this fight – and how far we have come, BUT that we are not there yet. If you need to put health care reform and the long term economic interests of our country into perspective take 2 minutes and watch this video.
Then, call the White House and say there is no health care reform and therefore no true economic recovery without a STRONG public option. 202-456-1111 or 202-456-1414.
My Visit with the President
September 22nd, 2009
A photo I snapped of President Obama while he was delivering his speech.
So I got the call last week asking me if I could be in Albany on Monday (9/21/2009) for a very special event. I had some hints before that so I knew what was going on – the President was going to be in town. I worked many, many, many hours as a volunteer on his campaign and I have seen him speak in Cleveland, at the Convention where I was a delegate, and also at the Inaugural in DC, but I had never seen him speak in a small crowd, much less have had the opportunity to meet him or shake his hand. So I was eager to say “yes, I can make it.”
Then I found out that the event was for only about 200 people and that I was to tell NO ONE that I had a ticket because no more were available. Well, I did okay with that – but certainly not perfect, there were a few people I had to tell – namely those who I work for and those I was staying with when I went to Albany the night before.
The event was on Monday morning, I decided to drive the 5 hours from Buffalo on Sunday night and stay over. About 10 o’clock Sunday night I get the call from the OFA State Director, Melissa, that I have been included in the political clutch before the event. Now, this is BIG. But let me explain it by telling you what happened.
A friend of mine who had a ticket to the event picked me up and we drove over to Hudson Valley Community College. Secret Service and State Troopers were everywhere so we knew we were in the right place. He showed his ticket and I was checked on the list when we showed our ID to get into the parking lot. He was directed into a long line for security while I was told to go over to a table by the door to check in. The volunteer at the door was a friend of mine and immediately called me over by name in front of some of the state Democratic Party dignitaries standing at the table to get their tickets. She said, oh, you don’t get a ticket you get a special red pass – Melissa will be out to escort you inside in a few moments. I have to admit that felt pretty good. Those dignitaries got in line with their tickets as I was escorted with Melissa to the front of the line and whisked through security with my red pass safety pinned to my suit jacket.
We were brought “backstage”, which was actually a classroom. I was in a room with 4 other top labor leaders from SEIU, AFL-CIO and CWA as well as a guy from the Hospitals Association. Next door we saw the elected officials moving in and out of their room – Andrew Cuomo was back there making the rounds. Senator Sampson, the newly minted Majority Conference Leader of our State Senate walked in and out of that room and ours, lots of other electeds milled about, though I never saw Governor Paterson, I guess he was at the airport to greet the flight.
The White House staff kept stopping in to check on us, brought us bottled water, inquired if we needed snacks. They told us that when the motorcade arrived we would be put on lock down and the door would be closed and then someone would come to get us when it was our time to be with the President. We were back there for about an hour. We had some great discussions about health care, about the President’s apparent communications to Governor Paterson, about Buffalo and NYC. We were anxious, but not bored.
Then we heard the motorcade pull up, the door was closed and even the window in the door had been covered over. But I heard his distinctive voice outside our door. A few minutes went by, it was apparent he was next door with the electeds first, then we were told he was taking a tour of the tech lab at the Community College.
I had told my colleagues in the room that I was going to talk to the President. They laughed, they said you know you only get a second to say your name and smile for the photo. I said, just watch me – I am going to talk to him for longer than that. I worked thousands of hours on his campaign, I deserve a couple of seconds.
Then the door opened and the White House staffer (complete with Secret Service-style ear piece) escorted us to the room where the electeds had been. In the room was just a family who I later found out the father was an old friend of David Axelrod’s. There was a blue curtain on one end of the room with 2 flags about 5 feet apart – one American, one New York. Obviously the location where we would shake the President’s hand and smile for the camera.
And that he came in, accompanied by Dr. Jill Biden, David Axelrod and for those of you that are political junkies, Patrick Gaspard (who is quite important to us here in New York).
We lined up and the photos began. Those in front of me dutifully walked up introduced themselves and turned around to smile at the camera.
I was next in line. I walked up and said “Hi, I am Diana Cihak, a community Organizer for Citizen Action of New York and Health Care for America Now. We need a strong public option sir, please stand strong.” He nodded and I barreled on… “and I would like you to visit Buffalo. We have 8 wind towers on some of the most contaminated land in the country on the shoreline of Lake Erie in front of rotting Bethlehem Steel buildings. You can do a major speech on green manufacturing and rust belt revitalization.” He said, “I would love to come to Buffalo”. So I said “well, I hope I have planted that seed in your mind and you will make it.” I think at that point I may have actually looked at the photographer – but I’m not sure. It will be interesting to see what the photo looks like when the White House sends it, I couldn’t tell you if the photographer was a man or a woman, black, white or purple. So I bet the photo doesn’t have me looking at the camera, but instead me talking the President’s ear off.
But you know what was cool – he paid complete attention to me, even as I grabbed more time than others. He held my hand, looked me in the eye and listened to what I was saying. I felt very validated and that was good. When I walked over to my labor friends they were all shocked that I had actually done it – that I hadn’t chickened out and just introduced myself and smiled at the camera. I guess they don’t know me very well…
Me with David Axelrod, one of President Obama's top advisors.
We milled about in the room for a while. I passed the time chatting with David Axelrod about the old days in Chicago when I was working in politics there and first heard of him, though I never met him. He remembered who I worked for though and it took him back, he had quite the laugh over it. (For those who know my history you will understand.) I asked for a photo with him and he obliged me. I also had a long chat with Patrick Gaspard and it was very productive. We are so lucky to have a New Yorker with the President in the White House.
The President had left the room several minutes before the rest of us did. As we were escorted out we saw him taking a photo with a large group. I realized at that moment and then again as we entered the larger room where he was speaking, the enormity of what just happened; how lucky I had been to be back there – to get the photo with the President and then to be escorted to a seat in the center of the second room behind the President of the Community College where he was speaking. That’s pretty amazing, especially considering this amazing man then left to go on Letterman and then speak at the UN, and in between he was making phone calls and judgments on the policies and laws that affect our lives everyday. I feel very lucky. Very very lucky!
Health Care from a Kid’s Perspective
August 28th, 2009My 10 year old daughter Sage has been very patient. It is tough for a girl to see her mother obsessed with a cause. The amount of attention paid to her is sometimes usurped by the urgency of the fight for health care. So, when she decided on her own to write a blog post about health care reform I have to admit I teared up (much to her embarrassment). It reminded me that kids absorb so much more of the world around them and your actions than you even know. I hope you enjoy the words of someone who will be impacted by the work we do now on health care reform for many many years to come.
Here is what she wrote, unedited:
Read the rest of this entry “
The Obama Grassroots re-energized
August 18th, 2009Yes, we had a disappointing weekend.
It appeared that the Administration we worked so hard to elect was backing away from our strongest mandate – true health care reform through a strong public option.
But every cloud has a silver lining!
My group in Buffalo, BuffalObama, that worked so very hard from March of 2007 until election day and after, is re-energized. And it’s not just Buffalo, across the state the grassroots organizers who have been continuing to meet, open offices, make phone calls and support health care reform initiatives are ready to speak up. We are not going to lose this fight!
So, if you were involved in the campaign – knocking on doors, making calls, holding signs, sending in money – it’s time to do it again! Let’s not waste the significant time we put in during the election with inside the beltway politics and insurance company money. We proved we could overcome all of that during the election – we can do it again!
Call your Citizen Action office right now and ask what you can do – we have LOTS of events happening and each one is important to show that our support for a public option is louder and larger than the voices of the right wing crazies.
Congressman Massa – do you support health care reform?
August 4th, 2009Today we held a press conference at Congressman Eric Massa’s Pittsford, NY office. Congressman Massa is one of the freshman Democrats that has effectively slowed down and possibly stalled the passage of HR3200, the bill being debated in front the House of Representatives for health care reform. Frankly we were shocked when we found out Massa was attempting to slow down the process because he has always been an advocate for health care reform – he ran on a single payer platform during his campaign.
So, we went to his office to ask him to tell us why he was stalling the bill and what it was that he was looking for in order to fully support HR 3200. After a good press conference that was attended by many different individuals from the Western New York region we met with his Chief of Staff. It seems that maybe we are not as far apart as we thought – according to his staff Congressman Massa is just on the fence right now about supporting the bill. But then again he is not willing, yet, to come out and say he will vote for it when the Congress reconvenes in September.
Massa’s office is being flooded with mail and phone calls against health care reform and HR3200. That makes it hard for him to enthusiastically support any reform legislation. Now, we know and his staff implied, that there is a hard line right wing theme to many of the letters and calls against reform. They realize that the pushback on health reform is a coordinated and well funded effort by the Republicans to make Obama and the Democrats look bad no matter what the cost to the average American.
But still, he needs to hear from his voters that support reform.
So, if you are reading this we need you to call Congressman Massa and ask him to support HR3200. You can call his Pittsford district office at: (585) 218-0040; or his office in DC at: (202) 225-3161
At the end of the long meeting with his staff there was a light in the darkness when his staffer said “well maybe you should meet with the Congressman yourself”. So we are doing just that, we are going back to meet with him tomorrow and see if we can’t get him to commit to supporting HR3200.
But in order for us to get him to say yes, he needs to hear from you. So please call his office right now.
And on Thursday there is a town hall meeting in Honeyoe Falls that Massa is holding about health care reform. So please try to attend if you live in his district – it starts at 7:30 at the Mendon Community Center.
There is hope – we just have to keep working!
Cheers,
Diana
