Why is the summer going by so fast? I swear, five minutes ago it was the Fourth of July and I was looking for a BBQ that I could crash. Two hot dogs and two waters (Coors Light) later, and we’re closing out the first week of August. Guys, I’m not ready for the summer to end. Does anyone have access to some kind of time machine that would give me the power to go back to the beginning of June? No? Well, if there was such a thing, I’m sure it would facilitate an excellent adventure (see what I did there?). I need someone to start documenting my summer activities and write an Activist Check-In for my weekend antics. Actually… let’s just stick to Citizen Action activities. Here is what we’ve been up to this week.
-Stanley
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Reversing Runaway Inequality in the Hudson Valley: While Donald Trump tries to be the first modern candidate for President to transform into a pizza bagel, Hillary Clinton is shoring up support to become our next commander in chief. When our next president is chosen, it will be important for us to have a broad base of activists, community organizers and advocates ready to hold our new leader accountable. On August 3, the Hudson Valley Chapter hosted a workshop to build that movement. The Reversing Runaway Inequality workshop breaks down how the super wealthy have rigged the system to get richer while working class families put in more hours, work harder than any other generation, but not reap any benefits. Click here for photos from the event.
Hedge Clippers are Changing the Game. One of the unsung heroes of this summer has definitely been the Hedge Clippers. And this week they struck another major victory when the New Jersey State Investment Council voted to cut its investment in hedge funds in half. According to Bloomberg news, that’s the equivalent of a $4.5 billion dollar divestment from Hedge Funds who have lived high off the hog from public funds. Click here for the Bloomberg article.
We Don’t Need More Dirty Energy on Long Island. On August 3, the Long Island Progressive Coalition joined activists from New York Communities for Change, Haitian American Political Action Committee, Strong Economy for All Coalition, Make the Road Action Fund, and the Working Families Party to stage an action outside the Nassau County GOP office in Westbury New York. Half of the total $663,706 in “housekeeping” funds raised by the New York State Republican Party since the beginning of 2016 came from just three individual donors, all with ties to the fossil fuel industry. The last thing Long Island needs is an expansion of dirty energy. The groups demanded that the GOP return the money raised from dirty the fossil fuel industry. Click here for photos from the event.
Blog
On August 1, The Movement for Black Lives released their policy platform. In this document, they outline their vision for our country as well as programs and policies that can help us get there. I believe that Citizen Action can be an important partner in this fight for racial justice. In this blog, I outline spaces I believe we can be supportive to our sisters and brothers in the movement. Click here to read.
IN THE NEWS
Fox 40. Senior citizens in the Southern Tier gathered to celebrate the 51st anniversary of Medicare – the landmark legislation that has provides affordable health insurance for millions. Click here for the article.
TAKE ACTION!
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is working right now to rewrite the rules that payday lenders operate under. Send a message now to the CFPB and ask them to close the loopholes that allow lenders to prey on families who can least afford it. Click here to take action.
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