After a year and a half of incoherent arguments, and emotionally abusive talking points, the presidential debates are over. I for one am extremely happy, it was difficult watching one candidate beat up on a sack of tan spray like that. Hillary demolished Donald Trump in the debates, seriously, it got so bad, the staff at Fox started passing him notes during the break asking if he wanted them to use the mercy rule. He refused, and she dropped this hot take on him. If everything goes as planned, pigs don’t fly, and hell doesn’t freeze over, we can expect to be calling Hillary our President-elect after November 8, (November 28th for you Trump supporters). While it looks like we have the presidential election in the bag, flipping the New York State Senate will not be as easy. We’re working hard to make it a reality, and we have a lot of plans for when it happens. Here’s what that work looks like this week.
-Stanley
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NY Renews Albany Town Hall. On Monday, October 17, residents in Albany’s South End and representatives of community, labor, environmental and statewide advocacy organizations packed into St. John’s Church of God in Christ for a community town hall on climate change. The church was literally steps from the tracks that bomb trains pass over every single day, and half a block away from an apartment building placed a few feet away from a major highway. The residents were ready to change their circumstances. Frustrated with being forced to breath dirty air from pollutants that don’t even provide jobs for the community, they were excited about the idea of moving the state to 100% renewable energy, and the unlimited potential for clean, renewable jobs.
Our Best Selves. On October 18, the Long Island Progressive Coalition joined faith, labor and community leaders for a community conversation aimed at addressing the dangerous rhetoric used to separate us. As we speak, communities are being divided and influenced by racist dog whistle politics crafted to create conflicts and chaos. The conversation focused on breaking down the kind of language these bad actors use, how it tears us apart, and what we can do to break away from language and attitudes that do nothing but perpetuate hate and racism. Charles Khan from the Strong Economy for All Coalition joined the conversation to explain what dog whistle politics look and sound like. Click here for a clip.
Jim Perry Progressive Leadership Awards. After weeks of anticipation, the Capital District Chapter hosted our 24th Annual Jim Perry Progressive Leadership Awards. This year’s honorees were Taina Asili, Patricia Cuomo, Mark Emanatian, Dr. Alice Green, Becky Meier and Robert Connors. While we’re proud of all of this year’s honorees, I wouldn’t be a hundred percent honest if I didn’t say that Mark Emanatian didn’t have a special place in all of our hearts at Citizen Action. Mark has been a social justice warrior for more years than I can count, and his contribution to the movement, the time he takes to work with members of the community, and his passion for the issues has inspired a new generation of activists, and we are proud to know him.
BLOGS/ENDORSEMENTS
I know Hillary and Trump get the majority of media coverage, but their contest isn’t the only one happening. This election season, we have a chance to flip the New York State Senate from a Republican to Democratic majority. That means campaign finance reform, it means a path 100% renewable energy, it means police accountability, and so much more. That’s why we’re throwing our support behind some awesome candidates. Check out our recent endorsements of Amber Small, Shaun Francis and Chad Putman. Click here to see the endorsements.
People’s Action, a new national organization of more than a million people working with 48 local grassroots organizations across 29 states, announced its endorsement of Zephyr Teachout for Congress, and Sara Niccoli and Gustavo Rivera for State Senate. People’s Action is the national affiliate of Citizen Action of New York. The endorsement is part of People’s Action’s national progressive slate of 22 candidates running for positions from local school boards to state legislative bodies to the U.S. Senate. Click Here to see the endorsements
After a small break, the Activist Check-in Podcast is back and better than ever! Last week I spoke with Capital District Organizer Sophia Smart about the Movement for Black Lives. Sophia talked about what BLM meant to her, how she was working in the movement, and how Citizen Action of New York could be a strong comrade in the fight for racial justice. This one is a can’t miss. Click here to listen.
IN THE NEWS
United Federation of Teachers: For 10 days in early October, a dedicated group of teachers, parents and education advocates marched 150 miles from New York City to Albany. Their goal: to shine a spotlight on the state’s failure to properly fund public schools. Click here for more.
EVENTS
We are in such a crucial moment. In our order to advance our progressive agenda in 2017 – which includes affordable housing, public financing of elections, full funding of our public schools, and criminal justice reform – we need progressive champions in office who will lift up our voices. That’s why we are teaming up with coalition partners to knock doors and make calls to as many voters in these key districts as we can reach in the next 30 days! Phone banks are happening every weeknight from now through November 8, with locations in both Brooklyn and Manhattan: Click here to RSVP
October 27. At the center of the fight over control of the State Senate are big issues like getting big money out of politics and fully funding our public schools. You can make sure our community’s voice is represented in this election and help build the people power we’ll need to advance our agenda for racial, social, economic and environmental justice. Sign up to knock doors, make phone calls, help out in the office. Click here to sign up.
October 30. Join young progressives organizing to make Binghamton a more just place. Plug into electoral and issue organizing happening in and around your city. Click here to sign up.
TAKE ACTION!
It’s time for a slate of fundamental reforms to get big money out of politics, break down the barriers to voting, and clean up Albany and fight corruption. That’s why we’re asking you to join us in calling for the entire #DemandDemocracy platform. Click here to take action
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