We are officially three days away from Halloween. Have you figured out what you’re going as this year? I’m currently juggling three options: Ken Bone, Sallie Mae, or Beyonce. Last year I went as Beyonce and everyone thought I was a black Axl Rose, so maybe that’s not the best costume idea. Ken Bone seems like it might make the most sense, I already have an ugly sweater and some ill-fitting khaki pants. The only thing I’m missing is the struggle mustache and dollar store glasses. As you can see I’m really struggling with this decision. Who do you think I should go as this year? Ponder on that while I give you the rundown of what we were up to this week.
-Stanley
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Fighting for Vulnerable Communities. On Wednesday, October 26, Citizen Action joined members from local environmental, community and social justice organizations to protest on the steps of the Legislative Office Building in Albany against the failure by Senator George Amedore to sponsor the New York Climate and Community Protection Act (CCPA), a bill that would mandate the Governor’s renewable energy and climate goals into law, while ensuring protection for workers and climate-vulnerable communities. Amedore’s inaction on this bill is another example of him being out of touch with voters.
The Arrest Keep on Coming. On Monday, October 24, the Long Island Progressive Coalition joined Nassau County residents and community groups on the steps of the Nassau County Legislature to call for campaign finance and ethics reforms in light of the indictments of Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano and Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto. Mangano and Venditto join a long list of problematic officials who look for ways to cheat the system. They’re also a sober reminder of why campaign finance and ethics reform is so important. Click here for more on the action.
Fire Amedore. On the long list of things elected officials should not be doing, ignoring your constituents is close to the top of the list. Letting your bodyguards push them to the floor wouldn’t make it on the list because most people don’t expect the person they voted for to do such a thing. Well, if your state senator is George Amedore, prepare to lower your expectations. Amedore is here to disappoint his constituents and on October 26, he walked by unfazed as one of his body men pushed our activist super-star Susan Weber to the ground. What was her crime? She was asking Amedore to sign our #DemandDemocracy pledge calling for real ethics reform in Albany and a system of publicly financed elections in New York. I guess he’s more interested in imitating his favored candidate, Donald Trump. Click here for the footage from the event.
The Battle Against Pipelines. While much of the activist universe has had its collective attention focused on the North Dakota Pipeline battle happening RIGHT NOW, the fight to stop the expansion of pipelines isn’t just happening in North Dakota. On October 26, the Southern Tier chapter joined Mothers Out Front, and the Binghamton Regional Sustainability Coalition in a rally outside of the Binghamton Federal Building to demand that U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer take action in stopping the operations of the Algonquin pipeline expansion. The Algonquin Pipeline is a pipeline system, that delivers natural gas to New England. If there was a leak it could have irreversible damage to the environment and families living in the region. Click here for the story.
Fight for $15 Nationwide Town Hall. Citizen Action, fast food workers and allies came together for a partner meeting prior to the livestream of a national town hall on the continued fight for fair wages and labor rights. Live from Kansas City, the #fightfor15 Town Hall focused on issues affecting the 64 million workers who make less than $15 an hour. While the number of states voting to raise their minimum wage to $15 is increasing, major corporations are fighting tooth and nail to stop the progress.
BLOGS/ENDORSEMENTS
Listen, I know you’re fed up with George Amedore, he’s not even my Senator and I can’t stand him. Fortunately, the election is only a week and a half away, which means we can end his reign as the problematic representative and replace him with someone who will have our best interest in mind. At Citizen Action, we believe that Sara Niccoli is that candidate. If you’re tired of the same old politics from candidates who support Trump and say nothing when their constituents are assaulted, Sara Niccoli is the candidate for you. Check out our endorsement. Click here for to read our endorsement of Sara Niccoli.
IN THE NEWS
New York Post: Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano and his wife, Linda, were arrested Thursday morning in a bribery and kickback scheme involving a restaurateur — who paid Linda Mangano $450,000 for a no-show job as a “food taster.” Click here for the article.
The Buffalo News: The Buffalo Public Schools have a new gender identity policy to dictate how transgender students are treated. Click here for the article.
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 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.
December 13. The year is quickly coming to an end, but before it does, we will honor activist and leaders from across the state at our annual Progressive Leadership award. Join us to celebrate the work of this year’s honorees: Kate Linker (Greater NYC for Change), Linda Sarsour (Executive Director of Arab American Association of NY), Dennis Trainor (Vice President of CWA District one), the Hon. Jim Brennan (NYS Assemblymember) and Shaun King (Senior Justice Writer, NY Daily News). Click here for tickets.
TAKE ACTION!
Sixty years ago, corporations’ taxes made up one-third of federal revenues, but today, because of offshoring, they make up just one-tenth. And the rest of us have had to pay the difference. Tell Sen. Schumer not to cut taxes for Apple, General Electric and Verizon! Click here to take action
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