Conference on Jobs and Community Wealth, November 2 and 3 in Utica

Job growth in Upstate New York continues to lag behind downstate New York and the entire nation. Traditional economic development programs like tax breaks do not seem to be working.

The Central New York Citizen Action, in partnership with The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties, will hold Jobs and Community Wealth conference in Utica on November 2 and 3.

The conference will explore innovative, democratic approaches to economic development that broaden ownership and participation in the economy and help build community wealth through employee owner enterprises, cooperatives, public and community-owned financial institutions, and social enterprises. It will focus on practical strategies and policies that will strengthen the Upstate New York and help lower income people get jobs. Information will be available for local groups and entrepreneurs on starting community-owned enterprises. The conference will highlight on how the economic power of anchor institutions such as the proposed new Utica hospital can be leveraged to create jobs and promote equitable development. All the conference events are free and open to the public. Refreshments and lunch will be provided without charge.

The conference will begin with a community forum at 7 p.m. on Thursday, November 2nd at the DeSales Center, 309 Genesee St. Utica, NY 13501. Jessica S. Rose, CFO and Director of Employee Ownership Programs at the Democracy Collaborative, a leading national research and field building institute, will deliver a keynote address on how community wealth building and employee-owned firms can benefit the Upstate economy. She will be joined by Ronald Deutsch, Executive Director of the Fiscal Policy Institute, who will provide a critique of traditional economic development programs that make communities compete using tax abatements to lure big businesses. At the community forum, Citizen Action will a release a report showing how current economic development policies can be made more effective by using a community wealth building approach.

The conference will resume on Friday, November 3rd from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Westminster Presbyterian Church (714 Washington St, Utica, NY 13502). Panels and workshops will be held on innovative economic policies, alternative ownership models, financing, anchor institutions, public banks, and social enterprises and how these models are being successfully implemented in Buffalo, Rochester, and other cities.

Jessica S. Rose said: Community wealth building strategies are an important tool in the economic development toolkit because they help improve family economic security, root wealth in communities, and keep jobs local. At a time when so many American families feel that their economic interests have been forgotten, New York state is a leading innovator in the effort to create an environment friendly to broad-based ownership models and incentivize more activity in that space. From Rochester to Buffalo to Syracuse and New York City, we are starting to see a critical mass of community wealth building activity that could add up to some very powerful results.” https://ssl.gstatic.com/ui/v1/icons/mail/images/cleardot.gif

More information on the conference can be found by calling 315.725.0974, cnycitizenaction@gmail.com, or at: http://econ.cnycia.org. Persons interested in attending the November 3 conference should pre-register at econ.cnycia.org/register. Please share this on Facebook and your friends and colleagues. Thank you.

RALLY TO PROTEST THE END OF THE DACA PROGRAM ON TUESDAY IN UTICA

President Trump is expected to announce the end of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program which will be enforced after a six-month delay. This program has protected undocumented children from deportation who were brought to the United States by immigrant parents. They are often referred to as “Dreamers.”

For these children, the United States is the only country they have ever known. This program has allowed them to emerge from the shadows, obtain college educations, start businesses and become productive citizens. Many did not even know that they were undocumented until this program was introduced when our government promised that they would not be deported.

Now the President is rescinding this promise and almost 800,000 young people face deportation to countries that they have never known.

A rally is planned for Tuesday, September 5, 5:00 p.m. at the Oneida Square roundabout in Utica to protest Trump’s action and to show support for those who may be threatened by this cruel and untoward action.

WHAT: Rally protesting the termination of the DACA program
WHEN: Tuesday, September 5, 5:00 p.m.
WHERE: Oneida Square Roundabout in Utica
SPONSORED BY: Indivisible Mohawk Valley and CNY Citizen Action

For more information: cnycitizenaction@gmail.com, 315-725-0974, http://cnycia.org/, https://cnycitizenaction.wordpress.com/, Facebook pages—Central New York Citizens in Action/Central New York Progressive, Twitter – @CNYACT, and Instagram: @cny_citizensinaction.

CNY Residents Urged Rep. Tenney to Protect Medicaid, Medicare over Millionaires in Upcoming Federal Budget

As Congressional Recess Nears Finish, National Week of Action Calls on Congress to Reject Budget Cuts to Medicaid and Medicare to Pay for Massive Tax Cuts for Wealthiest Americans

As members of Congress prepare to return to Washington, D.C., next week, Central New Yorkers hosted events this week urging lawmakers to reject efforts to use the FY2018 federal budget to strip health care from millions of Americans. Representatives of Citizen Action of New York, Central New York Citizens in Action, Inc., Central New York Labor Council, 1199SEIU, Democratic Action Network, Cornhill Community for Change, and Indivisible Mohawk Valley gathered at the Central New York Labor Council in Utica, NY for a news conference on Thursday that called on Representative Claudia Tenney (R-CD 22) to oppose any budget that guts life-saving Medicaid for 74 million working families, privatizes Medicaid for seniors or strips state budgets of critical funding in order to pay for tax breaks for the wealthy and big corporations.

The news conference featured a national expert on Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security – Eric Kingson. A professor of social work at Syracuse University and faculty affiliate of the university’s Aging Studies Institute, he is the founding co-director of Social Security Works and founding co-chair of the Strengthen Social Security Coalition. He was also a candidate for Congress in the Democrat Primary for New York’s 24th Congressional District.

Mr. Kingson said: “Representative Claudia Tenney wants to repeal the Affordable Care Act, taking a “meat cleaver” to Medicaid and privatizing Medicare. This would undercut the well-being of the 710,000 Central New Yorkers she represents — including 87,000 children under age 18 covered by Medicaid/CHIP, 89,000 adults covered by Medicaid/CHIP, 159,000 adults who have earned Medicare protections and tens of thousands of middle-aged and older workers. This includes friends, families and neighbors trying to face down (and pay for) devastating illnesses, persons nearing retirement ages who lack health insurance, and persons with disabilities and seniors who need home care or nursing home care their families can no longer afford. This is what is at stake. This is why, all our congressional representatives, including Claudia Tenney (NY-22), should start working together to build up, not tear down, our health care protections.”

“Republicans in Congress seem determined to cut vital programs that help the elderly, working families, children and people with disabilities get the care they need – regardless of who it hurts,” said John Furman, President of the Central New York Citizens in Action, Inc. “What’s even more egregious is they are using the same procedural gymnastics to ram through these cuts that they used to try to repeal the Affordable Care Act, and they are doing all of this to give huge tax cuts to corporations and the very wealthy. It’s disgraceful.”

The event is a part of a nationwide week of action led by Health Care for America Now (HCAN) to educate communities about the Republican budget that cuts nearly $2 trillion from health care, especially Medicaid, while at the same time giving massive tax breaks to the rich and corporations.

When members of Congress return to Washington, D.C., Republicans will try to pass the House budget resolution, which includes even deeper permanent cuts to Medicaid than appeared in the failed repeal bills and nearly $500 billion in new cuts to Medicare, a vital program for seniors. At the same time, the budget contains instructions for billions in new tax breaks to the wealthy and corporations. To make matters even worse, rather than regular-order process, Congressional Republicans are trying to use the same fast-track “reconciliation” strategy to jam through the budget that they used to try to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) before the recess.

Rep. Tenney voted in support of recent bills to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and dismantle Medicaid earlier this summer despite pressure from constituents to protect healthcare and work instead toward expanding and improving access.

“Here we go again,” continued Mr. Furman. “This Republican budget is a bad-rerun of the Republicans’ thinly-veiled effort to take health care away from millions of Americans in order to pay for tax breaks for the rich and corporations. Americans from red states and blue states alike made their voices heard during the repeal fight, and we’ll make sure the Representative Tenney hears us this time around too. We expect our representatives to reject any budget that makes cuts or changes to Medicaid or Medicare.”

These cuts would fundamentally transform Medicaid for the worse, ending its guarantee of coverage for children, seniors, and people with disabilities by taking coverage from up to 5,818,300 New Yorkers and crippling New York’s budget. The Republican bill’s radical changes in Medicaid funding will cripple states faced with health emergencies like the opioid crisis. It will be up to each state alone to manage health care emergencies without additional support from the federal government. Of the 5,818,300 New Yorkers who get quality health coverage through Medicaid, 2,150,400 are children, 644,400 are seniors, and 713,600 are people with disabilities.

Medicaid provides coverage to one in five Americans, including 30 million children. It pays for half the births in the United States, 75% of all family planning services, 64% of nursing home care, and 30% of all care for people with disabilities. Nearly 2 million veterans get health care through Medicaid. Medicaid also costs far less per beneficiary than private health insurance, and its costs have been rising more slowly than private insurance.

Medicare is a pillar of the American healthcare system, serving over 55 million people ages 65 and over and people with permanent disabilities, including 3,343,349 New Yorkers. But the new Medicare cuts of $487 billion over 10 years and efforts to privatize Medicare through vouchers would devastate this program and leave seniors and people with permanent disabilities without an affordable option for care.

For more information, 315.725.0974, cnycitizenaction@gmail.com. The Central New York Citizens in Action, Inc., affiliated with Citizen Action of New York, is public policy and civic engagement organization dedicated to promoting citizen involvement in community affairs. More information can be obtained by visiting http://cnycia.org/, https://cnycitizenaction.wordpress.com/, Facebook pages—Central New York Citizens in Action/Central New York Progressive, Twitter – @CNYACT, and Instagram: @cny_citizensinaction

CITIZEN ACTION SEEKING VOLUNTEERS & TALENT FOR INAUGURAL JUSTICE, ARTS, MUSIC FESTIVAL

The Central New York Citizens in Action, Inc. is seeking volunteers for its inaugural JAM (Justice, Arts, Music) Fest on Saturday, Oct. 14 in Utica.

Featuring live music, crafts, art and film exhibits, speakers, children activities, and community discussions, the Justice, Arts, Music (JAM) Fest aims to bring people together to showcase local art and music as well as create a common public space for a dialogue on how we can bring about positive and progressive community change. The Justice, Arts, Music (JAM ) Fest will be held at the DeSales Center, 309 Genesee St., and other venues throughout Utica from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct.14.

John Furman, president of the Central New York Citizens in Action said: “The Justice, Arts, Music (JAM) Fest will be a combination of entertainment, education, and family fun to celebrate diversity and promote community-wide unity, peace, and social justice. Through music, visual arts, crafts and local foods, and hands-on activities, we will bring together Central New York’s many different kinds of people and work on building a strong, inclusive community. We are also hoping to raise awareness of local residents on what they can do through practical ways to make our community a better place to live. We see this festival as building upon the success of the One World Flower Fest and Levitt AMP Utica Music Series and intend to make it an annual tradition.”

The organizing committee is asking for event sponsors, donations, and volunteers to help with the event as well as volunteer musicians of all genres to perform, visual artists to display and create work, craft vendors, street theatre performers, food trucks, sign makers, film makers, face painters, speakers and workshop presenters, sidewalk artists, poets, magicians, performance artists, sound/stage equipment, and local agencies to distribute information about services. There will be a small vendor fee.

The organizing committee meets on a weekly basis. For more information on how local citizens, businesses, and organizations can get involved, please view our website at http://www.cnycia.org , visit this link https://goo.gl/forms/yFZW1graPXZxqd3j2, call 315.725.0974, or email .
cnyjamfest@gmail.com. To donate, use the link: http://cnycia.org/donate/

The Central New York Citizens in Action, Inc., affiliated with Citizen Action of New York, is public policy and civic engagement organization dedicated to promoting citizen involvement in community affairs. More information can be obtained by visiting http://cnycia.org/, https://cnycitizenaction.wordpress.com/, Facebook pages—Central New York Citizens in Action/Central New York Progressive, Twitter – @CNYACT, and Instagram: @cny_citizensinaction.

Charlottesville Solidarity Rally Planned for Sunday at 5 p.m. in Utica

Central New York Citizens in Action, Inc,, Indivisible Mohawk Valley, Citizen Action of New York, and other groups will hold a rally at Oneida Square Roundabout in Utica at 5 p.m. Sunday, August 13 to stand in solidarity with the people of Charlottesville in response to today’s act of terror by white supremacists.

Local groups today condemned the terror attack on anti-racist protesters at a gathering of white supremacists, neo-Nazis, the KKK, and other racists in Charlottesville, Va.

John Furman, President of the Central New York Citizens in Action, said: “We condemn this act of domestic terrorism targeting anti-racist protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia, and ask all citizens to attend our rally to show support for the courageous people of Charlottesville who turned out to stand peacefully against hate. President Trump’s unwillingness to both denounce this act of terrorism and to specifically call out the white supremacist and racists groups by name represents a failure of moral leadership and courage. It also sends the wrong message to racist groups nationwide that they can act with impunity and undermine the fabric of our nation.”

Hundreds of neo-Nazis and white supremacists gathered in Charlottesville, Virginia yesterday and today, using the removal of a Confederate statue as an excuse to exhibit their violence. The people of Charlottesville, led by young people, students, and people of color, turned out to stand peacefully against this display of hate. A person, now in custody, plowed a car directly into the crowd of peaceful counter-protestors, killing at least one and injuring at least 19 others. Trump has refused to use the term white supremacist or to condemn white supremacist violence.

For more information, call 315.725.0974 or email cnycitizenaction@gmail.com.

—
BECOME A MEMBER OF CITIZEN ACTION OF NEW YORK TODAY:

Become a Member

Calling all Progressives!! March in the Utica July 4th Parade!

The Central New York Citizens in Action, Inc., the Working Families Party, progressive Democrats, and our allies and coalition partners will be marching in the Utica July 4 parade. Please join us to spread the progressive message of shared prosperity, democracy, and fairness. Progressive values are America’s values! We will be passing out literature and Citizen Action pencils!!!

Please assemble at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 4 at Butler Ave. which intersects Sunset Avenue. The staging area is behind the Our Lady of Lourdes Church (2 Barton Ave, Utica, NY 13502, off Genesee Street in South Utica). The parade will start at 11 a.m. sharp. The parade route travels north on Genesee St. to the Memorial Parkway, turns right on to the Parkway and ends at Parkway Recreation Center, Oneida St., (1.1 miles).

You can make this event a success by: marching, bringing items to decorate the vehicle, carrying signs to promote economic and social justice, passing out pencils and literature, performing music (playing drums or kazoos).

Thank you for your support!! Questions: cnycitizenaction@gmail.com /315-725-0974. Check our website – http://www.cnycia.org or join our email list by sending an email to:
send email to: cnycitizenaction-subscribe@lists.riseup.net

CNY PROGRESSIVE ACTION NEWSLETTER APRIL 13, 2017

NEWSLETTER OF THE CENTRAL NEW YORK CITIZENS IN ACTION, INC. –
CNY CHAPTER OF CITIZEN
ACTION OF NEW YORK
(ESTABLISHED IN 1997)

Now celebrating 19 years of community organizing, the Central New York Citizens in Action invites YOU to be part of a movement for progressive change based on shared social values. We believe in educating, advocating, and legislating for the collective good. Join us!

You can view newsletter on:
http://www.cnycia.org
https://cnycitizenaction.wordpress.com

HEADLINES

CNYCIA SEEKING VOLUNTEERS AND OFFICE SPACE

MOHAWK VALLEY PAX CHRISTI STATIONS OF
THE CROSS GOOD FRIDAY

MARCH THIS SATURDAY TO DEMAND TAX FAIRNESS

ADULT EASTER EGG HUNT TAKING PLACE AT RUTGER
PARK MANSIONS TO BENEFIT LANDMARKS
SOCIETY OF GREATER UTICA

WHY WE ARE MARCHING ON TAX DAY

UNITE! RESIST TRUMP’S GLOBAL AGENDA AND
PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES

CNYCIA SEEKING VOLUNTEERS AND OFFICE SPACE
The Central New York Citizens in Action would like to thank all of our members, Board members, supporters, donors, and volunteers. We have received a great response from local citizens who are deeply troubled by the direction of this country and would like to fight for a progressive future.

We are seeking volunteers to help Central New York’s leading progressive organization to expand outreach and advocacy. Our group is looking for committed progressive activists for various volunteer positions. Our greatest need is for a membership/volunteer coordinator. Here are the volunteer jobs we have open:

Membership/Volunteer Coordinator
Newsletter Editor
Web Editor
Data Entry
Writers
Tweeters
Facebook Editor
Canvassing Coordinator
Canvassers
We have all kinds of volunteer positions open. Most of them are only a few hours a week.
We will be having a volunteer open house and a data entry party soon!
The Central NY CIA is also looking for office space at a central location in the Utica area. The space should be low cost or free.
Please contact us at volunteer.cnycia@gmail.com or call 315.725.0974. Thank you very much.

MOHAWK VALLEY PAX CHRISTI STATIONS OF THE CROSS GOOD FRIDAY

Event: Outdoor Living Stations of the Cross

Sponsor: Mohawk Valley Pax Christi

When: Good Friday, April 14, 2017 10 am until 12 noon

Where: Walk begins and ends at the DeSales Center 309 Genesee Street Utica

Why: to relate contemporary justice issues with events in the life of Jesus Christ during His passion and death.

The walk is held rain or shine, and there are van rides available for those who cannot walk. We will take a short walk from 10 am until 11 am and then congregate in the DeSales Center to listen to reflections by community leaders. All faiths are welcome to attend.

All are welcome to attend. It is open to people of all faiths.

We plan to walk the Oneida Square Area this year and to focus on the sufferings of refugees and migrants in our world.

Contact Jane Domingue (315 723-4506) or Sandra Wright (315 723-0261) for info

 

JOIN ADVOCATES IN UTICA AND SYRACUSE FOR A MARCH THIS SATURDAY TO DEMAND TAX FAIRNESS

This Saturday, April 15, advocates across the country will march on Washington, D.C. and in 180 cities, including Utica and Syracuse, to demand transparency in government and fairness in our tax code
NO BILLIONAIRE TAX CUTS!
Donald Trump: Release Your Taxes!
—————————————————————–
UTICA TAX MARCH
April 15, 2017 • 12:00 PM
Public sidewalk in front of Consumer Square, 4755 Commercial Drive, New Hartford, NY 13413 (We will be in front of Applebee’s.) It is up to us to demand a fair tax system that works for everyone, especially those with the lowest incomes. Please bring signs and stay on the public sidewalk.
——————————————————————–
SYRACUSE TAX MARCH
April 15, 2017 • 10:00 AM
Syracuse Federal Building• 100 S Clinton Street, Syracuse, NY 13204

The Tax March has a clear demand: Donald Trump must release his tax returns. Donald Trump’s tax returns will help answer the question: Does Trump have America’s best interests at heart? Without his tax returns, Americans are in the dark about Donald Trump’s conflicts of interest, his foreign entanglements, and whether he even pays any taxes at all.

Americans have worked hard to provide for their families, and have been paying more than their fair share of taxes for years, while people like Trump have worked hard to game the system.
• We need a tax system that levels the playing field so we can grow the middle class and America again.
• Instead of working for the American public, Trump, Paul Ryan, and Mitch McConnell are scheming with big corporations and the wealthy to give themselves a tax break, and take vital services away from Americans.
• Hard-working Americans are paying their fair share. But we know that Donald Trump and his Wall Street golfing buddies have exploited loophole after loophole to pay as little as they can get away with.
Thanks so much and let us know if you have any questions.
Sponsored by CNY Citizens in Action and our local, state, and national partners.
315-725-0974/cnycitizenaction@gmail.com

 

ADULT EASTER EGG HUNT TAKING PLACE AT RUTGER PARK MANSIONS TO BENEFIT LANDMARKS SOCIETY OF GREATER UTICA

The Landmarks Society of Greater Utica will be hosting an Adult Easter Egg Hunt at Rutger Mansion No. 3 in Utica on Saturday, April 15, 2017. Rutger Park will be covered in silver and copper eggs, filled with tickets for prizes, donated by local businesses.
The lucky hunter to find the golden egg will win a private party at the Rutger Mansion,
designed by Jordan Marcel, Inc., to use within a year (valued at $1,500.00).

“Whether you are new to the Greater Utica Area, have lived here all of your life, or
somewhere in between, I am sure you have had moments full of awe focused around
the rich history of the buildings in the footprint of our city. Sometimes, when driving
throughout Utica, or attending events, I truly wonder what I would learn if walls could
talk,” reflected Jordan Marcel Short, CEO of Jordan Marcel, Inc. and the honorary
chairperson of the Adult Easter Egg Hunt. “Thankfully, the Landmarks Society of
Greater Utica, has made it their mission to keep the stories that live in the walls of
hundreds of buildings in Utica alive. I’m excited to help them in their mission through the
Easter Egg Hunt and hope everyone will join us.”

Desserts, mimosas and spirits will be served inside the Mansion, as winners claim their prizes. Attendees are encouraged to dress in their ‘Sunday best,’ including Easter hats. A prize will be given for the best homemade decorated “Easter Bonnet.”
Check-in for the event begins at 1:00 PM. The Egg Hunt begins promptly at 2:00 PM.

Tickets are $15.00 per person, with optional upgrades to collect more eggs. Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.jordanmarceldesigns.com or at the door. The event is 21+.
Local businesses are encouraged to donate items to be included as prizes for the egg hunt. If you would like to donate to the Adult Easter Egg Hunt, please email Karen Day, VP of Fundraising Events at LandmarksKDay@aol.com.

MVCAA’s 2017 TREVA WOOD COMMUNITY ACTIVIST AWARD

Mohawk Valley Community Action Agency is pleased to announce that John Furman is the 2017 recipient of the Treva Wood Community Activist Award. The Award is presented annually to an individual who has dedicated themselves to fight for the empowerment of the low-income members of our community. This individual works tirelessly for the rights and the opportunities for success of each individual in the tradition of the late Treva Wood, past Executive Director of Mohawk Valley Community Action. The Award was established in 2005, and previous recipients are: Herbert Thorpe, Warren E. Molo, Rose White, Harry Bilton, Jr., Matt Miller, Dr. Charles Burns, Ray Lenarcic, Jawwaad Rasheed, Rev. Maria Skates, Lucille Soldato, Catherine Bullwinkle, and Rev. Maritza Perez. Mr. Furman will be presented the award as part of MVCAA’s 51stAnniversary Gala on Friday, May 12th, 6-10 pm at Hart’s Hill Inn. Tickets are $75 each and are available online at http://www.mvcaa.com/gala or by calling 315-624-9930.

Mr. Furman’s involvement in social justice activism is extensive. He is President of Central New York Citizens in Action, Inc., a multi-issue public interest advocacy organization that works with issues such as equitable funding for public schools, health care, living wages, climate justice, and publicly funded elections. Mr. Furman also serves as a leader of the Oneida-Herkimer-Madison Working Families Party chapter and is a member of the Central New York Labor Council. He participates in the Global Social Economy Forum, an international network that aims to foster public-private community partnerships for an inclusive, equitable and human centered economy. Mr. Furman has taught workshops on grant writing, community collaboration, civic engagement, housing and community development, social enterprise, and volunteer mobilization.

Mr. Furman holds a position at the Utica Municipal Housing Authority. He represents the Housing Authority on the Mohawk Valley Anti-Poverty Task Force, Mohawk Valley Housing and Homeless Coalition, Refugee Service Providers Consortium; Herkimer, Madison, Oneida Emerging Worker Committee, Oneida County Health Coalition, and the Lead-Free Mohawk Valley Coalition. He secured funding and managed the Housing Authority’s HOPE VI community revitalization project in the Cornhill neighborhood, which resulted in the development of 159 units. He has successfully garnered funds and helped to manage the Housing Authority’s homeownership program, which produced 58 units. Mr. Furman has obtained over $3,000,000 in new funding for the Housing Authority’s resident service programs.

UC GOV DEPARTMENT NEW HAPPENINGS

I wanted to briefly share three things that might be of interest. First, I recently founded The Utica College Center of Public Affairs and Election Research. The center seeks to serve students, citizens, journalists, and scholars by providing research, commentary, and analysis of state, national, and international politics. The Center’s website (ucpublicaffairs.com) publishes articles daily from a team of contributors (Political Scientists, journalists, & government practitioners) locally and throughout the country and the world. The Center is non-partisan and non-profit.

Second, the Center just launched a new series, 50 Takes on Trump, in which fifty different Political Scientists succinctly analyze how President Trump has been received in their home state. The series began last Wednesday and will continue each week for the next year.

Third, an OpEd of mine entitled How Refugee Limits Could Hurt GOP Rustbelt Reps was recently published by The Hill. It focuses on the electoral politics of refugees in NY-22 and related divisions within the Republican Party. You can read it here: http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/state-local-politics/327254-how-refugee-limits-could-hurt-gop-rust-belt-reps

Submitted by Dr. Luke E. Perry, Assistant Professor of Government, Utica College

WHY WE ARE MARCHING ON TAX DAY

· We are demanding that Donald Trump release his tax returns because we need to know if the president is personally profiting from his tax plan and other policies he is proposing. We want know if he has contributed his fair share of taxes. And we want to know what financial entanglements and conflicts of interest he has with foreign countries, such as Russia.
· We are marching to oppose Trump’s $6 trillion tax plan. It’s a massive giveaway mostly to the rich and big corporations. We need to end the rigged system, not make it worse as Trump would do.
· We are marching to demand that Congress require that the rich and corporations start paying their fair share of taxes so that we can create millions of good-paying jobs and an economy that works for all of us.

TRUMP’S TAX RETURNS
· Donald Trump is the first president in 40 years, Republican or Democrat, to refuse to release his tax returns. We need Trump’s tax returns to see whether he’s supporting the nation he’s supposed to be leading by paying his fair share of taxes.
· We already know he’s paid little or no federal income taxes in five separate years.
· We need Trump’s tax returns to see if he’s really serving the American people as president, or if he is just using his office to line his own pockets.
· We need Trump’s tax returns to see what financial ties he has in foreign countries, especially in Russia. Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., once declared and I quote, “Russians make up a pretty disproportionate cross-section of a lot of our assets.” He also boasted that the Trump organization has benefitted from “a lot of money pouring in from Russia.” That’s a quote.
· We need Trump’s tax returns to see how he would personally benefit from his proposed tax plan that’s a huge giveaway to the wealthy and well-connected.
· We already know his business empire would be among the biggest winners from his proposed business tax cuts.
· We already know that Trump’s heirs could come out billions of dollars richer by eliminating the estate tax, which Trump wants to do.
· We must reveal the truth about Trump’s tax plan by forcing him to reveal the truth about his own taxes. This takes all of us working together, just as we did when we defeated Trumpcare together.
· That’s why there is legislation in Congress right now that would force presidents, like Donald Trump, and presidential candidates to release their taxes.

· That’s why there are bills in dozens of state legislatures that would deny candidates running for president access to state election ballots if they don’t release their tax returns.
· And that’s why we’re marching today, April 15 in Washington, D.C. and in 100 communities all across the country.
· We’re demanding that Trump release his tax returns. We’re demanding that Congress reject his massive tax giveaway to the rich and corporations, just like it rejected Trumpcare. We’re demanding an end to a rigged tax system that benefits the rich and powerful and Wall Street at the expense of struggling working people.
· And we’re demanding increased investment for our kids, our families and our communities—not more cuts, not more disinvestments, not more neglect and not more shrunken opportunities.

TRUMP’S TAX PLAN
· While Trump’s health care plan was a $600 billion tax giveaway—mostly to the rich and corporations—his tax plan is a $6 TRILLION-dollar giveaway. His tax plan gives away 10 times more in tax breaks than his health care plan did.
· Under Trump’s tax plan, the super-rich in his tax bracket would each get a tax cut of over one million dollars a year. The Top 1% would get a tax break of $200,000 every year. Meanwhile, people making $50,000 a year would get a tax break of about one dollar a day. And nine million working families—including more than half of all single parents—would actually pay more in taxes.
· Trump wants to slash taxes on big, profitable corporations. But many of these corporations – like General Electric, Verizon, Boeing and others – already pay less in taxes some years than each of you pay. They actually pay no federal income taxes at all in some years because of all the loopholes in the tax code.
· Wall Street hedge funds and fancy law firms will have their tax rates cut in half by Trump. And that will personally save Trump millions of dollars – assuming he pays any taxes now.
· Trump will keep giving tax breaks to corporations that ship our jobs and profits offshore. In fact, his tax plan will give a $500 billion tax break to corporations hiding profits in offshore tax havens. Imagine what we could do with $500 billion …
· Trump wants to abolish the estate tax, making our nation’s wealth divide even wider. Those who inherit great family fortunes, like Trump’s kids, will get richer and richer.

INVESTMENTS NOT TAX CUTS
· Trumpcare cut taxes for the wealthy and corporations while taking health care away from millions of working families. Trump’s tax plan will cut taxes on the rich and corporations even more, paid for by taking away even more from working people.
· To pay for Trump’s $6 trillion tax giveaway to the rich and powerful, he’ll have to severely cut the public services and benefits that working families rely on to get by and get ahead. There’ll be more potholes and traffic jams, fewer teachers and cops. Less assistance for home heating and college tuition. Less research into new medical cures. Dirtier air and water. Trump will make retirement less secure by undermining Medicare and trying to destabilize Medicaid again. That means fewer families will be able to afford nursing home care for seniors and fewer people with disabilities will be able to afford home care. Rich people living in mansions will get bigger tax loopholes while low-income families living in subsidized housing will get an eviction notice.
· Communities of color, women and children will suffer the most from Trump’s huge budget cuts.
· America’s working families shouldn’t endure deteriorating services and disinvestment from our communities. They should be supported with greater public investment: in roads, schools, health care, retirement security and more. That kind of investment in our communities would create millions of good-paying jobs and start to create an economy that works for all of us, not just those at the top.
· The need for that kind of public investment means the wealthy and corporations need to be paying more in taxes, not less. They need to pay their fair share.
Working together today, April 15, and in the weeks and months to come, we can drown out the fake news about Donald Trump’s immoral tax plan by revealing the truth, just like we did with his immoral health care plan. And the first step to getting at the truth about Donald Trump’s tax plan is getting at Donald Trump’s tax returns. That’s why we’re out here today—and we won’t go away, Donald, until we get them!

TAX MARCH SIGN SLOGANS

Please make a sign and bring it to the Tax March!

Donald Trump:
Release Your Taxes!

We Have a Right to Know!

What Are You Hiding?

Does
DONALD DUCK
His Taxes?

Oh Yeah—We Care.

Donald: How
Much Would
YOUR TAX PLAN
Reduce
YOUR TAXES?

Was This Another
ZERO TAX YEAR
For You, Donald?

Why Are You PUTIN Off
Releasing Your Taxes?

Why Aren’t You RUSSIAN
To Release Your Taxes?

Even NIXON Released His Taxes

Maybe You Could
TWEET US
Your Returns

No $6 Trillion Tax Giveaway
to Wealthy & Corporations!

SIGN SLOGANS

Rich & Corporations:
PAY YOUR FAIR SHARE!

NO BILLIONAIRE
TAX CUTS!

STOP CORPORATE
TAX DODGING

NO CORPORATE
TAX CUTS!

CLOSE CORPORATE
TAX LOOPHOLES

END OFFSHORE TAX BREAKS

Big Corp.’s Don’t Need
More Tax Breaks—
They Need to Pay Their Taxes!

Corp.’s with Offshore Profits:
PAY $750 BILLION YOU
OWE IN TAXES!

Cut Corporate Tax Dodging
—Not Corporate Tax Rates!

Protect the Estate Tax,
Not Family Dynasties

Trumpcare:
$600 Billion in Tax Breaks
24 Million Lose Health Care

“Unite! Resist Trump’s Global Agenda and Protect Our Communities”
Talk by Phyllis Bennis, Institute for Policy Studies author, activist and analyst
Thursday, April 20 from 7-9pm
Bishop Harrison Center, 1342 Lancaster Ave., Syracuse

Phyllis Bennis, director of the New Internationalism Project at the Institute for Policy Studies, comes to Syracuse on April 20 to talk about the global effects of Trump’s budget and foreign policy, as well as the movement to resist increased militarism – a movement that, she argues, requires us to also fight against racism and materialism.

As a scholar and activist, Phyllis is part of a coalition called The Majority, which just announced its first national campaign, Beyond the Moment, which runs from April 4th (the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Beyond Vietnam” speech) through May 1st (International Workers’ Day). It aims to continue the work of making connections between all marginalized groups and the systems that oppress them. She will discuss the group’s newly released statement, which calls for #No$54BillionforWar in response to the Trump administration’s proposed $54 billion military budget increase (an increase of almost 10% from about $598 billion in 2015).

The Syracuse Peace Council will join in the campaign.

Read Phyllis’ most recent article, with Stephen Miles, ” Building a New Movement Against Militarism” here. They conclude:
“Dr. King taught us that to fight against any of the three triplets—the evils of racism, extreme materialism, and militarism—requires fighting against them all. His legacy continues to demand that we link our challenge to all three; we can’t leave any out. How we build a movement to carry out that linkage will determine whether the current rising Resistance answers Dr. King’s demand.”

Two of her books, “Understanding ISIS and the New Global War on Terror” (2015) and “Understanding the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict – 6th Edition” (2015) will be for sale at this event.

This event is free and open to the public. Download event flyers from the event page here. RSVP on Facebook here.

Sponsored by the Syracuse Peace Council. For more info contact us at (315) 472-5478, spc@peacecouncil.net

CNY PROGRESSIVE ACTION NEWSLETTER – APRIL 7, 2017

 

NEWSLETTER OF THE CENTRAL NEW YORK CITIZENS IN ACTION, INC. –
CNY CHAPTER OF CITIZEN
ACTION OF NEW YORK
(ESTABLISHED IN 1997)

Now celebrating 19 years of community organizing, the Central New York Citizens in Action invites YOU to be part of a movement for progressive change based on shared social values. We believe in educating, advocating, and legislating for the collective good. Join us!

You can view newsletter on:
http://www.cnycia.org
https://cnycitizenaction.wordpress.com

Action to Fight for Our Healthcare!

WHAT: A rally/press conference in front of Congresswoman Tenney’s office

WHERE: 555 French Rd, New Hartford

WHEN: Monday, April 10th at 4 PM

WHO: Citizen Action of New York, SEIU 1199, Central NY Citizens in Action, Inc.

WHY: The American Healthcare Act is back! The revived measure, known informally on Capitol Hill as Zombie Trumpcare, attempt to take away more items from the Affordable Care Act, on top of all the bad things that the original legislation proposed. To quote the Greater NY Hospital Association, “Congress is negotiating a bad bill to make it worse”. They want to gut the “Essential Benefits” that insurers are required to provide in their insurance products. Eliminating these benefits will make the Affordable Care Act ineffective towards its goals of getting people health insurance and providing the necessary care.

We will send a message to Congresswoman Tenney – WE CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT! Don’t touch our healthcare!

Hope to see you all on Monday (where the temperature is supposed to be 70 degrees!)

Questions: (315) 725-0974, cnycitizenaction@gmail.com

Please park in the far reaches of the Home Depot lot where you can walk over the grass to 555 French Rd. Please do not park in the lot behind the building at 555 French Road. Please stand in the 4 foot “free speech” zone near the road, Please bring signs. There is a flat area at the corner at French Road where folks can picket. You cannot picket in the parking lot. Do not take signs into the office. Stay out of the road. The area between the curb and four feet in is considered to be a free speech area (public property).

 

March for Tax Fairness! – Saturday, April 15 at 12 Noon

NO BILLIONAIRE TAX CUTS!

Donald Trump: Release Your Taxes!

Join your fellow citizens on Saturday, April 15 at 12 Noon for the March for Tax Fairness!
Public sidewalk in front of Consumer Square, 4755 Commercial Drive, New Hartford, NY 13413 (We will be in front of Applebee’s.)

Donald Trump and Paul Ryan are preparing to put their tax plans before Congress. Trump’s tax plan will hand $6 TRILLION in tax breaks mostly to the wealthy and corporate special interests. That’s at least three times the cost of George W. Bush’s tax cuts, which helped start an economic downward spiral from which we are still recovering!

How will Trump pay for this massive gift to the rich and powerful? By destroying so many benefits and services that make our families and communities safe and secure. He’ll try to voucherize Medicare to shift costs to retirees, and slash Medicaid, whose biggest costs are for low-income seniors and people with disabilities. He’ll starve our schools and low-income kids who get their meals at school, and slash Medicaid, whose biggest costs are for low-income seniors and people with disabilities. He’ll starve our schools and low-income kids who get their meals at school, and slash funding for research on medical breakthroughs and climate change.

Our demands are: Trump must release his tax returns so we can see which Russian oligarchs he may be in hock to and how much he will profit from his own tax plan; Trump’s $6 trillion tax giveaway that will go mostly to the rich and big corporations must be stopped. The rich and corporations must start paying their fair share of taxes so that we can create millions of good-paying jobs and an economy that works for all of us.

We will be marching and picketing on the public sidewalk. Please park in the large Consumer Square parking lot and do not block entrances, sidewalks, or interfere with traffic. The public sidewalk is a free speech zone.

Please make up signs such as Rich & Corporations: PAY YOUR FAIR SHARE! STOP CORPORATE TAX DODGING! NO CORPORATE TAX CUTS! CLOSE CORPORATE TAX LOOPHOLES! We Have a Right to Know! What Are You Hiding?

We are looking for actors to hold a street theatre production as well as folks who can make large protest symbols.

Questions or volunteers: cnycitizenaction@gmail.com, 315.725.0974

—
BECOME A MEMBER OF CITIZEN ACTION OF NEW YORK TODAY:

Become a Member

Updated Upcoming Progressive Events

UPDATED INFORMATION
TENNEY FRIDAY PROTEST

What: Sympathy for the Uninsured Protest at Tenney’s Office Friday

What: Resistance Protest (Dropping sympathy cards) at Rep. Tenney’s New Hartford, NY Office

Where: Representative Claudia Tenney’s office at 555 French Road, New Hartford, NY.

When: Friday, March 24, 9 am to 5 pm

How: We will be giving Claudia Tenney “sympathy cards” for those who will lose their healthcare under the GOP American Healthcare Act. Please come by her office during business hours and drop off these cards to her, just as you would do for a wake. You can also pick up a card from the store, too.

Outside protest is canceled because of the weather. Please do not bring signs.

Please do not stay long and take up parking spaces for unnecessary time. Please do not block the driveway or entrance.

Who: Local citizens, members of the grassroots advocacy organization – Central New York Citizens in Action, Inc., SEIU1199

Print a Sympathy Card and bring with it you! Here is the link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B39MIOQWguUJZnR4M2p4LUhBYU51c0c4UGJsMC1ybTdTN01J/view?usp=sharing

Join the Utica Progressive Parade on
Saturday, March 25!

This Saturday, March 25th, come join Central New York Citizens in Action as we Parade for Progress as part of the official 2017 Utica St. Patrick’s Day Parade. As you know, the parade was canceled earlier this month due to the weather and has been rescheduled for this Saturday.

Members of all progressive and resistance groups are welcome to join us! We will have a float in the parade, expressing our theme of Patriotism and Solidarity: Unity for Our Community. Please bring signs that focus on uplifting and positive messages. This is our opportunity to let the community know what we stand FOR, not just what we are against. Wear red/white/blue clothing if you like, and put your pussy hats on! Please dress warmly. Feel free to bring appropriate signs. Please join us!

Details: We will be in the RED section, spot #26, between Stevens Swann Humane Society and the Erie Canal Chapter of Harley Owners. Please check in at Genesee & Newell (next to the First Source Federal Credit Union). Please come to our spot at 9:15. Take the arterial and exit at Burrstone Road. You can park behind the Bagel Grove on Burrstone Road. Carpool if you can! Oneida Street and Sunset Avenue will be open to travel to Burrstone and Pleasant Streets. Side streets leading to Genesee Street will be blocked. Bring non-perishables for Mother Marianne’s West Side Kitchen, which will be collected during the parade.

Questions: (315) 725-0974/cnycitizenaction@gmail.com.

We really hope to have a good showing of all sorts of progressive groups. This is a great opportunity to get our messages out to the community and to experience solidarity with one another. Please copy and paste this post to get the word out!

SAVE THE DATE
MAY DAY CELEBRATION

ST. FRANCIS DESALES CENTER

DeSales Center, 309 Genesee Street, Utica

MONDAY, MAY 1
5- 10 P.M.
MUSIC, MARCH, POTLUCK, WORKSHOPS,
SPEECHES, DANCING!!!!

Join the Progressive Parade!

This Saturday, March 11th, come join Central New York Citizens in Action as we Parade for Progress as part of the official 2017 Utica St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Members of all progressive and resistance groups are welcome to join us! We will have a float in the parade, expressing our theme of Patriotism and Solidarity: Unity for Our Community. Please bring signs that focus on uplifting and positive messages. This is our opportunity to let the community know what we stand FOR, not just what we are against. Wear red/white/blue clothing if you like, and put your pussy hats on! Please dress warmly. Feel free to bring appropriate signs. Please join us!

Details: We will be in the RED section, spot #26, between Stevens Swann Humane Society and the Erie Canal Chapter of Harley Owners. It is not necessary to check in at Genesee & Newell (next to the First Source Federal Credit Union). Please come to our spot at 9:35. (Make every effort to arrive neither late nor early. We have been assigned a specific check-in time to make coordinating the parade as hassle free as possible.) Take the arterial and exit at Burrstone Road. You can park behind the Bagel Grove on Burrstone Road. Carpool if you can! Oneida Street and Sunset Avenue will be open to travel to Burrstone and Pleasant Streets. Side streets leading to Genesee Street will be blocked. Bring non-perishables for Mother Marianne’s West Side Kitchen, which will be collected during the parade.

Questions: (315) 725-0974/cnycitizenaction@gmail.com.

We really hope to have a good showing of all sorts of progressive groups. This is a great opportunity to get our messages out to the community and to experience solidarity with one another. Please copy and paste this post to get the word out!