CNY PROGRESSIVE ACTION – OCTOBER 27, 2016

NEWSLETTER OF THE CENTRAL NEW YORK CITIZENS IN ACTION, INC.
(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:
https://cnycitizenaction.wordpress.com

HEADLINES

WHY VOTE WORKING FAMILIES?

HELP KIM MEYERS THIS WEEKEND TO TAKE BACK THE HOUSE

TELL SEN. SCHUMER: NO TAX CUT FOR HUGE CORPORATIONS!

COMMUNITY NEWS

 

WHY VOTE WORKING FAMILIES?

 

When you vote on Nov. 8, you should vote on row E, the Working Families Party line. Why? Voting for a candidate on the WFP row counts just as much as if you voted for these same candidates on the Democratic or other party row, but it also sends a message about progressive political values. It shows your support for the issues that the WFP fights for: living wage jobs, affordable housing, a fair economy, climate protection, universal health care, better public education, and other social and economic justice issues. Your vote counts more when you vote WFP. Unlike most other third parties, the WFP thinks that constantly “spoiling” elections — i.e. voting for third-party candidates with no chance of winning — is not a smart strategy.

The WFP is proud to support the following candidates: Federal: Hillary Clinton – President; Senator Chuck Schumer; Kim Myers – Congress (CD 22); Mike Derrick – Congress (CD 21); New York State: Anthony J. Brindisi – Assembly 119; Arlene Feldmeier – Assembly 101; Jermaine Bagnall-Graham -Senate 51; Oneida County: Michael A. Arcuri – County Court Judge; New York State Judge: New York State Supreme Court – Judge Ted Limpert.

Wining back control of the House of Representatives is a critical priority for the WFP. That’s why we are very excited about supporting Kim Myers for Congress. Kim’s number one priority in Congress will be to help grow the economy and create good-paying jobs across Upstate New York. That includes investing in our communities’ infrastructure needs, building on our regional strengths and resources, and aligning our education systems with the skills and training needed for the jobs of tomorrow. She will fight against plans to cut or privatize the programs our seniors rely on and support proposals that will bolster Social Security and Medicare. The local labor movement has endorsed her. She supports increasing the federal minimum wage. Kim is committed to providing excellent constituent services and will create an office in Utica to help residents access federal assistance. She said: “Serving the entire 22nd district is a top priority for me. That’s why I’m committed to maintaining a fully-staffed, full-time Congressional office in the city of Utica.”

 

HELP KIM MYERS THIS WEEKEND TO TAKE BACK THE HOUSE

The most recent polls by NBC, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg Politics, The Washington Post and Reuters show voters prefer that Democrats take control of both the House and the Senate.

But it gets better. The latest from The New York Times indicates that Democrats could overcome enough gerrymandered districts to take the 30 seats needed to send Paul Ryan back to the minority.

Our 22nd Congressional District is crucial to winning back the House for progressives. Polls show that Kim Myers could win the District, but we need every vote.

With your help, we can change the direction of this country for a generation. The Working Families Party is urging progressive to support Kim Myers.

Please volunteer this weekend October 29 and 30 to help Kim Myers win this important congressional seat. We need folks to make phone calls and knock on doors. Staging locations will be United Food and Commercial Workers, Local One, 5911 Airport Road Oriskany, NY 13424 and the CNY Labor Agency, 287 Genesee St., Utica Utica, NY 13501.

Volunteers should meet at these locations for canvass and phonebank shifts. Canvass shifts are as follows: 9:30a-12:30p, 12:30-3:30p, 3:30-6:30p. Phonebank shifts are as follows: 9a-12p, 12-3p, 3-6p, 6-9p. Phonebankers should bring cell phones and laptops if they have them, and canvassers should bring cell phones and dress appropriately for the weather. If someone is willing to drive but not canvass door-to-door, they can still help transporting volunteers, as we will be in suburban and rural areas. Food and drink donations are always welcome. Please call 725-0974 or email uticaromewfp@gmail.com for details. Thank you for your help.

 

TELL SEN. SCHUMER: NO TAX CUT FOR HUGE CORPORATIONS!

For years, major corporations have been hiding trillions of dollars in offshore tax havens to get out of paying their fair share of taxes here at home.

Now New York Senator Chuck Schumer, who’s set to become the US Senate Majority Leader after the November election, is floating a plan to permanently slash the corporate tax rate. If that plan happens, tax dodgers like Apple, General Electric and Verizon can bring their hidden profits back to the U.S. while paying just a small fraction of the what they actually owe.
The plan is an insult to working families who play by the rules – and pay their taxes – every day.

Please tell Sen. Schumer not to back another huge giveaway to profitable corporations! The corporate tax rate is already the lowest it’s ever been in U.S. history.

Here’s what the people backing a “tax holiday” for corporations won’t tell you: It’ll blow a huge hole in the federal budget, costing $100 billion over the next 10 years.

ixty 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 while vital programs and infrastructure investments get cut.

Profitable corporations should pay what they owe, not get special breaks after dodging taxes for years.

Please tell Sen. Schumer not to blow a hole in the federal budget by cutting taxes for Apple, General Electric and Verizon!

Thanks for all that you do,

Senator Charles E. Schumer
322 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: (202) 224-6542
Fax: (202) 228-3027
TDD: (202) 224-0420
https://www.schumer.senate.gov/contact/email-chuck

 

COMMUNITY NEWS

COLD DAYS ARE HERE!

The Central New York Labor Council will begin its annual coat drive on October 3, 2016 and will collect new or gently used children’s items until November 30, 2016. Adult items will be accepted, but please stick to the winter items! Every year we collect and distribute hundreds of items and by doing that, we make the walk to school or work, just a little bit easier.

Items can be dropped off at 287 Genesee St. Utica, NY 13501 or arrangements can be made for pick up by calling Enesa at 315-735-6101 or email cnylaboragency@gmail.com. Thank you in advance!

 

JOB CORPS – U.S. Dept. of Labor Program
Free Career Training for 16-24 Year Olds

An Opportunity for a Better Life – Go for It
ORIENTATION & INTERVIEWS
WEDNESDAY NOV. 16th 10:00AM
WORKING SOLUTIONS
NYS Dept. of Labor, NYS Office Building
207 Genesee St., Room 103D, Utica, NY 13501
Note: You Must Have ID To Enter The Building
YOU MUST CALL
Admissions Counselor David Brown at (315) 478-5529
To see if you are eligible for the program and to find out what documents to bring
Students under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian
·Students must bring their documents to Orientation
·Application Interviews will follow Orientation

HEALTH AND WELLNESS DRIVE

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as Food Stamps, assists low-income families in purchasing many food items. However, those families cannot use SNAP/Food Stamps to purchase every day, non-food necessities. Legal Services of Central New York, which provides free legal services to low-income individuals and families, is asking you to donate the items listed below that are not covered by SNAP/Food Stamps, so that everyone in our community can enjoy a happy and healthy holiday season. From October 20, 2016 through November 15, 2016 Legal Services of Central New York will be collecting donations of the following items: Soap, Shampoo, Deodorant, Toothpaste/Toothbrushes, Toilet Paper, Feminine Hygiene Products. New/Sealed Items Only. Please No Mouthwash Please

Donations may be dropped off at the following locations:
Legal Services of Central NY, 268 Genesee Street, Utica, NY 13502
(M-F 9am-5pm)
Utica Public Library, 303 Genesee Street, Utica, NY 13501
(M-T 8:30am-8pm; W-F 8:30am-5:30pm; Sat 8:30am-5pm)
Tramontane Café, 1105 Lincoln Ave, Utica, New York 13502
(M 9am-5pm; T-TH 9am-10pm; F 9am-11pm; Sat-Sun 12pm-11pm)

Donations will be distributed by Rescue Mission of Utica and Utica Hope House
Rescue Mission of Utica: distributions beginning on November 21, 2016
Utica Hope House: distributions on the 3rd Thursday of every month

If you have any questions, please contact Legal Services of Central New York at (315) 793-7108

 

UNSPOKEN HUMAN RIGHTS FILM FESTIVAL 2016

The Mohawk Valley Resource Center for Refugees invites the public to the sixth annual UNSPOKEN Human Rights Film Festival from Thursday, October 27th to Saturday, October 29th, 2016. Utica serves as a home to over 16,000 individuals who have experienced and fled human rights violations and persecution to start a new life in the United States. In fact, Utica has been deemed “The City that Loves Refugees” by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Such rich history of Utica provides an excellent home for UNSPOKEN.

This year, fifteen films submitted from around the world have been selected to be shown at the festival. The films will be shown on Friday, October 28th, and Saturday, October 29th at Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute and Mohawk Valley Community College in the Schafer Theater located in the Information Technology Building. These films discuss various human rights issues concerning many parts of the world including genocide, homelessness, access to healthcare, women’s rights, LGBT issues, and many others.

UNSPOKEN is more than films and will also include a Provider Training – Refugee Trauma: Culture & Care at the Radisson Hotel -Utica Centre on Thursday, October 27th from 8:00am-12:00pm. Tickets are $15 per participant. There will also be a Firefly Storytelling Session at the Tramontane Cafe from 7:30-9:30pm on Thursday, October 27th that provides the opportunity for community members and guest speakers to share their stories and experiences.

On Friday 28th, there will be a Festival Reception and Silent Auction that will be held at Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute- Fountain Elms. Tickets $30 per attendee. The UNSPOKEN Human Rights Film Festival was founded by Michael Patrei, Peter Vogelaar, and Rick Short in 2011 in order to bring light to culture and human rights issues from around the world to Utica. The film festival provides an opportunity to see these films locally in Utica. It aims to create a space where different voices are heard and to promote understanding of people’s different backgrounds and experiences.

The UNSPOKEN Human Rights Film Festival is produced by the Mohawk Valley Resource Center for Refugees and brought to you in part by Bank of Utica and CNY Arts. Utica’s Mohawk Valley Resource Center for Refugees is a non-profit organization, established in 1981, that provides services to refugees, immigrants, and Limited English Proficient (LEP) individuals. MVRCR’s goal is to help individuals and families achieve independence and self-sufficiency by providing services that allow us to build community with many cultures.

Schedule of Events Thursday, October 27th: 8 a.m.- 12 p.m. Provider Training- Refugee Trauma: Culture & Care at the Radisson Hotel Fee – $15. Registration and continental breakfast begin at 8:00 am Presentations will begin at 9:00 am Registration: http://tinyurl.com/Training-Registration-

UNSPOKEN 7:30 p.m. Firefly Storytelling Session at the Tramontane Cafe Friday, October 28th: Films at Munson-Williams Proctor Arts Institute Tickets: $6 MWPAI Members, $8 General Admission, $4 Students, Free for PrattMWP Students 10 a.m. I’ll Be Home, Voices from Kaw Thoo Lei 12 p.m. Gods behind Mountains 2 p.m. American Heart 4 p.m. The Black Zone, Limpiadores 5:30 p.m. Signs of Humanity 7:30 p.m. American Heart

Films at Mohawk Valley Community College – Schafer Theater Tickets: $5 General Admission, $2 MVCC Employees, Free for MVCC Students 1 p.m. Non Assistance, A Struggle for Home–The Crimean Tatars 4 p.m. Good Girls Don’t Tell, People Like Us, Refugee Kids: One Small School Takes on the World 7 p.m. The Pearl of Africa 5:30 p.m. Festival Reception & Silent Auction to be followed by a showing of “American Heart:

Fountain Elms at Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute Tickets $30 Registration http://tinyurl.com/Reception-Registration-UNSP Saturday, October 29th:

Films at Mohawk Valley Community College – Schafer Theater 1 p.m. Katarina Taikon: The Untold Story of a Freedom Fighter 4 p.m. Women Are the Answer 7 p.m. American Heart

For more information, including film descriptions, visit http://www.iamunspoken.com. For press inquires contact Shelly Callahan at 315-738-1083 or via email at shellyc@mvrcr.org.

CNY PROGRESSIVE ACTION NEWSLETTER – OCTOBER 23, 2016

NEWSLETTER OF THE CENTRAL NEW YORK CITIZENS IN ACTION, INC.
(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:
https://cnycitizenaction.wordpress.com

 

HEADLINES

WILL YOU FIGHT TO ELECT LOCAL PROGRESSIVE CANDIDATES?

CNYCIA STARTING CITIZEN ACTION OF NEW YORK CHAPTER

CNYCIA PARTICIPATES IN INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL ECONOMY CONFERENCE

OCTOBER IS CO-OP MONTH

PARENTS, EDUCATORS, STUDENTS RALLY IN ALBANY AFTER WALKING 150 MILES FROM NEW YORK CITY TO DEMAND EDUCATION FUNDING

COMMUNITY EVENTS

ARTS AND CULTURE

WILL YOU FIGHT TO ELECT LOCAL PROGRESSIVE CANDIDATES?

As you know we are less than three weeks away from Election Day. Defeating Donald Trump in the presidential election is a top priority for progressives. It is also very important for progressives to do all we can to help win Democrat control of the House so we can enact legislation to help working families.

The Working Families Party is working hard to elect progressives throughout New York State. The race for the Congressional District 22 (Utica, Binghamton) is very tight. We have an opportunity to elect Kim Meyers to Congress so she can stand up for working families. Claudia Tenney, her Republican opponent, is a Tea Party Republican who would support polices favored by Donald Trump. Independent Martin Babinec is a free market conservative who does not care about working people. Both Tenney and Babinec have said they would caucus with House Republicans and support Paul Ryan for Speaker

Kim has been endorsed by progressive unions like CWA, UAW, and 1199 SEIU . She will protect labor rights and stop Republicans from privatizing Social Security and Medicare. Kim will help us continue the political revolution which Bernie Sanders started.

Can you join me to help Kim win? We are looking for canvassers and volunteers to support Kim and other Working Families Party candidates. We need folks to make calls, distribute flyers and posters, and walk the neighborhoods. You can make an important difference in these last days before the election.

Let’s be clear: Defeating Donald Trump is important, but it won’t enough if we cannot pass legislation in the House like raising the minimum wage, or refinancing student loans, or equal pay for equal work.

Thanks for doing your part. Here’s to having a lot to celebrate on Election Day!
Please contact us at 315-725-0974 or uticaromewfp@gmail.com.

CNYCIA STARTING CITIZEN ACTION OF NEW YORK CHAPTER

The Central New York Citizens in Action, Inc. (CNYCIA) is forming a chapter of Citizen Action of New York to build upon the successful organizing work we have accomplished over the last two decades. The new chapter will enable us to bring new organizing resources and stronger progressive partnerships to Central Bew York. We are inviting to become a dues paying member of both CNYCIA and Citizen Action of New York.

Since 1997, the Central New York Citizens Action, Inc. has been a leader in progressive social change in the Utica, Rome, and the Herkimer area. We have successfully organized around progressive issues, helped to elect and support progressive candidates for public office who are committed to making a difference on these issues, and held elected officials accountable to progressive positions and values. Our success has been in large part due to our strong and effective relationship with Citizen Action of New York.

Citizen Action of New York is a grassroots membership organization taking on big issues that are at the center of transforming society – issues like:
• quality education and after-school programs for all our kids
• guaranteed quality, affordable health care
• public financing of election campaigns
• dismantling racism and promoting racial justice
• a more progressive tax system.

Citizen Action of New York has eight chapters and affiliates in major cities across New York State. Each is a vibrant local organization with local leadership, paid professional organizing staff, a local agenda and an active, diverse membership. Each has developed a strategy, program and structure to meet the organizing and political challenges that most affect their region. At the same time, all share overall goals and a statewide program.

Please join our chapter of Citizen Action of New York so we can become an even more powerful force for democracy and economic fairness. Becoming a chapter will strengthen our ability to fight for community over greed, justice over racism, and people and planet over big corporations. For more information, contact 315-725-0974 or cnycitizenaction@gmail.com. Use this link to join: http://citizenactionny.org/member

 

CNYCIA PARTICIPATES IN INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL ECONOMY CONFERENCE

The Central New York Citizens in Action, Inc. was proud to have participated in the Global Social Economy Forum to learn new ways to revitalize and make more democratic the Central New York economy. GSEF2016 which took place in Montreal from 6th to 9th of September reached its grand finale. Over 1,500 participants from 330 cities, 62 countries, over 200 government officials and 9 international organizations gathered in Montreal to promote the social and solidarity economy in a global scale. The central theme of GSEF2016 was ‘the collaboration between local governments and organizations of the social and solidarity economy (SSE)’ and selected 120 best social economy practices presented along with 11 working groups by different SSE themes. As the outcome of the GSEF2016, the Montreal Declaration; the promise of commitments of 1,500 participants across continents for the development of SSE was adopted. One of the main outcomes of the GSEF2016, the International Centre for Innovation and Knowledge Transfer on the Social and Solidarity Economy (C.I.T.I.E.S) officially launched with the commitments from local governments and SSE networks from the City of Seoul, Montreal, Mondragon, Bilbao and Barcelona. As a close partner institution of GSEF, C.I.T.I.E.S will assist GSEF to achieve its mission by providing various programmes to the GSEF members such as advisory services, study missions, exchange programmes and research projects. A full report of the plenary sessions, workshops and working group discussions will be published soon and will be available. The Central New York Citizens Action Inc. will be organizing a conference in Utica to show how the social, cooperative, and collaborative economy model can help to bring living wage jobs and alleviate poverty in our area.

 

OCTOBER IS CO-OP MONTH

The Central New York Citizens in Action Inc. can help local groups organize consumer and worker co-ops. As part of our efforts, we are celebrating October as National Co-op Month. Consider these facts about co-ops:
• There are more than 40,000 cooperative businesses in the United States with 350 million members (many people belong to more than one co-op). These cooperatives generate $514 billion in revenue and more than $25 billion in wages, according to a study conducted by the University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives, with support from USDA Rural Development (http://reic.uwcc.wisc.edu/default.htm).
• Cooperatives represent a strong business model and greatly contribute to both the national and local economies.
• Studies show that consumers want to do business with companies that share their values, making today’s environment ideal for cooperatives and their commitment to the communities in which their members live and work.
• Co-ops don’t have to answer to outside shareholders; they care about meeting their members’ needs.
• Co-ops represent democracy in action, with control exercised by a board of directors elected from the ranks of members; the board hires and directs management and is ultimately responsible to the members;
• Cooperatives generate jobs in their communities, keep profits local and pay local taxes to help support community services. Cooperatives often take part in community improvement programs, ensuring that everyone has an opportunity to benefit from the cooperative experience.
Consumer, housing, and worker co-ops can help to revitalize Central New York, protect the environment, and democratize the economy. Please contact us for more information on starting a co-op.

 

PARENTS, EDUCATORS, STUDENTS RALLY IN ALBANY AFTER WALKING 150 MILES FROM NEW YORK CITY TO DEMAND EDUCATION FUNDING
October Marks the 10-Year Anniversary of the CFE Trial, Yet New York State Still Owes Schools $3.9 billion Statewide
Twenty students, parents, educators, elected officials and advocates from across the state arrived in Albany on October 11 as the final stop of a 10-day, 150 mile walk from New York City, where they gathered for a rally outside the New York State Court of Appeals to demand Campaign for Fiscal Equity (CFE) funding. The “Ed Walk for CFE,” which has been endorsed by over one hundred organizations, commemorates the historic school funding case and brings together communities from all across the state to demand the New York legislature finally pay up. The Ed Walkers began their journey on October 2, walking through Manhattan and the Bronx, Yonkers, Ossining, Peekskill, Garrison, Cold Spring, Beacon, Poughkeepsie, Kingston, Saugerties, Catskill, Coxsackie, Ravena, and finally Schenectady for the last part of the walk to the steps of the Court of Appeals in Albany.
Tuesday morning, the Ed Walkers joined the Ed Riders, who have biked 350 miles from Buffalo, at 6:30 AM at Emmanuel Friedens Church in Schenectady to walk the final stretch of the journey to the Courthouse. The Ed Riders made stops in Rochester, Auburn, Syracuse, Rome, Utica, and Herkimer.

The Ed Walkers and Ed Riders gathered on the steps with dozens of other parents, teachers and advocates from communities along their route to demand the $3.9 billion that New York State owes students. The group then walked to the Capitol to deliver invoices to Governor Cuomo for the CFE funding from every school district in the state, demanding the Governor, Senate majority, and Independent Democratic Conference join the Assembly in support of CFE. In 2016, the Assembly put forth a multi-year proposal to fund Foundation Aid in full; the Senate majority proposed funding 20 percent, and the Governor approved just 6 percent.

“I walked because New York is violating the rights of children across the state, and more likely than not, those children are children that look like my own. Black and brown and low-income children across the state are suffering from inadequate educational funding. We’re walking because they matter, the communities we walk through and the children that come out all matter. This walk and our call to fully fund education is a necessity,” said Natasha Capers, a parent that walked the full 150 miles from New York City, and coordinator at the Coalition for Educational Justice.

“We have walked 150 miles not because we wanted to, but because we had to. For 10 days many of us left our children at home, to demand the kind of education that is their right by law. Governor Cuomo, the Senate Republican Majority and the Independent Democratic Conference have to decide now what their education legacy will be. A decade later we are still waiting for them to fulfill the promise of CFE. Black, brown and poor children have waited long enough for the billions owed. It’s time for them to choose our children over politics,” said Zakiyah Ansari, advocacy director of the Alliance for Quality Education, and parent that walked 150 miles from New York City.

“Our children can’t wait another year. The continued failure by the Governor and the Senate Majority maintains the system of racial and economic inequality that plagues our school system. It is unconstitutional and it is past time for New York State to deliver equity in education for our children,” said Robert Jackson, the lead plaintiff in the CFE lawsuit who walked 150 miles.

“We biked across all of New York State, 350 miles, so that we can show the Governor this isn’t just about one child, or one school,” said David Cates, one of the bikers who traveled from Buffalo, and a parent with Citizen Action. “We met parents, students and teachers in every town we passed through saying their students aren’t getting the education and opportunities they deserve. All these people have come to Albany because we believe all New York’s students have a right to those opportunities, no matter where they live.”

“The Alliance for Quality Education’s efforts are less about a walk to Albany and more about parents’ and students’ symbolic expression of the need to march toward providing all students in New York a fair and substantive opportunity to learn – a march and effort that the Schott Foundation for Public Education fully supports,” said Dr. John H. Jackson, President & CEO of the Schott Foundation for Public Education.

“Parents, families and educators across the state continue to be concerned about appropriate levels of support for our students. Despite recent school aid increases, New York students are still owed $3.9 billion under the Campaign for Fiscal Equity lawsuit and settlement,” said Kyle Belokopitsky, executive director of the New York State PTA. “There has never been a more important time for the full funding of our schools, as we work to make every child’s potential a reality. NYS PTA looks forward to working collaboratively with AQE and other educational groups to support every child. “

“Ten years after CFE ended, we are right back where we started: with tens of thousands of children in overcrowded classes of 30 or more; schools having to triage academic intervention services because they can’t afford to help all our children; and teachers and other staff being cut by the thousands. This is more than a ‘systemic failure’ as the CFE court called it then — it is a tragedy and an outrage. Our state leaders know what to do-they have known what to do for 10 years now. It is time to fully fund Foundation Aid and fulfill this state’s CFE promise to all of New York’s children,” said Attorney Wendy Lecker with the Education Law Center.

The Alliance for Quality Education is a coalition mobilizing communities across the state to keep New York true to its promise of ensuring a high quality public education to all students regardless of zip code. Combining its legislative and policy expertise with grassroots organizing, AQE advances proven-to-work strategies that lead to student success and ultimately create a powerful public demand for a high quality education. For more information, please visitaqeny.org.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

 

 

PEEL BACK THE LAYERS OF LEAD EXPOSURE, A HAZARDOUS CHALLENGE TO OUR COMMUNITY’S FUTURE.

Join the Lead-Free MV Coalition for a FREE presentation on the definitive history of lead poisoning in our country, featuring David Rosner, PhD, & Gerald Markowitz, PhD, authors of “Lead Wars: The Politics of Science and the Fate of America’s Children.” It will be held Tuesday, October 25 at 4:30 PM – 6 PM at Watson Williams Elementary School, 107 Elmwood Pl, Utica, New York 13501.
Following the presentation, a panel of local lead experts will discuss the impact of lead poisoning in our communities. Visit leadfreemv.org for details and our eventbrite link to register.

DEBATE REMINDER – OCT. 25TH – ONEIDA COUNTY JUDGE
WHAT: Debate – Oneida County Court Judge Position
WHO: Candidates: Michael A. Arcuri (D) & Robert L. Bauer (R)
WHERE: American Legion Post 1376, corner Middle Settlement Rd. & Clinton St. (near Twin Orchards)
WHEN: TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016
TIME: 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. — FREE ADMISSION! Plenty of parking adjacent to the Legion. Fully accessible.
SPONSOR: League of Women Voters of the Utica/Rome Metro Area
PURPOSE: Your opportunity to meet the two candidates and to witness their responses to questions posed by two panelists and fellow audience members.

HOW CAN WE STOP THE TRUMP EFFECT?
Thursday, October 27 at 7 PM – 9 PM
Syracuse University Hall of Languages, University Pl, Syracuse, NY 13210
With Trump’s campaign swirling down the toilet, it seems all but certain that Hillary Clinton will win the election. But will that quell the “Trump Effect”? Clinton can be relied on to maintain the status quo, but will politics as usual weaken the far right or make it more nasty and bigoted? What will it take to build a fightback against the racism, Islamophobia, misogyny, and immigrant-bashing that Trump’s campaign has brought to the surface?

DAY OF THE DEAD FESTIVAL
Sunday, October 30 at 1 PM – 5 PM
4 Elements Studio
Broadway, Westminster Building, Utica, New York 13502
4 Elements Studio would like to invite everyone to join us for a special holiday, Dia de los Muertos/The Day of the Dead…

Our 3000 year old celebration starts on Sunday, October 30th from 1 to 5 at our studios across from Utica City Hall…Stop by to view our Festive Altar adorned with sugar skulls, marigold flowers, trinkets, gifts, artworks, and other offerings in honor of our visiting spirits… Stroll through our open studio for holiday gifts or your next piece of art for the home…Please feel free to bring a little token or memory of your loved one to add to our Altar.

 

FREEDOM FUND DINNER 2016
The Oneida County Chapter of the NAACP is hosting its annual Freedom Fund Dinner on November 6. The event is at the Radisson, in Utica from 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. The keynote speaker is Yusuf Abdul-Qadir, the Director of the CNY Chapter of the NY Civil Liberties Union.
Tickets are $50 per adult, $45 per youth. For more information or to reserve your seat, call Darlene Mack Brown at (315) 733-2069.

ARTS AND CULTURE

 

Musicians are fighting Trump!! “A playlist of songs that Donald Trump will hate.”
– The Washington Post

Check out 30 Days, 30 Songs, an online compilation album that features a new song by a new artist every day for the final thirty days leading up to the election. I love the band EL VY’s song – “Are These My Jets?” which shows how Trump views reality!
http://www.30days30songs.com/

Michael Moore, The filmmaker and activist, has announced a late-breaking October surprise in the form of Michael Moore in Trumpland, based on his own one-man play. The movie had its world premiere in New York City last Tuesday and will begin its theatrical run this week. We are trying to organize a showing in Utica or Rome.

NEWSLETTER ARTICLES ARE NEEDED
Please submit your articles, news items, and calendar listings to cnyprogaction@gmail.com.

CNY PROGRESSIVE ACTION is published by Central New York Citizens in Action, Inc., P.O. Box 411, Utica, NY 13503-0411 315-725-0974.
cnycitizenaction@gmail.com
https://cnycitizenaction.wordpress.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Central-New-York-Citizens-in-Action/265689434204
https://www.facebook.com/Central-New-York-Progressive-Action-659297800873928/?fref=ts

Join us for An Important Meeting to Address our Community’s Human Service Needs

Join Us for a Discussion on The State of New York’s
Human Services Sector

We are urging local agencies and concerned citizens to attend this meeting. It is important that we form a local coalition to increase funding for vital human service programs.

Need continues to rise across our communities, while funding for vital services continue to shrink.

The Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies, the Fiscal Policy Institute, and the Human Services Council invite you to assist us in assessing the challenges facing your organizations and communities, and to discuss potential collaborative solutions. RSVP today:

http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/…/sal…/event/common/public/…

Date: Tuesday, October 11th

Time: 2 PM

Location: MVCAA – 9882 River Rd., Utica, NY 13502

Thank you to our hosts, Mohawk Valley Community Action Agency, Inc.!
Rising Need and Shrinking Resources

There are now 241,518 more New Yorkers in poverty than in 2011, bringing the total to more than 3 million.

Despite this increasing need, 59% of New York providers in the NFF State of the Sector Survey reported they were unable to meet the current need. For example, only 22% of eligible families are receiving childcare subsidies.

Even when providers are able to meet the needs of their communities, contracts, too often, do not reflect the cost of doing business: rising rents, maintenance, fair wages, etc. For instance, this year’s minimum wage increase is not being reflected in increased contract rates.

Human services are on the front lines of the fight against poverty and inequality, but they are losing ground. If state funding for human services had continued to grow at its pre-2011 rate, funding for FY 2017 would have been $500M (30%) greater.

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How does your organization navigate this challenging environment?

What needs are most pressing in your community?

How can nonprofits lend our voices to improving the lives of New
Yorkers?

Join us to discuss these questions and more.

For further information, please contact Mallory Nugent, restoreopportunity@gmail.com
or (212) 801-1341.

John Furman
President
Central New York Citizens in Action, Inc.
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 411; Utica, NY 13503-0411
Office: 500 Plant St.; Utica, NY 13502-4710
315-725-0974
cnycitizenaction@gmail.com
https://cnycitizenaction.wordpress.com