NEWSLETTER OF THE CENTRAL NEW YORK CITIZENS IN ACTION, INC. –
UTICA 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
SUPPORT UTICA REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS
Please consider attending the Mohawk Valley Resource Center for Refugees (MVRCR) Press Conference in Response to the Executive Order Halting Refugee Resettlement this Wednesday in the MVRCR-DeSales Auditorium at 12 noon. Please come and show your support for our residents, past present and future, as we hope a packed auditorium shows solidarity to refugees and immigrants and also shows our public officials how many of their constituents are concerned over these horrible policies.
RESPONSE TO RECENT EXECUTIVE ORDER
AFFECTING REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT
In response to President Trump’s executive order titled “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States”, Mohawk Valley Resource Center for Refugees (MVRCR) will hold a press conference Wednesday, February 1st at 12:00 pm in the DeSales Auditorium, 309 Genesee St. Utica, NY.
Background:
• The U.S Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) is being suspended for 120 days for all populations with a few exceptions.
• It sets a new refugee resettlement priority— requiring the United States to no longer prioritize the resettlement of the most vulnerable— but those who are fleeing religious persecution and are minorities in the country they are fleeing.
• Syrian refugees have an indefinite bar on being resettled, until such time that the President determines that sufficient changes have been made to the USRAP.
• The order further bans residents of seven countries, including green card holders, from Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Yemen, Iraq and Sudan from visiting or entering the U.S. for 90 days. Other countries may be added to the list.
• It creates new screening procedures for refugees and other visa applicants in the U.S. and may require asylum recipients and others— to undergo additional screening.
• Provides for a new procedure to allow states and localities to discriminate against refugees by deciding whether they can be placed in their state or communities.
• It is essential that we stand firm and fight for the rights of refugees and our shared American values.
We stand with the American people in strong opposition to this Executive Order which turns our backs on refugees, in particular Muslim refugees. Utica has a 36-year history of welcoming refugees of all faiths who have added to the vibrancy and economic growth of our city. We reject the notion that Christians would be given preferential admittance before their Muslim neighbors. Closing our borders to refugees based on their national origin runs contrary to our constitutional values and is not only insidious, but dangerous. We call on members of this new administration and Congress to do everything in their power to reverse this order.
What You Can Do Today About Immigration
Wednesday’s pronouncement about building the wall and limiting refugees demands a public response. Please download this You Are Welcome Here poster http://peacecouncil.net/sites/default/files/imagefield_thumbs/You%20are%20Welcome%20Here%20Flyer.jpg?1485381591 and post them all around your neighborhood.
Here are additional posters you can post at your home and business!!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B39MIOQWguUJY2Fqa2thVDVuRTA/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B39MIOQWguUJRE1wbzJycU5idE0/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B39MIOQWguUJTWpOd0ZpWHhoNmc/view?usp=sharing
MORE IMMIGRANT RESTRICTIONS
In addition to the executive orders announced last week that denied admission to refugees and other immigrants, there have been reports that the Trump Administration will order more restrictions on immigrants who use or would be expected to use public benefits. The order would make certain lawfully present immigrants or applicants more at risk of being designated a “Public Charge.” Under current law, that designation applies to receipt (or expected receipt) of cash assistance (such as TANF or SSI) or long-term nursing home care. The new order could include many additional benefits (SNAP? WIC? We don’t yet know.)
The Executive Order has not yet been announced but a draft was leaked to the press. Based on existing law, changes to “public charge” language by executive order would not apply to refugees/other humanitarian immigrants or to decisions about naturalization, but could apply to immigrants seeking to become lawful permanent residents (LPRs). Expectation that they would be/have been “public charges” would be grounds for denying a visa application or adjusting status; that current LPR’s who leave the country for more than 180 days could be denied readmission; current LPR’s who utilized benefits within 5 years after entering the country could be deported.
CITIZEN ACTION MEETING TO FIGHT AGAINST TRUMP AGENDA –
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2 FROM 7-9 PM,
DESALES CENTER, 309 GENESEE ST. UTICA
Please join us at the next meeting of the Central New York Citizens in Action, Inc. to help us resist Trump-Pence-Ryan agenda that flies in the face of our progressive values. We must protect the rights of and demand respect for refugees, immigrants, Muslims, people of color, and the LGBQT community. We must stand up to Republican proposals that will take away our health and Social Security benefits and services for children and the elderly. Our meeting will provide an update on local, state, and national efforts to fight back policies, laws, executive orders, and cabinet appointments that take away our rights, erode our democracy, and benefit the 1% at the expense of the rest of us. Learn how you can get involved and become part of the movement to block Trump’s divisive agenda. We will have break out groups such as protecting rights of the vulnerable, communications, election mobilizing, and lobbying. The meeting will be held on Thursday, February 2 between 7 and 9 pm at the DeSales Center, 309 Genesee St. Utica. It is across the street from the Munson-Williams Proctor Institute in Downtown Utica. Parking is available next to the building. Thank you for your support.
CALL REPRESENTATIVE TENNEY TO TELL HER TO OPPOSE ACA REPEAL AND TRUMP’S AGENDA
Congresswoman Claudia Tenney, (NY-22)
tenney.house.gov
@ClaudiaTenney
512 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-3665
TAKE OUR PLEDGE TO RESIST TRUMP’S AGENDA!
I pledge to resist Trump’s hate filled agenda.
I pledge to stand up to Trump’s hate filled agenda by actively supporting candidates who will:
Create an economy that works for EVERY person, not just the super-rich and corporations
Overhaul our criminal justice system with the goal of ending mass incarceration of Black, brown and poor individuals
Make massive investments in green energy and other infrastructure to mitigate the effects of climate change
Fight for policies that dismantle structural racism, sexism and economic inequality
Become a member at this link: http://citizenactionny.org/member
SENATOR CHUCK SCHUMER STATEMENT TO
CNY CITIZEN ACTION ON TRUMP
We applaud the Senator’s work in opposing the Trump administration and urge him to continue his efforts! Please find below his statement:
·
After the first week of the Trump presidency it’s clear our country is at a cross roads. In his first week in office the president has stomped over our proud American tradition of welcoming immigrants and refugees, trafficked in alternative facts, and is attempting to fill his cabinet with billionaires and bankers. What kind of country do we want to be: one that helps the middle class and those struggling to get there or one that further rigs the system in favor of the special interests?
The people that the president has nominated to serve in his cabinet will have incredible power over millions of Americans and in shaping what kind of country we are going to be.
I’ve made it very clear I will vote NO on nominees DeVos (education), Tillerson (state) and Sessions (attorney general). Nothing will change that, and while I will continue to demand that each nominee issue a public statement on his or her views of President Trump’s Muslim Ban, I will vote against nominees who will be the very worst of this anti-immigrant, anti-middle-class, billionaires’ club cabinet. Rep Mick for Budget Director, Rep Tom Price for Health and Human Services, Steve Mnuchin for Treasury, Scott Pruitt for EPA and Andy Puzder for Labor have repeatedly shown they will not put the American People or the Laws of our nation first, and I will vote against their confirmations.
STAND UP FOR HEALTH CARE
Members of Congress are debating a repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and major cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, and other health coverage programs. We know consumers are Mulvaney looking for ways to get involved in the fight for health care.
Here is what you can do this week:
Ongoing: Tell your elected officials to #ProtectOurCare. Call-in at (866) 426-2631.
Ongoing: Share what quality, affordable health coverage means to you. If you or a loved one has benefited from the ACA, please share your story with us. Please call 315-725=0974 or email cnycitizenaction@gmail.com.
STAYED TUNED. KEEP FIGHTING.
STAND UP CHUCK! RESIST TRUMP!
Thursday, Feb 2, Noon-1:00 PM
outside Senator Schumer’s district office (100 S. Clinton St.), map
Facebook Event
DETAILS: On January 24, President Donald Trump signed two executive orders calling for the approval of the Dakota Access and Keystone XL pipelines, owned by Energy Transfer Partners and TransCanada, respectively.
We can’t let Trump’s anti-environmental agenda threaten our water, air, food, undermine civil rights and commit our planet to climate chaos.
Join in the resistance to fight back.
Join us in a Statewide Day of Action On February 2nd to give Senator Schumer a message – our environment, our health and our right to clean air and water are not for sale.
As Senate Minority Leader and the highest-ranking Democrat, Schumer must lead the charge to resist Trump’s anti-environmental agenda and block his disastrous Cabinet appointments.
February 2nd 12pm-1pm Senator Schumer’s Syracuse Office – James M. Hanley Federal Building, 100 S Clinton St, Syracuse, NY 13261
FIVE DAYS OF ACTION TO STAND WITH IMMIGRANTS & REFUGEES
Following the devastating actions of President Trump this past week, New Yorkers banded together to stand up for immigrants and refugees. Help us keep the momentum going! With reports that the Trump administration may take even more anti-immigrant actions in the next week, it is more important than ever for us to make our voices heard.
Here are five things you can do in the next five days to stand up and support immigrant and refugee communities:
• ASAP Flood social media with demands to reverse President Trump’s harmful and un-American executive orders and call out New York Congressional Reps who support these orders, like Rep. Peter King and Rep. Lee Zeldin of Long Island, Rep. Claudia Tenney of Utica, and Rep. Tom Reed of Ithaca. Say thank you to Rep. Grace Meng of Queens for introducing legislation to repeal the ban on refugees.
.@repleezeldin @realDonaldTrump’s Exec Orders are un-American & unconstitutional. I call on you to stand up for what’s right! #NoBanNoWall
.@reppeteking @realDonaldTrump’s EOs are immoral and just wrong. Reverse your position! #NoBanNoWall #OurNY @thenyic
.@claudiatenney @realDonaldTrump’s Exec Orders are wrong! Refugees make your district stronger! #NoBanNoWall #OurNY
.@reptomreed @realDonaldTrump’s Exec Orders are dangerous – Refugees need to be integrated not excluded! #NoBanNoWall #OurNY
Thank you @RepGraceMeng for legislation repealing @realDonaldTrump’s unconstitutional Exec Order #NoBanNoWall http://bit.ly/2jrSX5U #OurNY
• Wednesday: Voice your opposition to unqualified and anti-immigrant nominees, particularly Attorney General nominee Senator Jeff Sessions. Education Secretary nominee Betsy DeVos will be voted on by the full Senate any day now, we need you to call and tweet at moderate Republican senators like Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowsi ASAP. We are also standing by for an announcement about a Supreme Court pick tonight. If this individual is outside the mainstream and has voiced unconstitutional xenophobic views, we’ll need to mount resistance immediately.
.@senatorcollins Protect our children’s future – vote NO on @BetsyDeVos for Secretary of Education #NoDevos #OurNY
.@lisamurkowski vote no on @BetsyDeVos – she’s dangerous for our schools, children and country #NoDeVos #OurNY
• Thursday: Donate to immigrant advocacy organizations. The NYIC and our members need your support now more than ever.
• Friday: Join us for Jummah prayer at JFK Airport, standing in solidarity with our Muslim neighbors, those detained in airports across the US, and those unable to fly home. We will circulate further details, but plan to arrive by 11:45 a.m. outside the Terminal 4 Arrivals Hall.
• Saturday: Host a postcard party! Social media is great, but handwritten letters have a much greater impact. Invite family and friends over to tell your representatives that you demand justice for immigrant communities. Messages can be as short as a sentence or two about recent executive orders, pending nominees, and why the first two weeks of the Trump presidency don’t represent the values of America. Click here to find address of your congress person.
We at the CNYCIA are so grateful for your support, and for everyone in our great State who believes in opportunity & justice for all. This is Our New York.
JOIN FORCES TO RESIST THE NEW D.C. AGENDA
Please join us in Albany this Friday to organize a statwide coalition to fight back against Trump’s attack on health care and safety net programs! We will have a van from Utica. Please RSVP 315-725-0974 or cnycitizenaction@gmail.com.
With our new President & new Congress – all the advancements that we have fought long and hard for over the past 50 years are under attack.
That is why we are reminding you to reach out to your organizational leaders in every region in the state to join us for a vital statewide planning meeting to help organize to stop the attacks on our health care, vital social safety net programs and much more.
It is important that we have representation from each of our targeted Congressional district so that we can form effective regional teams to fight back
Join Forces to Resist the New D.C. Agenda
Friday – Feb3 – 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM
1199/SEIU Office – 155 Washington Ave, Albany
We Have Joined Forces – Renew the American Promise & NY Health Care for America Now
Other Sponsors : Center for Independence of the Disabled in NY, Citizen Action of NY, Fiscal Policy Institute, Hunger Action Network, Metro Health Care for All, NY Statewide Senior Action, NYS Alliance for Retired Americans ,1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers, Central NY Citizens in Action
Commentary: Signs Suggest Trump Budget Will Feature Unprecedented Cuts Plus Large Tax Cuts Favoring Wealthy
In a new commentary, Robert Greenstein outlines the mounting signs suggesting that the forthcoming Trump budget may contain cuts harsher than those in recent House GOP budgets, which themselves would have slashed programs and services across much of the budget.
The budget Republicans approved last spring, for example, contained a stunning $6 trillion in domestic cuts over ten years, shrinking spending outside of Social Security, Medicare, and interest payments to just 7 percent of gross domestic product. That’s less than three-fifths its average level over the past 40 years and a little more than half its average level under President Reagan.
Yet those unprecedented cuts may not be enough for the Trump Administration.
Reports say the Trump team is meeting with career staff to assemble a budget with $10 trillion or more in savings, of which about $8.5 trillion would be cuts to programs outside defense.
The forthcoming Trump budget is likely to represent the largest Robin Hood-in-reverse proposal from any President in modern history, shifting substantial amounts of income from people of modest means to those who already possess enormous wealth.
Read the full commentary here: http://www.cbpp.org/federal-budget/commentary-signs-suggest-trump-budget-will-feature-unprecedented-cuts-plus-large-tax
PROGRESSIVE GROUPS RELEASE PROACTIVE, PROGRESSIVE AGENDA
MY FAMILY, OUR NEW YORK
A PROGRESSIVE AGENDA FOR OUR STATE
PROTECT HUMAN RIGHTS AND ALL NEW YORK FAMILIES
New York Must Block the Trump Attack on Immigrants, Women & Religious Groups
• Protect all immigrant families and kids by making New York a sanctuary state
• Block any registry of people based on their religion or ethnicity
• Ensure affordable access to abortion, contraception, and reproductive health care for all New Yorkers by passing the Reproductive Health Act and the Comprehensive Contraceptive Coverage Act
• Offer driver’s licenses to all New Yorkers regardless of immigration status by requiring the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue a license to any New Yorker who can establish state residency
• Extend the New York Immigrant Family Unity Project (NYIFUP) to the entire state and ensure that no New York family will be torn apart simply because they cannot afford counsel
TAX THE RICH AND HOLD WALL STREET ACCOUNTABLE
New York Must Fight Income Inequality. New York Must Block the Trump Tax Breaks for Corporations and Billionaires and Invest in New York’s Communities
• Expand and extend the millionaires’ tax to capture explosive income gains among the super-rich
• Enact state law to close the carried interest loophole that only benefits hedge fund and private equity billionaires
• Create new state tax provisions to recapture the resources lost by the unfair and unnecessary Trump/GOP tax cuts for the rich. We must reinvest in the needs of New Yorkers, including public education and property tax relief
• Enact new state surcharge on corporations that pay their CEOs over 100 times more than their lowest-paid employees
• Re-enact New York state’s “Robin Hood Tax” or stock transfer tax
• Tax CEO bonuses and exorbitant pay packages designed to game federal tax laws
PROTECT AND EXTEND OUR PUBLIC INVESTMENTS IN
SCHOOLS, HEALTH CARE & HOUSING
New York Must Block the Trump & Billionaire-Driven Attacks on Public Education, Health Care & the Safety Net
• New York must invest in our local public schools and fulfill the $4.3 billion owed to our neediest schools as a result of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity
• New York must block the privatization of public schools by expanding community schools, expanding access to pre-K and childcare services
• Mandate training and education for all school staff in anti-racist, culturally responsive practices
• Fully fund a high-quality, free SUNY and CUNY education for all state residents including undocumented immigrants and provide financial aid to undocumented students at private colleges
• Stop the Trump/GOP attack on Medicaid, Medicare and the Affordable Care Act. Ensure essential medical benefits and services continue for all New Yorkers and that New York moves forward on a Universal Health Care for All system in New York
• Fully fund the END AIDS 2020 platform
• Provide quality, affordable long-term care and support for seniors and people with disabilities who wish to live at home with dignity
• Enact stronger rent laws to protect New Yorkers living in rent stabilized apartments, and end
big developer tax breaks for creating luxury developments
• End homelessness and extreme poverty in New York by:
• Fully funding 20,000 units of supportive housing statewide. The Governor
and legislative leaders need to sign the M.O.U. releasing $1.9 billion for supportive and affordable housing
• Enacting the Home Stability Support Plan to stop eviction and house homeless New Yorkers.
• Properly fund public housing throughout the state
CREATE THOUSANDS OF NEW, GOOD
JOBS & PROTECT ALL
NEW YORK WORKERS
New York Must Block the Trump Attack on Workers and Unions
• Block corporate and Trump efforts to roll-back worker protections through strategies like using forced arbitration, legalizing the misclassification of platform economy workers, and defunding enforcement agencies
• Strengthen retaliation protections to encourage workers to blow the whistle on abuse and to protect workers from retaliation when they do come forward
• Empower state agencies to perform proactive enforcement in high violation industries and substantially increase resources for complaint-driven enforcement
• Finish the work of establishing one fair wage in New York State, by eliminating the sub-minimum wage for tipped workers and getting to $15 an hour for those regions of the state left behind by the 2016 deal
• Stop the failed strategy of subsidizing corporations to “create” jobs
• Invest directly in public jobs that build our state’s social and physical infrastructure
• Expand paid family leave programs
• Pass a statewide paid sick days law
• Enact fair hours laws and safe staffing laws
• Invest in New Yorkers from early education to higher education and support worker-owned businesses statewide
• Ensure the right to collectively bargain and strengthen unions in New York
LEAD THE NATION IN CLIMATE PROTECTION AND
CLEAN, CHEAP ENERGY
New York Must Block the Trump Attack on Our Environment & Our Climate
• Enact the Climate and Community Protection Act (S8005 / A10342)
• Stop all fossil fuel infrastructure buildout
• Pass an interstate compact of carbon taxes and rebates to support clean energy and help families using clean energy
• Work with California and other reality-based states and cities to join the Paris Climate Accord
• Defend and expand New York State actions against climate polluters, including the Attorney General’s investigation of ExxonMobil
• Establish a state constitutional right to clean, safe water for all New Yorkers
CREATE A FUNCTIONING, MEANINGFUL DEMOCRACY
New York Must Block the Trump & Billionaire Attack on Our Democracy
• Enact public financing of elections by establishing a small donor matching system for campaigns
• Close the LLC loophole, lower contribution limits for candidates and committees and limit transfers between committees to implement a check on how much money special interests and large donors can use to influence elections
• Make voting easier and more accessible by establishing same-day registration, early voting, mail-in voting, automatic registration and 100% accessible polling places
• Restore the right to vote for New Yorkers on parole
REFORM NEW YORK’S CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
New York Must Block the Trump Attack on Criminal Justice Reforms
• Enact a package of strong police accountability measures that includes ending solitary confinement, and closing Rikers Island Correctional Facility and Attica Prison
• Require statewide reporting on deaths in police-involved incidents and enforcement of violations and misdemeanors, including racial, gender and other demographics
• Ensure fair administration of justice, eliminate racial disparities and expand prevention and rehabilitation by overhaulingthe criminal justice system from pre-arrest to community re-entry
• Reduce the number of prisons, and number of people incarcerated, by reducing sentences through parole, bail and sentencing reform
• Raise the age of criminal responsibility and youth offender status
• Enact state law to protect domestic violence survivors facing prosecution for taking action to protect themselves and their families
• Ensure NY meets its constitutional obligation by fully funding indigent legal defense and passing a speedy trial law to address court processing delays and reduce people being held in pre-trial detention
• Ban racially discriminatory arrests for ticketable violations and end racially biased, costly and unconstitutional low-level marijuana arrests
• Empower those most harmed by the criminal injustice system by restoring the voting rights, labor rights, and eligibility to Tuition Assistance Program for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people
• End the school-to-prison pipeline. End arrest and criminal summons in schools for all non-criminal violations and misdemeanors by passing the Safe and Supportive Schools Act
URGE NYS GOV. CUOMO TO STAND UP TO TRUMP FOR CLIMATE CHANGE
Citizen Action is a member of NY ReNews, a statewide coalition working on energy democracy and climate justice.
We’re not even a week in, and the Trump administration has already begun ignoring climate science, dialing back progress, and pushing our planet toward the brink of catastrophe. In the face of federal denialism, it’s up to the great state of New York to help lead the fight to save the world.
Join thousands of other New Yorkers who are calling on Governor Cuomo to defy Trump and make climate change an urgent top priority.
Call his office today at : 1-518-474-8390
How? He can start by including the Climate and Community Protection Act (CCPA) in the state’s 2017 budget. The CCPA tackles climate pollution in all sectors, while getting frontline communities the resources they need to weather the climate storm, and instituting key labor protections that will ensure good, family-supporting jobs in the renewable energy economy. Unfortunately, we didn’t see anything near this kind of ambition in the budget proposal Cuomo unveiled on January 17th.
Just 10 days after Trump’s inauguration, help us make sure we’re setting New York on a course to lead the nation in tackling climate change. Our futures depend on it.
BROAD COALITION OF ELECTED OFFICIALS AND ADVOCATES UNVEIL NEW LEGISLATION AND ANALYSIS IN FAVOR OF GRANTING DRIVER’S LICENSES TO UNDOCUMENTED NEW YORKERS
The New York Immigration Coalition, along with The Fiscal Policy Institute and the New York City Office of Comptroller Scott Stringer, elected officials and advocates unveiled new legislation and analysis in favor of granting driver’s licenses to Undocumented New Yorkers.
New analyses from New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer and the Fiscal Policy Institute find significant social and economic benefits of extending driving privileges to undocumented immigrants. The analyses found that the policy change would help support immigrant families by expanding job opportunities, while modestly lowering insurance premiums for all state drivers and improving public safety on roadways, with the fiscal costs of implementing the proposal more than offset by added revenues. The new legislation will be introduced with full support of the Green Light NY: Driving Together Coalition, a statewide coalition of immigrant organizations who have been advocating for licenses as a way to better protect and integrate immigrant communities in New York. The new bill also provides significant data security protections to push back on overreaching federal administration.
IN RESPONSE TO EXECUTIVE BUDGET, NEW YORK NONPROFITS
GATHER TO CALL FOR STATE INVESTMENT IN HUMAN SERVICES
COALITION LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN TO SHOW THE HUMAN
IMPACT OF CONTINUAL UNDERFUNDING IN THE REGION
A coalition of human services nonprofits from across New York State were joined by Assemblymembers Fahy, Gunther, Hevesi, and Rosenthal, as well as Senators Amedore and Hamilton, to call on Governor Cuomo and the legislature to strengthen the nonprofit human services sector through smart and efficient investment and systemic changes. The Executive Budget, while acknowledging the importance of human services, provided little in the way of strengthening the organizations and the sector responsible for supporting and lifting families out of poverty.
The Coalition, which is comprised of nearly 350 organizations across New York State, is part of the statewide Restore Opportunity Now campaign, which seeks to address sector health issues like fully funded contracts, competitive salaries and benefits for nonprofits needed to recruit and retain high quality staff, and program funding to meet the growing needs of New Yorkers.
The advocacy campaign amplifies a recent report highlighting the need for human services in New York communities. In many cities, child poverty exceeds 50 percent, and food security and housing continue to be pressing issues. Despite these statistics, spending in the human services sector in New York has decreased by an average of 1.3 percent per year since 2011.
Human services are the State’s first line of defense in combating pressing issues like poverty, but rising costs coupled with ever present needs and lack of investment have undermined the health of the sector, which is now at a breaking point. Fifty-eight percent of providers in the state in 2014 reported that they were not meeting the need in their communities. Only 7 percent reported that their State contracts covered the full cost of providing services. Recruitment and retention of qualified staff is also a major challenge, due to low levels of compensation, often set by government.
The Coalition is calling on the governor and legislature to take the first steps this budget session to strengthen the sector by funding the minimum wage for direct human services contracts and Medicaid reimbursements, implementing an funding a 15% floor for indirect, and continuing investment in the Nonprofit Infrastructure Capital Improvement Program. These steps would ensure that human services providers continue to deliver essential services efficiently and effectively.
Coalition members will also participate in an advocacy day today, meeting with more than 20 Assemblymembers and Senators.
“Our investments in human services aid vulnerable populations, help uplift communities, and extend ladders of opportunity to the next generation of New York leaders. We must boost our investment in this critical sector because nurturing healthy human services makes for healthier, higher quality of life communities for all New Yorkers,” said Senator Jesse Hamilton (D).
“As we stare down the barrel of a Trump Administration, it is imperative that New York invest in the future of children and families by fully funding non-profit organizations across the State,” said Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal (D/WF). “Non-profits often act as a safety net in many communities where residents struggle with homelessness and poverty. We must do everything possible to insulate New Yorkers from the coming cuts at the federal level, and funding the State’s non-profits will go a long way in protecting the most vulnerable over the next four years.”
“Like New Yorkers across the State, we are very excited about many of the initiatives put forward by the Governor in the State of the State. There are over 800,000 hardworking New Yorkers in the not for profit sector who will be involved in the implementation of many of these new initiatives including people in the mental health workforce. We need the continued support of the Governor and the Legislature to help keep funding whole for this workforce by supporting salary and benefits that allow nonprofits to recruit and retain a high quality staff,” said Glenn Liebman, CEO of Mental Health Association in NYS.
“We are here to advocate for investment in some of the most important people in New York state,” said William T. Gettman, Jr., CEO, Northern Rivers Family of Services. “Our not-for-profit human services workers are responsible for helping the children of today grow into the leaders of tomorrow who will help keep New York a great place to live,
Madison County Democratic Committee
February 2, 2017, 7:00PM
Colgate Inn
Hamilton, NY
Guest Speaker: Nancy Ries, PhD
Professor of Anthropology and Peace and Conflict Studies
Colgate University
“Trump and Putin: Kindred Autocrats or Actual Collaborators”
Community Events
I, too, am America: A Song of Race and Language
Opening Reception, Fri, Feb 3, 6-8pm, Community Folk Art Center, 805 E. Genesse Street, Syracuse
Panel Discussion/ Artist Talk, Sat, Feb 4, 2017, Community Folk Art Center, 805 E. Genesse Street, Syracuse.
This exhibition will allow for direct communication through interactive sculpture; to catch a glimpse into other’s experiences with candid photography and subject statements; and it will invite the viewer to observe social benchmarks of our past with poignant collages and prints.
A Place of Rage Screening
Wednesday, Feb 15, 7:00 – 9:00 pm. ArtRage Gallery
A Place of Rage is an exuberant award-winning documentary film by filmmaker Pratibha Parmar. The film will be introduced by Marcelle Haddix, Chair, Reading & Language Arts, Syracuse University. A celebration of the contributions and achievements of prominent African American women, the film features Angela Davis, June Jordan and Alice Walker. Within the context of civil rights, black power, lesbian and gay rights and the feminist movement, the trio reassesses how women like Rosa Parks and Fannie Lou Hamer revolutionized American society and the world generally.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
February:
Tue. Feb. 7 – a Childcare/Pre-K lobby day AND a state-level Health Care for All NY lobby day
Feb. 13 – Environment Budget Hearing Action on Climate Justice (NY Renews) – (
February 16 – Raise the Age Call In Day 518-455-2800
I am calling to urge you to pass comprehensive ‘Raise the Age’ legislation in the state budget due April 1st. New York is one of only two states that prosecutes all 16- and 17-year-olds as adults for any offense, no matter what. This has been proven to jeopardize public safety and does not match what we know about how to help young people get back on track. I urge you to support Raise the Age this session and to do the whole package! Thank you.
President’s Week: February 20-25 – Congressional Recess!!! (Health Care focus)
Please contact your member of Congress to stop ACA repeal. Please call your Representative to tell him/her to Say no to ACA repeal, cuts to Medicaid/Medicare/SNAP/Housing and federal corporate tax breakes. We are planning many events during this time.
Tue, March 7 – Raise the Age Lobby Day – Save the Date
Also: Tuesday, March 7, 2017 – Driver Licenses for ALL NY, Albany Day
Join for a day of legislative visits to speak up for licenses for all in NY.
Send an email to wccny@workerscentercny.org to reserve your seat.
For almost a year, we have been building community support and leadership among our members to win driver licenses for all immigrants in NY.
We will be part of a Broad Coalition of Elected Officials and Advocates that will unveil new legislation and analysis In favor of granting driver’s licenses to undocumented New
SAVE THE DATES:
April 23-25: People’s Action “Rise Up” Founding Convention
Purpose: To publicly launch People’s Action as a political home for our affiliates, as a movement leader for our allies, and as a powerful counterpoint to the politics of white nationalism / fascism that has hijacked our democracy.
April 29th – People’s Climate March II in DC
Justice Works 2017: June 3 & 4 at the Desmond, Albany, New York
BECOME A MEMBER OF CITIZEN ACTION OF NEW YORK TODAY:
http://citizenactionny.org/member
Central New York Citizens in Action, Inc.
(Utica-Rome Chapter of Citizen Action of New York)
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 411; Utica, NY 13503-0411
315-725-0974
cnycitizenaction@gmail.com
http://www.cnycia.org
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
Central New York Citizens in Action, Inc. was developed from the Utica Citizens in Action, a multi-issue public interest association affiliated with Citizen Action of New York. It was founded in 1997 to address critical social, economic and environmental issues facing residents of Oneida, Herkimer, and Madison Counties. Members of our group worked to empower low and moderate income Central New York residents to participate in shaping the policies that affect their lives, such as economic justice, environment, housing, education, economic development, health care, public benefit programs, and consumer issues. Our projects include research and policy development, public education on a wide range of public policy issues, development of educational materials, community outreach and grassroots organizing, coalition development, training, and lobbying. Please join our email list by sending an email to cnycitizenaction@gmail.com with the subject heading – Join List. We also invite you to become a member of our group and attend our meetings.
Central New York Citizens in Action, Inc. Blog 
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