September 19, 2023
Working immigrants, how to advocate for housing, reproductive rights in Ohio, and more!
Contact all members of Congress:
By phone: (202) 224-3121
By email: democracy.io
By US mail: Representatives / Senators
By fax: Representatives / Senators
By Resistbot: Resist.bot
Contact White House or other federal agencies:
SUPPORT MEASURES TO HELP IMMIGRANTS WORK LAWFULLY
Recently 103 Democratic members of Congress wrote to President Biden and Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas to encourage them to use “all all the tools available to provide stability to undocumented individuals and recently arrived asylum seekers, seeking to work lawfully, support their families, and contribute to the economy.” This would include providing better information on obtaining work permits, redesignating countries for Temporary Protection Status, and extending the use of humanitarian parole. All of these efforts would help reduce the current migrant shelter overload experienced by New York and other U.S. Cities. Let’s tell the White House and Secretary Mayorkas that we agree with what’s outlined in this letter and we’d like to see these proposals acted on as soon as possible. Let’s also see if our MoC signed the letter and thank them, or encourage them to speak out if they haven’t signed.
ACTION TRAININGS ON HOW TO BE A HOUSING ADVOCATE
Housing affordability continues to be a nationwide economic challenge, with home prices reaching record highs in 60% of major markets in June. One of the crucial ways to address this crisis is to remove barriers to increasing the housing supply. YIMBY Action is hosting a series of training sessions this fall to help folks understand the housing shortage and learn how to be advocates for new housing in our communities. Let’s sign up for sessions on September 20th, October 4th, or October 18th.
LET’S BE ENVIRONMENTAL VOTERS
As the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Summit convenes this week, and tens of thousands march in New York City for an end to fossil fuels, let’s remember that reducing climate-damaging greenhouse gas emissions is a mission not only for the federal government, but for state and local governments as well. This means that, when it comes to developing and enforcing policies that are good for the climate, elections at every level of government matter. The Environmental Voter Project is working to build a pro-environment electorate that politicians cannot ignore. Let’s sign the pledge to be consistent voters and always prioritize environmental issues, and let’s see how we can help build voter power for our climate.
SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIRS
"But for all that book banners claim it is okay for the books they do not like to be sold, the reality is they are not okay with that either. In the last several years, there have been attempts to censor the materials made available at school book fairs." The Scholastic Book Fair, around since 1981, will appear in 85,000 schools this year. But because they offer books deemed inappropriate by the Christian right, they are under attack. In fact, a competitor is emerging, seeking to displace the beloved institution, that is Scholastic Books. Brave Books, which is advertising itself using shock tactics calculated to outrage parents, is pushing conservative Christian books and the agenda to match. Let's read more about this dangerous initiative, make sure our schools continue to host Scholastic Book Fairs, and that we continue to offer books that serve all our children.
GET REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS IN OHIO OVER THE FINISH LINE
In August, we helped preserve the ability of voters in Ohio to amend their state constitution by majority rule, and in doing so, we made sure that the November 7, 2023 ballot question to enshrine reproductive rights in the Ohio constitution gets a fair shot at passage. Swing Left Peninsula and The Civics Center have teamed up in a campaign to register young voters in advance of this election. We can help! The clock is ticking, so let’s sign up *today* to write letters to young people in Ohio so they can vote this November—and in the 2024 presidential election!
STATE-SPECIFIC ACTIONS
VA - MAKE A PLAN TO VOTE
Encouraging people to make a plan to vote has been demonstrated to be a highly effective way to increase voter turnout. Vote Save America has an online tool we can use to make our own plan to vote. Every seat in the Virginia legislature is on the ballot in November, and Republicans are fighting hard to get a GOP trifecta (governor and both legislative houses in Republican control). Let’s not allow that to happen. Early voting starts the end of September. Let’s use Vote Save America’s tool to make our plan to vote, and let’s share it with our Virginia friends, family, and neighbors so they can make their plans, too.