Chop Wood, Carry NY 1/10

Hey, Team NY!

Happy New Year, readers and fellow rabble-rousers! First, I’d like to send some love and kind thoughts toward all our friends and loved ones who are affected by the devastating wildfires. Many friends have asked for advice about contributing to recovery efforts. As Los Angeles is still trying to control the fires, relief efforts have not begun in earnest. Please exercise caution to ensure that any organization you recommend to others is legitimate and will deliver the donations to those who need them.

Secondly, I’d like to reflect upon Jimmy Carter’s legacy and its connection to where we stand today. Jimmy Carter’s life exemplifies the power of ordinary citizens choosing to engage rather than remain silent. After leaving the presidency, Carter didn’t retreat into private life—he became a global force for democracy, human rights, and public service. He demonstrated that active participation is the antidote to apathy. His commitment reminds us that democracy demands vigilance, courage, and action from all of us—not just when the stakes are high, but in every moment when injustice tries to inch its way forward.

When I taught Global History, I would teach my students the signs of fascism. One fact that they found surprising was that authoritarianism doesn’t need active participation; it thrives when good people do nothing.

Giving into nihilism is the easy way out. But here is something the autocrats don’t want you to know: we have more power than the billionaire bros club that kow-tow to Trump. As Robert Hubbell stated, “Watching billionaires surrender to Trump from fear or greed should make us feel like superheroes of the resistance. We do not have the insulating wealth of Musk, Bezos, and Zuckerberg. And yet, we have found the courage and moral clarity to stand our ground against Trump's agenda.”

So let’s get to it.

For All New Yorkers

Markers for Democracy- Focus for Democracy series is Back!

Please join us for our first event on Monday, January 13 at 5:00pm PT/8pm ET.

REGISTER HERE. One of the most dramatic shifts over the last three cycles has been from Latino voters. At this event, we will take a look at how this demographic moved in 2024. Carlos Odio of Equis Research, a leading expert on Latino politics, will join us. This event is informational–we won’t be making any funding recommendations. Throughout the year, we will also continue to share our recommendations for the most impactful and cost-effective strategies to win key elections.

Print and Sign Petitions Regarding the Expiring TCJA

Certain provisions of the federal 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) expire at the end of 2025; we want to use them to address long-standing inequities in our tax code, raise more public funds to meet fiscal obligations, and address critical unmet needs in our state. Here’s a constituent letter you can print out and have fellow New Yorkers sign at any gathering; if they need help ID’ing their representative, have them search here. (Once the weather gets better, we’ll plan some outdoor tabling; for now, hold on to the copies you get signed.) Questions? Contact Danielle Brecker at danielle@empirestateindivisible.org.

Support Ben Wikler for DNC Chair

On February 1, there will be an election to determine the new leader of the DNC. We can't vote, but we would like the voting members to know we support WisDem Chair, Ben Wikler. Robert Reich of Inequality Media started a petition to all 448 voting members of the DNC urging them to choose Ben Wikler, knowing what an amazing job he has done in Wisconsin and could apply those tactics so we could have a 50 state plan to win. We have signed it and hope you will, too.

Sign this petition

Here’s a NYCLU petition to pass the New York for All Act to protect our immigrant neighbors and keep families together.

MLK Day of Service

With Inauguration Day on the horizon you may be experiencing feelings of dread and déjà vu — we know we are. It’s all terrifying, which means it is that much more important to spread hope right now. In the face of so much doubt, uncertainty, and fear, we have a duty to ensure that people know there can still be light on the horizon. While they spread hate, we will spread hope by committing to a weekend of service from January 18-20. Join us.

Tell Senators Schumer and Gillibrand to vote NO on the Laken Riley Act.

This dangerous bill would expand mandatory detention for our undocumented neighbors, promote racial profiling, erode the right to due process for immigrants, and allow Republican Attorneys General to effectively control federal immigration policy through litigation. On Thursday, 32 Democratic Senators voted to advance the bill to the floor, including both Senator Chuck Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. Call them at (202) 224-3121 and tell them not to help Trump’s attacks on our immigrant neighbors! You can also join a group “phone-dog” action on Monday at noon here.

Script: Hi, my name is [YOUR NAME] and I'm a constituent living in [YOUR CITY AND ZIP]. As a constituent, I urge you to vote NO on the Laken Riley Act, S. 5. This bill will hand President Trump all the tools he needs for the cruel mass detention and deportation of my immigrant neighbors, family members, and friends. This is a dangerous and wasteful bill that will strip immigrants, including longtime residents and Dreamers, of a fair review and could force them to be held indefinitely in detention. Please vote NO on this harmful bill.

NY 21 Special Election Call. Tuesday, January 21st at 6:30pm.

Register here. Open to Indivisibles in NY21 and those in NY who want to learn how they can take action to support the special election.

Capital Region

There will be a Mass Mobilization for the Campaign in Albany on January 22. Buses and food will be provided. For every person who shows up, electeds assume there are 500 more - please come if you possibly can, it’s fun and exciting and makes your connection to government feel very direct! Sign up here.

Questions? Contact Nan at nanfaessler@gmail.com or Victor at vgdavilabx940@gmail.com

Central NY and Mohawk Valley

We recently heard that the first meeting of the Cooperstown Indivisible will be on January 15, 2025. Time and location are pending. If you are interested in attending, please email me at lydia.howrilka@gmail.com and I will put you in contact with Virginia, one of the co-founders.

Southern Tier

Saturday January 18, 2025 12 PM - Indivisible Binghamton members are planning a HUMAN RIGHTS MARCH and Rally for January 18, 2025 here in Binghamton ending at the United Presbyterian Church with speakers, music, singers, etc. This is part of a Nationwide protest being sponsored by the Women's March organization. Marches will be held across the country and in Washington DC. Come to hear more about this important event and to sign up to be part of the planning committee!

Indivisible Binghamton would like members to be aware of their upcoming 2025 meetings. All meetings will be happening on Mondays from 6 to 8 PM at the Vestal Library. Here are the dates for the first few of the new year:

• Feb 3, Mar 3, Apr 7

Lower Hudson Valley (Includes Westchester)

NY-16 Indivisible wishes to share their meeting recording with NYS Senate Leader Cousins. The recording is here. Their next meeting is on Sunday, January 12, 2025, 12:30 PM at the Yonkers Riverfront Library, 1 Larkin Plaza, Yonkers, NY

NYC Region

Follow Indivisible Brooklyn (whether you live in Brooklyn or Not!)

Indivisible Brooklyn hosts weekly actions. You can access those actions if you join their email list and social media. Click here for information on how to subscribe. Their email is: brooklynindivisible@gmail.com

Defend NYC Libraries!

Help LibraryPAC reach our goal of fifty donors by the first reporting deadline, January 11. We need electeds who value New York’s public library systems!

Call your City Council Member to Defend Immigrant Rights!

Call your city council member to push for immigrants' rights. You can find an up-to-date list of sponsors here. And you can find your Council Member here. Here's a sample script:

Hi, my name is ____ and I’m a constituent living in [neighborhood]. I’m calling to ask the Council Member to show his support for immigrants’ rights by signing on as a co-sponsor of Intro 214. Intro 214 is a straightforward bill that allows New Yorkers to protect themselves from illegal transfers to ICE custody if their rights under existing law are violated. I hope the Council Member will help advance this proposal to make our city safer for us and our neighbors.

Upcoming Events:

Wednesday, Feb 5, 6:30pm: NYC Comptroller and Public Advocate forum - In-person and on Zoom (Co-hosting by Village Independent Dems & Downtown Independent Dems & other Dem Clubs)

• In-person event: Educational Alliance, Manny Cantor Center: 197 East Broadway

• Meet the Dem candidates running for: NYC Comptroller and Public Advocate

• RSVP for in person and to receive the Zoom link

Thanks for reading! If you live in a region not mentioned in this newsletter, it’s because we are not connected with local organizations in this region yet. As we get into 2025, we are sure to get connected to more regions in NYS. If you know of an organization in the Upstate or Downstate regions across NYS, please let us know by emailing Lydia (lydia.howrilka@gmail.com)!

Thanks! More soon.

Lydia & Jess