Springville Action - 4/15/25 #9

Have courage.

Author

Springville Action
April 15, 2025

Inspiration 🦄

Nightmare Fuel

Our federal government has deported human beings to foreign concentration camps with no hope of release. No due process. No oversight. No mercy.

Substitute “Hitler's Germany” for federal government and “Auschwitz” for foreign concentration camps and that's where we are folks. It ain't hyperbole. I can't think of a bleaker time in American history.

And our president says that “homegrown" are next for these camps. What are you going to do about it?

To do ✅

📖 Something to read: Yes, It’s Fascism. This is a short article. For some deeper reading, go for Ruth Ben-Ghiat’s Strongman.

📺 Something to watch: Politics Girl on YouTube 

🔎 Something to scrutinize: From Dr. Christina Pagel on bluesky.

News 📺

Scan the opinion pages of your local newspapers. There are more than a few calling out our federal representatives on their nonsense. Will yours be next? Email [email protected] for help in writing and submitting a letter to the editor.

Events

4/19 - The main local event appears to be a demonstration at Niagara Square in Buffalo..

4/24, 7pm - Town Hall Meeting for NY-23 at the Lancaster Elks Lodge. Will Congressman Nick Langworthy be there? Unlikely. His last telephone town hall was cancelled so he could vote for something awful. No word on a reschedule.

5/17, 2pm - WNY Women's March, LaFayette Square, Buffalo (near the Central Library)

5/17, 10am-5pm - Candidate Boot Camp with the Erie County Federation of Democratic Women, ECDC, WNY Federation of Democratic Women and Eleanor’s Legacy. 701 Seneca Street, Buffalo.

5/31, 10 am - NYS Citizens Preparedness Corps, Concord Senior Center. Free. Register.

[remainder of content repeats (mostly) from last email]

To Do ✅

😷 Medical checkups. Get a printout of your vaccination record and check with your doctor about recommended vaccines, including MMR, based on your age and other risk factors.

🐝 Citizen Scientists, Unite! Download the Inaturalist app on your phone; upload pictures of nature (animals, plants, trees) for identification and help out the environmental community.

📰 Letter to the Editor. Pick a topic, drill down to 1 key message and write your heart out. There are local people who will help zazz up your letter and get it ready for publication. Email [email protected].

📱 5 Calls - Download the app to your phone; enter your ZIP code; follow the prompts to call U.S. Senators and your local Congressional rep. EXTRA CREDIT - ask your local elected officials what the impact of general federal nonsense will have on local projects, and what they are doing to protect your community.

📮 Postcards - Explore the Postcards for Democrats web site and support Democratic candidates in swing states. Organize for Action is local and working on Virginia races. Email [email protected] to get connected with that group.

😊 Meet a Neighbor: How well do you know your neighbors? Start small but make a point to find one new acquaintance in your area this week!

🗳️ Go to a government meeting. These are open to the public and people rarely attend. See your government at work and pay attention to the decisions they’re making.

At a loss for what to do?

Are you sick of hearing “there’s nothing I can do about everything that’s happening”? There’s plenty you can do - big or small, just try to do SOMETHING each day.

  • Guerilla Gardening and Yarn Bombs! There is a slightly subversive and very fun tactic of guerilla gardening and placing handmade knit pieces in public places. Be creative.

  • Donate blood

  • Plant a garden or support a local CSA

  • Plant a homemade lawn sign - it doesn’t have to be political - paint a one word message like “Hope", ”Love,” “Peace.”

  • Learn first aid and basic medical skills

  • Participate in local Buy Nothing groups

  • Donate to Little Free Pantries or your local food pantry

  • Maintain little free libraries or start your own

  • Support or join a volunteer fire department

  • Participate in a seed exchange, like the one at Hulbert Library in the Town of Concord

  • Help people with phone calls and forms - like Social Security, health appointments and insurance paperwork

  • Give neighbors rides, assist with basic needs

  • Provide a meal to a struggling family or neighbor - see lasagnalove

  • Offer babysitting or respite care - especially during meetings

  • Teach a skill or coordinate a training - sewing, gardening, cooking, car repair, how to fix a toilet or bike.

  • Green Springville, Grow with Springville, Springville Center for the Arts, the Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail, the Finger Lakes Trail - just a small set of local organizations that would be glad for your support and time.

Misc.

Content welcome: Initially this newsletter was going to be sent weekly. Now it's sending as soon as it feels like there is enough content to let it fly - probably 2x/week. Your contributions are welcome. Email [email protected].

This newsletter will always be free, but if you like what you're reading and can find it in your budget, kick a few bucks to support your local food pantry, an abortion fund, or an elected official who has demonstrated common sense and decency.

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