Springville Action - 4/28/25 #13

Call for impeachment. No actually start calling NY's Senators and tell them to take a bleeping stand on impeachment. TK too.

Author

Springville Action
April 28, 2025

Inspiration 🩄

Columbia University canceled Karen Attiah’s planned “Race, Media and International Affairs” course because they’re feckless, spineless cowards who got the vapors after receiving an illegal, immoral and wholly unjustified demand letter from the Trump regime. But as they say in show business, the show will go on. Enroll in versions of the course that range from just-like-a-college-course to “watch recordings after.” Pro-tip - if a few of you want to take the course together and get together during or after these sessions to learn and discuss, I doubt the professor would have a problem with it. Deadline to sign up is May 10. Email [email protected] if you want to coordinate a local study group on this or other topics.

Nightmare Fuel

U.S. citizen children with cancer were placed into forced exile. It’s not a deportation if a U.S. citizen is forcibly removed from this country.

Imagine that it’s 2026. Your voter registration card never comes in the mail because of the SAVE Act. Donating to Democratic candidates is a thing of the past anyway - after ActBlue was shut down, it’s understood that having your name connected to certain candidates puts you at risk for an IRS audit from the few staff who were left at that agency. New banking regulations - de facto and de jure - have limited your access to credit, loans and cash. The birth control pills that used to come like clockwork by mail are no longer available, and even if they were, your insurance won’t cover them. Enjoy your geriatric pregnancy! And speaking of health insurance, preventive care like screening mammograms aren’t included. Thanks, Supreme Court! That and other issues around Medicaid reimbursement have led to medical service delays and hospital closures, so even if you can afford care, you’re driving longer and waiting longer for an appointment. Your kids/grandkids’ school had a measles outbreak, and since the Worst Kennedy took MMR vaccine off the recommended schedule, you had to go to a few dead kids' and teachers' funerals but hey, that's the price we pay now to prevent autism. Also the collapse of the global supply chain has turned weekly grocery shopping into a game of chance - what won’t be available, or affordable, this week?

Think of the things we take for granted (what’s in bold). Write them down. You can take that list out in a year and laugh at how ridiculous the paragraph above is. Maybe.

To do ✅

📖 Something to read: Our Malady, by Timothy Snyder, author of On Tyranny.

đŸ“ș Something to watch: Livestream started on Sunday 4/27 with Sen. Booker and Re. Jeffries on the steps of the Capitol. Finally, signs of life from Democratic leaders.

✅Something to do: Shop smarter. The Public Square Marketplace web site is a great way to identify businesses that support the Trump regime - so you can actively avoid them. Businesses listed have requested to be on this site.

News đŸ“ș

From the Great State of Texas: The Courage to be Decent (Slate).

From the Big Apple: Ranked choice voting (RCV) will have a role in June’s NYC Mayoral primary. Quite the cast of characters are running, including [insert your own negative adjectives] former NY governor Cuomo. Something to pay attention to. [Ballotpedia]

From the Great Sovereign Nation of Canada: Happening today, April 28. All signs point to a Mark Carney win, which is the best possible choice for Canada, Canadians, democratic institutions and our planet. Pro tip - look to Canadian media for news coverage of this race and its impact.

Events

4/29, 5:30pm, East Aurora/Traffic Circle: Do not obstruct vehicle or pedestrian traffic; please abide by police request for no vulgarity on signs.

5/1, 12-2pm - May Day Strong rally, Delaware North HQ (3 blocks north of Niagara Square)

NEW 5/1, 11am-3pm - Mental Health Flash Mob and Resource Fair, Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, Downtown Library

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.

5/28, 6-9pm: Nonpartisan Community Conversation. What federal policies do we want to talk about? Meet up at the Ellicottville Town Center (near arboretum) to discuss federal policy impacts and potential action plans to present to congressional representatives.

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

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

To Do ✅

đŸ˜· 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].

đŸ“± 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!

đŸ—łïž 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.

  • Public Displays of Connection

    • 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.

    • 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.”

    • Maintain little free libraries or start your own

  • Basic Needs

    • Donate blood

    • Learn first aid and basic medical skills

    • Participate in local Buy Nothing groups

    • Donate to Little Free Pantries or your local food pantry

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

  • Organized Volunteering

  • Neighbor Support

    • 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.

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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