Springville Action - 5/1/25 #14

May Day May Day May Day

Author

Springville Action
May 01, 2025

Inspiration 🦄

“Despair is a luxury our children can’t afford, and action is the antidote to despair, and we need to be the change.” Bradley Whitford, actor

No one can do everything, but everyone can do something. (attributed to Max Lucado according to the internet)

Nightmare Fuel

  • Everything that has come out of RFK Jr’s mouth this past week.

  • Supply chain shocks that are about to hit store shelves and wallets.

  • Mass layoffs, firings, reduction in force, whatever you want to call it for NOAA/National Weather Service, the literal front line of keeping us informed about weather and climate hazards.

To do ✅

📖 Something to read: Let this Radicalize You, a practical and philosophical book from Kelly Hayes and Mariame Haba, and the related ….

📻 Something to listen to: Movement Memos, a podcast by Kelly Hayes

📺 Something to watch: Political expert and Springville Trustee Jessica Schuster on WKBW’s Voices talking about the first 100 days of this… whatever you want to call it. Jessica presented facts with clarity. The conservative voice presented lies with obfuscation.

News 📺

If you’re in to Erie County politics, read through the County Executive’s remarks from the State of the County address on April 30.

Fiscal responsibility cannot be achieved by dismantling the programs that have created most Americans' economic security and upward mobility. 

Yes, the American people voted for change, but did not vote for gutting Medicaid, the health care plan for thirty percent of our county’s citizens. 

They did not vote for implementing tariffs against our best friend in Canada, which are hurting our region’s economy. 

They did not vote for agents of the government accosting and picking up legal residents, against their will, and shipping them overseas. 

They did not vote to dismantle the Department of Education and Head Start, both of which will hurt our children. 

They did not vote for attacks on science and cuts to cancer research centers, like UB and Roswell Park, which inevitably will hurt us all. 

They did not vote for any of this just to pay for tax cuts for Elon Musk and billionaires. 

- Mark Poloncarz

Watch for coverage of today’s May Day protest in front of Delaware North HQ. WGRZ Channel 2, WIVB Channel 4 and WKBW Channel 7 were there - possibly other media outlets. A little media studies here for you - take note of the length of the story, placement during the broadcast, visuals - what was in frame, what may have been out of frame, who was interviewed, what other perspectives were included in the story, and how you felt after watching. Perception is reality, and media know this.

First-hand accounts would say that this was a medium-sized (400-500) all-ages crowd of respectful yet energetic people with signs that conveyed sheer frustration at the current state of things.

Events

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.

NEW 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 ✅

😷 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.

  • 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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