Wed 9/2: This is what you can do to help save the USPS and our election.

 This is the 9/2/2020 version. Read our update on the legislative war against DeJoy here and about the  GOP’s campaign to privatize our Postal Service here. (Quote by Michael Hiltzik, LA Times)

Action #2: CALL! – Democrat or GOP. Make sure your legislators know you’re watching. Both DeJoy and Robert Duncan must resign! 

Minimal script to ALL Reps/Senators: “I’m calling from [zip code] to demand that Sen./Rep. [___]  call for the immediate resignation of Postmaster General DeJoy, due to his deliberate sabotage or incompetence, his political and financial conflicts of interest, and his clear disinterest in ensuring that all American can safely vote by mail this fall.

In addition – Robert Duncan, the chairman of the USPS Board of Governors, is not only directly responsible for installing DeJoy, but has also been revealed to be a director of Mitch McConnell’s $130M super PAC. McConnell has refused to take up the bill for USPS funding.

Between DeJoy, Duncan and Treasury Secretary Mnuchin’s interference described in the Congress’ hearings, the Postal Service, an essential nonpartisan service, has been turned into a tool for partisan gain.

I expect Sen./Rep. [___] to demand that the USPS Board of Governors either fires Louis DeJoy and Robert Duncan, or hand in their own resignations.

 Additional script to GOP Reps: I would also like to ask why Rep. [___] refused to support H.R. 8015 “Delivering for America Act.” Is [he/she] trying to suppress our ability to vote safely in a pandemic or is [he/she] trying to privatize our USPS? Or both? (Find your GOP rep.’s voting record here.) 

Additional script to GOP Senator: I also want to know if Senator [___] is supporting the following bills to protect our USPS and our election.

• H.R. 8015 – “Delivering for America Act.”
• H.R. 6800 – “HEROES ACT”, including at least $3.6 billion dollars of funding for our elections and 25 billion for the Postal Service &  
• S.2965 -“USPS Fairness Act” – to repeal the GOP’s ridiculous 75-year pre-funding mandate. (Senator-check – Only 7 senators have signed onto S.2965 ! Seriously! Call Harris and Feinstein and remind them to cosponsor this thing.) 

Additional script to GOP Senator: If Senator [___]  is refusing to vote for any of these bills, can you direct me to public statements they’ve made against us being able to vote safely in a pandemic or that [he/she] is trying to degrade and privatize our USPS?

Contact

Rep. Julia Brownley: email, (CA-26): DC (202) 225-5811, Oxnard (805) 379-1779, T.O. (805) 379-1779
or Rep. Salud Carbajal: email.(CA-24): DC (202) 225-3601, SB (805) 730-1710 SLO (805) 546-8348
Senator Feinstein: email, DC (202) 224-3841, LA (310) 914-7300, SF (415) 393-0707, SD (619) 231-9712, Fresno (559) 485-7430
and Senator Harris:email,DC (202) 224-3553, LA (310) 231-4494, SAC (916) 448-2787, Fresno (559) 497-5109, SF (415) 981-9369, SD (619) 239-3884
Who is my representative/senator?: https://whoismyrepresentative.com

Action #3: If you’ve experience a delay in your mail…

If you personally have experienced delayed mail, prescriptions or benefit checks not arriving in time, mailboxes removed, or other postal problems:

• Tweet to @OversightDems,
• Post:  
  • Senate: Contact your senators!
  • House:  Vice-Chair Rep. Gomez’s (D-CA) FB Page
• Call the Committee:
  • House: (202) 225-5051
• Send tragically-delayed packages to Sen. Ron I-don’t-believe-you Johnson: The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government  asserted that the thousands of calls to legislators about mail delays were “manufactured.” If you receive something tragically late due to the Trump/Mnuchin/DeJoy postal slowdown, please resend the dead contents, or a clear photo of the contents, or just a tersely-worded postcard, to Sen. Ron’s office.
  • 517 East Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 408, Milwaukee, WI 53202
  • 219 Washington Avenue, Suite 100, Oshkosh, WI 54901
  • 5315 Wall Street, Suite 110,Madison, WI 53718

Action #4: Contact the US Postal Service Inspector General 

“The internal watchdog for the U.S. Postal Service has launched an investigation into recent changes made at post offices across the country by the new postmaster general, who is a Trump appointee, CBS News has confirmed.” Contact the UPSP Inspector General  to encourage this investigation and share concerns of this deliberate slowdown here or by mail here: USPS OIG, 1735 North Lynn Street, Arlington, VA 22209-2020.

Action #5: Sign some petitions to Congress

• Sign the petition here. As of right this minute, 1,531,125 people have signed this Change.Org petition  This needs to be MILLIONS! Share and share again.
• Sign this petition from Common Cause to the US Congress
• Sign this petition from MoveON to Trump, McConnell and the US Congres

Action #6: WRITE! – Allow the USPS Board of Governors to be nameless, faceless enablers no more. WE SEE YOU! REMOVE DEJOY! (Note: Barger is the one who pushed him through.)

Sen. Elizabeth Warren has gone on record to say that either this board of governors gets rid of DeJoy or they should resign themselves! 

Send emails: These are the email addresses of the USPS Board of Governors. Tell them this is more than a business lunch write-off position. They have the power to fire DeJoy and we are demanding they do so or resign themselves. Rachel Maddow observed that when citizens “make noise” sometimes we can change things for the better. Noisy citizens have already halted the removal of mail boxes. Let’s make some noise, people! America needs a fully functioning post office, now more than ever.  Thanks, and PLEASE SHARE. (You can read the letter 90 members of Congress sent to them here.)

• Robert Duncan – CEO Inez Deposit Bank, 41 W. Main St, Inez, KY 41224; 606-298-3511; mduncan@inezdepositbank.commduncan@inezdepositbank.com
• John Barger – Managing Director, NorthernCross Partners, LLC; 515 S. Figueroa St, 16th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90071, 213-629-8356; info@NorthernCrossPartners.com; (Unverified: barger.jm@gmail.com)
• Ron Bloom – Managing Partner, Brookfield Asset Management, Brookfield Place, 250 Vesey Street, 15th Fl., New York, NY 10281-1023, ron.bloom@brookfield.com
• Roman Martinez IV –  Private Investor, Board of Directors, Cigna Corporate Headquarters, 900 Cottage Grove Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002; 860-226-6000, roman@rmiv.com
• Donald Moak – Founder & CEO, The Moak Group, 401 9^th St NW Suite 740, Washington, DC 20004, 202-838-3800; lee.moak@moakgroup.com
• Wiliam Zollers – Private Investor, Board of Directors, Cerner Corporation, 2800 Rock Creek Pkwy, Kansas City, MO 64117, 816-221-1024,  directoraccessmailbox@cigna.com
• (NEW) Board of Governors, United States Postal Service, 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Washington, DC 20260; 800-275-8777

Action #7: Send a petition to these guys.

Sign a petition to the USPS Board of Governors: here. Today is has over 935,000 signatures.

Action #8: Send them letters or postcards too!

Their job should be to protect us and the USPS, not just be another business lunch deduction. Here’s a number of template letters you can start with (15 per person) with mailing addresses as well, courtesy of one very pissed-off, yet eloquent Andy Posner. Buy stamps! It’s a win-win for the Post Office! Don’t forget to mention some of these issues:

• The Law: Are you aware that “Whoever knowingly and willfully obstructs or retards the passage of the mail, or any carrier or conveyance carrying the mail, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.” How would you define what’s happening now, right before a presidential election?
• “Intended consequences”: How will removing high-speed sorting equipment affect this election, USPS workers, and mail service in general? Why did this happen now? Who paid for the dismantling? What did it cost? What is replacing this capacity?
• “Unintended consequences”: How do the procedural changes affect this election, workers, and mail service in general? How are you going to fix the “unintended consequences” right now?
• The knee on the neck – 1: What are you doing to advocate for the removal of the pre-funding requirement on the US Post Office?
• The knee on the neck – 2: What are you doing to advocate for necessary funding for the Post Office with the White House? “Congress has already given the private airline industry fifty billion dollars, when only half of the country takes a commercial flight in any given year. By contrast, the Postal Service provides critical services to every American every day, and is continuing to do so during this current crisis.“
• Don’t look away: Are you investigating Postmaster General DeJoy’s corrupt machinations with Amazon stock? How are you keeping track of his divestment.
• What is your vision?: Tell me how you see the Founder’s vision of the Postal Service as an essential vehicle for unifying a nation, allowing its citizens to stay connected and connecting them with their federal government taking place under Dejoy?
• Make it better – 1: Why aren’t you advocating for a return of consumer banking with low-fee check-cashing and checking accounts?
• Make it better – 2: French mail carriers provide regular formal welfare checks on their elderly citizens. Why can’t we expand the USPS to do that as well, especially as our population gets older.
• Make it better – 3: What are you doing about making the USPS a public utility with broad band connectivity? A postal telecom service could work with municipal broadband providers and public electrical utilities to build out a national public 5G wireless service with a mandate to better serve rural parts of the country. Not only would that bring much more equitable internet access, but it would break the private oligopoly that’s overcharging and underserving so many.
• Make it better – 4: What are you doing about expanding USPS services to bring in more revenue, such as becoming notary publics for document signings, selling hunting and fishing licenses, and renewing driver’s licenses and vehicle registration, as a kind of extension of other state and federal agencies?

Action #9: Send a complaint to the Post Office about how DeJoy’s changes are impacting your life.

“The internal watchdog for the U.S. Postal Service has launched an investigation into recent changes made at post offices across the country by the new postmaster general, who is a Trump appointee, CBS News has confirmed.” Contact the UPSP Inspector General  to encourage this investigation and share concerns of this deliberate slowdown here or by mail here: USPS OIG, 1735 North Lynn Street, Arlington, VA 22209-2020.

Here’s one example. Make it your own here.

Action #10: What does Indivisible what us to do? Make our legislators hear us.

Action #A: Contact Nancy! “The House Oversight Committee will hold an emergency hearing on mail delays and concerns about potential White House interference in the U.S. Postal Service, inviting Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and Postal Service board of governors Chairman Robert M. Duncan to testify Aug. 24 (next Monday), top Democrats announced on Sunday.” Make sure Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi hears your concern by writing her an email here.

Action #B: – Track down GOP senators, ask the “WTH?”:  Find a town hall event here, or go directly to their website and click on their “event” or “calendar” listing here. Plan with some like-minded people, join in their reindeer games and start asking how they are going to save the U.S. Postal Service. Or stand outside their speaking engagements with signs and make a lot of noise.

Action #C:– Call, email, write. All those mechanisms still work during the recess.

Use the calls from Action #1 and add…

• Minimal script for ALL representatives: I’m calling from [zip code] and I want Rep. [___] to support Sen. Sherrod Brown’s S.3571 – “Banking for All Act, “which would allow post offices to help unbanked consumers during this pandemic.
  • This bill would let consumers set up free “FedAccounts” at local banks and POST OFFICES to access stimulus payments for coronavirus relief immediately and without payday lender fees. Account holders would receive debit cards, online account access, automatic bill pay, mobile banking and ATM access.
  • The House already passed in February HR 2382  – “USPS Fairness Act,” which would REPEAL the part of the GOP’s insane 2006 law that requires the Postal Service to pre-pay 75 years of future post-retirement health care costs.)
• Minimal script for ALL senators: I’m calling from [zip code] and want to know why Senator [___] is on vacation instead of back in D.C. working to pass the HEROES Act to get the funding required by both our nation’s elections offices and our own US Postal service to survive this pandemic. The Senate gave billions of dollars to corporations and huge tax breaks to the wealthy. Now we are demanding that you fund what we citizens need right now.
  • (The HEROES ACT includes at least $3.6 billion dollars of funding for our elections and 25 billion for the Postal Service.)
• Additional script for GOP senators: In 2006, the GOP placed an insupportable burden on the post office, one that no real business would have to do. I want you to fix that betrayal of our trust in you by supporting S.2965 – “USPS Fairness Act and advocate for the cash grants and loans the United State Postal Service needs right now. Lastly, support Sen. Sherrod Brown’s S.3571 – “Banking for All Act, “which would allow post offices to help unbanked consumers during this pandemic.” We are watching to see if you do everything you can to help your constituents.

(Senator-check – Only 7 senators have signed on to the USPS Fairness Act! Seriously! Call Harris and Feinstein and remind them to cosponsor this thing.) 

Contact
Rep. Julia Brownley: email, (CA-26): DC (202) 225-5811, Oxnard (805) 379-1779, T.O. (805) 379-177
or Rep. Salud Carbajal: email.(CA-24): DC (202) 225-3601, SB (805) 730-1710 SLO (805) 546-8348
Senator Feinstein: email, DC (202) 224-3841, LA (310) 914-7300, SF (415) 393-0707, SD (619) 231-9712, Fresno (559) 485-7430
and Senator Harris: email, DC (202) 224-3553, LA (213) 894-5000, SAC (916) 448-2787, Fresno (559) 497-5109, SF (415) 355-9041, SD (619) 239-3884
Who is my representative/senator?:https://whoismyrepresentative.com

Action #11: Texting

Text USPS to 50409

This one-word text will automatically send a letter to your local representatives using Resistbot and urge them to take action. Do this over and over. However, remember, the less effort it took you to take an action, the less effect it has on the receiver. Make sure you also make calls and sent letters and emails.

Action #12: Learn how to return your ballot in Ventura County without impacting the USPS.

First, make sure any voting information you read is correct for YOUR county. There’s a lot of information on the internet that is not accurate for us. Ventura County does NOT have voting centers that are open 10 or more days before the election, for example. Make sure you canvass your neighbors and friends to see if anyone needs help to return their ballot.

• Read this well-researched  “What to expect in Nov. 2020 election” from our local League of Women Voters. If you aren’t from this county, look at your own county’s LWV and at your Elections Division office for SPECIFIC INFORMATION FOR YOU!  Then watch this video from this NON-PARTISAN group, who explain how voting will work in our county for the Nov. 3rd election. Please share this with those who are anxious or suspicious of the process. (BTW – The League is an awesome group that anyone can support and/or join, even the non-women out there.) Link to share here.

• SIGN THE BACK OF YOUR BALLOT! 

• Yes, you can help others who can’t leave their home safely return their ballots : Fill out the upper section on the back of the envelope and put it in a box or take it to an election center no later than three days after receiving it or before the polls close on election day, whichever comes sooner.

• Return  Ventura Co. ballots early to an election division box. “There will be 33 secure ballot drop boxes located throughout the County for the November 3rd election. The Ballot Drop Boxes are available every day beginning 28 days before Election Day (October 6, 2020). Ballots are picked up by a team of two Ventura County Elections Staff and taken directly back to the Elections Division. Return your ballot at any of the following locations before 8:00 p.m. on Election Day, November 3, 2020. You can also drop off your ballot at any of the 47 In-Person Voting Locations beginning October 31, 2020.” Below is a list of permant locations (It’s missing the Fillmore Library.) Temporary box locations to be released soon.

• Return Ventura Co. ballots early to an in-person voting location. There are NO neighborhood polling places for this election. “Vote By Mail ballots may be returned at any of the 47 In-Person Voting Locations during the following times (locations to be published soon):
  • Oct. 31 (Saturday): 10 am – 6:00 pm
  • Nov. 1 (Sunday): 10 am – 6:00 pm
  • Nov. 1 (Monday): 10 am – 6:00 pm
  • Nov. 2 (Tues): 7 am – 8:00 pm
• Sign up to track your ballot after you get it and help others without computer capabilities to do this too. Sign up online for WheresMyBallot.sos.ca.gov
• Do not use a private delivery service, like UPS, FedEx or others. The GOP wants to stampede us into destroying our own postal service by self-privatizing. Don’t do it.
• Return your census! Not only funding, the census determines the number of representatives we get.
• Help the county out! Get a paying temporary job to be an “Elections Voting Assistant” here. If you aren’t in Ventura Co., go here.
• Watch out for voting bullies. Know your rights! The ACLU has put together this great guide, including these interesting points:
• Aggressively questioning voters about their citizenship, criminal record, or other qualifications to vote.
• Falsely representing oneself as an elections official.
• Displaying false or misleading signs about voter fraud and related criminal penalties.
• Other forms of harassment, particularly harassment targeting non-English speakers and voters of color.
• Spreading false information about voter requirements.
  • You do not need to speak English to vote, in any state.
  • You do not need to pass a test to vote, in any state.
  • Some states do not require voters to present photo identification.

Action #13: How to help the post office!

Buy Stamps!

 Postcard stamps are 35 cents. A postcard that reminds a person that they are important and so is their vote – PRICELESS Go to www.usps.com and order these stamps online! Get some rolls of 100 and join in some great postcard campaigns here! A pre-stamped postcard is only 4 cents more than the stamp itself! Like the delivery of a postcard from your living room to a state across the country, this is an amazing deal, from the world’s best postal service.

A new stamp celebrating the 19th Amendment and the rights of women (to vote Trump out of the White House!!!)  is available on 8/22/2020.

Buy other USPS stuff!

The USPS sells puzzles, clothing, tote bags, gift bags, art prints, coffee mugs, calendars, magic kits, passport wallets, toys, books, ornaments, jewelry and more. Buy some holiday gifts early!

Choose USPS Shipping when Shopping Online

If you can choose between using the U.S. Postal Service, FedEX or another shipping company, opt for the USPS and consider shopping from businesses that always use the Postal Service. You can even splurge on express, overnight or 2-day options to get your new goodies faster while giving some extra cash to an agency that really needs it. Sounds like a real win-win situation to us.

Action #14: Tell your mail carriers you’re fighting for them.

Top 13 things you should know about our postal service! It is the leading employer of minorities (39%) and women (40%), and for three years in a row they were in Hispanic Business magazine’s annual “Diversity Elite 60” list of best companies for Hispanics, the only federal agency on the list. The USPS is also one of the largest employers of veterans, with more than 97,000.

📫 Tie a DARK BLUE RIBBON around your mailbox (or on your mail slot) to show solidarity and support to our postal carriers.
📫 Put a sign up in your yard or window that says #USPSForever.
📫 Call your representative and both senators and tell them not to pass any relief package that doesn’t contain funding for the USPS.
📫 And tell everyone who wants the Postal Service to survive to do the same.

Action #15: Share this informational video.

Link here: