We love that the wonderful volunteers who join us at voter registration tables, at census education events, at voter outreach efforts like postcard and letter writing, at citizenship fairs and at polling stations, become trusted messengers of factual information about civic matters for their friends and family. With that in mind, we’re sharing this report by Julie McMurry, MPH, an assistant professor of rare disease genetics at Oregon State University in the College of Public Health, because it covers every base we can think of.
Also due tonight – Proposed rule to alter the Community Investment Act to favor banks over poor communities here.
Write a comment to protect our voice and our environment.
On the 50th anniversary of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), President Trump issued a shot across the bow proclamation that resolved to block “modernize” this fundamental environmental policy that allows us a voice in government decisions affecting our wildlife and our right to clean air and water. The proposed rule changes are a return to the dark days, when we stood by powerlessly while federal dollars funded the destruction of homes, and the natural environment, and destructive projects like highways sliced up communities, especially those of color. This proposal silences people, hides projects from review, denies the importance of climate change and allows polluters to write their own reviews (think “Boeing”).
Other comments for inspiration only here. It takes just a few seconds to see a bunch of form letters. IDENTICAL COMMENTS WILL BE PURGED! Reuse facts at will but please take a few minutes to find your own voice.
Also due tonight – Proposed rule changes to destroy the community and environmental protections of NEPA here.
Action – As with all things Trump, the question is “Who profits?” Deadline today, March 10,11:59 pm EST.
This is a short, but very informative video on why the Community Reinvestment Act is so important.
The Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) of 1977 is an important protection for low-income and minority populations. Congress passed the CRA following the Civil Rights Movement to redress banks’ history of racist redlining. It forced these institutions “to increase bank activity in low- and moderate-income communities where there is significant need for credit, more responsible lending, greater access to banking services, and improvements to critical infrastructure.”
However, under the guise of modernization, the administration, through the OCC and the FDIC, have proposed changes that would weaken the CRA and make it even more difficult to enforce the provision of equal service, while redistributing more money and privilege to corporations and the wealthy.
“It’s every bit as bad as we thought, and then some. The proposed changes would weaken the focus of bank activities on low and moderate income (LMI) communities, while increasing the number of assessments banks could fail while still passing CRA requirements.” says Jane Weisberg, senior campaign analyst at the Association for Neighborhood & Housing Development, a coalition of community groups across New York City.”
Action – The primary is over in CA and the November election is closing in fast. There’s lots to do. Join in!
Whether Bernie or Biden emerge victorious from the Democratic convention, we must be united in refusing Trump another term of unconstrained greed, lawlessness and corruption.So, besides asking your social media circles to take the Indivisible Pledge, and calling your legislators every day, what can we do? A lot. For us visual learners, here are three months of graphic calendars featuring our repeating events, with downloadable links, if you want to post one on your refrigerator. (For single events and events not hosted by us, keep checking the “Events” page. If your organization is having an event we should list, please email link to indivisibleventura@gmail.com)
Graphic from “Are coronavirus diseases equally deadly?” (NBCnew.com)
Today’s action contains:
Related coronavirus-related political actions, click here.
New Action – Government funding of vaccines.
County and state updates on coronavirus spread and prevention information.
Weirdly fascinating video on hand washing. We’re not doing it right.
Action #1 – GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT BE RUN LIKE A BUSINESS. Support legislation to fund government research to fight this disease.
In the last two decades, a series of “animal” viruses, including SARS and MERS, have triggered intermittent outbreaks around the world. Now there’s COVID-19, with 65 countries reporting infections and 88 confirmed cases in the US. But in the time gaps between epidemics, public attention wanes and scientists struggle to get funding. In 2016, researchers in Texas were ready to test a vaccine against SARS, “severe acute respiratory syndrome”, which is structurally similar to our current disease. However, they couldn’t get grants or investors for the testing process. Dr. Peter Hotez, head of that abandoned project, told Congress on Thursday that the new coronavirus should trigger changes in the way the government funds vaccine development. “It’s tragic that we won’t have a vaccine ready for this epidemic. Practically speaking, we’ll be fighting these outbreaks with one hand tied behind our backs.”
Not only does it need to be ready, but affordable or free to truly saturate a population. However, our drug company executive and pharmaceutical lobbyist HHS Secretary Alex Azar just defended private industry’s right to profit handsomely from a pandemic, and could not assure Congress that people would be able to afford their resulting vaccines.
Maya Angelou stated: “When people show you who they are, believe them.“
Although the quotes above are fictional, Trump’s first response to coronavirus, a disease that started halfway around the world, was essentially “Let poor Americans freeze.” Dogwhistling to wealthy cronies and his true believers, the administration’s initial proposal for containment included taking $37 million from LIHEAP, a program that funds low-income home heating assistance, rather than sacrificing a handful of his own golf weekends. (latest estimate – $130 million, an item not covered in his 2021 budget “Stopping Wasteful and Unnecessary Spending.”)
So far, he’s been rescued from publicly facing the true malignity of his proposed budget cuts by Democrats stepping in and reversing them (**See Sen. Schumer’s $8.5 proposal here) along with the public’s short memory. But not before his messaging has reached the audience it was intended for…
(**Note: The House just passed an$8.3 billion coronavirus response packagewhich, amongst other provisions, includes funding to reimburse programs the administration had tapped for initial COVID-19 response efforts, including LIHEAP.)
Action #1 – Redirect money being wasted on the border wall to “Prioritizing Pandemic Prevention Act.”
Senator Elizabeth Warren’s still unnumbered bill would redirect wall funding to coronavirus efforts. States Sen. Warren: “The coronavirus outbreak poses serious health, diplomatic, and economic threats to the United States, and we must be prepared to confront it head-on. Rather than use taxpayer dollars to pay for a monument to hate and division, my bill will help ensure that the federal government has the resources it needs to adequately respond to this emergency.” Continue reading “Wed 3/4: “Let them burn money.””→
Someone who hasn’t already voted. Sorry, you efficient souls who’ve already turned in your vote-by-mail ballots for Buttigieg, Steyer and Klobuchar. No do-overs.
Q: I think I was registered to vote in my high school gym, but I’m not sure. How do I find out?
For Ventura County, click here or call (805) 654-2781. For the rest of CA, click here.
Q: OK, I’m “qualified” but I didn’t registered, or I did register, but I’ve moved since high school. Is it too late to vote on Tuesday?
In our voting guide, we asked people to use Politico’s “views-on-the-issues” list and Washington Post’s candidate quiz to help them determine which candidate best encompassed their values. Now, we’re asking people to go further. The transformation of America into the forward-looking country we need requires us, as the military says, to “leave no one behind,” regardless of race, religion, physical abilities or gender. To be truly indivisible. Today’s action is informational, a moment to listen to what was missed from the national discussion.
“Dear Debate Moderators, There Are More ‘Black Issues’ Besides Crime and Poverty”
On Tuesday, Michael Harriot, columnist for The Root, published his analysis of the televised debates.
INDIVISIBLE VENTURA 