Tues 9/10: We fund cancer research with actual money, not “thoughts and prayers.” We need to do the same with gun violence.

(Top graphic from the Journal of the American Medical Association – NPR)

Action #1 – We can’t stop or reduce a cause of death we don’t understand. The Senate needs to pass HR 2740 to fund research on gun violence

“More than 30,000 people are killed with guns in the U.S. every year. That’s more than die of AIDS, and about the same number as die in car crashes or from liver disease. But unlike AIDS or car crashes, the government doesn’t treat gun injuries or deaths as a public health threat.” (NPR)

Science-based research has brought down the number of deaths from highway accidents and Ebola. We can do this with gun violence too. Continue reading “Tues 9/10: We fund cancer research with actual money, not “thoughts and prayers.” We need to do the same with gun violence.” →

Mon 9/9: Busy Day! The Brady folks have asked us to call in a “YES” on SB 61.

(from the Brady Campaign)
Dear Indivisible and friends,

Another bill to prevent gun violence, called SB 61, is moving through the California legislature. There’s a big vote TOMORROW, and we need Californians to call their state Assemblymembers now to ensure it passes! This bill would prevent gun violence by —

Limiting the number of semi-automatic rifles that a person can purchase within a 30-day period. It’s already illegal in California for a person to purchase more than one handgun within a 30-day period. SB 61 would expand that common-sense public safety measure to apply to more firearms, including these rifles, which are often used in mass shootings. Data shows firearms acquired in large quantities at once are often resold on the black market and used in crimes. No one needs to purchase more than one gun a month. The purchasing limits under SB61 are a proven strategy to prevent gun violence.
Restricting the sale of semi-automatic weapons to people under age 21. SB 61 would eliminate the exception that 18-20 year-olds can acquire centerfire semi-automatic rifles if they have a valid hunting license. (The Gilroy shooter was 19. He bought his gun in NV at the age of 18 legally, bringing it into CA illegally. The Poway shooter was 18. The current age exception for hunting licenses may have made it possible for him to buy his gun.)

Minimal script: I’m calling from [zip code] and I want Assemblymember [___]
to vote “YES” to SB 61!

Continue reading “Mon 9/9: Busy Day! The Brady folks have asked us to call in a “YES” on SB 61.” →

Mon. 9/9: Yes on AB 1482 – Help people keep their homes!

The final deadline for the California legislature to send new laws to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk is September 13!

Action – Call your state senator to vote “YES” on AB 1482!

“My survival depends on it,” a single mother stressed. “In order for me and my kids to stay in our homes, we need this bill. I’m one rent increase away from being homeless.”

San Francisco Assemblyman David Chiu’s bill, AB 1482 would prevent landlords from raising rent annually more than at five percent plus the rate of inflation—usually around two or three percent yearly in most metros. The law would be in effect until 2030. It would also eliminate no-cause evictions for renters with more than 12 months of tenancy. It doesn’t apply to homes built in the last 15 years.

In a joint statement released Friday, Newsom, Chiu, Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins, and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon said, “The bill will protect millions of renters from rent-gouging and evictions and build on the Legislature’s work this year to address our broader housing crisis.”

Minimal script: I’m calling from [zip code] and I want Sen. [___] to vote “YES” on AB 1482. Continue reading “Mon. 9/9: Yes on AB 1482 – Help people keep their homes!” →

Mon 9/9: One-day notice! Join in to protect your community from oil industry pollution. County Supervisors Meeting Tuesday 9/10.

Actions – Write your supervisors and come to the meeting!

“Hi indivisible and friends!

Los Padres National Forest is threatened by dangerously under-regulated oil development in Ventura County. We have a rare chance to change that.

On Tuesday, September 10, the Board of Supervisors will consider updating oil permitting to incorporate modern standards that better protect the health and safety of our communities and our environment. The proposed amendments would increase transparency, oversight, and public participation by ensuring that there is an environmental review, public notice, and a hearing before any new oil wells are drilled.

Click here to send a quick message to make sure they make the right choice.

Continue reading →

Mon 9/9: Show solidarity with Simi Valley City Councilwoman Ruth Luevanos TODAY! – 2 actions!

Action #1 – Stand with Ruth Luevanos Against Simi’s Racist Censure, Monday Evening at Simi Valley City Hall!

(Shared from Indivisible Conejo)
Background: “The hard-right majority on the Simi Valley City Council has finally gotten its ducks in a row to carry out its ridiculous censure of Councilwoman Ruth Luevanos — and it will consider the motion during its meeting on Monday evening beginning at 6:30 p.m. (Here’s Ruth’s uplifting election video)

If you’ve been following this story since it first boiled over in late July/early August, you know that both a censure effort and a recall petition have been touted as responses to the know-your-rights video Ruth made for immigrants concerned about July’s promised ICE raids. The recall is an uphill battle — supporters will need to raise and spend money to gather legitimate signatures on their petition — but censure is a considerably easier lift. And councilman Mike Judge, whose politics fall somewhere to the right of Attila the Hun, clearly has won over at least one of his colleagues in order to get the measure onto the agenda.

Continue reading “Mon 9/9: Show solidarity with Simi Valley City Councilwoman Ruth Luevanos TODAY! – 2 actions!” →

Fri 9/6: Congress is back on Monday! Let them know that saving our wildlife heritage should be their priority too. There is no Plan “B” after extinction.

4 out of 5 Americans supp ort the Endangered Species Act.

Action #1 -Ask your legislators to use the “Congressional Review Act” against the GOP’s attack on the Endangered Species Act.

Continue reading “Fri 9/6: Congress is back on Monday! Let them know that saving our wildlife heritage should be their priority too. There is no Plan “B” after extinction.” →

Thurs -9/5: CA – Time to drive some bills home! Today’s menu – Gun shows, political funding transparency and vaccine exemption fraud.

(graph from LA Times article here.)

Senate vote

Action #1 – “YES” on AB 893 – Stop gun shows at the Del Mar Fairgrounds

AB 893 – “22nd District Agricultural Association: firearm and ammunition sales at the Del Mar Fairgrounds” would, on and after January 1, 2021, prohibit the sale of firearms and ammunition at the Del Mar Fairgrounds property located in the 22nd District Agricultural Association, as specified, and would thereby make a violation of that prohibition a misdemeanor. The bill would exclude from its provisions a gun buyback event held by a law enforcement agency. (Assemblymember Gloria)

Action #2 – “YES” on AB 201 – “YES” on requiring funder information on all political text messages

Vote YES on AB 201, the Text DISCLOSE Act which requires text message ads to disclose who paid for them. (Cervantes-Mullin)

Minimal script for your State Senator: I’m calling from [zip code] and I want Senator [___] to vote “YES” on both AB 893 and AB 201. It’s time for stop our public property to be used for gun shows and it’s also time that funding for all political messages, from whatever media, is no longer a secret from voters.

State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson (SD-19): SAC (916) 651-4019, SB (805) 965-0862, OX (805)988-1940 email
Not your people?: findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov.

Continue reading “Thurs -9/5: CA – Time to drive some bills home! Today’s menu – Gun shows, political funding transparency and vaccine exemption fraud.” →

Tues 9/3: Say “NO” to funding religious discrimination against LGBTQ & women with your tax dollars. Write a comment! Deadline Sept. 16th!

(Updated 9/4/19)

Action – Comment to stop this anti-American breakdown of the wall between church and state, funded with your tax dollars.

With this proposed rule, “Implementing Legal Requirements Regarding the Equal Opportunity Clause’s Religious Exemption“, Trump is not just throwing meat to his base of fundamentalist evangelical Christians by targeting women and the LGBTQ community. He’s not just undermining another one of Obama’s accomplishments. By allowing the prejudices of a small group to expand their discriminatory goals further into the public sphere, fueled by our own tax dollars, he’s weakening the protections of our constitution and the bonds that hold us together as a people.

Right-wing fundamentalists and white supremacists are mobilizing their base to support this rule. There are also a lot of comments from misinformed religious people, who are worried that opposing this rule change would suddenly force churches and church soup kitchens to hire atheists. This makes it crucial that you speak out.

Please, in your own voice, comment on this proposed change. We’ve added a bunch of information below for you to use to understand what the rule would do, and it’s essential un-American nature. We’ve even added some fast American history at the bottom so you can see where we’ve been in our struggle to make “all men are created equal” true. The deadline is September 16, 2019 at 11:59 EST.

The proposed regulation is here.
Other people’s comments are here. Read for inspiration. Don’t copy. Identical comments and signatures on petitions will only count as (1) total comment.

Comment here.

What does this proposed rule do? Well, it could fire you.

Continue reading “Tues 9/3: Say “NO” to funding religious discrimination against LGBTQ & women with your tax dollars. Write a comment! Deadline Sept. 16th!” →

Wed 8/28: Two actions for health and plastic pollution and today’s update on our favorite CA bills!

ICYMI:

CA legislation actions on plastic pollution and chemicals behind the words “fragrance” and “flavoring” in your hygiene products and cosmetics earlier this week, go here.
Call the governor at (916) 445-2841 to sign the bill that bans trapping for fur in CA. IT’S ON HIS DESK! Also ask your federal legislators to use a CRA (Congressional Review Act) against the Endangered Species Act. Go here.
We asked Newsom to pull out some problematic amendments his office made to AB 1505 in favor of for-profit charter schools.

Also, check out bill updates from 8/16/19 at the bottom.)

Action #1 – Today is SB 29 – Call-in Day!

SB 29 is a top priority for immigrant rights and health care advocates and would provide full-scope Medi-Cal to low-income undocumented adults by removing immigration status as an eligibility exclusion. No one in our state should have to wait until an emergency to be able to access health care.

Minimum script: Hi, I’m calling from [zip code] and I want Assemblymember [___] to to support SB 29 to expand Medi-Cal access to undocumented immigrant elders. California is stronger when everyone has access to healthcare and we are all healthier when everyone is covered.

Contact:
[Click to tweet]
Patch-thru number: 760-891-CALI, press 2 to be connected
State Assemblymember Monique Limón (CA-37): SAC (916) 319-2037, SB (805) 564-1649, VTA (805) 641-3700 email
Not your people?: findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov.

Action #2 – There is no plan “B” for plastic waste.

Continue reading “Wed 8/28: Two actions for health and plastic pollution and today’s update on our favorite CA bills!” →

Mon 8/26: Deadline Tonight, by 11:59 EST…The Trump administration is handing over our national forests to industry & “right-sizing” our ability to comment!

The wolves need a place to live! Please write!

Everybody! There are just over 36,000 comments here. Los Padres Forest Watch has made an awesome “Unique-Comment” generator which makes it easy to contribute!

(Guest column from Rebecca August of Los Padres ForestWatch with a new comment generator!) Good morning! The Trump administration is launching a bold move to undercut environmental regulations in national forests as a gift to timber companies and other special interests.

The proposed regulatory changes will effectively gut the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) as it relates to national forests by not requiring thorough environmental analysis or consideration of public input prior to approving commercial logging, mining, oil drilling, and other projects in places like the Los Padres National Forest.

“By going to such great lengths to obstruct public input, the administration shows its hand, and how much power there is in our collective voice.” Rebecca August, Public Lands Advocate, Los Padres ForestWatch.

The administration’s proposed rule was recently published in the Federal Register and at regulations.gov. Deadline is now August 26th, 11:59 pm EST.