Dear Friends,
Below are the Calls to Action that need to be acted on ASAP. Please take a few minutes to stay on top of the CTAs. Your voice makes a difference.
Thanks all,
Stair
NEW CALL TO ACTION TO SUPPORT GOOD GOVERNANCE BILLS – Take Action by Tuesday, January 31st
Delegates in various House committees (P&E, General Laws, and Rules) still haven’t had hearings on common sense good governance bills focusing on campaign finance and ethics reform. Yet crossover is February 7th. Please send a message right now to key members of the legislative committees who will be reviewing these bills which would improve Virginian’s national standing on transparency and accountability to citizens. Use our letter writing tool to send an easy statement Just click here and in one minute send a message to key legislators All of our voices together can make a difference and the time is NOW! Click Here to Take Action
Take Action by Wednesday Morning
– Schools need more mental health services after Covid impacts – Click Here to Take Action
– Improve education with work based training and mentoring of school staff – Click Here to Take Action – Vote No to diverting funds away from public schools – Click Here to Take Action Questions: Contact Marianne Burke, marianne.vagrassrootscoalition@gmail.com
URGENT 1-Click Email CTA on Mega-Data Center Mega-Problem: Deadline Wednesday, February 1st
Click here for CTA. Data centers are taking over vast swathes of northern Virginia without any state limits or guidance. In fact, Va. offers tax incentives encouraging this growth, and Gov. Youngkin and Amazon have recently announced a massive $35 billion investment in new mega-data centers, with huge tax breaks to Amazon. These centers use massive amounts of energy and water without creating job. Sen. Petersen’s SB 1078 prohibits the siting of data centers within one mile of a national park, e.g. Manassas Battlefield, while his SJ 240 asks the Assembly to study this issue and come up with reasonable limits on this development. Sen. Petersen & Del. Roem explainer is here.
Questions: Contact Meredith Haines, mhainesva@gmail.com, or Amy Bergner, abbergner@gmail.com
CALL TO ACTION – Vote YES for Gender Diversity on Corporate Boards – Take Action this Week
Please ask Virginia Senators to vote for SB1248, MEI Gender-Balanced and Diverse Corporate Boards for those Companies requesting Tax Breaks/Incentives from the State of Virginia. This is a small step for a select number of companies, it is “not” a mandate for all companies in VA, and as you know if you are not at the table, you are on the menu. SB1248 was on the Senate Rules Committee Docket but did not get a hearing on Friday, 01/27. If it is not heard next Friday,02/03, SB1248 will not go forward. Â
CRITICAL One-Click CTA – send by Thursday, February 2nd!
STOP Dominion Profiting At Expense of VA Electric Customers. Oppose SB1265 in FULL SENATE (Saslaw): Today, the Senate Commerce & Labor Committee approved this bad bill, and now we need to try to stop it in the full Senate. Drafted by Dominion, the bill seeks to substantially increase guaranteed profit margin to please Wall Street investors, allowing up to 10.75 percent profits! Other sneaky shenanigans surrounded this bill! This bill will raise costs to all Virginians and fuels the false narrative proffered by Dominion and Republicans that the rise in costs result from climate legislation – the VCEA and RGGI. Click Here to Take Action Contact: Amy Bergner, abbergner@gmail.com or Monique Hanis, monique.hanis@gmail.com
Contact Your Senator – Vote YES on Safe Storage SB1139: Take Action by Thursday, February 2nd
-Firearms recently became the number one cause of death for children in the United States, surpassing motor vehicle deaths and those caused by other injuries.
-Safe storage practices can help to keep children safe, deter gun theft, and avoid preventable gun-related deaths and injuries.
-Those who store their firearms locked or unloaded, or both, were less likely to commit suicide by firearms. Click Here to Take Action Questions: Kathleen Murray, kamwjm@gmail.com
CALL TO ACTION: Expand Virtual Meeting Access for Advisory Commissions by Thursday, February 2nd
Ask select members of the VA Senate to Vote YES on SB1351. We need to expand the ability of advisory commissions to hold up to 50% of their meetings virtually per calendar year. Increasing the flexibility as to how these meetings can be held will result in increased access for citizen participation on these bodies which are voluntary and advisory in nature.
CRITICAL One-Click CTA – send by Thursday, February 2nd!
STOP Dominion Profiting At Expense of VA Electric Customers. Oppose SB1265 in FULL SENATE (Saslaw): Today, the Senate Commerce & Labor Committee approved this bad bill, and now we need to try to stop it in the full Senate. Drafted by Dominion, the bill seeks to substantially increase guaranteed profit margin to please Wall Street investors, allowing up to 10.75 percent profits! Other sneaky shenanigans surrounded this bill! This bill will raise costs to all Virginians and fuels the false narrative proffered by Dominion and Republicans that the rise in costs result from climate legislation – the VCEA and RGGI. Click Here to Take Action Contact: Amy Bergner, abbergner@gmail.com or Monique Hanis, monique.hanis@gmail.com
Contact Your Senator – Vote YES on Safe Storage SB1139: Take Action by Thursday, February 2nd
-Firearms recently became the number one cause of death for children in the United States, surpassing motor vehicle deaths and those caused by other injuries.
-Safe storage practices can help to keep children safe, deter gun theft, and avoid preventable gun-related deaths and injuries.
-Those who store their firearms locked or unloaded, or both, were less likely to commit suicide by firearms. Click Here to Take Action Questions: Kathleen Murray, kamwjm@gmail.com
CALL TO ACTION: Expand Virtual Meeting Access for Advisory Commissions by Thursday, February 2nd
Ask select members of the VA Senate to Vote YES on SB1351. We need to expand the ability of advisory commissions to hold up to 50% of their meetings virtually per calendar year. Increasing the flexibility as to how these meetings can be held will result in increased access for citizen participation on these bodies which are voluntary and advisory in nature.
VIRTUAL EVENTS
Phone voters for Wisconsin Supreme Court Election
Sign up here for WI Supreme Court phone banking every Tuesday evening
Tuesday, January 31 (and weekly) at 6 pm
Wed, Feb 1, 7:00pm–8:30pm EST
Wed, Feb 15, 7:00pm–8:30pm EST
Better Democratic Framing & Messaging
Zoom workshops aimed at the practice of framing better Democratic messages.
Thursday, February 2, 6 – 8pm ET
Phone bank to hold onto Pennsylvania’s Democratic House
There are three crucial special elections in Allegheny County coming up to fill seats in PA’s HD 32, HD 34, & HD 35!
Friday, February 3, Friday Power Lunch,12pm
with Sara Ratcliff – Candidate for HD, Kerensa Sumers – Candidate in special election (Feb 21) for Supervisor in Prince William County, and Jamie Perrapato – Executive Director – Turn PA Blue
February 8 & Second Wednesdays each month–6:30 pm ET
Truth Brigade BIG TRUTHS: Campaign Launch w Special Guests
The Origins and Importance of Individual Rights
Individualism is the basis of human and civil rights. The individual is the primary social unit in Liberal thought. In this era of tribalism, recognizing individual rights may be exactly what we need.
Money Fake Grassroots. Real Dark Money
Understand the impact of dark money on education, how it affects your schools, and what we can do to fight back.
Wednesday, February 15, 5:30pm
Virginia Redress Network’s Monthly Meeting
Learn what progress Virginians are making on restitution and the many issues relating to racial and social justice.
Truth Brigade Workshop and Orientation
ADVOCACY IN RICHMOND
The Virginia Grassroots Priority Legislation
Wednesday, February 8Justice Reform Lobby Day –Â Join Justice Forward Virginia, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers to advocate for preserving evidence-informed criminal reforms that eliminated presumptions against bail, reformed our probation system, and limited pretextual policing, among other priorities.Â
IN-PERSON EVENTS
Alexandria
Friday, February 10 · 7:30 – 10pm EST
YOU ME & POETRY, Featuring Tammarrah Addison
Come alone or with a date to enjoy Poetry in Candlelight complimented by the melodic sounds of the Saxophone. Refreshment will be available.
Annandale
Saturday, February 11th, 12:00pm – 2:00pm
Rural Roots Rising – Candidate Lily Franklin (HD-41)
Join us for a lunchtime meet and greet in Annandale supporting Lily Franklin for Delegate (HD-41) in Southwest Virginia. Lily’s roots run five generations deep in the New River and Roanoke valleys. Now, she’s running to bring progressive representation to her home hometown. Hear from Delegates Marcus Simon, Kathy Tran and Breana Sewell and others on what to expect in the General Assembly after crossover. RSVP HERE
Arlington
Sunday, February 19, 2:00pm – 3:00pm
The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story – Meet Nikole Hannah-Jones
McLean Community Center/The Alden
Friday, February 3rd, 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Fundraiser for Kellen Squire in McLean/North Arlington – Our chance to elect a strong Democra
in rural Virginia! Meet Kellen at a reception this Friday at Nadja Golding’s home!
Clifton Forge
Monday, Feb 6, 2023, 7:00 PM ET
Cardinal News Speaker Series: Working Through The Opioid Epidemic
“Raising Lazarus” and “Dopesick” author Beth Macy will lead a panel discussion on the impact of opioids on a community’s economy.
Fairfax
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2023, 2:00 – 4:00 PM
Campaign Kickoff: Karl Frisch for Fairfax County School Board
FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA
SPECIAL GUESTS: Congressman Gerry Connolly, Chairman Jeff McKay, Supervisor Dalia Palchik, Delegate Marcus Simon, Delegate Holly Seibold …and more!
Richmond
Friday, February 17,7:00 PM – 9:00 PM EST
Virginia Museum of History and Culture,
428 N Arthur Ashe Boulevard, Richmond
Join Equality US to celebrate Artists4ERA and the Equal Rights Amendment.
Questions: Contact Joanne Collins, jcpalmer030@gmail.com
