Americans of Conscience Checklist                    

Week of August 12, 2018

By Jen Hofmann

I value equality. Stand with your rainbow of neighbors from every religion, race, ethnicity, culture, gender, sexual orientation, economic status, age, and ability. Out of many, we are one.

 

Action 1: Advocate for affordable housing. (h/t)

Call: Your one House rep and two senators: (look up).

Script: Hi. I’m from [ZIP], calling today about the national housing crisis due to rising rents. Millions of Americans are paying as much as 70 percent of their income for rent and the construction of affordable housing has stalled. I’m asking [NAME] to co-sponsor the bipartisan Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act (H.R. 1661/S. 548), which stimulates housing construction and availability.

 

 Action 2: Speak up for neighbors in need of food. (h/t)

Call: Your one House rep and two senators: (look up).

Script: Hi. I’m from [ZIP], calling about the Farm Bill now in conference committee. The Senate version that passed with strong support strengthened SNAP to provide critical nutrition to elders, people with disabilities, and low-income families. I’m asking that [NAME] only support a bill that maintains the Senate provisions. I want my tax dollar to help feed hungry families.

 

 Action 3: Raise your awareness of private prisons. (h/t)

Read: The number of people held in private prisons has grown since 2000 with many reports of human rights violations.

Check: Are your state tax dollars are supporting private prisons?

 

I value secure, convenient voting and fair elections.

Democracy thrives when all citizens can freely elect those who represent their values. 

Action 1: Make a pledge to vote in US midterm elections

Sign: Our Midterm Pledge 2018 (created by the AoC Checklist).
Share our pledge with others: https://goo.gl/forms/niMkr2NQPSEw04fw2

   

Acts of Gratitude

Get out your stamps, postcards, and sparkle markers for some gratitude mail.

Thank Jim Kenney, Philadelphia’s mayor, for listening to his conscience and ending a contract with ICE that shares real time arrest information. I share your view that residents are safer and better served by separating law enforcement from immigration enforcement. Thank you for your leadership. Address: Mayor Jim Kenney, City Hall, Office 215, Philadelphia, PA 19107

Thank actor Tim Robbins and The Actors’ Gang for facilitating drama workshops in California prisons. Thank you for providing an essential emotional outlet for participating inmates and that results in an 89% reduction in inmate infractions. Address: 9070 Venice Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232

Thank the Brennan Center for Justice for tracking the ongoing threats of voter purging, and clarifying steps each state can take to protect voters. Reliable research helps identify threats and develop tactics to protect voting rights. I appreciate your diligence and commitment to this vital issue. Name, State. Address: 120 Broadway, Suite 1750, New York, NY 10271 

Thank these Members of Congress. You are among the seven senators and seven representatives who have pledged to refuse corporate PAC campaign donations. Thank you for placing the voices of your constituents above corporate influence.

Addresses:

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI): 170 Westminster St., Ste. 200, Providence RI 02903

Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT): 1 Church St., 3rd Fl, Burlington VT 05401

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA): 2400 JFK Federal Building, 15 New Sudbury St., Boston MA 02203

Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA): 915 Second Ave., Ste. 3206, Seattle, WA 98174

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY): Leo W. O’Brien Federal Office Building, 11A Clinton Ave., Room 821, Albany NY 12207

Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ): One Gateway Center, 23rd Fl., Newark NJ 07102

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA): 501 I St., Ste 7-600, Sacramento CA 95814

Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI): 1070 Main St., Ste. 300, Pawtucket RI 02860

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA): 900 Lafayette St., Ste. 206, Santa Clara CA 95050

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI): 300 Ala Moana Blvd., Rm. 5-104, Honolulu HI 96850

Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-TX): 303 N Oregon St., Ste 210, El Paso TX 79901

Rep. John Sarbanes (D-MD): 44 Calvert St., Ste. 349, Annapolis MD 21401

Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA): 1904 3rd Ave., Ste. 510, Seattle WA 98101

Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO): 1220 S. College Ave., Fort Collins CO 80525

 

National

• Transparency wins as a legal loophole for anonymous money for political ads ends.
• To increase its pool of future cyber experts, the US Army taught ethical hacking skills to kids at DEF CON 2018.
• When the DOJ refused to turn over documents seeking detailed information on states’ voter rolls, the Brennan Center sued.
• A record number of LGBT candidates are running for office in November.
• Rashida Tlaib will be the first Muslim woman elected to US congress.

When We All Vote, a non-partisan group devoted to voting rights and responsibilities, is launching a September 22-29 Week of Action in honor of the Voting Rights Act.

State

• 11 women have earned major-party gubernatorial nominations, including in ME, ID, GA, and SD, none of which have previously had a female governor.

• Falling recidivism rates in states using evidenced-based programs, multidisciplinary support teams, and modified sentencing structures (AZ, CO, GA, MI, NC, SC, and TX).
• ND director of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is working to model the state’s prisons after “the world’s most humane prison.”
• MA becomes first state in US to require all state-funded or -licensed providers of services to older adults to complete training in LGBT elder care

Local

• In a win for racial justice, Ferguson Councilman Wesley Bell upset the 28-year incumbent for St. Louis County’s Prosecuting Attorney.

Corporate/business

• Facebook, Apple, Spotify, and YouTube remove Alex Jones and InfoWars content from their sites.

• The Boston Globe calls for a coordinated response to questions of media credibility.

Groups and organizations

• Gina Rodriguez, Always, and Feeding America are partnering to #EndPeriodPoverty.
• Grassroots activists in several states are successfully organizing to get anti-gerrymandering propositions on ballots in November.
• Philabundance collects milk waste from dairy farmers to make cheese that is distributed for free at food banks or sold to fund the program.

• Girl Develop It (GDI) is working in 63 cities across America teaching women web and software skills to improve their future job opportunities.

News with heart

• Chicagoans sent hundreds of coloring books to women in prison just because.
• The Angry Tias and Abuelas have been making trips to the US-Mexico border with backpacks filled with food, clothes, and other supplies to many of those seeking asylum who have little to nothing.

-Submitted by Judy Sullivan, USH Social Justice Chair