And, Assemblymember Ting’s dangerous surveillance bill
Indivisible SF Newsletter
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President Biden has been standing strong, refusing to engage with bad-faith MAGA extremists. He’s also made it clear that Democrats will fight against any cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. But Republicans will try to peel off some Democrats, duping them with promises of “bipartisanship” or “commissions” to find what they will frame as a "solution" that is in actuality an attack against the already frayed social safety net. We’ve seen this before, we know their real agenda, and we know Republican MoCs aren’t to be trusted.
As Indivisible National notes:
“The MAGA-recession would delay or cut Social Security, Medicare, and 401(k)s. Retirement funds would be stripped from millions of Americans who have worked hard their whole lives and rely on those benefits. Working families would face higher interest rates that would make car loans, mortgages, and credit cards unmanageable. The country would lose six million jobs, doubling the unemployment rate. Of course the middle class, the retired, and working families would suffer the most from the GOP’s irresponsible behavior—the ultra-wealthy and big corporations would be insulated from the economic turmoil.”
MAGA extremists want to undermine President Biden and the 117th Congress’ successes and to cut critical programs our families need.
Contact our Members of Congress and tell them: ([link removed]) we can’t let the MAGA Default Crisis happen.
** Assemblymember Ting got it wrong with AB 642: we need to stop this Surveillance Bill!
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Our own Asm. Phil Ting has authored a terrible surveillance bill, AB 642, which proposes to create “standards” for the use of facial recognition technology by police—and in so doing, normalizes that practice by enshrining it in state law.
We don’t need cops scanning the faces of innocent people looking for people to harass or worse. Cops don’t need these tools. This is a waste of time and money that will make every one of us less safe through the risk of an unnecessary encounter with lethally armed police.
Tell your Assemblymember: ([link removed]) Stop the surveillance bill AB 642!
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LAST CHANCE: Public comment to end penalties on SSI beneficiaries receiving food aid
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Currently, around 5 million people who are impoverished, disabled, or seniors rely on the Supplemental Security Income program (SSI) administered by the Social Security Administration. This income amounts to $914 a month, but can be reduced by about a third if a beneficiary is receiving food aid. This is because food aid is considered “in-kind support and maintenance” (ISM).
The Social Security Administration is proposing a rule change that would remove food from ISM, so that SSI beneficiaries are not penalized for getting help with food.
Submit a Public Comment Directly atthe Federal Register ([link removed]) . Comments are due by Monday, April 17, 2023.
Lawyer and advocate Matthew Cortlandmade a blog post on Patreon ([link removed]) explaining the details of this rule change and how to most effectively comment on it. Remember, comments written in your own words are the most effective.
** Tell the City Capital Planning Committee: Make Climate a Priority
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San Francisco has decent climate goals on paper, but we need the City to seek the funding to fulfill those goals. To build or refurbish infrastructure to protect our climate, it is necessary for the voters of the City to pass bonds. These bonds can be put on the ballot as soon as next year—if they receive the committee approvals they need. Three ideas for such bonds were endorsed unanimously by the Board of Supervisors in December:
* A dedicated $300–500 million General Obligation bond for building decarbonization and to fund efficiency and electrification retrofits for existing residential buildings;
* An increase of $50-100 million in the upcoming affordable housing G.O. bond to fund the San Francisco Housing Accelerator Fund for Climate Action Plan-aligned housing investment;
* A dedicated $300–500 million transportation G.O. Bond to fund public transit, active transportation, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
The SF Capital Planning Committee, an interdepartmental body, makes annual recommendations to the Mayor and Board of Supervisors on the city’s capital expenditures and plans. However, the committee hasn't included any such ballot measures in its planning for 2024. The time is late, and the need is dire for the committee to consider one or more climate bonds.
Add your name to the SF Climate Emergency Coalition’s demand letter ([link removed]) on climate bonds and make your voice heard.
** Tax Day is October 16 this year
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If you live anywhere in the Bay Area, your state and federal income tax deadline is October 16, rather than the deadline of Tuesday, April 18, for everyone else. In fact, all residents of 51 of California's 58 counties—every county that was affected by this winter's flooding—get this extension. You don't need to do anything; it's automatic. Mission Local provides details. ([link removed])
** How to support Pajaro farm workers suffering devastating losses from a levee break in March
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On Monday President Biden granted a Major Disaster Declaration for California, including relief for the town of Pajaro, where March storms severely harmed our regional neighbors in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties. When a levee broke on March 11 ([link removed]) , the Pajaro River flooded this farmworker community, forcing more than 2,000 people to evacuate ([link removed]) .
It will take time for federal relief to arrive. Residents are starting to return, but they have lost most of their possessions, they have a lot of repair and restoration to do, and their livelihood remains at great risk ([link removed]) .
To help those who face a long and difficult recovery, there are many groups ([link removed]) on the ground ([link removed]) providing cash, clothing, food, and cleanup supplies to the victims of this disaster, and they could use your financial support:
* Center for Farmworker Families ([link removed]) provides direct support to farmworkers (donation page ([link removed]) )
* Campesina Womb Justice ([link removed]) GoFundMe ([link removed]) organized by María Ramos Bracamantes ([link removed])
* Second Harvest Food Bank ([link removed])
* Community Foundation of Santa Cruz Disaster Fund ([link removed])
* Community Foundation for Monterey County Storm Relief Fund ([link removed])
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If you’re interested in participating in activities like drafting letters to our Members of Congress and developing our strategy for influencing them, the Indivisible SF Federal Working Group ([link removed]) is where it happens.
Indivisible SF Federal Working Group: Thursday, April 13, 7:30–9 PM. Planning meeting where we discuss strategy to influence our Members of Congress and the Biden administration to enact a progressive agenda. Meeting starts promptly at 7:30 PM. All are welcome. Register here ([link removed]) !
** About this week’s photo
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If you’ve seen our newsletter posts on Twitter and Facebook, you might have noticed that we include a photo or graphic with each issue.
Today’s image is a photo of the two statues of the Peace Monument in front of the Capitol dome used in a WSJ article ([link removed]) about the debt-ceiling fight in the House. The photo was taken by J. Scott Applewhite for Associated Press.
Keep Fighting,
The Indivisible SF Team ([link removed])
If you'd like to support our all-volunteer team:
DONATE HERE ([link removed])
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