We’re continuing to monitor the progress Congress makes toward a deal to keep the government doing its necessary work. There are 12 Appropriations bills that Congress must pass by Friday, November 17 to avert a partial or total government shutdown.
Last week, the House passed another Appropriations bill, bringing its total to six. Like the five others before it, this one is laden with MAGA poison pills.
Meanwhile, the Senate passed their three-bill “minibus” combining Military Construction/Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, and Transportation-HUD. For the other nine, they are looking at rolling these up into another massive package deal—a “maxibus” if you will—to be voted on all at once, sight-unseen.
As the November 17 deadline gets closer, Congress may shift its attention to negotiating another Continuing Resolution deal, putting time back on the Government Shutdown Clock. But this is only a temporary reprieve; Congress still needs to finish passing Appropriations bills, resolve the differences between House and Senate versions in conference committee, and then send them to President Biden for his signature (or veto).
Plan now for how APEC will disrupt your commute and other travel
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference is coming soon to our City, and a number of world leaders, including our own President Biden, will be in attendance. Consequently, the United States Secret Service will impose security zones in specific parts of the City, and those zones will affect travel for residents and workers who need to pass through them.
This will affect your routine travels as well as tourist visits, as SFMTA says “APEC will impact travel throughout the city.” SFMTA has a webpage detailing the closures and reroutes, including maps.
Start planning what detours or additional time you’ll need now. The tightest restrictions, including street closures, are scheduled to be in effect from Monday, November 13 to Sunday, November 19.
Thank you for getting out the vote!
The results of yesterday’s elections look promising with blue victories helping secure reproductive rights, and it is thanks to the hard work of local organizers, including Indivisible groups, as well as outreach to voters from volunteers like you. Thank you!
Let’s take our rest over the holidays, then get ready to vote in California’s 2024 primary election starting this coming February.
Get free COVID-19 tests from your insurance provider before the rules change
As a California resident, you can still get your insurance provider to reimburse you for at-home COVID-19 test purchases, thanks to SB 510, passed in 2021. The rules will change on November 11, so the window is closing fast—you can get covered for up to eight tests per person before then.
Even after that change, you can still get free COVID-19 home test kits from the USPS. Use these rapid antigen tests before attending (or hosting) a gathering or other event; if you test positive, cancel—or wear a good (N95) mask and gather outside if possible. Get your tests today!
And feel free to send this information to anyone else you know who might need COVID-19 home tests.
Thanksgiving is approaching fast: Get your 2023 vaccines
To keep ourselves, our loved ones, and our neighbors safe from respiratory illnesses that can cause long-term complications, it's important that we keep up with our annual vaccinations. There are at least two shots you should get this fall: one for COVID-19 and one for flu. If you’re sixty or older, you should also get the new vaccine for RSV.
Availability of the new, updated COVID-19 vaccines is gradually improving. If you haven’t gotten vaccinated yet, it might be time to give it another try. Most places have Pfizer, Moderna, or both, and Costco and Rite Aid have the new third option, Novavax.
The COVID-19 vaccines are still free, but the details have changed. People with insurance will have to present their insurance, and their insurance will be billed. People without insurance can get the new vaccine for free via the CDC’s Bridge Access Program.
For more information on where to get the shot and how to get it for free if you’re uninsured, see our blog post.
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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 is where it happens.
Indivisible SF Federal Working Group: Thursday, Nov. 9, 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!
Meet the Candidates: Joanna Weiss for CA-47: Monday, Nov. 15, 7:00–8:30 PM. The road to the House in 2024 lies through California. Join the SoCal MEET THE CANDIDATES Series to meet Joanna Weiss, candidate for CA-47. RSVP here.
Meet the Candidates: Kim Nguyen-Penaloza for CA-45: Wednesday, Dec. 6, 7:00–8:30 PM. The road to the House in 2024 lies through California. Join the SoCal MEET THE CANDIDATES Series to meet Kim Nguyen-Penaloza, a candidate for CA-45. RSVP here.
Meet the Candidates: Cheyenne Hunt for CA-45: Wednesday, Dec. 20, 7:00–8:30 PM. The road to the House in 2024 lies through California. Join the SoCal MEET THE CANDIDATES Series to meet Cheyenne Hunt, a candidate for CA-45. RSVP here.
Meet the Candidates: Derek Tran for CA-45: Wednesday, Jan. 3, 7:00–8:30 PM. The road to the House in 2024 lies through California. Join the SoCal MEET THE CANDIDATES Series to meet Derek Tran, a candidate for CA-45. RSVP here.
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If you’ve seen our newsletter posts on social media, you might have noticed that we include a photo or graphic with each issue.
Today’s graphic is a photo of an ad for the upcoming APEC summit on a Muni bus stop. It was taken by Stephen Lam for The Chronicle.
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Keep Fighting,
The Indivisible SF Team
If you'd like to support our all-volunteer team:
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