 Dear John, My name is Michelle and I, like so many people, am really worried about the coronavirus. I’m feeling anxious not just for my friends and family, but for everyone -- especially the people in our communities that need the most help. That’s why I decided to volunteer with a local organization who does everything in their power to make sure the most vulnerable in our communities have the resources and help they need. This involves delivering food and medications and installing important sanitation resources like hand-washing stations and bathrooms. The members of my community have dedicated their time to picking up the government’s slack. It shouldn’t be like this. Everyday people shouldn’t have to scrounge together the resources to help each other. The government has the power and the means to keep people safe, healthy, and financially secure through this crisis. The establishment has chosen not to -- chosen to let over 20% of the nation fall into unemployment instead of securing payroll, chosen to leave people sleeping in parking lots instead of partnering with empty hotels, chosen to prioritize profits for corporations instead of giving healthcare workers the vital equipment they need to save lives, including their own. Implementing a Green New Deal would provide everyone with quality healthcare, safe housing, and millions of secure, green jobs. Instead, the government has all but abandoned everyday people in favor of corporate interests, leaving mutual aid groups to fill the void. As we continue the fight for a Green New Deal--and, more immediately, a People’s Bailout to provide relief right now for the millions of people struggling through this crisis--it’s up to us to help our communities as safely as possible. The quickest way to help provide relief is to get involved with local mutual aid groups doing the necessary work to keep the most vulnerable of us afloat. Click here for some resources on how to get involved with mutual aid efforts safely and responsibly. Let’s look out for each other out there, Michelle, Sunrise Las Vegas |