Dear John,
These days, it can feel hard to find good news. But at Sister District, we have been inspired by everything that progressive state and local officials are doing to keep their communities safe. Some of our 2020 candidates are currently in office, and we'd like to share the important work they've been doing over the past couple months.
In Arizona, State Representative candidate Coral Evans is the mayor of Flagstaff. She acted quickly to protect her city from the pandemic – she was the first mayor in the state to close bars and restaurant dining rooms. Many other mayors soon followed her lead.
Michigan State Representative Laurie Pohutsky introduced legislation to prevent profiting off the crisis by over-charging for essential goods, and another bill (with Sister District alumna Padma Kuppa) to increase paid sick leave for workers during the pandemic.
In Wisconsin, Florida, and North Carolina, fragile incumbent State Representatives Robyn Vining, Cindy Polo, and Sydney Batch are using their platform to communicate information to the public and demand that their states provide adequate protective equipment to healthcare workers, protect senior populations, and expand healthcare coverage. They are serving as trusted information hubs in their communities, disseminating high quality information about resources and ways to help.
Even with chaos and instability at the federal level, state legislatures have the power to protect our health, safety, and democracy. This moment makes clear that Democrats must win power in the states in November, and these amazing legislators will lead the way. But they won by razor-thin margins in 2018, and they must be protected so we don’t lose the gains we fought for in the midterms.
There is a lot we cannot control right now, but we can invest in progressive leaders who will fight for their communities and enact courageous policies in these difficult times. For those of us who are able, just a few dollars or a few hours of volunteering goes a long way.
We wish you good health, safety, and security.
In solidarity,
The SDP Team
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