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Because This Is America!
Weekly News, Updates, and Events
We As Democrats Believe:
Biden Pushing 'American Rescue Plan' to Deal with Health, Social and Economic Crises
After a flurry of executive orders designed to deal quickly with some of the damage done to the nation during the Donald Trump presidency, President Joe Biden is now turning toward shepherding a $1.9 trillion COVID relief rescue bill through Congress. The proposal, called the American Rescue Plan, is designed to sustain families and business until COVID-19 vaccines become widely distributed. Biden said he will try to persuade Republicans to support his proposed legislation, but he said the measure has to pass even if no Republicans are on board. “The crisis of human suffering is in plain sight, and there’s no time to waste,” Biden said. “We have to act, and we have to act now.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he is willing to use the budget reconciliation process to pass the legislation, and that process would allow Democrats to use their slim Senate majority to get it done.
Among other provisions, Biden's plan includes:
- Direct payments of $1,400 to most Americans, bringing the total to $2,000, including December’s $600 payments
- Increasing the federal, per-week unemployment benefit to $400 and extending it through the end of September
- Increasing the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour
- Extending the eviction and foreclosure moratoriums until the end of September
- $350 billion in state and local government aid
- $170 billion for K-12 schools and institutions of higher education
- $50 billion toward COVID-19 testing
New Hanover Democrats Follow Car Caravan with Online Campaign and Letter to Editor
Since then Amp'd Up, the NHCDP digital media committee, has been posting content on social media, including videos made by New Hanover volunteer Annette Freeman. Click the image on the left for a sample. When you see our posts on Facebook or Twitter, please Share or Retweet.
Also, on January 22nd, the Star News printed a hard-hitting Rouzer letter written by John Meyer. Click here to read it.
In a related development a new group called the Republican Accountability Project is putting up billboards demanding the resignation of NC Representatives Madison Cawthorn, Dan Bishop and others.
Donald Trump’s time in office ended with more North Carolina Republicans leaving the party than in any other month in his presidency, according to the News & Observer (See the article here). In just over two weeks, from Jan. 7 to Jan. 22, Republicans lost 5,855 voter. Democrats gave up only 210 voters.
Local COVID-19 Deaths Continue Amid Slow Vaccine Rollout
While New Hanover County has administered thousands of doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, the coronavirus continues to grow in the county, according to the Star News. See the article here.
The Public Health department reported on Friday that an additional 20 people have died as a result of the disease. There were also 1,151 new cases of COVID-19 in the county. The 20 individuals who died were over the age of 65 and at risk of severe illness because of age and underlying health conditions, according to Public Health. On Tuesday, a record high 254 new daily cases were reported.
New Hanover Regional Medical Center and Wilmington Health are partnering with the health department to administer vaccines, but supplies entering the county are limited. Several times last week appointments to register online for vaccines opened and were filled within minutes, according to the Star News article here. Health officials recommend checking the Websites below frequently to catch appointments as they become available.
NHRMC: Vaccinations can be scheduled at nhrmc.org/coronavirus or by calling (910) 662-2020 when appointments are available. NHRMC now has an email list available for anyone to sign up to receive notifications when COVID-19 vaccine appointments are available. The link to sign up can be found here.
Volunteers Sought to Organize 4 Precincts
We have 4 precincts that need organizers ASAP: H01, M07, W18 and W28.
You do not have to live in the precinct to volunteer to organize it. The work involves attending the precinct training on Wednesday, phone calling an emailing, setting up a Zoom meeting or working with a Zoom facilitator to set it up, conducting the meeting, electing Precinct Officers and County Convention delegates and submitting a meeting certification which reports the results.
If you can help, please email Susanne Werner (2nd Vice-chair), [email protected], using 2021 Precinct Organizers in the subject line.
Where: Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/367930935?pwd=UHFkWDVNdjJ2dWxXbTQ0WTM1M05ldz09
Bobbie Richardson has been serving as First Vice Chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party, and with the Resignation of Wayne Goodwin as NCDP Chair, she is now running to replace him. Bobbie is a former member of the NC House of Representatives who represented parts of Franklin and Nash Counties from 2013 to 2018. Prior to that, she had a 35 year career as an educator in North Carolina public schools, and holds undergraduate and Masters degrees from NC Central University and a PhD from Chapel Hill.
Where: Zoom. Details TBD.
The 2021 Annual Precinct Meetings are going to look very different than in previous years because of Covid-19. We are encouraging everyone to hold their meetings remotely, which means the whole process, including the meeting report, will also be different.
Susanne Werner will hold a training by Zoom for precinct officers and organizers on Wednesday, February 3 at 6:30pm. As soon as the NCDP precinct meeting packet is available, we will be sending it electronically (instead of in printed form) to meeting organizers along with lists of former meeting attendees, active members, and 2020 volunteers.
Precinct Organization Meetings should be scheduled between March 6th and March 20th. The meeting options are:
· In person (not recommended due to Covid risk)
· Zoom
· Zoom Cluster
· Conference Call
If you have questions, contact Susanne Werner, 2nd Vice Chair, [email protected], (910) 409-5509.
Where: Zoom. Details TBA.
Where: TBD by Precinct Organizers. Some on Zoom
Best,
Richard Poole, Chair
News Content by James Cummings
If you have any announcements, comments, questions or concerns regarding this email series, please contact the Editor here.
Paid for by the New Hanover County Democratic Party
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Mailing Address: NHCDP PO Box 3446 Wilmington, NC 28412
Office Address: 5041 New Centre Drive Wilmington, NC 28403 unsubscribe |