[[link removed]]Fall Newsletter
Dear John,
It’s been hard. As each new chapter of the compounding climate and COVID crises unfolds, it can become easy to fall into despair. I find comfort in the knowledge that crises bring the possibility of change. We are at a turning point — the status quo will not remain. The future is unwritten.
We, all of us together, can ensure that our future is one where justice, abundance, community care, and multiracial feminist democracy are woven into the fabric of our communities. Our collective vision is vital. While we advocate for a just and equitable infrastructure plan domestically, we must demand that it also invests in real solutions for our climate and our people.
It’s time to completely end our reliance on fossil fuels and commit to using 100% renewable energy. We must create good, union green jobs especially for women, Black people, and immigrants who have been historically left out of these stable, life-sustaining jobs. To free ourselves from the tyranny of an economic system that is impoverishing our communities and creating climate chaos, we also must invest in our care economy and build affordable and sustainable housing stock.
As we build power at the grassroots, we must hold our elected officials accountable to move on climate change quickly, boldly, and equitably. We need funding for infrastructure that not only reduces greenhouse gas emissions, but transforms our entire economy. We know that as people most impacted by the climate crisis, our communities also hold the power to turn the tide.
In solidarity,
[[link removed]]Lauren Jacobs
Executive Director
PowerSwitch Action
Save the date for our Organizers Roundtable!
On Thursday, October 21 from 12-1 pm PST/3-4 pm EST, we're partnering up with The Forge to co-host a roundtable discussion featuring a powerful group of organizers from the PowerSwitch Action network who are driving dynamic campaigns to win just, community-supporting city budgets across the country.
The Forge featured many of these organizers this month in an article [[link removed]] on their work and insights. Take a read [[link removed]] and get sneak peak into the organizing landscape and the issues we'll cover on at the event next month.
We hope you'll join us on October 21 for Building People-Powered Budgets: An Organizer’s Roundtable on 2021 City Budget Campaigns. Please save the date and be on the lookout for more details in the coming weeks!
Celebrating a new round of victories
Prop 22 Ruled Unconstitutional!
A California Superior Court Judge has ruled Prop 22 unconstitutional, saying the law “appears only to protect the economic interests of the network companies in having a divided, un-unionized workforce.” This is a major victory for workers and for our democracy. One of the issues cited by the judge was the unconstitutional provision requiring a seven-eighths vote of approval to pass any amendments in the state Legislature, which was a focus of our Rigging the Gig [[link removed]] report last fall.
“We only got this far because of the dedication of those who have organized and spoken truth to power, standing against the injustices and oppression by greedy gig corporations. Together, we will continue to fight back until we get what we deserve."
- Cherri Murphy , Lyft driver and organizer with Gig Workers Rising.
AB 701, the Warehouse Worker Protection Act, Passes in the CA Legislature
On September 8, landmark legislation giving Amazon and other warehouse workers new power to fight speed quotas passed in the California State Senate [[link removed]] . PowerSwitch affiliates Warehouse Worker Resource Center and LAANE, along with the LA Labor Federation, led the push for AB 701. The law requires employers to disclose productivity quotas to employees and government agencies. It also prohibits employers from requiring warehouse employees to meet unsafe quotas that prevent them from taking state-mandated meal and rest breaks, or from using the bathroom. The bill now heads back to the Assembly for a final vote and then to the Governor’s desk.
Santa Clara County Votes for Early Closure of Reid-Hill Airport
After a powerful advocacy campaign spearheaded by community members and experts about the dangerously high lead levels caused by planes flying in and out of the airport, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to pursue an early closure of the Reid-Hillview airport [[link removed]] . In addition, they voted to pursue removing lead-based fuel and explore an alternative location for the airport that will not pose similar health and safety risks. Congratulations to Silicon Valley Rising and Supervisor Cindy Chavez on leading the fight to protect community health!
Jumpstart Progressive Revenue Tax in Seattle
Puget Sound Sage and allies are celebrating a huge win for Seattle with the implementation of the Jumpstart Fund [[link removed]] , which was created through city legislation in 2020. The highly popular [[link removed]] JumpStart Tax will dedicate $20M a year for the Equitable Development Initiative and $20M for the Green New Deal.
Massachusetts Transit Board to Add Seats for Worker and Environmental Justice Reps
The Public Transit Public Good Coalition, convened by Community Labor United, successfully pushed [[link removed]] for the MBTA to include [[link removed]] both a worker representative and a rider from the environmental justice, or EJ, communities that depend on transit the most.
A warm welcome to Christina Rosales!
[[link removed]]Christina Rosales [[link removed]] is joining the PowerSwitch Action family as our new Housing and Land Justice Campaign Director! Christina comes to us from Texas Housers, where she served as Deputy Director and oversaw communications, fundraising, and organizational development. In her new role , Christina will lead the process of building and expanding transformative housing and land justice campaigns with PowerSwitch Action affiliate leaders and national staff, with a vision of housing and land as community-controlled social goods, not commodities.
Opportunities to take action
Urge Congress to Cancel Utility Debt
As power grids fail and our communities can't depend on utility infrastructure during climate crisis after climate crisis, we're taking action to make sure that folks aren’t left holding the bag for a powerful and wealthy few. We've endorsed the Maintaining Access to Essential Services Act of 2021 — a House companion to SB 1783, a similar bill in the Senate. Households across the country are being crushed by a tidal wave of utility debt. That weight — which totals in the billions of dollars nationally — is decades in the making and was worsened by the economic and health emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Urge Congress to #CancelUtilityDebt and ensure that everyone has access to the water, power and internet they need to live. [[link removed]]
Tell Biden & Yellen: No Cops, No Banks With Our ARPA Money
COVID-19 had a disproportionate effect on Black and Brown neighborhoods that had already been suffering from decades of targeted disinvestment. Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act to get federal relief directly into communities, particularly those harmed most from the devastating economic and health impacts of the pandemic. However, cities and states across the country could divert this much needed relief money to cops and banks at the expense of essential community needs like rental assistance and public health programs — and some already are. We’ve signed on to a letter urging President Biden and the Treasury to set clear guidelines that would encourage an investment in communities and protect our relief funds from being rerouted to banks or police departments. Please join us and add your voice here [[link removed]] .
Support HelloFresh Workers Organizing a Union!
Workers at HelloFresh are organizing a union to make their jobs safer and more sustainable at the largest meal kit company in the United States. While HelloFresh profited from the pandemic, employees faced disrespect, a COVID-19 outbreak, and preventable injuries. We are calling on the company to pledge to not harass or intimidate workers, and to cancel the anti-union consultant. Pledge your support for HelloFresh workers here. [[link removed]]
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