Monday, February 18, 2019
URGENT NATIONAL ACTION
Protest Trump's Fake State of Emergency
Union Square Park
5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Indivisible National and other activist groups have called for nationwide protests against Trump's illegitimate use of emergency powers. As we all know, there is no emergency on our southern border -- the real emergency is a president that wants to undermine democracy. The NYC protest is at 5 p.m. as listed above. If you want to get up early and hop a bus or train to Washington, D.C., there will be a protest at the White House at noon.

Tuesday, February 19
STATE ACTION
Tell Cuomo: Hands Off Grassroots Activists
At our monthly meeting on Thursday, we discussed how New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is using his new budget proposal to target small grassroots groups -- like ours -- that helped flip the state senate blue. (While Cuomo is Democrat, in name at least, he welcomed the long Albany stalemate that allowed him to talk about progressive issues without taking action.) His new plan lowers the threshold for lobbying from $5,000 a year to $500, which would force activist groups that spend more than that to register as official lobbyists and to submit legal paperwork every other month. Indivisible UES's rent at the Unitarian Church of All Souls is $600 a year, so that alone would put us in the "lobbyist" category -- a category that is meant for paid, professional, well-funded lobbyists instead of unpaid concerned citizens like us. Here are three ways to contact Cuomo:

Send a postcard telling Cuomo that you are an engaged citizen, not a lobbyist, and that he should delete Part R of the Good Government & Ethics Reform Article VII Legislation in this year’s budget. Address cards to: Gov Andrew Cuomo, NYS Capitol Building, Albany, NY 12224.
Call Cuomo's office at 518-474-8390. Again, the message is that he should delete Part R of the Good Government & Ethics Reform Article VII Legislation in this year’s budget because concerned citizens shouldn't be treated like paid lobbyists.
Use Resistbot to either call or message Cuomo. Resistbot makes it easy to send a message to any elected official -- federal or local -- 24/7. Text the word RESIST to 50409 to get started. After you register once, all you have to do is follow the instructions to send messages or call.

Wednesday, February 20
CITY ACTION
Watch the Public Advocate Candidate Debate on NY1
7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
On Tuesday, Feb. 26, New York City is holding a special election for the position of public advocate. (Former public advocate Tish James was elected state attorney general in November.) Over 20 candidates are running. Become an educated voter by watching or streaming NY1's coverage of tonight's forum featuring seven leading contenders. A previous debate aired on NY1 on February 6. If you missed it, you can view it here.

Thursday, February 21
STATE ACTION
Turbocharging Voter Registration With AVR
New York Law School
185 West Broadway
7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Common Cause/NY hosts an in-depth panel discussion on the potential impact of Automatic Voter Registration (AVR) in New York. Since 2015, 16 states and Washington, D.C., have implemented some form of AVR. Learn more about how it works in other states, dive into AVR model design and the implementation details with policy experts, and find out about our current efforts to bring AVR to New York.

Friday, February 22
STATE ACTION
Sign Up for a February 27 Trip to Albany
Visit scenic Albany with activists who are working on Fair Elections for New York which means (a) ensuring that every eligible New Yorker has the freedom to vote and (b) passing comprehensive campaign finance reform, including a small donor matching system. The trip to Albany is Wednesday, February 27. Sign up for a bus leaving Union Square at 6:30 a.m. by registering here.

Saturday, February 23
STATE ACTION
Town Hall: Fair Elections for New York
Washington Irving High School
40 Irving Place
1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Elected officials from our federal, state, and city government -- including congress members Jerry Nadler and Carolyn Maloney -- will speak about the opportunities we have to get big money out of politics and to lead the way on voting rights in New York. Doors open at 1 p.m.. Town Hall begins at 1:30 p.m.. Seating will be first come for ticket holders. RSVP via Eventbrite or Facebook.

Weekly newsletter #102, written by Wendy Brandes, executive committee, Indivisible Upper East Side

Disclaimer: By choosing to attend any events listed herein, I acknowledge the risks involved, and that I agree to participate non-violently and in accordance with the law. During some events, acts of civil disobedience may be initiated by individual participants. I acknowledge and agree that Indivisible Upper East Side is not responsible for any such acts of individual participants which are unlawful, nor is Indivisible Upper East Side soliciting my participation in any such activity. I agree that I am solely responsible for any decision to participate in any acts of civil disobedience and any consequences, legal or otherwise, that may result from that decision.