Recommended Actions for the Week of 20170626

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Local Level Actions

Riveting Homework: Jail Status

Testify, Call or Email the County Council Regarding the Jail

Source: The RC

Description: Same drill, different council. The proposition to authorize the jail tax will be introduced. You can testify at the meeting, or call or email in advance.

Background: Talking points in our post from the city council meeting

Contact Information: Send an email to council@co.whatcom.wa.us or click here for contact information of individual County Council members.

Additional Information: Do your homework (above) first! Here is the council agenda.

Call State Legislators about EVERYTHING

Source: various

Description: Call your state senator and reps and ask them to pass/not pass a number of pieces of legislation.

Background: On June 21, the Washington State Legislature began its 3rd special session. A new budget must be signed by June 30th or parts of the state government will shut down, like meal-delivery, health services payments, child care assistance, prison intake, fish hatcheries, and state parks camping. It’s time to call our legislators and tell them we want all the things!

Contact Information:

40th District

Senator Kevin Ranker: (360) 786 – 7678, Kevin.Ranker@leg.wa.gov
Representative Kristine Lytton: (360) 786-7800, Kristine.Lytton@leg.wa.gov
Representative Jeff Morris: (360) 786-7970, Jeff.Morris@leg.wa.gov

42nd District

Senator Doug Ericksen: (360) 786-7682, Doug@SenatorEricksen.com
Representative Vincent Buys: (360) 786-7854, Vincent.Buys@leg.wa.gov
Representative LuAnne Van Werven: (360) 786-7980, Luanne.VanWerven@leg.wa.gov

Suggested Script:

I am a constituent from {city}, and I am calling to ask {legislator name} to:

National Level Actions / Other

Protect Our National Monuments! Comments Accepted Through 07/10/17

Description: President Trump has ordered the Department of the Interior to review all designations of national monuments greater than 100,000 acres created since 1996. Time is running out!! Public comments on 26 monuments will be accepted through July 10, 2017.

Background: On April 26, 2017, the White House issued a Presidential Executive Order on the Review of Designations under the Antiquities Act, directing the U.S. Department of the Interior to review certain National Monuments designated or expanded since 1996. The Secretary of the Interior will use the review to determine whether each designation or expansion conforms to the policy stated in the Executive Order and to formulate recommendations for Presidential actions, legislative proposals, or other appropriate actions to carry out that policy. There are 27 National Monuments under review, including Hanford Reach in Washington and 5 marine national monuments; the list can be found here.

Contact Information: Submit comments online through regulations.gov (Docket ID# DOI-2017-0002).

Suggested Script: Click here for suggested scripts. We’ve compiled suggestions from a number of sources, so find a monument that inspires you and start writing! We’ll update with new scripts as often as we can, so check back often!!

Additional Information:

NPR: See the Sweeping American Landscapes Under Review by Trump
New York Times: Battle Over Bears Ears Heats Up as Trump Rethinks Its Monument Status

Ask Senators to use Legislative Actions to Stop AHCA

Description: Call and ask Senators Cantwell and Murray to withhold consent and filibuster by amendment on the AHCA.

This is a modified script from Indivisible.

Call: Your Democratic senators

Senator Maria Cantwell: (206) 220-6400

Senator Patty Murray: (866) 481-9186 (toll free)

Script: Hi. I’m [NAME] from [ZIP], calling about the Senate healthcare bill. I know Senator (Murray/Cantwell) will vote to oppose it, but the process needs to slow and open hearings on the bill must happen. I would like [name] to “withhold consent” on all Senate business and to “filibuster by amendment.” I know these seem extreme, but tens of thousands of lives are at stake if the AHCA passes. Is Sen. [name] willing to take these measures?

Bonus: Complete this form from Indivisible by Monday, July 26.

Oppose Sec. DeVos’ Efforts to Exclude LGBTQ Kids from Quality Education

Description: Call Senators Murray and Cantwell and ask them to Oppose Sec. DeVos’ efforts to exclude LGBTQ kids from quality education. The Trump administration wants to invest millions in a private-school voucher and public-private charter schools. Critics worry these schools might not be required to follow federal anti-discrimination laws. For example, religious schools might expel LBGTQ students merely for being LBGTQ.

Background: Schools that receive federal funding are supposed to follow federal anti-discrimination laws but DeVos has not promised to require schools receiving vouchers to follow these laws. The fear is that this could lave LBGTQ students are risk for discrimination.

Contact Information:

Senator Maria Cantwell: (206) 220-6400

Senator Patty Murray: (866) 481-9186 (toll free)

Suggested Script: I’m [NAME} from [City, State] calling to express my concern about Betsy DeVos’ agenda to exclude LGBTQ kids from receiving a quality education. As Sen/Rep [name] knows, sexual orientation is not a legally protected status in the US. So when DeVos says she’ll uphold the current law, this means she can legally discriminate against gay kids in education. That’s not okay. (Share story if you have a LGBTQ family member or friend.) America can’t afford to abandon our kids. Will [name] work to be sure all kids receive a robust, quality education?

Advocate for open, frequent press briefings.

Description: Call the White House comment line to advocate for open, frequent press briefings.

Background: According to the Washington Post, White House press briefings are a running conversation — for now, anyway. President Trump is mulling drastic changes that could include reducing the frequency of briefings to once a week and requiring reporters to submit written questions, according to the New York Times.

Call: The White House Comment line 202-456-1111 (or email).

Script: Hi. I am concerned about the lack of open press briefings at the White House. I think a free press is essential to our democracy. I would like open, televised briefings from the president on a regular basis. Thank you.

Call/email: A news outlet you subscribe to or watch (list).

Script: Hi. I’m a subscriber/viewer and am concerned about the lack of open press briefings at the White House. I think a free press is essential to our democracy. Can you tell me what [org] is doing about this issue?

From Calendar

Link to the Riveters Collective Calendar

Every Monday: Attend a vigil hosted by C2C and Keep Bellingham Families Working. A vigil will be held from 11:30a.m.-12:30p.m. in front of City Hall until Aug. 28, 2017 or from 5:00-6:00p.m. at the WTA downtown bus station. Support undocumented and immigrant families to live in safety and dignity in our community. Come together and join in building power in people!

Tuesday, June 27, 2017 from 6:00-8:00p.m.: Join the Birchwood Food Desert Community Meeting to discuss ideas on how to meet the community’s food needs and make use of the old Albertsons space. The meeting will be held at Cornwall Park, 3424 Meridian St., Bellingham, WA 98225. Allies from other neighborhoods are welcome, but please respect that solutions for the community needs must come be community driven from the Birchwood residents.

Sunday, July 2, 2017 from 11:00a.m.-3:00p.m.: Join the Impeachment March in Seattle to advocate for the continuation of an unbiased investigation and the impeachment of Donald Trump as he is in direct violation of The Constitution of the United States on multiple levels. The march will begin at the Seattle Center, Broad Street and Denny on the grass SW of the Space Needle. The route will end at Henry M. Jackson Federal Building, 915 2nd Ave, Seattle, WA 98174.