(World Water Lobbying Day in Lansing was cancelled due to the Coronavirus threat. But the Fight Goes On!)
Everyone in Michigan must have access to safe, affordable drinking water service and sanitation to combat the spread of diseases including COVID 19, coronavirus.
On February 28th, members of the People’s Water Board (including MUUSJN) signed a petition/letter to Governor Gretchen Whitmer urging her to call for a moratorium of water shutoffs, to restore water service to all residents where water has been turned off and to implement an income based water affordability plan as a longer term solution to stopping the spread of water related diseases which spread when households are deprived of water. Various sources indicate there are 9,500 households without water in Detroit. Low income people in other Michigan communities also have no water due to inability to pay their water bills.
On March 9th, Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued one of several declarations in the middle of the coronavirus crisis that called for turning the water back on in the City of Detroit. WE THANK GOVERNOR WHITMER FOR THIS PRACTICAL, HUMANE RESPONSE. On March 11th the City invited people to call 313-386-9727 to request that their water be turned back on.
The Peoples’ Water Board recently sent a LETTER to the Governor that makes several recommendations for addressing the Detroit water/coronavirus crisis:
Water justice is one the priorities of the Michigan Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Network. This statewide interfaith social justice network also works for women’s and LGBTQ rights, racial justice, immigration and environmental justice, gun violence prevention and election reform.
It’s almost impossible to mistake that our country is in the middle of a national crisis. All states, except West Virginia, have cases of the coronavirus. In response to the coronavirus pandemic, Governor Gretchen Whitmer declared that all Michigan K-12 schools will be closed starting on March 16th. She also ordered limits on who can visit our state’s care and juvenile justice facilities and public meetings. Thousands of events have been cancelled or postponed to prevent the spread of this deadly disease. We are being urged to frequently wash our hands and get tested if we have coronavirus symptoms (see end of this action alert). Schools, religious places of worship and public facilities are being closed. Workers have been told to stay home if they are sick or may be required to care for their children if their kids can’t go to school. Wall Street experienced massive sell offs as stocks plummeted with the disease’s impact on major businesses.
During the first week of March, Congress almost unanimously passed an $8.3 billion supplemental appropriation package to: support vaccine research; assist state and local governments in disease prevention and public health efforts; support small businesses affected by the pandemic; etc. On Friday, President Donald Trump declared the coronavirus pandemic a national emergency, freeing up money and resources to fight the outbreak.
Early Saturday morning, on a bi-partisan basis, the U.S. House adopted a coronavirus relief package called “The Families First Coronavirus Response Act” that dedicates billions to assist impacted families. The Act will provide more paid sick leave, unemployment insurance, free testing, expanded Medicaid for states; and more money for Food Stamps. Click HERE for more information.
The good news is that Pres. Trump’s “solution”, a payroll “tax break”, was NOT included in this relief package that was vigorously negotiated by Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. No matter how seductive it might seem for workers to keep more money in their paycheck, this proposal would undercut the future of Social Security and Medicare by diverting premiums workers and employers pay into these systems.
Although #45 supports the House coronavirus Response Act bill, he’s been pressuring Congress to institute a nine month payroll “tax holiday”. He’s said that withholding these payments (into Social Security and Medicare) would be essential to any recovery package. He’s written, “Only that will make a big difference”. For more information, click HERE.
Senator Mitch McConnell cancelled a planned recess so Senators can act on this issue. A vote on the Families First Coronas Response Act may come as soon as 3 p.m. Monday, March 16th.
Most of you have heard this many times already, but older persons with underlying health conditions are more vulnerable to becoming infected with the coronavirus and passing it on to others. For more information from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention on ways to avoid becoming a victim of coronavirus, click HERE.
During Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s January 29th State of the State message she supported several important “Healthy Mom’s, Healthy Babies” initiatives that could increase the survival rates of Michigan women and their babies. Michigan’s death rates of mothers and their infants are unacceptable. The death rates for infants and their mothers is about three times greater for African American and Native Americans. The good news is that Michigan has a plan to reduce these death rates.
The Interfaith Reproductive Justice Coalition, a group organized by MUUSJN that includes over 16 women’s and LGBTQ organizations, urges the public to call Michigan Senators to support this life saving $37.5 million investment to protect mothers and their children.
Forty-four (44) percent of pregnancy related deaths were preventable, according to the Michigan Maternal Mortality Surveillance Committee. The Governor’s proposal is an important plan for reducing excess deaths of mothers and their children.
The Governor has proposed a $37.5 million package of investments in her FY 2021 budget for Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies to improve care women need to have a healthy pregnancy. Less than half of these funds come from Michigan’s General Fund. It includes:
Click HERE for more details
This proposal is expected to be voted in the Senate Appropriations committee chaired by Senator Jim Stamas. Click HERE for a list of the Appropriations Committee that includes Senators’ Districts, phone numbers and emails. Please contact these three Senators and YOUR Senator, especially if your Senator is on the Appropriations Committee:
Sen. Jim Stamas (Midland), Chair: 1-855-347-8036; SenStamas@senate.michigan.gov
Sen. Jon Bumstead (Newago), V. Chair: 1-855-347-8034; SenJBumstead@senate.michigan.gov
Sen. Curtis Hertel (Lansing), Minority Chair: 1-855-347-8023 or SenCHertel@senate.michigan.gov
A growing coalition of community organizations, faith communities, businesses, LGBTQ organizations, and elected officials in Michigan are coming together to prohibit discrimination against LGBTQ Michiganders. This month, this coalition launched a Fair and Equal Michigan campaign to put a proposal on the 2020 ballot to amend the Elliott Larsen Civil Rights Act to protect the rights of people based on their gender identity (who they are) and their sexual orientation (who they love).
According to an April 2019 Quinnipiac poll, 92% of Americans do NOT think that “employers should be allowed to fire someone based on their sexual orientation or sexual identity”. Currently, 21 states have provisions in their laws to protect their LGBTQ residents. Leaders from Michigan companies, e.g., DTE Energy, Herman Miller, and Dow, Inc., who want to hire and retain their best people, are backing the petition drive. 40 Michigan communities have adopted ordinances to protect the rights of their LGBTQ citizens. Mayors from the following communities have endorsed this campaign: Kalamazoo, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Ferndale, Traverse City, Lansing, Jackson, Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti.
The MUUSJN Board of Directors voted to support this campaign. We encourage and will support people from Unitarian Universalist and other faith groups statewide to collect signatures on Fair and Equal Michigan petitions. MUUSJN is Working with Inclusive Justice, an interfaith LGBTQ welcoming and advocacy organization, to engage various faith groups in taking this campaign over the top. Now volunteers are needed to help gather 500,000 signatures by the end of May 2020.
EASTERN MICHIGAN: Contact Raphael Mojica, (810) 875-1129, raf@fairandequalmichigan.com
CENTRAL MICHIGAN: Contact Egypt Otis. 810-286-5432, egypt@fairandequalmichigan.com
WESTERN MICHIGAN: Contact Brad Langerak, 616-485-3024, brad@fairandequalmichigan.com
NORTHERN MI: Statewide Volunteer Director: Alex Cross, 203-841-9458, alex@fairandequalmichigan.com
UU’s are encouraged to request petitions from Randy Block and to return signed petitions to him so we can hold ourselves accountable to do our part on this campaign. Call or text me at 248-224-5572. I will assure that your signed petitions are turned in to the campaign. Please let me know if you have started or plan to encourage people within your faith or community group to get involved with this campaign. With permission of the church, congregation or community group you can collect signatures at an information table. You could also collect signatures outside a post office or near a Secretary of State so long as you don’t block the entrances.
You are invited to attend a Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Voting Rights Town Hall in the one of four Michigan communities:
Message from Christina Rissman, HRC Michigan Lead Organizer:
Join us at one of these events next week to connect with other folks passionate about equality in our communities and meet HRC’s new fellows in your county!
02/24 – Ferndale, @ Affirmations. 6pm. https://www.mobilize.us/hrcmi/event/234331/
02/26 – Kalamazoo, @ Stetson Chapel. 6pm. Partnered with OutFront Kalamazoo, speakers and open mic opportunities! https://www.mobilize.us/hrcmi/event/236084/
02/26 – Pontiac @ Liberty Bar. 5:30pm.Karaoke after speakers!https://www.mobilize.us/hrcmi/event/231915/
02/27 – Grand Rapids @ City Built Brewing. 6pmhttps://www.mobilize.us/hrcmi/event/234452/
Looking forward to seeing y’all there and to working with you in the continued fight for equality!
Christina Rissman | she/her/hers |Regional Organizing Lead, Michigan | HRC Rising | Human Rights Campaign |
The Michigan UU Social Justice Network (MUUSJN) Board of Directors voted to make Get Out the Vote (GOTV) a priority during 2020. Voting is not just political, but a moral action. UU’s uphold the right of every person to have their voice heard. Elections have consequences for our environment, for people of color, women, LGBTQ people, immigrants and low income families.
President Trump’s FY 2021 budget, introduced this month, is unfair and it’s cruel. It funnels more tax cuts to the wealthy, expands Pentagon spending over the next 10 years, and makes deep cuts in programs that benefit poor and middle income families. This budget provides a blueprint for Trump Administration priorities:
(Sources: Americans for Tax Fairness & the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities (Click HERE for “Trump Budget Would Increase Hardship and Inequality”, CBPP, 2/10/20)
Thank you for taking action. The Michigan Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Network has 3,000 activists throughout Michigan. Please take a stand for social and economic justice!
The Michigan UU Social Justice Network (MUUSJN) Board of Directors voted to make Get Out the Vote (GOTV) a priority during 2020. Voting is not just political, but a moral action. UU’s uphold the right of every person to have their voice heard. Elections have consequences for our environment, for people of color, women, LGBTQ people, immigrants and low income families.
The national UU organization, the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), launched an ambitious campaign called “UU the Vote”. This email provides an an update on what the UUA and what MUUSJN are doing to encourage people in our communities to understand what’s at stake and assist people to get ready to vote in 2020.
The UUA is holding a webinar at 8 p.m. on Thursday, February 6th on IRS non-profit regulations and electoral work. An attorney will discuss how congregations can act boldly on behalf of our values while remaining compliant with 501 (c) 3 regulations. The author of “The Real Rules”will answer commonly asked questions about civic engagement and electoral work. Click HERE to register and for more information.
On January 28th, 28 people from 12 Michigan UU Congregations got on a MUUSJN UU the Vote conference call to share what they’re doing and to learn about MUUSJN and UUA plans. Here are highlights from this call:
The next MUUSJN GOTV conference call will be held in March. To get on a list for this call or to share your GOTV ideas and questions, email randyblock@yahoo.com or call/text 248-224-5572
Senators Susan Collins – Mitt Romney – Lisa Murkowski – Lamar Alexander
The truth matters. That’s why it’s important that the U.S. Senate trial include space for witnesses and new evidence. Please call the following seven Republican Senators. Urge them to vote that new witnesses be allowed to testify at President Trump’s impeachment trial. Those Senators are: Romney, Murkowski, Collins, McSally, Alexander, Gardner and Capito. (Leaving a message on all their phones took me less than 10 minutes.)
The vote on allowing witnesses and allowing new evidence to be heard at the trial could happen this week. Recent polling (by SurveyUSA) documented that 71% of Republicans, 81% of Independents and 93% of Democrats agreed that Mitch McConnell should call new witnesses during the trial. Click HERE for more information.
Even if you aren’t a resident of their state, please call the following Senators and say:
Michigan Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Network is a statewide network of 3,000 people that includes activists from many faith and humanistic perspectives. The “Free and responsible search for truth and meaning” is one of Unitarian Universalists’ seven principles. Click HERE
The Michigan UU Social Justice Network (MUUSJN) joined many peace, justice and faith organizations, to urge the U.S. House of Representatives to adopt a War Powers Resolution to reign in #45’s ability to declare war on Iran. The House voted 224-194 on January 9th to adopt this Resolution. Now the Resolution (Senate Joint Resolution 63) goes to the Senate. It directs the President to remove U.S. forces from hostilities with Iran no later than 30 days after the Resolution is enacted absent a declaration of war by Congress.
Even though there has been some recent de-escalation of tensions, the President’s continued economic pressure and his reckless use of our Country’s military force, could set off a war between the U.S. and Iran. The U.S. Constitution states that only Congress has the power to declare and authorize war. The U.S. Senate now must step up to its responsibility to adopt a War Powers Resolution. We need thoughtful diplomacy to prevent war in the middle east.
Thank you for taking action. The Michigan UU Social Justice Network has congregations in 26 Michigan communities and works with many coalitions. Let’s continue to raise our voices for justice!
The Michigan Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Network (MUUSJN) joins a chorus of peace, justice and faith organizations calling for protest of President Trump’s assassination of a top commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, Major General Qassim Suleimani. This is an act of war with a country that #45 has been provoking since he withdrew from the Iranian nuclear arms reduction treaty.
Call your U.S. Representative. A vote in the U.S. House is expected on January 9th on a resolution that would require President Trump to get approval from Congress (an Authorization of the Use of Military Force) before declaring war on Iran.
Tell your U.S. Representative:
a. I want my Representative ______________ to vote for a resolution requiring approval of Congress before launching a war with Iran. According to our Constitution, only Congress can declare war.
b. Speak against President Trump’s assassination of Iran’s top military commander.
c. Do everything possible to stop a war with Iran.
d. What are you planning to say about this situation to your colleagues or to the Administration?
Thursday, Jan. 9, 11:00 AM
Islamic House of Wisdom,
22575 Ann Arbor Trail, Dearborn Heights
Nationwide, hundreds of demonstrations are being held, including at least eight in Michigan. They are being co-sponsored by Win Without War, MoveOn, Indivisible, Vets About Face, National Iranian American Council and others:
Click HERE for more information on demonstrations, go to a No War With Iran website.
Thank you for taking action. The Michigan Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Network has congregations in 26 Michigan cities. Let’s flex our progressive power for justice.
