3-13-23 Newsletter

 

INDIVISIBLE ON RACHEL MADDOW Rachel Maddow interviewed the co-founder of Indivisible, Ezra Levin, last week. Robert Hubbell says, "I guarantee that watching the interview will make you more hopeful and confident about Democratic prospects heading into 2024." Levin highlights the updated Practical Guide to Defeating MAGA, a terrific resource for anyone interested in taking effective, local action to effect change in Congress.  "Indivisible is one of the most effect grassroots organization to emerge in the wake of Trump’s 2016 victory. It grew organically from local protests to a well-run, national powerhouse organization that is still focused on local action directed at members of Congress." -- Robert Hubbell, Today's Edition, March 7, 2023      Check out Indivisible's plan to defeat the Unrepresentative 18, including Lori Chavez-DeRemer, (OR-05), a MAGA backer.   NEWS TO CELEBRATE THIS WEEK Celebrate with Jessica Craven this week's long list of good news in her March 12 newsletter, Chop Wood, Carry Water. SHE MADE A GOOD FUSS Judy Heumann, a valiant champion for disability rights who improved the world, died last week. Find out more about this outstanding woman in the NY Times obituary, plus a lovely tribute by Rachel Maddow. We recommend the film "Crip Camp," which documents the struggles and victories for disability rights. BILLS IN THE LEGISLATURE These bills were recently endorsed by COIN: SB 82   DFR Wildfire Bill: Wildfire Insurance Risk Mitigation - Endorse SB 509-1 Community Wildfire Risk Reduction Programs  - Endorse HB 2001-11 to replace SB 799   Eviction Reform and Reduction - Endorse COIN will be deciding on HB 2572 Civil Disorder and HB2772 Domestic Terrorism on March 13. Visit our Legislation 2023 web page for updates on bills COIN has endorsed or opposed, or bills we are still watching. Legislators won't know what you want unless you tell them. Please take a moment to comment on at least one of the bills on COIN's Legislation web page. COIN MEETING MARCH 21 All INCO folks are invited to the  COIN meeting on Tuesday March 21, at 7:00 pm, via Zoom.  Register for COIN meetings here (just once for all 2023 meetings).  TESTIFY FOR RESILIENT COMMUNITIES You can testify at the hearing for four bills endorsed by COIN that came from the 2022 Joint Task Force on Building Resiliency. The hearing Thursday, March 16 at 1 p.m. before the Senate Energy and Environment Committee, and testimony in support of these bills is due no later than Saturday, Mar. 18 at 1:00 p.m. Use this guide in learning about the bills, and preparing and submitting testimony. ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATE OREGON LOBBY DAYS   March 21-22 via Zoom  OLCV and OCN (Oregon League of Conservation Voters and Oregon Conservation Network) are having lobby days on Zoom. Separate meetings with Senator Weber and Representative Javadi will be set up, and you can join like-minded constituents to meet on Zoom and let your representatives know about your environmental and climate concerns. Training will be March 21, and meetings for our district will be March 22. Details and registration here.  RURAL CAUCUS & STRATEGY SESSION Saturday, May 20 in person Gather with like-minded rural Oregonians at this year's Rural Caucus & Strategy Sessionhosted by the Rural Organizing Project. It is Saturday, May 20th in the Linn/Benton county area. INCO can help with registration, lodging, and travel costs. Please contact Laurie at incoregon@gmail.com soon if you're interested. SNOWFLAKES CAN MAKE AN AVALANCHE " They like to call us snowflakes, for example. But each snowflake is a beautiful individual creation, gentle and, yes, fragile. But put many of us together in a strong gale, and we become a mighty blizzard. Together, we are an avalanche. "I would say to each person, your responsibility is to be the kind of person you see yourself being. A moral person. A thoughtful person. A person who acts with kindness and compassion, not anger and violence. In being that person, you become an example for others to follow. In holding to your own values and principles, and speaking up for others who are in need of your support, you become fascism’s greatest enemy: the engaged, enlightened citizen.  "Each of us has our own lives to live, our own priorities, our own burdens and responsibilities. Those have to come first, especially when others depend on us. So I would say, do what your heart tells you to do. Be the person your heart tells you to be. You’ll be amazed at what happens.”   — George Takei, Star Trek actor and democracy activist, Civil Discourse, March 4, 2023  FILING DEADLINE IS THURSDAY Sign up by this Thursday, March 16 to run to be a board member of a Special District in Clatsop County. Special Districts need good people to serve. Positions on the ballot include schools, health districts, rural fire protection, and others. Countywide special districts are the Port of Astoria, Sunset Empire Transportation, and Clatsop Community College. The Special District elections are May 16. Information about local positions and filing is on the Clatsop County website. The County Clerk's office at 503-325-8605 has details.  VOTE BY MAIL Last week Oregon Senator Ron Wyden and Representative Earl Blumenauer introduced the Vote at Home Act, a bill that would ensure that all Americans have the ability to vote by mail. Wyden and Blumenauer previously introduced similar legislation in 2021. Unfortunately, it’s likely Congressional Republicans will defeat this bill.   HAPPENINGS Thursday, April 13 - INCO Community Meeting, via Zoom. Social time at 6 pm; meeting is 6:30-7:30 pm. All INCO members are invited to attend. We meet the 2nd Thursday of each month. Link to join Zoom meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87835618044  Meeting ID: 878 3561 8044 One tap mobile +12532050468,,87835618044# US +12532158782,,87835618044# US (Tacoma) INSIGHTS "If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses."  ~ Henry Ford Comments, news, and photos to INCO at incoregon@gmail.com.  Resources and other information at www.incoregon.org and www.indivisible.org. Encourage others to sign up for the INCO newsletter at our website or here. Look for the INCO column in Hipfish Monthly. We're on Facebook, too. INCO Weekly Newsletter      March 13, 2023 Copyright © 2023 INDIVISIBLE North Coast Oregon, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in at our website or signed up at a community group meeting. Indivisible North Coast Oregon (INCO) defends democracy by opposing authoritarianism, bigotry, and corruption. Our mailing address is: 766 Lexington Avenue, Astoria, OR 97103 Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list