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Stronger Together Fundraiser for Medical Debt: Tuesday

Stronger Together Fundraiser for Medical Debt: Tuesday

Hello CRAGgys!

The lake is warm, summer people have arrived, and democracy is still under attack.

Your next chance to engage with Copper Country humans supporting our community and pushing back against authoritarian take over is Tuesday, July 29th at the Stronger Together Fundraiser to Wipe Out Medical Debt in our Community. 6:00-9:00 at Small Craft, Hancock.

Welcome CRAGgys!

For newcomers: Notes and housekeeping

  • This list now includes 275 people.
  • I posted an overview of CRAG goals and history on April 13th.
  • Why Local Action for Democracy
    • btw, I'm a newcomer to this; the League of Women Voters and Houghton County Dems have been tracking local meetings and issues for many years.
  • I keep a CRAG CALENDAR of local meetings and events; please send me any additions, errors, or updates.
  • An archive of this newsletter is posted at Water and Stone.
  • My early statements at meetings are posted also posted in a CRAG archive, with some by other CRAGgys. (More recently I've been more informal, so haven't been archiving my remarks.)
  • This newsletter is available via RSS feed (copy link into your RSS reader): https://www.waterandstone.net/rss

Local action groups convene regularly. Some public body meets somewhere every single week; take 30 minutes to show up and express your opinion.

Good Trouble Lives On Rally

Thousands turned out across the country for Good Trouble, a national day of nonviolent action to respond to the attacks posed on our civil and human rights by the Trump administration and to remind them that in America, the power lies with the people. An robust group of 75-100 rallied in Veterans' Park, with another team circling town in a "motor march" with pro-democracy messages and flags on their vehicles.

Many of us met new people, some asked to be added to this newsletter, Welcome!

News updates

I'm not going to provide much news today; I've been too distracted with summer to pull out any coherent stories. So, just a few quick items that caught my eye:

  • Christina Pagel has a new Trump Tracker with a helpful categorizing of actions:
  • Two days of Pentagon spending could fully fund the National Park Service. The Park Service operates on $3.5 billion, less than 0.5% of the bloated Pentagon budget.
  • The USDA, which includes the Forest Service, is cutting its staff in Washington in half, closing many regional offices, and relocating people to "regional hubs". Staff reductions are expected when people are given ultimatums about moving across the country or quitting.

ICE at the Canadian Border

  • A Canadian man fishing in Lake Champlain was agressively detained by ICE, despite being in Canadian waters (reported by the dailymail aDean Blundell).

Actions

  • One Million Rising—a national effort to train one million people in the strategic logic and practice of non-cooperation, as well as the basics of community organizing and campaign design. The goal is a strong foundation for impactful actions in the fall and beyond.

Michigan Voter info

  • Houghton County will have four millages on the August 4th ballot (exact wording for each is shown at LWV).
    • Safe and Effective County Jail- Vote Yes
      • >> Public info sessions on the jail:
        • PLD Library Houghton 7/21 6pm
        • Calumet Twp Hall 7/22 6pm
        • Laird Twp Hall 7/31 6pm
    • Canal View millage renewal (at a lower rate);
    • Elder nutrition millage for Meals on Wheels;
    • Copper Country ISD bond proposal for construction and remodeling.
  • Statewide petitions
    • Decline to Sign. Watch out for anti-voter rights petitions. Two groups are about to start soliciting signatures to add repressive "proof of citizenship" language to the Michigan constitution. DO NOT SIGN THESE PETITIONS.
    • Instead, look for the Raked Choice Voting (RankMiVote) petitions that are coming soon. SIGN THESE! (if you are eligible.)

Places to engage locally

An elected board meets somewhere every week. Check the calendar for details.

I encourage anyone with an affiliation to Michigan Tech to attend the board of trustees meeting on July 31st. Public comments are at the start of the meeting. I'll be there; let me know if you will join me.

Many government actions threaten our local communities. Speak up!

And let me know if you go and what you learn. Remember, this is a long process. Showing up multiple times builds trust and demonstrates to people with diverse viewpoints that you don't have horns.

Why and how to attend local meetings

Events and meetings

The CALENDAR has details on events. Please send your events.
I have started a list of Pro-democracy organizations in the UP with contact information. (Please share additions and corrections.)

  • Stronger Together Fundraiser to Wipe Out Medical Debt in our Community. 6:00-9:00 at Small Craft, Hancock.

Ongoing events:

Details are on the CALENDAR.

Houghton/Hancock

Marquette

  • Every Tuesday evening at 7pm, Yoopers Unite, a gathering of local pro-democracy groups, at LoveMarq Church, 728 W. Kaye Ave, Marquette.
  • Marquette: Every Saturday morning from 11:30-12:30, between 40 - 80 people have been assembling at the Marquette Post Office, standing in support with long-established Citizens for Peace & Justice.
  • Join Lake Superior Region Indivisible

Albatross

I'm still watching the Albatross chick. The parents do an amazing beak-to-beak transfer of dinner. (livestream, but check the video highlights; it's always night when I look.)

Thanks for all your support

Stay Well

Sarah

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Jamie Larson
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