YOUR RESISTANCE NEWSLETTER
WEEK OF JUNE 9, 2019
vouchers - divert tax dollars to religious and charter schools without accountability of public schools. While St Johns county does not promote charter schools, parents can access dollars for vouchers.
teacher shortage - there are about 4000 vacancies across the state. In St Johns County, pay is below average; there is a large workload and a high number of substitute teachers
testing - now occupies a two-month period that diverts scarce resources. Teachers get paid a bonus for high test results for their students
SB7030, bill to arm teachers in classrooms is not supported in the County, which pays for security guards. The bill does make provisions for mental health training and increased number of psychologists but does not indemnify teachers.
Be sure to support your teacher union - go to feaweb.org
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International Children's Day June 9 - Celebration and Protest
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Looking ahead to the 2020 session, I am preparing a list and talking points with approximately 150 bills that we supported in 2019 but failed to pass during the session. I will be urging you to form small teams in your congregations or with Indivisible groups or other organizations and schedule meetings with your legislators and staff in their local offices this fall from mid September to mid November.
The 2020 session begins January 14. Mark your calendars for UUJF Legislative Days in Tallahassee January 27-28.
AoCC Voter Empowerment Project
Every American should be able to cast a ballot easily and securely.
When laws take ballots away from citizens, it weakens our democracy. When states use vulnerable voting systems, it weakens our democracy. There is a real risk that the current president may refuse to honor the outcome of the next election. This is unacceptable in a democracy.
2020 hinges on weakened systems.
With 70-ish weeks to the next presidential election, the time to act is now. Voting laws take months to change. Will we be ready when the president questions election results?
Our June goal: 1000 actions for voter empowerment.
Will you help? Join other Americans of conscience in spending one hour per week for the next three weeks to ensure that every citizen can vote and each vote verified in 2020.
Learn more here about specific actions you can undertake.
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EYEWITNESSS REPORTS FROM THE BORDER
Why do they flee? How can we help?
Thursday, June 13, at 6:30 - 9:00 p.m at the UU Fellowship
Three local residents, recently returned from El Paso where they worked with asylum-seekers, will share their experiences on Thursday, June 13 from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of St. Augustine, 2487 A1A South. The volunteers, Sister Diane Couture, SSJ, Patricia Maguire, and Calvin Marshall, all residents of St. Augustine, worked at Annunciation House, a faith-based, nonprofit shelter network.
After the program a wine and cheese reception will provide opportunities to take action and discuss ways to support families. For information call Jo Anne Engelbert, 904-460-1190.
Sponsored by St. Augustine, UU Fellowship Social Action Team, Amnesty International and Compassion in Action.
We will sign petitions to close the Homestead Detention Center nearMiami. Please plan to attend.
Come meet John Rutherford's staff Thursday June 20
Meet in the lobby at 10:15 at 4130 Salisbury Road.
Please remember that we are also scheduled to meet with Rubio's staff on June 27th.If you do not already have a concern to speak to, check out these resources: Rogan's List and American's of Conscience Checklist,I have also been receiving a helpful new newsletter from Celeste Pewter, a former congressional staffer and writer: itstimetofight2018@gmail.com. If you are on twitter, you can follow her there also.Just a little bit about strategy. Indivisible has encouraged us to stay focused on bills that are upcoming in the days directly after we visit. On the other hand, Amanda at Rutherford's office has suggested that we bring up ideas and concerns before anything is set up on paper. Such a strategy encourages us to look at Rutherford's membership on committees, caucuses etc. Bringing your sources, links and/or paper copy is helpful.
Mayor Gillum’s confirmed to visit in St. Johns County on Monday, July 1st! Watch this space for more info!
Homestead, Fl children's prison Call to Action
What is Homestead Detention Center? Homestead, Florida is the site of the largest child detention center in the country, the ONLY for-profit center, and the only shelter deemed “temporary”. It was opened in June 2016 to house what HHS calls unaccompanied alien children (UAC). From June 2016 to April 2017 it sheltered 8,500 children, then closed. It was reactivated in March 2018 and currently houses more than 2,000 children. HHS now plans to expand to house up to 3,200 children beginning in mid-April. Children at Homestead are 13-17 yrs of age. About 75% are male and 25% female. According to HHS children remain an average of 52 days (although there are reports of children staying much longer).
What can we do? While media coverage of the Homestead detention facility is growing, there is a need for greater awareness and action.
Lobby Contact your representatives at state and local levels. Write letters to local newspapers. Share on Facebook. Follow the Witness Homestead Facebook page. Write petitions to close Homestead. Support Senator Merkley’s Bill 397 “Shut Down Child Prison Camps Act”.
Donate The Witness Homestead group is requesting donations to help keep monitors on the ground. There is a Go Fund Me account called “Witness Homestead Support”. Donate here
Homestead, Fl children's prison Call to Action
What is Homestead Detention Center? Homestead, Florida is the site of the largest child detention center in the country, the ONLY for-profit center, and the only shelter deemed “temporary”. It was opened in June 2016 to house what HHS calls unaccompanied alien children (UAC). From June 2016 to April 2017 it sheltered 8,500 children, then closed. It was reactivated in March 2018 and currently houses more than 2,000 children. HHS now plans to expand to house up to 3,200 children beginning in mid-April. Children at Homestead are 13-17 yrs of age. About 75% are male and 25% female. According to HHS children remain an average of 52 days (although there are reports of children staying much longer).
Donate The Witness Homestead group is requesting donations to help keep monitors on the ground. There is a Go Fund Me account called “Witness Homestead Support”. Donate here
What can we do? While media coverage of the Homestead detention facility is growing, there is a need for greater awareness and action.
Lobby Contact your representatives at state and local levels. Write letters to local newspapers. Share on Facebook. Follow the Witness Homestead Facebook page. Write petitions to close Homestead. Support Senator Merkley’s Bill 397 “Shut Down Child Prison Camps Act”.
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CORRECTION - NO MEETINGS IN JUNE.
Watch this space for next meeting dates
CORRECTION - NO MEETINGS IN JUNE.Watch this space for next meeting dates
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WE ALWAYS WELCOME NEW MEMBERS AND NEW IDEAS!
KNOW YOUR STATE LEGISLATORS
Senator Travis Hutson District 7 Republican
District Office Tallahassee Office
4875 Palm Coast Parkway, NW 314 Senate Building
Suite 5 404 South Monroe Street
Palm Coast, FL 32137 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
(386) 446-7610 (850) 487-5007
Senate VOIP: 40700 Senate VOIP: 5007
FAX (888) 263-3475
Suite 5 404 South Monroe Street
Palm Coast, FL 32137 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
(386) 446-7610 (850) 487-5007
Senate VOIP: 40700 Senate VOIP: 5007
FAX (888) 263-3475
Legislative Assistants Legislative Assistant
Danielle Curbow and Matthew Kauffmann John Kotyk
 District Office Suite 902
309 Kingsley Lake Drive
St Augustine, FL 32092-3048
Phone (904) 823-2300
District Secretary: Shorty Robbins
|  Capitol Office 402 South Monroe Street 303 House Office Building Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300 Phone: (850) 717-5017
Legislative Assistant
Kaley Slattery
:
Kaley |
District Office Capitol Office
Suite 1 418 The Capitol
4877 Palm Coast Parkway Northwest 402 South Monroe Street
Palm Coast, FL 32137-3677 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300
Phone (386) 446-7644 Phone (850) 717-5024
4877 Palm Coast Parkway Northwest 402 South Monroe Street
Palm Coast, FL 32137-3677 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300
Phone (386) 446-7644 Phone (850) 717-5024
Legislative Assistant
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