We hope you’re all healthy and well. Hang in there and we’ll all be together with those we care about soon. Remember that the more we self-isolate the more we save lives. That’s no small thing and you are all heroes when you do that.
This photo is from last night's virtual Cards & Cocktails. That's Michael and Tim, our voter registration leads, in the big screen with the other ten of us in the smaller windows. We wrote postcards to a lot of voters, drank a little wine, and had a lot of fun in the process. We have more lined up for next week!
While we're sitting at home you might think there is nothing to do, but we have work to do my friends! We can make calls, write cards, and work together virtually, all to make this country more democratic. Check out the options below and pick the one (or two or three) you want to be part of.
CALL TO ACTION
We know there is a huge shortage of critical supplies and equipment to fight the coronavirus pandemic. And we know there is a solution to help get those critical pieces to the locations that need them. Donald Trump could use the Defense Production Act (DPA), to require companies to complete orders from the federal government, and get the equipment and supplies delivered to where they are needed. Trump has invoked the DPA but he has not used it, some think because he’s afraid it will look like socialism. We know he’s wrong and that this is another example of his failed leadership.
Fortunately, Democrats in Congress have started to act. Two Senate bills have been introduced to force Trump to use the DPA and we need to call our senators and tell them to support these bills. Sen. Tammy Duckworth has introduced one bill that would require Trump to order 300 million N95 face masks 24 hours after it goes into effect. It would also call on FEMA to submit a report about the medical supply needs across the country, no more than one week after the bill has been passed.
Sens. Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Brian Schatz (D-HI), have introduced legislation S.3568, the Medical Supply Chain Emergency Act. It would compel Trump to use the DPA to produce 500 million N95 face masks, 200,000 medical ventilators, and 20 million face shields.
Sen. Casey – Phila office 215-405-9660; D.C. office 202-224-6324; email link
Sen. Toomey – Phila office 215-241-1090; D.C. office 202-224-4254; email link
Call our Senators and tell them they need to co-sponsor bills introduced by Sen. Duckworth and Sens. Murphy and Schatz to force Trump to use the DPA and get equipment and supplies manufactured and distributed quickly. If Trump won’t use the tools available to him to get desperately needed healthcare equipment and supplies manufactured and delivered where it is needed most, Congress must force him to do it.
Rep. Evans – D.C. office 202-225-4001; Phila. office (215) 276-0340; email link
Rep. Boyle – D.C. office (202) 225-6111; Phila office (215) 335-3355; email link
Demand our House Members continue to fight to help people and small businesses
The House is currently debating the $2T legislation in the next step to help people and businesses in need because of the pandemic. Call your House Member and thank them for supporting this legislation and remind them that we need to do so much more.
We will need to increase election security and access to voting; add guardrails for any corporate bailouts; financial support to states to implement vote by mail before November; universal paid sick leave for all not just for some; improve cash assistance by making the payments recurring and available to all people including immigrants; and support for patients and health care workers by expanding Medicaid funding.
VIRTUAL MEETING THE CENSUS AND WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU – GET IN THE COUNT
We had to postpone our March meeting because of social distancing. But that doesn’t mean we can’t “meet” virtually! So we’ve set up our next meeting for Wednesday, April 8, at 6:00 pm. Our speaker will be Pedro Rodriguez, Director, Community Engagement & Partnerships of Philly Counts. He will tell us everything we need to know about the Census. Sign up here and we’ll send you the Zoom invitation so you can participate in the meeting online. Bring your questions too!
What: Indivisible Philadelphia Meeting – The Census and What It Means To You – Get in the Count
When: Wednesday, April 8, 6-8 pm
Where: The comfort of your own home, via video chat
PHONE BANKING
1. Census phone banking
You can call Philadelphia residents and encourage them to fill out their census form. This is so important and because of the lockdown we can’t hang flyers on doors, so we have to make calls. Sign up here for this critical work.
2. Phone banking to voters – Sign up for Vote By Mail – Day Of Action
TOMORROW
As we noted on Tuesday was likely to happen, Pennsylvania has voted to delay our primary to June 2 due to the COVID-19 outbreak. So now what?
Now, we need to reach EVERY Democrat in Pennsylvania and urge them to request a mail-in ballot for the primary. If a voter requests a June mail-in ballot, they can also get one in November, helping us increase turnout to defeat Donald Trump.
Help us urge our voters to vote safely from home, and help turn PA Blue! One hour of calls will make a HUGE difference.
Join PA Dems for a Phone Bank Day of Action TOMORROW, urging newly registered Democrats to vote by mail. You can also sign up here for phone-bank training.
POSTCARDS
You can write postcards at home! We promise you’ll relieve your anxiety and do some good in the world. More than 30 of our members are writing cards from their homes and doing a brilliant job. Right now we are writing to voters in North Carolina and Georgia to remind them to double-check their voter registration status. We also wrote to Wisconsin voters to ask them to vote for their Supreme Court candidate Jill Karofsky. And we’re writing to voters in Florida to remind them to sign up for vote by mail. We’ll be adding more options as we go along. This will relieve your anxiety and give you confidence you are making a difference.
Here’s how it works:
– Step One: Order postcards from the Postal Service at this link. They are 39 cents each, including the stamp, and are the cheapest way to buy cards and stamps.
– Step Two: Email us at info@indivisiblephiladelphia.com and let us know you want to write cards and we’ll get you all the information you need.
– Step Three: We will send you addresses and a script for you to write the cards. We’ll replenish your supply of addresses as needed.
And you can write postcards from home with other people! We have TWO virtual postcards events below, each with a video call so we can write postcards “together” virtually. We did this last night and we had a good time (see photo above). It’s a lot of fun, super easy to connect, and a good way to stay in touch.
What: Virtual Cards & Coffee
Where: The comfort of your own home, via video chat
When: Wednesday, April 1, 6-8 pm (stay for as long as you want)
Virtual Cards & Cocktails
We’ll send you the link for the Zoom video meeting beforehand.
Where: The comfort of your own home, via video chat
When: Thursday, April 2, 6-8 pm (stay for as long as you want)
MORE IDEAS FOR SPENDING QUALITY INDOOR TIME
If you missed our ideas from last week, find them on our Newsletter page on the Indivisible Philadelphia website here.
1. How about some history?
Take a virtual tour of the fabulous Museum of the American Revolution.
2. For Students:
We could use a little more knowledge about our civic culture, am I right? Check out the National Constitution Center’s Classroom Exchanges for Civic Dialogue.
3. Time for some cute animal videos.
Here are videos about wow some animals practice social distancing
4. Do you miss the cherry blossoms?
Here are 25 views of cherry blossoms around the world. Enjoy!
Have a great weekend everyone. Stay safe. Stay healthy. See you soon.