This week in Iowa organizing…
I hope you all had a good Labor Day weekend. Sadly, you probably weren't beating the heat by taking a dip at your local beach courtesy in large part due to factory farm pollution and our persistent drought.
Speaking of Labor Day, let's remember that our 40 hour work-week was won by organized labor and shouldn't be taken for granted. Protections won by unions and organized movements continue to be under attack, and despite likely violations of federal law states like ours are trying to bring back child labor.
We operate in stormy seas, but we do it together and we don't back down. Let's keep at it.
For the people and places we love,
Matthew Covington (he/him)
Strategic Operations Director
Take action
Today (and beyond!) in Dubuque - take action for 'people first' housing policy
CCI members have established our housing policy platform for Dubuque! This platform addresses affordable housing development, application fees, renter rights education, housing inspections, and more.
Over the next month we have lots of opportunities to get involved and help make this vision a reality:
9.5.23 Dubuque City Council Meeting: We're going to city council! It was recently announced that the city of Dubuque is going to offer $3.3 million in incentives for a development in downtown Dubuque and CCI members have some thoughts on how the agreement could be more renter-friendly.
9.10.23 Table Mound Canvassing: We're going to knock doors in the Table Mound Mobile Home Park to let people know that on Sept. 17 the association is going to meet! We've been working with them to identify issues and solutions within the park, and we want to let folks know we're stronger together.
10.1.23 People's Housing Forum: We're hosting a housing forum with Dubuque elected officials! This is a chance to ask a question, share a story, or give your thoughts on what needs to improve with housing in Dubuque.
Tomorrow - next call-in day to tell the Iowa Utilities Board 'No to Summit!'
We're now into the third week of the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) evidentiary hearings for Summit's pipeline permits. Whereas it seems they've been doing everything possible to shut everyday Iowans out of this process, Gov. Reynolds continues to deny she's influenced the process in anyway.
The IUB’s mission statement is to “regulate utilities to ensure that reasonably priced, reliable, environmentally responsible, and safe utility services are available to all Iowans." It’s not their job to shut everyday Iowans out and fast track Bruce Rastetter’s latest money-making scheme.
The IUB has the power to deny permits for the proposed Summit, Navigator and Wolf carbon pipelines.
We've called and left messages for commissioners Joshua Byrnes and Erik Helland, now it's time for Reynolds' appointed commissioner Sarah Martz to hear from you!
Call IUB Commissioner, Sarah Martz, tomorrow (Wednesday) and tell her to deny Summit’s pipeline permit. 515-725-7888 is the publicly listed office number for the IUB.
Share your story! Tell her why you care about stopping CO2 pipelines
Tell her pipelines are dangerous and potentially deadly, putting the people and places we love at risk.
Urge her to deny Summit's permit application and not let Bruce Rastetter abuse eminent domain for private gain!
September 28 - Let's go to the movies Scott County!
Community members from 5 different organizations across the United States-- including two of Iowa's very own experts, Diane Rosenberg and John Ikert--share their stories and experiences living near factory farms in 'Right to Harm'.
This film exposes the health issues and damages to quality of life that surround industrial agriculture and shares how government agencies have failed to regulate factory farms.
Join us on Thursday, September 28th from 7-9PM at Scott County Park to watch and discuss how citizen groups have rallied against Big Ag and industry-loving politicians to fight for clean air, water, and land!