This week in Iowa organizing…
Well, may we always live in interesting times. Amid rising political polarization, some elected officials and Supreme Court justices are urging Americans to "disagree better." Yep, it's come to this I guess (but I'm not necessarily disagreeing with them!).
On another note, on this day in 1939, Eleanor Roosevelt resigned from the Daughters of the American Revolution in protest of their decision to not allow Black singer Marian Anderson to perform at Constitution Hall.
If you haven't noticed yet, I'm a bit distracted, confused, and concerned by the record-breaking heat happening across the state today. So let's just get to it, please read on for more coherent thoughts and ways to take action!
Matthew Covington
Strategic Operations Director
At the Statehouse
Can some bills just go away?
Floor debates will continue this week, as we're now just under three weeks out from the next legislative funnel deadline on March 15. Aside from spending bills, that's the date where bills must pass a full chamber (House or Senate) and out of committee in the corresponding chamber to still be alive for consideration.
With that in mind, here's just a few bills we'd be more than happy to see not make the cut:
Senate File 2371: Would allow manure from an open feedlot to be applied to fields before the DNR has approved or denied a nutrient management plan. This opens the door for more over-application of manure that seeps into our ground water and runs off into our waterways, furthering our water quality crisis. Take a minute to email your Senator here.
House File 2612 and Senate File 2386: The House and Senate versions of Governor Reynolds' plan to revamp (or dismantle) our state's Area Education Agencies. Whereas the House plan is less dangerous than the Senate and Gov. Reynolds' plan, we still believe no changes should be made to an institution that's served Iowa's children and educators for 50 years without careful, deliberate, and thorough study with all stakeholders involved. Haven't emailed your Representative and Senator yet? You can do so here.
Again, several proposals targeting immigrant communities and groups aiming to help asylum seekers. These bills are a solution in search of a problem, and a good dose of political grandstanding in advance of the November elections. If you haven't reached out to your legislators yet, you can find them and their contact information here.
Take action
Feb. 29 in Dubuque - celebrate Black History Month!
Join us Feb. 29 at 5:30pm for praise dancing, singing, traditional soul food, art, and education can't be missed out on.
Over the past two months we've been working with the Bishop's Block Tenants Association to get their housing needs met and they invited us to join their Black History Month celebration.
Join us for the Bishop's Block Black History Month Celebration to close out February with us and tenants across Dubuque!
March 5 - no CO2 pipelines in Mitchell County!
CO2 pipelines are a new and unproven technology being pushed by already wealthy, greedy corporations. They’re dangerous to our health, communities, and the environment - and are threatening to take Iowan’s land for private gain.
Join CCI members and local residents for the upcoming Board of Supervisors meeting in Mitchell County to urge them to pass an ordinance to protect our community from pipeline profiteers!
We'll be meeting at the Mitchell County Courthouse on Tuesday, March 5 at 8:30am. Let us know if you can join by registering here!
March 19 - what is 'deep canvassing'?
Looking to engage with your community around deeply polarizing issues? Hoping to understand how to have compassionate, non-judgmental conversations across lines of difference? Or, have you heard about this thing called “deep canvassing” and curious to learn more?
Join our allies with People's Action and the Deep Canvass Institute on March 19 at 5pm to learn more about deep canvassing - what it is, how it’s used and why it works.
Deep canvassing was developed by organizers and volunteers in the LGBTQ rights movement as a way to turn the tide of a decade of losses around marriage equality. It has since become the one of the only tactics scientifically proven to be able to lastingly reduce prejudice, inoculate people against fear-based messaging, and change hearts and minds on divisive issues.
Kicking off March 26 - book talks w/ Austin Frerick!
Join CCI member Austin Frerick for a talk and Q & A based on his new book "Barons: Money, Power, and the Corruption of America's Food Industry"
Austin's book is a deep dive into seven barons in the food industry, their rise to power, and the consequences for farmers, workers, eaters, and democracy itself. It prominently features Iowa and the stories of CCI members fighting in the trenches against Big Ag.
Check out our website here for details on the book talk closest to you!
Barons paints a stark portrait of corporate consolidation, but Austin also shows that a fair, healthy, and prosperous food industry is possible - if we take back power from the barons who have robbed us of it.
Updates
Water testing with Nitrate Watch
Iowa's water crisis is finally starting to get the attention it deserves. The partnership between Iowa CCI and Izaak Walton League's Nitrate Watch continues to make water testing kits available.
Information about the program and how to order a test kit can be found by clicking this link.
Nitrate Watch has a great worksheet you can use to create a water monitoring plan.
Let's keep getting loud about the water quality issue in Iowa!
What We're Reading
These are a few links that are informing our work - we've shared them so that you can read, too!
It's time for Vilsack to stop appeasing Big Ag and start fighting for Iowa [Iowa Capital Dispatch]
Chicago sues fossil fuel companies for role in climate crisis [The Guardian]
The organizers forging a rural action plan for 2024 [Barn Raiser]
Company behind Joe Namath Medicare Advantage ads has long rap sheet of misconduct [HEALTH CARE un-covered]
'I'm not going to teach in Iowa': UNI students explain why they're not sticking around [Iowa Starting Line]