Weekly Call To Action - March 26, 2023

​Quote of the Week:

“Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow is ours to win or lose.” —Lyndon B. Johnson

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Legislative Actions:

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​Action: Take the following actions and then click the green 'I took this action' button. You will see the button if you are logged into TAN.

These lobby actions need your help.

Ask for YES Executive Session vote to protect orcas (SB 5371) on Mar. 29
DEADLINE: Mar 29 11:00pm
Orca protection (SB 5371) has finally been scheduled for an executive session vote. Now let's advocate for it to be passed out with a YES vote!

Let's get backyard cottages (EHB 1337) out of the policy committee!
DEADLINE: Mar 28 9:00am
This bill would make it easier to add additional housing units like basement apartments and backyard cottages. Another one to advocate for committee passage with a YES vote, TAN has helpful language.

Support Gun Safety Bills HB 1240 and HB 1143 in Senate Law & Justice Exec. Hearing
DEADLINE: Mar 28 10:30am
HB 1240 prohibits the manufacture, importation, distribution, selling, and offering for sale of assault weapons. These weapons of war are exceptionally deadly firearms and are commonplace in mass shootings.
HB 1143 requires firearms safety training and a 10-day waiting period. It prohibits firearms transfers prior to completing a background check, and it updates more consistent firearm
Both of these need to be passed out of Committee after their hearing, you can use the TAN language.
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The position on the following actions is ‘PRO’. 

Law & Justice
Support HB 1324 (Eliminating consideration of juvenile offenses in adult sentencing.) by Signing in "Pro" 
DEADLINE: Mar 27 9:30am
The practice of automatically giving people longer sentences because of crimes they committed as children has meant that Black and Indigenous people often receive longer sentences due to prior juvenile convictions. HB 1324 eliminates this practice.

Support HB 1479 Ending isolation, mechanical/chemical restraint of students by Signing in “Pro” 
DEADLINE: Mar 29 11pm
HB 1479 seeks to eliminate the practice of isolation of students in schools. It also seeks to make the use of restraining students safer by eliminating both mechanical and chemical restraints in Washington schools.

Environment
Support HB 1047 (Cosmetic product chemicals) by Signing in "Pro"
DEADLINE: Mar 28 3:00pm
Remove chemicals linked to cancer and developmental and reproductive harm from cosmetics and personal care products. This is the last public hearing before the all floor Senate vote.

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Local Actions:

Saving the Planet Starts Locally

​Our local environment is impacted by the 10-year “Update of Comprehensive Plans” being conducted by Thurston County as well as local cities. The plan topics include how land is used for transportation, affordable housing, public facilities, and also addresses climate change. 

This is an opportunity to learn more about the update to the Comprehensive Plans, and hear from and ask questions of local officials. Carolina Mejia (County), Clark Gillman (Olympia), Eileen Swarthout (Tumwater), and Carolyn Cox (Lacey).

What: County and City Official’s Visions for Improved Local Planning Forum 
When: Wednesday, March 29 2023 - 6:30 pm
Where: Jacob Smith House, Lacey and virtually via Zoom
Sponsors: The Local Good Governance Coalition (LGGC) in coordination with the Thurston Climate Action Team.

Action 1: Register here to attend in person: County and City Official’s Visions for Improved Local Planning Forum 

Action 2: Register here to attend by Zoom. ​

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Have You Scheduled These Events?

Save the Date for OI’s All-member April Meeting

​On Saturday, April 22nd, find out how you can help strengthen democracy -- here in Thurston County and across our state and nation -- to make a difference in 2023 and 2024. Come to Building our Bench Strength for a Sustainable Democracy (in person or by Zoom) and discover Olympia Indivisible's recipe for activism that is practical, impactful, and filled with friendship, laughter, and inspiration. This meeting is open to the public, so bring a friend! Please register!

What: OI All-member Building our Bench Strength for a Sustainable Democracy

When: Saturday, April 22, 2023, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm

Where: Either by Zoom or in person in Multipurpose Room A of the Olympia Community Center, 222 Columbia St NW Olympia WA 98501
 
Registration: April 22, 2023 AM Sign-Up ​

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Action Cafe 2023, 
Every Monday at Noon

​Chef Lisa and the Action Cafe crew are back! The Cafe is a weekly Monday Zoom noon-hour gathering where OI members meet, make new friends, and take actions together. Every Cafe comes with a side order of live music and a heapin’ helpin’ of good cheer!

Action Cafe is a GREAT place to take legislative action: we’ll do the list of bills at the top of this page and Chef Lisa will help out if you need any tech support!

Cafe patrons receive an email on Sunday with a sneak-peek at what we'll do at the cafe the next day. On Monday morning, Chef Lisa will send you a pdf "Menu" which has links to the actions we'll take together at the Cafe. 
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Action: Register HERE. We will send you a Zoom link and tomorrow morning, Chef Lisa will send your "menu." 

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​You Might Also Like to Attend:

Regional Fire Authority Voter Education Forum

​Sponsored by the League of Women Voters and The Jolt (Journal of Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater)

In the April 25 special election, Olympia and Tumwater residents will vote on how their fire services are delivered. The ballot measure, if passed, will authorize the creation of a Regional Fire Authority (RFA) to replace the two cities’ fire departments. An RFA is a special purpose government, overseen by its own commissioners. 

When: March 29th, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. 
Where: In person at TCMedia Studio A, 440 Yauger Way SW Ste C
In Person Registration Required: Regional Fire Authority Voter Education Forum 
Watch It Live: On Thurston Community Media, Comcast Cable Channel 77

And for more information about the RFA proposal, visit Olympia Indivisible’s Voter Education webpage.

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Indivisible National Truth Brigade Training

Photo by fotdmike

Indivisible National invites you to take a close look at coordinated programs to misinform the population about solar energy and climate repair, especially in rural areas, as well as disinformation that's intended to BLOCK use of IRA funds designated for Clean Energy! Of course, the Truth Brigade program is all about taking meaningful action to counter disinformation, so they will not only provide inoculation messaging to share, but also guidance for groups to host their own local education events, possibly with speakers from UCS.

Date: April 12, 6:30 ET/3:30 PT

Topic: Stop Climate Disinformation from Poisoning our Minds and Our Planet

Featured speakers:

• Lisa Graves, Researcher featured in this NPR article on rural solar disinformation
• Kate Cell, Senior Climate Campaign Manager, Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS)

Register now: Indivisible Truth Brigade's BIG TRUTHS webinar, 

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Community Participation:

Helping Our Hungry Neighbors 
Thurston’s Hunger Walk

​At the end of February, millions of Americans lost the pandemic boost to their food stamps (now known as SNAP.) That translates to dramatically less access to groceries exactly when inflation and food costs reach near 40-year highs. Your donations to support our neighbors experiencing hunger are now more important than ever!

Olympia Indivisible supports Thurston's Hunger Walk, an annual fundraiser to help two local agencies: The Community Kitchen and Thurston County Food Bank.

How to Donate to These Wonderful Programs
You can donate through OI's Hunger Walk Team Site. We are trying to beat last year's contributions, so have set a goal for $3500. A hardy thank you to those who have already contributed.

If you prefer, you could make out a check to: Thurston's Hunger Walk and mail it to: Thurston County Food Bank, P.O. Box 11549, Olympia, WA 98508 with "Indivisible" in the memo line.

Then Come Walk with Your Teammates in Olympia Indivisible
This year’s walk will take place at Lacey’s Huntamer Park 618 Woodland Square Loop SE, (Corner of Woodland Square Loop and 7th Avenue SE) on Sunday May 7th, at 3:00 pm. Enjoy camaraderie and live music while you walk as little or as much as you like. Sign Up to Walk with Olympia Indivisible's Team