More Neighborly Actions! Including a correction!

Correct info for RI Medicare for All hearing (and a request), vaccines for school workers, housing help for someone facing eviction, and blocking a bad state appointment.

Hi everyone,

So the Senate committee hearing for RI Medicare for All (Senate Bill 233) actually starts TOMORROW, 3/4, at 4pm. But you do need to sign up TODAY, 3/3, to testify.

I also have a request for those who can’t attend the hearing. If you’re willing, would you please reply to this and tell me how health care that you could afford WOULD save or change your life—or, if you do have coverage (for example, through your job), how it HAS saved or changed your life, especially beyond the immediate relief of suffering or lowering of risk? What I want to do in my testimony is show how the effects of being safe and well can spread to the whole city: for example, if you can get physical therapy after a bike accident, you can ride your bike again, which reduces traffic congestion and emissions, improves your physical and mental health overall, makes you more patient with your kids… I can share it by your first name or just by the city/town you live in. Anything you send me by 4pm tomorrow will be helpful!

Now, a few more things to do for and with our neighbors.

ASAP: An undocumented Providence family is facing eviction. They’re looking for a 2-bedroom place with a gas stove. They have a small dog. If you have any leads, or think you might be able to help them stay in their home, please write to Fatema at fatemasmaswood@gmail.com.

This week, next, and onward: CVS is prioritizing vaccine appointments for K-12 school workers in RI and MA. As of this morning, there were no open spots yet, but if you work in a school at all, start checking the sign-up site. I know this process is so ramshackle and budget and I don’t have anything to say about that except that it sucks.

3/4, BY 2pm, remotely: There are two excellent reasons why John Revens Jr. should not be in charge of regulating our public utilities (especially electricity and gas): he won’t commit to supporting a Percentage of Income Payment Plan, which would help low-income households avoid shutoffs and exorbitant bills (it would also, I’m pretty sure, be a partial defense against exorbitant rate hikes after a disaster, like what happened in Texas). And he won’t commit to opposing new fossil fuel infrastructure, which would undercut all Rhode Island’s efforts to lower our climate-warming emissions and stop polluting low-income communities of color. Here’s a guide for writing to three key senators opposing his appointment.

With love,
Kate