Much Love To Moms: PM Weekly Memo for Monday, May 10, 2021
This past Mother’s Day Weekend, we reflected on the many roles of mothers in the world, and the impact of the pandemic on womxn and families. We are thinking about all the mothers who have lost children, and all the children who have lost mothers. And to all those who chose to be mothers, chose not to be mothers, are unable to carry a child, have adopted or fostered children, have two moms, have chosen mothers, have estranged relationships with their mother, etc. - we are sending much love to you all.
As does Gaea, a love that we all return.
One way in which we can all stand with womxn is by fighting for Medicare For All, worker’s rights, and people’s recovery. This and much more in the memo.
Thank you for being part of this movement.
In Solidarity,
The PM Team
Much Love To Moms: PM Weekly Memo for Monday, May 10, 2021
This past Mother’s Day Weekend, we reflected on the many roles of mothers in the world, and the impact of the pandemic on womxn and families. We are thinking about all the mothers who have lost children, and all the children who have lost mothers. And to all those who chose to be mothers, chose not to be mothers, are unable to carry a child, have adopted or fostered children, have two moms, have chosen mothers, have estranged relationships with their mother, etc. - we are sending much love to you all.
As does Gaea, a love that we all return.
One way in which we can all stand with womxn is by fighting for Medicare For All, worker’s rights, and people’s recovery. This and much more in the memo.
Thank you for being part of this movement.
In Solidarity,
The PM Team
Quick Actions:
- Support our New Era PAC
- Help pass the PRO Act by calling your Senator at 866-832-1560 - here’s some talking points & more info
- Support our campaigns and organizing! Become a full member of Progressive Maryland
- Sign the Medicare For All MoCo Resolution Petition
- Join us on Slack to continue the conversation
Statewide Updates:
New Era PAC
If you missed our fantastic launch event filled with incredible speakers and great music, don’t fret! You can watch the Facebook Livestream recording here. And check this article on the launch in The Baltimore Sun. You can also continue to contribute to this effort of electing progressive leaders across our state - any contribution makes a big difference! Donate now.
Progressive Maryland’s People’s Leadership Institute (MPLI)
Progressive Maryland is excited that its MPLI program is underway. Check out the article in Maryland Matters about our 2021 training and cohort participants. We will take up our multi-step candidate endorsement process later this year but want to share some campaign related updates about a few of our 2021 cohort members with our Memo readers.
First we offer congratulations to MPLI leader Todd Nock, Pocomoke City Councilmember, who won re-election in his April race. And congrats too, to a couple of other 2021 participants who have announced their 2022 campaign plans. They include Stanford Fraser of Upper Marlboro, featured in this Washington Post article after announcing his plans, and Michele Gregory, currently serving on the Salisbury City Council who announced her plans at a livestream event last week.
Anne Arundel Fair Elections Campaign
Our next Anne Arundel County Fair Elections Task Force meeting will be on Wednesday, May 26, from 6:30-7:30pm - RSVP here.
Healthcare Justice Campaign
It's now been over a month since the Medical Debt Protection Act of 2021 (HB565 / SB514) passed out of the General Assembly with unanimous support, but the bill is still waiting on a signature from Governor Larry Hogan to become law. We know Gov. Hogan plans to sign more bills by the end of the month, but it's not clear whether the Medical Debt Protection Act of 2021 will be among them. We're asking you, as supporters of this critical legislation, to take two simple steps to urge the Governor to sign the bill:
(1) Call Gov. Hogan's office at (410) 974-3901 — let him know you're a Maryland resident who supports the Medical Debt Protection Act (HB565 / SB514), and ask him to sign the bill.
(2) Take 2 minutes to email Gov. Hogan urging him to sign the Medical Debt Protection Act into law.
Already taken these steps? Invite your friends to do the same!
You can sign on here to show your support for the End Medical Debt Maryland campaign and receive occasional email updates. Please contact Lindsey Muniak ([email protected]) with any questions or to learn how to get more involved.
Fighting COVID-19:
Vaccine Victory! The Biden-Harris Administration came out on May 5 in support of the TRIPs waiver, an action that would remove many of the intellectual property barriers to vaccine production and distribution around the globe. U.S. Trade Ambassador Katherine Tai said this on Twitter: Quote from Trade Secretary: “These extraordinary times and circumstances call for extraordinary measures.The US supports the waiver of IP protections on COVID-19 vaccines to help end the pandemic and we’ll actively participate in @WTO negotiations to make that happen.“ People’s Action, our national affiliate, and its Justice is Global Project, of which Progressive Maryland is part of, issued this statement.
Thanks to everyone who took part in our Vaccine Equity actions and advocacy during this past month! It’s really made a difference. Thanks to our leaders for helping us continue the push for vaccine equity at the state level while taking on the global piece, too. We submitted comments opposing a Trump era proposed rule under consideration at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST.) The proposed rule would end the government's power to break pharmaceutical monopolies related to excessing pricing for drugs. We met and discussed the importance of addressing not just the state level with our leaders and joined with other advocates at a meeting with Rep. Trone’s staff about the TRIPs waiver which resulted in his signing a letter of support; we distributed postcards to supporters to send to the Whlte House and we attended the #PeoplesVaccine Rally on the National Mall last week. The virus unfortunately is still spreading and killing people around the world. The vaccine is the best way to save and protect lives. Let’s keep fighting for vaccines for people everywhere ! Help us make our voices heard on this critical issue. Contact Josh or Patty to get involved.
Medicare for All:
The Medicare for All Act of 2021, H.R. 1976, introduced by Rep. Pramila Jayapal, now has 115 co-sponsors in the U.S. House including four of our Democratic Members of Congress (Reps. Raskin, Mfume, Sarbanes and Brown) . This landmark legislation would improve and expand Medicare; providing a way for all Americans to get health coverage no matter their age, income, location, employment status, or medical situation. It’s time to get other members of the Maryland Congressional delegation, including Senators Van Hollen and Cardin to sign on, too. That’s why we’ve stepped up our organizing!
--We kicked off the first of a series of Medicare For All Teach-Ins on April 22 and got great feedback from the participants. Please help us reach people and groups (large and small) around the state with this excellent education tool. We’ve made it easy to use the slides and our toolkit. Given the growing public support for MFA, we have a chance to harness the concern and turn it into more grassroots power for healthcare justice. The Teach-Ins can help us do this. Reach out to Malcolm at [email protected] or [email protected].
---Local organizing to support City and County resolutions for M4A is also part of the state and national strategy to build grassroots public support.
We had a big victory in Prince George’s County last Tuesday, May 4! The Medicare for All Resolution CR-27-202 was passed unanimously by the Council. Congratulations and huge shout out to the Maryland Progressive Healthcare Coalition (MPHC) and to its dedicated Prince George’s leaders and activists whose persistence paid off. Thanks as well to all the local PM members who signed the petition, submitted testimony, and supported the work of the MPHC.
Montgomery County activists: Help us win in MoCo! Start by signing the petition to the MoCo Council asking them to pass a Medicare for All Resolution. We expect Council action in the next several weeks. Please share the petition with your family and friends. Ask groups that you’re a part of to sign an organizational letter of support. Individuals and groups who live in or who are doing work in areas of the County represented by Congressman Trone are especially needed. Contact Josh on how to get involved.
Everyone: If you’d like to support or learn about how to start a campaign where you live please get in touch.You can help us build support across the state through a local resolution campaign, a petition or email campaign directed at Members of Congress.
Local Chapter Updates:
Anne Arundel County and Southern Maryland
-The next Southern Maryland Chapter Meeting will be Tomorrow, Tuesday, May 11, from 6-7pm - RSVP here.
Baltimore County/ Frederick County/ Western Maryland
Montgomery County Justice Working Group
Join together with members of the Progressive Montgomery community to get organized and educated on justice issues in Montgomery County. We will be working on judicial reform, criminal justice issues, and any issues that are important to YOU.
Lower Shore Progressive Caucus (Affiliate Chapter) our monthly meeting is the first Thursday of the month. Check our website for more.
State and National News:
As noted above, the Biden administration agreed to loosen patent restrictions for the COVID vaccines but Big Pharma is lobbying the World Trade Organization to re-tighten them to their advantage; our allies at People’s Action acknowledge a long slog to go. Seeing a US administration move against the interests of global corporations has, however, stunned many wavering nations and may have long-term effects. Stay tuned for ways to pressure the WTO.
Eviction crisis in Maryland -- because state courts have opened up and are -- rapidly -- processing eviction requests using “rocket dockets” that make poorer tenants unable to defend themselves, county execs from big counties are demanding that Gov. Larry Hogan impose protections against eviction. Read more in our blog, updated several times, and in today’s latest advice from the Public Justice Center.
From our friends at #MEAction Maryland:
There’s very good news in the fight against Long COVID! In late April the COVID-19 Long Haulers Act was introduced in the United States House. The bill focuses on ways to improve the Long COVID patient experience by educating the public and clinicians about Long COVID, by synthesizing research on symptoms and treatments, and by supporting recommendations on how to improve the health care system’s response to long-term symptoms of COVID–19. A one-pager on the bill is available here, and legislative text will be posted here as soon as it is finalized. To learn more about this urgent topic check out this coverage from the PBS NewsHour.
What is the Thrive Act and why do we need it? We have Biden’s infrastructure and family-support bills, and we know they will be a heavy lift in this retrograde Senate. But the Thrive Act, which was introduced two weeks ago by legislators we know and trust, adds critical elements directly from the Green New Deal and focuses on the frontline peoples otherwise downplayed in the Biden plan. Bringing these elements into the mix is just not something we can ignore as we move forward on the whole (incomplete) program. Read the fact sheet on the Thrive Act here.
Events from our allies:
Wednesday, May 12 | 5:30-6:30pm - Driving While Black: Race, Space, and Mobility in America Screening by MD Sierra Film Club
This 2020 PBS Documentary exposes sad and dangerous situations and stories that Black people have faced and are continuing to experience, including transportation discrimination and deadly violence. Unfortunately, we know that in Maryland there are countless recent and current examples of racial discrimination in transportation like Governor Hogan’s cancellation of the Red Line East-West Light Rail in Baltimore. And Gov. Hogan's proposed I-495 and I-270 expansion would exacerbate the harm to fenceline communities of color that were already suffering from the original Beltway widening in the 1960s. We’ll discuss these topics with Samuel Jordan, President of the Baltimore Transit Equity Coalition and Natali Fani-Gonzalez; Vice Chair, Montgomery County Planning Board M-NPPC and highlight their daily battles for social and environmental justice. REGISTER HERE
Wednesday, May 12 | 7 – 9pm | Greenbelt Climate Action Network (GCAN) May Meeting
GCAN, a project of CHEARS — Chesapeake Education, Arts, and Research Society — holds its May meeting with focus on national campaigns. Register at link.
Sunday, May 16 | 10am – 1pm | Intro to Union Organizing Bootcamp
Join Rising Organizers and the Non-Profit Employees Union for a Union Organizing Bootcamp! This bootcamp will provide attendees with skills they need for building union support in their workplaces, and is specifically designed for people at the start (or start-ish!) of their unionizing journey.
Monday, May 17th - People's Recovery Lobby Week
We have the opportunity to come together in unity and power to harness the strength of our intersections and make our collective voices heard. We're organizing a People’s Recovery Lobby Week during the week of May 17th where we will talk to our elected officials about a few bills that will have a bold and progressive impact on everyday people like ourselves. REGISTRATION LINK
Wednesday May 19 | 1 – 2:30pm | Webinar: Healthy Housing, Healthy Maryland
Presented by MD Center on Economic Policy. Join us as we discuss why housing is healthcare. Details and registration at link.
Progressive Maryland BlogSpace:
We value creating space for our members to express their thoughts on any issues related to our campaigns. Have an idea for a blog post? You can submit writing, film, graphic design etc. to be published on our website to the blog moderator, Woody, at [email protected].
May 05, 2021 Looming eviction crisis as emergency ebbs brings multiple calls for official relief
In a whirlwind week of events threatening a tsunami of evictions and homelessness, activists urged the state government to protect renters against eviction as courts re-opened, a federal judge voided national tenant protections (and then reinstated them) and yesterday (Thursday, May 6) executives of the state's biggest population centers jointly urged Gov. Larry Hogan to stop Maryland courts from enforcing evictions when tenants were often unable to appear in the newly opened courts to defend themselves. See more in this blog post.
May 04, 2021 Progressive Maryland launches PAC to back progressive candidates with the mother's milk of politics
The advocacy group Progressive Maryland has launched a new political action committee to elect progressive Democrats in races for the General Assembly and local offices, as Maryland Matters recounts below.
The New Era PAC's inaugural virtual fundraiser on Saturday was keynoted by Benjamin T. Jealous, the 2018 Democratic nominee for governor and current president of the national civil rights group People For The American Way, who spoke at the even
“This is not a time for ‘play-it-safe’ politics,” Jealous wrote in an email invitation to the event. “In Maryland, just like in our country as a whole, we are in a new age, filled with unprecedented challenges and unprecedented opportunities, ready to be met and seized with bold, progressive leadership.”
-Progressive Maryland Weekly Memo for Monday, May 3, 2021
>>Read more on the homepage of progressivemaryland.org.
Click here to view this memo in your web browser.
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