We hope this week finds you in high spirits and ready for action. Last Wednesday, our Healthcare Taskforce organized a powerful direct action outside the CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield offices in Owings Mills. While we've already shared a comprehensive recap with you, we're excited to share a new highlight video that captures the spirit of our movement. 

But the excitement doesn't stop there – many of our task forces have incredible events in the pipeline, and you'll find the details in the upcoming sections. 

As we draw closer to the election, with just three weeks to go, our endorsed candidates are tirelessly working to turn out the vote. Be sure to visit our Election Corner section where you can learn more about these candidates and why they're perfect for the roles they're running for.

Let's keep pushing for progress together. Stay engaged, stay informed, and stay united.

In Solidarity,

The Progressive Maryland Team

Here’s what’s in today’s memo:

• • Election Corner

  • PM task forces & issue campaigns: HCTF, RCTF, EJTF

  • Local Chapter Updates: LSPC

  • Events from Allies
  • State & National news

Election Corner

Read more about our candidate Izola Shaw in this piece highlighting who she is.

Last week Iyamide House was endorsed by Prince George's County State's Attorney, Aisha Braveboy. You can read more about that here.

Updates: PM Task Forces & Issue Campaigns 

Healthcare Justice: Taking Action This Fall!

Care Over Cost Direct Action Last Week:

Hundreds of everyday people turned out for protests and actions at health insurance companies last week! From Denver to Chicago to Baltimore and the Bronx we showed up to tell them to STOP denying and delaying our ability to get the medical care we need. Here in Maryland, we targeted CareFirst and called them out on their terrible practices: ignoring doctor’s recommendations, delaying decisions and claims reimbursements, and hiding information about the rate of denials their policyholders are experiencing.

Watch the video here Credit: John Spillane 

Do you want to see an end to health insurance company greed and profiteering? Join us! We’re working to get immediate relief for people waiting for approval of the procedures and prescriptions they need and for the reimbursements they deserve. We can win this campaign and the longer term fight for a universal publicly funded healthcare system with a large base of people- you can help us make it happen! Sign up to get involved. 

Next Sunday afternoon, October 22, come out for another round of door knocking in Montgomery County. We’re finding tremendous support for the campaign at the door and at community events around the state. Training, materials and support are provided, all experience levels welcome! Register Here!       

Photo Credit: Emma Boone

Returning Citizens Task force

RCTF’s regrant program supporting direct service providers working with returning citizens in Prince George’s County began its second cycle at a meeting on Saturday, October 14. The grantees met to exchange information with each, describing the work they do, exploring possible ways to collaborate. After release from prison, individuals face an enormous need for housing, jobs, health care, support networks, and a range of other services. Service providers working with people impacted by the criminal justice system play an enormously important role in meeting needs that would otherwise go unmet. 

The regrant program stands alongside RCTF’s advocacy for public policy changes that would end discrimination against people in housing and jobs on the basis of having a criminal record.  Taken together that help us overcome some of the consequences of mass incarceration and provide a path to healing for individuals and the wider community.

RCTF’s regular bi-weekly meeting will take place via zoom tonight, October 16, from 6:30 – 7:30 pm. For more information contact Kurt.

Environmental Justice Task Force: The Baltimore Incinerator's Silent-Killing Smoke!

Since 2011, the Baltimore Incinerator has received subsidies for burning trash because the Maryland State policy places that form of waste-to-energy in the bracket as solar and wind power. This is called greenwashing, when something that is not environmentally-friendly is listed as such and the public is usually given little or false information about the impact on the environment.

Our South Baltimore communities have had ENOUGH of this lunacy and these lies, and are ready to see change. On Thursday, November 16th, from 6:15pm-7:45pm the Environmental Justice Task Force (EJTF) will host a public meeting at the Enoch Pratt Library Brooklyn Branch. The EJTF has reached out to Senate President Bill Ferguson’s office inviting him to the event, among other local elected officials. This event is open to the public so we can express our concerns and demands regarding state policy, register here.

Meanwhile, to increase awareness of this critical event, the EJTF will have a canvass this Saturday with shifts from 10a-2p and 3p-7p. If there’s fire in your belly to fight for environmental justice, don’t hesitate to reach out to SirJames.

Local Chapter Updates:

Lower Shore Progressive Caucus

Join us on Saturdays for Canvasses for our endorsed candidates. As the heartbeat of the community, the Lower Shore Progressive Caucus proudly stands by our endorsed candidates, and we're hitting the streets to ensure their vision resonates with every resident. Register here!

EVENTS FROM ALLIES:

REEL & MEAL – Come to the New Deal Cafe Tonight, October 16 OR on Zoom for short documentary films on alternative, planet-friendly energy sources such as geothermal, tidal power and hydrogen. We have a full dinner menu and the free movie program starts at 7PM. Or you can join us on Zoom at 6:50. Click here to register.

State and National News:

States are busy on projects in carbon reduction (and research, go Terps!), schools improvement, collective bargaining opportunities, fighting book banning and returning citizen improvements. Maryland, we see, is at the heart of all these activities. Good thing. Just a short Metro ride away, the GOP's razor-thin majority in the US House is unable to check the box (elect a new Speaker -- will anyone do?) that would allow the US government to function (and, soon, fund itself as the shutdown deadline is just put off but still live). It might not all be pretty, but it's all News You Can Use.

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.

• New Today -- Climate and human rights action at the state level; Feds still paralyzed without House Speaker. News You Can Use

• New Today -- Izola Shaw: A True Progressive Champion Running for Rockville City Council
• New Today -- Iyamide House will be a Beacon of Change for Bowie City Council
•  Progressive Maryland Rallies at CareFirst to Demand Corporation Provide Care & Reverse Denied Claims

• Leaderless House leaves activist scope -- News you can Use this week

• Maryland federal workers in impact zone as government shutdown looms; "Run, Jamie, Run..." News You Can Use

>>Read more on the homepage of progressivemaryland.org

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Progressive Maryland
P.O. Box 6988
Largo, MD 20792