Hi friends,
The Harris-Trump debate is behind us. I’m pleased that Harris exposed Trump as a figure so easily manipulated. Of course, Trump remains popular. Fortunately, explaining that is not my job.
Emily Atkin’s discussion of the disappointing two minutes devoted to climate in the debate beautifully expresses my frustration with Harris.
Atkin reviews all that was said and unsaid — the misinformation, the missed opportunities, and the absent sense of urgency. Still, she ended up where I did. The link and the bold text are from the original.
The research is clear: Even if all Harris did in office was preserve the Biden Administration’s policies, her victory over Trump would still prevent the release of 4 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere by 2030 compared—an amount equating to $900 billion in climate damages avoided by preventing Trump from entering office. This is because of Trump’s pledges to end clean energy investments; repeal the nation’s climate regulations; and turn the nation’s oil spigots to full-blast.
OSHA is now accepting public comments on federal heat safety regulations. Make a comment and make it personal if you can!
Senator Bernie Sanders has called for a “major mobilization to take on the fossil fuel-driven climate crisis.” If only all of our political leaders shared his sense of urgency.
In July, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority reported that it will not meet its goal of sourcing 70% of energy from renewable sources like solar and wind by 2030. At the current trajectory, we may reach the goal in 2033. Let’s convey our sense of urgency!
Tell Governor Hochul to build public renewable energy projects! This quick action from the Public Power NY Coalition.
I love going to school because of the opportunities for talking with college students. After class yesterday, I was in a conversation with three students who really dislike Trump and are angry that Harris will continue to send offensive weapons to Israel. None of them were sure who to vote for.
This is another area in which a missing sense of urgency is evident.
The figure of 41,000 deaths is probably off by a factor of two or three or four because it does not include the indirect deaths due to lack of access to food and health care.
After the debate, Abbas Alawieh, an organizer of the Uncommitted movement in Detroit, said the following:
“The [candidates] offer nothing new & perpetuate the murderous status quo. It’s simple: to stop the war, our government must stop sending the weapons fueling the war.”
Kamala Harris has repeatedly asserted that Israel has a right to defend itself. That seems altogether different from giving the IDF billions of dollars of weapons to carry out a genocidal campaign.
Tell Congress to stop sending weapons to Israel. This quick action is from Jewish Voice for Peace.
On Tuesday, an IDF airstrike hit a crowded area that the Israeli government had designated as a safe zone, killing at least 19 Palestinians and wounding dozens of others.
Tell Kamala Harris that there’s a difference between supporting allies in need and enabling genocide.
Edward Caban, the NYPD commissioner, resigned this morning. Caban resigned in the midst of a sweeping investigation of corruption and after federal raids against a number of high-ranking officials in the NYPD and elsewhere in the Adams administration.
The IRS and federal prosecutors in Manhattan are investigating the commissioner and his twin brother, James, who ran a business consulting for nightclubs and music venues. The investigation reportedly centers on whether bars and restaurants paid James Caban for favorable treatment from police.
Among the NYPD officials whose phones were seized as part of a probe was Adams’ former NYPD commanding officer, Timothy Pearson. Pearson is the subject of four sexual harassment lawsuits, and last year got into fights with security guards at two separate migrant shelters. Pearson is being sued for false arrest and malicious prosecution by two of the security guards he physically attacked at a midtown shelter.
Under Caban’s leadership, the NYPD tossed out hundreds of civilian complaints of police misconduct this year without taking disciplinary action, even after the Civilian Complaint Review Board investigated the complaints and found evidence substantiating claims of wrongful searches and the use of excessive force, among other things.
NYPD Deputy Inspector Timothy Wilson has been assigned as “Chief of Enforcement” at the city Department of Parks and Recreation, managing 250 Parks Enforcement Patrol officers, according to an internal memo.
There are more than a dozen agencies with enforcement units.
When there is a pattern of corruption, the last thing we need is to give an agency broader authority and greater opportunity to abuse its power.
Tell the Mayor that you expect him to clean up the NYPD rather than expand its mandate.
with love,
L