Hi friends,
The mood swings between optimism and despair are a feature of my life under the new Administration. Fortunately, there are more occasions for optimism; unfortunately, this results in more rapid mood swings. Ah well. I am relieved that Marjorie Taylor Greene has been relieved of her committee assignments (note: I’ve changed my mind about her expulsion, because martyring her does not seem wise). Bernie stayed up all night but failed to win the minimum wage hike to $15 and 5,000 Americans died of Covid yesterday. Still, the Democrats are moving ahead with meaningful Covid relief.
I’ve been carrying on this week about money and all the diabolical things that happen when moneyed interests outweigh the interests of the people. And I confess that details about money, banking, and investments tend to trigger my mental off-switch; I’m not that kind of Yellen. Whereas I handle physics concepts with broad strokes, I handle financial concepts…with a ten-foot pole.
Enter the Public Bank NYC:
The Public Bank NYC Coalition believes public money should work for the public good, not private gain.
The City of New York places billions of public dollars in Wall Street banks that routinely exploit and extract wealth from low-income communities and neighborhoods of color, perpetuating racial and economic inequality. Through a public bank, New York City can support vital sectors of our local economy and divest from banks that are financing destructive corporate interests, including speculative real estate, private prison and immigrant detention companies, the global arms trade and the fossil fuel industry.
We are pressing for the creation of a public bank for NYC, as part of a broader vision for economic and racial justice.
They speak my language and avoid the 6-point type that immediately shrivels my brain cells. It’s time to divest from banks that misuse our resources to destroy things of real value (communities, the planet).
Here’s a ready-made action, complete with a call-script, so that you can urge your council member to support two bills that will pave the way for a public bank.
Since I had to discuss banking, I get to quote Hamilton.
It's only a matter of time
Will they tell your story? (Time)
Who lives, who dies, who tells your story? (Time)
Will they tell your story? (Time)
Who lives, who dies, who tells your story?
This Sunday, Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space (MoRUS) is hosting the Lower East Side Art + Activism Wikipedia Edit-a-Thon, because it matters who tells our story. MoRUS is dedicated to documenting history, educating the public, and empowering people to work for change. I’m down to learn how to edit Wikipedia entries (look out world). The hosts will help us create a Wikipedia account and teach us how to edit content. The event runs for two hours, but you can stay for as long (or as short) as you like.
Sign up for the Lower East Side Art + Activism Wikipedia Edit-a-Thon this Sunday afternoon.
Here’s another task that requires many storytellers: educators and community members are pushing for waivers for the testing mandated by the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). It’s important that stakeholders — teachers, parents, students, community members — weigh in on this decision with their recommendations and tell of the extraordinary challenges facing students and schools right now.
Please complete the survey about the federal requirements for standardized educational testing.
Remember when we used to make social plans that were weeks away because it was hard to find a date when everyone was free? As we approach the last month of our first pandemic year, I’ve decided to plan a little further ahead as an act of radical optimism.
Here’s a great event for those of us who need a bit of education on climate issues and ways to combat “despair-mongering.”
Sign up to attend a conversation on Wednesday, 2/17 with Michael Mann, author of The New Climate War.
If you’re still open to last minute plans and need something fun to do tonight, you can learn to draw maps in comics at a free workshop.
Sign up for Margaret Kimball’s Drawing Maps in Comics workshop, sponsored by The Believer.
Have a great weekend!
with love,
L