Dear ones,
Dramatically, a condo in Surfside, FL collapsed very early yesterday morning. The search continues for people who may be trapped in the rubble. It will take a while to identify the causes of the collapse.
The 40-year-old building, situated on the same barrier island as Miami Beach, was due for a recertification process to make sure it met structural safety standards. There was evidence of corrosion and the predictable deterioration from exposure to salt water, as well as signs of land subsidence at the site.
Could an infrastructure bill have arrived at a more opportune moment? Will it address the obvious need for managed retreat?
We need to pressure Schumer to insist on a bill that addresses the crisis at hand: “no climate, no deal. We deserve an infrastructure package that embraces clean, renewable energy, expanded public transit, investments in climate-resilient infrastructure, and much more.”
Call Chuck Schumer today. The script is included!
It’s fairly certain that the bipartisan bill will not address most progressive priorities, and that a second unfilibusterable reconciliation bill will need to be passed. Republicans may refuse to sign on to any bill, because they’re like that.
There’s a protest — live and in-person — with the theme Deadline for Democracy. It will meet outside Schumer’s home at 9 Prospect Park West on Monday evening. The theme addresses the need for voter protections, specifically the For the People Act; if we can’t secure voting rights, it’s hard to see a way forward for democracy.
Come out on Monday at 5 PM with Indivisible BK to remind Schumer that democracy is under attack.
Rudolph Giuliani has been temporarily stripped of his ability to practice law (if that’s what he was doing). He made “demonstrably false and misleading statements” while pursuing the Big Lie on behalf of the former president. A disciplinary process is underway that may result in Giuliani’s disbarment.
“One only has to look at the ongoing present public discord over the 2020 election, which erupted into violence, insurrection and death on Jan. 6, 2021, at the U.S. Capitol, to understand the extent of the damage that can be done when the public is misled by false information about the elections,” the court wrote.
Who would be ill-served by Giuliani’s disbarment?
Last year, while locked down, I participated in the 28th Amendment project, a public discussion of desirable and necessary changes to the US Constitution. So, I was thrilled to learn that there is an Abolition Amendment designed to end the grievous exception to the Thirteenth Amendment’s prohibition of slavery.
The 1865 Amendment forbids involuntary servitude “except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted.” If you haven’t watched Ava DuVernay’s 13th, that’s your homework for the weekend. She makes a thorough and compelling case against the exception. Yes, I assigned homework.
The new amendment says
"Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude may be imposed as a punishment for a crime."
Add your name to the petition to amend the Constitution to end the exception.
Have a great weekend!
with love,
L