Health Justice Forum
On Sunday, November 15, 2009 from 2:00-4:00 PM, Rep. Eric Massa, political strategist Steve Cobble, health care activist Donna Smith, and local Physicians for a National Health Program Dr. Emily Queenan participated in a panel discussion on health care reform moderated by Jeff Cohen. Over 200 peolpe came and news coverage was featured in the Elmira Star-Gazette and on the front page of the Democrat & Chronicle!
Final Countdown Endorsed Candidate Fundraiser
On October 17, 2009 from 6:00-9:00 PM, Progressive Democrats of Genesee Valley hosted a fundraiser for all endorsed candidates at Tribeca.
Tribeca
233 Mill Street
Rochester, NY 14614
Map
6:00-9:00 PM
HR676 Visibility Event Outside Louise Slaughter's Fundraiser
On Sunday, September 13, 2009 from 3:00 to 5:00 PM, Progressive Democrats of Genesee Valley partnered with the coalition Rochester For HR676 to stage a visibility event at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center outside Louise Slaughter's fundraiser featuring Caroline Kennedy. The protest sought to highlight Rep. Slaughter's failure to meet with single payer advocates, and call attention to the scant amount of time Rep. Slaughter spent discussing health care with constituents during the August recess.
Rep. Slaughter spent just two hours discussing health care with constituents via telephone town halls. These telephone town halls were run like radio call-in shows, complete with screening of questions and cutting off questioners who were deemed to be taking too much time. Rep. Slaughter has repeatedly refused to conduct in-person town hall meetings, citing negative experiences in the 1994 health care reform debate and press coverage of hostile town hall events elsewhere in the country.
Rep. Slaughter spent more time at the Caroline Kennedy fundraiser than she spent discussing health care with constituents in the entire August recess.
In addition to displaying signs and banners, a group of protesters performed street theater, with a skit featuring a heart attack victim and industry lobbyists influencing Rep. Slaughter.
An enhanced police presence was observed, with one officer per 3 protesters.
Wine Tasting With Mimi Kennedy
On Saturday, August 29, 2009 from 5:00-7:00 PM, Progressive Democrats of Genesee Valley hosted a wine tasting featuring Actress/Activist and Progressive Democrats of America Advisory Board Co-Chair, Mimi Kennedy!
About 50 people attended.
"In the Loop" Rochester Premiere with Mimi Kennedy
On Friday, August 28, 2009 at 6:30 PM, as part of The Little Theater's Talkback series, Progressive Democrats of Genesee Valley hosted Actress/Activist and Progressive Democrats of America Advisory Board Co-Chair, Mimi Kennedy, in the premiere of her latest film, "In the Loop". After the screening, she was interviewed by Executive Director Bob Russell and took questions from the sold-out audience.
Eric Massa Town Hall
On Wednesday, August 26, PDAGV attended Rep. Eric Massa's Town Hall meeting on Health Care Reform. About 1400 people attended - there was standing room only in a 200-person overflow room where they were piping audio. These meetings are increasingly raucus, so it is important to come and stay for as long as possible. The meeting was scheduled to go from 5:30-7:30, but went on well past 9:00.
HR 676 Visibility Event
On Wednesday, August 12, PDAGV joined in an HR 676 Visibility Event at the Organizing for America Listening Tour. The event was a tremendous success! Forty or so single payer activists brought signs, picketed the event, and attended the meeting.
Cafe Underground Railroad
480 W Main St
Rochester, NY 14608
Obama's Wars
On Friday, August 7, PDAGV joined with RAW and PA&E as a supporter of a discussion of "Obama's Wars."
Presenters:
On Afghanistan:
PAUL KAWIKA MARTIN
National Political Director, Peace Action (Washington, DC)
On Pakistan:
SNEHAL SHINGAVI
Author and Professor of South Asian Literature,
University of Texas (Austin)
The discussion took place at 7PM at School Without Walls, 480 Broadway, Rochester, NY 14607.
Voter Registration
Park Avenue Summer Arts Festival
Saturday, August 1, 2009 10:00 am-6:00 pm
Sunday, August 2, 2009 10:00 am-5:00 pm
Progressive Democrats of Genesee Valley registered 78 voters on Saturday and 47 voters on Sunday. The second day was slower since it was raining hard for most of the morning.
Bus To Washington, D.C.
for the "Medicare: Made In America"
Rally and Lobby Day
July 30, 2009 - 12:00 AM (midnight)
The Leadership Conference for Guaranteed Health Care launched a rally and lobby day on July 30, 2009. We arranged for bus transportation to and from Washington, DC so people could attend the rally and lobby visits that had been scheduled.
The rally at the Upper Senate Park featured speakers such as Rep. John Conyers, Sen. Bernie Sanders, and other ardent single payer advocates. We also participated in lobby visits to Sen Schumer, Sen. Gillibrand, Rep. Maffei, and Rep. Massa.
The evening of July 30, some members also were able to attend the Fifth Birthday Party for Progressive Democrats of America, featuring speakers such as Rep. John Edwards, Donna Smith, Rep. Donna Edwards, and Medea Benjamin.
Some positive developments for health care reform occurred at the same time as this gathering of single payer advocates in Washington, DC. Rep. Anthony Weiner offered his amendment to end Medicare (and give his Republican colleagues an opportunity to vote against government-administered health care); it was defeated 0-57. And on Friday, a compromise was announced that will enable single payer health care reform to get a floor vote in September.
Too many times, we have been told that single payer "wasn't politically feasible" or "we don't have the votes." But now, every member of the House will be given an opportunity to cast a vote for or against single payer health care reform. Our job is to let our members of Congress know that the vote for this bill will be considered a referendum on their position. Health Care Reform Panel Discussion:
Who Profits? Who Pays? Who Loses?
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Underground Cafe
480 West Main Street
Rochester, NY 14608
7:30 PM
Rochester for HR676 and partner organizations hosted a panel discussion on the health care reform debate at the Underground Cafe the evening of July 23, exactly one week before the "Medicare: Made in America" rally in Washington, D.C.
About forty people attended to hear Dr. Jim Gaden of PNHP, Melanie Funchess, and Brian Erway discuss the health care system and how it can be improved.
Petitioning and Leafletting
Rochester Public Market
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Saturday, July 18, 2009
8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Map
Progressive Democrats of Genesee Valley and partner organizations continued the petition drive at the Rochester Public Market that began on Saturday, June 27. Today's activity was cut short by rain that started at about 11:15am, but we still were able to collect about 400 signatures!
This activity is not only an opportunity to show Louise Slaughter support for H.R. 676, but also to educate voters on the issue, either in sidewalk discussions or by giving them pamphlets or other literature. It's also a great way to promote upcoming events.
The petition signatures will be delivered to Louise Slaughter's office next week.
"No Bills For Pills"
Rally and March for Medicare For All
July 1, 2009
Health care activists gathered at Washington Square Park to demand that our federal representatives support Medicare For All. We gathered petition signatures and heard from speakers Jim Bertolone, Dr. Jonathan Hager, and Vicki Ryder at Washington Square Park; then, rally participants marched to the Federal Building to present the petition signatures to our federal representatives demanding that the "public option" in the pending health care reform legislation be nothing less than Medicare For All.
We gathered almost 100 more signatures at the rally and delivered them to Louise Slaughter's office the next day. In addition, we delivered copies of all signatures to the offices of Sen. Schumer and Sen. Gillibrand.
Some pictures of the event have been shared out here.
