Chop Wood, Carry Water 8/3

Housing is a Human Right

Hi, all, and happy Tuesday!

I’ve been scrambling to find the best actions to take re: the looming eviction crisis, and I think at last I have. Since everyone is pointing fingers at everyone else, (although no one is blaming Brett Kavanaugh, which they should), I’ve written calls to action directed at… pretty much everyone. If we demand that everybody act someone, hopefully, will.

On another, equally critical note, there is a demonstration in DC today in support of the For the People Act. Democratic state legislators from across the country have flown in, the Reverend Barber is there, Amy Klobuchar is throwing down…and we must, too. I know we’re tired, but the Senate is still in session. I’m hearing the new voting rights bill will be dropped any day. THIS IS NOT OVER.

Call.

You are strong. You are brave. You are also, I know, tired.

But you’ll call anyway. Because the hero in you is strong, friends.

Thanks for that.

Call Your Senators (find yours here)

Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.

First, I know there is a rally in DC today in support of voting rights. Demonstrators are demanding the Senate put off recess and pass legislation immediately—before the Census numbers get released—to protect our right to vote and stop partisan gerrymandering. This has to happen, and it needs to happen NOW! [If Dem add:] Democrats need to reform the filibuster and get this done. The clock is literally ticking on our democracy. Thanks.

One more thing—I’d like to ask that in the bipartisan infrastructure package being negotiated right now you add new language restoring the CDC’s authority to declare health-emergency related eviction moratoriums. We’ve GOT to protect the millions of people about to lose their homes. Thanks.

Call Your House Rep (find yours here)

Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.

I’m frustrated that Congress has dropped the ball on millions of people who are in danger of being evicted immediately. House members need to come back into session and pass H.R. 4791, the “Protecting Renters from Evictions Act of 2021,” which would extend the federal eviction moratorium through the end of the year. Then Congress needs to push states to spend the billions of dollars in funding they’ve already received to help renters. Inaction is unacceptable. Thanks.

Extra Credit

Please either call or email the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency at 651-757-2900 or line3.pca@state.mn.us (please cc regan.michael@epa.gov) and say:

“Hi I’m calling/writing because I’ve just become aware that there is an endangered mussel—the Higgins Eye Mussel, a freshwater mussel endemic to the Midwest region, including the Mississippi River—that is being directly threatened by theconstruction of the Line 3 pipeline.

Your own website says this mussel is endangered because of habitat loss and degradation - Higgins eyes depend on deep, free-flowing rivers with clean water. Line 3 is endangering hundreds of rivers, streams, and lakes, including those where the Higgins Mussel live. I want you to take action to address this immediately, thanks.”

Get educated!! 📖

Democracy docket—the absolutely go-to newsletter about voting rights— has created an excellent roundup of ways to volunteer to protect said rights. It includes both state-based and national opportunities. Please check it out and share with your network! [H/T]

Resistbot Text (new to Resistbot? Go here!)

[To President Biden] [H/T and H/T]

I’m writing today because it’s critical that the administration do everything in its power to stop the eviction catastrophe that’s going to happen if there isn’t federal intervention. The Delta variant is causing case increases the likes of which we haven’t seen since the beginning of the pandemic, and we have the resources to help people – Congress appropriated and sent the funding to help renters and landlords, but states and localities haven’t had enough time to spend the federal dollars. We need to extend the eviction moratorium. 

I know you’re saying your hands are tied by the Supreme Court’s recent ruling but that is not the case. In his concurring opinion, Kavanaugh says that Congress would need to pass a law for the CDC to extend the moritorium. But that issue was not before the court. IT HAS NO LEGAL AUTHORITY. There is a term for this kind of opinion: DICTA.

As a legal matter, the CDC has the exact same authority it did in September 2020 when the moratorium was initially put into place. Might an extension eventually be struck down by SCOTUS. Maybe! But your administration doesn't need to assume so. Kavanaugh said he was voting to keep the moratorium in place to give states more time to distribute emergency rent assistance funds. But the vast majority of those funds still haven't been distributed. Also, the ruling was made before Delta.

There are other things that the administration could do to present a different fact pattern to SCOTUS. For example, the CDC could require landlords to distribute info on how to protect themselves from Delta 30 days before initiating an eviction. This would effectively extend the moratorium 30 more days while presenting the court a very different fact pattern.

But either way, the administration could act. You are choosing not to. Millions could soon face eviction. Please get to work now. Thanks.

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OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.

Talk tomorrow.

Jess