Here are Metro Justice news and events for the week of 9/12/25

ICE THWARTED IN ROCHESTER

The news has been widely shared already, but who could resist adding this slice of history to our newsletter? On Tuesday morning two people (one a neighbor and one just walking down the street) heard yelling at 9:15, realized what was happening, and each just happened to know someone to call (one, a friend in California related to a Rochester activist; the other just graduated UR with a PhD and called the Graduate Labor Union leaders) so that the word got out quickly enough that only one of the Hispanic roofers had been detained - a man who has lived in Rochester legally for 25 years and has his papers in order – before people began to arrive with phone cameras. I got an urgent email from Metro Justice at 10:22 and went over. I arrived at 10:33, and there was a News10 camera on site by then. At 10:45, the ICE agents agreed to leave the property. The rest of the roofers were driven to safety in a car caravan and several activists, faith leaders, and a legislator addressed the remaining crowd, about 100 people, with congratulations and invitations to learn more about how to stop future ICE detentions in our Sanctuary City. 

The takeaway: 585-420-6471 is the number for the Rochester Rapid Response Network. Put this number on your phone, right now, and give it a label you can remember, like ICE Alert or Rapid Response.

NEW YORK HEALTH PRESS CONFERENCE TUESDAY 9/16 

The New York Health Act has been slowly gaining gaining legislative supporters over the past 20 years. This year, millions of New Yorkers are about to either lose their health insurance or see a precipitous rise in their premiums. New York Health would cover all of us, and actually cost billions less to do so than our current system - almost enough to cover Trumps cuts - by cutting profit and administrative costs The Campaign for New York Health is gearing up for a major campaign "Fight Back, New York!" to bring the bill to a vote in both chambers, with a petition that will be featured at an on-line press conference and also a social media campaign. Every Tuesday and Thursday at noon the campaign will put out a new post about the need for New York to pass New York Health. Look for them on the Metro Justice site and re-post or comment, to boost them into more peoples' feeds and get the word out that way. Here in Rochester we will be having our next organizing meeting on Tuesday, 9/23. 

ROCHESTER FOR ENERGY DEMOCRACY

Watch this space next week for news about the RED campaign to replace RG&E with municipal ownership of our power grid. This Sunday RED leaders and Council members will meet to strategize the best way forward for the campaign.

Mini Actions: (things you can do right now!)

• Sign the New York Health Act petition
• Repost/tweet the New York Health posts at the Metro Justice FB page every Tuesday and Thursday noon
• Comment to DEC on cryptocurrency mining - Don't sell out NY's climate to crypto bros!
• Uphold Tonawanda Seneca Nation sovereignty and the CLCPA! No new NYS funds or permits to WNY STAMP, tell NYSDEC to protect the Oak Orchard Watershed. 
• Protect the Climate Law and Indigenous Sovereignty: Submit a comment (or attend and comment at a virtual hearing Sept 13 or 30!) on the state's Energy Plan.
• Go to the state's comment portal and add the Tonawanda Seneca Nation's demands  through the written comment form by October 6. 

Upcoming Events:

• Saturday, September 13, 11-1 statewide virtual hearing on New York's Draft State Energy Plan 
• Saturday, Septmeber 13, 11-3 Jeremy Cooney's Summer BBQ at 141 Adams Street. Free food and a chance to buttonhole the Senator and talk to other attendees about healthcare, energy, ICE, etc.
• Saturday, September 13th, 2 and 4 pm EcoVibes community art event at Washington Square Park
• Sunday, September 14 Leadership strategy retreat to decide the next direction of the Rochester for Energy Democracy campaign 
• Monday, September 15, 7 pm Monthly MJ Council meeting
• Tuesday, September 16, 10:30 am On-line press conference kicking off a new statewide petition and social media campaign publicizing the fact that New York Health would cover more people more cheaply if enacted.
• Saturday, September 20, 1 PM Celebration to dedicate the Hamilton Street Community Garden to Alison Clarke at 122 Hamilton Street. Alison, founder of Politics of Food, helped start the Hamilton St. Community Garden and many other community gardens around the city. She taught people of all ages how to garden and the value of locally grown, healthy food. Al helped organize the first CSAs for Rochester eaters.
• Saturday, September 20, Make Billionaires Pay March NYC, multiple locations. Possibility for a bus from Syracuse at 6:30 (only goes if fully booked); if you're going and want to be connected to NYC NY Renews contingent, email [email protected]
• Sunday, September 21, 6:30 PM Potluck Discussion: Trump, Borders and the Economy This will be the first of monthly potlucks for members and friends to gather and discuss the most important issues facing us now. This will help both to guide our strategy and actions, and give us the strength and energy to keep up the fight!
• Tuesday, September 23, 7 pm Organizing meeting to publicize the New York Health Act in Western NY.
• Saturday, October 18th will be the next No Kings rally; details forthcoming
• Wednesday, October 22 2:00-4:00 pm Elder Justice Committee speakout on nursing home residents rights. In response to the injustices endured by Rochester vulnerable seniors and disabled adults, EJC will have an informational event ADVOCATING for RESIDENTS' RIGHTS from ADMISSION to DISCHARGE.