GRADUATE LABOR UNION (GLU) WINS A RAISE

FIRST POLITICAL POTLUCK THIS SUNDAY

NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE TO MEET FOR 2026 COUNCIL

ROCHESTER FOR ENERGY DEMOCRACY UPDATE

FIRST POLITICAL POTLUCK THIS SUNDAY

This Sunday at 6:30 pm at the Metro Justice office (389 Gregory, Suite A, entrance on Cayuga Street, no elevator access) we will kick off a series of potlucks for members and friends to discuss important issues of the day over food and drink. At this first gathering, Jesse Lenny will share about his work with the New York State Trade Justice Campaign. While Trump negotiates by whim and attacks immigrants, Congress is reviewing the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA, formerly known as NAFTA), driven by Big Tech, Wall Street, Big Ag and Big Pharma to increase their profits at great cost to the environment and workers both here and outside the US. In issues like these, knowledge is power. Join us on Sunday, bring a dish to pass if you can, but if not, come anyway!  

NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE TO MEET FOR 2026 COUNCIL

We would like to invite Metro Justice members in good standing to participate in the nomination meeting for the 2026 Council on Sunday, September 28 at 6 PM via Zoom. The goal of the meeting is to support the democratic process prescribed by Metro Justice's by-laws. Individuals interesting in participating, or anyone with questions, should email Luis Torres ([email protected]) by Friday, September 26th.

ROCHESTER FOR ENERGY DEMOCRACY UPDATE

The annual Rochester for Economic Democracy strategy retreat last Sunday was well attended, with vigorous and thoughtful discussions about the direction for the campaign. The group decided overwhelmingly to keep the replacement of RG&E (and its corporate owner, the Spanish conglomerate Iberdrola) as a goal, but to take a longer view of the time needed to achieve it. We need to reach out to more allies, including community and faith groups and other climate activists, and focus on the base-building that is so sorely needed on all fronts as we work to free Rochester from the grasp of fascism and corporate greed.

But while we strategize, RG&E is moving forward with a request to charge yet another 34% on top of the 34% rate hike they just completed in May - and to increase their profit margin. This is an attack on our city that we must not let go unchallenged! As a first step, we are mobilizing at the Public Hearings to Oppose this Rate Hike on Tuesday, Sept 30th.

• Hearings at 1pm and 6pm inside City Hall (no pre-registration needed to speak)
• Rally at 5:30 before the 2nd hearing
• Webinar with the Climate Solutions Accelerator on preparing comments here (and we'll be adding a guide to our event page)

Stay tuned, spread the word, and plan to show up to oppose the state rubber-stamping Iberdrola’s latest scheme to raise their profits on our backs! It's time to get loud!

GRADUATE LABOR UNION (GLU) WINS A RAISE

Upcoming Events:

• Friday, September 19th (today), 5 pm at City Hall Trans Advocacy Day Press Conference. Attend if you can; if not check out the toolkit provided by ACLU/NYCLU with information about three healthcare bills: the Shield Law 2.0 (S.4914), New York Health Information Privacy Act (S.929), and Hospital Transparency (S.3486)
• 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.
• 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, 11 am, 614 W Main St., Citizen Action of NY press conference to launch the End Prison Violence campaign. Contact [email protected] for more information. 
• Tuesday, September 23, 7 pm, zoom Organizing meeting to publicize the New York Health Act in Western NY.
• Wednesday, September 24, 1-2 pm, 201 Humboldt Street, join News8 employees on the picket line! Instagram post
• Tuesday, September 30th at City Hall RG&E rate case hearings at 1 pm and 6 pm, rally at 5:30. Click for more info
• Sunday, October 5th, 11-4 Rochester Public Market Italian Heritage Day. Come join the fun - and if you can help staff sign-up tables for the New York Health Act or Elder Justice Committee, email [email protected] 
• Monday, October 13th, Lake Riley Lodge, Cobbs Hill, all day Indigenous Peoples Day 2025 with music, dancing, storytelling, craftmaking, guest speakers, Native vendors, and educational activities for all ages.
• Saturday, October 18th, 10 am - 4 pm the next Rochester No Kings rally; click on the link for details
• 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.

Desktop Actions: (choose one right now!)

• Sign the New York Health Act petition
• Repost/tweet the New York Health posts at the Metro Justice FaceBook 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.