POWER TO THE PEOPLE - ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES - CALL FOR SHUTOFF MORATORIUM - SUPPORT STUDENTS ARRESTED FOR PROTESTING - WATERVIEW HEIGHTS RALLY REPORT

Here are Metro Justice news and events for the week of 10/31/25

POWER TO THE PEOPLE

If you have had enough of RG&E's rate increases, shutoffs, crazy billing and lousy customer service, put Saturday, November 8th from 1-3:30 on your calendar now! Metro Justice members will meet for a Movement Assembly with allies from across Rochester and Monroe County to plan a December 6 Rate Hike Action at RG&E on 180 S. Clinton, as well as deepening our plans for the long term solution of replacing RG&E with public power. 

Click to Sign Up for the Movement Assembly

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ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES

We will all have noticed by now that "oh, they're all the same anyhow" or "what difference will my vote make?" are maybe not the best way to think about elections. Our democracy is under attack, and one thing we can all do to support it is to vote in next Tuesday's election for City and County leaders, state Supreme Court judgeships and a Family Court judge. We have now experienced how important judges, as well as political leaders, can be in making our lives better - or worse. Participation in local elections tends to be low, so your vote could be more important than you know! If you live in Chili, Henrietta, Riga, or Wheatland, your vote for county legislator could make a big difference in how quickly we could move in replacing RG&E. Find out about your candidates here, courtesy of WXXI. Vote early (through Sunday 11/2), or come out in person on the day, Tuesday, November 4th. But do it. No Kings. 

CALL FOR SHUT OFF MORATORIUM

We've all heard - or know for ourselves - how Trump's federal shut-down and budget cuts are endangering SNAP. Did you know there are also cuts to HEAP, the Home Energy Assistance Program? This year RG&E is carrying out even more shutoffs than the record 13,413 in 2024. There is a growing movement around the country calling for a SHUT OFF MORATORIUM in every state. Let's join our voices here in Rochester!

SUPPORT STUDENTS ARRESTED FOR PROTESTING

This coming Monday, 11/3 at 8:45 am at the Hall of Justice at 99 Exchange Blvd., there will be a court hearing for the four University of Rochester student protestors who were arrested in 2024 as part of the University's efforts to quell student protests, for sticking protest posters to campus walls about the still-ongoing genocide in Gaza. These students need our support! The students were charged with antisemitism and damage to public property for using difficult to remove glue to post "wanted posters" accusing University leaders, some of whom happen to be Jewish, of tacitly supporting Israel's devastating campaign of airstrikes after the Hamas atrocity in 2023. These four students have been singled out for extraordinary punishment for their efforts to speak out. Please come to the Hall of Justice to support them, this Monday morning at 8:45. [11/1/25 update: The court appearance of the Rochester 4 has been postponed (again!) from Nov 3 to January 7 at 10 am.]

WATERVIEW HEIGHTS RALLY

MaryDel Wypych reports:

On Monday, October 27 Elder Justice Committee held a Rally and Press Conference to call for Waterview Heights Rehabilitation and Nursing Center's Owner and Operator to make real and lasting improvements in the care of residents and for the NYS DOH to take significant positive and long-term actions in its Oversight of Nursing Homes and Enforcement of laws vital to residents' health, safety and well-being.  In attendance were family members of residents affected by Waterview Heights and other nursing homes, Elder Justice Committee and Metro Justice members, supporters from 1199 SEIU, and two representatives from NYS Legislators and other advocates.  We have struck a nerve with the management and owners of Waterview Heights and we hope they will now continue the work they say they have started for improved care and services to its residents. While Waterview Heights is the poster child for substandard nursing homes, it is not the only one.  What we do next will affect tens of thousands of residents in over 600 nursing homes across New York State.  The press conference is the starting line of a CAMPAIGN FOR CHANGE.  Let's all work to make it to the finish line.

 Join us on November 20, 1:00 at the Pittsford Library and on ZOOM to make a plan of actions to achieve our goals for good quality care for all residents of nursing homes in our area and across New York State.  For more information: [email protected]

ROC THE DAY: SAVE THE DATE!

We're hard at work preparing for this year's Roc the Day — coming up fast this December 2nd! For community-based grassroots nonprofits like ours, this one-day event is pivotal in setting us up for success over and beyond the next year. As with everything we do, it's our membership and supporters who keep us strong, both in this moment and for the decades ahead. So keep your eyes peeled on our socials and this space for information about ways to give, our campaign work, and volunteer opportunities in the coming weeks. If you're interested in volunteering to help us make this day a success, let us know by writing [email protected]. 

Along the same lines: it's always a good time to check your membership status in our new portal as well! You should be able to log in and see your donation and dues history at the link here. (But please let us know if you have trouble!)  

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Tonight, October 31, 7:30 at the George Eastman Museum, Sorry to Bother You, the final film in the Rochester Labor Film Series. Halloween meets... telemarketing? We know horror when we hear its ringtone.
• Saturday, November 1 3-6 pm corner of N Clinton Ave and Pleasant St Free grocery pop-up by collaboration of RMAN, Recovery All Ways, and Food Not Bombs, followed at 6:30 by the Food Not Bombs weekly all-invited meal at the Transit Center
• Saturday, November 1st, 7:30 at First Unitarian, 220 Winton Road S., Cafe Veritas was lucky to be able to schedule John Flynn. Check out the link and either buy tickets or just show up.
• Sunday, November 2 11-4 pm 285 Clarissa Street the Flying Squirrel Community Fundraising Brunch. $10 donation suggested, music, vendors art

• Monday, 11/3 8:45 am at the Hall of Justice at 99 Exchange Blvd., court hearing for 4 UR students arrested for protesting Gaza genocide.
• Saturday, November 8th, 1-3:30 pm at First Church of God, 334 Clarissa St., Movement Assembly to widen the fight against RG&E and it's profiteering rate hikes
• Monday, November 10th 7-8 pm zoom organizing meeting for public outreach about the New York Health Act
• November 15-23, Visual Studies Workshop 14th Witness Palestine Film Festival; https://www.wpff.us/
• Thursday, November 20th 1 pm at Pittsford Library and on zoom, the Elder Justice Committee meets to plan further action toward the goal of quality nursing home care in NY. For more info, [email protected] 
• Saturday, November 22 at 5 pm, Workers Assembly of Rochester presents a public panel discussion featuring Labor Leaders across multiple industries exploring the impacts of fascist creep in America and how unions should be fighting back. 
• Tuesday, December 2 is Roc the Day, Rochester's own Giving Tuesday, an on-line opportunity to give tangible thanks to organizations, including Metro Justice, whose work you appreciate and wish to support.
• Saturday, December 6, noon Coalition action at RG&E, 180 S. Clinton, against the rate hikes

DESKTOP ACTIONS: 

• Worried about how your family will get through this  month without SNAP - or even with it? Two new apps are now working in this area that offer discounts on food. Check out flashfood.com, which works with local Tops markets, and toogoodtogo.com, which partners with a growing list of area restaurants. There is also food aid available for free through the Rochester Mutual Aid Network and local pantries, many of which are listed at FoodLink. 
• Metro Justice supports The New York Immigration Coalition's call for the New York For All Act. Please sign the petition at the link!
• Tell Stream Data Centers and Apollo Global Management: NO STAMP DATA CENTER! Protect our waters, our woods, and our way of life. This is quick to do, will show our solidarity with indigenous neighbors - and help us all avoid environmental degradation and increased climate change
• If you represent an organization, sign onto the Organizational Sign on Letter opposing a data center at the STAMP site here, by Oct 28. 
• Check out the info about the USMCA trade deal review and click here to make your comment at TradeJusticeEdFund.org 
• Repost/tweet the New York Health posts at the Campaign for New York Health Facebook page every Tuesday and Thursday noon
• 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. This is a quick and easy one, so let’s get their numbers going up!
• Get a "Replace RGE" yard sign! Be the envy of your neighbors!  
• Join Metro Justice or renew your membership - in these dark times we need to stick together, and to plan to support ourselves as much as possible.