Metro Justice News 11/21/2025

CAMPAIGN NEWS - LEAD ORGANIZER SEARCH - CONSEQUENTIAL DECISIONS AHEAD - ANNUAL MEETING

Here are Metro Justice news and events for the week of 11/21/25

CAMPAIGN NEWS

ENERGY DEMOCRACY

RG&E just released their October Shut Off numbers - Total shut offs this year have now surpassed 15,000. We are already above last year's shutoffs - which were an all time record - by 15%. To make matters even worse, energy assistance (HEAP) is still delayed, and reduced, in the context of federal cuts.

We know you’re feeling it, and we know that we can’t allow RG&E to force even more of our neighbors to choose whether their families can heat or eat.

Find our list of resources for utility bills and shut offs here.

Enough is Enough - We need to STOP THIS RATE HIKE, demand a SHUT OFF MORATORIUM, and demand PUBLIC POWER NOW to get us out of this endless cycle!

Come to a Public Action on Saturday Dec 6 from noon-1pm at the RG&E office they’re proposing to close - RSVP Today!

UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE

We knew that once people started getting their "big, beautiful bills" for renewing their health insurance, things would heat up around finally passing the New York Health Act for affordable, comprehensive health coverage in New York. Now it's happening. The NY Senate and Assembly are holding their pre-session caucus meetings at the end of the first week in December, and multiple legislators in both chambers have said that they will be asking their colleagues to bring New York Health to the floor for a vote this year. But they also say they need our help, right now. We need to flood all of our legislators with emails to let them know we want - and now NEED - single payer healthcare.

There are two things you can do right now. First, click this link to send an email to your legislators. The NYH Campaign has got the software set up so that you simply need to add your address to get it to the right people, and you can either send it as is, or write in whatever you want.

Second, click here, or on the flier image above, for a link to a pdf copy that you can easily download and print out to post near your home or where you work. The qr code and links will take people straight to the same link. Five people sending an email won't make much difference. Five hundred people will. It's time to be one of them, and invite your friends!

Finally, if you want to learn more about the New York Health Act, Dick Gottfried, the author of the bill, will be joining the Campaign for New York Health for the next "NYH101" presentation and Q/A session this Monday night, 11/24. And if you are ready to help the campaign get to work here in Western NY, our next zoom organizing meeting is Wednesday, 12/8, 7-8 pm. Let's get this bill over the top!

ELDER JUSTICE

After the Waterview Heights action the Elder Justice Committee has heard from their development and outreach staff. No surprise. But here is the much more exciting followup, straight from MaryDel Wypych, the chair of the group. "I again brought up to the Monroe County Long Term Care Council, on Tuesday, the problem of hospital overcapacity / nursing home bed shortage. This time there was a real discussion and suggestions. This morning Leanne Rorick from MC Office for Aging sent me a good email full of names of people to contact. I really would like to see a work group formed but need to get someone to help me lead it." If you are concerned about care options for an older person in your life - or yourself, down the road - now is an opportunity to help make a positive change. And MaryDel is a wonderful person to work with. Contact her at [email protected]

IMMIGRATION DEFENSE

Much as the volunteer leaders of the new Sanctuary Committee would like to leap instantly to the defense of immigrant neighbors targeted by ICE (as we did so successfully in September) they know that to be effective it needs to be done right. They are working quietly now with the Rochester Rapid Response Network and other area organizations involved with immigrant defense to see how Metro Justice can best support this work. Watch this space for more news on this new effort.

LEAD ORGANIZER SEARCH

The final one-year position leading the Rochester for Energy Democracy campaign that Michi Wenderlich has so ably filled will end in January, as the grant funding for that position comes to a close. Meanwhile, many efforts, including the New York Health campaign for universal healthcare, Elder Justice for nursing home residents, and now also Sanctuary for our immigrant neighbors, are also growing more urgent. This calls for a different type of organizer position, focused less on a single campaign, more on helping multiple volunteer campaign leaders to do their work more effectively. Therefore Council has decided to open a search to fill this Lead Organizer position. It has now been posted on Indeed. The work will include meeting with campaign leaders for training and guidance, maintaining good relations with ally organizations, anchoring press contacts, working with Council to maintain our mission and goals, and working with the Fundraising and Membership Coordinator and the Office Manager to keep up with all the details of running a member-driven organization. Candidates must have at least one year of paid or volunteer experience as an organizer. Click here to learn more, and to apply.

CONSEQUENTIAL DECISIONS AHEAD

As we know, Trump's tariffs, immigrant abductions, and budget cuts have put immense financial pressure on middle- and low-income families, communities, institutions and nonprofits across the country. The Metro Justice Council has been deliberating how to make best use of our own organization's funds as grants dry up and members are squeezed for cash. One option that is being investigated now is leaving our office space at 389 Gregory Street in order to prioritize keeping a full time organizer and maintaining our part time business manager and membership/fundraising coordinator. Giving up that space will mean using other spaces for meetings, finding an organization interested in housing our archives, and doing a lot of long-needed weeding and organizing of the equipment and supplies we use in mobilization and outreach. Like the rest of our compatriots across the country, we are gearing up to be the "lean machine" that will be needed to fight and win against the authoritarian regime that is doing so much to harm our neighbors and our democracy. Feel free to respond if you have any questions or ideas as council continues its discussions.

ROC THE DAY

RSVP FOR ROC THE DAY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE: Tuesday December 2nd, 2025

With all this going on you can see why, as we shared in emails earlier this week, we've set an ambitious goal of $7,500 for this year's Roc the Day (December 2nd), our 24-hour Giving Tuesday fundraiser, which is now just under two weeks away. Giving during this online event is a great way to have a material impact on our campaigns over the next year, directly shaping what we can do for the Rochester community in a moment when grassroots activist work can offer a crucial bulwark against authoritarian attacks on us all.

Phone Banking November 30 and December 1st - Volunteers needed!

To help make Roc the Day a success and drive us towards our goal, we'll be phone banking at our Gregory Street office from 2-4pm on Sunday, November 30th and from 4-6pm Monday, December 1st. Since many hands make for light work, we'd be greatly helped by some volunteers to help make calls, so please reply to this email or write George Elkind ([email protected]) if you think you might be available. Making calls to members is fun, easy and a tremendous help — we'll be more than happy to walk you through it, and it makes a huge difference for us.

ANNUAL MEETING

On Saturday, January 31, 2026, Metro Justice will hold its 60th Annual Meeting! As always, we will discuss and vote on the 2026 budget presented by the Finance Committee, vote on a slate of members for the 2026 Council, and discuss our path forward for the year. Last year we spent time talking about Strategic Planning, as we knew already that this year would be... interesting. This newsletter, among other things, comes directly out of that planning. This year we're in the thick of it. Anyone is welcome to attend the Annual Meeting, but only members can vote. Please check your membership status, or join now, so you can be ready for full participation!

Also be aware that while the Council has voted to accept the slate presented by the Nominations Committee after months of phone calls and discussions, it is still possible to run for a post on Council yourself! To do so, you need to present a nominations petition with at least 20 signatures of Metro Justice members to Alice Carli ([email protected]), the council secretary, by Wednesday, 12/17/25, 45 days before the meeting.

BOOK OF THE WEEK

For years, Metro Justice has kept a lending library of paper books in its offices. Now we are adding an online library of books, podcasts and other media centered on political education for organizing. We need a volunteer to curate this library and arrange book discussions! If you are interested, or if you have a favorite resource to share, please contact Alice. In the meantime, we will be sharing a an interesting book, site or podcast every week. For this week:

On Tyranny (book, expanded audiobook) Tim Snyder first wrote this book of advice from history on fighting fascism and authoritarianism during Trump’s first term, and added further heartfelt and illuminating analysis in an audio-only version in 2021, after the invasion of Ukraine. This is a must-read for our struggle today.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Friday-Saturday, November 21-22 final films of the 2025 Witness Palestine Film Festival, All That's Left of You and Thank You for Banking With Us - followed on Saturday night by Mama's Palestinian Dinner cooked by Ahlam.
Friday, November 21, 6 pm at YogaVibe 585, Village Gate A300, 247 N. Goodman, Dance party to benefit the Rapid Response Network. Enter at the door by Lento and take the elevator to the 3rd floor - signs for Sustainable Wellness. $10-25 come and have some fun!
Saturday, November 22 9-1 To address food insecurity and struggles families are facing from the government shutdown and overall high cost of food, the City of Rochester Public Market will distribute $20 New York State FreshConnect Emergency Checks (not tokens) for SNAP Recipients and Other Food-Insecure Community Members. Checks will be distributed at a special tent in the Market's D-Shed, and the white Token Booth for current SNAP recipients. One check per person in need present at the market.
Saturday, November 22 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.
Sunday, November 23 4 pm Rethinking Thanksgiving webinar: Colonialism is the Problem, Solidarity is the Answer.
Sunday, November 23 4-6:30 Harvest Potluck "Solidarity-Giving" at Immanuel Baptist Church 816 Park Ave.
Monday, November 24 12-2 Join the Rochester Union of Nurses and Allied Professionals for a Press Conference and Rally in front of Rochester General Hospital, calling for a full reversal of their disastrous health benefit cuts.
Monday, November 24 6-8pm Data Centers and Environmental Justice Teach-in with our friends at the Clean Air Coalition of WNY.
Monday, November 24 7-8pm New York Health 101 with Dick Gottfried, the bill's author, and the Campaign for New York Health.
Saturday November 29 11-5 4th Annual Native Made Market at Eisenhart Auditorium at the Rochester Museum and Science Center, 657 East Avenue.
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
Monday, December 8, 10 am (time may change) Hon. Samuel L. Green Courtroom, 50 East Ave., Rochester. A judge will hear the case to reinstate the PAB’s investigative powers. This is an important opportunity to fight for the voice of the community, and for your right to independent oversight.
Monday December 8, 7 pm, organizing meeting for universal healthcare, continuing work on fliering campaign, announcing meetings with legislators
Wednesday, December 10, 6-8 Rochester for Energy Democracy (RED) Committee Meeting at Metro Justice, 389 Gregory St.
Saturday, January 31, 2026 Metro Justice Annual Meeting.
Saturday May 9, 2026 Metro Justice Annual Dinner
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!)

DESKTOP ACTIONS:

In Mexico, despite pretenses of social justice under President Claudia Sheinbaum, the dispossession of indigenous lands continues apace in the quest to implement the Mayan Train, the Interoceanic Corridor, the Morelos Integral Project, and the so-called "Highway of Cultures" among other extractive megaprojects. As such, Mexico is one of the most dangerous countries in the world to be a defender of land and rights.
- Click here to send an email to the Mexican Ambassador in Washington D.C. denouncing the ongoing dispossession and criminalization of indigenous defenders.
- Click here to send an email in Spanish to President Claudia Sheinbaum, Secretary of Interior, Rosa Icela Rodrígues Velásquez, and Governor of Chiapas Eduardo Ramírez Águilar denouncing the participation of government entities in violent land grabs!
Metro Justice supports The New York Immigration Coalition's call for the New York For All Act, ending collusion between local and state agencies and federal immigration enforcement. Please sign the petition at the link!
Repost/tweet the New York Health posts at the Campaign for New York Health Facebook page every Tuesday and Thursday noon
Tell Governor Kathy Hochul: no more direct or indirect subsidies to prop up the failing boondoggle that is the STAMP mega industrial site. No more state permits or approvals to a destructive project that violates the Nation’s treaty rights to free use and enjoyment of their homelands.Click here for the statement. Then, click here to send Governor Hochul an email.
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.