ADDITIONAL COUNCIL CANDIDATE FOR 2026 - ELDER JUSTICE COMMITTEE MEETS LEGISLATORS - NY RENEWS - STAMP AGAIN - LEAD ORGANIZER SEARCH LAST CALL

Here are Metro Justice news and events for the week of 12/19/25 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

We may be celebrating Hanukkah, Christmas, or Kwanzaa - or simply the time we welcome early winter with gifts, good food and good friends. Some may be creating celebration in the midst of personal or community chaos and uncertainty. Let's all give ourselves a minute to breathe, find a warm place with a loved one, and relax. This newsletter will take a holiday for the next couple of weeks, returning on Friday, January 9, 2026.  

ADDITIONAL COUNCIL CANDIDATE FOR 2026

Ryan Corrigan, having submitted a petition with more than 20 signatures of members in good standing, has been approved as an additional candidate for an at-large Council seat in 2026. His comment on why he is running: A former vested member of OPCMIA Local 633, I am currently a steering member with Metro Justice's RED campaign and an active participant in NY Renews. These experiences have cemented my belief that real, systemic change is built by organized communities. I am running for the Metro Justice Council to help our organization remain a resilient, grassroots force for justice

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ELDER JUSTICE COMMITTEE

Submitted by MaryDel Wypych

On December 18 the Committee held a Virtual Joint Meeting with the Monroe County NYS Legislative Delegation on Nursing Home Problems – The Role of the NYS Department of Health and Actions that Must be Taken. Attendees included Assemblymembers Bronson, Clark, Jensen, and Lunsford, and staff from the offices of Assemblymembers Bailey, Manktelow and Meeks, and Senator Brouk. A nurse, a resident and several family members gave statements on poor conditions and neglect they have encountered and the need for improved staffing, quality of care, training of staff, attention to the mental health needs of residents and safety preparedness. Each Legislator shared their reactions, past efforts and what they will do to work on the problems. We all agreed that we must find ways to improve care and support nursing homes, family members, and nursing home workers, and to end the practice of putting profit over care.

We asked our NYS Legislators to ensure that the NYS DOH is held accountable for: 

• providing adequate oversight of nursing homes
• performing on-time, meaningful inspections
• resolving complaints in a timely manner
• enforcing laws and regulations

All are vital to the health, safety, and well-being of New York’s nursing home residents. Legislators agreed to work together with Elder Justice Committee on these issues and solutions.  If you have a concern or want to work with us on the solution, please reach out at [email protected].

NY RENEWS

Submitted by Graham Hughes

Metro Justice is a member of NY Renews, a statewide climate justice coalition of over 400 labor, community, and climate organizations. Our coalition is very excited to celebrate its 10th anniversary this year with a series of regional convenings this fall and winter. We're hosting a regional convening right here in Rochester on January 10th from 10am-2pm at the First Unitarian Church of Rochester, located at 220 S Winton Rd, Rochester, NY 14610, and we want you to join us!

After 10 years, NY Renews is still going strong. From passing New York’s landmark climate law to securing the Climate Change Superfund Act to make corporate polluters pay, or ensuring New York builds public renewables and all-electric buildings, NY Renews members have helped us shape the future of New York. 

However, these wins and progress on climate, jobs, and justice in New York State are now under threat. 2026 will be a pivotal year for defending the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act and advancing key policy goals like Cap & Invest. Whether you're a long time member of NY Renews or brand new to the state climate movement, we've got some very exciting plans for organizing and advocacy in 2026, and we need you to join us!

Register here for our regional convening on Saturday, January 10th from 10am-2pm.

Contact Graham Hughes with the Climate Solutions Accelerator with any questions ([email protected])

STAMP AGAIN REARS ITS UGLY HEAD

LEAD ORGANIZER SEARCH

Our search for a Lead Organizer remains open on Indeed, with a deadline for applications of 12/31/25. 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.

BOOK OF THE WEEK

From our 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 an interesting book, site or podcast every week. For this week:

Bowling Alone (book, audiobook)

A beautifully researched book that describes reasons for the gradual disengagement from civic life from the 1960s to now, with suggestions for how and why we can turn that around now. In 2000 the author, Robert Putnam, had recommendations for national infrastructure to help people get working together - little did he know the forces he was working against. Used as the basis for the 2023 Netflix documentary Join or Die, which I have not seen but have heard recommended. 

Read: Check Library Availability (Print Only) | Purchase eBook

Listen: Libro.fm (Purchase Link) | Google (Purchase Link)

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Saturday, December 20 12-1 pm Speak Up for Palestine will bring our specific demand for the US to STOP supporting Genocide in Palestine to the ongoing weekly protest that happens at Twelve Corners in Brighton, whose stated objective is “consistent determined protest of the actions of the current administration!  We want to show that we are not letting up in our disapproval of the regime.”
• Saturday, December 20, 1-3 pm Carols, costumes and compassion to Protest I.C.E Fascism at the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility, 100 Federal Drive, Batavia. Limited parking available, carpooling is encouraged. 
• Saturday, January 10, 10-2 NY Renews regional convening at the First Unitarian Church, 220 S. Winton. Learn more about the climate movement and key policy goals. 
• Saturday, January 31 Metro Justice Annual Meeting.
• Saturday May 9 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!) 

Do you have an event or desktop action to share? Click here! The deadline for our Friday newsletter is Wednesday afternoon each week.

DESKTOP ACTIONS: 

• Save the East End Green! The only accessible open space for hundreds of Charlotte and Union Street residents is under threat. If developed, Union street would become a virtually uninterrupted row of apartment buildings with no green space - contrary to the City's Comprehensive Plan.
• On Dec 4th, BelGioioso Cheese in Campbell, NY, unilaterally withdrew from contract negotiations with our affiliate, Teamsters Local 118, claiming without evidence  that the Teamsters don't have majority support in the factory. The workers need our support: click here to sign our petition and tell Gustavo Badino at BelGioioso Cheese to stop union busting and come back to the table.
• Urgent National call - Stop the SPEED ACT (HR 4776), a bill that would gut bedrock environmental laws such as the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). NYPIRG is asking us to call our US congressional representatives using their sample script, then report the call to NYPIRG. The bill has now passed in the house (on 12/18), so contact your Senator.
• At the state level, legislature has passed a bill to repeal the old "100-foot rule" that makes all ratepayers share the cost of connecting new gas lines ($600 million/year, as of 2021). Now the Governor needs to sign it into law - or veto it - in the next 3 days. Let her know we want to save money AND our climate.

1. 1. Email Governor Hochul with this online form

   2. Call Governor Hochul at 518-474-8390  (dial 1 right away to leave a voicemail.)

      Sample script: "Hello, I’m _____ and my zip code is _____. The legislature passed A.8888/S.8417, a bill that repeals the 100-foot rule. I'm calling to ask Governor Hochul (HOH-kull) to sign this bill into law before the end of the year. New Yorkers shouldn't be charged for gas pipes we don’t need! I'm asking the Governor deliver on her promise to save us money and hold the utilities accountable! Thanks!"

• Share, repost or comment on our RG&E demands on Insta and/or Facebook
• Read our demand letter and send your own version of it to your legislators 
• The Monroe County legislature just voted 20-8 to opt out of a highly recommended NY state registry of short term rental properties - using language developed for the AirBNB lobby by Nick Morelle. Learn more here (Rachel Barnhart's remarks during the vote) and here (a great infographic shared by Kelly Cheatle). Legislators can still opt in later - please email them and ask them when they plan bringing it up for a vote.  
• Let your NY state Senator and Assembly Member know that you want them to pass the New York Health Act, so that all of us in NY can have health care we can afford, with monthly payments based on income and no other out of pocket cost.
• Please join this sign-on letter to urge Governor Hochul to help protect New York's school kids from being exposed to lead in K-12 educational settings. NYPIRG is urging that a "Filter First" approach be taken in order to remove lead from schools' drinking water.
• 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.