In July, Metro Justice showed up in solidarity with Black workers, reached milestones of growth and reflection for Rochester for Energy Democracy, congratulated accomplishments of the Rochester Mutual Aid Network, and so much more! 

Episode 4 of our podcast Rochester Public Power Hour by our Rochester for Energy Democracy Campaign is here! We discuss the connections between Black Lives Matter, racialized police violence and militarism, and public power. We share how more people in Rochester are getting involved in our campaign for a public utility to replace RG&E, exciting steps forward towards building a community owned and operated solar farm in the Plymouth-Exchange neighborhood, and an interview with Jonathan Koehn with Local Power in Boulder, Colorado. Click below to listen! 

Metro Justice and its allies won some key victories in June! June was also a month of immense growth. Read on to learn more about the key milestones our campaigns reached and the new alliances with organizations we solidified. 

Check out Episode 3 of the Rochester Public Power Hour! On this episode, we discuss why and how public utilities have a proven track record as one of the most massive and effective ways to lower energy bills for people while also implementing a rapid transition to green energy. Also, Michelle Wenderlich joins us again, this time with their colleague Timothy DenHerder Thomas, to discuss the ongoing fight for public utilities in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Click below to listen! 

Do you want to join our local movement to replace Rochester Gas & Electric with a public, local, not-for-profit, democratically operated utility? Take the first step by signing the petition at metrojustice.org/energydemocracypetition! We have received a lot of new sign ups in the last couple weeks, so we are holding a virtual orientation and workshop to welcome new people to the movement! The event will be this Wednesday, July 8th from 5:30 - 7:30 PM. You must RSVP to receive the Zoom conference information to attend. RSVP by clicking here! 

Episode 2 of the Rochester Public Power Hour is here! This time, we interview Michelle Wenderlich, who was deeply involved in the movement for a public utility in Berlin, Germany! We also discuss unethical practices by Rochester Gas & Electric and its parent companies, the steps to winning a public utility locally, and the ongoing utilities bill strike. Click below to listen! 

May was packed with bold and meaningful actions by Metro Justice members in each of our campaigns! As we continue to find ways to support Black Lives Matter organizing directly against policy brutality, we also realize that many of our existing campaigns are also Black Lives Matter issues. Read on to learn more about how Metro Justice will support Black Lives Matter organizing locally, and how many of our campaigns and committees fought back against the disproportionate impact of injustice on people of color.

For the last couple months, our Rochester for Energy Democracy Campaign (R.E.D.) has been developing a podcast to safely engage our community for climate justice during COVID-19! On the Rochester Public Power Hour, we will share updates from our campaign, answer questions submitted by our audience (you), and interview leaders in movements for public utilities and energy democracy across the world. Click below to listen to our first episode! 

Do you have questions about RG&E, public utilities, energy democracy, climate change, or how our energy system works in general? Email us at [email protected], or Tweet us at @MetroJustice, and we'll answer your questions on future episodes!

Despite new challenges presented by the COVID-19 lockdown, our members persisted in organizing mutual aid and strengthening our long-term campaigns. Read on to learn more about resources for mutual aid, critical action for relief on utilities bills, our upcoming energy democracy podcast, valuable victories for elder justice, and so much more! 

With the emergence of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the deplorable inadequacies of our economic and governmental institutions are more starkly apparent than ever. This past March, our members have dedicated their time, money, and resources to participating in mutual aid, organizing for policy that gives people crucial relief, and creating new remote tactics to continue our campaigns so that we can build a better world for everyone in the long-term. 

February was a packed month of actions and critical progress in our campaigns! Updates on our fight for a public utility, emerging alliance with organized labor for climate and energy distance, a picket in Buffalo for universal healthcare, and more are in this monthly recap!