Michael Uncategorized

Citizens Share Concerns with Absent Rep. David Schweikert

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Judy Schwiebert
Organization: Desert Progressives
Phone: 602-769-5149
Email: jschswieb3@cox.net
Website URL: www.DesertProgressives.org
Press Release: 20170224_desert_progressives_press_release.pdf

Phoenix, Arizona: After Representative David Schweikert ignored weeks of requests from his constituents’ for a Town Hall meeting, two grassroots Indivisible groups from Phoenix came together to invite him to their own joint Citizens’ Town Hall Friday night, February 24.

Still, Rep. Schweikert didn’t show up, but 223 of his constituents did. They were Republicans, Independents and Democrats. And since their congressman was still not available to them, they addressed their concerns to an empty chair.

The people of his Congressional District 6 shared moving stories and pleaded with him to listen and – asked him to please represent them.

Video and written copies of their concerns will be sent to Rep. Schweikert’s office with the uncertain hope that he will listen and respond. (See Addendum for concerns, stories and questions from some of the participants)

One organizer commented, “It’s really too bad Mr. Schweikert wasn’t here tonight. It was a powerful evening – and he missed the chance to listen to caring, smart people who are counting on him. He could have done so much just by listening.”

The Citizens’ Town Hall for Rep. David Schweikert was organized and hosted by two new Indivisible groups, both begun since January of this year: Desert Progressives (DP) and Arizona Indivisible CD6 (AICD6).

DP Co-founders Mickey Tucker and Judy Schwiebert opened the meeting by inviting people to join them in taking action on state and national issues. People can subscribe to their newsletter at www.DesertProgressives.org and/or find them on Facebook.

AICD6 co-founder Chris Hanlon shared the story of their leadership in urging Rep. Schweikert to hold a Town Hall, and invited people to join their Facebook page as well. Sharon Kirsch moderated the event.

The Town Hall was held at Shadow Rock Congregational Church, 12861 N. 8th Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona. Staff member Abeth Spencer  welcomed the group with the church’s motto, “All are welcome here.”

For more information or future events, contact Judy Schwiebert at jschwieb3@cox.net or at 602-769-5149.

 

Michael Uncategorized

Desert Progressives Facebook Group

Join our Facebook group! Share your stories, get updates on actions and upcoming events, and network with other Desert Progressives.

To join the group, please browse to the link below and select Join Group. You will receive a notification once you’ve been added to the group.

www.facebook.com/groups/DesertProgressivesIndivisible

Please feel free to share the link with any Facebook friends you think might be interested in organizing for Progressive causes in the Phoenix area.

See you there!

Michael Uncategorized

National Action: Week of 2/21/17

National Action

Resistance Recess

The week of February 18-26 is the first recess of the 115th Congress – the perfect time to join fellow constituent and raise our voices.

Join us at Congressman David Schweikert’s office, 10603 N. Hayden Rd, (NE corner) Suite 108, Scottsdale, AZ any day this week to continue to show up and ask for a Town Hall meeting with the Congressman.

  • Monday, 2/20, 10 am – President’s Day Post-it Notes
  • Tuesday, 2/21, 10 am
  • Wednesday, 2/22, 10 am
  • Thursday, 2/23, 9:30 am
  • Friday, 2/24, 10:30 am

Our representative is most likely to be at the office on Thursday or Friday, but we’ll be showing up every day to emphasize to him that we want him Town Hall meeting and to remind him that we are voters who want to speak with their representative.

You can also find other local Resistance Recess events here.

Each Sunday, volunteer Jen Hofmann sends out an Action Checklist for Americans of Conscience. Use it to find hype-free suggestions for action based on well-considered research. Join us in using it to act on our own beliefs and values.

Michael Uncategorized

Arizona Action: Week of 2/21/17

Arizona Action

From The Iyer Report: AZ Legislature Weekly Update 

Support public education by opposing AZ Senator Debbie Lesko’s (R-21) “empowerment scholarship” (voucher) expansion bill and other bills which would gut public education in Arizona. These are being fast tracked through the legislature, so it’s crucial to OPPOSE these bills NOW. To do so:

Sign on to the Arizona Legislature’s *Request to Speak program.

AND/OR

Contact your AZ House and Senate representatives.

Use RTS and/or contact your legislators to OPPOSE SB1174 which would require school desegregation funding to go through special override elections instead of getting rolled into local taxes and would result in a catastrophic $207 million loss to schools and it doesn’t save the state any money.

Use RTS and/or contact your legislators to OPPOSE SB1431 which would phase in Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESAs) to all of Arizona over the next 4 years. ESAs redirect public school funds to private pockets with very little oversight or regulation. Last year $100,000+ in AZ taxpayer funds was misused under this program.

See the The Iyer Report: AZ Legislature Weekly Update for MORE crucial action needed right now as well.

* If you have not yet setup an account with Request to Speak, email Mickey (tuck13m@gmail.com) for help.