Author: Ken Riter

Ken Riter

NGP June 2019 Newsletter


Hello Nebraska Grassroots Progressives! You are receiving this newsletter because you attended a meeting, signed a petition or participated in some other event for Nebraska Grassroots Progressives and we appreciate your support. Here are some of the updates we have from June 2019.

Organizing:
We have an event on Facebook to call your Members of Congress to tell them to cosponsor the Prevention of Unconstitutional War with Iran Act of 2019, in the House its HR 2354, in the Senate its S1039.  Call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121. To find out who your Members of Congress are visit this website: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members   Below is the script you can use when you make the calls.

SCRIPT: Hello, I’m a constituent from [city, state] and I’m very concerned about the possibility of a new war with Iran given recent escalations.

Before Iran shot down a US drone and before the US sent more troops to the region, Trump foolishly violated the nuclear deal, destroying a diplomatic pathway to cut off Iran’s path to a nuclear bomb and provide a framework to build upon with more talks. Now John Bolton and the war cabinet are escalating tensions. It feels a lot like Iraq War 2.0.

Will [your MoC] co-sponsor [H.R. 2354/S.1039] and issue a public statement making clear that Congress has not authorized the use of any military force against Iran? Will they commit to voting for amendments to must-pass bill such as the National Defense Authorization Act that would prevent a new war with Iran? I will be closely watching for [MoC]’s actions on this and following up. /EndScript

Events: There are a few events listed below for the Democratic Debates this week along with their primary host. The last event is the FB event Page for Kara Eastman’s official launch for 2020.

William Treyson https://www.facebook.com/events/448296782674748

Omaha DSA: https://www.facebook.com/events/684486408656701

Lancaster Dems: https://www.facebook.com/events/436914510197497

Kara Eastman’s Official Campaign Launch
https://www.facebook.com/events/426939878146199

We have several petitions still active that we’d like people to support. Here are two petitions we consider very important and timely.

DNC Refuses Climate Debate, Tell Them To Reverse Their Decision!

Omaha Needs a City Owned & Operated Homeless Shelter

Please visit our website for the latest updates! https://nebraskagrassrootsprogressives.com

Thank you!

Ken Riter

Poll Time For The June Democratic Debates!


Its poll time once again!  This time we will be polling for the Democrats who will be participating in the June Democratic Debates.  Please vote and share!

Ken Riter

Omaha Needs a City Owned and Operated Homeless Shelter.


Omaha has no city run homeless shelter. Omaha does have a few privately run homeless shelters in the city but they are constantly overcrowded. Many homeless people can be seen sleeping in parked cars outside the homeless shelter because they are so full. There are about 2000 people homeless every night according to the Open Mission. Many homeless shelters are NOT inclusive to all homeless people, nor do they provide enough services for all the homeless people’s needs to get them out of homelessness and poverty. Many homeless people sleep outside along the Keystone Trail, Heartland of America Park and various other places where they can sleep undisturbed and unnoticed without being picked up police.

Local nonprofits play a big part in Omaha’s homelessness pipeline and absorb millions of dollars without the City seeing an actual end to homelessness, hunger or poverty, nor is the performance of these nonprofits checked for efficiency.  This should be a requirement when its taxpayer money and taxpayer lives on the line. The Omaha City Hall has no problem removing people from busy intersections, but has a very difficult time giving people a decent place to stay.

Omaha can make up for these oversights by building a multi-purpose facility for an inclusive, city-owned and operated homeless shelter with space for a health center, education and job training center, soup kitchen, housing office and even a city employment office built into it. The City of Omaha must operate an inclusive homeless shelter that also protects against discrimination based on race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or religion.

INFO
https://www.opendoormission.org/about-us/fast-facts/

Please support the idea of a City-Owned and Operated Homeless Shelter and helping to work toward getting it done!

Please Sign the Petition.

Ken Riter

DNC Refuses Climate Debate


OMAHA, NE –
The Democratic National Committee announced on June 5th, 2019 that they would not hold a climate debate, much to the disappointment of the Democratic 2020 POTUS Candidates and their supporters. Denying Democrats a debate on climate is unacceptable, irresponsible and suppresses an opportunity to discuss as issue that affects the entire planet. The number one issue among Democrats is climate change, and once again the DNC turns a deaf ear to the wishes of it voters. They do this even as studies show that we must achieve Zero Carbon emissions by 2030 to have any chance of reversing the effects of climate change.

Help us tell the DNC to REVERSE this dangerous & irresponsible decision. We need our public officials talking about climate change if we are ever going to pass a Green New Deal. Sign the petition at the link at the bottom of the article and we’ll send the following short letter below to the DNC’s misleaders.

“I am extremely disappointed the DNC has decided to refuse our Democratic candidates a chance to debate climate change. We deserve to hear from Democratic presidential candidates about how they will take action to address our global climate crisis. The future of our planet depends on it. I call on the DNC to REVERSE your decision on the climate debate!”

Sign the Petition!

 

Ken Riter

NGP May 2019 Newsletter


Hello Nebraska Grassroots Progressives!

It has been a few months since Nebraska Grassroots Progressives sent out any email newsletters, but you are receiving this because you attended a meeting or event, signed up at a booth, or signed a petition online at one point. We will be sending out a monthly, sometimes biweekly, newsletter, especially with so much activity brewing this summer and fall ahead of the 2020 elections.

The Omaha City Council passed the Plastic Bag Ban on Tuesday, May 21st. We need all Grassroots Progressives on board to tell the Omaha City Council to override the Mayor’s Veto on the Plastic Bag Ban. We have an Event Page on Facebook asking people to call or email their city council member to vote to override the Mayor’s veto, with an emphasis on everyone also calling Rich Pahls to vote to override the veto. Pahls could most likely the 5th vote needed for a veto override vote.
Here is the Facebook event page: Tell The Omaha City Council To Override Stothert’s Veto.
OWH Article: https://www.omaha.com/news/metro/mayor-stothert-follows-through-on-threat-vetoes-omaha-s-plastic/article_7fd48ef2-e80c-5ece-b0b0-104dabe5f0c7.html

The Omaha City Council also voted against Slumlord Dave Paladino’s request for TIF. We had different events for Omahans to call or email their Omaha City Council member to tell them to vote no on Paladino’s TIF request. A big thanks to all those who made those calls or sent those emails. Here’s the latest OWH article on the Paladino TIF issue:    https://www.omaha.com/news/metro/city-council-won-t-give-tif-to-omaha-landlord-of/article_1ae3d5aa-5ec9-50f9-a456-531b433d122e.html

This last week of May is also the last days (May 30-31) of the 2019 Unicameral Session. Its the last chance we have kill the bill, tell your Senator, especially Democratic Senators to vote NO, as a handful of Democrats either sponsored the bill or actually voted for it. Here’s our FB event page: Last Call To Stop LB209, Misinformation Medication Abortion Bill.
Senator contact info: https://nebraskalegislature.gov/pdf/senators/roster.pdf
Recent votes on LB209: https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_votes.php?KeyID=4952
List of Democratic Senators in the Unicameral. https://nebraskademocrats.org/elected-democrats/

The Trump administration keeps moving our country towards war with Venezuela and Iran. We have a peace rally planned for June 8th at 1pm demanding the Trump keep his #HandsOffVenezuela and #HandsOffIran. Please join us to show elected officials we don’t want anymore wars!
Here’s the FB event page: Peace Rally: #HandsOffVenezuela #HandsOffIran
RSVP here: https://actionnetwork.org/events/omaha-peace-rally-handsoffvenezuela-handsoffiran

Some of our members are part of an event canvassing for Bernie Sanders May 31st at 6pm at Midtown Crossing in Turner Park. Bernie Sanders supporters will be canvasing the Turner Park Night Market using the BERN app, where you can open an account here: The Bern app. Be sure to bring your phone, fully charged. The event is organized by Nebraskans For Bernie Sanders 2020. Here is the FB event page: Bernie Sanders 2020 Community Canvas.

Check out these maps from organizations we support for any other events in your area.
Indivisible: Indivisible Event Map
Our Revolution: Our Revolution Event Map
Bernie Sanders: Bernie Sanders 2020 Event Map

Check out our website: Nebraska Grassroots Progressives
Sign our latest petition!  Omaha Needs a City owned & Operated Homeless Shelter!
Join Our Cause! Join Nebraska Grassroots Progressives

Thanks for reading our latest actions and news.
Ken Riter, Nebraska Grassroots Progressives

Ken Riter

Omaha Needs a City Owned and Operated Homeless Shelter


Omaha has no city run homeless shelter. Omaha does have a few privately run homeless shelters in the city but they are constantly overcrowded. Many homeless people can be seen sleeping in parked cars outside the homeless shelter because they are so full. There are about 2000 people homeless every night according to the Open Mission. Many homeless shelters are NOT inclusive to all homeless people, nor do they provide enough services for all the homeless people’s needs to get them out of homelessness and poverty. Many homeless people sleep outside along the Keystone Trail, Heartland of America Park and various other places where they can sleep undisturbed and unnoticed without being picked up police.

Local nonprofits play a big part in Omaha’s homelessness pipeline and absorb millions of dollars without the City seeing an actual end to homelessness, hunger or poverty, nor is the performance of these nonprofits checked for efficiency.  This should be a requirement when its taxpayer money and taxpayer lives on the line. The Omaha City Hall has no problem removing people from busy intersections, but has a very difficult time giving people a decent place to stay.

Omaha can make up for these oversights by building a multi-purpose facility for an inclusive, city-owned and operated homeless shelter with space for a health center, education and job training center, soup kitchen, housing office and even a city employment office built into it. The City of Omaha must operate an inclusive homeless shelter that also protects against discrimination based on race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or religion.

INFO
https://www.opendoormission.org/about-us/fast-facts/

Please support the idea of a City-Owned and Operated Homeless Shelter and helping to work toward getting it done!

Please Sign the Petition.
https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/omaha-needs-a-city-owned-and-operated-homeless-shelter

 

Ken Riter

Sign The Omaha Plastic Bag Ban Petition!


NGPInfoCard

Plastic bags have recently become an issue in Omaha, but then it died down. Time to resurrect a great cause! We must urge our elected officials at Omaha City Hall to ban plastic bags. If you already believe in a plastic bag ban, please sign the petition. If you’d like to know more, please continue reading.

There are more than enough reasons to ban plastic bags, listed here are a few of them. The plastic bags are used an average of 12 minutes, but are made from non renewable resources that directly contribute to global climate change. Here are 10 of the most important reasons to ban plastic bags in Omaha.

1. Plastic bags pollute our environment. They are an environmental nuisance, and we need to end their use in Omaha. Besides polluting our backyard trees, fences and ditches, they clog up the city’s sewage drains, float around in waterways and eventually make their way into the oceans.

2. Plastic bags are made from fossil fuel based resources. They contribute to the problems of climate change because these materials are non-renewable fossil fuel-based resources. Through their extraction and production, they create greenhouse gases, which contribute to global climate change.

3. Plastic bags never break down. They linger in the environment, get eaten by animals or end up the ocean where they build up.

4. Plastic bags threaten wildlife and sea life. Plastic bags are mistaken for food by land animals, birds and marine life. Once the plastic is consumed by these creatures, it congests their digestive systems and leads to infections or even suffocation.

5. Plastic bags are harmful to human health. Plastic fragments in the ocean from plastic bags absorb certain pollutants that are known to be hormone disrupting chemicals. Marine animals that consume these materials, they eventually make it into humans through consumption.

6. Plastic bags have unseen financial pitfalls. Plastic bags are anything but free. The cost of plastic bag cleanup is about 17 cents per bag, and on average, taxpayers end up paying about $88 per year just on plastic bag waste.

7. Plastic bags are difficult to recycle. Plastic bags get caught in recycling machinery and most facilities do not have the capacity to recycle plastic bags. The actual rate for recycling plastic bags is just 5%.

8. Plastic bags have external costs. These costs include the true environmental costs of resource extraction & depletion, quality of life loss, economic loss from littering, & wildlife loss. These costs are typically not included in most economic analyses, but negative impacts are very real.

9. Better alternatives exist with positive economic impacts. Reusable shopping bags are very durable and can be reused many times over the course of their useful life. The manufacturing of reusable bags is also another opportunity to create sustainable products and the jobs that go with them.

10. Other governments already ban plastic bags! Ours should too! More than 40 countries and municipalities around the world have instituted plastic bag bans. The United Nations Environmental Programme Secretariat has recommended a ban on all plastic bags globally.

The article below is a primary source for the information mentioned in this petition.

https://greentumble.com/10-reasons-why-plastic-bags-should-be-banned/

Please Sign the Petition!  –>>  Ban Plastic Bags Omaha!

Ken Riter

Poll Time For The 2020 Democratic Primary. 1st Poll 2019


Many blogs and other websites do polls during the election season. We shall be no different. Please share with your friends!

Democrats Divided
Ken Riter

From One of Our 2018 Summer Flyers


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NEBRASKA GRASSROOTS PROGRESSIVES

Nebraska Grassroots Progressives is a Volunteer-led Grassroots Progressive movement, which focuses on ensuring the enactment of a bold, sensible progressive agenda across Nebraska.

LIKE OUR FACEBOOK PAGE:

https://www.facebook.com/NebraskaGrassrootsProgressives

JOIN OUR DISCUSSIONS:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/NebraskaGrassrootsProgressives

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER:

https://twitter.com/NGProgressives

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/nebraskagrassrootsprogressives

MOTTOS:

“Seize The Means of Political Production!”

“Any Ole Blue Just Won’t Do!”

 

We Support Many Issues!

 

  1. Fighting Climate Change – We support ending fossil fuel use, and switching to renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power. We’d like to see a program that encourages or helps communities start Community Solar Gardens and helping residents placing solar panels or wind mills on homes. The US should be a leader in the fight against climate change.
  2. Fighting Pollution – Recently banning plastic bags has become an issue locally, we support banning plastic bags and plastic straws. We also support a city or statewide recycling program. We support encouraging public transportation to cut down on pollution from personal vehicles.
  3. Economic Reforms – We support the Green New Deal. Besides supporting an environment friendly economy that bans fossil fuels, mandates renewable energy, encourages urban agriculture and we support industrial hemp and legal marijuana in a truly green economy! We also support incentivizing locally based businesses like consumer cooperatives and worker owned cooperatives to play a heavy role in local economics.
  4. Civil Rights – We want people to be free to be themselves, to enjoy the fruits of a green economy and a clean environment. We support advancements in racial justice, ending police brutality, reforming criminal justice, respecting the space of marginalized communities, ensuring all women’s rights & protecting our queer & trans siblings from discrimination.
  5. Political Reform – We believe in order to ensure a clean and safe economy and environment, our political system itself will need to change. We support universal automatic voter registration, a national voting holiday, and a multi-partisan system with multi-member districts, and ranked choice voting. We believe the political parties, if we allow them to remain, must be responsible to their respective voters. We believe corporate money should be taken out of US politics. The Peoples’ Voices must be heard if we are to create a clean and safe economy and environment.
Ken Riter

Nebraska Grassroots Progressives Releases Nebraska Primary Endorsements


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 1st, 2018
Ken Riter: ksriteratgmaildotcom 531-205-3193  https://www.facebook.com/NebraskaGrassrootsProgressives

Nebraska Grassroots Progressives offers Nebraska voters several progressive choices in 2018, who will help move our state & our country in a positive political direction.

Omaha, NE: Nebraska Grassroots Progressives, announces endorsements of several area candidates in the May 15th 2018 Primary. The endorsed candidates are:

Kara Eastman – Congress – CD2
Chris Janicek – US Senate
Linda Bowman – Learning Community – District 1
Jake Seeman – MCC Board of Governors – District 2
Tonya Ward – Learning Community – District 5
Marque Snow – OPS Board – District 2
Jackie Collett – Unicameral – LD20
ChrisAnne Dienstbier – Unicameral – LD20
Andrew Stock – Lancaster County Treasurer

Yes To OPS Bond Measure.

Nebraska Grassroots Progressives says their endorsement slate offers Nebraskans a much needed definitive and progressive point of view in local area politics.

“I’m proud of our slate of candidates,” says Ken Riter, Group Leader, “I hope they do well, and I think they will.” Ken Riter adds, “I challenge our candidates to tackle our nation’s deep racial issues, to sponsor or introduce policies that end race-based suffering, end poverty, hunger & homelessness, and offer marginalized persons a permanent escape from the violence of state enforced police brutality.”

Progressive activist Carol Dicks points out, “Nebraskans need representatives who are unafraid to work toward radically reducing greenhouse gas emissions, confronting how racism affects us all, prioritizing all levels of education, narrowing the income and wealth gap, and promoting universal health care.”

Nebraska Grassroots Progressives began as a group of activists coming together in early 2016, right after the Nebraska Caucus, with the hopes of cleaning out corruption in the Democratic Party, while shifting Nebraska’s political landscape to the left.

“The candidates we endorsed are an important representation of the fact that if we have any chance to win, we need to steer hard and proud to the left and be crystal clear that our values include things like universal healthcare and a living minimum wage,” says progressive activist Becky Curlis.

Nebraska Grassroots Progressives also endorsed candidates in the 2016 & 2017 election cycles.

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Nebraska Grassroots Progressives is a volunteer-led Grassroots Progressive movement, which focuses on ensuring the enactment of a bold, sensible progressive agenda across Nebraska.