CREDO Mobile Blog

VICTORY: Beaverton, Oregon passes resolution against coal exports

The coal industry wanted to turn the Pacific Northwest into North America’s largest hub for shipping dirty coal to Asia. Coal is the dirtiest and most toxic fossil fuel because of the heavy metals it contains and because it produces the greatest quantity of CO2 per BTU of heat. The comparatively miniscule coal traffic through the Columbia Gorge Area was already a major source of pollution along the route, so increasing it would be terrible. Dozens of cities in the region passed resolutions declaring their opposition to coal exports or their concerns with coal export terminal proposals, but Beaverton, Oregon hadn’t weighed in.

Thanks to grassroots activism, which included almost 500 petition signatures, the Beaverton City Council approved a strong resolution against coal exports with a 3–2 vote.

VICTORY: New York extends eviction deadline for families displaced by Hurricane Sandy

Hurricane Sandy displaced thousands of New Yorkers, and hundreds were living in hotels due to hurricane damage to their homes that made them inhibitable. The New York Department of Homeless Services imposed an arbitrary date, after which homeless families would be on their own. After 2,000 signatures, the deadline was extended for 15 days.

VICTORY: Alameda County Sheriffs stop detaining immigrants for ICE

ICE collaboration – frequently ironically named Secure Communities (S-Comm) program – has had a disastrous effect on Alameda County, resulting in the detention and deportation of countless family members, heads of households, and other people important to the fabric of our communities. Sadly, people are criminalized and dehumanized by local law enforcement in collaboration with ICE merely based upon a suspicion that they lack immigration documents. When community members are detained and deported, families are separated, and economic and emotional hardship for those left behind – often children – is a common result. 

Thanks to public pressure, including 1,000 CREDO petition signatures, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors voted 3-1 to ask Sheriff Gregory Ahern to stop detaining immigrants for ICE to deport.

VICTORY: San Francisco enacts 25-foot barrier around reproductive health care facilities

Planned Parenthood works tirelessly for women’s health care. It also reports that protesters use loopholes in current law to regularly harass, intimidate and bully its patients. The protesters scream at all who walk in and out of the clinic, standing just a few feet from its front door. They display graphic signs and distribute pamphlets containing medically inaccurate information about birth control and abortion. 

After almost 2,000 signatures, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted to enact an expanded 25 foot buffer zone around reproductive healthcare facilities.

VICTORY: Paid Sick Time Act brought to New York City Council

Paid sick days reduce health care costs, reduce the spread of contagion, protect people’s jobs and financial security and boost businesses’ productivity. The NYC Paid Sick Time Act would guarantee that all workers in New York City could earn up to five paid sick days per year and would also allow all workers to use these days when a child is ill. The bill had the support of 83 percent of New Yorkers and a veto-proof majority of votes in the City Council, but Speaker Christine Quinn had yet to sign on and allow the bill to be brought before the New York City Council for a vote.

Thanks to activism that included 1,300 CREDO signatures, the New York City Paid Sick Time Act was brought to a vote and ultimately passed.

VICTORY: Sen. Fischer votes for the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act

Victims of domestic violence have been without help since the last VAWA expired in 2011, all because of Congress’s political games. Since VAWA was first passed in 1994, domestic violence incidents have dropped by 60 percent, but the rates are still dangerously high. One in four women experiences domestic violence. 

After 1,100 petition signatures and more grassroots activism, Sen. Fischer voted for VAWA’s reauthorization.