May 04, 2020 03:57 PM UTC
What you can do to stay healthy and fight back this week (May 4)
1 Comments- by: ProgressNow Colorado
Like these alerts? Click here to subscribe.
The last six weeks have been very hard on everyone, but the measures we took in Colorado to slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic are working. [1] The proof is in the curve we flattened and the lives we saved by staying home, and it’s not over. Most of the Denver metro area remains under stay-at-home orders until this weekend at the earliest. Every smart decision we make to keep social distancing and keep building occupancy low as we transition to a sustainable “new normal” means lives preserved until treatment and prevention is available.
Thanks to everyone for doing your part to protect each other’s health. Keep it up and make sure it was all worth it.
Now it’s time to talk about Sen. Cory Gardner. For years now and especially since Donald Trump’s election, Gardner has consistently been more attentive to the needs of his corporate cronies and Republican political allies than the voters he was elected to represent. That’s why it had been years even before the COVID-19 pandemic since Gardner’s last public town hall. Instead of being honest and engaging candidly with Colorado, Gardner relied on scripted appearances at corporate events and telephone town halls he can control with a button.
On Wednesday, Sen. Cory Gardner is appearing on the controversial Denver radio station 710 KNUS–the same station who had to fire a producer exposed as a not-so-closeted neo-Nazi–for an event he’s calling a “town hall.” Forcing Coloradans to tune in to a far-right radio station that has supported violent fringe groups like the Proud Boys in order to engage their U.S. Senator is outrageous. But if it’s the only way to reach Gardner and ask the hard questions about the Trump administration’s disastrous handling of this pandemic, Coloradans have no choice.
Click here to register for Sen. Cory Gardner’s “town hall” on right-wing AM radio this Wednesday at 6:00pm. If you manage to get past the screeners, here are a few suggested questions:
- After the Trump administration commandeered Colorado’s order of 500 ventilator machines, why did we only get back 100? Where are the other 400?
- Does Sen. Martha McSally’s “gift” of 100 ventilators to Arizona two days after yours prove this equipment is being distributed for political reasons?
- After Trump told states to purchase equipment on the open market, why are states having to hide equipment they procure from the federal government?
- Gardner claimed to have obtained 5,000 COVID-19 tests for workers at the JBS beef packing plant in Greeley, but the workers claim most were not tested before the plant reopened. Why didn’t Gardner make sure the testing he took credit for actually happened?
- As recently as late March, Gardner reaffirmed his support for repealing the Affordable Care Act. Because of the ACA, millions of Americans still have health insurance amid the coronavirus pandemic. Does Gardner still support repeal? Do Republicans have a plan today for replacing the ACA?
Thanks for your help getting answers out of Cory Gardner. We’ll be listening to see if you get through! Here are some more ways you can help make a difference for the week of May The Fourth:
AFSC & Coloradans For Immigrant Rights: Free Them All FB Live from GEO May 4th Vigil 2020
We gather each quarter to stand together for our neighbors and our families and against detention and deportation. On Monday, May 4th Vigil 2020, from 6:00 to 7:00 pm on this Vigil event page we call on ICE and GEO to #FreeThemAll and release every person from detention and Save Lives. This vigil will be broadcast from GEO as a FB live so you can stay safe at home and share the Free Them All message with others. Tune as Not One More Deportation Table Members and Colorado People’s Alliance members share about loved ones in detention and also hear from several poets and artists who are calling for action.
When: Monday, May 4 at 6:00pm
Click here to participate.
Cobalt: Abortion Clinic Support Drive
Join us in sponsoring health center pantries to support patients traveling from out of state. As need in Colorado increases due to COVID-19 related unemployment and the opportunistic bans on abortion care in other states, we’re working to provide pantry goods and gas cards for patients in this time of need.
When: Tuesday, May 5
Click here to participate.
Colorado Sierra Club: Outdoor Leadership Workshop Series
You now have an opportunity to help engage people in your community to connect outdoors by joining the Colorado Sierra Club this November through December through our web-based Outdoor Leadership 101 Workshop. You will begin the adventure to be certified to lead your own Sierra Club trips to help engage more people to explore and enjoy the special places Colorado has to offer.
When: Tuesday, May 5 at 6:30pm
Click here to participate.
Colorado Consumer Health Initiative: Salud y Finanzas Personales en Tiempos de Coronavirus
El coronavirus ha impactado nuestra salud y finanzas personales en múltiples maneras. Únase a este informativo seminario en línea acerca de los pasos que puede tomar en este tiempo tan inusual. Mpowered repasará estrategias y recursos para hacer frente a la pérdida de ingresos y el Colorado Consumer Health Initiative (CCHI) compartirá lo que necesitas saber acerca de la atención médica respecto al COVID-19.
Cuándo: miércoles 6 de mayo, 12:00pm
Haz clic aquí para participar.
Rocky Mountain Values and Servicios de La Raza: Latinx Virtual Resource Fair: Mental Health
This is a difficult time. That’s why Rocky Mountain Values is hosting a series of town halls with Servicios de la Raza to share resources and information to help you and your family. On Wednesday, May 6th, we are focusing on mental health. We will discuss different resources to tap into and various services around the state. We will be joined by State Representative Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, as well as other advocates and experts.
When: Wednesday, May 6 at 4:00pm
Click here to participate.
Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains: Tele-Town Hall with President & CEO, Vicki Cowart
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains has continued to keep their health center doors open to provide essential reproductive health care to our communities. Not only is PPRM providing care for our region, but we’re seeing more patients than ever travel to receive care in Colorado, New Mexico, and Nevada. Hear directly from PPRM’s President & CEO Vicki Cowart this Wednesday evening. She will address the modifications being made to protect the health and safety of staff and patients, provide key political updates in Colorado, New Mexico, and Nevada, and will share how you can support our organization to ensure the PPRM region remains a safe haven for abortion care.
When: Wednesday, May 6th at 6:00pm
Click here to participate.
SEIU Local 105 and Colorado WINS: Colorado Essential Worker Action Telethon
Grab your phones and join essential workers from across Colorado in an action telethon on Facebook live! While in your typical telethon we’d be raising funds, in a worker action telethon we’re raising our voices. Every day of inaction by our Congressional leaders is putting more working families’ lives at risk. We’re calling Senator Cory Gardner to let him know he must ACT NOW to #ProtectAllWorkers
When: Thursday, May 7 at 10:00am
Click here to participate.
Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains: Why Courts Matter
Courts matter. From protecting reproductive rights to preserving health care access, who we nominate to our nation’s courts has a long-lasting impact on our rights for decades to come. Join us for a series on the nitty gritty of judicial nominations and the impacts they have on our civil liberties.
When: Thursday, May 7 at 4:30pm
Click here to participate.
Women’s Lobby of Colorado: Virtual Social Hour Series
Join us for one or more of our virtual social hours series! We will have an expert from our organizational members join us to talk about the issues in the community, including the impacts of COVID-19. On May 7 we will be joined by the powerful and dynamic Karla Garcia Gonzales, Policy Director of the Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights! Grab a tea, a coffee, glass of wine, whatever you’d like, and join us! Note, registration required!
Where: Thursday, May 7 at 5:30pm
Click here to participate.
May the Fourth be with you, and we’ll be back next week with more ways to take action.
Heck, I'm interested in one other element of the tests for the JBS plant:
I want to find out where those 5,000 tests actually went. Were they delivered to JBS? Did JBS use them at other plants? Did they re-sell them to some other entity? Are they still in storage?