WNY Official Bernie 2020 Newsletter
Campaign Update, Introduction, and Remote Organizing
Welcome to the Bernie 2020 Campaign Newsletter for Western New York!
The five of us have the privilege of organizing Western New York. For our purposes, because of the way delegates are awarded, this area is defined by Congressional Districts 23, 24, 25, 26 & 27.
We would like to acknowledge that the land on which we are organizing is the ancestral home and unceded occupied territory of the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca Territories of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, which stewarded this land for generations living and working here since time immemorial. We pay respects to the elders past, present, and emerging for they hold the memories, traditions, and culture of their people across the nation.
Before we introduce ourselves, we’d like to address the current crisis.
As Bernie said himself,
“I don’t have to tell anyone that our country and the world are facing an unprecedented series of crises. We’re dealing with the coronavirus, we’re dealing with a growing economic meltdown that will impact tens of millions of workers in this country, and we’re dealing with a political crisis as well.”
Given our current reality, it is more important than ever that we keep fighting for what we believe in, demanding what we need, and not just asking for what we think we can get. In the face of uncertainty, we think it is important to remember a few things about mutual aid and the election itself:
As social creatures, quarantine and isolation will take its toll on all of us, both mentally and physically. The work that we do in this campaign to connect with each other, build community, and create meaningful relationships is absolutely essential to keep each other safe and sane.
If the coronavirus pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that unforeseen circumstances can, and will, alter our political reality in moments. As we continue organizing, when Biden or the DNC make a mistake they can’t walk back from, we will be ready to seize the opportunity and clinch the nomination. While we mustn’t fool ourselves, the pathway to victory is narrow, there is too much at stake to be disillusioned now. Yes, we are fighting the most powerful forces in the history of the world, yet we have defied all odds. There is no one else that we can count on to lead this fight, it is literally up to us.
We have already won so much! Despite losing the nomination in 2016, no one can deny that the national conversation has completely changed because of Bernie’s campaign. We have elevated social programs to the national forefront and we must continue if we wish to see any of the litany of policies we are fighting for actually passed. Together, we will WIN.
Your Bernie 2020 Campaign Staff
Organizing works, and the election results from the first three states and California prove that. The campaign invested in field heavily in those states, and we came up with big wins, despite voter suppression, media opposition, and decades of voter disillusionment.
With that in mind, I’d like to introduce your field staff for Western New York! We worked together in the Bay Area of California, and learned and experienced so much that we are excited to bring to our organizing with you!
Field Organizers
Erik Eriksen, CD 23 erikeriksen@berniesanders.com (831)-332-8831
Tara Madrone, CD24 taramadrone@berniesanders.com (707) 327-6573
Alex White, CD's 25, 26 & 27 alexanderwhite@berniesanders.com (719) 660-5730
Ivan Aguilar, CD's 25 & 26 ivanaguilar@berniesanders.com (209) 879-3097
Regional Field Director
Holly Cordeiro, hollycordeiro@berniesanders.com (650) 667-0226
Landing in Buffalo after a 4 day road trip from California
Each of us have our own unique organizing backgrounds, and volunteered with Bernie 2016 extensively before we were hired. We are dedicated to the movement and know what it’s like to be a volunteer organizer. Each of us will be hosting a weekly meeting where you will have an opportunity to get to know us (and each other) better, so please sign up below!
Erik (CD 23, Tom Reed’s District)- Wednesday from 6-7pm
Tara (CD 24, John Katko’s District)- Wednesday from 6-7pm
Ivan and Alex (CD’s 25 & 26, Represented by Joseph Morelle and Brian Higgins, respectively)-Thursday from 6-7pm
Alex (CD 27, formerly Chris Higgin’s District, currently vacant)- Friday from 6-7pm
Remember, please call us! Volunteers often call saying, 'sorry to bother you', but besides the fact that it's our job, we LOVE hearing from you! It's literally the best part of this job and in this time of social isolation, connection is so important. We are here to help.
Time to Take Action!
The effects of the pandemic are unlike anything any of us have experienced before. We are adapting to this new reality, and have transitioned away from the traditional canvassing operation that we normally rely on, to remote organizing. This includes remote 'virtual' phone banking and ‘virtual’ house parties with the Bern App. We have some really exciting technology that is our ‘secret weapon’ to organizing during the lockdown.
If you are brand new to volunteering, or want some insight to our virtual organizing strategy, please sign up to one of our New Volunteer Orientation Calls- Tuesdays and Thursday 6-7pm, Saturday 12-1pm
On the other hand, are you an Experienced Volunteer and Ready to Take Action?
Calling with the Bernie dialer and using the Bern app are the most effective actions you can take right now.
Phonebank on the Bernie Dialer with Victory Captains in your area (If you can’t tell, we need more hosts!! contact us if you would like to host a virtual phonebank)-
Ithaca Mondays and Wednesdays 5:30-8:30
Dunkirk Saturday 4-7
Statewide call Monday, Thursday, Friday 6-9; Weekends 1-4 and 4-7
The priority is definitely having conversations with people we don’t know about Bernie, so we need help getting even more people on the dialer! So we are also calling identified Bernie supporters in our own areas and inviting them to join us in volunteering! These are called ‘Volunteer to Volunteer Recruitment Calls’ and are actually even easier and more fun than cold calling strangers on the dialer!
If you haven’s started using the Bern App yet, or you’re not totally comfortable with it, or just want a better understanding of why we’re using it, sign up to a virtual house party now!
Western New York-Thursdays, 4:30-6
Central New York-Friday, 4:30-6
Sign up to our Slack Channel
This is a great way to be in direct communication with campaign staff, as well as other Bernie volunteers in your area.
Once you’re signed in, add the #Area-1-Western-NY channel, add a profile picture, and introduce yourself!
In this time of social distancing, I think we can all agree that holding the elections as planned is not only irresponsible, but downright dangerous. Our campaign is working with the state election board to postpone the primary until June, which they asked Gov. Cuomo to do on Tuesday morning.
In the meantime, we are working to have Coronavirus included as an acceptable reason to request an absentee (vote-by-mail) ballot. As of this moment, there is no state mandate to accept this request, and each county’s elections department is different. So please call your County Board of Elections and confirm with them directly whether or not they will accept COVID-19 as a reason to provide an absentee ballot. As far as we know, nobody has been denied the ‘temporary illness’ designation to request an absentee ballot. Please let us know asap if you hear differently.
Remember-
b2020.me/NYVoterReg - New Voter Registration Deadline is Apr. 3rd
b2020.me/NYabsentee Absentee (Vote By Mail) Request Form- Postmark Deadline is Apr. 21st
We are so grateful to be a part of this movement, and honored to be working with you!
The Western New York Bernie 2020 Team:
Erik, Tara, Alex, Ivan, and Holly