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IAF ORGS CHALLENGE STATE LEGISLATURES OVER TAX BREAKS & PROTECTIONS

Texas IAF Derails Reauthorization of $10 Billion Subsidy to Big Oil, Preserving Funding for Public Schools

Texas IAF leaders built an unlikely alliance to kill the state's largest industrial tax program and preserve school district funding.

In Blow to Big Oil, Corporate Subsidy Quietly Dies in Texas, The Intercept [pdf]
The Unlikely Demise of Texas' Biggest Corporate Tax Break, Texas Observer
How Skeptical Texas Lawmakers Put an End to a Controversial Tax Incentive Program, Houston Chronicle [pdf]
Texas Legislature Dooms Chapter 331, Which Gives Tax Breaks to Big Businesses, Business Journal [pdf]
Missed Deadline Could Doom Controversial $10B Tax-Break Program, Houston Chronicle [pdf]
A Texas Law Offers Tax Breaks to Companies, but Its Renewal Isn't a Done Deal, Texas Tribune [pdf]
A Controversial Tax Program Promised High Paying Jobs. Instead, Its Costs Spiraled Out of Control, Houston Chronicle [pdf]
Losers and Winners from Chapter 313, Central Texas Interfaith

AZ Interfaith Condemns Flat Tax, State Budget Talks Halt

AIN leaders not only condemned the flat tax as immoral and dangerous, they said they would be "among the first" to call for a referendum if it passes.

Oped: First the Pandemic, Now a Flat Tax. Haven't Arizona's Most Vulnerable Suffered Enough?” The Arizona Republic [pdf]
Arizona Faith Leaders Condemn Proposed Flat Tax, Say They Will Call Referendum, The Arizona Republic [pdf]
Arizona State Senate Cannot Find Agreement on the Budget, Joins the House in Recess, ABC Arizona [pdf]
Faith Coalition Calls Arizona Budget Proposal Immoral, KJZZ [pdf]
AIN Clergy Denounce the Flat Tax Proposal, Valley Interfaith Project

600 California IAF Leaders Call for Expansion of Tenant Protections to Prevent Tsunami of Evictions

The California Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF), including Bishop Oscar Cantú of the Catholic Diocese of San José, is calling for an extension of the eviction moratorium and amendment of SB 91 to allow more flexibility with rental assistance.

Santa Cruz County Housing Advocates Seek State Eviction Moratorium Extension, Santa Cruz Sentinel
Local Leaders Ask for Extension of Moratorium on Evictions in California, Telemundo [en español]
California IAF Action on Renter Protection, California IAF

Together Louisiana Challenges Proposal to Allow Industry Employees on Water Conservancy Commission

“The Commission has not stopped, or even slowed the saltwater intrusion into our groundwater drinking sources, or the industrial pumping that is causing the contamination. Why? There are commissioners who are...employees of the very industries whose groundwater pumping is being raised right now.”
-- Dianne Hanley, Together Louisiana

The Conflicts of Interest SB 203 Enables Are As Clear As the Drinking Water Industries Monopolize, Big Easy
Black Caucus Calls Out What It Sees As Legislative Hypocrisy, Greater Baton Rouge Business Report

FIGHTING FOR VACCINE EQUITY & HEALTH

COPA Secures $5M for COVID Education & Mitigation, 'Working Together Mississippi' Calls to Expand Medicaid,

After holding 2,000 conversations with families impacted by COVID-19, COPA-IAF secures unanimous support from Monterey Co. Supervisors to launch $5 Million health promotores program to target hardest hit communities. 111 immigrant Community Health Workers quickly reach 10,000 residents.
'Working Together Mississippi' hand-delivers letters to state legislators in call to expand healthcare access, with 90% of cost to be covered by federal govt.
One LA brings vaccines to 900 essential workers and seniors in South Los Angeles in fight for vaccine equity.
Central TX Interfaith in Bastrop cites digital divide as vaccine equity barrier.
DAI fights to bring vaccines to institutions marginalized residents trust.
In 'act of love,' VIP engages 500 neighbors ahead of vaccination clinic [video].
Together Louisiana brings the band to extensive canvassing efforts.

TEXAS & OKLAHOMA IAF CHALLENGE STATE POWER FAILURES AFTER WINTER STORM

Texas IAF Calls for Accountability After Mobilizing Relief, VOICE-OKC Asks, "Who Profits from Cost Spikes?"

After Texas' Winter Storm Disaster, Faith Leaders Press to Ensure, 'Never Again', National Catholic Reporter
Texas Bishops: Electrical Grid Failure was Preventable. Without Accountability, It Will Happen Again, America Magazine
Texas Faith Leaders Call Out 'Sheer Negligence' Behind Power Outages, National Catholic Reporter
Washington Post covers Central TX Interfaith's disaster relief efforts, while National Catholic Reporter focuses on a leader's experience and Act Locally Waco recognizes an organizer.
Dallas Morning News covers Dallas Area Interfaith leader who suffered 40 hours without electricity and another who still suffers from broken plumbing.
Texas Catholic Herald covers TMO's advocacy efforts.
Oklahoma Civic Group Seeks Answers About $4.5 Billion in Storm-Related Fuel Costs, The Oklahoman [pdf]
Some Oklahomans Concerned Over Proposed Plan to Pay Off $4.5 Billion Utility Bills from February Storm, KFOR [pdf]
[Oklahoma] Advocates Call for Transparent InvestigationInto Cost Spikes, Norman Transcript

BRIDGING DIGITAL & COMMUNITY DIVIDE

CCG Leverages $20M in Tech for Low-Income Schools, Texas IAF Fights for Digital & Community Access

'Coloradans for the Common Good (CCG),' including educator leaders, leverages a bill to ensure $20 million in grants for districts to broaden internet access for their students, and raises concerns about accountability audit.
CCG leaders succeed in expanding winter break school meals by 300%.
Dallas Area Interfaith reminds legislators that 'regular people' need to be included in plans to expand broadband access.
COPS/Metro joins Southside ISD to engage parents and communities around their public schools.
Arizona Interfaith fights loophole that would undermine public school funding.

PROTECTING RENTERS

MOC Secures Rent Freeze in 7 Hardest Hit Communities. VOICE-OKC & ACTION-Tulsa Secure $26.5M in Rental Relief. Arizona & Texas IAF Orgs Fight for Eviction Relief

Thanks to Marin Organizing Committee (MOC), San Rafael, Novato, and Marin counties enact rent increase moratoriums in areas most impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
VOICE-OKC & ACTION-Tulsa Secure $26.5M for rental aid in Oklahoma.
Arizona Interfaith Network calls on Governor for eviction moratorium.
Dallas Area interfaith draws attention to unspent millions in rental aid.
With evictions looming, TMO fights to keep people housed.
Central Texas Interfaith calls for additional rental assistance.

BACKING ESSENTIAL WORKERS

CCG Fights for Grocery Worker Hazard Pay & Safety, COPS/Metro Battles Bureaucracy to Support Workers

'Coloradans for the Common Good', with UFCW Local 7 leaders, persist in push to protect essential workers.
COPS/Metro succeeds in effort to prevent "bureaucratic bloat" from reducing the number of workers to be trained through 'SA Ready to Work'
Central TX Interfaith insists on adherence to Travis County's living wage standard in any subsidy deal with Samsung.

RECOGNIZING THE STRANGER

DAI Welcomes Unaccompanied Migrant Teens to Dallas

After federal officials announced the relocation of 3,000 migrant teens to Dallas, DAI mobilized Spanish-speaking leaders to help them transition. Now leaders are raising concerns:

Worries Rise About the Welfare of Migrant Teens in Dallas Emergency Shelter, Dallas Morning News [pdf]
Migrant Teens Held in Dallas Convention Center Feel Imprisoned, Dallas Observer [pdf]
Advocates Worried for Migrant Teens at Improvised Shelter, Arkansas Democrat Gazette [pdf]

RESPONDING TO INSURGENCY

Cortes: To Arrive at Consent at Point of a Gun is Weakest Form of Power, Rio Grande Guardian
In Wake of Capitol Attack, Leaders Urge Rejection of Division That Led to Violence Catholic Sentinel
Listen to Lincoln: 'With Malice Towards None; With Charity For All', Arizona Republic

RECOGNITION

Catholic Press Lauds IAF Model. Organizer Shares Wisdom. COPS/Metro Former Chair Featured. Outgoing El Paso Priest Honored. AMOS Credited for Skatepark.

Pope Francis has Criticized Both the Left and the Right’s Politics. Community Organizing Offers a Third Way, America Magazine
Catholic Social Teaching: Solidarity Means Commitment to the Common Good, Catholic News Service
La Doctrina Social Católica: Solidaridad es un Compromiso con el Bien Común, Catholic News Service
The Post-Pandemic Path Ahead, Catholic Campaign for Human Development
To Overcome Economic Disparities, Turn to Papal Encyclicals, Panelists Say, National Catholic Reporter
Ayala: Museo's Virtual Show in San Antonio Expands Definition of Activism and its History in San Antonio, San Antonio Express-News
Beatrice Gallego - Community Activist and COPS President, Museo del Westside
The Priest Who Spent 40 Years Fighting to Reshape El Paso, El Paso Matters [pdf]
AMOS leaders are credited with the establishment of the nation's largest skatepark [video here].