This week, we're asking you and your kids to take action to stop utility shutoffs and to push for more COVID relief. We know that families are still struggling to keep up, and we know that Gov. DeWine CAN HELP. We should not be shutting off utilities while asking people to stay home, and to do schooling remotely. Take action this week, and we will deliver your comments and letters to Gov. DeWine this December. 

Here are the top 3 actions you can take this week:

1. 1. Tell Governor DeWine to Stop Utility Shutoffs: Write letters or post to social media!CUFA is demanding Gov. DeWine end utility shut-offs during the COVID pandemic. Have your kids write a brief letter, draw a picture, or use your social media to push DeWine to end shutoffs now. You can upload them online!
      
      
   2. If you are interested in housing policy, we recommend attending The Color of Law: Government Policy and Racial Segregation this Tuesday, December 1, 2020 @ 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm. AIA Cincinnati’s Urban Design Committee and ULI Cincinnati’s Real Estate Accelerator Lab will host celebrated author Richard Rothstein in a virtual discussion of his book The Color of Law. Rothstein’s work explores the government policies that encouraged residential segregation in American cities and their continued impact on our urban communities. Find out more and register here. 
      
      
   3. Join People's Action in our continued calls, tweets and emails to legislators for a People's Bailout. "Legislators need to Legislate - We Need a People's Bailout and We Need it NOW!"

What's Happening This Week

Take action to end utility shutoffs during the pandemic!

We know Governor DeWine cares about his own grandchildren, so we are asking kids (and their parents!) from all over Cincinnati to write a brief letter or social media post to him telling him why he needs to help people keep their water, gas, electricity and internet on.  We will put these letters in a short video for social media and deliver them Gov. DeWine sometime in December. It’s the holidays, so let’s send our holiday wish list!

Sample letters

• Dear Gov. DeWine, All I want for the holidays is heat in my house.  Jonah, Cincinnati, age 6
  
  
• Dear Gov. DeWine, please help my mom pay our electric bill so we can have a Merry Christmas. MyKaliah, Cincinnati, age 13
  
  
• Dear Gov. DeWine, I cannot go to remote school without electricity and internet, and we can’t afford it.  Darius, Cincinnati, age 11

Draw pictures or decorate your letter to make it personal. Submit your kids' letters and pictures here.

Sample social media posts (post with a picture!)

• All we want for our holidays is to have heat and and electricity, @GovMikeDeWine #NoShutoffs @cufacincy
  
  
• I wish my parents could fill my wish list, but mom lost her job and we might not be able to pay utilities through the holidays. Thanks, @GovMikeDeWine #NoShutoffs @cufacincy
  
  
• Christmas would be better this year if my parents didn't have to worry about our electric bill. Don’t shut off our utilities @GovMikeDeWine #NoShutoffs @cufacincy

If you are using your own social media, quote your kids or use your own words. Gov. DeWine needs to understand what we are all going through, and why it’s so important that he protect Ohioans from utility shutoffs. Make sure to use Gov. DeWine's handle: @GovMikeDeWine (for Facebook & Twitter) and tag CUFA @cufacincy so we can share your post! Use the hashtag #NoShutoffs

Join our Sewer Justice Team this Sat., Dec. 5 @ 10:00AM

Now that we are in the midst of a pandemic, it becomes more clear than ever that some of us aren't safe in our homes. Join us first Saturdays of each month to discuss how we will push for fixed sewers that everyone can afford. At this Saturday's meeting, we will be discussing the proposed MSD Budget for 2021 and upcoming public hearing. 

What: Sewer Justice Team
When: (first) Saturday, Dec. 5 from 10:00-11:45 AM
Where: Zoom; Register here for instructions to join

Other Important Information

CUFA Victory! Water Bill Forgiveness Program now accepting applications!

The City of Cincinnati has a new program to forgive water and storm water bills for low-income residents experiencing COVID-related hardships. Find out more about the program and apply here.

Get Your CUFA Yard Sign Today

We know that "Together, We Will Make a Difference."  Let your neighbors know that you support CUFA.  Call us at 853-3947 to get a yard sign. Donate to offset the cost yard signs here.

We also have postcards you can mail to friends and family! Here's what they look like. Let us know if you want some to send to friends and family here.

Tell Our Senators to Pass a COVID Relief Bill Now

Join Peoples Action and other grassroots organizations across the country to tell the Senate that our priority is getting relief to the most vulnerable members of our community during the pandemic. Click here to take action.

The National THRIVE Agenda

We must build a new economy to address the inequality and racism the COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare. On September 10, People's Action and several allied groups released a national agenda with eight key pillars: 

1. Creating millions of good, safe jobs with access to unions.
2. Building the power of workers to fight inequality.
3. Investing in Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities.
4. Strengthening and healing the nation-to-nation relationship with sovereign Native Nations.
5. Combating environmental injustice and ensuring healthy lives for all.
6. Averting climate and environmental catastrophe.
7. Ensuring fairness for workers and communities affected by economic transitions.
8. Reinvesting in public institutions that enable workers and communities to thrive.

Read more on each of the pillars here and take action to ask your Representative to support it.

Join CUFA on social media: 

Like us on Facebook and invite friends to like our page.

Follow us on Twitter.

Be sure to join our Facebook group.