I hang on to the bright spots when they emerge, so I'm happy to share this with my Hopiumunity.
Received this meaty newsletter from Micah Lasher, my current Assemblyman, who will likely succeed Jerry Nadler as my Congressman. He has expressed solidarity with the people of MN (visited/protested there) and is in favor of closing down ICE, seen as beyond rehabilitation in its current form. Additionally, an energetic and committed woman I met this week, who is a progressive rabbi and community activist, is running to succeed Micah as my assemblywoman.
All in all, I consider myself very lucky. Go DEMS! The Future is NOW!
With the start of a new year and a new legislative session, I wanted to update you on the work that my team and I are doing in Albany to fight back against what’s coming out of Washington.
It's no secret that we are facing extraordinary challenges. The Trump Administration's assault on the rights, protections, and programs that New Yorkers depend on continues unabated. But I continue to believe that State government can be a powerful counterweight — and that guides much of my work in Albany.
I'm proud to report that Governor Hochul has included five of my legislative proposals in her Executive Budget. While not yet law, the inclusion of items in the Executive Budget creates a clear path to passage. These proposals reflect my commitment to protecting immigrant New Yorkers, ensuring access to vaccines, pushing back against hate, and standing up for tenants.
I also recently traveled to Minnesota — to show solidarity with the people there fighting back against ICE, and to learn lessons for New York. What I saw, first-hand, was both the terror of Trump's immigration crackdown and the inspiring efforts of so many people to fight back and protect their neighbors.
As always, it is a privilege to serve this community, and my team and I are at your disposal.
Standing with Minnesota
I just returned from Minneapolis, where I spent two days with residents of the city who are fighting back against ICE, and for their community.
What I heard about from so many residents of Minneapolis is what all of us have feared, and what we in New York must prepare for: ICE agents driving through neighborhoods, going up and down apartment buildings banging on doors, and sitting outside schools, trying to round up anyone they can. The Trump Administration has turned immigration enforcement into a campaign of terror, and Minneapolis is at the center of it.
Over the course of my visit, I attended protests, community meetings, and a vigil for Alex Pretti, who was shot and killed by ICE. I joined an ICE neighborhood patrol organized by residents who are watching out for their neighbors. I met with Minnesota State Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy to discuss what’s happening on the ground and how New Yorkers can provide support, and with State Rep. Jamie Long to discuss our parallel efforts to hold ICE agents accountable under state law.
I'm also grateful to State Senator Mary Kunesh, Columbia Heights Mayor Amada Márquez-Simula, and School Board Chair Mary Granlund for sharing with me how their community has organized to protect their neighbors from ICE. Columbia Heights is where 5-year-old Liam Ramos is from. My heart breaks for what they are going through, and I am inspired by their spirit and courage.
I visited Pow Wow Grounds, a Native-run coffee shop that has become an incredible mutual aid hub, gathering and delivering food and resources for families across Minneapolis and St. Paul. And I made grocery runs to help stock distribution centers for people who have been targeted by ICE and are afraid to leave their homes.
As much as I had read about what was happening in Minneapolis, being on the ground was eye-opening and chilling. But I also saw something that gave me hope: so many people who understand that they all have a stake in protecting their neighbors and pushing ICE out of their city. Because if they can win this fight in Minneapolis, it will make every American city less likely to face the same onslaught.
The people of Minneapolis are in a fight for the soul of their city, and they are fighting for us, too.
Resources to help those on the ground in Minnesota
Stand with Minnesota
Local Mutual Aid Funds:
La Viña Burnsville
Neighbors, Inc.
Columbia Heights School District
Columbia Heights High School
Columbia Academy
Highland Elementary
North Park School for Innovation
Valley View Elementary
Family Center
Community Led Mutual Aid Hub
Pow Wow Grounds - Venmo or Cash App: @powwowgrounds
West Suburbs Mutual Aid - Cash App: $westsuburbsmutualaid
Rapid Response Community Resource:
Monarca Rapid Response Line
Legal Services Aid:
Midwest Immigration Bond Fund
Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota
A New Legislative Session: Standing Up for Our Values
Protecting Our Immigrant Neighbors
The Trump regime's immigration crackdown has terrorized communities across the country, including right here in New York. I've introduced two key pieces of legislation to push back.
My bill to hold ICE agents accountable (A.9092) would allow New Yorkers to sue federal immigration agents in state court when they violate constitutional rights. Governor Hochul included this proposal in her State of the State address and Executive Budget after the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent — on top of the deaths of more than 32 people in ICE custody in 2025. If this becomes law, New York will join states like California, Massachusetts, and Maine in closing the accountability gap that exists under Federal law.
My bill to protect sensitive locations (A.8139) would make schools, hospitals, houses of worship, and shelters off-limits for arrest by immigration authorities without a judicial warrant. The Trump Administration has rolled back protections for sensitive locations, putting immigrant families at risk even when accessing essential services. This legislation restores those protections under State law. This idea, too, has been taken up by the Governor in her Executive Budget.
Access to Lifesaving Healthcare and Vaccines
When the Centers for Disease Control — now under the thumb of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. — failed to issue guidance necessary for pharmacies to administer vaccines, I immediately introduced legislation (A.8383) to allow the New York State Department of Health to step in and issue vaccine guidance. Governor Hochul has included this idea in her Executive Budget, and I'm hopeful that we will see it become law soon.
Safeguarding Houses of Worship and Reproductive Healthcare Facilities
After an awful incident outside Park East Synagogue, I introduced legislation (A.9335) with Senator Sam Sutton, Senator Liz Krueger, and Assemblymember Nily Rozic to create a 25-foot buffer zone around houses of worship and reproductive healthcare facilities. I am strongly committed to freedom of speech, and believe that a modest buffer zone balances speech rights with the proposition that no one should have to run a gauntlet of harassment and intimidation to enter a house of worship or access healthcare.
Standing Up for Tenants
Working with District Attorney Alvin Bragg and Senator Brian Kavanagh, I introduced legislation (A.9220) to strengthen New York's law against tenant harassment. Our bill creates a new Class D felony for aggravated harassment of rent-regulated tenants across multiple buildings that have the same owner. For too long, scale has acted as a shield for bad landlords. Our legislation would put a stop to this.
Upcoming Community Events
We are here to help at our district office, located at 245 West 104th Street! Please call us at (212) 866-3970 to schedule a meeting with a member of my team, or join us at any of the following events.
On Wednesday, February 25th from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., we will have a specialist from the West Side Campaign Against Hunger on-site in the office. This specialist will be available to help with any benefits-related issues, including SNAP. Please call us to make an appointment.
From Wednesday, February 25th to Wednesday, March 4th we will be accepting children's book donations at our office in partnership with Project Cicero. Stop by 245 West 104th Street with your donations on weekdays between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. These books will be donated to public school students across New York City.
On Wednesday, March 11th from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. at the Ryan Health Center, 110 West 97th Street, join us for a Medicare Rights Training to learn how to navigate your health insurance coverage.
On Tuesday, March 10th from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. we are partnering with the Comptroller's Office to host an unclaimed funds event. If you have unclaimed funds and would like to recover them, please come by our office at 245 West 104th Street. You can see if you have any unclaimed funds here: https://ouf.osc.ny.gov/app/claim-search
As always, please reach out at lasherm@nyassembly.gov if we can be of assistance on any issue.
Thank you for this. Hopefully this kind of proactive effort is happening across the country! We need this. I needed to see it today. Again, thank you. ONWARDS!
Thanks for taking the time to read. Yes, I really appreciate these substantial communications from my elected officials. I feel so very fortunate to have two very fine candidates seeking to serve the public in my district.
I went and found the NYTimes article listing all the candidates. Many good ppl running, but he does seem to be the most stellar. George Conway - seems like a carpetbagger to me.
I am somewhat disappointed with Conway. It astonished some of my friends that I was open to him, seeing how his campaign rolled out. There is much i really admire about him but much I can't go along with.
He wants to put a stake through the mummified matter that stands in for Trump's heart. He has the smarts and he has the fire. But, how he came to this place -- I think is too personal (though understandable) to put a vote behind.
That's why I had always qualified my openness to him to come down to how skillfully he made the argument that Trump himself/his enablers = the obstacles to a decent, affordable life in my NYC district. Truth: when someone is only interested in enriching themselves and their family, it's a zero sum game and they WON'T be making the world better for ME.
But, Conway has not really made that argument. Matter of fact, I haven't heard anything from him unless I search him out on Youtube.
New York is so complex and is unique in that complexity. Complex to understand much less have a handle on how to begin solving the multiple problems. I never had much confidence in the depth of Conway's grasp in general, your assessment is more generous and I applaud that. I hoped some good ppl would jump in the race (have not been following recently) am so pleased to learn today that they have.
Thank you for posting this newsletter! It goes to show that local and state electeds are a crucial part of the pro democracy movement—raising public awareness, sponsoring effective legislation, and truly serving constituents is no small thing! I forwarded this to my niece living in NYC. THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE
Last night I attended an anti- Palantir protest in Palo Alto. I counted 225-250 people (handy tally clicker). What struck me the most was the diversity of the crowd beyond the middle-aged/senior suburbanites we usually get at our local rallies. SEIU and nurses unions, and Latinos from Alliance for Californians for Community Empowerment, many more younger people, groups came from Oakland and San Francisco. “Beautiful” large signs with recent ICE victims beyond Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti - Kieth Porter, Gerardo Lucas Campos, Victor Manuel Diaz, and others. We marched behind a flatbed truck with the sound system through downtown Palo Alto (with polite low-key police presence), chanting various slogans, and ended up at Palantir HQ. Images of ICE brutality and names of victims juxtaposed with clips of Alex Karp and “Palantir Powers Fascism” were projected onto the building (very powerful). Following a ceremonial sage burning, a Methodist minister and a feminist rabbi spoke, among several union and community activists. Very well-organized and energetic, a step above the usual “Honk and Wave” (although we got lots of honks).
First, I have seen positive fundraising news regarding Sherrod Brown, Mary Pelota and Roy Cooper. Appreciate Hopium fundraising for them. So I wanted to highlight another fund to possibly support or give attention to: the Democratic Associate of Secretaries of State. They have a fund for eventual likely lawsuits for midterm shenanigans. They are also needing to defend several Sec of State elections and trying to flip a few seats. I know Hopium has been focusing on Congress - maybe can just highlight these elections as well.
Second, I would love to see more candidate interviews. I know a lot is going on with DHS/Senate fight but the interviews and seeing good people running is very uplifting. It helps keep momentum going. We need hope.
I'm calling my Senators. Mine are Cantwell and Murray. Murray negotiated the original appropriations. There was flat funding of 10B for ICE and I have called to say, take this out please. ICE doesn't need any funding.
I have also called my House Rep to ask her to talk to Rep Jeffries and do more shadow hearings. Also think about what you said about how to fight back every day. There are 214 DEM house members. 5 can take on each Cabinet member and just tail them and pound on them every day. Give talking points to the rest of the caucus. Team up with a Senate member. Go to town on Bessant, Rubio, Noem, Patel, RFK Jr etc etc every day. Imagine if Kim Schrier and Lauren Underwood joined up and just eviscerated RJK Jr every day, have a big billboard of all the measles cases and deaths.
Thank you for the info about the organization for Democratic secretaries of state— so crucial to our success going forward.
Even though the Secretary race in my state, Iowa, is not on this organization’s target list, I can definitely get on board with their efforts in Georgia.
hello from Seattle: Murray has started to engage with protesting voters -- she sent messages to the ICE OUT for GOOD marches. I call her and Cantwell everyday to say "no" to DHS funding -- and now to insist they hold the line. Cantwell is nowhere to be seen. Jayapal, of course, is very active in the Opposition movement in Congress!
They sure don't support ICE. See this update I wrote about the New Mexico legislature passing strong legislation,.
ICE in New Mexico: An update
Yes, New Mexico has the real ice, especially in December and January at high elevations. In fact , we need more of it, given our water crisis.
But now, like most of the country, we are confronted with the front and center issue of the other ICE.
The good news is that on Tuesday the New Mexico legislature passed a bill that would prevent any new ICE facilities from becoming established in New Mexico, and Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed it yesterday. The bill will prevent counties and local law enforcement from contracting with ICE. The bad news is that New Mexico already has 3 ICE detention facilities. For two existing facilities in Torrance and Cibola counties to remain open, ICE would have to contract with the owners of the facilities. The third, and largest detention facility will likely close because it is owned by Otero County.
For some of those in custody, an expedited review of their cases becomes more likely. Others may be transferred to facilities in other states. Similar legislation has been introduced or passed in Maryland, California, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Oregon and Washington. What if this spreads? It could constitute a powerful weapon against the illegal policies of the Trump Administration.
Minnesota forerunners: The first bank strike in US and very first gender discrimination class action lawsuit: [I post links here not to distract, but to consult for moments of inspiration]:
The first bank strike in US [women] bank employees strike for equal pay, 1977, the Willmar 8, Willmar MN
Lee Grant produced and directed documentary with interviews, course of the strike, etc cinematography by legendary cinematographer Judy Irola.
Yes, absolute support for Simon's "narrow the targets" campaign. Steven Miller treats all immigrants like the Nazis treated the Jews--they are vermin poisoning our country and need to be ripped out of society, held in detention, and eliminated from the country. Large majorities of Americans oppose that approach. The question then becomes how to galvanize support for a more targeted policy that is driving ICE crimes and creation of widespread detention. Here is an idea to get Americans to see that choice.
The chart from YouGov shows the way. Democrats should coalesce around a bill and campaign to grant protected status to the following categories of immigrants: (1) people who are married to a US citizen (72% against deportation, 11% for; (2) people who came to the US as children (66% against, 17% for); (3) people who have young children who are US citizens (59% against, 21 for); and, finally, people who have lived here for many years without committing any crimes here (should be convicted of a serious crime) (65% against, 23 % for). I would add another category of people who were legally given temporary status such as the Haitians.
This campaign would illuminate the stark difference in policy by continually putting concrete examples of families devastated in each of these categories. Let the Republicans oppose this legislation--it would help our election prospects and maybe some of them who are disgusted with the cruelty and malice behind Miller's policy would jump ship. What do people think?
I would like to see the Democratic Party demand letter for terms required to fund DHS in 2026 include the termination of DHS daily arrest quotas. These quotas have been a ROOT CAUSE of despicable DHS officer and leadership behaviors. Their removal would support all other demands listed. I have contacted my reps and Leader Jeffries with this suggestion.
Yes, I don't see why we don't include everything that polls 60% or better, and ask pollsters to ask questions about more reforms :) I doubt the American people think the existing demands are a "Christmas wish list" So law and order and basic decency are things we only have a right to expect on Xmas? Good to know. Since they don't even think ICE should be required to get warrants and unmask, we should reward this intransigence with even more demands, and let them know that the more they dig in, the higher the costs are going to be, just like the negotiators Trump most respects. "Oh, you say unmasking is a red line for you? OK, that's going to cost you another $30 billion from the ICE slush fund, all of it to go to health insurance subsidies." "Oh, so you say making them get warrants is a red line, too? OK, we're adding the break-up of DHS to the list, each agency to be funded separately, everything he's weaponized reversed or destroyed, his name removed from the Kennedy Center and the Institute of Peace, and the ballroom project canceled." "What's your pain tolerance, GOP? What's his? Because the days of Democratic softball are over, and we can do this all day, every day. What Jeffries said today? That goes for the rest of y'all, too."
Personally, I don't care if DHS ever opens again as as long as Trump is president--why should we? He's destroyed FEMA, he's corrupted the FBI, he's given the work of the Coast Guard to military drones, he's taken away Secret Service protection from all Democrats, so who cares whether the ones guarding Republicans get paid or not? And the whole thing has turned out to be just as Orwellian as people thought it would be from the moment they named it. After what happened this fall, do they *really* think the public is going to blame Democrats if something bad happens because they refused to hold ICE and CBP to the same standards as their local police departments? When they're not even dealing with real criminals the way the police do? At least in the fall, people with health insurance could say "not my problem," **but they didn't.** ICE and CBP are threats to *everyone.* And you think *we're* going to blamed because you wanted the Gestapo (Joe Rogan called them that, y'all) running the streets? Lol. If there's a natural disaster, we'll point out that nobody in western Carolina has gotten a dime since he took over. If there's a terrorist attack, there's a long, long list of ways and means that he's undermined our national security in both Trump 1 and 2, a startling number of them with a big kicker of self-enrichment involved--but hey, if he wants the spotlight turned on to his corruption, who are we to complain?
I watched Nuremberg last night and it was a good reminder of how important it is going to be for us to hold these people accountable.
I called Congressman Raskin and Senators Alsobrooks and Van Hollen about ICE and about Trump demanding that Schumer let Trump plaster his name on Penn Station and Dulles Airport. His megalomania is getting worse by the hour. I also said that I want Dems to bring up Trump's lack of mental fitness on a regular basis. I'm writing postcards to NC voters today.
I also recommend “Judgement at Nuremberg” from 1961, wrestles with moral certitude and ambiguity and an amazing cast and performances. I still have to watch the new Nuremberg movie, but it is on my list (but I need to steel myself beforehand).
if you go on youtube, you can watch a free canadian tv movie from 2000 about the same topic with alec baldwin as the prosecutor, law and order's jill hennesey, brian cox as goering, and christopher plummer and max von sydow...i still remember watching it, where does 26 years go? it is very good and free.....and what a caste....lots of veteran canadian actors, like hennesy, make an appearance too.
One interesting thing about the 1961 movie was that the defendants were judges, not the head Nazis. It is available on YouTube. And descriptions and reviews at the IMDB link https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0055031/?ref_=tturv_ov_bk
sometimes i wonder why they remake movies about the same topic when perfectly good versions already exist....there have been several versions of 12 angry men, including a russian one, but none can touch the original, which i used to teach back in the 80s....now they are remaking lord of the flies, when peter book's version is adequate; the 89 version has already been forgotten, with good reason. it came out when i was teaching the book and so the kids went to the movie and didn't read it....even then, people in the dept asked why i was teaching such an awful book, and it turns out golding was wrong....in real situations kids have cooperated in order to survive....
Yes, and cooperation in nature. pertinent to Simon's groundbreaking work, it's an act of cognitive warfare, is Simon's term, designed to divide us, to present Lord of the Flies as 'realistic'. In the same area of defining the social world, that should be viewed cooperatively, there was a book called The Territorial Imperative: A Personal Inquiry Into the Animal Origins of Property and Nations (1966) that argued, well, for the purposes of this discussion, against cooperation in nature.
The racist post Trump made last night I think is utterly disqualifying. He's been a racist all along but it is now so overt that he's got to go. Someone lacking a basic moral compass or any kind of humanity can't have the kind of power he has. He's got to go.
He's a republican. Regan went Philadelphia, MS, home of "Mississippi Burning," for his first campaign trip to signify his allegiance with Southern, white racists. He "saw them."
Pretty sure MISS was in the bank for a Republican in 1980.
No question. But this is just more blatant and different and needs to be called out. It has always been there but this is just different.
I've understood why many, including myself, wasn't for advocating Impeachment. But at some point, when people in our coalition (or, any voter, really) are this badly treated and dehumanized, I think we have to stand up. How can we not?
Sure we need to be strategic. But at this point I think we have to demand he's removed.
It was during Obama's first run for the presidency.
"Shock jock unrepentant over derogatory Obama song"
"Limbaugh says liberals upset about the term should be aware that "magic negro" is a historical cultural term, a reference to benevolent African-Americans portrayed in old films."
And you know it's different because even Republicans beyond the usual suspects are demanding he apologize, plus this people are claiming it was inadvertently posted by someone else. OK, if that's the case, fire the person who posted it in your name, no matter who it was (Stephen Miller? Let us pray). Oh, and btw, stop holding up funding until more things are named after you--WTF is wrong with you? Nobody, not even die-hard MAGAs voted for a naming spree.
Absolutely!
I hang on to the bright spots when they emerge, so I'm happy to share this with my Hopiumunity.
Received this meaty newsletter from Micah Lasher, my current Assemblyman, who will likely succeed Jerry Nadler as my Congressman. He has expressed solidarity with the people of MN (visited/protested there) and is in favor of closing down ICE, seen as beyond rehabilitation in its current form. Additionally, an energetic and committed woman I met this week, who is a progressive rabbi and community activist, is running to succeed Micah as my assemblywoman.
All in all, I consider myself very lucky. Go DEMS! The Future is NOW!
_______________________________________________________________________________________________-
Dear Friend,
With the start of a new year and a new legislative session, I wanted to update you on the work that my team and I are doing in Albany to fight back against what’s coming out of Washington.
It's no secret that we are facing extraordinary challenges. The Trump Administration's assault on the rights, protections, and programs that New Yorkers depend on continues unabated. But I continue to believe that State government can be a powerful counterweight — and that guides much of my work in Albany.
I'm proud to report that Governor Hochul has included five of my legislative proposals in her Executive Budget. While not yet law, the inclusion of items in the Executive Budget creates a clear path to passage. These proposals reflect my commitment to protecting immigrant New Yorkers, ensuring access to vaccines, pushing back against hate, and standing up for tenants.
I also recently traveled to Minnesota — to show solidarity with the people there fighting back against ICE, and to learn lessons for New York. What I saw, first-hand, was both the terror of Trump's immigration crackdown and the inspiring efforts of so many people to fight back and protect their neighbors.
As always, it is a privilege to serve this community, and my team and I are at your disposal.
Standing with Minnesota
I just returned from Minneapolis, where I spent two days with residents of the city who are fighting back against ICE, and for their community.
What I heard about from so many residents of Minneapolis is what all of us have feared, and what we in New York must prepare for: ICE agents driving through neighborhoods, going up and down apartment buildings banging on doors, and sitting outside schools, trying to round up anyone they can. The Trump Administration has turned immigration enforcement into a campaign of terror, and Minneapolis is at the center of it.
Over the course of my visit, I attended protests, community meetings, and a vigil for Alex Pretti, who was shot and killed by ICE. I joined an ICE neighborhood patrol organized by residents who are watching out for their neighbors. I met with Minnesota State Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy to discuss what’s happening on the ground and how New Yorkers can provide support, and with State Rep. Jamie Long to discuss our parallel efforts to hold ICE agents accountable under state law.
I'm also grateful to State Senator Mary Kunesh, Columbia Heights Mayor Amada Márquez-Simula, and School Board Chair Mary Granlund for sharing with me how their community has organized to protect their neighbors from ICE. Columbia Heights is where 5-year-old Liam Ramos is from. My heart breaks for what they are going through, and I am inspired by their spirit and courage.
I visited Pow Wow Grounds, a Native-run coffee shop that has become an incredible mutual aid hub, gathering and delivering food and resources for families across Minneapolis and St. Paul. And I made grocery runs to help stock distribution centers for people who have been targeted by ICE and are afraid to leave their homes.
As much as I had read about what was happening in Minneapolis, being on the ground was eye-opening and chilling. But I also saw something that gave me hope: so many people who understand that they all have a stake in protecting their neighbors and pushing ICE out of their city. Because if they can win this fight in Minneapolis, it will make every American city less likely to face the same onslaught.
The people of Minneapolis are in a fight for the soul of their city, and they are fighting for us, too.
Resources to help those on the ground in Minnesota
Stand with Minnesota
Local Mutual Aid Funds:
La Viña Burnsville
Neighbors, Inc.
Columbia Heights School District
Columbia Heights High School
Columbia Academy
Highland Elementary
North Park School for Innovation
Valley View Elementary
Family Center
Community Led Mutual Aid Hub
Pow Wow Grounds - Venmo or Cash App: @powwowgrounds
West Suburbs Mutual Aid - Cash App: $westsuburbsmutualaid
Rapid Response Community Resource:
Monarca Rapid Response Line
Legal Services Aid:
Midwest Immigration Bond Fund
Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota
A New Legislative Session: Standing Up for Our Values
Protecting Our Immigrant Neighbors
The Trump regime's immigration crackdown has terrorized communities across the country, including right here in New York. I've introduced two key pieces of legislation to push back.
My bill to hold ICE agents accountable (A.9092) would allow New Yorkers to sue federal immigration agents in state court when they violate constitutional rights. Governor Hochul included this proposal in her State of the State address and Executive Budget after the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent — on top of the deaths of more than 32 people in ICE custody in 2025. If this becomes law, New York will join states like California, Massachusetts, and Maine in closing the accountability gap that exists under Federal law.
My bill to protect sensitive locations (A.8139) would make schools, hospitals, houses of worship, and shelters off-limits for arrest by immigration authorities without a judicial warrant. The Trump Administration has rolled back protections for sensitive locations, putting immigrant families at risk even when accessing essential services. This legislation restores those protections under State law. This idea, too, has been taken up by the Governor in her Executive Budget.
Access to Lifesaving Healthcare and Vaccines
When the Centers for Disease Control — now under the thumb of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. — failed to issue guidance necessary for pharmacies to administer vaccines, I immediately introduced legislation (A.8383) to allow the New York State Department of Health to step in and issue vaccine guidance. Governor Hochul has included this idea in her Executive Budget, and I'm hopeful that we will see it become law soon.
Safeguarding Houses of Worship and Reproductive Healthcare Facilities
After an awful incident outside Park East Synagogue, I introduced legislation (A.9335) with Senator Sam Sutton, Senator Liz Krueger, and Assemblymember Nily Rozic to create a 25-foot buffer zone around houses of worship and reproductive healthcare facilities. I am strongly committed to freedom of speech, and believe that a modest buffer zone balances speech rights with the proposition that no one should have to run a gauntlet of harassment and intimidation to enter a house of worship or access healthcare.
Standing Up for Tenants
Working with District Attorney Alvin Bragg and Senator Brian Kavanagh, I introduced legislation (A.9220) to strengthen New York's law against tenant harassment. Our bill creates a new Class D felony for aggravated harassment of rent-regulated tenants across multiple buildings that have the same owner. For too long, scale has acted as a shield for bad landlords. Our legislation would put a stop to this.
Upcoming Community Events
We are here to help at our district office, located at 245 West 104th Street! Please call us at (212) 866-3970 to schedule a meeting with a member of my team, or join us at any of the following events.
On Wednesday, February 25th from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., we will have a specialist from the West Side Campaign Against Hunger on-site in the office. This specialist will be available to help with any benefits-related issues, including SNAP. Please call us to make an appointment.
From Wednesday, February 25th to Wednesday, March 4th we will be accepting children's book donations at our office in partnership with Project Cicero. Stop by 245 West 104th Street with your donations on weekdays between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. These books will be donated to public school students across New York City.
On Wednesday, March 11th from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. at the Ryan Health Center, 110 West 97th Street, join us for a Medicare Rights Training to learn how to navigate your health insurance coverage.
On Tuesday, March 10th from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. we are partnering with the Comptroller's Office to host an unclaimed funds event. If you have unclaimed funds and would like to recover them, please come by our office at 245 West 104th Street. You can see if you have any unclaimed funds here: https://ouf.osc.ny.gov/app/claim-search
As always, please reach out at lasherm@nyassembly.gov if we can be of assistance on any issue.
Sincerely,
Micah
what a newsletter!! thanks so much for posting!!!
Yes, thanks for reading! I feel so fortunate to live where I do!
Thank you for this. Hopefully this kind of proactive effort is happening across the country! We need this. I needed to see it today. Again, thank you. ONWARDS!
Thanks for taking the time to read. Yes, I really appreciate these substantial communications from my elected officials. I feel so very fortunate to have two very fine candidates seeking to serve the public in my district.
I went and found the NYTimes article listing all the candidates. Many good ppl running, but he does seem to be the most stellar. George Conway - seems like a carpetbagger to me.
I am somewhat disappointed with Conway. It astonished some of my friends that I was open to him, seeing how his campaign rolled out. There is much i really admire about him but much I can't go along with.
He wants to put a stake through the mummified matter that stands in for Trump's heart. He has the smarts and he has the fire. But, how he came to this place -- I think is too personal (though understandable) to put a vote behind.
That's why I had always qualified my openness to him to come down to how skillfully he made the argument that Trump himself/his enablers = the obstacles to a decent, affordable life in my NYC district. Truth: when someone is only interested in enriching themselves and their family, it's a zero sum game and they WON'T be making the world better for ME.
But, Conway has not really made that argument. Matter of fact, I haven't heard anything from him unless I search him out on Youtube.
New York is so complex and is unique in that complexity. Complex to understand much less have a handle on how to begin solving the multiple problems. I never had much confidence in the depth of Conway's grasp in general, your assessment is more generous and I applaud that. I hoped some good ppl would jump in the race (have not been following recently) am so pleased to learn today that they have.
Thank you so much for sharing, I’m so glad that he is so proactive and clear eyed about our situation.
We are raising some wonderful public servants who will be well-prepared to take on this changing world.
BeeBee:
Thank you for posting this newsletter! It goes to show that local and state electeds are a crucial part of the pro democracy movement—raising public awareness, sponsoring effective legislation, and truly serving constituents is no small thing! I forwarded this to my niece living in NYC. THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE
Yup!
And on top of all this, we have Trump's Truth Social post depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes.
ouch
I know we get used to him spewing poison, but for some reason that one really makes me sick. It's so shameful.
Wow, even Senator Tim Scott is publicly calling for this post to be taken down!
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/06/donald-trump-obamas-monkey-video-00768745
there is a scene in"Cabaret" with just this image ... very Germany-in-1930s vibe here.
NYT headline now: "Trump Deletes Racist Video of Obamas After Outcry"
and later said "I Didn’t Make a Mistake" -- Trump Declines to Apologize for Racist Video of Obamas
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/us/politics/trump-obamas-video-apes-truth-social.html?unlocked_article_code=1.KVA.ofV4.HrjK3VIRA9hP&smid=url-share
Good morning, Simon and Hopium-landia
Last night I attended an anti- Palantir protest in Palo Alto. I counted 225-250 people (handy tally clicker). What struck me the most was the diversity of the crowd beyond the middle-aged/senior suburbanites we usually get at our local rallies. SEIU and nurses unions, and Latinos from Alliance for Californians for Community Empowerment, many more younger people, groups came from Oakland and San Francisco. “Beautiful” large signs with recent ICE victims beyond Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti - Kieth Porter, Gerardo Lucas Campos, Victor Manuel Diaz, and others. We marched behind a flatbed truck with the sound system through downtown Palo Alto (with polite low-key police presence), chanting various slogans, and ended up at Palantir HQ. Images of ICE brutality and names of victims juxtaposed with clips of Alex Karp and “Palantir Powers Fascism” were projected onto the building (very powerful). Following a ceremonial sage burning, a Methodist minister and a feminist rabbi spoke, among several union and community activists. Very well-organized and energetic, a step above the usual “Honk and Wave” (although we got lots of honks).
Wow! So impressive and great organization and messaging!!! I feel the good vibes here in Pa!!❤️
Hello Simon! Two suggestions/comments.
First, I have seen positive fundraising news regarding Sherrod Brown, Mary Pelota and Roy Cooper. Appreciate Hopium fundraising for them. So I wanted to highlight another fund to possibly support or give attention to: the Democratic Associate of Secretaries of State. They have a fund for eventual likely lawsuits for midterm shenanigans. They are also needing to defend several Sec of State elections and trying to flip a few seats. I know Hopium has been focusing on Congress - maybe can just highlight these elections as well.
https://demsofstate.org/democracy-legal-defense-fund/
Second, I would love to see more candidate interviews. I know a lot is going on with DHS/Senate fight but the interviews and seeing good people running is very uplifting. It helps keep momentum going. We need hope.
I'm calling my Senators. Mine are Cantwell and Murray. Murray negotiated the original appropriations. There was flat funding of 10B for ICE and I have called to say, take this out please. ICE doesn't need any funding.
I have also called my House Rep to ask her to talk to Rep Jeffries and do more shadow hearings. Also think about what you said about how to fight back every day. There are 214 DEM house members. 5 can take on each Cabinet member and just tail them and pound on them every day. Give talking points to the rest of the caucus. Team up with a Senate member. Go to town on Bessant, Rubio, Noem, Patel, RFK Jr etc etc every day. Imagine if Kim Schrier and Lauren Underwood joined up and just eviscerated RJK Jr every day, have a big billboard of all the measles cases and deaths.
Thank you for the info about the organization for Democratic secretaries of state— so crucial to our success going forward.
Even though the Secretary race in my state, Iowa, is not on this organization’s target list, I can definitely get on board with their efforts in Georgia.
hello from Seattle: Murray has started to engage with protesting voters -- she sent messages to the ICE OUT for GOOD marches. I call her and Cantwell everyday to say "no" to DHS funding -- and now to insist they hold the line. Cantwell is nowhere to be seen. Jayapal, of course, is very active in the Opposition movement in Congress!
Thanks for the link. I sent some money to the Dem. Secretaries of State group.
Gave them money the other day--they sound like an outstanding group :)
Who is that youngster next to Ted Kennedy?
nice!!
He's aged well, that's for sure :)
They sure don't support ICE. See this update I wrote about the New Mexico legislature passing strong legislation,.
ICE in New Mexico: An update
Yes, New Mexico has the real ice, especially in December and January at high elevations. In fact , we need more of it, given our water crisis.
But now, like most of the country, we are confronted with the front and center issue of the other ICE.
The good news is that on Tuesday the New Mexico legislature passed a bill that would prevent any new ICE facilities from becoming established in New Mexico, and Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed it yesterday. The bill will prevent counties and local law enforcement from contracting with ICE. The bad news is that New Mexico already has 3 ICE detention facilities. For two existing facilities in Torrance and Cibola counties to remain open, ICE would have to contract with the owners of the facilities. The third, and largest detention facility will likely close because it is owned by Otero County.
For some of those in custody, an expedited review of their cases becomes more likely. Others may be transferred to facilities in other states. Similar legislation has been introduced or passed in Maryland, California, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Oregon and Washington. What if this spreads? It could constitute a powerful weapon against the illegal policies of the Trump Administration.
Constructive, substantial, thank you, Simon.
Minnesota forerunners: The first bank strike in US and very first gender discrimination class action lawsuit: [I post links here not to distract, but to consult for moments of inspiration]:
The first bank strike in US [women] bank employees strike for equal pay, 1977, the Willmar 8, Willmar MN
Lee Grant produced and directed documentary with interviews, course of the strike, etc cinematography by legendary cinematographer Judy Irola.
link
https://archive.org/details/ibt0084_s3_b250_f1_willmar_8
and new doc. with retrospective
https://watch.sdpb.org/video/eight-women-together-alone-iojeye/
Very first gender discrimination class action lawsuit:
Jenson v. Eveleth Taconite Co. filed by [MN employee rights lawyer ] Paul C. Sprenger filed 1988
2002 book on Jenson v. Eveleth, Class Action, not for the faint of heart.
I think there was also a movie in the early 80s with Jean Stapleton about that same bank strike. It was very good.
I looked for and could not find, but another thing to save for a moment of pause.
Yes, absolute support for Simon's "narrow the targets" campaign. Steven Miller treats all immigrants like the Nazis treated the Jews--they are vermin poisoning our country and need to be ripped out of society, held in detention, and eliminated from the country. Large majorities of Americans oppose that approach. The question then becomes how to galvanize support for a more targeted policy that is driving ICE crimes and creation of widespread detention. Here is an idea to get Americans to see that choice.
The chart from YouGov shows the way. Democrats should coalesce around a bill and campaign to grant protected status to the following categories of immigrants: (1) people who are married to a US citizen (72% against deportation, 11% for; (2) people who came to the US as children (66% against, 17% for); (3) people who have young children who are US citizens (59% against, 21 for); and, finally, people who have lived here for many years without committing any crimes here (should be convicted of a serious crime) (65% against, 23 % for). I would add another category of people who were legally given temporary status such as the Haitians.
This campaign would illuminate the stark difference in policy by continually putting concrete examples of families devastated in each of these categories. Let the Republicans oppose this legislation--it would help our election prospects and maybe some of them who are disgusted with the cruelty and malice behind Miller's policy would jump ship. What do people think?
I would like to see the Democratic Party demand letter for terms required to fund DHS in 2026 include the termination of DHS daily arrest quotas. These quotas have been a ROOT CAUSE of despicable DHS officer and leadership behaviors. Their removal would support all other demands listed. I have contacted my reps and Leader Jeffries with this suggestion.
Yes, I don't see why we don't include everything that polls 60% or better, and ask pollsters to ask questions about more reforms :) I doubt the American people think the existing demands are a "Christmas wish list" So law and order and basic decency are things we only have a right to expect on Xmas? Good to know. Since they don't even think ICE should be required to get warrants and unmask, we should reward this intransigence with even more demands, and let them know that the more they dig in, the higher the costs are going to be, just like the negotiators Trump most respects. "Oh, you say unmasking is a red line for you? OK, that's going to cost you another $30 billion from the ICE slush fund, all of it to go to health insurance subsidies." "Oh, so you say making them get warrants is a red line, too? OK, we're adding the break-up of DHS to the list, each agency to be funded separately, everything he's weaponized reversed or destroyed, his name removed from the Kennedy Center and the Institute of Peace, and the ballroom project canceled." "What's your pain tolerance, GOP? What's his? Because the days of Democratic softball are over, and we can do this all day, every day. What Jeffries said today? That goes for the rest of y'all, too."
Personally, I don't care if DHS ever opens again as as long as Trump is president--why should we? He's destroyed FEMA, he's corrupted the FBI, he's given the work of the Coast Guard to military drones, he's taken away Secret Service protection from all Democrats, so who cares whether the ones guarding Republicans get paid or not? And the whole thing has turned out to be just as Orwellian as people thought it would be from the moment they named it. After what happened this fall, do they *really* think the public is going to blame Democrats if something bad happens because they refused to hold ICE and CBP to the same standards as their local police departments? When they're not even dealing with real criminals the way the police do? At least in the fall, people with health insurance could say "not my problem," **but they didn't.** ICE and CBP are threats to *everyone.* And you think *we're* going to blamed because you wanted the Gestapo (Joe Rogan called them that, y'all) running the streets? Lol. If there's a natural disaster, we'll point out that nobody in western Carolina has gotten a dime since he took over. If there's a terrorist attack, there's a long, long list of ways and means that he's undermined our national security in both Trump 1 and 2, a startling number of them with a big kicker of self-enrichment involved--but hey, if he wants the spotlight turned on to his corruption, who are we to complain?
Inspiring post, Simon, thank you!
I watched Nuremberg last night and it was a good reminder of how important it is going to be for us to hold these people accountable.
I called Congressman Raskin and Senators Alsobrooks and Van Hollen about ICE and about Trump demanding that Schumer let Trump plaster his name on Penn Station and Dulles Airport. His megalomania is getting worse by the hour. I also said that I want Dems to bring up Trump's lack of mental fitness on a regular basis. I'm writing postcards to NC voters today.
I also recommend “Judgement at Nuremberg” from 1961, wrestles with moral certitude and ambiguity and an amazing cast and performances. I still have to watch the new Nuremberg movie, but it is on my list (but I need to steel myself beforehand).
if you go on youtube, you can watch a free canadian tv movie from 2000 about the same topic with alec baldwin as the prosecutor, law and order's jill hennesey, brian cox as goering, and christopher plummer and max von sydow...i still remember watching it, where does 26 years go? it is very good and free.....and what a caste....lots of veteran canadian actors, like hennesy, make an appearance too.
One interesting thing about the 1961 movie was that the defendants were judges, not the head Nazis. It is available on YouTube. And descriptions and reviews at the IMDB link https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0055031/?ref_=tturv_ov_bk
Fisher and Stu, I recently watched that 2000 film about Nuremberg with Alec Baldwin and Brian Cox as Goering. What a cast. It was very well done.
sometimes i wonder why they remake movies about the same topic when perfectly good versions already exist....there have been several versions of 12 angry men, including a russian one, but none can touch the original, which i used to teach back in the 80s....now they are remaking lord of the flies, when peter book's version is adequate; the 89 version has already been forgotten, with good reason. it came out when i was teaching the book and so the kids went to the movie and didn't read it....even then, people in the dept asked why i was teaching such an awful book, and it turns out golding was wrong....in real situations kids have cooperated in order to survive....
Yes, and cooperation in nature. pertinent to Simon's groundbreaking work, it's an act of cognitive warfare, is Simon's term, designed to divide us, to present Lord of the Flies as 'realistic'. In the same area of defining the social world, that should be viewed cooperatively, there was a book called The Territorial Imperative: A Personal Inquiry Into the Animal Origins of Property and Nations (1966) that argued, well, for the purposes of this discussion, against cooperation in nature.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Territorial_Imperative
thank you for that. great info.
There's also the actual 1948 doc. restored 2016 of the trial. Way out front of fictionalized treatments imo
https://www.c-span.org/program/american-history-tv/nuremberg/539479
[and some interesting writing around the restoration and release of the doc footage]
thanks for that. one of the prosecutors only recently died, he was in his 90s. he made quite a few appearances in documentaries in his old age.
The film is set up in trial format so the concentration camp footage is shown as evidence.
You are tough. Be relentless and constant in your messaging. We are proud of you!
The racist post Trump made last night I think is utterly disqualifying. He's been a racist all along but it is now so overt that he's got to go. Someone lacking a basic moral compass or any kind of humanity can't have the kind of power he has. He's got to go.
He's a republican. Regan went Philadelphia, MS, home of "Mississippi Burning," for his first campaign trip to signify his allegiance with Southern, white racists. He "saw them."
Pretty sure MISS was in the bank for a Republican in 1980.
No question. But this is just more blatant and different and needs to be called out. It has always been there but this is just different.
I've understood why many, including myself, wasn't for advocating Impeachment. But at some point, when people in our coalition (or, any voter, really) are this badly treated and dehumanized, I think we have to stand up. How can we not?
Sure we need to be strategic. But at this point I think we have to demand he's removed.
Agreed.
Remember when Rush Limbaugh played the song, Barack the Magic Negro one and over on his radio show? He said it was satire. Right.
I don't actually remember that but it doesn't surprise me.
It was during Obama's first run for the presidency.
"Shock jock unrepentant over derogatory Obama song"
"Limbaugh says liberals upset about the term should be aware that "magic negro" is a historical cultural term, a reference to benevolent African-Americans portrayed in old films."
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/may/10/usa.uselections2008
And you know it's different because even Republicans beyond the usual suspects are demanding he apologize, plus this people are claiming it was inadvertently posted by someone else. OK, if that's the case, fire the person who posted it in your name, no matter who it was (Stephen Miller? Let us pray). Oh, and btw, stop holding up funding until more things are named after you--WTF is wrong with you? Nobody, not even die-hard MAGAs voted for a naming spree.
Thank you for recounting the history of efforts to enact sensible immigration reform, including broad support from the American public.
Delia Ramirez is my representative, so proud of her action in this fight.