Action Alert - February 1, 2023

"Ours is not the struggle of one day, one week, or one year. Ours is not the struggle of one judicial appointment or presidential term. Ours is the struggle of a lifetime, or maybe even many lifetimes, and each one of us in every generation must do our part." - John Lewis

Black History Month

Today is the first day of Black History Month, an excellent moment to speak out against our Governor's questionably legal efforts to ban an AP course focused on this history. The League of Women Voters has created an online form that makes it easy to send a letter to DeSantis objecting to his cynical political posturing. Click here to send yours.

As Jessica Craven of Chop Wood, Carry Water puts it, we can honor this important month and thumb our noses at DeSantis by reading some Black history we don't know: biographies or autobiographies of leaders we admire, any of the books Craven recommends, and others recommended by friends and other lists.

We'll be updating you throughout the month with opportunities to learn our own local history and show our solidarity with our friends and allies. If you know of events, books, or history we should share, email us.

Wednesday, Feb 1 - Beaches Watch State of the Beaches - 7 PM

Every year Beaches Watch hosts this valuable discussion with our 3 Beaches Mayors on issues that impact our quality of life here at the beach. Each mayor will talk about the state of their cities - addressing 2022 accomplishments and challenges, plans for 2023, and their view of 2023 legislative session issues affecting our beach communities. All are welcome to join the meeting at Beaches Branch Library, 600 3rd St, Neptune Beach.

If you missed last month's State of the Dunes presentation, Beaches Watch has posted that online.

Beaches Watch also plans to send candidate questionnaires to Mayoral and At-Large candidates in our upcoming city elections - since all these roles represent the whole population of Jacksonville. If you have issues of importance to beach residents to suggest, please email them to Beaches Watch by Friday, Feb 5.

Tonight @ 6 PM - Neptune Beach City Council Meeting on

Giant Water Tower

In the wake of their decision to fire the city manager over accusations he failed to keep them properly informed, the Neptune Beach City Council has called a special meeting to discuss the controversial "big green monster." You can live stream the meeting tonight at 6 pm.

Countdown to Municipal Elections No Time to Waste!

With barely 7 weeks before our upcoming local elections, we need all hands on deck to educate and motivate voters to get to the polls -- a rare chance to significantly change Jacksonville's leadership. Here's a short list of ways you can help this week:

Help register voters this Thursday, 2/2 from 3-5:30. Several of our partner groups will be distributing food, registering voters, and updating Vote by Mails at the Mt. Olive Primitive Baptist Church (1319 Myrtle Ave.)
Join the Duval Dems' Canvass this Sunday, 2/5. Register here for this week and future dates.
Text out the Vote - reaching the many Duval voters who may not know the election is happening, or where to vote since redistricting. Register here for many upcoming sessions.
Get to know all our Democratic candidates and educate your friends & neighbors. Don't forget to donate to those you support.

Saturday, 2/3-5 - Donna Marathon Weekend

The DONNA Marathon is celebrating it's 20th anniversary this year and there are lots of opportunities to get involved this weekend. The full marathon, run on Sunday 2/5, is the only marathon in the country dedicated to breast cancer research & treatment. If you're a Donna Deegan supporter, her campaign has two possible requests:

DONNA Supporters will showcase and celebrate DONNA FOR MAYOR by walking together in the DONNA 5K and wearing our new blue Donna For Mayor T-Shirts. We will meet at Daily's Place Flex Field of TIAA Stadium at 7:30 am Saturday, February 4th. Registration is $40.
On Sunday Feb 5th, the full Marathon takes place. Donna's campaign is asking people who live or have friends who live along the race route at the beach to consider posting Donna for Mayor yard signs - even if just for the weekend. If you're interested, text Hanna at 904-999-8515 and arrange to pick up a sign.

Oppose Permitless Carry

The dangerous new Permitless Carry gun bill, HB 543 Concealed Carry of Weapons and Firearms Without a License, is being fast-tracked in Tallahassee with only two committees slated to consider it in the House. It is scheduled for its first hearing in the Constitutional Rights, Rule of Law & Government Operations Subcommittee on Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 2 pm ET.

Well before that time, please take action to let the Legislature know you oppose this bill and plan to hold them accountable if it is passed. This bill would allow people who have never passed a background check or fired a gun to carry concealed, loaded guns in public. Click here for additional talking points. And please write or call these committee members and our own House representative, Kiyan Michael.