Blog Archives

General Strikes

5/18/2025

by Jennifer John

Overwhelming amounts of news come at us daily, especially if we pay attention to independent media. We will quickly lose hope if we see ourselves as helpless.

The Governor of Illinois, J. B. Pritzker, said recently in a speech in New Hampshire, “I understand the tendency to give in to despair right now, but despair is an indulgence that we can’t afford in the times upon which history turns. Never before, in my life, have I called for mass protests, for mobilization, for disruption, but I am now.” You may have heard this quote from Massachusetts Congressman Jim McGovern from a town hall in March 2025. “We need to start thinking about out-of-the-box ideas like a general strike.” What exactly does that mean? A general strike is a coordinated work stoppage involving workers from multiple industries or sectors. It’s usually organized to demand political or economic reforms or changes in government policy. It is a powerful way for workers to show unity and pressure those in power to make changes.

Many of you may not realize there are already plans for a general strike. The website is The General Strike (generalstrikeus.com). According to their website: “The General Strike is a grassroots network of ordinary people who recognize that our greatest power lies in our labor and our right to refuse it. We aim to unite every individual and organization fighting for racial, economic, and environmental justice to achieve real change in our lifetimes.” Also from their website, “Research shows we need 3.5% of the population, or 11 million Americans, to be successful.”

On the website, you can sign a strike card with basic information–your name, zip code, email, and phone number. The website has a counter that keeps track of the number of people who have signed up, so they will know when to start the different phases of the strike.

For example, over 345,000 people have committed to striking so far, but that leaves well over 10 million more who are needed, so we’re still in the first phase.

There are three strike phases, which I will quickly summarize. The first one is “Base Organizing”–0-3 million signed strike cards. This phase focuses on uniting activists and organizations for the general strike by building a decentralized network that can grow rapidly.

Phase 2– “Coalition Building & Strike Day Prep.” With 3 million strike cards signed, demands will be finalized, strike dates will be chosen, and events will be planned through coalition meetings led by justice movement experts.

Phase 3 –“Finalizing Demands” begins when there are 8 million strike cards. Demands will be finalized, support systems prepared, and strike notices distributed. Then, when there are 11 million Americans who have committed to this cause, it will be time to strike.

I found the The General Strike website to be very informative. They have different sections you can explore and FAQ’s to learn more about their values and demands. Here’s a link to an article on BBC.com from 2019 titled, “The ‘3.5% Rule’: How a Small Minority Can Change the World.” This article includes research about nonviolent protests in other countries and why it’s important to reach the 3.5% of the population threshold to bring about change.

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Public Housing

5/11/2025

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by Beth Black

Public housing in the U.S. refers to rental housing that is owned and managed by local Public Housing Agencies (PHAs). These PHAs are funded and regulated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Public housing provides affordable rental homes to low-income individuals, families, seniors, and people with disabilities.

Public housing comes in all sizes and types, from scattered single-family houses to high rise apartments for elderly families. There are approximately 1.6 million Americans living in public housing units, managed by some 3,300 HAs. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) administers Federal aid to local housing agencies (HAs) that manage the housing for low-income residents at rents they can afford. Rent is based on 30% of adjusted gross income, minus a utility allowance if applicable. One of the advantages of Public Housing is that since your rent is based on your income, if your income goes down due to job loss or other circumstances, your rent is adjusted downward to reflect your lower income.

I work for the Luzerne County Housing Authority. The Luzerne County Housing Authority operates 22 federally funded housing projects throughout Luzerne County. The program includes 1,352 units in sizes ranging from efficiency to five bedroom apartments. In addition to Federal projects, the Housing Authority also owns and operates Horizon Village and Wright Manor in Mountaintop. As well as affordable private rentals scattered through out the county.

Public housing is limited to low-income families and individuals. An HA determines your eligibility based on: 1) annual gross income; 2) whether you qualify as elderly, a person with a disability, or as a family; and 3) U.S. citizenship or eligible immigration status. If you are eligible, the HA will check your references to make sure you and your family will be good tenants. HAs will deny admission to any applicant whose habits and practices may be expected to have a detrimental effect on other tenants or on the project’s environment. Our Housing Authority gives a preference to Veterans and Luzerne County residents.

HAs use income limits developed by HUD. HUD sets the lower income limits at 80% and very low-income limits at 50% of the median income for the county or metropolitan area in which you choose to live. Income limits vary from area to area so you may be eligible at one HA but not at another. Luzerne County Housing Authority uses the low income limits, which range from $46,900 for a single individual to $88,400 for a family of 8.

Public Housing differs from the Section 8 program, which issues vouchers that can be used to rent apartments from private landlords. Eligibility and rent calculations are the same, but the Housing Authority reimburses the landlord for the difference between the calculated 30% rent and the fair market rent for the apartment. An additional 3 million Americans rent residences in Section 8.

The Trump Administration released their FY 2026 skinny budget proposal. Although the president’s budget is a political document and does not have the force of law, it does propose devastating cuts to housing and community development programs. The budget proposes the creation of a State Rental Assistance Block Grant, which would block grant funding for Public Housing, Section 8 Tenant-Based and Project-Based Rental Assistance, Housing for the Elderly, and Housing for Persons with Disabilities to the states – and cut these programs by an overall $26.718 billion (43%). The budget would also institute a two-year cap on rental assistance for able bodied adults. These cuts would have a devastating impact on millions of families across the country and block granting funding would make it easier for Congress to cut rental-assistance in the future. The administration has proposed eliminating the Section 8 program completely in the future. The average cost of a one bedroom apartment in Pennsylvania is $942.00 and the poverty rate in Luzerne County stands at 15.4%. The waitlist for Section 8 is closed and the waitlist for Public Housing can be several years.

Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) are vital to communities nationwide, effectively managing resources to support vulnerable residents and uphold local accountability. They reduce homelessness, stabilize families, create jobs, and lead community development that enhances neighborhood safety and livability. By providing direct rental assistance, PHAs enable low- to middle-income families to afford housing near their workplaces, driving positive economic outcomes in communities of all sizes. The proposals in the President’s budget would have devastating impacts on communities across the country.

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Immigrants in America

5/4/2025

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by Brian Dugas

Today I’m going to speak about the issue of immigration. I am currently involved with an organization that is seeking to work on local immigration issues. I will share information about that organization and how you can get involved at the end of this social action minute. I have to admit that in the short time that I have been working on the issue I have learned a lot about the needs and issues of the local Latino community. There is a lot that many of us do not know. I think it is time that we all start learning.

Most of us understand that we are actually a nation of immigrants. Many of us trace our heritage back to a foreign land. The only true inhabitants of these lands are the Native Americans whose population was thoroughly decimated by those foreign immigrants, also known as our ancestors. Throughout American history we have blamed and scapegoated one immigrant population after another for the problems of our society, when in fact it was the society itself that is toxic. I think that the only positive thing that can be said about these difficult times that we are now facing is that many of us have had the blindfolds torn off, and we have had to face the true causes of our prejudice and misogyny. You can’t even begin the process of healing until you recognize the real issues.

Just a few facts about immigrants in America:

There are approximately 53.3 million legal and illegal immigrants in America representing 15.8% of the population
California is the state with the most immigrants with 10.6 million foreign born residents
California also leads in undocumented immigrants with 2.6 million in 2022, Texas follows closely with 2.1 million. These two states alone account for 42% of the total unauthorized immigrant population.
The vast majority of unauthorized immigrants originate from Latin America and the Caribbean with the most coming from Mexico and then followed by other Central American countries like El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.
Immigrants in America can access some benefits, depending on their immigration status, like food assistance, health coverage, and cash assistance programs.
Undocumented immigrants have limited access to most federal benefits but can still receive emergency medical care and certain programs like WIC.
Undocumented immigrants are disproportionately represented in lower wage, less skilled jobs such as construction, agriculture, hospitality, food service, and domestic work.
Immigrants generally contribute positively to the US economy by increasing the labor force, boosting tax revenue, driving innovation and business growth, and filling important labor shortages.

Just as in our past, this population is being scapegoated for many of our societies problems. They are being targeted by politicians for political advantage and propaganda reasons. In fact it is those same politicians who could have solved these issues years ago with common sense reforms and laws that welcomed those who contribute to society, and restricting those who may be problematic. That means providing a legal path for those workers who we are once again going to have to learn are critical employees who keep our society operating and functional. And of course they are doing this work that no one else wants to do at wages that no one else wants to earn. Instead of choosing a path of decency and common sense, our government has chosen the path of suffering and pain caused by fear, deportation, and imprisonment.

Because of this, numerous concerned individuals and organizations have decided to come together to try and find a way to help. We have formed an organization called the Community Justice Alliance. It is made up of NEPA residents who have an interest in supporting the Latino population in the Wyoming Valley. We have had multiple meetings and sponsored a Sabol Lecture at Kings College where local and regional attorneys shared their concerns and recommendations. This group has continued to meet and expand and has decided to make it a goal to support and uplift the local Latino population.

This is being accomplished through two main efforts: one is developing closer ties to the Latino community through informal community gatherings, and the second is to provide legal support and access to social services to those in need. Both of these efforts are being done through partnerships with local organizations that already support extensive Latino populations.

I have learned:

That there is an enormous unseen and unheard Latino population in Luzerne County.
That most people don’t have a clue about who they are, where they are, what their customs are, and what their lives are like.
That many of them are here legally but are still justifiably terrified of what is happening to their rights in this country.
That their issues are widely varied depending upon their immigration status, the work that they do, and their country of origin.
That the immigration system is complex and inefficient and has caused many of the problems that they now face,
That most are hard working people wanting to contribute positively to this society.

There is no doubt that this is an enormous, complex issue that we will be dealing with over the next few years. What I think is important is that we remember that behind that complexity are people who just want a better life. I believe It is worth our time to get to know them, and to find ways to provide support and friendship. If you would like to be involved in doing that, the next meeting of the Community Justice Alliance will be in May.

Because of my involvement in this group, I have had the opportunity to learn a lot more about the legal issues associated with our immigration laws, and the obstacles it provides for immigrants just trying to follow the rules and do what’s right. At our next meeting we will have one of the few immigration attorneys operating in this area with us talking about ways that we can better support the Latino population. This may include creating a group of trained advocates who can serve as a point of contact for those in need. Please join us to learn more.

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The Social Action Minute

One of the most popular features of our Sunday services is our Social Action Minute. During this time, a member of the Social Action Committee speaks on a topic of their choice in order to bring awareness and a call to action to the members of our Congregation. These are the archives of the Social Action Minutes presented at our Sunday services. If you missed a service, or are interested in the topic, you can revisit it and get information here.