March 9 Leg Act News
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
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The Difference Between Disagreeing with Policy and Standing Up For Human Rights
By Marita Florini
People do not agree on government policies, or even on all aspects of a policy, 100 % of the time. However, when policy infringes on human rights or is contrary to the law, we must unite to oppose it 100% of the time.
“Government policy” refers to decisions and actions taken by governmental authorities to address public issues, regulate behavior, or allocate resources. This Republican administration has deviated from acceptable standards of behavior and morals as it imposes policies on the American people and in foreign lands.
The President, a convicted felon, was found guilty of sexual and physical abuse. In the Epstein files, multiple allegations are made of his deviant behavior. He is not someone who deserves to be listened to, yet we must be aware of his actions and behavior because it speaks to how he views the world. These views become the basis of his policy.
The President’s cabinet and other staff who have taken a vow of loyalty to Trump not only take his world views to heart, but they also pervert them to meet their own desires and power needs. A classic example of this is Stephen Millar, a white supremacist who believes that all black and brown-skinned people are responsible for the degradation of America. Thus, border policy has become ICE's terrorist attacks on undocumented immigrants. (Yes, the undocumented immigrants are committing a crime, but it is a misdemeanor, like driving without a license. It is not a felony.) ICE attacks naturalized citizens because the administration believes it can reverse previously accepted immigration policy, and ICE attacks Americans who are born here, raised here, and who have the right to protest a government they believe is morally corrupt. Concentration camps exist in America because of Trump’s policies, and inhabitants are getting sick and dying.
This Administration believes in acting before considering consequences. Multiple court rulings have blocked the illegal policies implemented by Trump. Tariffs, FEMA cuts, suppression of First Amendment rights, and human rights have all been addressed by the courts, and multiple rulings have been made against the Administration’s actions.
To date, this administration has murdered people they believe, without evidence, to be “narco terrorists.” They have taken unprecedented military action against Venezuela and have started a war with Iran. They have sidestepped the Constitution of the United States countless times, cancelling grants and research funding, cutting safety net programs and reducing Congress to rubber-stamping policies that trample human rights.
Donald Castellucci Jr., Tioga County Republican Committee Chairman, was dismayed by the Democrats' behavior at the State of the Union address this past February. He feels that the office of the President was not honored and that because his speech “highlighted what many Americans view as meaningful progress,” Democrats must enter oversight and honest debate about issues and policy (Tioga County Courier, March 4, 2026). Castellucci further adds that respect for the office, the Constitution, and the American people should never be optional.
There has not been an honest debate on issues, nor bipartisan negotiation, nor implementation of policy, since Trump was sworn in on January 20, 2025. Trump has lied and manipulated our policies by insisting that his Executive Orders be accepted as law, which they are not. He has thwarted Democratic efforts to negotiate his policies. The most recent example is Trump’s announcement that he will not sign any bill until the SAVE ACT is passed.
Trump does not believe in the Constitution or the rule of law. His behavior as President of the United States is morally corrupt. His lack of respect for our standards (the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, legislative and judicial branches of government) harms the American people.
The policies of the Republican administration in Washington do not support or respect the American people. To suggest that they do is propaganda.
BRIC Grant Win
By Marita Florini
In February 2025, the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) ended the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grants for communities. The Village of Owego was affected by the ending of the BRIC - Direct Technical Assistance (DTA) program. BRIC-DTAs enhance the knowledge, skills, and expertise of the current workforce to expand or improve the administration of natural hazard mitigation.
The FEMA team was assisting the village with a critical infrastructure evaluation for the “0.2% flood event” (similar to the 2011 flooding) to obtain vulnerability assessments of its buildings, including mitigation recommendations, and to safeguard essential utilities, such as the wastewater treatment plant, police, and fire stations. Another focus was on identifying solutions for two structures that are both critical to the village’s infrastructure. The first is the Route 96 North Avenue railroad underpass, which fills during heavy rainstorms and cuts off travel. The second is the aging culvert tunnel to the village's Wastewater Treatment Plant, which is too small for maintenance and emergency vehicles to access the plant.
Over the last four years, FEMA has selected nearly 2,000 projects to receive roughly $4.5 billion in BRIC funding nationwide. New York State Attorney General Letitia James announced on Saturday, March 7, 2026, that she and a coalition of states have won a court order that should make the Federal Government restore funding of BRIC grants and billions in mitigation dollars. The ruling was made in December 2025 (Courthouse News Service, March 10, 2026). Unfortunately, FEMA has yet to release the money.
U.S. District Judge Richard G. Stearns acknowledged that, with budget and staff cuts, FEMA is limited in its ability to restore funding to the fullest extent. The Judge went on to note several steps, including making pre-disaster mitigation funds available, communicating the status of current BRIC projects, and filing status reports with the court outlining actions taken toward reversing termination to help communities depending on these grants.
Action Alerts/Events
Call Your Representatives
Congressman Nicholas Langworthy, 202-225-3161
Senator Schumer, 202-224-6542
Senator Gillibrand, 202-224-4451
NYS Assemblyman Christopher Friend (R) 518-455-4538
NYS Senator Thomas O’Mara 518-455-2091
5calls.org is an app you can download on your smartphone or access via their website. Each day, they provide a summary of major concerns that encourage people to voice their opinion, opposition, or support.
Deescalate/Restrain/Reform ICE - Continue efforts to oppose inappropriate ICE actions. Call Congressman Langworthy and Senators Schumer and Gillibrand.
Detainees in detention centers (concentration camps) are experiencing horrible conditions and are at risk of contracting contagious diseases. Detainees have died from preventable causes. Call Langworthy, Schumer, and Gillibrand demanding humane treatment of detainees.
Keep up the pressure to demand the release of the full Epstein files. WE SUPPORT THE FULL RELEASE OF THE EPSTEIN FILES REGARDLESS OF WHO IT IMPLICATES. Call House Reps and Senators; demand they show up at hearings and do their jobs.
MONDAYS AT THE COURTHOUSE. Every Monday from 3:30 - 4:30, there is a dedicated effort to protest. Please join us for an hour. Bring a sign!
Continue to get signatures on your petitions! Questions? Contact Joan Davis jdavis719@live.com.
March 17, 2026 - 6:30 pm TCDC Monthly Meeting, Owego Elks Club
March 28, 2026, 1 - 3 pm Historic Tioga County Courthouse NO KINGS Rally
Please register for the event and mark your calendars! We will march from the Ahwaga Park (next to 218 Front St) up Front St to the bridge. Gather at 12:30 at the park. If you cannot march, we will meet you at the bridge and courthouse.
Tell your friends, family, and neighbors!
Have a sign-making night!
Write a protest song, practice a chant, plan to be loud and visible!
Meet and learn more about local candidates!
Register to vote!
