Georgia Chapter Newsletter
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Posted July 11, 2024
July is here! The sun is out but it is TOO H-O-T! With record heat happening each day, we hope you are taking the time to cool down in the pool, staying indoors during the day when you can, and hydrating with water.
High temperatures coincide with the change of climate and the increase of the average heat per year. This means our utility bills will be skyrocketing this season. According to the Department of Energy, a household using 6% of their income to pay for utilities is considered a high energy burden. Low income households in the US on average pay 8.6% of their utilities. Did you also know that nearly 20% of low-income households do not have access to air conditioning during the hottest months of the year? As a result, people can suffer from heat exhaustion. Utilities and climate justice work are critical for sustaining our communities and we have folks here in Georgia fighting on behalf of our members in Albany!
With our Utilities and Climate justice work in Albany, we are helping the community obtain funding to help weatherize homes for extreme climates like this. On June 18th, Albany held a final city budget meeting to decide the allocation of their funding. The Albany City Commission voted on the official FY25 budget vote on June 26th. Speakers included 9to5 Members and staff, and through their lobbying efforts, the City Commission allocated $1 Million for Home Weatherization Programs in Albany. This is a $850,000 budget increase from the previous year (567%)!
With this win, Albany homeowners have the opportunity to rehabilitate older homes and save an average of up to $283 a month. An estimated 100 family homes can receive assistance through this new program. Our Albany organizers, Corey and Timothy will be engaging with key Albany City staff overseeing the project to ensure our relationship with the municipality and also the success of the program.
Learn more about the benefits of weatherization here:
Albany Residents with 9to5 Staff Corey and Tim (both on the right) after giving public comment during the budget hearing
What Staff are Reading 📖
- Workers’ Rights: New federal rule could offer protection from extreme heat to millions of workers
- Utilities & Environmental Justice: As heat waves intensify, more public housing residents may get help with AC bills
- Housing Justice: The Supreme Court says cities can punish people for sleeping public places
- Housing Justice: New law gives more protections to renters in Georgia
Upcoming Events
Know Your Rights HB 1010 Training
Date: Monday, July 15th, 2024
Time: 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM
Location: Online on Zoom
Join the Georgia Coalition for Paid Leave for an informative “Know Your Rights” Training event on Monday, July 15th from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM via Zoom! This session will inform teachers, educators, and the broader community about their rights under the newly expanded policies. With the recent changes to the paid leave law, parental leave for state employees has been extended from 3 weeks to 6 weeks. If you work for the government or are a teacher, this will benefit you. Come through to learn more and also learn about our larger fight to win paid medical and family leave for ALL Georgia Workers.
Heat Safety Training hosted by ATL DSA and ROC United
Date: Monday, July 15th, 2024
Time: 4:40 PM to 7:30 PM
Location: Esther Peachy Park, 631 Wylie St SE, Atlanta, GA 30316 US
As the world grows hotter, high temperatures are becoming more and more of a danger to workers across the South!
Join @atldemsoc and @roc_united Monday July 15 for a heat training and comprehensive know your rights lesson on how to follow safety procedures at work, report issues, and fight against unsafe working conditions! This training is welcome to all workers experiencing dangerous heats at work – in the restaurant industry, in warehouses, trucks, and more!
Light food and cool drinks will be provided! Meet at Esther Peachy Park, July 15 at 4:30 PM. All are welcome!