🏖️ GENESEE VALLEY GUARDIAN Vol 2, Issue 22 — June 2, 2026
Genesee Valley Guardian
Vol 2, Issue 22 — June 2, 2026
Weekly Inspiration
“Since civilized societies make judgments about shared interests, it’s time to make sure that ours is better served by pushing aside a bloodthirsty crew.”
— Rex Smith (2026, May 30). Fight night comes to Flag Day. The Upstate American.
Stand Up, Fight Back Saturday Report
This week we took our Saturday presence to Avon, where the Conesus Lake Outlet flows into the Genesee River, and the town sits firmly in the center-west of New York’s 24th Congressional District. Rallying in Avon is a visible reminder that constituent opposition to Rep. Tenney’s record reaches across this entire district, from Niagara County to Jefferson County (Watertown). Signs spoke to her votes on military adventurism, tax cuts for the wealthy, and cuts to the social safety net.
These Saturdays are building something. See you next week in Mt. Morris.
GVI Summer Events
Nunda Fundays
We’re out in the community this summer — and Nunda Funday was a great start. Find us under the tent for voter registration, a spin of the wheel, and a little quiz on what’s really happening in Washington.
Democracy turns 250 this year. Let’s make sure it sees 251.
What’s Happening for Flag Day?
On Saturday, June 13, GVI will host a “Rally for Our Flag” at the Geneseo Gateway Park from Noon to 1:00pm. Additional details and an option to RSVP will be coming soon.
On Sunday, June 14, the Committee for the First Amendment (CFA) and No Kings are hosting Rise Up, Sing Out: A Concert for the First Amendment, an uplifting evening of song, solidarity, and action. Featuring an all-star line-up of performers (Bette Midler, Patti Smith, Rufus Wainwright and more), this 90-minute concert event will celebrate the freedoms guaranteed by our First Amendment—of speech, religion, press, assembly, and protest—and the people’s power that both fuels these rights and is essential to guarantee them.
Even as authoritarians increase their attacks on our freedoms and communities, we see examples across the country of people rising up together, taking action, and turning back those forces.
The event will be streamed with watch parties all across the country—so wherever you are, you can sing along, find inspiration in the performances, build community, and take meaningful action together. The event will begin at 7:30 p.m. ET and run approximately 90 minutes.
GVI is encouraging members and subscribers to host a watch party at home. Invite a few friends and celebrate our flag and being an American. For more ideas, get a toolkit here.
Note that there has been some confusion because many Americans associate the No Kings brand with nationwide mobilizations to rally and protest. But No Kings promoted a training program last summer called “One Million Rising.” And this Flag Day No Kings supports the “Rise Up, Sing Out” Concert organized by the Committee for the First Amendment. A time to share joy and patriotism, not rally and protest.
Don’t give Trump the attention. Focus on America, your families, your community.
Indivisible Meet & Greet Picnic
Join with GVI and members of other local activist groups for our Meet and Greet Picnic. We are hoping to have members from 5 groups attend so we can share trials, triumphs and ideas for everything from rally planning to social media posting.
WHEN: Tuesday, June 16, 6–8 pm
WHERE: Letchworth State Park, North Shelter at Highbanks Area; it’s the one closest to the pool. Admission to the park is free after 5 pm.
WHAT: Bring a potluck dish. Drinks and tableware will be provided. Even if you can’t bring food, come anyway. There will be plenty for all.
WHO: Everyone! If you have never attended a GVI meeting, consider coming to the picnic. It will be a fun introduction to the group and a good way to find out what the other local groups are up to.
Genesee Valley Voices
From GVI Member Pat Moran
I was at the May 23rd York rally to assert my First Amendment right to free speech—something that a few of my fellow Americans tried to suppress by blocking access to the sidewalk with their semis. We would have welcomed them had they shown up in person to also assert their First Amendment rights, but it appears that they only wanted to suppress our rights. They are conspirators in tRump’s trashing of our democracy. On this Memorial Day weekend, they are spitting in the faces of the US soldiers who died to preserve our rights and freedoms.
Stand Up, Fight Back Saturdays
Saturday, June 6th · Noon to 1:00pm
Defeat Tenney! and We Are Patriots!
Pocket Park — Mt. Morris
46 E. State Street
Mt. Morris, NY 14510
Parking: Street parking (Main St. and west of Main St.); Public Parking, 13 N. Main St. (450 feet north of 46 East State Street).
Note: Coincides with Yoga Fest at Letchworth State Park and Day in Mt. Morris — maximum visibility!
Saturday, June 13th · Noon to 1:00pm
Rally for Our Flag
Geneseo Gateway Park – Geneseo
Details, maps, parking and an option to RSVP coming soon.
Outreach — Call or Email Your Representatives
Federal contacts for Livingston County → · NYS contacts →
Stop Funding ICE Brutality — Protect the Right to Protest
Federal agents pepper-sprayed peaceful protesters — including U.S. Senator Andy Kim of New Jersey — outside Delaney Hall, a 1,000-bed immigrant detention facility in Newark, this week. ICE is requesting more funding. Congress controls whether they get it.
Who to contact: Rep. Claudia Tenney · Sen. Chuck Schumer · Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand
“Don’t fund ICE brutality. No more money for an agency that pepper-sprays peaceful protesters and U.S. senators.”
Demand Accountability for the Jan. 6 Slush Fund
Thirty-five former federal judges — appointed by both parties — have formally asked a court to reopen the case behind Trump’s $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund,” calling the settlement that created it “a fraud on the court.” Congress should act too.
Who to contact: Sen. Chuck Schumer · Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand · Rep. Claudia Tenney
“Investigate the Jan. 6 slush fund. Thirty-five federal judges say it’s a fraud. Congress should agree.”
No Cage Matches Where Democracy Lives
On June 14 — Flag Day and Trump’s 80th birthday — the White House grounds will host a UFC cage-match event on the South Lawn, with the Pentagon reportedly asked to send troops in uniform as audience. Resistance actions are being organized nationally for June 14. Watch for local Indivisible events.
Who to contact: Rep. Claudia Tenney · Sen. Chuck Schumer · Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand
“The White House is a public trust, not a campaign venue. Stop the spectacle.”
Reach In — Learn, Train, Volunteer
Read: Rex Smith on the Cage at the White House
This week’s Upstate American essay connects the UFC arena on the White House lawn to the fall of Rome, to evolutionary anthropology, and to what’s at stake in 2026. Free and public.
Support Alianza Agrícola
Learn how local immigrant farmworkers organized a mutual support group that serves their needs and recruits allies from the larger community as supporters and friends.
- Become an Ally
- Donate to Alianza Agrícola
- Register for monthly Ally meetings – In Geneseo, NY, on the 3rd Friday of the month. Register →
Marshal Training
We always need Marshals! See a WROC Channel 8 news video to learn more. This is a critically important volunteer role at all area events, big or small. We especially need marshals in Livingston and Wyoming Counties.
Find upcoming training dates and register.
Listen to What’s the Plan? — Weekly Zoom & Podcast from Indivisible National
A Zoom call with Indivisible co-CEOs Leah Greenberg and Ezra Levin.
Defeat Tenney: NY-24 Election Watch
Primary: June 23, 2026 · General: November 3, 2026
21 days to the Democratic primary. Check your registration now.
This Week in NY-24
Two debates in the next eight days — Geneva on Tuesday, Batavia on June 9. The Batavia debate is right in our backyard. Bring a friend.
Meanwhile, Tenney sent a letter to Governor Hochul this week opposing a state budget provision that would prohibit local law enforcement from entering into 287(g) agreements with ICE — the same enforcement partnerships that put ICE agents outside Delaney Hall in Newark, where they pepper-sprayed a sitting U.S. senator. Tenney wants more of that coordination, not less.
Claudia Tenney (R), Incumbent
Her Record
- Voted yes — “One Big Beautiful Bill” — Medicaid and SNAP cuts affecting low-income NY-24 families; rollback of clean energy credits for farms; $350 billion for deportation and military. Now law.
- Voted no — Iran War Powers Resolution (March 5, 2026) — Voted against directing the removal of US forces from Iran. Congress never authorized this war.
- Wrote to Hochul opposing limits on 287(g)/ICE partnerships (May 29, 2026) — The week ICE pepper-sprayed U.S. Senator Andy Kim, Tenney pushed to expand local ICE coordination.
The Democratic Challengers
Alissa Ellman · Lockport, Niagara County
Army National Guard veteran, Afghanistan deployments, burn-pit cancer survivor, former VA education department (DOGE layoff). Special ed teacher. Holds the Working Families Party line.
Diana Kastenbaum · Batavia, Genesee County
Former manufacturing CEO, SUNY GCC trustee, community organizer since 2025. Running on healthcare, rural hospitals, Medicaid, veterans’ services, and workforce development. Endorsed by 2022 Democratic nominee Steven Holden.
The Democratic primary is June 23. GVI encourages members to research all candidates and make their own informed choice.
The Independent Challengers
Todd Sloan · Auburn, Cayuga County
Mr. Sloan is a practicing attorney in Auburn, NY. Before the petition filing deadline on May 26th, Mr. Sloan delivered petitions to the NYS Board of Elections around 5,000 signatures (3,500 required). Fundraising: At the end of Q1 2026, Mr. Sloan had $20,343 cash on hand.
Tony Macula · Geneseo, Livingston County
Tony Macula earned a bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York, Plattsburgh, in 1983 and a Ph.D. from Wesleyan University. Fundraising: Unknown. Dr. Macula filed as an Independent candidate after the Q1 2026 reporting deadline.
Fundraising Context
As of Q1 2026 FEC filings: Tenney — $2.3M raised, $1.3M cash on hand. Ellman — $124,300 raised, $4,400 cash on hand. Kastenbaum — $63,500 raised, $18,700 cash on hand. Q2 filings due July 15.
Upcoming Democratic Primary Election Events & Debates
- Available Now — Democratic Candidate Forum on Youtube. Sponsored by Cayuga State College and streamed by NewsChannel 9, WYSR Syracuse.
- Tuesday, June 3 · 6:30 PM — NY-24 Democratic Primary Debate, Smith Opera House, 82 Seneca St., Geneva. Free and open to the public.
- Tuesday, June 7 · 2:00 PM — “Picnic Before The Primaries,” featuring candidates endorsed by the Livingston County Democrats and Avon Town Democrats: Scott Comegys for NYS Senate District 54 (Incumbent Pamela Helming); Gladys Flores for NYS Assembly District 133 (Incumbent Andrea Bailey); Alissa Ellman for NYS Congressional District 24 (Incumbent Claudia Tenney). Avon Driving Park, 350 Spring Street, Avon. Refreshments available.
- Monday, June 9 · 7:00 PM — NY-24 Democratic Primary Debate, Genesee Community College, One College Rd., Batavia. Free and open to the public.
Local Actions
Defeat Tenney Yard Signs
Genesee Valley Indivisible, with other Indivisibles and allied groups in NY-24, are organizing to put “Defeat Tenney” yard signs throughout the congressional district. We are offering them at our cost.
Email Phil at paj12147@gmail.com to reserve one or more signs for pickup or delivery. Suggested Donation $7. Signs are two-sided corrugated plastic with a metal stand. Printed by Syracuse Cultural Workers.
Check Your Voter Registration Status
Visit Vote.org to confirm your current status or register to vote in New York State. The primary is June 23 — check now.
Become an Election Inspector — Primary Is June 23
GVI’s Postcard Campaign
You can pick up postcards to write at home OR write them at GVI’s Thursday meetings. The Artist’s Team is setting up a table to serve as the “postcard station” and can provide pens. Order in advance by Wednesday each week.
Weekly Recurring Events
GVI Weekly Community Meeting
Thursdays, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, Geneseo, NY
Enter through the red door in the back of the church.
- Welcome. No RSVP required.
- New Format: Agenda arrives in member email inboxes on Thursday mornings.
- Weather cancellations emailed to all GVI members by 3:00 PM Thursday.
- Address & map
- Join our member email list
Weekly Geneseo Valley Visibles Protests
Wednesdays and Fridays — 4:00–5:00 PM
Gateway Corner Park in Geneseo, NY (across from Wegmans)
All are welcome, even if you can only stay for 10 minutes!
Weekly Hemlock Protest
Wednesdays — 4:30–5:30 PM (Summer Schedule)
Southeast Corner of Rt 15A and Rt 20A (aka “Dollar General Corner”)
Organized by Hemlock Rising Indivisible
Livingston Bridge Brigade
We’ve now had four successful Bridge Brigade Actions, and we’d love to have additional activists join us!
Once a week we raise our signs over Route 390, alternating between the 7 a.m. morning commute and the 4 p.m. return. It’s safe. It’s fun. It’s critical.
For more information, send an email to info@GeneseeValleyIndivisible.org with your name, phone number and email address.
Listen to What’s the Plan? — Weekly Zoom & Podcast
Weekly, national, interactive Zoom with Indivisible co-CEOs Leah Greenberg and Ezra Levin.
Support Genesee Valley Indivisible
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