🏖️ GENESEE VALLEY GUARDIAN Vol 2, Issue 24 — June 16, 2026
Genesee Valley Guardian
Vol 2, Issue 24 — June 16, 2026
This Summer, We’re Everywhere
Democracy isn’t built in a day—it’s built in everyday conversations. This summer, GVI is meeting voters where they are: at community celebrations, parades, local gatherings, and farmers markets. It’s how we build power one conversation at a time.
Whether you’re registering voters, talking about what’s at stake in the general election, or just showing up as a visible force for democracy, there’s a place for you. Below you’ll find where we’ll be this month. Come find us!
Glory Day in Mt. Morris — Tabling Report
A good day on the ground in Mt. Morris. Overall effectiveness was moderate, but the more meaningful story is the team’s growth: everyone is getting more comfortable approaching the public, each finding their own style and voice. Nobody’s at Suanne’s level yet — she sets a high bar 🙂 — but the whole group is improving steadily with every event.
Training for the tabling events will be this Thursday, June 18 at 6PM before our regularly scheduled meeting at St. Michaels!
Volunteer for an event! (training provided)
Stand Up, Fight Back Saturday Report
Saturday, June 13 · Geneseo, NY
About 60 GVI members and allies gathered under gorgeous sunny skies to stand for democracy. The Rally for Our Flag brought our community together to defend the flag from those who would use it as a symbol of exclusion.
Genesee Valley Voices
GVI Member David Duel, York, finds inspiration from the following in our moment in history:
You may choose to look the other way, but you can never say you did not know.
Sometimes attributed to Winston Churchill. Actually a statement by William Willberforce, 1791, in a speech before the English House of Commons about the horrors of the slave trade.
Americans always do the right thing, once they have explored all other options.
Attributed to Winston Churchill, but spoken by Abba Eban in multiple speeches during 1967. At the time, he was Israel’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.
GVI Summer Events
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.
Stand Up, Fight Back Saturday — Avon Traffic Circle
Saturday, June 20 · Noon to 1:00 PM
Avon Traffic Circle, Avon, NY
Join us for another Stand Up, Fight Back Saturday! We’ll be at the traffic circle with signs, solidarity, and community.
After the June 20th rally, GVI will be back on July 11 for Stand Up, Fight Back Saturdays.
Early Voting — Livingston County
This Week
Early voting is open now in Livingston County for the June 23 primary. No need to wait for Election Day — vote early, vote with friends (since we each only have one), vote early.
Outreach — Call or Email Your Representatives
Federal contacts for Livingston County → · NYS contacts →
Stop the $70 Billion ICE Funding Bill
Republicans just passed a bill handing ICE another $70 billion to separate families, kidnap innocent people off the street, occupy cities, and expand their concentration camps. Congress controls the purse. Demand that your representatives fight to strip this funding.
Who to contact: Rep. Claudia Tenney · Sen. Chuck Schumer · Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand
Script Theme: “Vote no on any bill that funds ICE deportation camps and family separation. Congress must reclaim its power of the purse.”
Defund and Dismantle DHS
The Department of Homeland Security has become a tool of mass deportation and family separation. It’s time to tear it down to the studs and rebuild immigration enforcement around due process, human dignity, and the rule of law.
Who to contact: Rep. Claudia Tenney · Sen. Chuck Schumer · Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand
Script Theme: “Defund ICE. Dismantle the family separation apparatus. Build an immigration system that honors our values.”
Reach In — Learn, Train, Volunteer
Become an Election Inspector — Primary Is June 23
Election inspectors are the backbone of fair elections. Training is available now. Sign up for your county and ensure the integrity of this critical primary.
Marshal Training
We always need Marshals at all area events, big or small. Especially in Livingston and Wyoming Counties.
Defeat Tenney: NY-24 Election Watch
Primary: June 23, 2026 · General: November 3, 2026
6 days to the Democratic primary.
This Week in NY-24
This is the moment for NY-24 Democrats to choose which candidate will represent our values and our district’s interests in Congress. Both Alissa Ellman and Diana Kastenbaum are running to defeat Tenney and offer a different vision for our future.
The contrast is clear. Tenney just voted to hand ICE $70 billion for family separation and mass deportation. She voted yes on the “One Big Beautiful Bill” with its Medicaid cuts, SNAP cuts, and rollbacks of clean energy credits that help our farms. She sided with those who funded the camps. Meanwhile, Ellman and Kastenbaum are focused on healthcare, economic security, and protecting working families.
The Challengers
Alissa Ellman · Lockport, Niagara County
Army National Guard veteran with multiple Afghanistan deployments. Diagnosed with cancer from burn-pit exposure in 2018 and has recovered. She most recently worked for the VA’s education department in Buffalo — a job she lost in the first wave of DOGE layoffs. Ellman is now a special education teacher. She is running on healthcare, veterans’ services, and economic security for working families. Ellan is on the Working Families Party ballot line.
Diana Kastenbaum · Batavia, Genesee County
Former manufacturing CEO and SUNY Genesee Community College trustee. Kastenbaum has been a community organizer across the district since 2025. She is running on healthcare, rural hospitals, Medicaid, veterans’ services, and workforce development.
What’s at Stake
Tenney has voted to cut Medicaid and SNAP, roll back clean energy credits that help our farms, fund mass deportations, and expand ICE coordination. Both challengers are running on healthcare, rural economic development, and protecting working families.
The choice is yours. Vote June 23.
Mark Your Calendar
- June 20 — Stand Up, Fight Back Saturday, Avon Traffic Circle
- June 23 — NY Democratic Primary — Check your registration
- July 15 — FEC Q2 filing deadline
- October 4 — Voter registration deadline (general election)
- October 24 — Early voting begins
- November 3 — General Election Day
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.
Support Alianza AgrĂcola
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 AgrĂcola
- Register for monthly Ally meetings – In Geneseo, NY, on the 3rd Friday of the month. Register →
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 Wednesday and Friday Protests
Wednesdays and Fridays — 4:00–5:00 PM
Gateway Corner Park in Geneseo, NY (across from Wegmans)
Join the ‘Geneseo Visibles’ — 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
Once a week, we raise our signs over Route 390, alternating between the 7 a.m. morning commute and the 3:45 p.m. return. It’s safe, it’s fun, and it gets our message in front of the people who need to see it.
We are part of the GVI Artists Group. To join us, 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.
LOCAL 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.
SUPPORT GENESEE VALLEY INDIVISIBLE
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