What can we do? These simple action steps are designed to provide concrete actions to give you a mechanism for doing something. Daily assaults on personal freedoms and institutions meant to serve American citizens can be overwhelming. Ignoring the worst and retreating inward can seem like the only response. Fear is understandable. But fear contributes to the dismantling. Action, because it is the right thing to do, helps us sleep at night. Action, regardless of outcome, makes a pillow softer.

The League suggests that you post each message in your kitchen. Grab your morning beverage, grab your phone, and take action.

To receive the What You Can Do actions directly, please email info [at] lwv-alachua.org (subject: What%20You%20Can%20Do)  with "What You Can Do" in the subject line. Request to be added to the email list. Messages come out about once a week. 

CURRENT ACTION TOPICS: 1) Mill Creek Sink Petition 2) Alligator Alcatraz Shutdown Support 3) Voting Accessibility 4) Release Epstein files

LOCAL

1.  Mill Creek Sink development has been proposed in Alachua. In October, 2024, the county
commission took steps to discourage present and future development in the area where water
feeds directly into the aquifer, as reported by WUFT on 10/2/24, “Alachua County intervention
in proposed Mill Creek Sink Development…” WUFT Mill Creek article.

            a. Action Item: The community is collecting signatures on a petition to oppose the
development. If the above link does not work, go to change.org and search for Mill
Creek. Sign the petition.

STATE

1.   Federal judge orders Alligator Alcatraz to be cleared out. Source: Washington Post, 8/21/25,
“Florida ordered to dismantle Alligator Alcatraz over environmental impact”; The Everglades
Foundation.

            a. Action item: Call the legislative delegation. Suggested verbiage:

                          i. (Name of legislator), I am thrilled that a federal judge has ordered the dismantling of Alligator Alcatraz. The federal government and Florida have spent billions of dollars to restore the Everglades. The benefit of that investment is threatened by wastewater, filling and paving wetlands and vehicle emissions in the middle of the Everglades. Some seven million south Floridians rely on the filtration of water in the Everglades for the water in their cities. The camp was built without a study of the environmental impact. I support dismantling Alligator Alcatraz.

Legislative Delegation Members
Representative Chad Johnson: (850) 717-5022
Yvonne Hayes Hinson: (850) 717-5021
Representative Chuck Brannon: (850) 717-5010
Senator Stan McClain: (850) 487-5009
Senator Jennifer Bradley: (850) 487-5006

NATIONAL

1.     Voting accessibility

                 a. Action Item: The president said that he is going to get rid of mail-in ballots and voting machines. In Texas, legislators are openly changing voting districts mid-census to gain five seats in the house of representatives. Call your legislators. Sources: Heather Cox Richardson 8/18/25; Real Clear Polling.

Suggested verbiage:
               i. (Name of legislator), Multiple polls show that the majority of Americans do not like the economy, foreign policy, inflation rate and the direction of the country under the current administration. Meanwhile, the administration and legislators are making it more difficult to vote. In
Texas, legislators, at the direction of the president, are openly changing voting districts to gain more republican seats. The president has said he is going to get rid of mail-in ballots and voting machines, although the constitution gives congress and states jurisdiction over voting. Instead of making it hard for people to vote, wouldn’t it be better for leaders to have policies that benefit Americans so that they want to vote for that leadership?

2.    Epstein files

            a. Action Item: Release the Epstein files. With the cascade of events in the last week, news coverage of the Epstein files has plummeted. (Heather Cox Richardson). We need to continue asking for release. Sources: NBC 8/20/25, “Judge Denies DOJ request to release Jeffrey Epstein grand jury transcripts”; NPR 8/22/25 “First wave of Epstein files is being sent to congress, says Oversight chair”.

Call legislators. Suggested verbiage:

                      i. Americans have not forgotten that the full Epstein files have not been released. The government has some 100,000 pages of materials and there were some 1,000 victims. I am pleased the Department of Justice has released some files to the House OversightCommittee. However, I am skeptical. When will all the files be released to Congress? Will there be a bipartisan review of the files and redaction of information? When will the public get information about what is found? After months of delayed promises, Americans are waiting for release of the full files.

National Legislators:
Senator Rick Scott: (202) 224-5274
Senator Ashley Moody: (202) 224-3041
Representative Kat Cammack: (202) 225-5744