LWVAC is launching a "What You Can Do" (WYCD) campaign where we share a series of action plans. With so much happening on the national stage, these action plans are intended to encourage you to respond to the daily breach of the rule of law and the separation of powers. Read more about this campaign here. 

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) Protests 2) Environmental Protection Advisory Committee survey 3) Scientists fleeing Florida 4) Addressing the climate is survival, not politics

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

Call EVERY day, at least once a day! As always, use the topics and questions that work for you. Adapt them for yourself. Hear or read something in the news today that concerns you? Call your legislators. Decide on a topic; call every day.

1) Protests

1. Nationwide there are May 1 (Mayday) protests led by a number or groups and coalitions with varying titles for the protests. In Gainesville, there will be a protest at the traffic circle of South Main and Depot Ave. from 6-8pm.
2. Take down Tesla protests continue at North Main by the Tesla dealership. Saturday 10-12:30.

2) Environmental Protection Advisory Committee survey

This is a really important local project. The county Environmental Protection Advisory Committee (EPAC) has a survey asking about your environmental priorities. The survey responses will be used for a community conversation. It took me five minutes to complete.

The survey is available here. At the core of What You Can Do is acting on local issues. Thanks for doing the survey. Deadline May 4.

3) Scientists fleeing Florida

Six scientists have left the University of Central Florida. During an interview, one of them expressed exhaustion from the distraction of having to consider language about science that might be taken as political bias. She left just before the Florida governor banned the words “climate change” from state statutes. As a queer woman, she felt attacked personally and professionally, so left the state. (Guardian, 4/24/25, “Meet the American refugees fleeing across state lines for safety.”)

Question for legislators: Florida university researchers do work on agriculture, technology, engineering, and coastal ecology, to name a few fields of study. With the cancellation of grants and indirect costs and the banning of common terms like “climate change” and “equity”, scientists are leaving Florida, afraid for their careers and personal well being. Science is a basis for Florida economics and innovation. How are you going to encourage new ideas and innovation even as scientists leave the state?

4) Addressing climate is survival, not politics

89% of people in the world and 75% of US citizens think that their governments should do more to address climate change. But many people think that other people disagree, so they remain silent and don’t express their own concerns. (Guardian, 4/22/25, “Spiral of Silence: Climate action is very popular, so why don’t people realize it?”) (FAU study on Floridians view on climate change. Internet search.)

Question for legislators:

1. By far, the majority of US citizens, 75%, want the federal government to do more to respond to the changing weather patterns. 69% of Floridians want the federal government to do more. Florida had three back-to-back hurricanes last year, droughts have produced more fires and our fresh water is being infused with sea water. What will it take for you to take action and use federal resources to address extreme weather events and their consequences?
2. A pattern of warming weather is putting a strain on Florida crops, causing insects to spread to new areas and causing erratic rain patterns, threatening food production in Florida. Hurricanes significantly damaged farms last year. What are you doing to address changing weather patterns to ensure the agriculture future of Florida?

5) Executive order that changes education for grades K-12

Listen to the story on NPR, figure out some questions, and call your legislators.