The Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (S1464/A1749) needs support at the local level in order to pass - that’s where your grassroots organizing skills are needed most!

District Captains organize locally in their New York State Assembly and Senate Districts to build public awareness and urge their legislators to support packaging reduction:

• Power Mapping: identifying potential allied groups, prominent community leaders, faith leaders, and elected officials in the district
• Base-building: finding constituents who will engage with their Assemblymembers on the bill by networking in the district.
• Local resolutions: working with city councils, town boards, county legislators, and community boards to pass resolutions of support
• Local media: engaging local media with letters to the editor, op-eds, and requesting editorials.
• Social media: posting regularly on Blue Sky, X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok and any other media platforms you are on, and getting others to post/repost. Legislators really pay attention to this!

Sign up using the form on the right to receive the full District Captain guide, which includes all the templates you need to put the guide into action. Plus, individual support from Beyond Plastics.

Why should I be a District Captain if my Assemblymember...

is not a cosponsor? Your organizing work is needed to build the in-district moementum to urge your Assemblymember to vote yes!

is a cosponsor already? Cosponsors can be influential to getting their colleagues to support the bill. They can talk to neighboring districts, speak up in conference, go to Speaker, and help create a buzz. But, there are a lot of bills competing for their attention, and they often won't do this without urging from their constituents. You can motivate your member to spend time on this bill by showing them support and urgency from their constituency.

is a minority member? Some minority members do support and cosponsor the bill. Even if they are opposed to the bill, showing that constituents support it and are paying attention can positively impact how they talk about it with their colleagues.

Questions? Reach out to AlexisGoldsmith@bennington.edu