Stop Elon Musk from launching his own currency! Easy sign on!

https://actionnetwork.org/letters/no-on-the-genius-act-and-stable-act/?link_id=3&can_id=78b61e19eb06143bac9b77add72cc6a9&source=email-stop-elon-musk-from-launching-his-own-currency-2&email_referrer=email_2653197&email_subject=stop-elon-musk-from-launching-his-own-currency

Congress is fast-tracking the GENIUS Act and the STABLE Act, two dangerous bills that would let Big Tech and Wall Street create their own stablecoins with minimal oversight. This legislation would allow Elon Musk, Meta, or Amazon to become their own private banks, controlling digital money, collecting vast amounts of personal financial data, and even destabilizing the economy.

These bills are a dream come true for crypto speculators and corporate giants. They would allow companies like X (formerly Twitter) to launch their own stablecoins with no meaningful federal oversight posing massive risks to financial stability, consumer privacy, and fair competition.

If a major tech-issued stablecoin failed, it could trigger a market crash that would impact everyone, whether or not you’ve ever used crypto.

At the same time, crypto executives are actively working to weaken financial regulators and dismantle the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the very agency that would protect people from payment fraud.

These bills also completely fail to protect consumers. Unlike traditional banks, stablecoin issuers would not have to follow longstanding guidelines that ensure banks serve the communities they profit from.

There are no clear rules for how stablecoin issuers must handle redemptions meaning they could impose excessive fees, long delays, or outright refuse to let people cash out. This could leave everyday consumers holding the bag in the next crypto crash.

The crypto industry is pouring money into lobbying to get these bills passed. But we know what happens when regulators give Wall Street and Silicon Valley too much leeway working people pay the price when their risky schemes collapse.

https://www.fltimes.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/letter-parents-sound-off-on-seneca-meadows-landfill/article_f01dda56-eef9-11ef-a7df-9b56bac77d9f.html

To the Editor:

The future of our community — and our children — is being buried under the weight of the Seneca Meadows Landfill. As longtime residents of Seneca Falls and Waterloo, we have witnessed firsthand the grave consequences of living in the shadow of New York State’s largest landfill. With the proposed expansion of Seneca Meadows, these impacts threaten to escalate, jeopardizing our children’s health, their education, and the vitality of our community.

The landfill’s proximity to our schools is alarming. Toxic airborne particles infiltrate classrooms, playgrounds, and athletic fields, putting our children’s health at risk every day. Numerous studies have linked such exposure to higher cancer rates — we are concerned about our family. The New York State Department of Health’s decision to stop publishing Seneca County’s cancer statistics speaks volumes about the severity of the problem. Are we willing to stand by and let our children’s futures be compromised?

The effects are being felt now. In Waterloo, students and teachers alike report frequent headaches, nausea, and difficulty breathing on days when the landfill stench seeps into classrooms. During state testing last spring, the air was so polluted that students struggled to concentrate, and teachers could barely carry on with lessons. Some children have had to leave school early with headaches and nausea on days when the odors are particularly awful. After-school activities, including sports, are similarly disrupted, with children forced to endure harmful fumes while playing and practicing. In Seneca Falls, landfills odors are being smelled both inside and outside the classroom. This is not the safe, supportive environment our children deserve.

And yet, Seneca Meadows’ operators seem unfazed. While they tout themselves as community partners, their primary concern is profit, and they haven’t had enough of making our towns their dumping ground. Seneca Meadows is pushing to extend its operations until 2040 and expand by another 47 acres. If we sit back and let them have it, the consequences will be devastating. Families will leave, teachers will seek employment elsewhere, our air and water quality will suffer from irreparable harm, businesses will struggle, and our community’s character will erode.

This is not the future we want for Seneca Falls and Waterloo. Our children deserve clean air to breathe, safe schools to learn in, and a community that prioritizes their health and well-being over corporate profits. It’s time for our leaders to take a stand. We ask fellow concerned parents, the school board, town leaders, and state officials to publicly oppose the landfill’s expansion and call for Seneca Meadows to be shut down once and for all.

The stakes are too high for silence. Our children’s health, their education, and their futures are on the line. We cannot afford to be complacent. Together, we must stop the expansion of Seneca Meadows and reclaim a cleaner, healthier future for our community.

58 CONCERNED PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS OF SENECA FALLS AND WATERLOO STUDENTS

Joe and Sarah Mull, parents of Seneca Falls students

Ross and Hilary Reinwald, parents of Seneca Falls students

Chris and Joanna Warrick, parents of Seneca Falls students

Marie and John Leo, grandparents of Seneca Falls students

John and Linda McCully, grandparents of a Seneca Falls student

Dan & Kathy Gotham, grandparents of Seneca Falls students and retired teacher

Michael and Michelle Grillone, parents of Waterloo students

Michael and Cindy French, grandparents of Waterloo students

Alison Childers DelFavero and Keith Del Favero, parents of Seneca Falls students

Kathleen Marsella, grandparent of a Seneca Falls student

Christine and David Edson, concerned Seneca Falls parents

Gabe Holden and Ciara Decker-Holden, concerned Seneca Falls parents

Kate Spahn, parent of Seneca Falls students

Stefania Uticone, parent of Seneca Falls students

Angela Reilly, parent of Seneca Falls students

Danielle and Dylan Paolicelli, parents of Seneca Falls students

Erin Bonafiglia and John Hurlburt, parents of Seneca Falls students

Samantha and Patrick Prayne, parents of Seneca Falls teenagers and lifelong residents

Brandon and Leah Bardo, parents of Seneca Falls students

Melissa and Eric Koepke, educators and parents in Seneca Falls

Adam and Marisa Simolo, parents of Seneca Falls students

Teresa & Kyle Robinson, concerned parents of Waterloo students

Julie and Jim Uticone, grandparents of Seneca Falls students

Deborah Jones, Seneca Falls resident

Mariangela Sandroni, Seneca Falls resident

Erica and Miles Sinicropi, parents of Seneca Falls students

Ginny and John Brady, Seneca Falls Town residents

Luke and Jessica Lorenzetti, parents of Seneca Falls students

Sandra Wilson, grandparent of Seneca Falls students

William Wilson, grandparent of Seneca Falls students

Christine and Richard Paolicelli, Seneca Falls Taxpayers and concerned citizens

National coalition calls on EPA to regulate cryptomining, citing energy reliability and climate impacts

A national advocacy group is calling on the federal government to regulate proof-of-work cryptomining, citing its outsized energy consumption, environmental damage, and economic strain on local communities.

The National Coalition Against Cryptomining, a grassroots organization of advocates and experts, hosted a virtual press conference today, emphasizing the urgent need for federal oversight. The coalition also sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin, urging the agency to address what they call a “harmful and unchecked” industry.

The call for regulation comes as states across the U.S. enact “right-to-mine” laws that grant cryptominers special protections, despite mounting concerns over excessive water usage, air pollution, noise pollution, and electronic waste. Cryptomining accounts for up to 2.3% of total U.S. energy usage, leading to an estimated $1 billion increase in costs to consumers while putting additional strain on energy grids.

“The cryptomining industry is spreading like a cancer across the country, leaving many communities with similar stories like ours – of harm to their health, their economy, their environment, and the climate,” said Yvonne Taylor, Vice President of Seneca Lake Guardian. “We’re fighting against a nefarious industry with as much influence and capital as the pharmaceutical industry. Communities like mine don’t have that kind of lobbying power, but we’re here today to spread the message that despite the cryptomining industry’s aggressive campaign, it is time for us to put the public wellbeing ahead of corporate profits.”

Some state and local governments have already taken steps to limit cryptomining operations. New York implemented a moratorium on new and renewed permits for fossil fuel-powered cryptomining. Several counties in Georgia have banned cryptomining outright, Arkansas has limited its expansion, and Texas, a major cryptomining hub, has introduced reporting requirements to track electricity consumption. The National Coalition Against Cryptomining is urging the EPA to follow suit by holding cryptomining companies accountable for their environmental impact.

“Cryptomining is wreaking havoc on communities across Texas – destabilizing our power grid, wasting water, and driving up electricity costs for everyday Texans, all while pocketing massive subsidies,” said Jackie Sawicky, Founder of the Texas Coalition Against Cryptomining. “This industry operates like an unregulated digital casino that most of us don’t even play in, yet we’re all paying the price. The federal government must step in before more communities suffer the same fate.”

Across the country, communities are already feeling the consequences of unregulated cryptomining operations. In North Tonawanda, New York, residents have endured extreme noise pollution and environmental degradation due to the Digihost cryptomine. In Granbury, Texas, families suffer from sleep deprivation and migraines caused by the constant hum of nearby cryptomining operations. In rural Georgia, local governments have faced pushback from residents alarmed by cryptomining’s massive energy demands and minimal economic benefits.

“I’ve seen firsthand how cryptomining disrupts communities,” said Cyndie Roberson, co-founder of Cherokee County Citizens Against Cryptomining. “The relentless noise, pollution, and strain on resources forced my family to leave our dream home behind. Residents across the country are standing up to fight back, but without federal oversight, we are left to fend for ourselves against billion-dollar corporations. It’s time for the EPA to put people over corporate profits and rein in this reckless industry.”

The coalition argues that while some states have taken steps to regulate cryptomining, the lack of a national policy leaves communities vulnerable. They are calling on the EPA to establish federal oversight to curb cryptomining’s environmental and economic impacts, emphasizing that public health should take priority over corporate interests.

PRESS CONFERENCE: Proof-of-work cryptomining is harmful for our environment, our energy, and our economy – and we’re going to tell you why! Join us this Thursday, February 27th at 12:30 PM ET to learn about proof-of-work crypto and its devastating impacts on our communities, and why we’re sending a letter to the EPA urging them to take action. You can register at the link below:
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_cWE8HlKlRxy7v7S5FgX2Pg

Sponsored by the National Coalition Against Cryptomining